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.
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