Hastings
Pastor Paul Davison

The last few weeks have seen the conclusion of the new manse project with some refurbishment and the pastor and family settling in. We hope they will be as happy in this home as they were in the old one over the past 10 years. Prayer and Self Denial Appeal played a major role through May. An event for all ages took place with several mission-orientated activities and a live video link with Peter and Lynley.

Last year we celebrated the church’s centenary; this year we celebrated 100 years of Sunday school. A visiting storyteller entertained the children, then a fabulous dinner interspersed with reminiscences. After viewing old film, then new, we were able to see the changes in Sunday school but the message has remained the same. BMF reported an income of $1230 from collecting used stamps over the year.

Havelock North

Progress on the new auditorium continues apace with the opening planned to coincide with the church’s 25^th anniversary over the weekend of September 25-26. The opening ceremony on Saturday and celebratory dinner will be held in the new auditorium. A special thanksgiving service will be held on Sunday morning. An Alpha course is planned for Term 3. Pastor Kerry has commenced a series on the spiritual gifts. An offering for the construction of a new hostel for our children’s home in Orissa, India raised $60,000.

Wanganui East
Pastor Calvyn Jonker

Our new Pastor Calvyn Jonker (previously Associate Pastor at Howick Baptist), his wife, Alice, and daughter, Claire, joined us at the beginning of May. We celebrated God’s faithfulness to us as His church. The month started with a men’s breakfast that Calvyn addressed. Alice followed two weeks later with a coffee morning for the ladies. Café Connection and Church Connection, ministries to the elderly, run under the leadership of Ray and Marion Smith. Calvyn is preaching through 1 Peter and Dave Tastard is continuing his series through James. Some home groups are working through a series by Alistair Begg on Nehemiah (God’s Work, God’s Way), others are doing Bible studies on Daniel, Joshua and one group on the book Lies Women Believe and the Truth that Sets Them Free by Nancy Demoss. Mike and Lisa Newman have begun leading the youth group. We farewelled Graham and Karlene McFarlane as they left again for Faith Academy in Manila and welcomed the Wright family into membership. A couple leaders attended the annual, week-long School of Theology arranged by the Fellowship of Reformed Baptist Churches in New Zealand, with people attending from all over NZ and Australia. Contact has again been made with the Bible Translation Project in Waka, Ethiopia and we are looking forward to Missions Sunday in August, with prayer for and reports from the missionaries we support. God is good – and as a church, we want to faithfully serve him his way! Soli Deo Gloria.