Last Sunday, we heard from Rachel and Nelson, who serve with YWAM in Mazatlan, Mexico. If you missed it, you can check out their update here. Video
If you want to learn more about who we support on the mission field, we have the latest missions newsletter out now. There will be some paper copies at the back of the service, OR you can get one emailed to you by contacting missions@thestreet.org.nz.
Something weird is going on. I can’t believe how fast the year is racing by and yet, at the same time, so many people seem to be tired. We’ve hit July but we’re ready for a summer holiday. Is it nearly Christmas yet? It makes me wonder how much we’re still reeling and recovering from some of the challenges we’ve faced over the past three years.
Richard Black from Mind Health talks about how most of us have previously worked out the things we need to do to rest and refresh. But because the level of difficulty in life has gone up for many of us, there’s a good chance those rhythms are no longer sufficient.
Think of it this way. If you are used to regularly running 10kms and then step up to run a marathon, the sleep, food and time you’ll need to recover also goes up. If we’re finding ourselves more stressed and stretched than usual, are we learning what additional rhythms we need to refresh and replenish?
We’re heading away for a week-long break soon and in preparation, Jenny’s mentor asked her this question: “What would make the week wildly successful?”
I love the question because it stretches the thought process way beyond ordinary things and the usual outcomes. It challenges me to think differently which is the very thing we need if we’re more tired than usual.
For me, it will mean time with friends, reading for more than just entertainment (there’s nothing wrong with reading for entertainment, it’s just that learning replenishes me), making time for the Lord, and doing things as a family we love to do together.
What about you? Maybe you’re not going away. Maybe what you’re looking forward to is this weekend, an evening with friends, or just carving out a couple of child-free hours. I think the question is still relevant in these contexts too: what would make that time wildly successful?
Most of all, let us never stop making time for the Lord in Word, worship and prayer. Making time to place our anxiety on him and allowing him to remind us of his goodness. In that light, maybe this would be a good verse to ponder right now.
“Return to your rest, my soul, for the LORD has been good to you.” Ps 116:7
Much love,
Simon
This post is part of the Senior Pastor’s weekly blog. Go to the blog feed >>
Did you know that every Sunday the people serving gather at 9.30am to pray for our service? If you’d like to come and join us for that, even if you’re not serving that would be awesome! What an amazing privilege, to bring the service to the Lord. (And you get first dibs on any baking!)
Markus is now home but still needs us to keep praying for him.
At the time of writing, Markus hasn’t done another poop since the first one he did in hospital. Please pray that his bowel would stablise and work consistently and effectively.
Also, there are still some gaps on the meal roster if anyone is able to support the Bain family in this way as they navigate Markus’s recovery. To sign up click here.
We’re in the first couple of weeks of a new series in 1 Peter, Trial By Fire. It’s written to a church who are suffering persecution and Peter writes to encourage them to stand firm (1 Peter 5:12).
However, those searching the letter for obvious words of comfort will be disappointed. Instead, Peter tells them not to be surprised by trials and persecution and continually points them to the example of the sufferings of Jesus.
My problem with this is that I am often surprised by trials that come my way. It makes me wonder what sort of discipleship we have called one another to over the years. Have we emphasised the message that Jesus will make you the best version of yourself and glossed over the consistent messages on suffering? In an effort to encourage people to believe, have we tried to make the gospel more palatable?
The problem is that while a sanitised gospel message is incomplete, it is also counter-productive.
Ahead of his journey to Antarctica, Ernest Shackleton placed an ad in The Times newspaper stating:
“Men wanted for hazardous journey. Small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful, honour and recognition in case of success.” Ernest Shackleton, 4 Burlington Street.
Who would reply to that? Well, it’s purported that Shackleton received over 5,000 responses. Not because he called people to comfort and a better life but because he called people to sacrifice.
There is something in our culture that honours sacrifice. We are inspired by stories of people who gave up and endured for a greater cause. And there is no cause greater than the message of the gospel. No prize worth giving up so much for.
Can I suggest that as we pray for and reach out to those in our world, that we don’t give in to the temptation to sanitise the message but lead more openly with the message of Jesus; “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Matt 16:24).
