Welcome back to 2026, I hope you are all refreshed and ready for another new year.
What New Year's resolutions have you made and how are they going? What have you put in place to make this year different from last year, not just another year on 'rinse and repeat', but a year that will stand out when you look back as '2026 was the year that this changed in my life'?
I have been challenged by the recent Sermon on the Mount series, and Jerram's message on Salt and Light, challenged by the number of muslims coming to Christ amid terrible persecution, challenged by this quote: “The gospel is only good news if it gets there in time.” (Carl F.H. Henry) We are all called to be salt and light; what does this look like in our day-to-day lives?
What comes through in this latest update from our Missionaries is a passion for the lost and a desire to share the Gospel. To be salt and light with people who are lost and hurting. Our missionaries (missionaries in general) may have given up things we take for granted to be that salt and light. Please continue to pray for them, and consider sending them a note of encouragement!
If you’d like to subscribe to future newsletters, please register your interest by emailing missions@thestreet.org.nz
Merrie Reddington
Missions Pastor
Ben and Bekah
East Asia
Dear Church Family,
We wanted to share a joyful update with you all. On December 20th, 2025, our family welcomed our son, Giovanni Wesley Baker, into the world! We are so thankful for a smooth delivery and for the way God has sustained Bekah and the whole family during this transition.
The girls, Lucia and Rosa, continue to be wonderful with their new brother. Lucia remains an excellent oldest sibling, and both girls are so excited and absolutely smitten. Life feels a little fuller and a little more tired, but we are deeply grateful.
These past weeks have reminded us of the truth of Psalm 127:3: “Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.” In the midst of new routines and sleepless nights, we are continually reminded that this season is a gift from God.
We are especially thankful for the prayers, encouragement, and care from so many of you. Your support has meant more to us than we can easily put into words, and we are grateful to walk through this season as part of such a caring church family.
Blessings,
Ben & Bekah (and Lucia, Rosa, and Giovanni)
Rachel and Nelson
Mexico
Hi whanau,
We hope you all have had a lovely Christmas and New Year.
We had an amazing time with a lot of family coming and going over the last few months, and as we settle into the groove for this year we are excited at the changes and challenges ahead.
Rachel continues in her role as medical leader in the ship's team. Recruiting medical professionals and helping to organize medical brigades and get the local brigades back up and running. She is still doing classes on base, educating about health in missions and holistic health when stepping into full-time missions.
This year she is looking at ways to promote and create more awareness about women's health in the city, in particular in pre/postpartum care. There is little to no access to education around this topic, and God has opened doors to be a part of a ministry called LifeBearers, which focuses on promoting mothers’ health in Mexico. Rachel is praying for ways to help local women as well as create meaningful relationships with mothers in Mazatlan.
Nelson has stepped into a bigger leadership role as the marketing and media teams merge. So he is now leading more people with a much bigger workload and a wider scope of content. This includes his previous audience of student marketing and recruitment, as well as promoting the wide range of secondary schools, the different ministries the base has as well as showing what God is doing in Mexico through YWAM Mazatlan. Our base director has also asked him if he would attend a leadership conference in the States, which is an exciting opportunity we are praying about.
We are also prayerfully starting to look at different house options over the next year. We realise that with a growing family it would be a lot easier to live close to the base, so we are praying for guidance around this and that doors will open.
We have also had some big changes to our financial support just before Christmas, with a big portion of our support from the states dropping off. Even in this, we can see God working and are excited to see how he will move this year. We would love it if you would join in prayer with us around this, especially for wisdom about how to fundraise.
But we had an awesome first Christmas with Lani in Mexico. She continues to grow so fast as we just fall more in love every day. She took her first steps before Christmas and just turned 1 at the end of January and is on the move!!!! So we are in for a very mobile year.
Prayer points:
Rachel, and the potential women’s ministry, and medical recruitment
Nelson for his growing team and work load and new leadership opportunities
House opportunity
Wisdom around financial fundraising
Continued health and wisdom to raise a baby in missions
Blessings,
Nelson, Rachel and Lani
Caitlin Ormiston
TSCF, Wellington
Dear church family,
Thank you so much for praying for me and for TSCF as we continue in our mission to reach students for Christ and change students for life.
As you read this, the student year will be just getting underway. Most orientation weeks take place in late February and early March, so students across the country will be beginning to find their rhythm. For those new to tertiary study, this can be a daunting season — meeting new people, navigating campus, working out timetables, and developing study habits that work for them.
It is also a critical time for young people as they begin to consider who they want to become as adults, what they believe, and where they will look for meaning and hope. We are grateful to be present on campus in these moments, pointing students to Jesus.
Please pray:
For the many domestic and international students starting at universities, polytechnics, and wānanga — that they would feel welcomed, supported, and open to exploring faith.
For TSCF student groups around the country, and for student leaders who may feel daunted by the task ahead — that God would strengthen, encourage, and equip them.
