Please take this

copy of Christian Life

JUNE 2015 • Issue TWENTY-FOUR • www.mychristiandaily.com

If the world hates you,

be aware that it hated me
before it hated you. If you
belonged to the world, the
world would love you as its
own. Because you do not
belong to the world, but I
have chosen you out of the
world—therefore the world
hates you. If they persecuted
me, they will persecute you...
John 15:18–21

• REMAINING TRUE TO GODS WORD: PERSECUTION IN THE WEST • AN UNCOMMON ANOINTING •

THE BILL SUBRITZKY STORY • THE OCTOGENARIAN WHO NEVER QUITS • PLUS LOADS MORE

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY CBA AND MANNA CHRISTIAN BOOKSTORES

 Issue TWENTY-FOUR | JUNE 2015

06
04 Gender Agenda Will Confuse Our Young People

05 The Octogenarian Who Never Quits

06 The Sustaining Power of Hope

08 The Bill Subritzky Story

09 Local News

10 An Uncommon Anointing

12 Shine TV programme guide

14 Remaining True to God’s Word

15 Medical Ship Set To Sail

16 Unlikely Material: The story of Elevate

17 Christian Life Classifieds

16 10

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Family First
Gender Agenda Will Confuse Our Young People
I
believe most schools, along with the parents in the
school community, will rightly reject the extreme
elements of the new sexuality education guidelines
just released by the Ministry of Education.
Based on the new guidelines to schools, primary
school children as young as 5 will be indoctrinated with
issues around ‘gender stereotypes and norms’, ‘sexuality
and gender well-being’, ‘gender, sexuality and diversity’,
and ‘gender and sexuality messages’. But most children
that age simply want to play, eat and have fun. We should
let children be children.
Parents will object to programmes targeted at children
as young as five undermining the role and values of
parents, and resources which fail to take into account the
emotional and physical development of each child and
the values of that particular family.
Among the implications of the proposals around
so-called ‘gender’ issues in schools is that sex-specific
facilities, including changing rooms, showers, toilets or
sports teams may no longer be directed on the basis of
a child’s actual biological sex. Students could pick the
toilet or changing room or sports team or uniform of
the gender with which they identify at that time. They
give the opportunity, for example, for male students who
pretend to be transgender an alibi to use girls’ toilets,
showers, and changing rooms. But the expectation of
parents and the children themselves is to see students of
the same sex in places like changing rooms and showers.
An example of this is ‘Johnny’ who turns up to school
and decides that he now ‘identifies’ as a female. Of
course, there is no objective assessment of whether he is
right or not. If he ‘believes’ it, we are expected to accept
VICTORY
CONVENTION
CENTRE MANIFEST PRESENCE 2015
H E A L I N G T H E WAT E R S
R A N DY C L A R K
R U S S E L L E VA N S
4 | Christian Life Issue Twenty-Four June 2015
it. So Johnny will now wear a skirt, will use the girls’
toilets, and will change in the girls’ changing room for
swimming sports. He will also play in the girls’ rugby
team.
Now that is a recipe for disaster – and confusion.
(Apply that scenario to a grown man who decides to use
the women’s changing room at the local public swimming
facility.)
The ‘gender agenda’ will simply lead to confusion
in schools. Ignoring biology is not a proper solution.
What children really need is affirmation of their
unique personality and appropriate treatment for their
unhappiness and other presenting emotional issues. Most
children with gender dysphoria will not remain gender
dysphoric after puberty. To push the gender agenda in
schools is a dangerous step to take.
Elsewhere in the Guidelines, there is definitely a need
for young people to be aware of the harms of pornography,
rape and teen pregnancy, and issues around consent, but
parents know their children the best and should determine
the best timing and most appropriate way to tackle these
sensitive topics. A valueless ‘one size fits all’ approach is
far too simplistic and can even be harmful.
Studies show that the biggest protective factors for
coping with puberty and sexual involvement are married
parents, family values, parental supervision, and parental
expectations for behaviour. What happens at home is
the greatest determinant of the outcomes for the young
person.
A recent international study found that by the age of
ten years old, most children will have already had their
first ‘facts of life’ talk with their parents. The online
BILL JOHNSON
BANNING LIEBSCHER
REGISTER NOW
MANIFESTPRESENCE.ORG
survey of 5,420 parents and 2,569 children aged 5-10
years old was undertaken during 2014 in New Zealand,
Australia, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, France,
Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States. The
AVG Technology survey found that most parents plan to
have the chat about adult topics including pornography,
sex and puberty by the time their kids are 10-years-old,
and that 76% believe that the Internet has encouraged
the conversation on adult themes with children at an
increasingly early age.
This is a great result and shows that parents are now
looking to pre-empt the unacceptable messages being
pushed in the media, on the internet, and by groups
abusing the sex education curriculum which pollute their
young children’s minds and innocence. Parents are the
best moral gatekeepers for their children.
It’s time we empowered and resourced parents to be
the sex educators of their children. Schools can focus on
the ‘reading writing and arithmetic’.
Bob McCoskrie is the National Director of Family
First NZ. Visit www.familyfirst.org.nz for more
information on how you can become involved.
2 6 -2 8
AUGUST

The Octogenarian
Who Never Quits
Julie Belding talks to an inspiring Bruce Nicholls...
E
ighty-eight year old Dr Bruce Nicholls, MA, Dip
Tchg, MTh, DD, of Point Chevalier, Auckland,
doesn’t believe in letting the grass grow under
his feet. He may have been a missionary teacher, writer,
pastor and administrator for almost four decades in India,
but since “retiring” to New Zealand in 1997, his life today
seems as busy as ever.
In a former life, beginning in 1955, Bruce and his
wife Kathleen taught theology and communication at
the Union Biblical Seminary in central India and later
pioneered a research community in New Delhi. Two
of their three children were born in India, and all were
educated at Woodstock School. During their last six years
of missionary service, Bruce pastored two churches in
Delhi for the Church of North India, and describes this as
the most satisfying period of their overseas career.
Now living in a retirement village, Bruce has hardly
slowed down over the past eighteen years. Retirement
does not seem to be on the agenda of this farmer’s son
who was raised in Te Kuiti and Otorohanga and trained
as a school teacher in the 1940s.
“I did retire at the request of the mission [Interserve]
when I was sixty-five,” he says, “but I don’t see in
Scripture any recommendation to retire and my vision
has expanded considerably during the last couple of
decades. In fact they have been even more fruitful that
the previous ones.”
In 1992, after 37 years of continuous service in India,
Bruce and Kathleen returned to settle in New Zealand.
But Bruce suspected God still had work for him to do.
He was right.
The call came in 1995 to return to Union Biblical
Seminary where he had formerly taught, and serve there
as interim principal for a year. So Bruce and Kathleen
went briefly back to the nation that had so shaped their
lives.
Finally, in 1997, Bruce and his wife Kathleen left India
for the last time. They lived in cottage in Kohimarama for
a few years before moving to Selwyn Village in 2008.
For the past eighteen years Bruce has continued to
put his prodigious energy to good use. He’s written a
few books, and stays in touch with the Asia Theological
Association, an organisation he had founded back in 1970.
ATA is still going strong, and now encompasses some
300 Bible colleges and seminaries across Asia and the
Middle East. In fact it’s the major accrediting agency for
evangelical theological institutions, and publishes books
and journals as well. After his return to New Zealand
Bruce continued to serve ATA as its senior advisor. One
of his projects was the production of a multi-volume
Asia Bible Commentary series. Bruce himself was the
editor-in-chief of the first eighteen volumes (there will
eventually be fifty) but two years ago he handed the
editing over to a young Asian scholar.
In his semi-retirement Bruce has been the driving
force behind a number of ATA-sponsored theological
conferences. He coordinated a Consultation on
Globalisation in Indonesia, in 2009, and a Consultation
on Scripture in Malaysia three years later. Out of each
consultation he collected the papers that were presented
and edited them into books which ATA published.
“My vision is for the Kingdom of
God to spread across Asia, and I
see my role today as a consultant
and mentor of key leaders.”
“My vision is for the Kingdom of God to spread
across Asia, and I see my role today as a consultant and
mentor of key leaders.” he says. “I’m now focusing on
leadership training in Nepal, Indonesia, Pakistan and Sri
Lanka.”
When Bruce, who had been ordained in India by the
Bishop of Delhi, returned to Auckland the local Anglican
bishop licensed him to preach. The Presbyterian Church
of New Zealand also recognized his ordination. So the
former missionary pastor has been available for various
preaching assignments in Auckland. These have included
serving for three years as a co-pastor of the Anglican-
Methodist parish of St Mary’s Church in Glen Innes.
In 2000, three years after returning finally to New
Zealand, Bruce heard that the ecumenical Presbyterian/
Methodist newspaper, Crosslink, was about to fold.
Never one to overlook a potential opportunity, Bruce had
the idea of starting a new newspaper which would serve
Inspiring story
the needs of conservative Christians within the mainline
denominations. And so in 2001 DayStar was born. At
first the newspaper targeted evangelical readers in the
Methodist, Presbyterian and Anglican churches. Later,
members of other denominations began to subscribe
(Baptists became its biggest supporters) and a few years
later the monthly newspaper morphed into a glossy
magazine. Founder Bruce was on the board, and worked
tirelessly to raise funds to keep the publication afloat.
Eventually however, it became clear that the magazine
would need substantially more financial backing if it were
to survive, and in 2010, after nine years of publication,
DayStar magazine was sold to Media Inc, an Australian
publishing company. To Bruce’s regret (and the regret of
many others) the magazine was discontinued after just a
few months.
It was a setback, but Bruce was not about to rest on
his laurels. He was also interested in politics. In 2009 he
had chaired the National Party’s Mt Albert electorate.
A few years later, when the New Zealand Conservative
Party was formed, Bruce threw his weight behind that.
Despite his ebullience, the last few years have
not been easy for Bruce or Kathleen, who now uses a
wheelchair. Their eldest son died last year, and they have
also lost a grandson. But despite these sorrows, Bruce
remains positive. He says if he had to live his life over
again, he wouldn’t do anything differently.
Asked the secret of his good health, he quipped that
an inherited DNA helped. But he also keeps fit by going
regularly to the gym and doing a weekly three-kilometer
run around the local park. He also believes in disciplined
eating, avoiding sugars. He thinks getting adequate sleep
is important, and likes to listen to classical music before
going to bed
“Good relationships with my wife, children, work
colleagues and neighbours have also been vital,” says
Bruce, “but above all, having peace with God and being
assured of his guidance. My success in all these ministries
is the work of Holy Spirit and as a servant of the Lord
Jesus Christ, I’m careful to give all the honour to him.”
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www.mychristiandaily.com | 5

