gateway magazine, august 2012, issue 19

AUGUST 2012ISSUE 19

DISCOVER I CONNECT I GATHER I GO

GATEWAY CHURCH950 VICTORIA ST, HAMILTON, NEW ZEALANDWWW.GATEWAYCHURCH.ORG.NZ(07) 839 1284OFFICE OPEN 9 AM - 4 PM, TUESDAY - FRIDAY

01 - desk of don and karen

03 - cambodia

04 - emerge

05 - mainly music

06 - heather oulton and UNOH

07 - streetworks clotheswap

08 - august/september calendar

11 - chasing the wild goose

12 - faith for healing

12 - faith for saving

14 - 10 questions with...

16 - situations vacant

EDITORIAL

Change seems to be a word that has encapsulated much of what is happening at Gateway at present and August continues that trend. This month we farewell Donald and Janaya and family to Canada for a year and also see changes in our youth community, in particular Crave and Pursue. Make sure you catch up on the latter in ‘the desk of Don’.

We want to acknowledge too, Donald’s contribution to the magazine from its birth to now. His input has been integral to its shaping and progression as a way to communicate the stories and heart of Gateway. With that in mind, the magazine will take on some changes in the future as well as we move to a quarterly format rather than a monthly publication. We trust that it will continue to be a valuable source of inspiration in our community.

Also check out the “Situations Vacant” section in this magazine. It can often be hard to “get involved’ in a big church, so have a look and see if maybe there is something there that God has in mind for you.

Shannon u

shannon richmond

COVER PHOTOGRAPHY BY JESSICA MICHELS

YOU’LL FIND IT HERE

01

DESK OF DON AND KARENwords by don barry

“Those changes just a keep on coming...”

In the last issue of the Gateway magazine I wrote about the season of transition that we found ourselves in after a prophetic word was given to us by Greg Burson.

I outlined three of the changes we have seen occur in recent times – Chris and Hope Jones joining our staff in mid to late 2013, Donald and Janaya Goodhall off to Vancouver for a year of theological study and Karen Steward taking up an appointment with the Faith at Home movement, part time initially, but leading at some time in the future to a fuller involvement.

In this issue I want to bring you up to date with some other changes we are experiencing.

Obviously, with Donald and Janaya heading offshore for a season, we have a need for someone to take the reins in the worship department. We have asked Jason and Hannah Henderson to fill that role. Jason and Hannah have served faithfully under Donald’s leadership for some years now and we feel confident that they are ready to take a step up in terms of challenge and responsibility. Would you please pray for them as they move into this role?

Our youth departments have also undergone a season of transition. Alice Haworth who has faithfully served as the leader of our young adults, we call the group ‘Pursue,’ is heading overseas at the end of the year with her husband Aaron. As we were contemplating what this would mean in terms of the leadership of the group, Matt Martyn, who leads our high school ministry – ‘Crave,’ talked to the leadership team about the changes he was going through and how that might impact on his leadership role here at Gateway.

Many of you will know Matt has recently married Kelly and is now not only a married man, but a Dad to Kelly’s son Levi. These new responsibilities made leading Crave a huge challenge.

As we contemplated these challenges we ‘hit’ on the idea of moving Matt up to lead the young adults in Pursue. While the responsibilities are still significant, it was felt that they were more in keeping with his new roles as a husband and as a dad. Of course that simply changed the sphere of our leadership challenge. We had filled Alice’s role but had a vacancy where Matt had served. Wendy Organ has served as Matt’s right hand woman for the time Crave has been running and was, in our view, the natural successor. Thankfully, she has accepted our request to fill this spot, and along with her trusty and committed team will do so forthwith. Again, we ask that you will pray for these folk as the grapple with their new responsibilities.

Karen and I, it seems, are also in somewhat of a new season as well. I say, ‘somewhat,’ because it isn’t an entirely new direction, but it seems to be an intensification of what was previously happening in a smaller measure. We are getting a regular flow of invitations to speak at leaders gatherings and at other churches. We have been asked to speak at gatherings in Malaysia, Australia and the Philippines all before Christmas!! Some of these meetings simply aren’t going to happen by virtue of time constraints, but it gives you a glimpse into the situation we are facing at the present moment.

The challenge for us is to try and balance this with the responsibilities we have at Gateway. Numerous prophetic words we have had over the years lead us to believe that this is what God wants us to do, but we are very aware that we cannot do this to the detriment of what Gateway requires of us. Would you please pray for Karen and me as we try and discern what we are to step into and what we should step away from?

We are excited with what God seems to be doing amongst us. Our head is spinning a bit to be honest as we watch the changes taking place, but we have a deep confidence that God knows exactly what He is doing, and we know that He does all things well.

Appreciate your prayers,

Don and Karen. u

CAMBODIA

Cambodia wasn’t quite what we had expected. Rice three times a day, cold showers, squatting toilets, noisy lizards and pushy tuk-tuk drivers. Things that so many people would dread on a daily basis, we soon came to love. Yes, the crazy driving, the crowded markets and the wonderful people we encountered along the way all made this trip one we will remember forever, not to mention the incredible opportunity we had to minister to the wonderful people of Cambodia.

