The Lamb of God Chronicle May 2014
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The Lamb of God Chronicle May 2014 The Lamb of God Community PO Box 35 054 Christchurch 8640 Phone [03] 383 2631 Fax [03] 383 0609 Mobile 021 817 232 Email: [email protected] Website: www.lambofgodcommunity.net INDEX TO CONTENTS Reflections Page 1 Web Sites Page 8 Our People Page 2 Members/Info/Records Page 9 News and Articles Page 2-6 Birthdays/Anniversaries Page 9-10 House Group Resource Page 7 National Prayer Watch Page 10-12 Kairos NZ News Page 8 REFLECTIONS: ‘…Things of a man, and of a dog, and of Almighty God’ May 9th is the thirty-fifth Anniversary of the founding of the Lamb of God in Christchurch. The photographs, from our founding year and following, tell their own story of a people called and responding into a work of God, and slowly building a way of life which today is perceived more and more as counter-cultural. How did it start? On that day in 1979 I was walking our dog, Mandy, and the time was early afternoon. As I crossed a road I was suddenly struck with an over-whelming sense of the presence of God. Without regard for where I was or for road traffic, I recall sinking to my knees and then audibly hearing the words ‘Now is the time to build this community’ and that was all. Mark Challies [L] and Glen Foley [R] in the USA 2 God bless Mandy - she just stayed with me, and sat in the middle of the road with her leash on! This word [Rhema] came following four years of searching and endeavours to build some form of stronger Christian relationships within a prayer group. Following this ‘event’ on May 9, 1979, the establishing of the Christian Community Lamb of God moved ahead rather quickly. It was God’s timing. The first exploratory Prayer Meeting was held on July 8, 1979, and we still have four of the ‘founding twelve’ significantly involved and active in the Branch, being John and Monica and ourselves, Roger and Veronica. We thank God for Christian Community. But let me add that if you are looking for a ‘quick buzz or high, or a quick fix’ to the challenges of life - do not join a community. Christian Community is a ‘WAY of LIFE’, it is a journey with a people seeking a common life. There is no perfection this side of Heaven. But if you invest yourself with this people then Music Team for a Steve Clark Rally you will find a valid way of living this life journey with and in God, and you will walk with faithful people who will be for and with you. This is indeed a treasure not to be missed. We are with you in and on this journey. Roger and Veronica [MORE ANNIVERSARY PHOTOS on Page 6] OUR PEOPLE With sadness, yet confidence in the Lord, we remember: Judith & Jamie Rodgers [Blenheim], as Judith's sister has passed away. Darren & Julie Humphries & family [Christchurch] as Darren's mum passed away. [Note to all Branch leaders: Please send your local news/snippets to Roger Foley or Tom Caballes so that we can acknowledge important occasions in the lives of our brothers and sisters and make sure we do not miss any of them.] NEWS AND ARTICLES AMAZING GRACE- THE OPEN DOOR IS STILL OPEN IN FIJI I have just had an interesting trip back into Fiji. The purpose was to work with the leaders of the Lamb of God Nadi and hold a Review Session to assess progress. Then the plan was to change direction from earlier formation talks and start to work in areas of family life, giving two talks on ‘Being a Christian Man’ followed by an introduction to the coming Women’s Day on ‘Being a Christian Woman’. And I planned to conclude with a practical demonstration of the ‘Ceremony of the Lord’s Day’. As the intention was to 3 work with the current leaders, Pastor Timoci had indicated about fifteen would attend and therefore I had arranged for a bigger room at the local motel/hotel we use which I knew could squeeze in fifteen plus my data projector. However as the room I wanted was not available, the manager booked the conference room which would hold about 80. We were to start at 10.00am Saturday morning. It needs be understood that none of the hundred or so people we are working with in Nadi and other Lamb of God locations in Lautoka, Ba, Tavua or RakiRaki owns a car, or even a cycle, and they just do not have facilities we can use for accommodation or meetings. On my arrival in Nadi the lady scrutinizing my passport asked if I was coming in to attend the weekend Church Conference at the Capricorn. I said no but as I was indeed staying at the Capricorn could she tell me which denomination this was. Was