Reaching Students for Christ he akonga ki nga akonga hei ara whakawhiti mo te Karaiti

University of Auckland: Jesus Week

Run primarily by OCF, KYCF and EU with input from various other Christian groups on campus, Jesus Week was an attempt to engage the campus with the truth of who Jesus is. Student apathy and general busyness not being conducive to large events, the range of talks from Christian academics and speakers were not as well attended as hoped, but over the week perhaps 300 students engaged with the activity in some way. Many more saw flyers, our Jesus Week shirts, heard the music in the quad or overheard people talking about it. Particularly popular were the 'If you could ask God one question' BBQ, free milo between lectures and 'Grill a Christian' panel where people could ask a Christian anything. The challenge, as always, is to engage the campus effectively - to have a clear grasp of the gospel and present it in a way that makes sense to the university community.

Posted by Zachary Ardern on 03/11/2011

Interview with Raewyn

A long-time staff member of TSCF, Raewyn Taylor has lately stepped down from her role as Office Team Leader, to a more part-time administrative role. We took this opportunity to ask her for some reflections on her time in TSCF.

What was your connection to TSCF before you started working here?

Prior to joining TSCF staff I worked as a secondary school teacher. I was involved in a TSCF campus cell group when I was student at Victoria University. Also, my local church has been a long time TSCF supporter, largely due to connection through TSCF staff as church members.

What are the different roles you’ve had here?

I have worked at TSCF for nine years, in an administrator role and also as Office Team Leader.

What was your first impression of Nigel?

Hmm! (Alas, I am lost for words on this one!)

Can you think of any funny stories or fond memories from your time in TSCF?

The TSCF team are more like family than work colleagues and we typically celebrate special milestones together. I remember in my early days there was often only three of us in the office and we shared a common birthday – on that day we sat down together and sang ‘Happy Birthday to US’, with nobody else on deck to serve us!

Picture: Raewyn (2nd from right) with office colleagues.

What has encouraged you about TSCF over the years?

It has been a joy to be a part of such a talented and committed staff team, many of whom we have hosted in our home. I have been able to attend some student events and these have been incredibly encouraging. Over the time I have been involved I have observed many progress from new student, to student leader, to graduate, and sometimes to Mintern, Catalyst participant, TSCF Staff Worker, or Board member! Invariably, I have observed growth in faith, in confidence and in leadership. It has been a privilege to support this ministry.

Gina Wong, Wellington Team Leader, worked with Raewyn for five years:

'It has been such joy to spend a working day in the office with Raewyn. Everyday. She has truly been a stabilising factor for the TSCF office over the last nine years. A woman known for her integrity, knowledge, love, servant-hood, generosity, humility... and the only person who can keep Nigel in line! We shall miss her daily presence at the office; but we are sure she will continue to relish her outdoor adventures, being a grandmother, serving her church, and participate in God’s kingdom purposes.'

Posted by Mel Mylvaganam on 28/10/2011

CECE: 20 Years On

We have enjoyed having Ruth and Josué back in NZ in the past months, and have been encouraged by their testimonies from their work with CECE, the IFES movement in Ecuador. Ruth and Josué update us on their student work below:

CECE House

We are hugely grateful that after three years of searching, planning and the generous financing of a German NGO, CECE finally has its own office and meeting space in the city of Quito.

Re-birth of CECE Guayaquil

The student group that Josué used to pioneer gradually petered out following our departure in 2006. Now, around 10-15 students have recently begun to meet under two leaders: Merwin, one of the students we discipled in Guayaquil, and Ghislaine, for whom CECE played a significant role in her coming to know Christ. Pray this group would grow and be effective in mission on campus.

Steps toward Resourcing Student Mission

An area that has previously been a weak point for CECE, steps have been made to be more intentional and systematic with fundraising. Our initiative is being realised through the work of Holger (Volunteer Staffworker in Cuenca), and includes the more effective use of Facebook as well as a new publicity pamphlet. Pray for Holger as he takes initiative in relationship-building with graduates and activates these strategies.

Teaching Visits

Josué has been visiting recently formed student groups in Cuenca, Riobamba and Guayaquil, to give basic workshops to equip them for student mission. Pray these students will enthusiastically share their faith in word and deed on campus.

Growing Healthy Leaders

As we compile new resources for student training, we are meeting weekly with 17 student leaders in Quito to disciple and encourage them as they engage in sharing their faith with classmates on campus.

Celebrating CECE´s 20th Anniversary

CECE has had the privilege of proclaiming Christ in Ecuador universities for 20 years. We were thrilled to have Val Goold visit; around 80 people attended her lecture for new Christian students, parents and church leaders. One student who came to this talk has recently decided to follow Christ, and three others have begun Bible studies on two new university campuses.

Posted by Ruth Hicks and Josue Olmedo on 23/10/2011

Victoria University of Wellington: An Evening with Deacon Manu

We were privileged to host an evening with Fijian Rugby Captain Deacon Manu. He and Ben Carswell perched on bar stools as they chatted about Deacon’s university days at Waikato, his rugby career in NZ, Wales and Fiji, and his faith in God. Ben posed him a dilemma: if forced to choose between a Rugby World Cup win and his faith in Jesus which would he choose? With no hesitation Deacon selected faith in Jesus. At the end of the evening, Ari (the Springbok chaplain), was spontaneously asked to pray for Deacon and the Fijian team (the Springbok’s up-coming competition); a fitting reminder that faith surpasses all barriers.