For many Christians, taking part in short term missions is an important part of their walk with God – and for the 11 travelers (Deon Swartz, Andrew Curry, Dave Burns, Erin Hancock, Rebekah Hart, Tania Larsen, Geoff Thomas, Kayley Stesel, Justin Swartz, Josh McKoy and myself, Laura McKoy) it was no different.

Erin and Deon were fortunate enough to have been to Cambodia before, so for the rest of us, everything was a new experience. Many of us had never been on a mission trip before, let alone visit a third world country. But what awaited us there would soon become a part of us and has left a lasting mark in one way or another.

We boarded the plane eagerly on Sunday, July 1 and by Monday we had arrived in Phnom Penh with our cameras hanging patiently around our necks, waiting to be used. First stop was the S-21 genocide prison, followed by the Killing Fields. The Khmer Rouge had used the two sites, along with many other similar places, to kill nearly two million Cambodians from 1975 to 1979.

This was our introduction to the nation we soon got to know. These places, even though devastating and so brutally real, gave us an insight into what the people of Cambodia have gone through and how it will affect generations to come. About 50 per cent of Cambodia’s population is under 20, simply because the older generation was literally wiped out.

It was just so real. Tiny dingy cells, torture methods too disgusting to comprehend, thousands of skulls, and even a set of teeth stuck in the dirt. The testimonies of the survivors scrawled on the walls were filled with pain as they grasped at the realisation that they had to return to life, having lost all dignity and hope.

We continued to carry those memories with us as day two arrived and we travelled by bus to the bustling city of Sihanoukville, well known for its beautiful beaches and busy port. Everyone was pretty excited because here our mission work was to begin.

We arrived at the YWAM base (where we were to stay for the next three nights) to be greeted by the lovely Dina Sar, who helps manage the base. He welcomed us with open arms and cooked us plenty of true Cambodia dishes - rice for breakfast, rice for lunch and rice for dinner – doesn’t sound appetising, but it really did taste amazing.

Over the next few days we spent our time helping Dina with his English classes and taking worship and devotions with the group of woman who had come out of prostitution. The highlight for many was visiting a group of women in prison and having the opportunity to witness and share our testimonies with them.

We visited the prison with a team from Vietnam, who was also staying at the YWAM base. My first encounter with true persecuted Christians! We asked them what would happen if the Vietnam Government discovered they were spreading the gospel, and their reply came as a shock. If they were found out, they would be forced to starve to death. It was an encouragement to many of us, that they live completely faithful

words by laura mckoy

to God, despite the dangers. They were prepared to give up their lives, their dignity and their friends in order to serve the Lord. They returned to the prison the following weekend and we found out 42 of the women prisoners gave their hearts to the Lord – praise God!

By Friday, day five, it was time to say our farewells. We packed into a van, Cambodian style, and headed to what we knew to be ‘Vuthy’s Village’, which Deon and Erin had been talking about, non-stop! This was between Sihanoukville and Phnom Penh, in the Kampot province. Vuthy Nurn – an inspirational man with a powerful testimony - has recently built a Mercy Home there to be used as a safe haven for orphaned or abandoned children.

But until the Cambodian government allows it to open officially, he is taking English classes in the village to help the children there. So over the next few days we got to work – I mean the men got to work, with instructions from builder Dave - building a new “classroom” for Vuthy. The girls got busy teaching the classes and we attempted to learn a few Khmer words too! In the village we had so many opportunities to minister and pray for the people there and it was a real time of growth for the team. Deon, Kayley and Geoff shared at the Sunday morning service and many seeds were planted, lives healed and words of encouragement given.

Vuthy’s village remained one of the biggest highlights of the trip for most of us, including myself. Although a world apart from Hamilton, it somehow felt like home. There was such a peace over the village, and to see God’s hand at work so powerfully and bless Vuthy because of his faithfulness, was such an encouragement to us all.

By Monday, day eight, we said our goodbyes, tearful this time, and headed back to Phnom Penh to do a bit of shopping, buy our friends souvenirs – sorry to those who missed out on a present, we still love you – and look around the city.

On day nine we headed out to an Island, just off Phnom Penh, to teach more English with a man named Chanla Roeung. Here we encountered extreme poverty, which was hard to comprehend, but these people who were dirty and hungry possessed a strong inner joy for life. For us, it wasn’t just about teaching the English. It was about having the chance to have a positive influence in their lives, just as Chanla is doing. He told us that he didn’t have any material items to offer these people, only the love of Jesus, so that they can become rich in Jesus too. Amen!

For the remaining days, 10, 11 and 12, we headed to Siem Reap to visit the temples at Angkor Wat and experience the westernised side of Cambodia.

I can safely say, during our time in Cambodia we were exposed to every walk of life, from city beggars to village children, from the happy and Godly, to the rich, poor and desperate. Our minds have been opened and we were reminded how important mission work is. So many people are in need of a helping hand.

I think it is safe to say the team has come home with a new passion for missions, as we reached out and saw the hand of God at work. When we headed into Satan’s territory there, I was reminded of Psalm 34.7, ‘His angels will be encamped around you as you reach out in His name’. And His promise stayed true. While ministering, none of us got sick or harmed seriously and each of us gained a new depth in our relationship with God. To see His hand at work was life changing and already, a few are planning their next trip back!

