2025 March Newsletter

From Chris Clarke, CEO,

It is always wonderful to celebrate the amazing and inspiring work being done by faithful people in Aotearoa! Last month, the Wilberforce Scholarships Committee enjoyed a fabulous evening with students and staff at Te Wānanga Ihorangi’s new campus. Founded in 2018, and originally known as Oati, Te Wānanga Ihorangi has as its mission the reclamation and revitalisation of te reo Māori with an emphasis on its relevance to faith in Aotearoa.   

Students shared why they had set aside jobs and juggled whānau commitments so they could join this community. Some felt they were being forced to make a call between being Māori and being Christian, but wished to be both. Only two weeks into the course, they were already starting to see how te ao Māori could enhance their understanding of faith and how their faith could deepen their understanding of being Māori. Others spoke of deep intergenerational family trauma : older whānau punished for using the reo, parents abandoning tikanga and reo so they could better fit into New Zealand society. A consistent theme from those present was that they were studying so their children would not have to experience what they had experienced. The tears flowed freely, as did the laughter and the reo. We were all deeply moved.

The students all agreed the highlight of the programme was the morning karakia, a liturgical mix of scripture, prayer and worship conducted entirely in the reo. Our understanding of the gospel is profoundly shaped by the language in which we first hear it. In my case, invariably I hear the gospel and worship in my mother tongue. For many Māori engaging in worship and in the word, to blend the two requires translation. How liberating it must be to hear the gospel and worship in the language of your people.

I was also reminded again how generational chains of poverty and exclusion can be broken for good within just one generation. The children of these students will grow up hearing te reo Māori and English. They will celebrate being Māori, they will worship in the reo. No more will they feel they have to make the choice of being Māori or being Christian

Te Wānanga Ihorangi is led by Anameka Paenga and Rev. Te Karere Scarborough, and supported by a fabulous team of kaiako, kaiawhina, and kaiwhakahaere.

Chris Clarke
Chief Executive

 Key points covered in this webinar include: 

• AI for Meeting Efficiency – There’s a reason this is first: It is likely the biggest immediate impact on your time. Time saved is more time fundraising.
• Personalised Donor Communications – Make every donor feel like your #1 priority.
• Major Gifts & Bequests – Use AI to refine your asks and maximise donations.
• The Right AI for the Right Job – Not all AI tools are created equal. Sean will show you the best ones to use. And how to keep up with the latest and best.
• Free Ethical AI Guide – All registrants receive a reference piece on AI ethics, privacy, and data protection, so we can focus on doing in the session. You’ll even get a draft AI use policy for your board and management to work on.

This isn’t just theory – Sean will show you practical, ready-to-use AI tools that can revolutionise your workload immediately.

Bring your CFO, CEO and communications specialists along too – we promise it will be worth it for them too!

Do you want to grow the evangelism and discipleship culture in your faith-based organisation? 

Many faith-based organizations, inspired by the heart of Jesus, find it challenging to integrate evangelism into their team culture while focusing on program delivery. At the Wilberforce Foundation, we are passionate about supporting organizations in living out the Great Commission. We offer two dedicated learning streams designed to help you achieve this mission, and we warmly invite you to join us on this transformative journey:

1. Shiftm2M guided by Tim Freyer
2. Building a Discipling Culture guided by Tim Piesse

Click the link below to learn more about each learning stream. 

Investing in the Next Generation of Leaders: 

Mentoring Programme 2025

Emerging leaders are the future of Christian not-for-profit organisations and the good work they do. The mission of the Wilberforce Foundation is to develop, equip, and encourage these leaders. With that in mind, we are excited to announce our Mentoring Programme for 2025! It is focused on supporting second-tier leaders; those up-and-coming individuals in your organisation who are ready to take the next step in their journey.

Why focus on second-tier leaders?

These emerging leaders are critical to the ongoing success and sustainability of your organisation. They may be poised to step into more significant roles but could benefit from mentorship and guidance as they prepare for greater responsibility. This programme is designed to help them build the skills, confidence, and networks needed to not only continue the work but to innovate and improve it.

How the programme works

The Mentoring Programme will run from April to September 2025. We invite CEOs and Board chairs to nominate a promising leader from your organisation who would benefit from the programme. Each participant will be paired with a carefully selected mentor and will connect regularly throughout the six-month programme. In addition to one-on-one mentoring, both mentors and mentees will have access to training and support, as well as opportunities to network with other participants.

Key benefits of mentoring

Leadership development: Participants will gain valuable insights into leadership and learn from those who have walked the path before them.
Confidence building: Regular guidance will help emerging leaders tackle challenges with greater confidence.
Networking: This is a chance for younger leaders to build relationships with others in the sector, expanding their professional network.
Personal and spiritual growth: Mentoring encourages not only leadership development but also growth in faith and character, which are essential for effective, values-driven leadership.

Nominate a future leader: If you know a young leader in your organisation who could benefit from this programme, we encourage you to nominate them. Forward them this email and encourage them to apply.

Register here

We are looking for mentors and people to be mentored (mentees) for the 2025 programme. If you’d like to be involved please register your interest by clicking the appropriate link below:

In this section of our newsletter, we invite a leader within our network or team to share what they've been reading and/or listening to lately.

This month, our Wilberforce Operations Manager, Melanie Grace, is recommending James Beck’s five essential reads for exploring eco-theology. He recently shared them on a blog for A Rocha Aotearoa, and it's a such a fantastic list that she wanted to pass it on to you in its entirety! Take a look:

Here are James' recommendations:

"Each of these books has helped me to see the Bible–and the world–in a new light. They invite us to re-examine familiar passages, exploring the overarching story of Scripture, and inspire us to act on the biblical call to care for creation. They remind us that eco-theology isn’t just about the environment; it’s about how we live out our faith in a way that honours God, creation, and each other."