Magazineinside life

OCTOBER 2012

www.thelifechurch.co.nz

PENROSE OTARASunday Service: 9:30AM

60 Rockfield RoadPenrose, Auckland

Sunday Service: 10:30AM201 Preston RoadOtara, Auckland

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PASTOR’S MESSAGE“Go Global”

I am sitting in my room in a guest house in Penang right now and so perhaps it is natural that my thoughts for this article revolve around God’s command to each of us to GO into all the world. At the beginning of our Missions Month back in August I spoke a message entitled ‘Go on a Mission’ which addressed the topic that God calls each of us to something specific in life. While not all of us will go overseas as a Missionary all of us are to ‘go’ into something of significance.

Last night I had dinner with a couple who did the Perspectives course (the expanded form of Go Global) and had it change their lives. He was a successful lawyer but once he understood God’s command to him his whole priority list changed, resulting in him going to live in Vietnam for a while and now starting an outreach work with Migrant Workers here in Malaysia that is literally transforming lives for eternity. Thieves are working full time jobs, girls who were living lives that were wrong and hopeless are now radiantly following Jesus. It is a special experience to be among it.

My friend is now back in his legal practice but now it is not about making money or even practicing law in areas that will make him successful. It is about getting justice for the disenfranchised, it is about showing compassion to those who do not have others to do this for them. I was so blessed to spend some time with him.

So, it is a good thing to be able to renew the challenge to each one. You were bought with a price by Jesus to do something special. Discovering that will not always make life easier but it will certainly make it more rewarding and exciting.

When I met with a group of these migrant workers 2 nights ago (none of whom had been believers more than 3 years) I saw unbridled love for God. I saw purity in heart and action, I saw zeal for wanting to know and do the will of God. Almost everyone took notes when the message was spoken, everyone was on their knees crying out to God as the challenge was given and received. It was New Testament Christianity in a 21st Century setting - such a blessing to be a part of. So wonderful friend, let me once again challenge you to prepare to ‘go on a Mission’.

It is almost guaranteed that if you don’t ask the Lord Jesus to show you what He wants you to do it is unlikely that He will. So why not take a moment and tell Him you want to know what He has called you to. A wise preacher once said that the church is too much challenged and too little changed. Can I therefore suggest that right now you decide to do something,…anything that there is a prompting to do. It may very likely be the urging of God toward His future for you. God bless you as you do!

Pastors Bruce & Maude McDonald

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feature event

We are glad you have joined us today. If you are visiting for the first time, we extend to you a warm welcome. You can find information about what we are up to here, or check out the information desk after the service. If you have children we provide fun, safe and engaging programmes for various ages. Turn through to page 5 to find out more about what is available for your children today.

To find your way around each of our two campuses, check out the map below, or feel free to ask one of our friendly impact team members for assistance with any needs you may have. If you enjoyed the message this morning, or missed it and would like to hear it, then connect with us online to find this, as well as a range of other information.

this monthWe have some great events coming up this month for you to get involved with. Our Otara campus has carpet that is in desperate need of replacing so we are holding a garage sale to raise money for this to be achieved. Please come along and support this great day. We also have a parenting course starting at the end of October which will give families some great skills to grow together.

With so many great things happening again this month, make sure you put it all in you calendar to ensure you don’t miss out!

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OPPenrose Otara

Auditorium

Main Entrance

Toilets

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Auditorium

Nursing MothersRoom

Main Entrance

Cafe

Sparks

Sunbeams

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AFTER CHURCHAfter the service please stay and have a drink with us. At Penrose you can purchase quality café style coffee and cakes from the team or help yourself to free tea and coffee available next to the café servery.

Who Am I To Make A DifferencePosted by Bobbie Houston on www.hillsongcollected.com

Have you ever become aware of the plight of others or read about innocent hearts being subjected to insane cruelty and felt completely helpless to make a difference? I’m sure like myself you have felt like this on many times.

I recently read of a 90 year old woman being viciously attacked in her home. The article showed her unconscious in hospital. A swollen, bruised face and a finger mercilessly severed in the attack. Outrageous on every level.

I remember reading a newspaper article a number of years ago. It was a Sunday afternoon and in this full-page spread, it revealed that there are an estimated 27 million enslaved in our so called modern society. I vividly recall sitting at my kitchen table feeling helpless to help, yet it seems God saw the lament of heart and my silent cry heavenward ... “GOD! How can we stop this, how can we make a difference?”.

Sometimes our hearts can faint at the magnitude of injustice, but one of the greatest things we can ever do is PRAY GOD’S WORD over the situations and lives of those suffering.

Sometimes it doesn’t seem enough, yet I have come to know that prayer makes a WAY for intervention. Prayer stirs the spiritual realm in ways we may never fully understand this side of eternity and sets in motion the saving hand of God.

So when your mind humbly (and perhaps helplessly) imagines the plight of others ... when you imagine their fear, their darkness, their horror and the loneliness and distress they face ... pray God’s Word over their lives. Pray His Word, Mercy, Comfort, Help, Light, Freedom, Will and Promise into their darkness.