So with that said, we just want to say a huge thank you to all of you who helped make this trip possible. To those who contributed financially and to those who spent many hours praying for us. It didn’t go unnoticed and we appreciate your kindness! u

03

EMERGE

For those who are unaware – EMERGE is the young teen/Intermediate/School Years 7&8/10-13 yr old/ ministry at Gateway. This year is the first year this age bracket has been separated out into its own department within Gateway. (It used to be a part of Gaties – the children’s ministry within Gateway.)We have had a great first half of the year. The year is flying by!Term One was a busy one – we chatted about the theme of ‘Godview’ – that what you think about God is the most important thing. We went on camp with the Year 5&6’s to Finlay park which was filled with amazing God times, lots of active fun, river floats, waterslides, delicious food and some great hang out time. Term Two has rushed by. In line with Don taking Gateway through a season of digging devotional wells on both Sunday morning and nights - we have been focussing on ‘Keeping Company with God’ and what prayer & devotional lives can look like for us. In the ever increasing busyness of life and with so many different things competing for our attention finding a quiet space to hang out with God can be such a challenge. One morning we had prayer stations where our young teens had the chance to spend some quiet time reflecting on their own faith journey, and to take some time out to chat with God. We had two Friday night ‘events’ over term two. The first was a movie and pizza night. Yum! The second was a couple of games of laser tag down at Skycity Megazone. Both nights were heaps of fun, it was cool to see some of our young teens invite their friends from school and for those that could make it to come and hang out and have a bit of fun. We hope to continue to have more of these in the future, so keep a lookout on the Gateway website and in the magazine for more details.The boys v girls competitions on Sunday mornings has been fierce, with the boys narrowly taking it out two terms in a row. I have confidence though the girls will get there this term!On a side note, I have recently been reading a book called “Sticky Faith” by Dr. Kara Powell & Dr. Chap Clark which is based on everyday ideas of building lasting faith into kids. (I recommend the read for parents particularly). One thought challenged me. . .“Imagine we planted a microphone in your house. Scary. We know. And imagine we recorded a week’s worth of your family’s conversations. What would be the number one topic of discussion? I’m guessing it would be logistics, like your daughter asking you to take her to the art store for supplies to finish her school project or your son asking for a friend to come over. What percent of your conversations would explicitly mention God, or have an overt connection to your faith? What’s your

words by annie flett

guess? How do you feel about you answer?” It went on to say ... “While we know actions speak louder than words, words really matter... Far more important than any microphone that we would plant, your kids are listening and learning from the way you talk – or don’t talk – about faith.”

I don’t know about you but this challenged me to think about the house I live in and the conversations I do or don’t have. Do I talk with my flatmates about what my thoughts are on what i’ve heard spoken from the front on a Sunday? Do we discuss what God is doing in us or how our faith journeys are going? Sometimes. But not as often as we could. What about in your family? Do you ask your kids what they’ve been chatting about at Emerge or Gaties or Crave or does conversation turn to what’s for lunch? Do you discuss what Don or whoever has shared had to say? Do your children know what you are learning in your own faith journey? What are your children learning from what you do or don’t say? They may not be easy

conversations to begin to have but my encouragement to you is to take the time to chat about God in your families, small conversations now will help you to be able to discuss those bigger aspects of faith later on. Food for thought!A huge thanks to the amazing leaders who help out at Emerge every Sunday. You guys are absolute legends and the Emerge crew are so lucky to have you. For those parents out there of Year 7&8’s why don’t you take the time to say thanks to those who volunteer their time on Sundays to hang out with your kids. Without those volunteers Sunday mornings just would not happen! We are always on the lookout for more volunteers. If you think you might be keen to help out on Sunday mornings with Emerge or even some of our midweek events then feel free to drop me an email or give me a call at church on a Wednesday or Thursday. Alternatively pop up on a Sunday morning to have a chat. u

04

It was almost 5 years ago that a few mothers of young children saw a need in our church. This was a time when there were very few small groups for families and before toddlers or preschoolers joined us in the worship services. Hamilton, and more noticeably, Gateway, had begun the baby boom. With more and more pregnant bellies showing on Sundays, with new babies joining the crèche each month, and “parent” parking spots being designated in the parking lot, it seemed essential to create a space for parents and young children to be together.

In 2007 a team of volunteers met with Gateway leadership and purposed to start up Mainly Music here at Gateway to meet that growing need for a safe, welcoming and interactive environment for children and their caregivers… not just for Gateway families, but also for the greater community. Mainly music is a non-profit and international organization that seeks to display God’s love for young families with practical, educational and prayerful methods.

What happens at Mainly Music? Young children develop skills - co-ordination, fine motor movements, large motor movements, social interaction, appreciation of music and musical styles, and language development. Mainly Music provides children with a structured learning environment and then a time of morning tea followed by free play.

All groups celebrate Easter, Christmas, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day – with the purpose of reminding us that they are undertaking a very important role as a parent. Celebrating Easter and Christmas may bring a new perspective to these calendar events. We create a space to think about the God-part of life in small, child friendly

MAINLY MUSICwords by Heather Downing

doses. In short, Mainly Music is an opportunity for adults and young children to build memories and spend time together.

