march 2014 // volume 16 number 1

march 2014 // volume 16 number 1 www.angmissions.org.nz

contents3 // Mission Completed Some of our 2013 projects have been completed!

7 // Lenten Appeal 2014 Find out more about the school in Baghdad, counselling help in Polynesia, and the growing church in Gambella.

9 // Golden Oldies 2014 The Golden Oldies are off again. Do you want to join in?

10 // Projects Snapshot Learn about some of the new projects in Polynesia for 2014.

13 // Mission Matters Mark Grace (NZCMS 2014 Co-ordinator) shares his vision for the future.

16 //Puzzle Time

Anglican Missions Board of the Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia

32 Mulgrave St // PO Box 12012, Thorndon, Wellington 6144, New Zealand

Tel 64 (0)4 473 5172 // Fax 64 (0)4 499 5553

[email protected] www.angmissions.org.nzDesigned by: Emma Gallagher Cover Photo: Gambella Congregation.

Thank you for supporting the Global dimension of Mission coordinated on behalf of our church by Anglican Missions! Thank you to all our many church groups, youth groups, parishes, Rohe, dioceses, Hui Amorangi and to each of the Tikanga – I can assure you – you are making a difference!

Many of our projects are about assisting partner communities overseas, to have long lasting solutions for the many challenges they face. We all know there are poor communities who struggle to improve their living conditions, yet we also know they have their own resources and expertise.

Our church can partner with our friends to help build a better future together – to work together in God’s Mission to bring transformation in the way God calls us.

This is not a hand-out – it is a response to God’s call to work

together in Mission, and at its most basic level – to love our neighbour.

In partnership with Anglican Missions, our friends assess their own needs and set their own priorities, then apply any grants provided by AMB to these priorities. In this way God’s people work hand in hand , using their God given gifts to bring transformation to our communities.

Our church can still help our friends by assisting them on the ground, perhaps by sending short term missions teams, but always in deference to our host partners.

The efforts of our church do make a difference in the world, particularly when we work together in partnership.

In Christ’s service

Canon Robert Kereopa Executive Officer

Make a Difference Together

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Each year the Anglican Missions Board approves projects from our Grant Partners around the world for the giving to Anglican Missions from the Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand, and Polynesia, to support. The Board is made up of representatives from the three Tikanga and includes clergy, lay, and bishops who have been chosen to represent the broader church for overseas mission.

Our grant partners apply with requests to assist their financial needs in the coming year based on the priorities of their Anglican province or diocese.

Some of our 2013 projects have been completed, and others are making significant progress. Read on to find out some of what happened in 2013.

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Outboard Engine Diocese of PolynesiaThe people of Dreketi can now travel easily thanks to a new 15 HP Yamaha outboard motor provided by Anglican Missions donations in 2013. The Dreketi Sea Transport project combined our outboard motor, a boat, and a new set of life jackets to provide parishioners and school children travelling up and down the Dreketi River with a safe and efficient mode of transport. Boats are by far the best mode of transport for the people coming to and from Dreketi. Previously school children have had to row against the strong currents in a small punt to get to school. Now, travel is much safer with lifejackets and seats built into the new boat.

The Diocese of Polynesia and the people of Dreketi pass on their thanks to Anglican Missions and our New Zealand supporters for providing funding for the outboard engine!

Completed 2013 Project: The outboard engine in operation in Dreketi. School children of Dreketi can travel safely along Fiji’s deepest river.4

The Melanesian Brothers’ farm at Tabalia.

Water for All Diocese of PolynesiaThere are 70 children who attend St James School in Levuka, Ovalau. Since the school was established, access to proper drinking water has been a constant challenge. Often students have had to be sent home early because of disruptions to the water system, impacting on the children's learning time. The installation of the new water tank at St James School will minimize the disruption to quality classroom learning time.

