Australian Inquiry Into Action - WEC NZ
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Australian Inquiry Into Action
reaching people | planting churches | mobilising for mission AUTUMN: 2019
The past few years has seen significant changes in WEC Australia, following an extensive
‘Strategic Inquiry.’ Ten recommendations were adopted, one of which was to develop our
core of prayer. Recognising its importance and priority, we’ve sought to provide further
opportunities to pray together through Prayer Gatherings in different states.
These weekends provide space for strategic prayer STOMP Trips
for the lost. Each Gathering has a theme, with the Another new focus has been the redevelopment
emphasis on learning how to hear from God first of our short-term mission programme, renamed
about what to pray. Participants often highlight STOMP (Short Term Overseas Mission Programme). Gospel where it’s thinne
ding the
the significant time spent learning how to discern Funds were allocated to assist WEC’ers to lead Sprea st
God’s voice together. Subsequently, two least- such trips. In 2018, group trips were undertaken to
reached people groups have directly emerged as a the Middle East , Timor-Leste, South and South-
WEC Oceania Lowdown
special focus for prayer by WEC Australia. East Asia. A further five are planned for 2019/20.
Other prayer initiatives include establishing daily These trips are very significant for participants, as
times of worship for prayer in different centres. they see missionaries and ministries up close, and “Don’t leave town till you’ve seen the country!” Such was the catchphrase for an 80’s advertising
Regular prayer meetings are also facilitated in consider how they themselves might be involved
campaign, reminding Kiwis that tourism begins at home. With our fascination for far-flung
each state. in the future. One man stated, “If you have mission
adventures, we can also easily overlook what God is doing in our neighbourhood of the world.
on your heart, I highly recommend you join a team
Prayer Journey
and see for yourself what is happening.” Every organisation has its structure. In terms of WEC, New Zealand belongs to one of four ‘Areas’ in Asia-
Another highlight was a prayer trip to Thailand
Pacific. Ours is called ‘Oceania’ - a group of up to nine nations, which are seeking to play a vital part in
in collaboration with Wingspan, a front-line
spreading the Gospel where its thinnest, near and far. Granted, not all are officially considered part of
prayer ministry of WEC. Ben Hallam, one of the
Oceania. Yet for WEC’s organisational and member-care purposes, it works.
leaders of the trip wrote, “Our stay (was) a mix
of prayer on the streets, on the mountain, in the Encouragingly, several Oceania branches have moved from a posture of purely receiving missionaries,
temples, and other key sites around the city. to sending them as well. With 65% of Fiji identifying as Christian, WEC Fiji has been sending workers for
Praying strategically and powerfully on-site, we many years. Returning to Fiji from service among Chadian Muslims, Eliki and Lavenia soon discovered
worshipped the glory of the risen King.” that other Melanesian nations, like Vanuatu, desired to do likewise. They merely lacked resources and
support structures. This led to a partnership agreement between WEC and the Presbyterian Church of
“Yet we also found ourselves in the classroom and
Vanuatu, whereby Ni-Vanuatu missionaries are now trained and sent through WEC, to
the prayer room - learning, growing, being shaped
the least-reached peoples of the world. Thus WEC Fiji became WEC Pasifika. Exciting
by God as we drew closer to him. He had his
developments across several island nations are described in the Feature Article.
reasons for each of us to be there, and I believe all
were changed for the better.” The rest of this edition spans other neighbouring countries. Timor-Leste, the newest
and poorest nation in Asia, hosts a small but faithful WEC team bringing Christ’s light
“Standing at a mountaintop temple, praying for a
and hope to this needy place. Meanwhile WEC Australia and Indonesia continue to
city and its people blinded by Buddhism; hearts
develop apace. We highlight particular stories of what God is doing in some of their
were broken. Watching foreign tourists bow down Denise is a Mission Mentor and
many respective teams.
and worship idols and demons; hearts were Short-Term Coordinator with WEC
angered. Seeing young children begging and crying Australia and editor of their quarterly You may ask, “In what capacity does WEC exist, where the church is well
for the tourist dollar; hearts were incensed. Yet magazine. She loves helping people established? Is there still a place for New Zealand churches and
praying, singing, and declaring the Word of God find their place in missions, walking Christians to be involved?” Absolutely! There remain at least 234
her dog, eating chocolate and
and the hope of the gospel; hearts were filled people groups with very little access to the gospel in Indonesia. Fiji
reading a good book.
with hope.” too boasts viable ministries among Chinese migrants and Indian
Denise Muslims - let alone the support staff needed throughout the region.
