Dianne Sika-Paotonu

A healthy outlook includes thinking beyond ourselves to others in need.  Over the past few days I have noticed the many ways that our churches are reaching out into New Zealand communities at the moment.  Some of these are public campaigns, personal witnessing opportunities, health programs, archaeology seminars, children’s programs, special Sabbaths, sermon series and financial seminars.  What is your church doing?  I would love to hear more of how a culture of reaching out is being cultivated in your church.  It is thrilling to see churches thinking beyond themselves.

I wish to pay tribute to a good friend of our conference, Pr Lindsay Sleight.  Pr Lindsay has been battling with cancer over the last two years.  Lindsay passed away last Thursday afternoon in New South Wales, Australia where he has been pastor of Gateway Church.  He was president of the South New Zealand Conference from 2001 – 2006.  He has had a positive and powerful impact on the church with his vision for the local church and his passion for people.  Please remember his wife Gayle and their teenage sons, Reuben, Jesse and Aaron in your prayers. Messages can be left for them at http://gatewaynsw.adventist.org.au

200 women attended this year’s Women’s Retreat at Tui Ridge Park.  Despite the heavy rain on Sunday morning the weekend was a huge success.  Marina Shearer’s presentations were highly appreciated and the fellowship, as always was a real delight.  Well done to Pr Kylie Ward (Director, Women’s Ministries) and her team.

Congratulation to Dianne Sika-Paotonu (picture above) of Wellington Church for her groundbreaking research into the development of designer vaccines for the treatment of cancer.  Dianne is a Malaghan Institute scientist who among her many ministries plays piano for church and co-leads the Adventist Students Association with her husband.  For her outstanding research she has won the Advancing Human Health and Wellbeing Category of the 2008 MacDiamid Young Scientist of the Year Award. 

Olympics/Independent Churches

Olympic Games 08. “You’ve all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race.  Everyone runs; one wins.  Run to win.  All good athletes train hard.  They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades.  You’re after one that’s gold eternally.” 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 The Message

Independent Adventists.  There are various groups in the country who consider themselves Adventist, though choose to function independent of the official Seventh-day Adventist Church.  These groups vary in their core beliefs, practice, size and profile.

Last week the Samoan Independent SDA Church SISDAC featured on the TV1 consumer affairs program ‘Fair Go’.  Unfortunately it was because members of that organisation have allegedly been involved in unfair trading practices.  Fair Go, in the program, clearly stated that SISDAC is not connected to the official SDA church.  Fair Go in discussions with both North and South NZ conferences is committed to pursuing this matter; which is also occurring in other parts of the country.  There are also other so called ‘fundraising’ practices which are now being investigated.

What can we do?  (i) We must pray for our brothers and sisters in the independent groups.  (ii) Keep the doors of our churches open to them.  (iii) Be patient when we come under attack from them.  (iv) Confront any misrepresentation that they may bring to the name of the church by reporting their activities to the appropriate authorities.  (v) Clarify in your networks and community that SISDAC is not in anyway connected to the official church.

I will write to SISDAC and challenge their leaders to bring this matter under control.

God bless you.

Dreams

DREAMS

Hold fast to dreams

For if dreams go

Life is a barren field

Frozen from snow

Hold fast to dreams

For if dreams die

Life is a broken winged bird

that cannot fly

Hold fast to dreams

Langston Hughes