We want all marriages to be happy, thriving and life-long. If you are a married couple, here’s a few things to think about and some practical tips that you could choose to implement in your relationship over the summer. Download the pdf below:
This week I grew in my capacity for worship but it came from an unlikely source. It reminds me that reasons to worship and ways to grow in our love for the Lord are everywhere.
The article was about the Euclid telescope which is mapping our night sky and providing us with more vivid images of the cosmos than ever before. One image stands out in particular.
It looks like a seahorse emerging from a cloud. It looks like something that might be formed momentarily in the vapour of clouds as they move across the sky. Maybe even something dreamed up in a VFX studio. But this is no fiction or product of chance. It’s a giant cloud of dust 1700 lightyears away from which new stars are born. And it looks incredible.
David wrote, “the heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim to works of his hands” (Ps 19:1). When he looked at the sky with far less light pollution than us, the grandeur and the wonder were reflections of God. The beauty of the night sky led him to know something of the beauty of God.
If David’s star-gazing grew his capacity for worship, how much more potential is there for us who have bigger microscopes and telescopes? We can see things in our universe that he could not see.
It reminds us of what everlasting life will look like. Each time we gaze at God, we’ll explore more of his infinite greatness and every new discovery will give more reason for praise and it will keep growing forever and ever.
The other truth this reminds us of is that our world is a reflection of the one who made it. God desires for us to look at the world and learn about him. The age of mountains (Ps 90:2), the roaring of the sea (Psalm 93:4), or a mum who comforts her child (Isaiah 66:13). All these things and so many more have the potential to grow our capacity for worship.
The question is whether we’re looking. We live our lives in such a hurry and our worship is poorer as a result. Worship not only glorifies God but edifies us in the process. What can you do today to take just a few moments to stop and stare and be led by this world to worship?
Much love,
Simon
This post is part of the Senior Pastor’s weekly blog. Go to the the blog feed >>
I’ve been on quite a roller coaster in the past few weeks. While it wasn’t the time I would have chosen, it was the time I needed. And God used the time to rekindle a vision I’ve had for as long as I can remember but, if I’m honest, I’ve let go dormant. That I would see a move of God in my lifetime.
The wonderful thing about Together last week was the heartfelt prayer that emerged and the expectancy in the room. It was a line in the sand moment. A stake in the ground. We believe something has shifted in the heavenly realms. Rather than sit back and watch, now is the time for us to lean in. But how?
Enter the work of Professor Stuart Piggin who has researched antipodean moves of God. While there is no formula, there are some commonalities that it’s worth us paying attention to.
Unprecedented prayer for revival
In Mark 9, the disciples struggle to cast out a demon but for Jesus it just takes a word. In the conversation that ensues, Jesus makes it clear that this kind only comes out by prayer. There are things that God desires to do but will not do unless we pray. Will we pray for a move of God? It can be something we do in services or something we devote time to as Life Groups. At Hania Street there is a permanent space that you can book to gather in prayer 24/7. It could also be much simpler. Who’s around you that has the same desire to pray for a move of God and make a regular time that works for you.
Unusual unity among Christians
In our approach to being a multi-site church, we always seek relationship with other churches. We don’t see ourselves as the solution in an area but understand how God works through churches of different styles and traditions. It has also been noticeable since Covid just how many churches around the country are talking about the same things we are. Prayer, disciple-making, church planting. There’s increasing unity and partnership. But it’s also something that’s important closer to home. Often it’s hardest to love and forgive those closest to us because we see one another at our best and worst. Let’s pray that the Lord would help us remain soft-hearted, apologise quickly, and forgive freely.
Heightened faith and expectation for a move of God
Finally there’s expectation. We have come to believe in the living God, the risen Lord Jesus, the power of the gospel. The same power that raised Christ Jesus from the dead is at work in and through us. We believe something has shifted and is shifting in our city so let’s pray and reach out with renewed expectation.
Why not begin to gather with others or use existing gatherings you’re in to focus prayer for a move of God. You could use these three things to guide you. Just imagine looking back in five years’ time and celebrating what God has done.
Me inoi tātou.
Let us pray,
Simon
This post is part of the Senior Pastor’s weekly blog. Go to the the blog feed >>
As we follow what’s going on in Israel and Gaza, it can easily leave us feeling helpless. What can we do except passively watch events unfold? But remember what we discovered last week. We can still pray and with that we can change the world.
Psalm 122 says, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:’ May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels’” (Ps 122:6-7). Implicit in this verse is the idea that Jerusalem is a city of significance that will be a focal point for conflict. This has been seen over the years and as we look towards the end of human history, it is Jerusalem that is the center of God’s end times agenda. To pray about what’s going on in the Middle East is to join with a significant part of the plans and purposes of God.
