September Newsletter
Hearing God in the silence
We are surrounded by an invisible killer, one so common that we barely notice it shortening our lives. It's causing heart attacks and type 2 diabetes, and studies now even link it to dementia. What do you think it could be? The answer is noise, and its impact on the human body goes far beyond damaging hearing. Our lives are increasingly busy and noisy. A study in the UK concluded that noise is actually having a critical impact on our health and wellbeing.
The noise in our lives isn’t just what we hear, it also includes the constant barrage of ‘noise’ we receive in the form of information constantly flowing through our smartphones and social media accounts. Constant social media use is being linked to anxiety, depression, and loneliness.
All of this noise is also impacting our relationship with God.
Jesus comforted his disciples when he told them:
The peace that Jesus was talking about means rest, quiet, or a stillness in our hearts. It is not the absence of trouble, but it exists in spite of trouble. It is the Holy Spirit calming us, sharing God’s plans for us, guiding and teaching us and helping us to know God and build relationships with him. But how can the Holy Spirit bring the peace that Jesus promised when our lives are too busy and noisy to hear?
Even our prayers have become noisy. Our times of prayer are often filled with our own words requesting guidance or help. How often do we sit in prayerful silence allowing us the space and calmness to hear the words of the Holy Spirit? It is ironic, but true, that we will hear more when nothing is said.
I would encourage you to find time in your lives when you have genuine silence without distraction. A calmness in the presence of God through which you can hear what the Holy Spirit is saying—and resist the temptation to fill that silence with your own words.
Simon Cayley
Advisor to the Wilberforce Foundation.
Lunch and Learn
Legal "Ask me Anything"
Join us this September for an interactive “Ask Me Anything” session with Steven Moe, Partner at Parry Field Lawyers and expert in “for purpose” organisations.
We will cover any legal topics you bring; feel free to send your questions in advance
Steven also hosts the Seeds podcast (426 episodes and counting) and Board Matters podcast for the Institute of Directors. Don’t miss this chance to tap into his expertise.
Date: Monday, 15th September
Time: 11:00am –12:00pm
Free trust deed legal advice
Steven Moe, partner at Parry Field Lawyers and friend of the Wilberforce community, has offered to review the trust deeds of ten Wilberforce community members for free.
Recent legislative and regulatory changes mean your trust deed may be out of date. If yours was written by typewriter or has not been reviewed in a while, please contact Melanie (melanie@wilberforce.org.nz) to take up Steven’s offer.
The first ten responses will receive the deal.
Also, the Parry Field Lawyers website has many free guides and resources for faith-based groups and not-for-profits, including:
• The 7 Principles of Governance for Faith-Based Groups
• Charities and Tax
• Historical Abuse in Care – Best Practice Guide
• Churches in Aotearoa New Zealand – A Legal Handbook
• Nature as Shareholder
• The Circle - Careers with Impact
• Monthly emails on happenings in the Impact Sector
All these resources are available free of charge. For further guidance, you can contact Steven and the team at Parry Field Lawyers
Join us at the Auckland Prayer Breakfast
We're excited to announce that Wilberforce will have a table at the annual Auckland Prayer Breakfast on October 30th. This is a wonderful opportunity to join with Christian leaders from across the city to pray for our community and to connect with others who are passionate about seeing Auckland thrive.
We have ten places available at our table for members of our network. If you would like to secure a spot, please contact Melanie directly as soon as possible.
Learn more about the event on our website here
Future Governance Workshops
We are pleased to see a growing interest in governance development in the for-purpose sector.
The Wilberforce Christian Women in Governance Network now has over 70 participants, and it remains open to any women interested in strengthening their governance expertise.
The 2025 Christian Savings Governance Conference series, supported by Wilberforce, has seen record attendances.
Feedback on the Boardcraft governance workshops led by Dr Peter Crow has been very positive with attendees forming a governance community of practice to continue these discussions and explore topics such as Governance and AI and succession planning.
We're currently exploring offering the following with Peter Crow in late 2025/early 2026:
- Workshop for Board Chairs.
- Advance Governance Programme - open to those who attended the July/August Boardcraft workshops
- Further Boardcraft governance series.
