Welcome to this our first edition of our bi-monthly Faith@Home NZ E-NEWS. Our aim is to provide you with information about what is happening with Faith@Home nationally and to encourage you and your church to see the families of our nation living out their faith 24/7.

If you know anyone who would like to go on the list to receive this E-NEWS, please forward them this copy and encourage them to send us an email with “SUBSCRIBE to Faith@Home E-NEWS” in the subject line.

Willow Creek Association NZ (WCANZ), led by CEO Alan Vink, exists to help strengthen leaders across the nation by connecting them to the most innovative, effective ideas, strategies and patterns of living that will enable them to excel in their role and calling, wherever that might be.

Faith@Home NZ became a ministry of Willow Creek NZ in 2012, following the introduction of the Faith@Home movement to NZ by it’s founder, Mark Holmen. Faith@Home NZ wants to “help churches build faith-filled homes”, where everyone is living faith 24/7.

Karen Steward is the Faith@Home NZ National Leader, based in Hamilton. Karen works 2 days a week on Tuesday and Thursday in this role, and also leads the Faith@Home ministry at Gateway Church.

Rachel Cooke is the Administrator for Faith@Home NZ, and works on Thursday afternoon.  Rachel is also the Children’s Pastor and Faith@Home Leader at Hamilton Central Baptist Church.

Karen and Rachel would love to talk to you about your church’s Faith@Home journey, and how we can help and resource you along the way.

A number of churches have joined the Partner Church program either through Willow Creek or the Baptist Union of NZ since its introduction by Mark Holmen at the end of 2011.

Over the next few months we will be getting in contact with all our current Partner Churches to offer support and encouragement, and to be encouraged in return, with all that you are doing. We have also reviewed the website component, and have now resolved the technical issues that were causing some frustration. We are keen to work with each of you, to help you get “up and running”.

We have other plans on the horizon, which we are hoping will help to make this a valuable resource for you, and will make a real two-way partnership.

If you are interested in finding out more about becoming a Partner Church please see our website.

Karen has written a reflection based on Nehemiah called “Rebuilding the Wall” which you can read on our website.

Honour and bless your Dads this Father’s Day (1st Sept 2013), and resource them for their crucial role in bringing up faith-filled children.

Mark Holmen’s book Faith Begins@ Home Dad is available from us for bulk purchases of 10+ books for the low price of $9.20 incl GST each. This will also give you access to a number of free resources on our website.

Orders can be placed through our website and need to be in by 15 August to guarantee delivery by Father’s Day. 

Do you need to get the message out about Faith@Home? We have available a brochure that explains: What is it? Who’s it for? Where does it happen? When do we do it? So now what? Click for more Information ...

If you would like some of these brochures please contact us. 

An Evening of Inspiration for Parents

Sunday 15th September @ 6.30pm
Hope Presbyterian
27 Amyes Road
Hornby
Christchurch

Rosie is a singer, songwriter, speaker and award-winning author of children’s books, and will be speaking on nurturing children’s faith at home.

The meeting will be followed by a supper for parents and a Q and A session with Rosie.

Rosie’s books and Faith@Home resources will be available for sale on the night.

Brian Siewert, Leader Faith@Home Canada is visiting NZ in late November 2013 and is going to help us run a great training day we are calling  Faith@Home 201 - Next Steps in Becoming a Faith@Home Focused Church.  This will be hugely beneficial for leaders working out “the next steps” to embedding Faith@Home in their church. Furthermore, it will also be suitable for those just starting out and those church teams that have already begun their Faith@Home journey.  

Please see our website for more details.