The Sustaining Power of Hope
Hope sustains life
A teacher was asked to see a child in hospital,
unfortunately nobody warned her that the boy
was severely burned and in great pain. She was
shocked at his condition, but somehow stumbled
through the lesson. The following day a nurse
asked, “What did you do to that boy?” Wor-
ried, the teacher began to apologize. But the
nurse stopped her and said they’d been really
concerned about the boy, but since the lesson he
was fighting back and responding to treatment.
“It’s like he’s decided to live,” she said. Two
weeks later, when the boy was much better, he
told them he’d lost all hope of living, but when
the teacher arrived he reasoned, “They wouldn’t
send a teacher to do nouns and adverbs with boy
who was dying.” That’s the power of hope.
One writer said a man can live 40 days with-
out food, three days without water, eight min-
utes without air, but only one second without
hope. Does that mean we die when hope is
gone? It does when overwhelming despair ends
in suicide. Hope sustains life and without it a
person will perish. Some people who lose all
hope continue to exist, but it’s surviving rather
than living.
Throughout history individuals have en-
dured the loss of health, limbs, finances, assets,
careers, reputations, and loved ones. Others
have experienced great pain, rejection, perse-
cution, abuse, and the unspeakable horrors of
concentration camps and so on, but some, like
Job, have come through intact. The great psy-
chiatrist, Victor Frankl, investigated why some
prisoners at the infamous concentration camp,
Auschwitz, died or committed suicide, while
6 | Christian Life Issue Twenty-Four June 2015
New Christian Life columnist, TAK BHANA,
discusses the power of a hope-filled life...
others survived. He came to the conclusion that Isaiah 51:14. The cowering prisoners will
hope was the determining factor. soon be set free; they will not die in their dun-
But while we’re on the subject of hope let’s geon, nor will they lack bread.
make sure we’re talking the same language as That verse generated such a powerful hope
God. Many people say, “I hope”, when what of survival and release that it became an anchor
they really mean is, “I wish.” Their hope, un- for that couple, holding them steady until they
certain and flimsy at best, is merely a wish that were finally freed.
things will work out. Biblical hope, on the oth-
er hand, is certain. It’s a confident expectation The dangers of losing hope
of good and an assurance that what’s happening There are untold people in this world who live
now doesn’t have to define the rest of our life. unbearably hopeless lives. Some might react
with despair. For these ones the end of the road
Hope is an anchor may be suicide. On the other side of the coin
Hebrews 6:19. We have this hope as an anchor hopelessness may manifest in rampant self-in-
for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner dulgence and irresponsible living, that “eat,
sanctuary behind the curtain. drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die”, at-
Hope in God is an anchor for our souls. It titude.
won’t prevent the storms, but it will hold us When Christians, leaders included, lose hope,
steady through them. about their ministry, healing, family, marriage,
What could keep you going if you were held finances and so on, there’s a very real danger of
captive in a cold, dark, damp basement with sin and backsliding.
only the tiniest ray of light seeping through a
tiny hole in the door to let you know if it was We find hope in God’s Word
day or night? How would you survive on mea- Romans 15:4 ...Through endurance and the en-
gre portions of poor food? How would you cope couragement of the Scriptures we might have
with sleeping on the dirt floor, which you shared hope.
with mice and frogs? How would you keep sane I experienced a horrible time of condemna-
as the days turned to weeks, then months - never tion, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d made
knowing when, or if, you would be freed from too many mistakes and couldn’t fulfill God’s
this wretched little dungeon? In a word - hope! call. I agonized over this for months, then it all
Years ago a Swedish missionary couple was lifted when God spoke through a verse which
kidnapped in Russia and held in these circum- gave me great hope that I would indeed fulfill
stances for six months. During that time they His plan for me.
prayed for release, while learning a passage
from the Bible each day. One promise from God’s promises to us are a great source of
Isaiah sustained them through those dark days. hope