Housing Assistance: Naomi Diocese of PolynesiaThe Housing Authority has just approved the construction of the house for Naomi, a widow who looks after her son and her partially disabled elderly mother. Currently they are living with relatives in a Housing Authority one bedroom flat, a total of nine people under one roof. The Housing Authority asked that the extra members find another place to stay. The government has assisted with the provision of a piece of land in Waila for Naomi and her family.

Her Parish, St Matthew's, is providing assistance with labour towards the

construction of the new house, and donations from Anglican Missions will provide the building materials. When completed, this house will bring comfort, security, and relief to Naomi, her sickly mother, and son.

Farming: Melanesian Brotherhood Anglican Church of MelanesiaThe Melanesian Brothers at Tabalia have been producing different varieties of vegetables such as sweet corn and have managed to prepare 4000 cocoa plants ready for replanting in 2014. One can tell that the brothers are really blessed both spiritually and financially with your giving. Their improved farm creates a more balanced diet, and enables them to sell some of their products to benefit their finances, especially assisting with their missions in the islands.

The Head Brother, Mathias, sends this message “Thank you very much for your help, we managed to pay for 40 gallons of petrol for our Christmas mission and thanks very much for giving us a better diet from our everyday meal with fresh vegetables, thank you!” Vestry Secretary and Father Jeke with

the new water tank at St James’ School. 5

Kerina Evangelists’ College Papua New Guinea (PNG)Situated in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea at Tsendiap in the remote Lower Jimi, Kerina Evangelists’ College is a centre for the training of catechists. Catechists are lay people serving in isolated communities who do not have a resident priest. Once trained, they represent the Church and minister to many families and individuals. Villagers are sponsored to become catechists and go, with their families, to Kerina to be trained. The catechists are the backbone of the Church in the most remote areas and are unpaid volunteers.

At the end of 2013 some of the students completed their studies, and a graduation ceremony was held for those students and wives graduating from Kerina.

The staff of Kerina extend their gratutude for the funding provided by supporters of Anglican Missions, which help to fund the running of Kerina Evangelists’ College.

Transit House Lenten Appeal: PNGThe 2013 Lenten Appeal was our most successful Lenten Appeal to date, raising an amazing $41,000 for missions. The Transit House was one of the projects supported:

“With this support we were able to purchase more building materials to finish work on the project. We are now in the final stage of completing [the Transit House] and it will be opened in March 2014. It is appreciated by every one in the Diocese. The [Transit House] will entirely support evangelism and ministry in [the Diocese of Aipo Rongo] in the long run.”

Catechists kneeling at the Altar, their wives behind them, making promises before God. Lecturer Ekoda assisting Father Mandap, Kerina's Principal.

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Children from St George's Church Kindergarten in Baghdad, Iraq (Photo © Al Hassan H. Fahmi).

In 2013 we helped train new priests in Iran to lead the growing church, provided a small salary to priests in Polynesia who minister full time while being the main provider for their families, provided for a technology centre for children in Palestine, and funded a hotel for travellers in the mountains of Papua New Guinea which will provide an income for missions of the local Churches.

This year, together we can help even more people. The 2014 Lenten Appeal will provide for priests in Gambella who minister to large poor congregations, a Church in Baghdad which wishes to expand on its kindergarten to offer classes for primary school children, and support for counselling services in Fiji which have provided a warm hand and heart to many in desperate need.

Gambella is GrowingIn a town called Ilea there is a little church made of a few bamboo sticks and a tarpaulin roof. There is nothing inside but a bare, smooth floor of packed mud. Bishop Grant LeMarquand recently taught at the church about the woman

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who had given Jesus her wealth (her gift of costly ointment worth a year’s wages); had given her pride (in the ancient world only a slave could be required to attend to a person’s feet); and she had given her reputation (she had let down her hair to wash Jesus’ feet). As it came time for this church to give the offering, to the handfuls of grain and little one birr notes (worth six cents) that were laid on the mat, were added the gifts of the women. One laid down her head scarf, the next her necklace of plastic beads, and one by one, women, who from a western perspective had ‘nothing’, came and brought their gifts - ‘costly’, because that was all they had.