Check out the Sits Vacant section for a taster, and read on to
discover something of how God is both mobilising his church and
0800 GO INTO (46 46 86) Follow us on FB extending his Kingdom among our ‘Oceania’ neighbours.
Tel: 07 824 3211 35 College Drive
Email: info@wecnz.org Gordonton
Web: www.wecnz.org RD1 Taupiri 3791
reaching people | planting churches | mobilising for mission
• A Forgotten Neighbour • Nothing Impossible in Indonesia • WEC Pasifika • Australian Inquiry
A Forgotten Neighbour Nothing Impossible in Indonesia
Air-time for East Timor is almost non-existent in New Zealand. With a population a little less It was the mid-1980’s. Very few people were open to or involved in mission - and I arrived with
than Auckland, what is now better known as Timor-Leste remains a largely forgotten neighbour. the vision of introducing world mission to Indonesian Christians.
Throwing off the colonial rule of Portugal in 1975 During my very first hours of teaching in a fulfilled by Jesus’ disciples, and later misused by
merely instigated an invasion by Indonesia. A seminary, I challenged the class to get involved in colonial powers in an effort to expose Western
further 24 years of violent occupation ensued, God’s global work. My students were shocked. ‘If culture to the world. They think Indonesian
before Timorese once again gained their we do this, we’ll be persecuted.’ Only a year later, Christians need only dialogue with those of other
independence in 1999. Meanwhile, the 23 people when heavy persecution shook the islands, these religions, toward how to make life better, and how
groups were divided by mountainous terrain, students and the Indonesian church started to to eradicate poverty and sickness.
cultural differences, and generations of tribal mobilise.
We give thanks however, for the local churches
hatred and enmity.
Focused prayer groups began and the first workers and individuals who support us and our workers.
More than 90% of the population is nominally were sent abroad. I ran one such small prayer Sending WEC Indonesia (SWI) saw its first Christian
Catholic. Yet this is a veneer over widespread group. We prayed faithfully for 12 years and saw workers go to West Africa in 1995. We currently
traditional animistic and occult practices. The about 20 of my former students sent out to other partner with 35 more workers across the Middle
Protestant Church remains small, with some of countries. God answered in a fantastic way! East, Asia-Pacific and Africa. With God nothing is
those baptised still bound by occult powers. The Publishing impossible, even in the biggest Muslim country of
Since 2010 WEC has been providing material in the In 1999 I moved to another city, comprising 50%
Timorese are a hurting people. the world!
most commonly used local language, Tetun. We’ve students studying in seminaries and universities.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of WEC produced evangelistic videos, music video clips for I again taught Mission and Evangelism in a There exists an abundance of opportunities to
ministry in Timor-Leste. The first decade however, children and youth, magazines and also children’s seminary. But the Lord also brought me in contact serve in and from Indonesia. If that interests you,
was characterized by one phenomenal worker, books. Presently we don’t have people with the with a small university where I helped coach the then please get in touch with the team at WEC NZ.
Louise Laufter, and the medical clinic she founded skills to develop this ministry, but we continue to Christian students. There I started my first campus
in 1991. She did a great job, eventually retiring distribute what we have produced. mission prayer group.
when she was over 80 years old!