Hope in God is an anchor for our souls.
It won’t prevent the storms, but it will
hold us steady through them.
We see this in Abraham’s life. His wife was
barren but late in life God promised him a son.
That promise filled Abraham with hope and
though it was sorely tested God encouraged
him by renewing the promise from time to time.
When we start losing hope in a promise from
God it’s time to pray for confirmation and en-
couragement.
The Holy Spirit gives us hope
There is no end to things people put their hope
in and the world encourages us to run here and
there looking for a fresh start, a new job, a
new relationship, a better location, a different
church, no church, better behaved children, ma-
Hope
terial possessions, success and so on. But hope
in anything other than in God and His word is
futile and feeble at best and certain to disap-
point us.
Romans 15:13. May the God of hope fill you
with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so
that you may overflow with hope by the power
of the Holy Spirit.
God alone is the answer to the great ava-
lanche of despair and hopelessness that engulfs Tak Bhana is the Senior Pastor of Church
so many lives. The God of hope is, by nature, Unlimited. He has a radio and television program
called Running with Fire which broadcasts in
full of hope and He is the great supplier and dis- New Zealand and other nations. His church also
penser of hope to all mankind. He is well able produces a magazine with the same name which is
to pour His hope into our lives: all the hope we distributed in 70 countries.
will ever need.
Phone us on 0800 469 269
Email nzadmin@mwbi.org
Gotomwb.org.nzorfillinandreturnthiscouponbelow
Please send me details of a family in:
Ukraine Romania Bulgaria
Moldova Albania Bosnia
Name
Postal Address
Postcode
Phone( )
Email
Complete and send
(no stamp needed) to:
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PO Box 56264, Dominion Rd Auckland 1446
www.mychristiandaily.com | 7
Ministry
W hen I was eight years of age my younger brother
aged five years contracted cancer from which he
died at home after nine agonising months.
Years later my mother told me that on the day that
Keith died they heard him calling from the bedroom,
“Mummy and Daddy come here quickly.” When they
rushed in to the room to their amazement he was sitting up
on the bed looking perfectly well. He was not looking at
them but he was looking upwards with great expectation
and said, “Mummy and Daddy, I’ve got to go now.”
The angels of God had come for him.
As a result of his death my parents began to search for
God. They had been nominal Christians and we ended up
in a very closed Brethren group. I attended that church
for some years but when I reached the age of 16 I told
my parents that I no longer wanted to attend church. I felt
confined because it was very legalistic, I was not allowed
to listen to the radio or go to films or go to sports.
However my mother often quoted The Word of God
to me and I still remember many of the Scriptures that
she mentioned.
I was determined to become a lawyer and qualified
at 21.
I started my own law practice and met and married
my wife Pat.
She was a practising Anglican but I was not committed
to God. I had joined the church to make business contacts.
Our teenage daughter Maria became a committed
Christian and I went with her to a meeting.
I watched the preacher pray for one of my clients. She
was elderly and full of arthritis and could barely walk.
As she was being prayed for she fell to the floor and
I thought she had died. However she jumped up and
shouted she was healed.
That got my attention! I was astounded and excited by
the power of God.
Although our marriage was in difficulties, Pat and
I with our children attended a crusade in Hamilton
conducted by the same preacher.
We went again the next night and again I felt the desire
to surrender my life to Christ. This became overpowering
and finally I raised my hand at the altar call. Pat and our
whole family did likewise.
The preacher told us to come to the front of the
meeting with the others who had raised their hands. He
told us to kneel down and confess our sins. I did my best
to do so. He led us through the sinner’s prayer. I did not
feel anything in particular at that stage.
The preacher then offered the experience of being
“baptised into the Holy Spirit”. I did not know what he
8 | Christian Life Issue Twenty-Four June 2015
The Bill Subritzky Story
Christian Life invited international evangelist BILL
SUBRITZKY to share his testimony and tell us about his new
internet ministry.
was talking about but Maria pressed me to go forward for
this experience and to my amazement when the preacher
laid hands on me I spoke in tongues.
I went back to Auckland almost in a daze.
However the next morning when I looked out of my
bedroom window I had never seen the grass so green, the
trees so beautiful or heard the birds sing like that before. I
looked at the sky and I had never seen it so blue.
I realised that that I was looking at the earth with new
eyes, that I was born-again.
At that moment I made one of the most important
decisions of my life. I resolved to turn 180° from darkness
to light from the power of Satan to the power of God.
This has saved me from many difficulties and problems.
Since then I have always known the presence and power
of God within me at all times.
I then witnessed to my legal partners and in due
course they became born-again Christians.
Our marriage was immediately healed and for the
next 40 years Pat and I ministered together in the power
and love of the Holy Spirit.
Our two sons Paul and John have led the ministry of
Promise Keepers in New Zealand where over the past 21
years tens of thousands of men have come to Christ in the
various conferences and many have seen their marriages
restored in Christ.
Within a week of our commitment to Christ, Pat and
I had a witness to start a prayer meeting in our home and
over the next eight years many people were saved healed
and delivered.
It was in those meetings that for the first time in
my life I saw demonic powers manifest in people and I
learned how to cast them out.
At our prayer meeting we learnt to minister in the gifts
of the Holy Spirit including healing, word of wisdom,
word of knowledge, deliverance, faith miracles and other
gifts.
I was invited to speak at various churches and
conferences around New Zealand and then overseas.
I spoke at seven world conventions of the Full Gospel
Businessmen’s Fellowship in various countries including
the USA, Philippines and Brazil.
I’ve also conducted crusades around the Pacific
including Hawaii, Fiji, the Solomon Islands, Samoa,
Vanuatu, Tonga and throughout Australia. I have seen
tens of thousands respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ
and receive physical healing.
I promised the Lord that I would preach the Gospel
in every town in New Zealand and over the years I have
done so from Te Hapua in the uppermost part of the
North Island to throughout the South Island including the
Chathams as well as Great Barrier Island off Auckland.
I have been privileged to preach the Gospel in various
places in Africa, England throughout Asia including
India, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Canada, USA, Mexico
and South America. Again, it has been a privilege to see
untold numbers come forward and give their lives to
Christ and receive mighty healings and deliverances.
I have always preached on the basis of what Jesus said,
“Repent and believe the Gospel.” I believe the primary
work of the Holy Spirit is to convict of sin, righteousness
and the day of judgment. Accordingly I have preached
the need for absolute repentance from sin as well as the
Grace of God and walking in true holiness with God.
For approximately ten years the organisation called
Youth for Christ conducted an annual camp for young
people on my farm near Kerikeri where I spoke. We saw
thousands of young people commit their lives to Christ
Four years ago, after many years of happy marriage
and walking with the Lord, my wife Pat passed into
glory. In a miraculous set of circumstances the Lord led
Kaylene and myself into marriage a year later. Kaylene is
absolutely committed to the Lord and works strongly in
prophecy and the word of knowledge. She is a very able
preacher. We have a wonderful marriage.
Over the years I have prayed on the radio for many
to be healed and come to Christ. We have had great
testimonies from these broadcasts as well as my teaching
broadcasts on radio.
Recently the Holy Spirit has spoken to me about
praying for the sick on Skype and I have begun a monthly
webcast program doing this. Luke 6:17 says that Jesus
often healed people at a distance and we can see this
today when we pray for the sick at a distance.
As my wife Kaylene and I pray on Skype we see the
power of God touch people in an amazing way. They may
be living in the USA or Australia or Dubai or wherever
but the same Holy Spirit touches them all.
We stand amazed as we see the fire of God passing
through people and healing them on Skype and also in
the reports from others watching who are being touched.
I believe the Lord would use this medium mightily in
the days to come.
It is my prayer that before the Lord calls me home, He
will give me the privilege of continuing to proclaim His
name in every way possible and glorifying Him.
For information and resources on Bill Subritzky go to
www.doveministries.com