There are now over 40 families registered with our Mainly Music, making the program at Gateway one of the largest Mainly Music groups in Hamilton. While our growth has been steady and exciting, the most valued part of this ministry is the message of God’s love that we get to convey to the families that attend each week.

With each holiday gift given, with every caramel slice baked, and birthday gift presented, with every name tag made, and silly song sang, we communicate to parents that they are special people making priceless investments in the lives of their favourite little ones. We sing about the fact that God loves us each week and we do our best to convey His love with small acts of service and welcoming smiles.

In 2012 there are multiple family events to choose from here at Gateway, and Mainly Music is proudly one of them! We often hear from busy mums that “this is the highlight of the week!” Thanks to the support of Gateway and a few dedicated volunteers, Mainly Music has been able to reach out and meet needs of families in this community for nearly 5 years – all for the Glory of God.

Mainly Music meets every Friday of the School term 10am in the dining room ($3 per family) u

UPCOMING EVENTS:

FAMILY NIGHT – Friday AUG 31 5:30 pm, $5.00 per family, sign up at Mainly Music welcome table.

FREE DAY – Friday SEPT 14 - Bring good condition used clothes/toys for a swap and attend Mainly Music free of cost.

CRAZY HAIR DAY – Friday SEPT 28 end of term 3.

05

Kia ora koutou! My name is Heather and I’m a Gateway-supported missions worker in Manurewa, South Auckland. I’d love for you to be able to catch a glimpse of what God’s been up to in my neighbourhood, so let me tell you a story about a day in my life.

Yesterday I woke up feeling tired and grumpy; a police helicopter hovering over our house last night had spoiled my sleep. I slogged my way through a liturgy and communion with UNOH team-mates Dave and Denise Tims, splashed some water on my face, and struggled out our front door. Sometimes I sure don’t feel like a missionary! Fortunately God is gracious and is able to work through us, sometimes even in spite of us. I love D L Moody’s line: “Let God have your life. He can do more with it than you can!” As I cut across the park my grumpy thoughts were interrupted by the sound of my name – Pete, the father of one of my youth group girls, was walking towards me. We stopped and chatted for a while about how she’s going, and how we can work together to help her steer clear of bad influences. She’s a wonderful girl but at a difficult age, especially in a neighbourhood where bad options are so readily available. I love living where I work, running into people and getting to share life in a natural, neighbourly way.

Arriving at the local primary school I smiled as I saw the cheeky grin of my 12 year-old friend, Meliana. I proceeded to fight with her for a full hour as I tried to get her to complete a worksheet. Meliana struggles to read and is probably dyslexic but has never been tested – in a decile one school where most of the students exhibit challenging behaviour you really have to be throwing chairs around the room to attract any attention. Compared to her peers Meliana’s situation is not serious enough to attract funding for a teacher aide. It is only because I live on donations that I do not need to charge the school for my time, so that Meliana can get the help she needs. (Later, after school, I would take Meliana to the library at her request, where she would read happily to me for an hour and a half – pretty amazing for a kid who couldn’t read 12 months ago!)

HEATHER OULTON AND UNOHwords by Heather Oulton

Leaving the school I headed for my friend’s house – a local mum with a heart of gold and a wicked sense of humour. We sat and had a cuppa, then walked over to the community house to meet with two other local mums to plan an early intervention program for ‘at risk’ teenage girls at the local high school. I felt God’s quiet smile upon us as I heard them talk about how they want to help these girls to make better decisions than they did, so they won’t have to experience the same pain. One said that doing this work has made her start to think about God in her own life again, but in her own time. Later that night, though, I went round to her house to drop something off and found her blind drunk. Life’s ups and downs can be extreme here. Sometimes it’s one step forward, two steps back.

In the evening I sat with our group of local young leaders (who run our youth group) as they experiment with listening to the voice of God, sharing beautiful pictures that God had given them of joy and hope for the future.

God is alive and well here in Manurewa and I love getting to catch glimpses of him around every corner. I so appreciate Gateway’s partnership in this! I became a Christian at Gateway back in 2005, and it still feels like home. Shortly after becoming a Christian I somehow ended up volunteering at the Gateway Op Shop one day a week. Later I also started attending the Wednesday night meals and helping at Streetworks. Influenced by my relationships with people in those settings and by a deepening relationship with God, I began to feel a growing call to serve the urban poor in New Zealand. This is something I now get to do full-time with Urban Neighbours of Hope (UNOH).

UNOH is a missional organisation with teams in Mt Druitt in Sydney (where I spent 18 months 2010-2011), Melbourne, Bangkok, Mae Sot and Manurewa. Ministries in these communities have focused on leadership development, empowering those facing poverty, community development and discipleship. We are grass-roots workers, living where we work, sharing our lives and homes with those we work with.

To find out more check out www.unoh.org, or send me an email: [email protected] – I’d love to hear from you.

Bless! u

06

07

In the six weeks prior to the Clothes Swap, requests for clothing poured in to Streetworks from our network of community organisations. Staff at many organisations advocated on behalf of their struggling clients for them to receive clothing. What you can see above is a sample of sorts of referrals we received – heartbreaking realities and desperate need.

