Blenheim
50 Blenheim Baptist girls and eight from various churches joined Shoulder to Shoulder in a recent women’s retreat at Bridge Valley Adventure Centre in Nelson. This was a perfect venue for the women to get away for a weekend of treats – girly stuff, no cleaning or cooking, and plenty of Christian input and ministry. Viv Liebezeit from Annesbrook Church was the guest speaker along with Pastor Wendy Salisbury from our own church. In the Wearable Arts Fashion Show, women were put into groups, each with a bag of junk, and creative juices and team work enabled them to produce a wearable garment to model. This was hilarious and a highlight for many! Lives were changed at the retreat, relationships built and strengthened. More than 35 youth also had a camp the following weekend at Pine Valley, where they discussed authenticity, being real, building relationships and the “why” question.

Motueka
Pastor Lyell Schieb
Recently our pastor and leaders have taken a series on the Community Ministries we as a church are involved in. These have included 24/7, a youth ministry in the high school; MAD Making a Difference youth ministry, meeting each Friday evening; Ambrosia women’s ministry meeting alternate Tuesday morning, with topical subjects and craft for ladies; Saturday Servants, helping with gardening etc and cleaning off graffitti; childrens ministry, including Sunday morning and Thursday afternoon; classic movies held once a month for senior people; are we are also involved in the ministry at the retirement home. Overseas mission was also highlighted. Andrew and Toni Collin and children Samantha and Leila are on Lamen Island, Vanuatu, building a house for single ladies with members from Kerikeri Church. With these activities and morning and evening services on Sunday, seven connect groups meeting weekly, and our over-60s group, we have a fairly full programme.

Stoke
Pastor Paul Wade
We are enjoying the wonderful new Yamaha U3 piano recently purchased, and a data projection system is to be installed shortly. In July, it was a privilege to have Ken and Anne Gartner with us, Ken singing and telling of his work with Prison Fellowship. At the AGM, we decided that, to get to know each other better, we have a cup of tea after the service on the second Sunday of the month. House lunches will be held on the third Sundays and on the fourth we will have a bring and share lunch. Ladies made a superb contribution again this year knitting blankets, jumpers and hats for children in Moldova and Romania for Mission Without Borders.