Our world is full of messages about how to be a better you but sorely lacking in the call to suffer for a greater cause. Could it be that this is an aspect of the gospel people desperately need to hear?
Much love,
Simon
Questions to ponder:
How has the gospel been presented to you throughout your life? Did you perceive it as a call to surrender and sacrifice, or a promise of a better life (or something else)?
Have you ever felt surprised by troubles that have come your way? What do you think of 1 Peter 4:12-13?
What do you think the result might be if we shared the gospel without trying as hard to make it seem more palatable to those around us?
What areas in your life do you currently see yourself willing to suffer for a greater good? Are you willing to suffer for Jesus? Why/why not?
This post is part of the Senior Pastor’s weekly blog. Go to the blog feed >>
This was the update from Karyn on the evening of Friday 23 June:
“This morning Markus woke saying he had a dream that he had to have an enema but as they were getting it ready he tried one last time to poo on his own, and he did.
Markus was in a lot of pain tonight… he was getting really upset, so we called the doctor to get an enema charted. Then after several times in the toilet and walks round the ward (just like labour!) we were in the bathroom and I was kneeling on the floor…
And he pooped! 💩
Just as the nurse walked in with the enema.
I think I have myself a prophet”
Praise God for this huge answer to prayer! Let’s keep praying for this precious boy and that his bowel function would stablise.
While Karyn is in hospital with Markus, and Mike is at home with Jayden and Zeke, if you’d like to support them by taking a meal round for Mike and the boys please add your name to the sign up sheet. Click here.
If you’ve been wondering how you could serve in our local community, here is an opportunity for you to consider.
Strathmore Park Community Centre Trust is looking for a treasurer. The trustees don't have anyone in their networks who is an accountant or otherwise very financially literate.
They wondered if we might have anyone who may fit the bill and be interested in serving the Strathmore community in this way? It would be a small amount of time needed in the role. Fiona, the Community Center Manager does all the Xero work, so it's really about managing the risk and checking she isn’t being incompetent or dishonest! The trustees have an evening meeting six times per year that you would need to attend.
If you would like to find out more, please contact Fiona directly.
manager@spcc.org.nz
022 5062288
If God would answer just one prayer I have for our church, what would it be? Today I thought I’d let you know.
There’s a scene in the TV show Modern Family (don’t judge me) that quickly induces tears. Maybe it’s because I’m a Dad of three girls. Perhaps it’s the inner thoughts about myself.
Teenage Haley is making poor relationship choices and vents to her Mum about her Dad from an open lift: “I’m a huge disappointment to him. I see it on his face everyday. He acts as if he doesn’t want me around.”
What do you think comes to God’s mind when he thinks about you? Anger? Frustration? Disappointment?
Suddenly Dad emerges from an adjacent lift, not knowing his daughter can hear. “That’s my little girl. I need her to know that no guy on earth is good enough for her.”
Haley has no words, she just hugs her Dad who had no idea she was there. How profoundly moving to finally hear the truth that she is deeply loved.
I wonder how many of us live life ‘knowing’ how God feels about us. Did you know God chose you before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4)? He didn’t choose you from a group of others. He imagined you out of nothing. You exist because he wanted you. You are his inheritance (Eph 1:18). You are the one about whom he is well pleased (Luke 3:22). You are the one over whom he sings loud songs of joy over you (Zech 3:17).
My number one prayer is simply this: that you would hear what God really thinks of you. It would affect every single other aspect of your life. It would release you to freely love God with every fibre of your being and love others as an overflow of how you’ve been loved. Life would never be the same again. This is why we want every one of us to grow deeper in our knowledge of Scripture, because through it you’ll hear what God really thinks.
May God answer my prayer in your life today.
Much love,
Simon
This post is part of the Senior Pastor’s weekly blog. Go to the blog feed >>
The Street Church has a Board of Elders that provide spiritual oversight and direction for the overall church. In May 2023, we welcomed Matt Bate onto the Elder Board. Matt, his wife Jo, and their two sons live in Lower Hutt and are key leaders at the Hutt location. Here’s the video if you missed it!