Due to circumstances and sensitivity issues, most of the individuals referred to Streetworks to receive clothing do not attend the clothes swap itself. In the past, they relied on volunteers bagging up clothing for them out of what is left over once the event is finished. It has always been a struggle to see ‘leftovers’ going to those who need clothing the most. This year, we were determined to give the best

STREETWORKS CLOTHESWAP

words by olivia buchanan

of what was brought to the Clothes Swap to those who needed it the most. And that is what we did. During the clothes swap, each attendee was provided with the information of a referred individual and invited to choose clothing for that person as well as for themselves. Our hope by doing this was to not only provide higher quality clothing for those in need, but also to expose those attending the Clothes Swap to some of the needs in our city.

Streetworks doesn’t put on a Clothes Swap simply so that we can all get a few bargains and revamp our wardrobes. We do it because there is a need for clothing in so many families in our city. We do it because we see that this need goes unnoticed and untended by many. We do it because we have the capacity to link excess with need.We do it because we believe that knowledge is power – if we give people knowledge about the different needs in our city we are one step closer to seeing those needs met.

We want to thank those from Gateway who joined the throngs attending the Clothes Swap! Your generosity was appreciated. The outcome was amazing – after all those attending the Clothes Swap had taken what they needed for themselves and bagged up clothing for all our referred individuals, we still had two trailer loads and one car load of clothing left over. We are excited to see how this can meet a great need! u

“I have developmental delay. I used to watch Dad get drunk and hit my Mum. We don’t live with him anymore but he still finds us and comes over. Mum is very sick all the time”

BOY - Age 11

“I live with my grandparents now because Mum and Dad would always fight and get angry. Sometimes they would hit me and brothers. I like it at my grandparents because I’m not hungry and sick all the time.”

BOY - Age 10

“My Mum and I keep moving houses; sometimes we stay at refuges and sometimes with my aunties. I think Mum is trying to keep Dad from finding us. I’m glad I don’t have to watch Dad hit Mum anymore.”

GIRL - Age 12

01

AUGUST...

FRIDAY MORNING PRAYER 6.15 am in the Prayer Room, followed by breakfast. All are welcome.

10

12

08WED

FRI

SUN

17FRI

24FRI

FRIDAY MORNING PRAYER 6.15 am in the Prayer Room, followed by breakfast.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT MEALS5.30 pm, a free community meal here in the Dining Hall of the Gateway building.


HEALING ROOMS 7.30 pm - 9.00 pm, in the Nursery, for more info email [email protected]

MAINLY MUSIC 10.00 am in the Dining Hall, $3 per family.



WED

05

FRI

SUN

06

MORNING GATHERING 10.00 am, we will be joined by Brendon and Cathie Clancey (of iSow International School of Worship) for a special family friendly service.

EVENING GATHERING 6.30 pm

07

INTERCESSORS GROUP 7.30 pm in the Prayer Room, access via the Dining Hall.MON

MORNING GATHERING 10.00 am


MAINLY MUSIC 10.00 am in the Dining Hall, $3 per family. GO MISSION

6.30 pm in the Dining Hall, check the website for more details


22WED

PURSUE GATHERING7 pm, keep an eye out for details.

26SUN



03MAINLY MUSIC 10.00 am in the Dining Hall, $3 per family.

FORM 7.30 pm in the Gateway Auditorium. An evening set aside to pull our leaders and key volunteers together to chat about leadership, influence, what’s happening among us as a church and what part we all collectively play in what God is leading us into.

TUES

CRAVE CONVERGE Meets 7 pm - 9 pm in the Gateway Auditorium.

09 JOHN BRIDGE AT GATEWAYJohn Bridge from Faith Outreach in Orissa, India will be speaking upstairs on the top floor on Thursday 9th August at 7.30pm. John has been in Orissa for over 30 years. Come and hear his exciting stories. Contact Anne or Andrew King for further info. www.faithoutreachnz.org.nz


THUR


15WED

CRAVE CAMPCrave is heading away on camp! From the 17th till the 19th we’ll be out at finlay park, get a registration form, fill it out and get it to us by Sunday the 5th of August..

19SUN



20MON

INTERCESSORS GROUP 7.30 pm in the Prayer Room, access via the Dining Hall.

27MON




29WED

31FRI MAINLY MUSIC

10.00 am in the Dining Hall, $3 per family.


EMERGE, Get this date in your diary and keep an eye out for details!

MAINLY MUSIC FAMILY NIGHT More details to come.

13MON


NEW AT GATEWAYNew at Gateway is for people new to Gateway or those who have been around a year or two, but are wanting to get a little more connected and learn the heart of what makes us tick. To register your interest leave your name at the Information Desk or email [email protected]

14TUES

02

SEPTEMBER...


14

16

FRI

SUN

21FRI

28FRI



HEALING ROOMS 7.30 pm - 9.00 pm, in the Nursery, for more info email [email protected]



SUN

07FRI

INTERCESSORS GROUP 7.30 pm in the Prayer Room, access via the Dining Hall.MON




GO MISSION 6.30 pm in the Dining Hall, check the website for more details

12WED


26WED

PURSUE GATHERING7 pm, keep an eye out for details.

30SUN



03

MAINLY MUSIC TOY AND CLOTHES SWAPBring good condition used clothes/toys for a swap and attend Mainly Music free of cost, 10 am in the Dining Hall.