Formal Bible Training This group became the backbone for trips inside
Team Ministries Because there is no Bible College in the country, the country, at first to liberal Christian areas, but
In 2000, more WEC missionaries arrived, and my husband Dayan developed a foundational then to the unreached peoples of Indonesia. Our
in 2003 Esperança (Hope) Ministry started, programme in collaboration with other teams consisted of committed students on fire
initially with children’s clubs. The ministry now missionaries. In 2017, 16 students completed the for the Lord. We experienced many miracles: God
also provides English, Portuguese and computer first year. Last year another 24 students enrolled, provided the money, stilled a storm at sea, and
classes for young people. Thelly, an Indonesian giving us 40 enthusiastic participants! protected students when they lived with a village
missionary, uses her house as a base for Petra Kids chief and shamans (people regarded as having
- a pre-school community ministry. Older children There remain many needs and opportunities in access to, and influence in, the world of good and
have a similar programme at Esperança. Recently Timor-Leste. Business, teaching or professional evil spirits). He consistently brought us in contact
the Lord has added people to our team, allowing skills are valuable, and required for work visas, but with seekers of Jesus, and we had the joy of
us to do more with the children. Other classes only Jesus can bring real hope and change. Please witnessing, even a clan chief and his family accept
for woman are planned, but dependent on new consider joining us in his mission here! and follow Christ.
recruits. Could this be prayer fuel for you? Originally from Brazil, Mirna Two years ago we started Spark, a tertiary student
We were church planting in two different locations. and Dayan arrived with their prayer network, now in about seven seminaries
two kids in 2005, and have and 15 universities. Dr. Veronika has spent 32
In one, we felt it was time to stop. In the other,
been leading this small years serving in Indonesia.
we were able to hand it over to a local church to
multicultural team since The work is not without its challenges. Many She continues to teach
continue. Today a Timorese pastor and his wife are 2008. Besides teaching and churches here believe that overseas mission is in seminary, coach in
working in this area. They have initiated Sunday childrens ministry, Mirna university Christian groups,
largely irrelevant. They ask, “Why go to another
services and youth programmes and the ministry loves snorkeling, reading and and be involved in a host of
country and spend so much money, while so many
is growing. With more workers, we could once catching up over good coffee. other initiatives with SWI.
of our own people are lost and in need?” Others
again reach into areas where there are still no
Mirna believe that the Great Commission was essentially Dr. Veronika
churches. Could this be your ‘good-fit’?
The Pacific Islands and Beyond Paul spoke of “a great door for effective
service” being opened to him (1 Cor. 16:9).
It’s possible a WEC Oceania opportunity is
An Area Directors View
After working 15 years in our little corner
Mission in, to, and from the Pacific Islands is arguably at its most exciting stage since the of the Middle East, our world has opened
likewise open for you! Could you say yes to up dramatically. Oceania is an extremely
early dispersion of the gospel there over 200 years ago. Back then, the gospel was spread
either of these? diverse area, with teams in very different
largely by the commitment of enthusiastic Island believers, not just to their own people,
but to neighbouring nations. Behind Door Number One environments.
Duration: Six months or more When visiting our Indonesian offices, we pull off
1. A native-English speaker, who enjoys teaching the main drag into a labyrinth of narrow roads.
people 15 years old and above. Basic training in The river of motorcycles continues to flow around
English teaching needed. us, at times causing us to suck our breath in as we
2. Someone who enjoys Children’s Club ministry squeeze through the tiniest of spaces. Eventually
for 5-12 year olds, and has energy and some we pull into a driveway. One-storey buildings and
experience in working with this age group. a lovely garden greet us. An oasis in the midst of a
3. Qualified people with professional experience, hectic city. Then suddenly, our peace is broken with
who can also contribute as Bible teachers or the call to prayer from four mosques, all apparently
towards a team-based church planting ministry. pointing their speakers at our offices.
Behind Door Number Two You might say, “Aren’t you used to this?” Not at all!
Duration: Seven to ten days, or 1 year Because the sound here can go for an hour each
1. Help with the Children’s or Youth Programme for time, with a wider variety of competing singers
a team’s annual conference in Indonesia. warbling off-key.
Extra time afterwards to visit some local ministries.