it perhaps the Methodists, the Anglicans, or the Catholics, or Assemblies of God? But she did not know. Following my airport meeting with Timoci, I eventually checked in at the Capricorn and asked at the desk regarding this Church Conference because I was getting a little concerned as it was possible the Conference Room had been double booked. The girl on duty at the desk did not know. So next morning, before breakfast, I went down to the Conference Room to check that all of the electronics were set up for the meetings. It was about 8.00am. I was surprised to see many people, all nicely dressed and greeting each other, outside the main doors. Then I noticed I knew some of them! You guessed it, the ‘Church Conference’ the Customs Officer mentioned turned out to be my planning and training day with Timoci, Inoke and Koroi and other local leaders! When I had belatedly let Timoci know that we would now be in the Conference Room Timoci had been at work and we ended up with just under fifty attending, including four new to me very fine pastors, three from RakiRaki and one from a big church in Nadi itself. In total that made seven pastors attending. Following the first talk on ‘Being a Christian Man’ the Nadi Pastor raised his hand to speak. He had two things to say. First he commended the very practical talk and said this sort of teaching was much needed in many churches in Fiji. The second was he was impressed that we were distinctly talking of the building of a Community and not a new church that would persuade attendees out of their churches. He wanted to declare that he was interested to connect with the Lamb of God Nadi. I pointed him to Pastor Timoci and they both smiled. They are already good friends and it was Timoci who had invited him. During lunch he invited me to speak at their Sunday service next time I am in Fiji. The practical introduction of the ‘Ceremony of the Lord’s Day’ went very well. We had provided 60 booklets from Lamb of God and on the day we set up six main tables each with booklets, candles, fruit juice, bread and nibbles. Timoci and Salaseini immediately recalled ‘we have done this before when we visited Christchurch…’ It went well. I did the overall instruction, with explanations, and had pastors and women leaders at each table 4 leading the actual ceremony. The next stage is I am to receive back comments with possible recommendations before we go to print and supply booklets in Fijian. I think the ‘open door’ is ‘still open’ in Fiji, and although what we are building and supporting is a ‘bit different’ – it is certainly producing good fruit in family life and relationship, and surely that is pleasing to the Lord. The work here is certainly growing as a Sword of the Spirit ecumenical endeavour. Your brother- Roger ASHBURTON UNDERWAY COMMITMENTS – PHOTOS The South Island Branch welcomed four people into underway commitment in March. All are members of the Ashburton Mission Group which is a part of the Christchurch Branch. We welcome [from left to right] Trevor Wall, Anne and Don Hooper, and Annette Fletcher. Congratulations! AUCKLAND - EVANGELISATION TRAINING DAY To pursue evangelization in a broader perspective, the Lamb of God Auckland members have spared no efforts in gearing themselves up to embark on a mission of outreach. To this end, an Alpha training programme was held for Auckland Branch members. Alpha training helped community members set up and manage the various facets of the Alpha programme, which is a DVD based course for non-Christians or nominal Christians. Alpha is an opportunity for everyone to explore the Christian faith in a relaxed setting, over 7 to 10 weeks. A personal evangelization training day was held for all adults and youth of the Auckland Branch. Over ninety members attended the training, equipping them to be more effective in reaching out to non-Christians. A Christian calling is to “Go out and make disciples of all nations” Matthew 28:19. Annie Taccolini who grew up in the community of “The Word of Life” Ann Arbor Michigan, USA, and now participates in University Community Outreach at Grand Rapids Michigan, heeded this Christian calling and spent the last few months with the Auckland Branch, outreaching to our youth. We were blessed to have her here with us evangelizing in the true spirit of the word. Thank you, Annie, and God Bless. 5 Annie briefly shares with us her on her time spent with the Auckland Branch: For the past three months, I have had the profound privilege of working with/for the Kairos team in Auckland.