For our new staff across the country - and here in Wellington specifically for Will, Esther, and Phil as they begin on campus, and for Matt, Anita, Abi, and Esther as they enter their first full calendar year in the office.
For the office team during this busy season, especially as we welcome many new team members — for good communication, unity, and sustainable rhythms.
On a personal note, I’m grateful for a refreshing summer. As I step into another year with TSCF, I’m reminded again of God’s faithfulness and of the privilege it is to work behind the scenes to support students as they explore faith. I would really value prayer for wisdom as I lead this developing team, sensitivity to the Spirit’s direction, courage in conversations, and perseverance in the quieter, unseen parts of ministry.
Caitlin
Pictured: TSCF Staff & Families camp January 2026
Sally Hong
Student Life, Dunedin
Dear Whānau,
I hope the Lord has been meeting you as 2026 is well underway now. As you read this update, campus ministry is at its peak! Over February- March we have our O-Week Outreach, where we get to meet university students in their first few weeks of study and get the prime opportunity to share the gospel with them. You might find that as you are reading and praying at this moment, a student may be hearing the gospel for the first time and the Holy Spirit drawing them to Christ.
A big update is that at the end of January, I made a move down to the South Island to serve with the team on the Otago University campus! It’s definitely a new and exciting challenge, and I’m trusting that the Lord will use this opportunity to reach more students across the country and beyond.
And as I think about the year ahead, I look forward to how in 9 months' time, the students we are meeting on campus right now will be sharing their faith with family and friends, at their work and on Summer Mission Trips because of how God met them this year.
So to encourage your hearts with expectancy, I’ve attached a story from one of our students, Sherry, who spent 5 weeks sharing the gospel in Taiwan on our mission trip this Summer.
Prayer Points:
O-Week Outreach Season (Feb - March). Please pray for students to be open and ready to hear and receive the gospel. Pray that as students receive a free cup, a text/call, or an invite to our events - they would meet Jesus.
Student Leaders. Pray that our student leaders would get the opportunity to disciple and journey alongside key students who are seeking, new to faith or wanting to grow in their heart for the lost this year.
Otago House. The Otago team is trusting the Lord for a house which will hopefully be a place of ministering and reaching students here in Dunedin more effectively and with generous hospitality. Please pray that God would provide a home that we are able to purchase this year.
Settling into Dunedin and into a new team. Please pray for a smooth settling-in period - for practical needs like a flat and a home church to be met. And, for the continued provision of financial support. But most of all, please pray that I would be walking closely with the Lord in this season and that the team would work well in unity with new people joining.
Looking forward to sharing some awesome stories of how God works through your partnership in the gospel in the next update!
Much love & blessings,
Sally
Gabe
YWAM, Tauranga
Happy New Year, Street Family,
Each new year always brings an interesting feeling, a mixture of excitement for the year ahead, but slight disbelief that another year has come and gone! This year I am so expectant for the growth, development and… becoming all that God has for me and the ministries He has placed me in.
I finished off last year joining the staff team at YWAM Furnace in NZ and jumped right into staffing a 3-month Word By Heart school. This school had a 2-month outreach to Japan from December-February. I’m writing to you from Japan, but by the time you read this, I’ll have just gotten back to NZ!
This season has stretched my capacity probably more than I have ever been stretched before. My last 5 months have looked like facilitating class learning and ministry times for our students while also living with them, perhaps some mild practice for parenting haha! God has shown me so much of His kindness and grace as I’ve shown up in this school, made mistakes, and gotten things right. He’s shown me, especially in my weaknesses, all the space I have to grow, and in that, it’s been a blessing to experience His strength.
With that, it’s truly been a privilege to journey with our students. They carry a deep hunger for His word, and it was inspiring to see them hold nothing back as they internalised both the fun and heavy parts of the gospel and Jesus’ life. As for the outreach in Japan, it is a place where there are many who have never heard of our God, and I’m often struck by the privilege and responsibility of introducing them to Him for the first time. Japan is becoming softer to God. I hear so many stories, how even just a few years ago, locals were much more closed off to hearing the gospel than now. During our time, we’ve gotten to meet and reach many people through evangelism, relationship building, worship and sharing the Word. We’re truly blessed to have been able to be a part of sharing God’s light here in Japan.
As I head back to NZ, I’d love prayer for settling back in. This will be my first time being in a normal routine with the base outside of the bustle of staffing a school. We’d love to begin navigating our involvement in Oral Mother Tongue Bible translations and need God’s wisdom in this. So those would be my two main prayer points as I begin this next quarter.
As always, I am so thankful to have your prayers and I hope to make a trip down to Wellington sometime to catch up there too!
Warmth and love,
Gabriel
Nick and Sarah
The Way
A movement of missionaries, multiplying disciples & churches for the glory of God.
Happy New Year to you all! It is with deep gratitude that we share our prayer needs with you, confident that through your prayers the Lord will do many marvellous things, for His glory.