On Sunday at Mt Vic, we followed Pete Greig’s simple framework for praying in crises. It involves prayer under three headings and it can be a helpful guide whether praying on your own or with others. We can pray for People, Politicians and Priests/Pastors.
People
Pray for the people caught up in the conflict. The side they are on is irrelevant. Each of them is a person made in God’s image. There are still over 200 hostages in Gaza with families worried for their safety. There are hundreds of thousands of people displaced from homes and we can pray for food, shelter, clothing and power. Power shortages in Gaza mean hospitals are only providing emergency care. We need to pray for the significant amount of aid that is needed to get through.
Politicians
Israel has acknowledged they are planning for a ground invasion. This will have a devastating effect on an already horrific situation. We can pray for diplomatic processes in the region. For the intervention and involvement of other world leaders. We can pray for God to change the hearts and minds of those in positions of power such that an invasion might be averted.
Priests/Pastors
Finally, we can pray for Christian leaders and also all Christians who are called to represent God as ‘priests’ in the world. We can pray that they would know God’s presence in their lives and that they might understand how to love their God and love their neighbour during this time.
Above all, while we pray for this area, we can do so knowing that ultimately God is in control. Jesus really will return one day to rule and reign. These events remind us that it could literally be any day. As Peter wrote, “The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you can pray” (1 Pet 4:7).
Me inoi tātou.
Let us pray,
Simon
This post is part of the Senior Pastor’s weekly blog. Go to the the blog feed >>
The Street Church partners with Christians Against Poverty to help people in Wellington get out of unmanageable debt while at the same time sharing the life-changing message of Jesus with them! Each year, we as a church congregation donate vouchers and treats to make up Christmas hampers that get given to CAP clients around the Wellington region.
To participate, please collect a hamper box from your local service or the church office. Fill it with some goodies and special treats and return by 12th Nov. (You don't need to wrap anything this year.)
Boxes will be coded:
SM - single male, SF -single female, C - Couple, G - Generic
Please fill your box with a $50 Warehouse Voucher, $50 worth of treats and a handwritten card.F for families (many families have a few children, so these will be double the value)
Please fill your box with a $100 Warehouse Voucher, $100 worth of treats and a handwritten card.
Points to note:
No alcohol, although other beverages are fine.
No money.
Nothing perishable.
IMPORTANT DATES:
Boxes available at Locations from 15th October.
Return dates for boxes from 12th November.
You can return your hamper to your local service or the church office.
If you prefer, you can make a donation towards a hamper, with the reference ‘‘CAPHAMP''
E Street Association
02-1269-0016157-25
If you would like to get involved with the Christians Against Poverty ministry at The Street, please get in touch with Merrie, our Missions Pastor.
On Sunday we announced that we have appointed Daryl and Dee Collins as Location Pastors for our Porirua location, with Robert Ives as an Associate Pastor.
This is such an exciting development for us and another testimony of God's faithfulness to His church. We'll be commissioning them this Sunday at Together along with the Silvesters and Lambs.
Yesterday, I was in a prayer meeting in Australia with lots of other church-planters, disciple-makers and Pete Greig from 24/7 Prayer. We cried out to God for the meeting that was happening between Benjamin Netanyahu and Joe Biden. I came out so faith-filled that our prayers had shifted something in the Middle East that it made me want to check the news. I truly believe that prayer can change our world. That calling out to a supernatural God can result in real-world answers.
I am usually a very active person. However, I recently broke my ankle, so all I can really do is sit or kneel. Read, write and speak. Then, last night in my hurry out of an Uber, I left my glasses behind, so I can’t even read or write (I am writing this hurriedly at 3am in a hotel bathroom so as not to wake Jenny and before my eyes get too blurry). I just woke in the middle of the night, wondering what I would do until I can get my glasses back, and I felt the Spirit say this… ‘You can still pray.’
This is my journey with God. A painful journey to help me realise that when all I can do is kneel and pray, I can still change the world. When my usual activities and abilities are taken from me, one of the most powerful things I can do is still there. What will it take for you to realise that too?
Much love,
Simon
This post is part of the Senior Pastor’s weekly blog. Go to the the blog feed >>
Are you passionate about church ministry and eager to progress in your discipleship journey? If so, our 2024 Internship Program may be the perfect opportunity for you! We are excited to invite applications, offering you the chance to work closely with one of our dedicated ministry pastors. An internship is a transformative adventure, nurturing your growth in leadership, discipleship, and providing invaluable insights into ministry.