Our workers held a party for the neighbourhood
2. Teacher at an International School associated
There was often rejection and hostility towards Another team in Fiji is dedicated to working last year. Eighty of them visited! Good
with WEC. Several subject-specific roles for the
the message-bearers. Yet Fijian missionaries with churches to reach into several Muslim relationships are being built. Consequently,
next academic year. Contact us for details.
in particular were so committed to sharing the neighbourhoods. This multinational team is when the city experienced the tragedy of
3. People who can work together in multicultural
good news of Jesus, that the British colonial experiencing the joy of seeing new believers bombings, Muslim neighbours set a guard for our
teams, contributing towards sharing the gospel
government actually put a moratorium on coming to faith. premises and assured the workers that they would
among one of four least-reached Indonesian
them going overseas. This decision was partly protect them.
In all the above there are numerous people groups.
due to the frequency of missionary deaths in
opportunities to join WEC Pasifika teams, As a Support Branch, ‘SWI’ is aiming for 10 new
surrounding countries. These early missionaries Behind Door Number 3
serving local congregations to help reach the sending churches, 15 new workers and 10 new
were fearless and full of faith. Duration: Multiple
least-reached in their communities. prayer support groups in the next four years. Will
WEC Pasifika, based out of Fiji, is actively recruiting for;
Wonderfully, today, a new generation of you pray in faith with us to see these goals become
A key component of mission today is mobilising 1. People to join our Indian Muslim and migrant
Christians is walking beyond where even the a reality? Maybe your home group could even
local churches. Here again WEC personnel are Chinese ministry teams.
most ardent of early believers would have dared adopt one of Indonesia’s 234 unreached people
drawing on their experience to raise up workers 2. A highly relational and enthusiastic person
to dream. The 21st century Pasifika Church is an groups for prayer.
for those nations with least-access to the gospel. to help encourage, resource and network our
exciting body in which to have a part!
An initiative in Vanuatu has seen a number of Associate Mobilisers in other islands.
Following many years of service in the Middle East,
WEC Pasifika has a key role in this new move of Associate Workers trained as church-based 3. An Administrative and Accounts Assistant at our
Neville & Elizabeth Clarke currently work as Area
God. Thirty years ago, WEC established a team mobilisers, keeping mission before churches. Fiji Branch Office Directors for Oceania. They live in Geelong,
in Fiji. Initially the goal was to see churches This led to the first-ever Vanuatu mission Australia with their four teenage/young
planted amongst unreached Hindus and conference in 2017, at which over 100 delegates adult children.
Muslims. Reaching the Chinese in the Pasifika were enthused in grasping their role in God’s They love to walk in
area was later added. Today, WEC Pasifika’s worldwide mission. This in turn has led to nature, family
vision is still to see the least-reached peoples further new mission initiatives. camping trips and
of the Pacific come to Christ, but to also see the Visit www.wecnz.org to check out the full having young
Importantly, all this came from the invitation and people in their
churches of the Pacific reach out to the world Opportunities Database, or call us on 0800 46 46 86
ongoing support of the Ni-Vanuatu Church. What to explore the options. home.
with the gospel.
began as a covenant agreement between the
Presbyterian Church and WEC, is now spreading More Info Neville & Elizabeth Clarke
How is this happening?
The Pacific Church is well established amongst to other denominations. Interestingly, Vanuatu
derives from “vanua” (island or land) and “tu”
30 Days of Prayer: May 6th- June 4th
the indigenous peoples of the Islands. However,
as in the rest of the globe, immigration is (to stand or rise up). We repeatedly heard, “Now
leading to new opportunities. Training by WEC is the time for Vanuatu to rise up and take its
leaders has equipped and encouraged local place in world mission.” Hospitality is a key characteristic of Islamic culture. Offering kindness and generosity to guests
congregations, especially in Fiji, Vanuatu and
Thus far, a growing number of Fijian and ‘Ni-Van’
is considered a duty to God. In fact, many Muslims believe that to honour and welcome a guest
the Solomon Islands, to embrace their migrant
workers have been trained and sent to places is to honour and welcome God. No matter how little one may have, hospitality is expressed
neighbours with love and the hope of Jesus. This with diversity and generosity, even self-sacrifice.