This year, we continue to lead The Way, training people in Great Commission tools, practices and principles. Time is spent strengthening churches and leaders and ensuring they have what they need to abide in Christ and make disciples. It’s hugely encouraging to hear many stories of ongoing work in the harvest field of NZ as people use what they learn, led by the Holy Spirit, to reach the lost with the gospel. Some people see lots of fruit, others see little. We encourage both to keep going and to trust the Lord of the harvest.
No Place Left Training for The Way is making a huge difference to the work here in NZ. In the month of March, 14 European, British and Australian No Place Left leaders are coming to NZ to train The Way leaders and encourage the churches. We are so blessed to have them come and pray that our leaders will be deeply strengthened. The goal is to identify barriers to the work of the Great Commission in our own lives, churches and ministries - and to see breakthrough!
2026 also sees us launch part one of “Good Stuff Parenting”, an interactive parenting course helping parents to raise children with a deep love and respect for God, self, others and creation. This is unashamedly a discipleship tool and we are super excited about it. At this stage the first three parenting modules are due to be released to the market at the end of March. There is a good level of interest in Good Stuff Parenting from people here in NZ and abroad. Parents everywhere are asking for a Bible based parenting curriculum - Good Stuff is here to help!
April and May will see us back in Europe in order to attend a three day event in Greece. So often we hear “movement” stories from the Asian world. It’s good to be inspired and to learn from these, but the Western “post-Christian” world has its own unique soil, challenges and opportunities. These three days will capitalize on having a laser sharp focus on the Western world. No Place Left leaders from Western countries are gathering to learn from one another. What is God doing through the work? What common barriers do we face, and what are we learning? This is set to be a powerful time of mutual learning and encouragement.
We will also spend a week in Germany with the brothers and sisters who are leading work there, attending and contributing to trainings and on-the-ground ministry.
It is our total joy to take our sister, Vesna from Wellington with us - she will represent the work in Serbia which the Lord has started through her. And also Jihye and Jonathan, also from Wellington, to represent the “GenZ” work here. The Lord has wonderfully provided funding for all of us to go to Greece, and we give thanks for this!
March - May Prayer Points:
March 3 - March 15 : No Place Left Training
Please pray for those coming to NZ to serve us
Please pray for leaders attending trainings in Wgtn and Queenstown
Please pray for a move of God!
Please pray for a deepening unity between us all
March : Good Stuff Parenting
Completion of the first three Good Stuff Parenting modules (Newborn & Baby; Toddler; Preschool) and the creative team pulling this together
Finances to complete the Good Stuff project (all the way through to Teens module)
Receptive responses from the churches and organisations we approach
Effective marketing and promotion, including a promotional road trip
A generation of parents to be BLESSED through Good Stuff!
April 13 - May 6 : Europe & Western Countries Gathering
Nick and Sarah, Vesna, Jihye & Jonathan - health, unity, listening & learning, ministering to others
Prayer for each person attending - that we would all hear the Lord’s voice, and truly keep in step with the Spirit
Prayer for humility, teachability, the ability to encourage one another
Prayer for the Lord to reveal to us all the things we can learn from one another
Prayer for deeper, wider move of God in the countries represented: USA, Britain, Australia, NZ, Serbia, Czech Republic, Germany, Spain, France, Greece and others
Prayer for sincere love and unity of The Spirit
Thank you for praying with us.
Ester
Wycliffe Bible Translators NZ
We believe in the universal access to God's Word.
At the start of the year, our eldest brother, Mario Cesar, died - he was 70. With the support and help of Wycliffe NZ, I spent the second week of Jan until the 2nd week of Feb in the Philippines to attend the funeral, reconnect with family and friends and help my youngest brother, Alex, sort out family matters. Alex and I are the remaining siblings out of the original five (5) children.
I went back to work with the PTXprint support team on the 16th of February. While I was away, there have been 2 software releases.
In May 2026, the plan is to attend the biennial Bible Translation and other related workshops overseas - including the software PTXprint, an open-source software developed especially for the publication of Bible translations and other Scripture related content in print or online formats. Depending on the number of people enrolled for the two(2) PTXprint courses, the maximum length of the PTXprint workshop could be from 2 to 3 weeks.
I would appreciate prayer for the following :
Wisdom and good communication with my brother as we navigate our grief and the need to attend to the intricacies of unresolved family matters.
Wisdom and attention to detail - I need to be focused and rest my eyes regularly - helping typeset the Yiddish Old Testament translation as shown below which is a draft / work-in- progress of the book of Hosea. Pray for the translator who actively shares with ultra-orthodox Jews.
Preparation of our team for the upcoming PTXprint workshops in May 2026, and that many participants will be able to attend.
God's guidance for Wycliffe NZ during this period of leadership transition. The Wycliffe NZ board has accepted the resignation of our current director due to his ill health and several surgeries. An interim director will take over for 4 months starting in March this year. Pray for God's choice and provision for the vacant WBTNZ position for Executive Director.