Manifest Presence 2015 –Healing the Waters.
Manifest Presence Conference is a well-
spring for our nation, delivering Apostolic
and prophetic teaching that both releases
and advances the Kingdom of God. Every
session is structured to allow space and time
for powerful encounters, impartation and
ministry in an atmosphere of worship, faith
and supernatural expectation.
Running from Wednesday 26 August to
Friday 28 August, this year’s dynamic line-
up features Bill Johnson (Bethel Church),
Randy Clark (Global Awakening) Russell
Evans (Planetshakers) and Banning Lieb-
scher (Jesus Culture).
HELP SHAPE THE NEXT
GENERATION
FOR FREE RESOURCES AND HELP IN PASSING THE BIBLE ON
TO T HE NEXT GENER ATION, VISIT WWW. BIBL E MON T H. NZ
A special addition to this year’s confer-
ence is a Healing Symposium with Bill John-
son and Randy Clark (pictured), two leaders
with great wisdom and experience in the
area of healing. This will run during the day
of Wednesday 26 August before Manifest
Presence starts in the evening. It is free with
a full-time registration but people can also
register for the Healing Symposium alone.
Register at manifestpresence.org.
Local news & reviews
NEW MEMOIR
SHARES 70 YEARS
OF AUTHOR’S LIFE
By Dennis R. McLeod
Published by Balboa Press AU,
ISBN 9781452528403
Author Dennis R. McLeod shares his lifetime journey from being a 15-year-
old stepping out in life feeling the world was against him, to becoming
someone who is wanted by many people, in his new memoir, “Small
Beginnings.”
Due to suffering verbal abuse as a child and being told he would never
amount to anything, plus a marriage and divorce at age 33, McLeod suffered
very badly from rejection. Even though he achieved much, the feeling of
rejection remained.
“Many young and not so young people are lost, walking down a blank
road,” McLeod says. “I believe this book will encourage all people, no
matter their age, that there is a beautiful world out there. All they need to do
is allow God to open their eyes to see His beauty and everything else will
fall into place.”
About the Author
Dennis R. McLeod was a top teacher at a local trade school, where he taught
for over 35 years. He has served as a church synod representative. He and
his wife, Penny, served as missionaries in many countries and pastors in a
church in their hometown of Hamilton, New Zealand.
More information is available at www.smallbeginings.com
THE BIBLE: PASS IT ON
www.mychristiandaily.com | 9
Profile
Above left: Tawhiri back in the day; Above right: Tawhiri, Katy and their beautiful children
S
o how exactly does one of New Zealand’s top ses-
sion drummers become a pastor at just 29? Well it’s
quite a story so kick back and check it out. This is
what total surrender looks like.
We met in Whangarei at a conference where I had
been invited to share my testimony. When I met Tawhiri
I saw the purity of his heart and his total surrender to
Christ. When I heard that he was a pastor at such a young
age, I knew there was a big story to be told. He invited
me to share with his flock at Kaiwaka Family Church a
few weeks later. When we arrived we found him at home
behind the drums bringing some incredible beats during
the worship. The surprises just kept coming!
Tawhiri was born in a very big hurry in the small
Northland town of Kaiwaka. He’d started how he meant
to continue. Tawhiri Matea means ‘God of the wind,
thunder and lightning.’ But like so many, his world was
soon shattered when at 5, his parents split. Raised in the
Ratana church, he lived with his Mum while his Dad, a
full-time musician, continued touring.
From a young age Tawhiri was captivated by the
drums. At 13 he went to live with his father who bought
him his first drum kit. With little else to do in the small
town, Tawhiri practised endlessly. The drums made him
happy and gave him a purpose, and his dream of being
a full-time session drummer was born. He was very dis-
10 | Christian Life Issue Twenty-Four June 2015
An Uncommon Anointing
JANET BALCOMBE’S DIVINE APPOINTMENT WITH
PASTOR TAWHIRI MATEA LITTLEJOHN
ciplined in his practice routine, never wasted time or
missed a day.
By 14, Tawhiri often toured with his father all over
New Zealand. At 18 he was playing for many different
bands and artists then studied at Aucklands’ MAINZ
Music School. Playing for King Kapisi was the start of
a big break. His girlfriend Katy decided to leave him so
he could pursue his music career. As a youngster he’d al-
ways wanted to be popular in the music scene, party hard
and hook up with girls. He was now free to pursue all of
his desires and was living the life he’d always wanted.
Until one night in a nightclub — something strange
happened. Drunk and having a good time, Tawhiri sud-
denly felt a deep conviction fall upon him like a sword
piercing his heart. This conviction just would not leave,
and for the first time he felt so lost. He’d given up smok-
ing weed because it made him paranoid, but he got so
bored while learning to play forty new songs for a band,
he got stoned to make it go faster. As he lay in bed that
night, still stoned, he began to think about his life. The
conviction was still deep in his heart and he felt so empty.
“Then while I was lying in the dark thinking, I heard a
voice say, “Follow Me.” It was the Lord. When you hear
His voice, you know without a doubt who is speaking. It
was like a voice I’d always known, that I had always ig-
nored. But for the first time I paid attention. From child-
hood I’d always known I was called as He had come to
me in my dreams, and His power would come upon me in
measures I haven’t experienced to this day. But I would
always deny Him as I didn’t want Him. Well not yet any-
way. I wanted to live my life the way I wanted to first. Yet
God chose to speak to me right when I was seeking to live
out my sinful lifestyle. So when I heard His voice I said
to him as if He were standing right there, “No, I will not
follow You. Not now. I will follow You when I am an old
man, then I can do whatever I want now and still get to
heaven before I die.”
“Then another voice spoke to me, which was very se-
ductive. It was the evil one. He said, “Yes that’s right.
You can follow God and still have all you want.” Then
He showed me all the things I wanted and I said to Him,
“That’s what I want, Jesus,” and Jesus said to me again,
“Follow Me”.
“He said I had to give up everything I could see, as
I could see in a vision all that the enemy wanted to give
me. Everything in me was saying, “No God! Why did you
come to me now? Not now God!” Then I saw a cross and
Jesus said again, “If you want to follow me you must
give up all you see now.” This was hard. I didn’t want to.
But the conviction in my heart just wouldn’t leave, and
after many hours of battling I finally said, “Okay Lord,
I will give it a go, I will give up that other stuff.” Then
 I witnessed the most incredible demonstrations of Gods’ power in nightclubs, music
festivals, in cars, in the green rooms and back-stage with other bands. Everywhere I
went, God went with me and He was ready to move in His power.
instantly I felt peace, I was set free and was born again
with a deep heart of repentance and sorrow for the selfish
life I’d been living. My mind was freed and I now looked
at the world through different eyes. I was even amazed at
the beauty of all of Gods’ creation, as if seeing it for the
first time.”
Tawhiri began to read the bible and pray continually.
He was hungry for God and spent the first six months in
deep repentance. He learned to live by faith and trusted in
God for everything. As he consecrated himself to the Lord
he began to see amazing things happen. Tawhiri got a call
to play in the band Sons of Zion, began session playing
with many others and started the band Soljah. He played
with artists Hazardous, musicians from Ardijah, Annabel
Faye, Peiter T, Dane Rumble, Stan Walker, Jay Williams
and many others. The music scene really opened up for
him and he was doing what he always wanted.
In the early years Tawhiri didn’t join a church because
he was always touring. Still he refused to be influenced
by the lifestyle of drugs, drinking and sex and learned to
walk with God and abide in His presence no matter where
he was. But eventually being immersed in the lifestyle
began to make him feel depressed. At the end of 2011
he took time out to fast and pray if it was the Lords’ will
for him to remain in the music scene — which it was.
Tawhiri and Katy were reunited in marriage, moved back
to Kaiwaka, were blessed with their first baby and began
going to church. 2012 saw Tawhiri on tour again with the
summer season of music festivals but was now strength-
ened by Gods’ word. He was on a mission.
“I was no longer concerned about fame or success. I
just wanted Gods’ will; to win souls for Jesus. From 2012
to 2014 I witnessed the most incredible demonstrations
of Gods’ power in nightclubs, music festivals, in cars, in
the green rooms and back-stage with other bands. Ev-
erywhere I went, God went with me and He was ready
to move in His power. I would see salvations, healings,
deliverances, and move in the word of knowledge and
prophecy which would instantly set people free from al-
cohol intoxication.”
Many of those God sent to him were backslidden
Christians and His power would fall more than you
would normally see in a church service. Tawhiri preached
sermons on music video sets and even had some of the
camera crew give their hearts to the Lord. He saw some
of the most powerful demonstrations of Gods’ power de-
livering people from demonic possession as people often
spontaneously manifested around him.
“I even witnessed Gods’ protection over me in the
music scene as I had drunk people try to come violently
against me, but as they came close I felt a wall of the
Holy Spirit envelop me. When they stepped into it they
began to weep uncontrollably, not knowing what was
happening to them.”
He understood then that the church is not a build-
ing, but Gods’ people are His living temple, bringing
His kingdom wherever they go. As he played he grieved
over the condition of the people living in their sin and he
would pray, “God, when you say it’s time, I am coming
out of this Lord. I am only here to do Your will.”
That day came in April 2014. Tawhiri was so happy
and knew that he’d done his Fathers’ will and a new leg of
his journey began. In 2015 he was ordained as a Co-Pas-
tor of Kaiwaka Family Church. “Jesus has changed my
life and I owe it all to Him. My old life has gone and I am
a new creation in Him.”
Tawhiri and those around him harvest the rich fruit
of his true repentance and totally surrendered heart. He
loves seeing God transform and restore lives and is see-
ing huge transformation take place throughout his com-
munity. After playing in front of 40,000 people and 14
years of touring, he now enjoys having time with his wife
and kids. He does miss his friends in the music scene and
prays the Lord will set them free, as He did for him.
“I know how strong the hold of music is. It becomes
everything in your life, even more important than fam-
ily. It blinds you and leaves you always seeking success
and never satisfying. It is never able to fulfill that void
in your heart. Only Jesus can. Nothing in all the world
can ever compare to knowing Him and His great love
for us. I’m excited at this adventure, and I am more
hungry for Him now than ever before. In honour of my
Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.”
You can contact Tawhiri
on tawhiri.l@gmail.com
www.mychristiandaily.com | 11
 PROGRAMME GUIDE
June 2015
Details correct at time of printing. (Dates in italics indicate programme change during the month)
For up-to-date 24-hour listings and programme information go to shinetv.co.nz

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

Unlocking the Bible: Leading the Way: The Catholic Guy: Hope Centre: Jovis Bon-Hovis and
6:00
David Pawson
P
Michael Youssef
P
Bruce Downs
P Derek Prince P
Wayne Alcorn
P
the Creation Crew
C 6:00
Lakewood Church: P
Joel Osteen Give Me An Answer: Your Best Life:
6:30 Joni and Friends D Hearts Wide Open D
Cliffe Knechtle
D Rhema Worship M
Phil Pringle
P Buzz and Poppy C 6:30

7:00
Jovis Bon-Hovis and C
From Aardvaark C Veggie Tales C
Adventures in C Scaly Adventures C Go Frills C 7:00
Hour of Power: the Creation Crew to Zucchini Booga Booga Land
P
Robert Schuller Paul the Little Jovis Bon-Hovis and
7:30 C Go Frills C Fifty the Tractor C C Buzz and Poppy C Veggie Tales C 7:30
Missionary the Creation Crew
Connection Point: Jovis Bon-Hovis and From Aardvaark Paul the Little
8:00
Reuben Munn
P Go Frills C
the Creation Crew
C
to Zucchini
C
Missionary
C The Lads TV C Fifty the Tractor C 8:00