If any of these offerings appeal to you, or you have further suggestions, please let us know so we can get a sense of what would be most helpful to offer.
Join us at 'Good News for Aotearoa'
Encouraging Evangelism across New Zealand
We’re gathering evangelists, gospel workers, and ministry leaders from across Aotearoa for two catalytic days — and we’d love you to be there.
It will be a time to be encouraged and inspired in your work for the Lord, as well as an opportunity to meet others from across the motu who feel called to share the Lord’s heart with those around them.
Speaker: Jon Hori from seeJesus - A Global Discipling Ministry
Date: 10–11 October 2025
Location: The Journey, Greenlane, Auckland (1 Marewa Road, Greenlane)
Cost: $80 per person (waged) $50 (unwaged)
Purchase your tickets below or read more in our information pack.
Wilberforce Foundation Christian Leadership Scholarships
Applications close soon
The Wilberforce Foundation Scholarship Committee grants scholarships to students who show leadership potential in the Christian sphere.
Scholarships are granted for a 12-month period.
Learn more on our website
Applications close: 22nd of September
Lunch and Learn
Christian Communication Principles for our Cultural Moment
Couldn't make it to our Lunch & Learn with John Watson? We've got you covered!
You can now watch the full recording of this insightful webinar where John from Good Mahi shared his Seven Guiding Christian Communications Principles. Drawing on his expertise in journalism and PR, he offered a powerful guide for how Christian organisations can communicate with both clarity and faithful integrity.
John is offering a complimentary consult — reserve your spot here
If you’d like to hear more from John why don’t you subscribe to the Good Mahi Media Update.
This month, we're doing more than just recommending a few books. We're inviting you to join a community! We've decided to highlight the Renovaré Book Club, which provides a place for you to read along with others and discuss your reading.
The club will be journeying through four books that are designed to deepen your conversational life with God, and we think you'll find them as enriching as we do.
The Renovaré Book Club offers an easy-to-follow schedule, weekly podcast conversations with the authors and guides, and safe spaces online and in-person for meaningful discussion. It provides enough structure to keep you on track without being overwhelming, and you can engage with others as much or as little as you'd like.
This season, the Book Club begins on the 6th of October and runs through to early May. With early bird pricing, now is a good time to join. We'd love for you to be a part of it!
Here is a brief rundown on each book:
In Search of God’s Will - Trevor Hudson
Have you ever wondered what God’s personal will is for your life? Trevor Hudson, a trusted voice in spiritual formation, provides a practical user's guide to discerning God's guidance. This book helps readers understand that God's will is not just about what we do, but about becoming the unique person He created us to be. It's filled with exercises and insights to help you align your heart with His.
Let God: Spiritual Conversations with François Fénelon - Winn Collier
In this book, Winn Collier curates the timeless wisdom of 17th-century theologian François Fénelon. Drawing from Fénelon's letters, Collier offers guidance for those seeking deeper spiritual growth. This treasury of insights helps readers find peace and direction in life's challenges by leaning into a trusting relationship with God.
How to Hear God: A Simple Guide for Normal People - Pete Greig
From the co-founder of the 24-7 Prayer movement, this book offers a simple yet profound guide to one of the most pressing questions in the Christian life. Greig explores how God speaks through Scripture, prayer, prophecy, and even whispers. He weaves together traditions from various Christian streams to help you develop a real, conversational relationship with the God who is always speaking.
At the Master's Feet - by Sadhu Sundar Singh
Written by the remarkable Indian mystic and missionary, this book is a classic of Christian spirituality. Presented as a dialogue between the "Disciple" (Singh) and the "Master" (Jesus), the book provides profound teachings on the practical aspects of Christian living, such as prayer, salvation, and service. It is a deeply inspirational work that reflects the depth of Sadhu Sundar Singh’s dedication and faith.
Wilberforce Community Newsletter
If you have any announcements, stories, or events you’d like to share with our community, please send them to us.
All articles should be sent to news@wilberforce.org.nz
Deadline for article submissions: the 12th of every month.
The newsletter will be distributed on the third Wednesday of every month.
Thank you for your continued engagement, and we look forward to hearing from you.