Meredith Paterson, VUWCU

Posted by Pauline Smith on 27/09/2011

Catapults and Botantical Gardens

Down in Otaki during our CF-OCF Blokes’ Weekend, Vikas led talks on the four aspects of Salvation: Propitiation, Redemption, Justification, and Reconciliation, with great discussions afterward about how to live out what we learn as brothers in Christ. Activities included clay shooting, trebuchet/catapult-making and kayaking.

Up in Wanganui, the ladies visited the Botanic Gardens and heard from Erin on being a woman of God, and from Aimee on handling stress.

Zane Norvill, MUCF student

Posted by Pauline Smith on 27/09/2011

CICF: Shaky times in Christchurch

Canterbury ICF has been hit hard with earthquake-related problems. Although we lost our meeting space, we had a strong intake of new ICF members. However, group attendance in regular meetings has been steadily declining due to increased stress and workload among our members.

In Semester 2, we had to change our meeting location and format so we could continue to join the CU meetings, our sister group. This did not work well for ICF members and we have had only one or two people who could make it, out of around 10-12 regular attendees.

None of our original plans for the year have worked out due to the sharp change in the group dynamics, although at least social events (mostly around Asian food, haha!) still gather a few more of us.

Posted by Daniel Sidabutar on 27/09/2011

WICF: Winter Weekend at Whakapapa

Everybody know that the best thing about AGM is that it’s just before ski trip! As usual we headed up to the Whakapapa Ski Field at Mt. Ruapehu for the middle weekend of the mid-trimester break. Four carloads of enthusiastic ICFers and their friends, skiing/boarding beginners and pros alike, with record snow levels made for an awesome day on the mountain. By Monday everyone knew everyone and any ‘Hi, I’m ___and I study ___, what do you study...?” *half smile* awkwardness had gone. Besides the obvious day in the snow and every night being a poker night the highlight of the trip would have had to be the Sunday evening bonfire and worship night (complete with marshmallows) where we were able to thank and praise God for the amazing weekend we had shared together.

Jon Watt, WICF student

Posted by Jo Vun on 27/09/2011

TSCF Godzone Gospel - article in the Dominion Post

TSCF's Godzone Gospel getting some coverage in the national press

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/sport/5664087/Rugby-themed-Bible-chapter-published

Posted by Rachel Turner on 22/09/2011

LICF: Chilli Con - InCARNation?

Praise be to God as He continues to guide us and encourage us as we fellowship with one another and study His word! In a recent Bible Study on Genesis 15, we learned about the grace of God as He comforts Abram and reassures him repeatedly of the promise God had made to him. The greatest part of God’s grace was in the act of Him fully taking responsibility of the covenant that He has set between him and Abram. We were reminded that this same grace had been given to us in our salvation, and were touched by God’s immense love for us.

In response to this great love, ICF will be sharing the news of this amazing grace with others through the upcoming International Night in Lincoln University on 17 September. For this event, ICF has decided to participate and cook up a huge pot of...chilli con carne! Just as chilli con carne is literally chilli powder together with meat, so is Jesus Christ God, together with meat (flesh), fully human and fully God at the same time. We hope that through this huge event in the university, we may be able to proudly proclaim our faith in Christ and possibly evangelise to those who come for International Night!

Chai Jia Ying, LICF student

Posted by Pauline Smith on 12/09/2011

'What if God... One of Us?'

For those of you at National Conference: if you had five words to describe it, what would they be? Here are mine: excitement, love, devotion, kinship and God.

National Conference was a time to come together as different parts that make up the body of Christ. It was an opportunity to meet people from various universities and learn how different groups run, and also to see how God is at work in the lives of students.

As we were lead through an inductive Bible study on 1 John, I began to realise the importance of Jesus’ incarnation. God himself took on human form through His son Jesus so that He could walk beside us through this journey, and so that we might understand we are not alone. Is that not reassuring?

There were opportunities to be still, to meet new people and to spend time engaging in conversation. For many of us it was about coming together through certain games; speaking of which, to those who participated in the one-leg challenge (standing on one leg for Christchurch as long as you could), a huge pat on the back for all of you! It was certainly not an easy task. And for those of us who had not experienced the thrill of roller-skating before, here was our chance at the awesome ‘The Wheel Thing’ – ‘80s Disco

Very briefly I would like to mention the blessing that TSCF has been to me this year. These words: excitement, love, devotion, kinship and God sum up the impact of Conference, and of TSCF, on me. If you are considering coming to the next TSCF conference - trust me, you want to experience it!

As our Pacific Island brothers and sisters farewelled us in song:

Isa Lei, na noqu rarawa,

Ni ki sana vodo e na mataka

Bau nanuma, na nodatou lasa,

Mai EL RANCHO nanuma tiko go.

Isa Lei, the purple shadow falling,

Sad the morrow will dawn upon my sorrow

O, forget not, when you’re so far away,

Precious moments beside my dear EL RANCHO.

All the very best to everyone, and do not forget the great importance of God being one of us!

Posted by Rebekah Masterton on 01/09/2011