8:30
Running with Fire: P
Impact for Life: P
Word For You: P
LIFE TV: P
Running with Fire: P
Connection Point: P RocKids TV C 8:30
Tak Bhana Peter & Bev Mortlock Terry & Jayne Calkin Paul de Jong Tak Bhana Reuben Munn
9:00
Paul the Little 9:00
Destined to Reign with Joseph Prince (Mon-Fri) P
Missionary
C
In Touch: P
Charles Stanley Give Me An Answer: Answers with Leading the Way: Brian Houston @
9:30 D The Exchange D P P P The Lads TV C 9:30
Cliffe Knechtle Bayless Conley Michael Youssef Hillsong TV
10:00
Word For You: P 10:00
Terry & Jayne Calkin HarvestLite
(Highlights from the P The 700 Club (Tue-Fri) N
10:30 Songs of Praise M Harvest Show) Life fm Y 10:30
Presents
11:00 Full Circle (Mon-Fri) D 11:00
Turning Point: P
Dr David Jeremiah
11:30 Enjoying Everyday Life with Joyce Meyer (Mon-Fri) P Hearts Wide Open D 11:30

Noon
LIFE TV: P Precious Memories M Christian World News N TheDRIVEtv Y Noon
Paul de Jong Sue Thomas: The American Bible
D E
FB Eye Challenge
12:30 Creation Magazine D Kiwis Can Fly D 12:30
The Bible Series:
7 & 14 June: Paul FEATURE:
1:00 21 June: Apocalypse/ See adjacent for details 1:00
Revelation
FEATURE:
1:30 1:30
FEATURE: See adjacent for details FEATURE: FEATURE: FEATURE:
2:00 See adjacent for details See adjacent for details See adjacent for details Planetshakers TV P See adjacent for details 2:00

FEATURE:
2:30
See adjacent for details The Restoration Road D Live from Studio B M 2:30

3:00 3:00
In Touch: P
Living Truth: P
Turning Point: P
Lakewood Church: P
Hour of Power: P
Give Me An Answer: Charles Stanley Charles Price Dr David Jeremiah Joel Osteen Robert Schuller
3:30 D 3:30
Cliffe Knechtle
4:00 Go Frills C Veggie Tales C The Lads TV C Buzz and Poppy C RocKids TV C
Leading the Way: P 4:00
Living Truth: Michael Youssef
P
Charles Price Paul the Little From Aardvaark Adventures in The Catholic Guy:
4:30 C Fifty the Tractor C C C The Lads TV C P 4:30
Missionary to Zucchini Booga Booga Land Bruce Downs
5:00 Rhema Worship (Mon-Fri) M TV4DADS D 5:00
Turning Point: P
Dr David Jeremiah
5:30 Full Circle (Mon-Fri) D Creation Magazine D 5:30

6:00
Joni and Brought to D 6:00
Friends you by Lakewood Church:
The 700 Club (Mon-Fri) N
Joel Osteen
P
6:30
Hearts Wide D 6:30
Open
7:00
Precious M
Impact for Life: P
Word For You: P
LIFE TV: P
Running with Fire: P
Hope Centre: P 7:00
Memories Peter & Bev Mortlock Terry & Jayne Calkin Paul de Jong Tak Bhana Wayne Alcorn
FEATURE:
Songs of What’s on Shine See adjacent for details
7:30
Praise
M Christian World News N Live from Studio B M TV4DADS D 7:30
The American Bible E
Sue Thomas: D Challenge
8:00 FB Eye Kiwis Can Fly D Everytown D Basic / Ed’s Story D Brought to 8:00
you by

8:30 8:30
FEATURE: FEATURE:
See adjacent for details FEATURE: See adjacent for details
9:00 9:00
See adjacent for details FEATURE: FEATURE: FEATURE: Sue Thomas: D
See adjacent for details See adjacent for details See adjacent for details FB Eye
9:30 Planetshakers TV P 9:30

Brian Houston @
10:00
Hillsong TV
P The Restoration Road D TheDRIVEtv Y Joni and Friends D 10:00

Your Best Life: Give Me An Answer: Answers with Your Best Life: Brian Houston @ Hope Centre:
10:30
Phil Pringle
P
Cliffe Knechtle
D The Exchange D
Bayless Conley
P
Phil Pringle
P
Hillsong TV
P
Wayne Alcorn
P 10:30

11:00
The Catholic Guy: P Enjoying Everyday Life with Joyce Meyer (Mon-Fri) P 11:00
Bruce Downs The Mark Gungor E
Show
11:30 The Exchange D Destined to Reign with Joseph Prince (Mon-Fri) P 11:30

Mid- Hope Centre: P

Unlocking the Bible: P
Leading the Way: P
The Catholic Guy: P Derek Prince P
Connection Point: P
LIFE TV: P
Mid-
night Wayne Alcorn David Pawson Michael Youssef Bruce Downs Reuben Munn Paul de Jong night

A Shine viewer says... “Shine has indeed impacted our lives. We are
a family of six with four children aged 7 to 12. As a Christian mum, I am P Preaching C Children M Music D Doco/Drama
always seeking good material and programmes for my children. So we KEY
looked at the offerings of Shine and they enjoy several shows. They have N News E Entertainment Y Youth
all developed a habit of tying everyday situations to Biblical lessons and
looking for solutions in God’s Word.”

12 | Christian Life Issue Twenty-Four June 2015

 SH IN E FE A TU RES
June 2015

Monumental
The story of America’s beginnings. Presented and produced by
and starring Kirk Cameron, this true story follows this father of
six across Europe and the United States as he seeks to discover
America’s true “national treasure” — the people, places and
principles that made America what it is today.
Fri 12 June @ 8pm; Sat 13 June @ 12pm

Cutback (run time: 87 min)
Luke dreams of being a pro surfer, but
when tragedy strikes he realises there is
much more to life than surfing waves.
Mon 1 @ 8.30pm; Tue 2 @ 1pm
Candle in the Dark (run time: 94 min)
The compelling story of William Carey
shows how a life dedicated to God can
make a profound difference in the world.
Sun 7 @ 8.30pm; Mon 8 @ 1pm
After Kony - Staging Hope (run time: 100 min)
American actors & Ugandan teenagers
collaborate on a theatre programme
for war-torn Uganda.
Tue 16 @ 8.30pm; Wed 17 @ 1pm
David Brainerd (run time: 58 min)
David Brainerd was a missionary to the
Native Americans. His story is a source
of inspiration to many Christians.
Tue 23 @ 9.30pm; Wed 24 @ 2pm