17MON


23SUN



24MON




05WED




MEN’S BREAKFAST More details to come.08

SATEMERGE We’ll be getting together, keep this date free! More details to come.

09SUN

MORNING GATHERING 10.00 am with Mark Holamn of Faith at Home.

EVENING GATHERING 6.30 pm with Mark Holamn of Faith at Home


MON03

15SAT

DEFENDING THE FAITHHow to have loving answers to criticisms of Christianity.Third floor of the Gateway building, 7 pm.


19WED


Pull it out, stick it on your fridge, these are the dates you might like to keep in mind for August/September... As always, any new events will be posted on the Gateway website, www.gatewaychurch.org.nz, as well as on our Facebook page.

CHASING THE WILD GOOSE

Christianity, over the years, has used many images and metaphors to describe the Holy Spirit - a dove being an obvious one that comes to mind. A perhaps less familiar metaphor is that of the wild goose (an Geadh-Glas) used by the Celtic Church. The ‘Celtic Church’ is a term used to describe the earliest native form of Christianity in the islands of Britain and Ireland from around 400AD. For them, the image of the wild goose became the symbol of the Holy Spirit. Images of the goose can be seen in Celtic art and the metaphor was used by the 20th Century visionary George MacLeod, who was also the founder of the Iona community.

The metaphor of the dove as the Holy Spirit is one that we are comfortable with; it conjures up feelings of the comfort, serenity and peace that the Holy Spirit brings. And this is accurate. But perhaps we can too often focus on this metaphor and miss the ideas that other metaphors, such as the Holy Spirit as the ‘wild goose,’ can offer.

To understand this metaphor we need to know some things about wild geese. Wild geese aren’t controllable. They’re not some tame pet that you put a leash on and bend to your will. They tend to be raucous and loud. Unlike a dove, a goose’s honk can be slightly unnerving and perhaps even a little frightening. In much the same way the Spirit of God can, at times, be demanding and unsettling. C.S Lewis in ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’ captures this whole idea beautifully:

When we hear the call to follow the ‘wild goose’ we can be assured that although it might not seem ‘safe’ we know that He is good. He calls us to live lives and do things that can be out of our comfort zones, that can look risky and, without Him in it, potentially foolhardy. But when we step out in faith to follow the Spirit of God, we embark on our greatest adventures.

Celtic Christians were also known for their sense of spiritual rhythm, especially the monks of Lindisfarne.

words by jo peart

They lived on an island that was cut off from the mainland twice a day by the ebb and flow of the tides. Migrating birds, including wild geese, also underlined to them that just as God had written seasonal rhythms into creation, there are also spiritual seasons in life. There are times to stop flying and consolidate, but always there is the call to get back up and fly to the next place or do the next thing that the Holy Spirit beckons us to.

When we think of this metaphor of the ‘wild goose,’ the phrase a ‘wild goose chase’ immediately comes to mind. This phrase dates back to Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ (1592) referring to a type of horse racing common in the time. In time it came to mean the pursuit of a hopeless quest. Obviously for us as Christians chasing and following the leading of the Holy Spirit is never a purposeless endeavor. Perhaps, at times, it can seem hopeless or even pointless - but God is always working and the things that can look foolish are actually ingenious. Only our God would come up with a plan for rescue that involved Himself, clothed in human flesh, entering this world as one of us, as a baby, to redeem us back by sacrificing Himself on a cross.

When we decide to follow Jesus we become part of the flock where He is the lead ‘goose’. We join the V formation where we follow where the lead ‘goose’ goes. This might mean that we don’t know where we will end up. It requires effort on our behalf, we still have to flap our wings as we get caught in the updraft that He creates. God doesn’t do all the work for us, He calls us, but we still have to get up and fly.

Mark Batterson, in his book ‘Wild Goose Chase,’ says “that nothing is more unnerving or disorienting than passionately pursuing God.” The metaphor of chasing the ‘wild goose’ speaks to us of embarking on the experience of our lives, of stepping out in faith and trusting our ingenious God who will take us on a journey that will be at times surprising, maybe even a little scary, and if nothing else - an adventure. u

“Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.”

Helen Keller

“Don’t you know who is the King of Beasts? Aslan is a lion - the Lion, the great Lion.”

“Ooh!” said Susan, “I thought he was a man. Is he - quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.”

“That you will, dearie, and no mistake,” said Mrs. Beaver; “if there’s anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they’re either braver than most or just silly.”

“Then is he safe?” said Lucy.

“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver; “don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

11

What do you have “faith” for? It seems like we each seem to be able to trust God more in different areas of our lives. Some of us can take leaps of faith when it comes to financial provision, others have faith for healing or salvation for friends.

Corrie Ten Boom says that “Faith is like radar that sees through the fog -- the reality of things at a distance that the human eye cannot see.”

In this season of redigging the wells of faith in our lives we wanted to share some stories of happenings inside and outside of our four walls of faith outworked. We trust that you will be encouraged as you read them to dig your own wells of faith in the areas of your life where as Corrie ten Boom says , the fog is thicker than your radar to see.

We were challenged in the June issue of the magazine to think about what area of our lives our faith is being stretched in as we begin to re-dig the wells of faith in our own lives and in the corporate life here at Gateway. Or perhaps we could ask the question at what dimension of our lives are we walking on water; totally dependent on our faith in the ability of Jesus to do those things which we could never do in a million years.