As the churches in Gambella grow, the need to provide a salary for priests is becoming urgent. More and more souls are being drawn towards Christ. Even though the people give sacrificially, it is not sufficient to fund a small salary for their priests who are active in discipleship, evangelism, and planting new churches. As a result, the need for support from the wider church community is vital. Bishop Grant and Archbishop Mouneer Hanna Anis have

asked for our help. Your support will make a huge impact to the people of Gambella, Ethiopia, enabling the priests of the region to continue their ministry.

Building a New IraqThe Church of St. George's in Baghdad has a desire to set up a primary school within the compound of the Church, despite the tough situation and insecurity in the country.

The kindergarten at St George's was established in the compound three years ago. The kindergaten offers a very modern curriculum, and when the children graduated they didn’t find the local primary schools adequate for the children's needs. The parents have asked the Church to establish a primary school in order to continue their children’s education at the high level. The kindergarten teachers also have great respect for the children which the parents would like to see continue in their children's school years which is not always on offer at the other local schools.

The Church has a wish to create a new generation far away from the culture of violence which is prevailing now in the

House of Sarah Workshop Participants.8

Applications are now open for the 2014 Golden Oldies Mission! The tour leaves on Saturday 16th August and returns on Monday 25th August.

Experience mission projects the Anglican Church is involved in, from local schools, squatter settlements, to a home for children. Visit and be welcomed in a tin church (built in under a week)

and experience a traditional Fijian dinner and cultural celebration at a remote village.

For more information contact Graeme Mitchell, the Golden Oldies Mission Founder and Leader on: Phone: 021 460 338 Email: [email protected] Website: goldenoldiesmission.com 2 Clearbrook St, Shirley, Christchurch

GOLDEN OLDIES 2014

country; a generation which enjoy love, peace, coexistence, and acceptance of others. The message that our Lord Jesus Christ calls us to practice in our lives. A generation which builds a new Iraq and serves the country in particular, and mankind in general.

Warm Hearts & Hands in SuvaMost of us don’t share our pain or distress easily. If we do, we will look for someone we can trust, who we know will listen without judgement or condemnation. The House of Sarah is a project of the Anglican Associate of Women (AAW). The objective is to provide a listening ear, a warm heart, a welcoming hand to those who are facing difficulties in their relationships with others.

“Being an obedient wife, I thought that being slapped or pushed and kicked is just normal in a relationship.” (Age 39, House of Sarah Workshop Participant)

The House of Sarah needs our help to continue to provide counsellors to people who really need them. Your donation can change lives.

Donate to the 2014 Lenten Appeal to bring change to the world! To find out more, or to donate, ask in your local parish or visit: www.angmissions.org.nz/lent

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PROJECTSSNAPSHOT

for 2014Projects Officer for the Diocese of Polynesia, Jo Sanegar, with people of Vucivuci who will benefit from the Water Tank.

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The vision of the Diocese of Polynesia is to become a self sustaining Diocese. It is also actively engaged in improving the welfare of its members and the community through a variety of wide-ranging initiatives. The Diocese has many able-bodied people willing to do work to improve living conditions of their villages, but without financial support from the wider church these projects would not be possible for the Diocese of Polynesia to complete.

Some projects, such as Mission Support (supporting clergy in Polynesia) and the House of Sarah (page 9), assist the whole community. Others, such as Housing Assistance (page 5), directly address a serious individual need.

Projects such as Water for All only require funding for materials as the local communities are skilled enough to complete construction and/or installation themselves.

Water for All: Vucivuci Vucivuci is a small farming community found about three hours drive from Savusavu town and connected with

St Leonard’s Church in Savusavu. It is a small community of 34 people comprising of 5 families. There are 10 females, 15 males and 9 children. Being isolated from the town, it is important that the community has a consistent fresh and clean supply of drinking water.