Flight: The Genius of Birds (run time: 60 min) Amish Grace (run time: 85 min) Marriage Retreat (run time: 82 min) Little Red Wagon (run time: 102 min)
The mysteries and mechanisms of birds, The peaceful Amish community of A group of best friends on a retreat 8-year-old Zach dedicates his life to
showcasing unmistakable evidence for Nickel Mines is forever changed when discover the true state of their marriages helping children made homeless by
design, purpose and plan. a gunman takes the lives of five girls in and how far apart they have drifted. Hurricane Charley. Based on true events.
Tue 2 @ 8.30pm; Wed 3 @ 1pm a schoolhouse shooting. Wed 17 @ 8.30pm; Thu 18 @ 1pm Wed 24 @ 8.30pm; Thu 25 @ 1pm
Mon 8 @ 8.30pm; Tue 9 @ 1pm
Journey to the Amazon (run time: 60 min) Goal of the Century (run time: 45 min) Notorious to Glorious (run time: 45 min)
Charles Price reports on the work of the No Bright Lights (run time: 45 min) A look at the life of Canadian hockey A look at the beauty and challenge of
‘Evangelical Mission to Assist Fishermen’ An up close look at Networks Romania, hero Paul Henderson, and his goal of the re-building the broken life of Michael
in the Amazon rainforest. a Christian relief organisation reaching century against the Soviet team in 1972. Bull Roberts from hatred and violence.
Tue 2 @ 9.30pm; Wed 3 @ 2pm; out to Romania’s poorest people. Thu 18 @ 8.30pm; Fri 19 @ 12.30pm Thu 25 @ 8.30pm; Fri 26 @ 1pm
Tue 9 @ 9.30pm; Wed 10 @ 2pm Tue 9 @ 8.30pm; Wed 10 @ 1pm
The Encounter (run time: 100 min) King’s Faith (run time: 108 min)
The Calling (run time: 76 min) Catching Hearts (run time: 71 min) Six strangers are trapped in a Thai When 18-year-old Brendan King leaves
A documentary by David Ranghelli on What happens when a bestselling resort, facing a hurricane. They his old turbulent gang life, his past
commitment to God, loyalty to family atheist author loses his faith in atheism? encounter a man who brings each a continues to threaten his new-found
and the faith to discover God’s will. Wed 10 @ 8.30pm; Thu 11 @ 1pm message of hope for their broken lives. faith, family and future.
Wed 3 @ 8.30pm; Thu 4 @ 1pm Fri 19 @ 8pm; Sat 20 @ 12pm Fri 26 @ 8pm; Sat 27 @ 12pm
Robber of the Cruel Streets
Flux: A Journey of Constant Change (run time: 58 min) Angel Next Door (run time: 94 min) The Derby Stallion (run time: 98 min)
(run time: 60 min) George Muller‘s mission was to rescue Each Christmas, the students in Olivia’s 15-year-old Patrick doesn’t know what
Surfers aged from 12-60 from different orphans from street life in England class present ‘My Impossible Christmas to do with his life. A misunderstood
backgrounds but with a common faith during the time of Charles Dickens. Wish Papers’, but this year... the wishes horse trainer convinces him to train for
live together in NZ for 10 days. Thu 11 @ 8.30pm; Fri 12 @ 12.30pm are coming true! the Derby Cup.
Thu 4 @ 8.30pm; Fri 5 @ 1pm Sat 20 @ 2pm Sat 27 @ 7pm; Sun 28 @ 2pm
Our Wild Hearts (run time: 90 min)
Jake Hamilton (run time: 30 min) A wealthy teenage girl from Malibu finds Jimmy (run time: 95 min) Meant To Be (run time: 91 min)
Jake Hamilton’s new album, Freedom the love of her father & a wild mustang The story of a mentally challenged When 20-year old Nathan loses his career
Calling, is a mix of passionate worship in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. teen who interacts with supernatural and girlfriend, he questions his purpose.
and prophetic declaration. Sat 13 @ 2pm beings he calls ‘Watchers’. He sets out to find his birth mother.
Fri 5 @ 8pm Sat 20 @ 7pm; Sun 21 @ 2pm Sun 28 @ 8.30pm; Mon 29 @ 1pm
Heart of a Hero (run time: 103 min)
From the Rough (run time: 97 min) An 11-year-old boy’s derby dreams God’s Country (run time: 91 min) The Moment After (run time: 84 min)
Catana Starks was the first woman to are shattered when his father is killed in Meghan Doherty will do anything to In a split second, a mass disappearance
lead a collegiate men’s golf team to an Afghanistan. He teams up with a man close a deal. With a $100 million dollar occurs. After the initial turmoil, the FBI is
all-time-record championship season. who has lost his son to revive the derby. deal looming, not even God can stop called in to investigate.
Fri 5 @ 8.30pm; Sat 6 @ 12pm Sat 13 @ 7pm; Sun 14 @ 2pm her, she thinks. Mon 29 @ 8.30pm; Tue 30 @ 1pm
Sun 21 @ 8.30pm; Mon 22 @ 1pm
If I Had Wings (run time: 89 min) Free Wheels East (run time: 93 min) A Gathering of Souls (run time: 55 min)
Two boys work together so one can Cousins Jamie and Ben cycle through The Assignment (run time: 92 min) With expert commentary from pastors,
achieve his dream of running for the 33 countries, and in so doing change After acceptance to music school, academics and evangelists, a look at
track team despite being blind, and the course of their lives... forever. Eliza’s world is rocked when she uncovers the history of the Billy Graham crusades.
the other can stay out of jail. Sun 14 @ 8.30pm; Mon 15 @ 1pm a shocking mystery about her family. Tue 30 @ 8.30pm
Sat 6 @ 2pm Mon 22 @ 8.30pm; Tue 23 @ 1pm
Prodigal (run time: 90 min) Youth Under Fire (run time: 45 min)
Underdogs (run time: 120 min) Levi is tired of the expectations of Weaving Life (run time: 58 min) Violence has infiltrated American
A small-town high school football team being a preacher’s son. He receives The story of Dan Terry, who spent 40 culture. How is it learned? Why does
stands up for an entire community. a large inheritance and takes the years devoted to the Afghani people it happen? How do we teach our kids
Sat 6 @ 7pm; Sun 7 @ 2pm chance to get away from it all. until tragically assassinated in 2010. that violence isn’t an option?
Sat 27 @ 2pm Mon 15 @ 8.30pm; Tue 16 @ 1pm Tue 23 @ 8.30pm; Wed 24 @ 1pm Tue 30 @ 9.30pm

To watch Shine
Freeview Satellite 25
shinetv.co.nz
Details correct at time of printing. For up-to-date
Sky 201 twitter.com/shinetv 24-hour listings and programme information
or online at shinetv.co.nz facebook.com/shinetv.nz go to shinetv.co.nz.

www.mychristiandaily.com | 13
Persecution
Remaining True
to God’s Word
in the face of rising
persecution in the
West
F
or a long time, those of us who live in the af-
fluent West have thought of the persecution of
Christians as something that happens “over
there somewhere”. In the Middle East, in North Af-
rica … anywhere, except here at home. But that is all
changing, and for some reason comfortable, pew–sit-
ting Christians are shocked.
The Times They are a Changin’
I guess that’s understandable. For so long, we’ve had
things so good. When I was a lad (five decades ago) it was
the norm for families to dress up in their Sunday bests and
toddle off to church once a week.
Falling pregnant out of wedlock was a scandal. Ho-
mosexuality was a criminal offence. There was no such
thing as a sex change operation. People who cross–
dressed were few and far between and were considered
just downright crazy. Abortion was murder and punish-
able by prison–time … oh and, by the way pubs closed
their doors at 6:00pm.
Now, I am not for one moment suggesting that all
those things were good. Underlying values and social re-
actions are two different things. But my point is this: the
world has changed. And it’s changed drastically.
Today, around 10% of people attend church on a Sun-
day (a lot of people mind you, but a clear minority). Chil-
dren outside marriage are a valid lifestyle choice, as is liv-
ing together, as is getting married anywhere but a church.
Homosexuality is not only decriminalised (good!) but
is being taught in our schools as being an acceptable and
equal choice. What is progressively, in fact, being crim-
inalised, is speaking out against this choice. Same–sex
marriage is already the law in Canada, 37 states of the
USA, New Zealand – a total of 17 countries around the
world. It is likely to become law in Australia in the near
future.
Cross–dressing is no longer something for those on
the fringe, it is a choice supported by expensive medical
procedures, to be celebrated when someone finally be-
comes who they always were on the inside.
Pregnancies can be legally terminated as a matter of
convenience and it has apparently become a fundamental
14 | Christian Life Issue Twenty-Four June 2015
democratic right to be able to go out and get plastered at a
drinking venue until 3am in the morning.
Have I missed anything?
Political Correctness – The New Rule of Law
So the people who these days, more and more, find them-
selves on the lunatic fringe, are those promoting family
values, modesty, self–restraint and decency. They are now
‘bigoted’, ‘narrow–minded’, ‘ultra–conservative’, ‘ho-
mophobic’ individuals, who actively discriminate against
others.
My how the world has changed in just 50 years!
And so my question to you is this: How are you han-
dling this new world order in your heart, in your beliefs,
in your attitudes, in your practices? (Or are you still cling-
ing to the past, hoping all this will go away?)
The truly scary thing for those comfortable, pew–sit-
ting Christians in the West, is that more and more, speak-
ing out for values that we, as Bible–believing, Jesus–lov-
ing Christians hold dear as representing the God–inspired
truth, is becoming the battle front against the LGBT com-
munity, against vested interests, against the increasingly
entrenched systems and structures of a fallen world.
Back in April 2014, the CEO of Mozilla (a company
which, amongst other things, is responsible for the popu-
lar web browser ‘FireFox’) was forced to resign, because
he made a donation to an organisation that opposes same–
sex marriage.
In March 2015, Belfast based Ashers Bakery was
prosecuted for refusing to bake a Bert and Ernie (Sesame
Street) cake, with the slogan ‘Support Gay Marriage’. The
cake had been ordered for a private function marking In-
ternational Day Against Homophobia.
It appears that Gareth Lee, a volunteer member of the
LGBT advocacy group Queer Space, claimed he was left
feeling like a ‘lesser person’ when his order was turned
down.
Mrs McArthur (a joint owner of Ashers Bakery) tes-
tified: The problem was with the message on the cake
because, as a Christian, I do not support gay marriage.
(Source: Daily Mail, Australia)
These are by no means isolated instances. They are
the crest of a rising wave of persecution, coming under
the guise of ‘political correctness’.
So here’s the shock. Persecution, for the first time, has
come to the doorstep of your church, your workplace and
your home, here in the hitherto comfortable and safe af-
fluence of the West.
Don’t be so Shocked
Of course, this is always what Jesus predicted.
If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me be-
fore it hated you. If you belonged to the world, the world
would love you as its own. Because you do not belong to
the world, but I have chosen you out of the world—there-
fore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said
to you, ‘Servants are not greater than their master.’ If they
persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my
word, they will keep yours also. But they will do all these
things to you on account of my name, because they do not
know him who sent me. (John 15:18–21)
So how do you respond to this? How do you react?
What will you do, when you’re the hi–tech exec, the bak-
er or the florist who comes under persecution?
A Stark Choice
It seems to me that there is a stark choice – we either re-
main faithful to God’s Word, or we go with the flow. It’s
as simple as that.
Many are going with the flow. It’s a lot easier that way.
No name–calling, no marginalisation, no prosecution.
Going with the flow is certainly the easiest way. The only
problem with that, is the end destination:
Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide
and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there
are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road
is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
(Matt 7:13,14)
And going with the flow is also so much easier, if we
maintain biblical illiteracy. I had a lecturer many years
ago at Bible College, who had been in pastoral ministry
for over 30 years. In the first lecture of ‘Intro to New Tes-
tament’, he said something along these lines: At every
church I have arrived at as pastor, I have always assumed