Two ministries in the life of Gateway that for those of us that have the privilege of being part of them, continually stretch our faith to believe for the impossible and seek for the humanly unobtainable - one is the Sunday Prayer Teams and the other, the Gateway Healing Rooms.

At the heart of those two ministries is the desire to see God move in supernatural signs, wonders and miracles. Whether it is to see bodies healed, financial needs met, minds restored, the provision of employment given, clarity on decisions that need to be made or hearts healed, it doesn’t matter because every answer to prayer is a miracle that we give thanks for and acknowledge that without Him, we could not.

Have you heard the phrase ‘Out of little acorns, big oaks grow’? Well, for most of us our faith is like those little acorns but we pray because we know that Jesus is the one who can take our acorns of faith and turn them into oak trees of answered prayer. We certainly know the truth of faith as small as a mustard seed but we take heart because we know that faith is not the absence of doubt; it’s the presence of belief and our belief is not in ourselves but in the One who we worship and serve.

I turned up early for my appointment with Steve at his workplace hoping to have time for a coffee (thanks Steve) – from the outside of the building you would never know that three quite separate but strangely connected activities happen there almost every day of the week.

Even the reception doesn’t give too much away but as Steve led me through the corridors and spaces to the lunch room at the rear of the premises you start to appreciate that this truly is a diverse place to work.

Do we see answers to every prayer we pray? We wish we did but the reality is – we don’t. Do we become discouraged? Sometimes (or if I am totally honest – often) but we continue to pray because our standard of faith and prayer is not our present experience. Our standard is God’s heart, which is full of grace, compassion and love to see us living out of the abundant life that He promised. We cannot let unanswered prayer dictate what we pray for or how we pray and we try to keep our eyes fixed and our hearts stayed on the Cross where Jesus won everything for us.

There are those in our teams who feel out of their comfort zone standing down the front of the church at the end of our gatherings as they wait to pray for people but they are their because they believe in an extraordinary God who works through, and in, the lives of ordinary people.

As Prayer Team/Healing Room members we seek to grow our faith in the secret place of our own devotional lives and as we become more familiar and confident in who He is, we can rest in His goodness to hear and answer our prayers. It is, after all, nothing to do with us but everything to do with Him. We try to live in the knowledge that answers to prayer are actually not our responsibility, they are His. Our responsibility is to pray.

We love hearing testimonies of answered prayer. Our faith is stirred and increased when we hear stories of His goodness.

Below are two testimonies of prayers answered, in the Healing Rooms. Read them and be encouraged in your own faith journey and together let’s allow our faith to be stretched as we begin to re-dig the wells of faith in our own lives and in the corporate life of Gateway.

‘A few weeks ago I strained my ankle in a fall. I received much prayer and each time I was prayed for my ankle improved. It had reached the stage that I could walk for an hour without difficulty, but there was still a niggling pain, especially when I lay on that side in bed. I visited the Gateway Healing Rooms for other healing but asked the team to also pray for my ankle. The niggling pain left while the team ministered and has not returned since.’

‘I’d had a very painful hip for over three months. The pain was so bad that sometimes I couldn’t walk. My left shoulder was also sore. When I visited the Healing Rooms one of the prayer team gave me a word which greatly encouraged me. Another team member described a picture that she saw and said that a bright light was above my left shoulder. As she told me about the light, I was seeing Jesus and an angel standing next to another team member who had their hand on my shoulder. I physically felt something being transmitted through their hand. There was a lovely presence of the Lord and this encounter ministered to me deeply. My hip has been totally pain free since receiving prayer that night and my shoulder improved greatly.

Please continue to share with us any answer to prayer that you receive when the Prayer Teams/Healing Rooms pray for you so that all our faith can be encouraged and we can give thanks to the One who made it all possible.

Join us as we stretch our faith together; waiting expectantly for an increase in prayers answered and lives radically transformed by the love of God. u

FAITH FOR HEALING

words by sylvia dalton

FAITH FOR SAVING

words by shannon richmond

12

special he does, it is about the Holy Spirit working in the lives of those who meet together, about showing people that there is an alternative to the life they have now.

“Everyone is looking for identity, they look for it in different places. Gang members look for identity through their patch, others through a job title and many who turn up at IMA are looking for identity through getting a black belt.” But of course none of those will satisfy the hole that is meant to be filled by God.

Steve wouldn’t say this himself but it is obvious from talking with him and actually being in the physical premises that God is at work in an amazing way at ‘Church IMA’. Steve and his team look at the impossible and have faith that God can turn any life around. It doesn’t pay to be too religious at IMA, the traditional methods of preaching the gospel aren’t readily on show, Steve joked that you aren’t likely to find scriptures plastered all over the walls or posters in the toilets but what you will find is a devotion to the truth that everyone is worthy in God’s eyes. Steve firmly believes that it isn’t our place to judge others, as the saying goes, we live for an audience of one.

An hour and a half has passed rather quickly and I sense that we could converse for hours about how important people are to God and what God can and does do but I ask Steve to share just one last story before I go.