Psalm 10 is astounding and I often think, read and pray it when my mind goes to the enslaved of this world ... “Lord, break the wicked right arms, break all the evil left arms. Search and destroy every sign of crime. God’s grace and order wins; godlessness loses. The victim’s faint pulse picks up; the hearts of the hopeless pump red blood as you put Your ear to their lips. Orphans get parents, the homeless get homes. The reign of terror is over, the rule of the gang lords is ended”

Selah & Amen (“so let it be in Jesus Name”)

Bobbie Houston

© http://hillsongcollected.com/one-for-another/who-am-i-to-make-a-difference

What was your first taste of missions, what was it like?Johnny: My first taste was in secondary school, I went on a trip with my high school to Thailand. The first taste was not so good; I accidently exposed myself on a beach in Singapore on the way there. For me it was an introduction into different countries and cultures. We were able to do some ministry in Thai high schools, which was an amazing thing to be able to do. It was a really rich time. Back then I didn’t have much of an understanding of missions and God’s task for the world, I was just along for a cool trip in another country but God really touched my heart and I’ve been back to Thailand since and really invested time and a lot of prayer into that nation and seen some awesome things happen there.

What might you do differently as a missionary that we don’t do in a normal Christian lifestyle in NZ?Greg: There is an awareness of when you go into a new culture, or environment particularly when you have got a mission, there is an awareness of two things really. Awareness of the culture and awareness that the culture is significant, so you therefore need to identify with the culture and do things that actually reach out to them. Whereas here in New Zealand because we live in a reasonably mono cultural society, when you reach out to people of different cultures we don’t necessarily make that step to help them understand or we treat them as another white New Zealander, but when you are overseas you prepare your heart when you reach out cross culturally. The other thing is that when you’re actually over there even though you are doing life quite normally like you do here in New Zealand in many respects because you are on a mission, you are much more purposeful about your actions and your speech and just your life you live. Whereas here in New Zealand because we’re so used to life here we get into the mode of normal life and we don’t actually think we’re on a mission, whereas when you’re overseas you think here I’m on a mission, here to do a task. And so when we were in Shullem for two years in Central Asia we lived like we were on a mission for all those two years and every moment and every interaction we considered it alongside what God wanted us to do, but back here I can confess that that in the last three years I’ve sometimes slipped and not always been like that, and I think a lot of us do.

Johnny: Most of my involvement has been with short term mission trips and supporting that. What I have found to be a major difference is the intentionality behind it. Because it’s a specific month or two months we are going to do X job or plant X church or whatever we’re going to do in the nations we’re going to we spend months soaking that in prayer and worshiping over the place we are going to. When we are there every minute of the day we are focusing on what we are doing and our task. In those moments focusing on those trips the great commission is all about that. Whereas normal life in New Zealand, working in my day job it’s so easy to lose that, and although the interactions we have are just as valuable in terms of reaching out to people it’s not necessarily soaked in prayer. Mission has given us the opportunity to have that focus.

Part 2 of our interview with Greg and Johnny from Go Global Missions Weekend

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Things are just starting to get heated up since we started up “Converge” - a once a month sports night for the community. We have an onsite gym where we run a whole bunch of sports games and other fun stuff.

And this is just the beginning! We both share a vision with our amazing leaders that not only kids from all around our local areas of Penrose and Otara will be coming along to our Youth group, but also, we want to be helping and encouraging each and every person through school and university to see their full potential shine. We are all about the community and yes we care!

So I invite you, your family and friends to join in and we will make sure that you find out why God has put you in such a time as now.

Sam & Krysta ArdernYouth Leaders

‘Converge’ Sports nightsLast Friday of every month 7:00pm - 9:00pm Penrose Sports Centre

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Ages: 13-18 Sam & Krysta Ardern - Youth Leaders Penroseyouth@thelifechurch.co.nz (021) 077 6009 David & Carol de Thiery - Senior Youth Leaders Otaradavid.dethierry@thelifechurch.co.nz (027) 341 3213

CHILDRENAt The Life Church your children are important to us. We provide safe, fun and engaging programmes for children. Parents and caregivers are welcome to sit in on any of the lessons to see what we do.

OTARA CAMPUS

PProgrammes start at 10:00am, when a notice will display on the screens. Leaders will meet parents and children at the back of the auditorium and direct you from there.

SUPERNOVAS School Years 3 - 8

SPARKS 3 years - end of School Year 2

SUNBEAMS 0 - 2 years

OProgramme starts at 9:00am and runs before the main church service.

KIDS-R-US 5 - 13 years

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PATHWAYS JOURNEYS TO MAXIMISED LIFE

The other day I was talking to a friend and she told me, that she was a grandmother of 19 children. My mouth dropped open in disbelief. It struck me this lady must really like children. I suddenly thought about all the Christmas and birthday presents she would need to buy! But then I started to think about all the opportunities she would have to love and be loved, the years of joyful laughter in her house, at family gatherings. I thought about the wisdom she would be able to gently impart to her children about raising their children, and in years to come the guidance she would be able to give to her grand children as they matured into adults.