a low level of biblical literacy … and I have never been dis-
appointed.
I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve posted a blog
about contentious social issues, thrown scripture into the
mix, and had people respond with … but I think ... but I
believe … but these days … but … but … but.
Here’s there logic. I am a Christian, I believe ‘x’ there-
fore ‘x’ must be the truth.
My response, lovingly, is always the same: When giv-
en the choice between your opinion and God’s Word, I’ll
choose God’s Word every time.
How can Bible–believing, Christ–loving Christians,
having let the Spirit lift the words of Psalm 139 off the page
and write it on their hearts, not see abortion for what it is?
How can any Bible–believing, Christ–loving Christian who,
having heard the terror of God’s Word in Romans 1:26–32,
not ache for, pray for, fear for, those deluded by sins of sex-
uality and seek ways to love them into the Kingdom of God?
Well the easiest ways not to do those things, is to leave
your Bible up on that shelf gathering dust, ignoring the pow-
erful, grace–full, terrible, life–giving Word of God, instead
allowing the truth to be displaced by the impostor of self–
made opinion.
Might I ask you gently but directly today, are your be-
liefs and actions guided more by the living Word of God, or
the opinions of this world?
This is Not a Theory Lesson
For me, none of this is a theory lesson. I live in the heart
of the gay district in Sydney, and so I am surrounded by
many people who don’t believe what I believe. Some them
are very near and dear to me.
I find myself walking this fine line of love and truth on
a daily basis. It’s not always easy, but as I do, the words of
Jesus ring in my ears:
But I say to you that listen, love your enemies, do good
to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for
those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek,
offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your
coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who
begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not
ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do
to you. (Luke 6:27–31)
Here’s what that means for me: loving someone doesn’t
mean agreeing with them. Conversely, disagreeing with
someone doesn’t mean hating them.
I am not homophobic because I believe God’s truth
over the world’s lies.
Jesus loved you and me enough to tell us the truth, plain
and simple. He never swept our sin under the carpet. He
confronted it in love and with wisdom. In doing so, He was
counter–cultural, He went against the flow and eventually
… they crucified Him for that.
He bore no anger toward His enemies. He didn’t see their
opposition to God’s truth as a battle line to be drawn. He
didn’t, like many so–called Christians today, spit venom and
hurl vitriol at those who persecuted Him.
He loved us enough, to tell and to be the truth.
So… how will you remain true to God’s Word, in the
face of rising persecution in the West?
Berni Dymet is the ceo of the global media ministry –
Christianityworks. His radio and television broadcasts
reach millions of people each week in
over 160 countries around the world.
For instant access to his free, daily
eDevotional, stop by at edevotional.net
Youth with a Mission
MEDICAL SHIP SET TO SAIL
Above: The Pacific Hope; Below: Jesse Misa (CEO Marine Reach) and Captain Roger Connolly
(Captain M/V Pacific Hope)
T
he Pacific Hope, Youth With a
Mission’s new medical ship, is about
to embark on its maiden voyage into
the Pacific on the 20th of June. The M/V
Pacific Hope was purchased in Japan two
years ago and has been undergoing a refit in
Tauranga since that time. The fifty-four meter
vessel can carry a complement of 60 people.
The ship is equipped with a medical clinic,
training seminar room, large galley and mess
hall, crew lounge, ship office and has a 250
square meter cargo hold for emergency relief
supplies.
“It is not just for medical work” says Captain
Jesse Misa, CEO of Marine Reach. “Training
is also an important part of the ministry with
seminars planned on board in the areas such as
primary healthcare, community development,
leadership and pastoral care etc. Creating a
long term and lasting change is a major part
of our strategy for the communities we visit.”
Youth With a Mission has a long history of
using ships to complete the Great Commission
starting with the M/V Anastasis which visited
New Zealand in 1983. Over the last twenty-four years, Marine Reach, the maritime arm of Youth With a
Mission, has pioneered four ships out of New Zealand visiting eighteen nations across the South Pacific
involving over 300 port calls. Approximately 330,000 men, women and children have received medical
care from the ministry’s dental, optical and primary healthcare teams. Additionally, over one million
people have been reached by ship based and land based Mission Reach Teams comprised of church
groups that serve on board for two weeks at a time. This gives the local church an excellent opportunity
to get a missions experience as a church group in a controlled environment. The primary purpose of the
ministry of Marine Reach is to serve the poorer more isolated coastal communities with God’s heart of
love, mercy and compassion. Youth With a Mission currently has three ships serving in the Pacific with
the M/V Pacific Link serving in Bougainville, the M/V YWAM-PNG serving in Papua New Guinea,
the M/V Pacific Hope to serve in Vanuatu. Marine Reach also has vessels working with tribal peoples
throughout the Amazon Basin as well as in the Mediterranean Sea aboard our Marine Reach Europe ship,
the M/V Next Wave. Over a dozen other smaller vessels serve with YWAM around the world.
The M/V Pacific Hope will sail for Samoa before heading back to Fiji then Vanuatu where she will be
concentrating her efforts for the next few years. “Vanuatu is an excellent location to base the vessel as it
has a short sailing time to both the Solomon Islands and Fiji”, says Captain Misa.
Dozens of volunteers and contractors from around New Zealand completed the refit. The total two million
dollars needed for the purchase and refit of the vessel was raised in New Zealand and the USA.
www.mychristiandaily.com | 15
‘Parachurch’ Ministry
UNLIKELY MATERIAL
The story of Elevate
D
i Willis, who with her husband Hugh and with
Margie Willers founded the Christian Fellowship
for Disabled almost four decades ago, concedes
she was not the most likely person God could have used.
“I was hopeless at school,” she admits, “just hope-
less. My father and mother and sister were brilliant, but
I failed everything. Eventually my parents had me as-
sessed and realised I was a ‘slow learner’ and they sent
me to a special boarding school.”
Di was born near the end of World War II, and like
many children in war-shattered London, was sent to live
in the country where life was safer. She could never have
imagined how her life would turn out.
Despite her learning difficulties she persevered,
helped by her teachers and coached at home by a per-
sistent mother and sister. After attaining her basic O lev-
els, Di was accepted to train as an occupational therapist.
After graduating, she worked at an RAF rehabilitation
centre in Surrey, at the same time enjoying a full social
life. She was the original party girl.
One day her father spotted an ad for someone to work
at a rehabilitation centre in New Zealand, and suggest-
ed she apply. A representative came from New Zealand
to interview her, and Di was given a two-year contract,
beginning in 1967. Later she worked at Middlemore Hos-
pital, and it was during this period, through a tramping
club, that she met Hugh Willis, to whom she was imme-
diately attracted.
As Di tells it, the more reserved Hugh was not so im-
pressed with this worldly party girl, and their friendship
went nowhere.
Conversion
Then an event happened which transformed Di’s life. A
friend invited her to attend a Billy Graham crusade meet-
ing in Auckland. On the night of the meeting the friend
didn’t turn up, but Di went anyway. She heard the gospel
preached and was radically converted.
Soon afterwards she became re-acquainted with
Hugh, who was now more interested! He became a born-
again Christian and they were married at St Andrews,
16 | Christian Life Issue Twenty-Four June 2015
BY JULIE BELDING
Epsom, in 1970. Hugh later became head of the mathe-
matics department at Westlake Boys High School, where
he taught for 32 years. He is now retired.
At Middlemore Di was working with para- and tet-
raplegics, and one day in front of Bev Everton, a tetra-
plegic, she felt God saying there should be a ministry for
people with disabilities like this — whether or not they
were Christian.
Di also met Margie Willers of Te Puke — another di-
vine appointment. Margie had been born with athetoid
cerebral palsy and was a mature Christian. Believing for
a miracle, she had flown to the USA to attend healing
meetings led by the late Kathryn Kuhlmann. But the
longed-for miracle never eventuated.
Margie went on to Faith Bible College where through
tears of disappointment she sensed God telling her he had
a higher purpose for her life: she would be instrumental in
a new ministry for people with disabilities.1 Thirty-nine
years ago she shared this vision with Di and Hugh, and
together they began to organise regular meetings at the
Willises’ home in Torbay, on the North Shore. The group
called itself the Christian Fellowship For Disabled.
“We were always a ‘parachurch’ ministry,” Di
explains, “never a church.”
The three Willis children –Jenny, David and Andrew--
were involved from the start.
“The whole family needed to be part of our ministry,”
Di says, “and they were.”
Later, when Hugh and Di organised camps for people
with disabilities, their children went along to support
them and continued doing so for years.
The Encourager
In 1977 they put out a simple newsletter called The Mag-
azine. Margie Willers typed the content, using a rod held
in her mouth, and forty copies were printed on an old
Gestetner. Later the newsletter grew into a magazine
and was properly printed. Hugh was its editor from the
earliest days. For years Di and Hugh put this magazine
1 Margie’s personal story, Awaiting the Healer, is now
available as a Kindle book
together in their home with the help of a 30-person team
of volunteers who collated, folded, stapled and prepared
up to five thousand copies for dispatch. A Christian print-
er saw what was happening and offered to produce what
was now called The Encourager, half in colour and at a
reasonable cost. Four years later it became a full-colour
glossy and was posted out by a mail centre. Now this
magazine — still free —has a circulation of 6,000 and is
sent out quarterly. A digital version is also produced, and
the magazine is available on audio CD and Daisy for the
visually impaired. Production continues to be supported
by donations and a few trusts.
Ministry Centre
The meetings continued to grow, and soon the Willises’
home was bursting at the seams. It was clear they needed
a larger place for their meetings, so they held them in
different venues. A lack of funds did not daunt Di, who
was confident God would provide. At first the group rent-
ed a house in Balmoral Road, central Auckland, for their
centre. Then they were virtually gifted, through a set of
amazing circumstances, a large house in Mt Smart Road,
Onehunga, which had belonged to YWAM. In 1994 they
renovated this house to meet the needs of the group and
changed its name to Christian Ministries with Disabled
Trust.
“God has always supplied expert help for us just
when we needed it,” Di says.
Today the house, which also serves as the Trust head-
quarters, is a popular drop-in centre. It is open three days
a week from 9:30am to 4pm, with an average of one hun-
dred attendees, including staff. Di still goes in on those
three days and Hugh on one. The place is a hive of activ-
ity. Often students from Carey Baptist College or Laid-
law College come to observe and help out as part of their
practical ministry training.
Other developments
Since 1982 small camps have been run in different ven-
ues along with a large one held annually at Totara Springs
in Matamata every Labour Weekend.
Torch Ministries was founded for people with visual
impairments, Joy Ministries for people with intellectual
disabilities, and Emmanuel as a support group for fami-
lies with disabled children.
CFFD started a lending library and a tape library.
Now, with the advance of technology, they supply CDs,
DVDs and USB disks.
In Sept 2012 the organisation, then well over thirty
years old, rebranded itself (“the name of the Trust was
such a mouthful”) and called itself ELEVATE Christian
Disability Trust. With its stated mission to evangelise, to
equip and to educate, it remains an interdenomination-
al, registered charitable trust inspired by 1 Samuel 16:7:
Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks
on the heart. There are sixteen branches and ministries
throughout New Zealand and programmes operating in
the Philippines.
In his history of the ministry (On the Knife Edge of
Faith, published in 2006) Hugh spoke of how the Lord
chose people with seemingly little in common to come
together to carry out his purposes.
“The beginnings of a Christian work with people with
disabilities in New Zealand,” wrote Hugh, “gives us a
fascinating glimpse of how he so often uses seemingly
unlikely material.”
Di Willis would not disagree.
“God is just amazing!” she says.
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POSITIONS VACANT