Update from Karyn -
A massive praise report this week for Markus who had his gastro surgery on Wednesday. Thank you so much to those who have been praying. Those prayers were needed! He managed to catch a cold leading up to the surgery date but thankfully we were able to go ahead and he even showed a big improvement on the big day itself. The team are all very happy with how he is going and we will restart feeds very slowly over the coming days. So please pray his gut heals and gets back to work. And of course, pray for poo!
Our world is addicted to comfort and allergic to suffering. We run after what feels good, making emotions the litmus test for right and wrong and making anything that hurts or appears difficult something to be eliminated rather than worked through. Resilience is lacking, anxiety permeates our culture, and it has infected the church, making us unprepared to cope with suffering and persecution. And we must be prepared. Blind optimism is insufficient in the face of suffering; we must have something solid on which to stand, something to put our hope in when all hope seems lost - and we do. His name is Jesus. Hear Simon’s heart of why we’re teaching into 1 Peter in this video.
I love the feeling when I open the box on a brand new pair of running shoes - bright, colourful, blemish free; the feeling when I stand back and admire the car that I’ve (finally) cleaned; the feeling when I tidy my desk and it’s free from clutter. The cathartic feeling of everything being perfectly in place—as it should be. What about for you?
I’ve been wondering why this is. I think it has to do with a deep desire for the world to be as it should be. God created a world of peace, prosperity and security. Shalom. A world as it should be, perfectly set up for us to thrive. But sin means that this is not the world we’ve ever fully experienced and there’s been a longing in our hearts to find shalom again.
The problem is that we’ll search in all sorts of places to fulfill this longing. We search in things that are temporary. The trainers will get scuffed, the car will get dirty, the desk will get untidy, and the search begins again. But rather than putting our hopes in the next spring clean or shopping spree, can I suggest we use these moments to remind our souls of the hope we have in Jesus. That one day he will return to rule over a world made right. To bring about a new heavens and a new earth that won’t ever fade away. To enable us to live forever in shalom.
As Paul wrote, “so we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18).
Where have you been searching for that feeling of a world made right? Why not offer that to the Lord today and fix your eyes on the future hope we have in Jesus.
Much love,
Simon
This post is part of the Senior Pastor’s weekly blog. Go to the blog feed >>
Did you know we have an amazing set up team that get all the AV equipment set up each week? The team has dwindled down to only 6 people, and a few of them are going to be away over the next few months, so we are in desperate need of a couple more people to join the team.
It involves arriving at 8am to help get the screens and speakers set up at the front of the church. Usually, you’ll be done by about 8.45, and you’d be free to go home and come back for the start of the service. You then need to stay and help pack down at the end which is normally done by 12. You don’t need to be a weight lifter, but you do need to be physically able and able to lift things - male or female!
Please get in touch if you’re able to go on the roster, even if it’s just over the next 3 or 4 months. Email eastadmin@thestreet.org.nz
Thanks!
If you missed the interview with Ben and Bekah Baker who serve as missionaries in Thailand with CRU, you can check out their interview with Jerram here. Please be praying for them and all of our missionaries. You can find a handy graphic below with details of all The Street’s missionaries
With all we are learning about Money in our current sermon series, we have the perfect follow up for you to take advantage of. CAP Money is a FREE budgeting course that is helpful for anyone who wants some advice about building a budget and being able to stick with it no matter your current financial situation. Register now for the next course which starts on Sunday 9th July. All the details and the link to register can be found under “events”.
Markus Bain was diagnosed with Guillian Barre Syndrome 3 years ago and we continue to pray for him to return to full health. It’s been a long road for Markus and the whole Bain family. Here are some things they would really appreciate us praying for specifically this week.
He has surgery planned for 14th June to have gut reconstruction to close both stomas. Please pray that this surgery would be successful and that he would be able to poo by himself.
Pray for protection from any respiratory illness before and after the surgery.
Pray that he wouldn’t need emergency surgery before his op on 14th due to reoccuring prolapses of his intestine.