Water for All: St Andrew’s Church, TongaThere are about 30 members of St Andrew’s Church, Vava’u. Situated at Neiafu Island, the parish is one and half hours by plane and half day by boat from Nuku’alofa. There is a great need for a supply of fresh and clean drinking water for this isolated community. The water tank will not only serve the members of the church, but assist the 120-130 people in the surrounding community.

Sanitation for ChildrenMani’ava is a recently established village of approximately 25 households. Because of its proximity to the core of Viti Levu’s mountain ranges, transportation to Mani’ava is a strenuous 2 hours truck/van ride from the main highway. The isolation is further impeded by the poorly cut and

unserviced track that links Mani’ava to the nearest village. Whilst land security has been eased, pursuing education opportunities for children is an ongoing sacrifice.

Students from Mani’ava attend school at the nearest village which is 2 hours walk on a winding mountain road. To avoid the long daily walk to and from school, currently 14 students as young as 6 years old are forced to leave their parents and board at the dormitory on week days.

The villages with some assistance have managed to build a one room wooden dormitory near the neighbouring

The Mani'ava Dormitory.

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village school but need assistance with the upgrading and building of the dormitory’s toilet and bathroom facilities. Support will be used to construct a separate toilet and bathroom facility for girls and boys. Currently the children have to use one pit toilet and an open tap outside the dormitory.

Wheelchair InitiativeWheelchairs make a huge difference to those who cannot walk due to age, injury, or disability. A new initiative of the Diocese of Polynesia is to gift wheelchairs to Churches around the Diocese to enable them to involve those who would otherwise be excluded from parish activities.

The Wheelchair Initiative is being proposed in recognition of the contribution and importance of the elderly and disabled people in the Church community. Due to lack of mobility, the elderly, injured, and disabled within the community are regularly unable to participate in parish activities. The mobility provided by access to a wheelchair will enable

those who were previously immobile to be more active in their parishes.

“My name is Navuta; I’m a 61 year old widow, and suffer from diabetes and hypertension. My leg was amputated 4 years ago. Now I have difficulty moving around. Presently I live with my daughter who works once a week to earn $35. I was a secretary for the vestry at St John Wailoku for three years.”

James Bharat, 84, has been paralyzed for the past 5 years. James's wife, Agnus, is also very sickly. She's been looking after James for the past 5 years until she recently became bedridden herself. Now James and Agnus must depend on their son for support.

Navuta, James, Agnus, and many others like them will benefit greatly from the new wheelchairs.

Your donation to Anglican Missions assists with all of these projects and more. Find out more about the work of Anglican Missions on our website: www.angmissions.org.nz

Navuta, planned Wheelchair beneficiary.12

MISSION MATTERS

By Mark Grace NZCMS 2014 Co-ordinator

Outside the dawn service at Waitangi the weather is wet and wild, inside the meeting house it's warm and worshipful. Leaders of our nation, military society and church along with members of the public are here for the Dawn Service. »

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Bishop Kito leads the service with humour and reverence. We sing, How Great Thou Art in Te Reo, then the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition along with Church leaders and members of the public lead us in prayer. I'm deeply moved by many of the prayers thanking God for the Treaty and asking for his enabling to continue to honour it. A stirring waiata is sung by Ngati Porou leader and NZCMS Council Member Pane Kawhia. The sense of goodwill, hope and partnership is palpable and present.

In this the nation’s Bicentennial year the Council of the New Zealand Church Missionary Society together with Canon Robert Kereopa the Executive Officer of the Anglican Missions Board attended Waitangi Day celebrations.

We were powerfully reminded in Craig Vernall's address at the 10:30 service at Waitangi that the coming of the Gospel undergirded so much of the Treaty. He reminded those present that the Church Missionary Society, the Anglicans and the whole church “in a sense” acted as a midwife to the Treaty and challenged us as the people of God to continue this important role.14

Two decades ago a concept called the 10/40 Window was popularised in mission circles. The 10/40 Window is located between 10 and 40 degrees north of the equator. It encompasses Saharan and Northern Africa, as well as almost all of Asia. It is purported to have the least access to the gospel message on the planet.