I N V I TAT I O N
to partner with the Asia Theological Association
Management Accountant [part-time]
Interserve NZ is looking for a motivated, people-centred, detail-oriented and financially
strategic Management Accountant. The ideal candidate will be passionate about
(the largest evangelical continental theological cross-cultural Christian mission and support our National Director as he develops
association worldwide) and with the Asia the organisation, and work with the Interserve Treasurer, Finance and Administration
Theological Research and Development (NZ) Trust Committee, the Interserve NZ Council, and the global Interserve Fellowship.
by prayer, finance and as a volunteer to: This strategic and self-funded part-time role is available immediately, and would
• Train national pastors in servant leadership in Nepal, probably suit a semi- or recently-retired accounting professional. It requires a mature
Pakistan and Sri Lanka at the MDiv/BD level; team player fully committed to the vision and values of Interserve, with excellent
• Train teachers for the Bible Schools and Colleges in communication, computing (Xero and Microsoft CRM knowledge an advantage)
these countries at the MTh level to enable them to and strategic management skills. She/he will be a person able to work with a wide
respond to the pressures and persecution from the set of people, across global cultures, and a variety of tasks at any given time, able
majority religions and to counter emerging heresies in to respond quickly and to deliver to set timelines. The role would initially include
the churches; some developmental systems work, in liaison with the Interserve Treasurer. It could
• Volunteer to teach English as a second language to both start as a .5 position but could potentially reduce as progress is being made. Working
faculty and students in these countries either for one hours would be by arrangement and flexible. The location would be based in Central
month of intensive teaching or for 1-3 year service. Auckland but a virtual component could be explored as well.
For a full job description, and/or to send your CV, please contact the National
For information contact: 4 Bambury Close, Point Chevalier Director, Johannes Balzer, during business
Dr Bruce Nicholls, Executive Secretary Auckland 1022
www.interserve.org.nz
hours on (09) 623 6105 or email him at
Asia Research & Development Tel. (09) 846 1211 INTERSERVE
aotearoa new zealand
johannes@interserve.org.nz
(NZ) Trust Email: brucejnicholls@gmail.com

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www.mychristiandaily.com | 17
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Ordinary New Zealand Churches doing Extraordinary things!

Money Can’t Buy you Vision

Ginny Larsen reflects on the role of cold hard cash in community ministry.
Do we sometimes put the cart before the horse?
WHAT PREVENTS you from fulfilling you’d do if money was no object. You
your dreams? Talking with numerous come up with dreams, then put them in
organisations, you would think it is simply a the ‘maybe in the future when we have
matter of money. In my experience, this is money’ basket. But maybe what is holding
seldom the case. Most likely you’ve done you back is not money but your own
the exercise where you write down what mindset.

Read the full article at

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Love Your Neighbour helps ordinary churches

achieve extraordinary things in their community
in three important ways:
Stories
We scout out and share the stories of success around the
country. These stories inspire, build vision and help us
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of Jesus.
Tools
Whether it’s a book, a DVD, a church kit or a thoughtfully
written ‘Insights’ article from a New Zealand practitioner,
Love Your Neighbour is an excellent go-to resource for
those involved in church-based community outreach.

Training
Most community ministries are run by volunteer leaders,
and most ministries die because that leader failed to clearly
define success, build a real team and pass on the baton.
Over time our highly practical training covers the essentials
that every ministry leader needs, including making the
right start, casting vision, building a team, finding the
resources you need, preventing burnout and finding a
successor.

www.loveyourneighbour.nz

How to Resource How to Engage your

your Growth Plan
If you can fulfil your vision on your
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Wellington Saturday 8 August
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Do you have the sneaky feeling that your
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Tauranga Saturday 25 July
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To learn more visit www.loveyourneighbour.nz/workshops

Love Your Neighbour : EVERY NEIGHBOURHOOD BEFRIENDED BY A LOCAL CHURCH