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How could I not return?

Dean Yeoman (DPG pg 10) has returned to SA in response to an invitation to help with recovery after Cyclone Idai. He penned a few words before his departure. It is obvious that Cyclone Idai is unfolding to be a huge disaster. Our Mercy Air helicopter was amongst the first responders as soon as this started developing and when I saw some of the first images of the devastation, I felt almost guilty that life should be so good here in New Zealand, when thousands of folks in Moz were huddled togethe...

Cyclone Idai, Mozambique

No doubt you have seen on mainstream media the vast area of land under water in Mozambique. The situation there is unbelievably dire. Thousands have lost their lives; infrastructure is gone; crops are ruined. Will you help? Through GC Aid we have an opportunity to make a real impact. Dean Yeoman (DPG pg 10), a helicopter pilot & engineer with Mercy Air, has been flying medical teams into remote parts of Southern Mozambique since 2012. He knows the challenges of the country really well. Although ...

Disaster in West Papua

Heavy rain and flash flooding has hit the communities of West Papua and a huge mudslide has taken the lives of at least 58 people so far, and many more are missing, possibly buried beneath a sea of mud. There are reports of children been swept away from their parents as the flash flood roared through the area. A local Church leader is advising that four of their churches have been buried beneath the mud and that one of their Pastors is missing and thought to be buried in his church building. Lif...

Healing Christchurch

The tragedy of the events in Christchurch on Friday provides opportunities for Christians to lament with, and to support folk in the Muslim community across the country. Please continue to pray into the situation, that the love of Jesus will be very evident and that God’s Spirit will be at work in mighty ways. On a practical level, GC Aid is making an immediate advance to Friends of Friends Fellowship to enable them to fly additional personnel to Christchurch and to enable them to assist Musli...

IN SYMPATHY

Please pray for the family of Sylvia Wright. Sylvia passed away in the early hours of Monday 11 March. She will be remembered as a loved mission partner who served her Lord for a great length of time in India. If anyone would like a copy of her memoirs – A Nurse on a Mission – Please contact her sister, Winsome - missos4him@gmail.com....

How The Local Church Goes Global

Here is a book worth reading and giving to your Leadership and Missions team. Its just 120 pages of A5 text yet packs a punch with foundational stuff! Review Missions - How the Local Church Goes Global; Andy Johnson (Crossway, Illinois: 2017) The book begins with a foreword by David Platt, President of the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, emphasising the practical nature of this book for local churches and pastors and concludes, “I wish every pastor and leader of...

Headspace - Block 1

We’ve had a great start to 2019. We’ve kicked off the year with a team of 16 that includes eleven gappers, two interns, our leaders Walter and Tracy Annear and Youth Director, Charlie Shadbolt.  Block One: Foundations Dates: 4th March - 31st March Block Description: Getting to know one another and learning to live in community together. The gapper’s studies focus on deepening their understanding of the Bible and the missional heart of God. We have material based around emotional ...

Celebrating 10 Years of Logos Hope

OM Ships have this week celebrated 10 years since the Logos Hope entered into ministry. You might like to take a minute watch this brief You Tube clip, and give thanks for all that God has done through the ship ministry, and pray for Chile where the ship is currently visiting.WATCH THE 10 YEARS OF LOGOS HOPE VIDEO...

In Sympathy

Please pray for Wendy, Lauren, Ashlee and Andrew McCabe. On Saturday night, Ian, their husband and father, died suddenly in New Delhi. It is assumed that he died of a heart attack while in transit at Delhi Airport between flights. Pray that God will be their comfort and strength in their sadness and grief. Wendy and Lauren were both here in New Zealand for Lauren to start university, while the younger two children, Ashlee and Andrew, were in India. Wendy and Lauren have flown back to India. Ianâ...

Growing People Through Mission

Recently I encountered a new Pakistani Christian in Malaysia who came to Christ through a discipling process that intentionally shared the good news of Jesus. He had left Pakistan and his religious roots to pursue women and beer in Bangkok but had found Christ in Kuala Lumpur through relationships developed in this small church.This young man is committing himself to a life of mission and desires to go back to his country of birth to plant churches. I found this so encouraging and wondered what ...

A Time To Celebrate

GC3 has a long history of association with many mission partners. During the past 118 years, support has been provided to many Kiwis who have given the best years of their lives to present the ‘Good News of Jesus’ in cross-cultural settings around the globe. Responding to the call of God on their hearts, the ingenuity these people have contributed in tandem with the Holy Spirit has meant their ministry has had significant impact for building God’s kingdom here on earth.  One remarkabl...

What Kind Of Leader Do We Need Today In Church?

One thing is clear. There is a serious leadership meltdown in the Church today. All across the Christendom continuum, the cry for the need for visionary leaders with integrity is being echoed. For years we have been training leaders who only know how to maintain the status quo. They may answer a few questions but do not know how to ask intelligent questions and cannot think outside the box. It is evident that we don’t have leaders who can think for themselves and come up with new ways of doing...