Whatever your parenting situation - whether you’re a biological parent, a step parent, foster parent, single parent or a grandparent raising children, you will have found that parenting is fun, challenging, and hard work, however the rewards are fantastic! I am sure all of us from time to time could use some wisdom from those who have raised children.

This month we are running The Parenting Children Course. The age focus is children from 0 - 10 years old. Over 5 weeks you will cover the following topics:

1. Building strong foundations2. Meeting our children’s needs3. Setting boundaries4. Teaching healthy relationships5. Our long term aim

Here is some of the feedback we have received about the course.

“This course has helped me to understand my son better, in terms of his love language and filling his love tank and needs. I have learnt how to deal with different situations in a positive way which also has impacted our relationship positively. We have a stronger bond and will have a long-term effect on our family” Tawny Eccles.

“ I have become a better Father since going on the parenting course. My children have noticed the difference in how I relate with them. My patience has increased.” Saiyad Irshad

“We have found the parenting course really helpful. Just reminding us to stop and listen, take time out. Your child needs your attention, needs the boundaries etc. we now all sit at the table to eat breakfast and dinner. It’s nice we chat about our day. The course was really beneficial in so many ways. I would like to re-do it again in 6 months just as a refresher and to reinforce more great parenting tips.”

Course date: Sunday 21 October - 18 November 2012, 3:00pm - 5:00pmCost of course: $30 for one parent; $50 for two parents. Includes childcare and afternoon tea. Please register ahead of time if you require childcare.

You can sign up at:Information Desk in La Vida Cafeemail: alpha@thelifechurch.co.nzor go to www.thelifechurch.co.nz\pathways

Debbie HillPathways Director

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Working BeeOn the second Saturday of every month we hold a working bee to maintain and develop the properties of The Life Church. This is a great way to meet people and provide practical support to keep the place functioning well. All skill levels needed and lunch is provided.CONTACT: Merv Jones (021) 711724

SATURDAY 13th –9:00am - 3:00pm PMen’s Breakfast

Saturday 20th October - 7:30amCost: Donation (suggestion $8)

Enjoy a big breakfast and have a great morning of connection and input. All men welcome.

We meet every first and third Tuesday of the month. A great place to develop meaningful relationships

and enjoy spiritual input and discussions.

Contatct: Adair Smith (021) 770 522

WHATS ON03 Prayer Service 7:00pm Main Auditorium

07 Sunday Services13 Garage Sale 7:00am - 12:00pm Otara Campus

14 Sunday Services18 Prayer Meeting 7:00pm TLC Offices Penrose

19 Mainly Music 10:00am TLC Sports Centre

21 Sunday Services Parenting Course 3:00pm - 5:00pm TLC Offices Penrose

26 Mainly Music 10:00am TLC Sports Centre

Converge Youth Night 7:00pm - 9:00pm TLC Sports Centre

27 Man Power Breakfast 7:30am TLC Sports Centre

28 Sunday Services Special Guest Bishop Joe

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FRIDAY MORNINGS - 10:00am (During School Term Only)Penrose Sports CentrePrice: $4 per family

Our mainly music is a place where young children and their mums or caregivers can come and enjoy music, rhyme, rhythm, creative dance and so much more. If you have young children, or know of someone with young children then feel free to ask them to come and join us for a morning of fun.

CONTACT: Suzy Just (021) 670 917 Natalie Jones (021) 386 628 mainlymusic@thelifechurch.co.nz

P Heal ing RoomsThe Living Room is a place where you can receive prayer. Our teams of experienced and compassionate prayer partners are ready to pray for healing and other needs as requested. Anyone is welcome to receive prayer. You don’t have to be a regular churchgoer, there is no charge and no appointment is necessary.

SATURDAYS – 10:00am - 12:00pmPenrose Campus - Opposite the AuditoriumOtara Campus - Above the Auditorium

CONTACT: Chris Starrenburg (021) 277 5091 or chris.starrenburg@thelifechurch.co.nz

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www.thelifechurch.co.nz

PostalPO Box 24377Royal OakAuckland 1345NZ

P: (09) 918 1699F: (09) 579 5150E: info@thelifechurch.co.nz

Penrose60 Rockfield RdPenroseAuckland 1061NZ

Otara201 Preston RoadOtaraAuckland 2023NZ

WHOSWHO

Pastors Bruce & Maude McDonaldSENIOR MINISTERS

Dan & Pam OgleELDERS

Merv & Gay JonesELDERS

Murray & Raewyn StewartELDERS

John and Lijiana DeanPASTORAL CARE OTARA

James BeaumontCELEBRATION DIRETOR

Debbie HillPATHWAYS DIRECTOR

Sam & KrystaYOUTH LEADERS

Adair SmithPASTORAL CARE DIRECTOR

Maude McDonaldCREATIVE DIRECTOR

John & Sharon EcclesMISSIONS DIRECTORS

Bruce & Dayna GrayOTARA LEADERS

David & Carol de ThieryOTARA LEADERS