It is the story of a woman who came to IMA to train for a belt and through unrelated circumstances broke her foot. Obviously training was out of the question, so she came in to let the team know of her predicament. In faith the team prayed for her and saw the swelling immediately reduce. Some days later she returned to excitedly tell them that she had been for another X-ray and that the break had gone.

The story doesn’t end there however, some months later her husband ended up in hospital with stomach pains and the doctors were at a loss as to the cause. Not knowing what to do she called on a God that she did not yet believe in, asking Him to “do whatever He had done for her, for her husband”. The pain immediately disappeared and by the time the doctors returned, still baffled, he was able to tell them that he was fine to go.

We serve a God who can do the impossible and in and through the most unlikely of people and places and as Steve would say the good part is that all we have to do is listen and not judge and let God do the rest. u

By day Steve runs a Marketing Company doing everything from logo design, screenprinting, embroidery through to digital print, by night he swaps his business attire for a ‘gi’, the technical name for a martial arts uniform and printing becomes fighting.

The screen printing business was birthed in 2001 from small $50 jobs to what is now a very successful business operating on a much broader scale. The martial arts side (his night job) is called IMA and had its roots dug many years before. Steve as unassuming as he is, has been doing martial arts for almost 30 years and has been teaching it for a considerable period of time. Meaning that whilst I have the height and weight advantage, picking a fight with him is probably a very bad idea.

His tagline for both businesses fits neatly together, “Excellence at work and Excellence in Training” but despite the success of both these endeavours, it is in neither of these that Steve derives his ultimate passion. Once training has finished around 9pm each night is when Church IMA starts up. It is the name that has affectionately been coined for the interactions that take place once most of the students have drifted off home.

“There is always someone hanging around” he says, just wanting to talk. “It’s about listening to their story, not wanting to change them.” Steve has a story of his own, about God intervening in his life, showing him an alternative to the way his life was travelling and he realises in hindsight that this has prepared him to identify with others and hear their heart with some understanding.

“The most reassuring words someone can hear is, me too.”

You see Steve has “faith that God will do the work of healing and salvation in people’s lives. He knows that God saved him, “the toughest of the tough’, so why can’t God do the same for anybody.

IMA has a diverse client base, from 4 year old kids to gang members. Steve has many stories of changed lives and ‘god-moments’ that have happened as people have interacted with those who work and train there.

He speaks of one woman who came to IMA to train who had many convictions to her name, he was advised not to train her but two and a half years later, God has turned her life around. Steve maintains that it isn’t about anything

10 QUESTIONS WITH...PAUL BROOME

1. Where are you at this moment? Sitting in front of my laptop feeling quite chuffed at Jessie’s email asking if I would like to answer these 10 questions.

2. What do you like about being your current age?Looking more and more like George Clooney.

3. What’s the latest book you’ve read? “From good man to Valiant man” Jan gave me a copy, I think every man should read it.

4. What is your favourite album? “The Royal Scam” by Steely Dan 1976.

5. You can have 3 people to dinner dead or living, bar Jesus - who do you invite?David Attenborough, Ravi Zacharias and my Mother.

6. What’s one thing you remember your mother teaching you? Not to tell lies.

7. Where do you go to get quiet?Raglan Beach.

8. What is one thing you could talk about for hours? (because you are so passionate about it)Photography.

9. How do you know Jesus is real?His creation is so incredible, I see His design everywhere. it confirms His word . I love the fact that what He has revealed is just the tip of the iceberg !

10. What is one thing you think people don’t know about you?I enjoy brewing beer. u

‘IF YOU’RE NOT PREPARED TO BE WRONG, YOU’LL NEVER DO ANYTHING ORIGINAL.’Sir Ken Robinson / Author and Educator

A space to allow the awakening of the imagination to the reality of God, the need for community and creativity, and how we all fit into a story far bigger than what we can see. IMAGINE

WHEN: 7 pm, Friday 17th August / WHERE: third floor of the Gateway building

Situations VacantWANTED

Audio All-rounder for Gaties Church

We would love someone to assist us on Sunday mornings from

9.40am to assist with the setting up of computers with power

point, sound systems, dvds etc.The position would be “on call” not every week dependant on what is happening in the kids

church programme.

Please register your interest with Karen Steward

[email protected] or at the information desk.

WANTED TOTS VOLUNTEERS

We need more helpers in the Gaties Tots area. (18month-2 year olds) Either to come on a 4 weekly team or more regu-

larly would be great!



WANTED: MALES!!We are short of a male leader

for the 6-7 year olds in Kids Church and for the

8-10 year olds.



WANTED: SMALL GROUP FACILITATORS

Are you good with people, like to facilitate discussion about God-stuff and life in general? We

are always in need of people to facilitate small groups.

[email protected] for more information.

$80/80 dolleros/eig

hty bucks/80 p

ingas

Fill in the details and

get your form

to us by Sund

ay the 5th of Aug

ust.Bring

your lady friend

s and your ‘w

e’re just friends’ attitud

es

GATEWAY CHURCH950 VICTORIA ST, HAMILTON, NEW ZEALANDWWW.GATEWAYCHURCH.ORG.NZ(07) 839 1284OFFICE OPEN 9 AM - 4 PM, TUESDAY - FRIDAY

gateway magazine, august 2012, issue 19

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