Thanks for praying whānau!
Are we nearly there yet? It’s a classic phrase associated with children on long journeys. When we hear a child say this, I think we tend to smile in a semi-patronising way. “Ah bless, kids just don’t get how long it takes to get somewhere.”
And yet I wonder how often God has to be gracious with us because we’re asking the same question.
We’re on a journey as a church towards being locally present in communities around the city. One of the challenges that’s taking longer than I hoped is working out the nature of how these can be led and who can do it. I know that God can answer our prayers in a moment. I know he can produce a solution out of thin air. However he hasn’t yet done so.
Are we nearly there yet? “Ah bless,” says God to me!
The thing I’m learning is that whatever challenge is in front of us won’t be a challenge forever. What feels like it’s going on for eternity is only actually temporary. And yet God is using the trials in our life to form a Christ-like character that will go on forever. He’s using this season in our church to mature and purify His bride and to prepare her to be with Him forever. He’s more interested in working in us than in the situation.
It’s here that we begin to understand the origins of the phrase, “God is in the waiting.” Waiting for us is so often pointless. The traffic in the morning, the queue for security, the endless waiting on hold. But when God allows us to wait, we can be sure that His timing is perfect and He’s doing what He promised. “...he who began a good work in you will carry on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:9).
So be encouraged in the waiting and follow the words of Paul: “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Romans 12:12).
Much love,
Simon
This post is part of the Senior Pastor’s weekly blog. Go to the blog feed >>
Last year we mentioned the Open Home Foundation is in urgent need of more foster parents in Wellington. Jerram sat down with Leanne Singh from OHF last year to get a little more understanding of what fostering entails (which you can see here).
OHF is holding an information evening where you can learn more about fostering and ask any burning questions you may have.
Date: Thursday 8 June from 730-830pm
Venue: Level 1, 119 Queens Drive, Lower Hutt
RSVP by 1 June to leanne.singh@ohf.org.nz
In 2022 we wrote and produced a Prepare for Marriage course for engaged couples. We realised there are many aspects of a pre-marriage course that are beneficial to revisit throughout the stages of marriage. Therefore, we have modified the Prepare for Marriage course with married couples in mind, and encourage married people to set aside time to go back to basics and refresh your marriage from the foundational building blocks and beyond.
There is an option to attend a short course at 9 Hania Street on the 26th of June and 10th of July. Or option two will be to complete the course at home in your own time.
To register for either option, go to the events icon on the Church Center app or you can register via the link under “Events” in this newsletter. The cost per couple, whether you do it in person or at home, is $15 to cover the cost of the workbooks. (If cost is an issue, please let us know.)
One of the things I would love to see is every single person at The Street Church having a daily habit of reading Scripture. Although there are sometimes days that I miss, it’s a habit I’ve had for many years and it’s genuinely life changing.
I wonder if for some of us, this seems an unattainable challenge. Finding that amount of time in an already overcrowded schedule can seem impossible. And yet, all I said was a daily habit, not a daily amount. I believe that it’s great to try and read the Bible each year. There can also be great benefit in reading large chunks of Scripture at one time. However, the most important thing is to develop a daily habit, even if it’s something small. And sometimes it’s actually the small that is most helpful.
This week I was rushing through James and got stopped barely out of the first paragraph.
“Consider it pure joy my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds…” (James 1:2)
It’s so counterintuitive. I can decide to count trials as pure joy, not because they are pleasant, but because God is using them to transform me into a perfect and complete person just like Jesus. It completely changed my perspective and my prayers around the trials in my life right now.
It was a profound insight for me and yet it came as I reflected on just a few verses. Alternatively there are days when I read a lot and remember nothing. You see the goal is not simply that we know more about Scripture but that we’re equipped for every good work (2 Tim 3:16-17). My encouragement is therefore to build a habit. To make sure you’re reading and reflecting on God’s word, even if it’s just one paragraph a day. Small habits done consistently yield big results over time. Why not start today.
Much love,
Simon
This post is part of the Senior Pastor’s weekly blog. Go to the blog feed >>