I came away from Waitangi Day celebrations sensing that another window of gospel opportunity was opening in Aotearoa New Zealand. The 20/40 Window. The 20/40 window is the 26 years between 2014 and 2040.

The 20/40 Window is framed on one side by the bicentennial year of the Gospel’s arrival, the 175th of the Treaty next and the centennial commemorations of Gallipoli and WW1 and the bi-centennial of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 2040 on the other.

The window is opening and the wind is beginning to blow. There is a fresh stirring of the Wairua Tapu (the Holy Spirit) amongst Maori. The Bible Society are reporting a significant uptake in the purchasing of Maori language Gospels

and Bibles. In the media, academic scholarship, and publishing there is a small but growing recognition of the foundational role of the Gospel in early New Zealand. A new generation in the Church is discovering the Gospel’s history in Aotearoa New Zealand and in doing so is opening to current Treaty responsibilities and fresh bicultural gospel opportunities.

How do we, as Anglicans and as a Church in Aotearoa work with God in this fresh window of opportunity?

In 2014 we can experience the story of the Gospel’s impact by pilgrimaging to historic sites and discovering what happened there. See the NZCMS “Summer of Pilgrimage” website for details.

In 2014 we can seek to deepen our understanding of the story. The NZCMS website and the “2014 Bicenntenial” Facebook page are hosting a growing collection of 2 minute videos exploring key questions.

In 2014 we can host teams of African missionaries in our parishes who are keen to serve and engage Maori and Pakeha.

See the “2014 Project” details on the NZCMS website for more details.

Many Christian leaders and ministries were deeply moved at the gracious and wide sense of welcome given to them by the Ngapuhi leaders at Waitangi. I believe Church leaders across New Zealand are welcoming fresh ways to honour the bicultural partnership established at Waitangi 174 years ago.

In this 26 year window of opportunity the Anglican Church has the capacity to take a leadership role in seeing the Gospel woven back into the fabric of people’s hearts and lives, and our collective life together as a people. My prayer, as the window opens is, may it be so for the glory of God.

Mark Grace is a member of Te Arawa and Ngai Tahu. He is a member of the NZCMS Council and the NZCMS 2014 Co-ordinator. He can be contacted at [email protected]

Find out more about the Bicentenial Celebrations here: nzcms.org.nz/200-years/

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ACROSS 2. Head brother of the Melanesian Brothers

in the Solomon Islands.5. The 2013 Lenten Appeal assisted in creating

a _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ centre.9. Trained lay person serving in communities

without a priest.10. St George's Church has a

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ for young children.11. A widow who will be helped with a

Wheelchair in 2014.13. Safety items for use on boats. (4,7)15. Celebration of 200 years.18. Something the teachers give the children at

the kindergarten at St George's Church.19. A new initiative for 2014 of the Diocese

of Polynesia.22. A "costly" gift given to the Church by a

woman in Gambella. (4,5)23. Number of people living in the Housing

Authority flat that Naomi was staying in.24. Location of Kerina Evangelists' College

in Papua New Guinea.25. Father _ _ _ _ _ _ is the principal of

Kerina Evangelists' College.

DOW N 1. 2014 is the Bicentennial of the arrival

of what in New Zealand?3. Hours that the children of Mani'ava

must walk to get to school.4. Safe place which provides counselling in Fiji. (5,2,5)6. Type of outboard motor purchased for Dreketi.

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at the Waitangi Day Dawn Service. (2,3)12. A vegetable grown by the Melanesian Brothers

in Tabalia. (5,4)14. NZCMS is leading _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ to

historic sites around New Zealand this year.

16. Capital of Iraq.17. Projects Officer for the Diocese of

Polynesia, Jo _ _ _ _ _ _ _.20. Gambella is in which Country?

21. A large natural stream of water.

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