Click on the link below to apply.
Internship Application
Please note that applications close on the 27th of October.
Or if you would like more information or to talk to someone further about internships please email internships@thestreet.org.nz
As we think about discipleship at The Street, there are four words we use as an overarching framework. Upwards, Inwards, Outwards and Onwards. The first is “Upwards: We love the Lord.”
Upwards means the goal of our growth as followers of Jesus and our helping one another grow is not simply to grow in our knowledge of God. Our goal is to grow in our love of the Lord. This moves our faith from the head to the heart from which everything else we do flows. Can you see how important it is? Jesus summarised Israel’s Law—all 613 laws—into just two. Love God with all that you are and love others as yourself. Even the goal of the Law was love.
At the moment, I’m reading through the Psalms and this morning I found David coming to the same conclusion.
“Because I love your commands more than gold, more than pure gold, and because I consider all your precepts right, I hate every wrong path.” (Ps 119:127-8)
When David thought about the privilege that the eternal God of creation had spoken authoritatively and accurately to his people, he knew that those written words were more precious than any gold he could amass. He also knew that God had a perspective on life that was more accurate and life giving than the collective wisdom of humanity. He knew that in these commands was the opportunity for a full life and it led him to love God’s commands. What’s more astounding is that his love wasn’t for the gospels but for the Torah - the first five books of our Bible.
What is your motivation for reading Scripture today? Is it obligation? Is it routine? Is it to grow in knowledge? Or is it to grow in your love for the Lord? Routine and knowledge aren’t bad things so long as they lead us to love. Only that will be truly life giving.
As you think about your view of Scripture, what is a step you could take today to help it lead you to love the Lord? One of the things I have changed over time is to not worry about how much I’m reading and focus more on processing and applying what I’m reading. How about you?
Much love,
Simon
This post is part of the Senior Pastor’s weekly blog. Go to the the blog feed >>
This week marks a milestone in our multi-site journey as we announce the appointment of two couples as Location Pastors.
When we embarked in this direction, we believed in faith that God had been preparing people and would call people to these roles and the leadership teams of Locations. These announcements show his faithfulness to us in providing for where we believe he is leading us. It’s also a milestone because these appointments are for volunteer roles. We have been shaping our structure to provide the necessary support and resources to make volunteer teams sustainable. However, part of their roles will be to foster a culture of team leadership. This means they will need the faithful support of people around them.
The Street Church has a Board of Elders that provide spiritual oversight and direction for the overall church. In May 2023, we welcomed Matt Bate onto the Elder Board. Matt, his wife Jo, and their two sons live in Lower Hutt and are key leaders at the Hutt location. Here’s the video if you missed it!
You may have arrived at this page because you've Googled "Shincheonji" and you're looking for answers. Perhaps you've heard about this new 'church' and want to know what it's all about? Or someone from Shincheonji - known as SCJ - has told you about it, but you want to know more?
Maybe you are part of SCJ,and you want to get out but don't know how? Or you recently left SCJ and you're looking for answers and some guidance, maybe a safe place to be for a while?
However you arrived at this page, please keep reading. What we want to say to you is so important for your freedom and for your spiritual life.
A quick look around Google and you will find dozens of articles and YouTube videos explaining that SCJ is a cult that has brainwashed its people and caused devastating harm to individuals and families through its extreme religious requirements and manipulative methods of recruiting people (fake Bible studies full of SCJ members posing as people who are exploring faith, for example). There is nothing about SCJ that delivers the freedom to believers promised by Jesus Christ in John 8:36, "Whom the Son sets free will be free indeed."
The Street Church is not unique in having experience with SCJ. Over the past years, numerous SCJ 'recruiters' have come to our church services - and many others - in order to 'convert' people to the SCJ way. We have also met with people who have left SCJ and are looking for answers and a place to heal and make sense of what they have been through.
Wherever you are at in your experience with SCJ, we want you to know that we are a safe place for you. We would love to meet with you (if you want someone to speak with) or simply provide a haven for you to heal and reorient yourself as you establish your life outside of SCJ. The Lord Jesus Christ said he came to give us “life to the full” (John 10:10b). You’ve been robbed of that freedom by SCJ, and we’d love to introduce you to this life!
So, if you have questions or are in Wellington and you need help getting out of SCJ, please email us office@thestreet.org.nz or call us on 04 385 7315.
The Street Church partners with Christians Against Poverty to help people in Wellington get out of unmanageable debt, while at the same time sharing the life changing message of Jesus with them! Each year we as a church congregation donate food, vouchers and treats to make up Christmas hampers that get given to CAP clients around the Wellington region.