such as South and Central Asia, Chad, and Timor-
has given birth to a number of initiatives to reach
Leste. Supported by Pasifika churches, they In this year’s edition, contributors describe what Meanwhile, as we pray together, may we have a
out to Chinese, Muslim and Hindu peoples. Many
have become valuable members of WEC teams hospitality looks like in the people groups they live sense of faith and expectation of what God is going
congregations are now seeing effective witness
worldwide. among. Be inspired and guided to pray for Muslim to do in the lives of Muslims here in NZ, and around
take place in their communities among those
who do not yet know Jesus. A global perspective however, is having local peoples in a way that reflects this spirit of warm the world.
implications. For example, financing overseas welcome.
workers is challenging for many Pasifika This is a big advert for a big challenge! MARN
churches. Despite this, clusters of churches For online orders: marn.org.nz
has been the NZ Coordinator since 2001, steadily
across Melanesia are increasingly co-operating growing the prayer network from Kaitaia to the Email orders: info@marn.org.nz
to finance their mission workers. This unity Catlins. We highly recommend the Prayer Guide,
positively motivates their involvement in local and encourage you to join with several thousand Cellphone orders: 021 185 3334
mission as well. other New Zealanders, as over one million people
Are there challenges? The pathway to mission intercede for the Muslim world together during
has never been straightforward, and Pasifika Ramadan.
potentials are not exempt. They face the same A recent edition noted that, in 2017, there
temptations that keep Palagi and Pakeha from were 67 mosques nationwide. Over half of
following through on their mission call. Yet, there these are in Auckland. According to the 2013
are also unique challenges. The value of local Census, of those who affiliated themselves with
currencies means Pasifika workers generally Islam, 47% were born in Oceania. A further 27%
don’t have the same freedoms other workers do. were born in Asia – meaning the realities and
Also, given the prestigious position pastors hold, divine opportunities are close at hand. We await
it is hard to explain why a mission worker (often with interest the results of the 2018 Census.
not ordained) may need to receive a higher
WEC also has workers from overseas supporting ‘wage’ than the pastor. Sadly, denominationalism
this work. Dorothy is one such. Her roots in and growing one’s ‘brand’ prevents greater unity
Hong Kong, and fluency in Mandarin, has in the mobilisation and support of cross-cultural
allowed her to partner with established Chinese workers, similar to that of NZ.
congregations in new initiatives to reach Chinese However, God is much bigger than all of this!
migrants. The new wave of arrivals are often He can and is overcoming these hurdles and
business people, for whom different strategies the Pasifika Church is taking its rightful place
are needed to connect them with Jesus. Some of in the service of our King. Keep praying for the
the older Chinese churches have been without Pasifika Church. Being relational people they
adequate leadership for some time. So there are love being joined in what God is doing in their
strategic opportunities for cross-cultural Chinese midst. The focus of ministry rightly changes,
speakers to be part of Chinese ministry in a but there is still a role for New Zealanders in
number of Island nations. the Islands - just as there is a role for Pasifika WEC NZ offers a range
This ministry can have amazing long-term peoples in other nations: mission from anywhere of GLO-CAL Workshops
results. Recently a WEC leader met a Chinese to everywhere. Love it! to equip your church for
man who had worked in Fiji 20 years ago. There, This article was a collaborative effort from Willie cross-cultural mission.
through WEC ministry, he became a devoted Maloveretaki (WEC Pasifika serving in Burkina
follower of Jesus. Today he leads a house church Faso), David Duthie (WEC NZ Associate) and Trevor Check the website for details,
network in China that has a strong missional Kallmier (WEC Australia). or contact the Mobilising
vision and is committed to sending out its own
workers. Team and book yours early! 0800 GO INTO mobiliser@wecnz.org
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