Made For More

What is the story we tell ourselves and each other about who we are? Storytelling plays a noble and historic role in our lives and in society. Stories give us a narrative to guide and instruct us. They are crucial to our knowing who we are; they provide a sense of identity.  The Apostle Paul wrote a letter to Ephesus which is filled with the story about believers and followers of Jesus. In Ephesians chapter two he writes “8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t tak...

From The Office

Christmas Office HoursThe last open day at the office will be 21st December. We will reopen on 22nd January. We would like to take this time to wish you all a happy Christmas remembering the reason for the season. Internet BankingWe encourage you to use internet banking when giving gifts to mission parnters and ministries. However, often we have insufficient detail appear on our statement for us to know who the gift is for or who it is from. When sending funds to us electronically, please e...

How Did I Get here?

This article is based on an interview with Katie, a social worker with a passion for justice. Tell us about the work you’re doing with Partners in Thailand and Burma. Currently I’m settling into my role at Partners and figuring out what it is going to look like. At the moment, a lot of my time will be spent compiling a mental health curriculum for fourth year medic students working in Burma. So far this has included pulling together resources, making connections with people in Chiang Mai, an...

How Did I Get Here?

Interview by Melanie Crosbie | GC3 Youth Director AssistantThis article is based on an interview with Katie, a social worker with a passion for justice. Katie grew up in Te Awakairangi (Lower Hutt) with her parents, three younger sisters and their Yorkshire Terrier. In 2011 she was a gapper with Headspace and went on from there to study social work, where she was privileged with the experience of a four-month placement in Thailand. Now a registered social worker with experience in mental health,...

From The Office

COMMENDATIONS The Lighthouse Church in Masterton have the privilege of commending Prabhu & Christina Pothula to partner with Mission Aviation Fellowship in Australia.LAKE LEARNING CAMP Lake Learning Camp will be running again from 15th – 22nd January. Click here for more information and a registration form.GC3 NewsWe thank God for Graham & Betty (Day 19) and honour them on the anniversary of their fifty years of service to the people of Latin America. They are in Guatemala ...

Commendation

Crossroads Church in Palmerston North have the pleasure of commending Rebekah Lamb to serve in the Kudjip Nazarene Health Ministries, PNG, serving as a medical doctor. Rebekah will depart for PNG as soon as her visa comes through....

Operation World Resources

Whether you are an intercessor praying behind the scenes for world change, a missionary reaping the benefits of intercession, or simply curious about the world, Operation World Resources will give you the information necessary to be a vital part in fulfilling God's passion for the nations.Operation World Resources showcases all formats available for the 7th edition of the definitive global prayer handbook Operation World, including the book, ebook, CD, DVD-ROM, and prayer map.WEBSITE: https...

What does a bible translation consultant do?

Bible translators are my heroes! And I get to work with them! Most are whole-heartedly devoted to their challenging task – toiling day after day and year after year – often with hostile opposition. Several tell me it’s the hardest thing they’ve ever tried to do – even those who’ve already accomplished big things as pastors or professionals. Translators need competence in a wide variety of fields. I mainly help them with just one of the many things they need to do well – how to come...

Personal Support Raising

The God Ask: A Fresh, Biblical Approach to Personal Support RaisingAs a ministry worker, raising support can be a daunting task. It doesn't have to be intimidating though. It isn't about money or asking people to give. It is about looking to God to provide for you. He has given you a vision for ministry, and now you get to invite others into that vision. Your job is to pray and work hard to discover those whom the Lord has already prepared to invest in you and your ministry. God has done His wor...

To be an effective pray-er

Last week, a dear friend of mine died. She was a lady of prayer, a lady who also had a deep interest in mission. She was 91 years old. For many years I worked in the same office as this lady. She had an outstanding Christian character which I admired. I was humbled to know that not only did she pray for me, but she also prayed for our three boys each day. At her funeral, I discovered that there were many others for whom she prayed each day as well.  What makes a good pray-er? What has made ...

Finishing Well

It’s a bit awkward being asked to write about finishing well—because we aren’t yet horizontal-in-a-box and are likely to mess up a few times in future. Of course, the editors could have asked Billy Graham or John Stott—but they aren’t likely to provide an article anytime soon! We have, however, just finished 24 years involvement with the South Asia Institute of Advanced Christian Studies (SAIACS) in Bangalore, India, and for the last ten Ian has been the Principal. We’ve just...

How to Care for Your Missionaries

Serving As Senders: How to Care for Your Missionaries While They Are Preparing to Go, While They Are on the Field, When They Return HomeA missionary needs care in at least six areas:Moral SupportLogistics SupportFinancial SupportPrayer SupportCommunication SupportReentry SupportThis book gives scores of practical ideas in how a team can provide the necessary care for a missionary. Chapter One tells "when" and "why" a missionary needs care. Chapters Two through Seven deal with each of the six are...

How to help your congregation engage with your mission partners

If you’re a person who is interested in mission you’re always on the lookout for news and updates and keen to hear how your mission partners are doing offshore. However, for those who haven’t been bitten by the ‘missions bug’ or are new to your church, it can be hard to engage in the lives and activities of others so far away. We don’t want mission interest to be restricted to the mission’s team or one special Sunday, we want it to be just as much a part of your church as your chil...