Merrie and the team would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who was involved in the Christmas hampers last year. We delivered over 150 of these amazing treat boxes to families and individuals in the greater Wellington area. We know these people were absolutely blown away by the generosity of our wonderful church family, who get behind this every year. So thank you all so much for your contributions; it was such a blessing!
Here is some of the feedback we received about our hampers last Christmas:
“I was chatting with a lady from our neighbourhood who with tears in her eyes was telling me about a hamper she received from a church that "made her Christmas". As she described what was in it I realised it was one of our hampers! She proudly showed me what she had bought herself for Christmas with the Warehouse voucher. She said there were some things in there she could wrap and give to her grandchildren too. It was so special getting to see with my own eyes the impact of these hampers.”
"I didn't realise I was going to get a Christmas hamper, aw I feel so blessed, thank you!!"
"Oh wow that's amazing ❤️❤️❤️ thank you so much!"
"Thank you for your email and for blessing my family with a hamper. It is very much appreciated so thank you and CAP for this gift!"
"What a wonderful surprise! Thank you so much for thinking of us!!"
If you would like to get involved with the Christians Against Poverty ministry at The Street, please get in touch with Merrie, our Missions & Outreach Pastor.
The Massive is our High School age youth ministry at The Street Church. Here are a couple of ways that we as a church family can support them:
Prayer
Here are some things you can be praying for.
That our youth would meet Jesus, grow in Jesus, go with Jesus
That our youth would have a hunger for his word.
That our youth would have a passion for prayer & worship.
That our youth would have a burden for those who don’t know Jesus.
Financially
Any donations you give will go towards the following:
Helping our youth and leaders get to Easter Camp.
Helping our youth and leaders get to Camp Massive (September)
Helping us provide events and activities where our youth meet Jesus, grow in Jesus and go with Jesus.
If you’d like to give financially:
Pay to: The Street Church
Account Number: 02 1269 00 16157 25
Reference: TheMassive
Thank you!
Dear church whānau,
As we journey together as one church, it’s important to keep you up to date with some of the significant steps we’re taking. For the latest update on City’s local services, watch Simon and Jenny’s update. We’re also planning a follow-up before Christmas.
Much love
Simon and Jenny
Dear church family,
Firstly, we would like to thank you so much for the time, prayer, and consideration that you have provided to the Elders and leadership through this consultation process. It has shown that you care deeply about this church and are passionate about seeing our facilities used for God's purposes.
This week, our Elders and leaders came to the united decision that we will not pursue this proposal with the Wellington Christian Education Project any further. We realise that this will come as a relief to some and be a disappointment to others.
There are a number of factors that played into this decision but one stands out above them all. 2022 has been a year of significant change for our church and we are conscious that we have not yet concluded some of these changes. As Elders and leaders, we have a growing clarity and excitement over where the Lord is leading us, particularly in the areas of making disciples and gathering in local communities. These are the things that require our focus and it has become clear that to pursue the school proposal would detract from our ability to pursue them.
We want to take this opportunity to thank Mark Larson from WECP. He is a great ambassador for Christian schooling and the Lord, and we pray that God will clearly show them the next steps in their journey. We would also encourage those of you who are passionate about a Christian school being established in Wellington to continue praying about this. We know that God can make a way even when it seems impossible.
Much love
The Street Church Elders and Leadership
Anna Field talks to Nick and Sarah about how things are going with The Way.
The Street Church has been approached by the Wellington Christian Education Project regarding using the Life Centre for a Christian School in the CBD.
We have come to a place as Elders and leaders where we believe this could be something the Lord is calling us into. The next step for us is to invite feedback from the wider church on this question. Please be assured that our desire to enter consultation is genuine, and any commitment is contingent on this process. To support this process, we have put together a document outlining the nature of the commitment and providing answers to questions we expect you to have. You can read it here.
If you are part of our church community, then please take some time to prayerfully consider this proposal and then send comments and questions to questions@thestreet.org.nz. The deadline for this is 25 September.
Our Senior Pastors Simon & Jenny, and Jerram (Lead Pastor of our City location) provide an update to the whole church around our local services.
In the video, we promised you an FAQs document, which hopefully answers some of the questions you may have. Click here to view that. If there are other questions that come to mind unanswered in the document, please send them through to city@thestreet.org.nz or get in touch with your Lead Pastor.
2021 was a year of challenges, learning and exploring new ways to be the Church. Our Annual Report is now available - have a read of our highlights, stats and financials.
