I was always eager to use my creative skills in some Christ-serving capacity, but I’m learning more and more about how much room there is for people like me in the Church.

"In a secular context like New Zealand, it’s important for people to have a strong sense of truth and ways of making sense of the world," Reuben said. "There is an urgent need for churches to step forward and offer a better story."

Volunteers are the lifeblood of any community, and the Church is no exception. From vestry members to tea and coffee brewers, each contributes their skills and time to serve our God.

May God open our eyes to see how we can receive and embrace the gifts of the global Church and by doing so experience something more of this beautiful glimpse of heaven!

"How could our church help?" wondered a group of women from Hills Community Church in Māpua, half a thousand kilometres away from the cyclone's epicentre of destruction.

I’m finding that being comfortable back home is uncomfortable, because I’ve seen over there. Their God is the same God that we have here… So why did theirs seem so much bigger?

What do we need to do today to ensure that the Gospel is still being proclaimed loudly in all corners of the Nelson Diocese in 2030 and beyond? The plan for the rest of this year is to answer this question.

Kākano is a 9-month journey to form, equip and empower mission-minded leaders to intentionally explore discipleship, mission, calling, and what it means to "gather the ungathered".

Ineson’s book is a wise, compassionate, encouraging, and nuanced exploration of the subject of failure - a great resource to spend some time in reflection this Lent.

There has been some confusion in answering the census section on religion. Can I encourage those of you who identify as part of the Anglican Communion to answer "Anglican" or "Christian: Anglican" to this question.

By walking the same ground as Jesus walked, Christians are reminded that God is not just a distant figure from history, but a living and active God who is still working in the world today.

The campers loved all of Bridge Valley's different activities, but most of all, they loved making new friends and learning about Jesus.

'Convergence' means a junction, a merging, different things joining and flowing together as a new whole - and that’s pretty much what happened.

"I’ve been in some great services and felt the presence of God, but never like that," he said, between tears. "It wasn’t really emotional or hyped, it was just a tangible presence."

From kōwhai fairies to quilted native birds, the halls were most certainly decked! The Nelson Cathedral Christmas Tree Festival brought joy and the spirit of Christmas to over 12,000 people from all over the world.

We’re in a season of time to reflect on the past and prayerfully consider the future. The question isn't whether we will make changes – the question is what kind of changes we must make to bring revitalisation and growth through effective mission.

Victory Church, Habitat for Humanity, the Salvation Army, Te Piki Ora, and The Male Room have partnered together to supply temporary accommodation in the Victory community, helping to alleviate the Nelson housing crisis.

It was awesome to hang with a bunch of 35 intermediate aged kids and leaders from across the dio on Sunday afternoon to battle it out at laser tag in Tāhuna - a great way for these kids to connect and feel they belong to our dio whānau!

When people are colonised – whether we’re talking about the Israelites, tangata whenua here in Aotearoa, or countless people groups throughout history – their minds are often colonised as well, creating a hostility towards their own culture.

Have you checked out the latest courses on our very own Discipleship Pathway website?! There are over 10 courses available on a variety of topics, and more on the way.

I wonder how the Department of Conservation might describe the number of kids in our churches. Perhaps they’d say that our kids have become an endangered species: rare sightings, dwindling numbers, vulnerable and in need of recovery.

On Sunday St Barnabas Stoke celebrated the baptisms of four rangatahi. It was a fantastic day, including one baptism at the church and three at Tahunanui Beach.

There’s something really special about gathering as the wider Nelson Anglican family. Coming out of your own place and being part of something bigger to be uplifted, encouraged, and equipped as God’s people.

When we hear the story of Zacchaeus, how often do we pay attention to the tree he climbed? In Jesus’ day, the sycamore fig tree was considered a “sin-spreading tree” because of its wide canopy.

In September I announced a renewed focus on looking at how we can revitalise our churches through new evangelistic efforts and engage with real needs in our communities.

Did you know that there are different stages in the journey of faith? What works for us at one stage of life, often doesn’t work at a later stage.

Do you ever long to have been IN the Gospel stories? To have been there when Jesus called Zacchaeus down from the tree. To have seen him touch a leper, or heard him speak to a storm.

Spring Camp 2022 was another amazing year of the Nelson Anglican youth groups coming together to worship, learn about Jesus, build connections, and have an awesome time.

'So, what’s your position on church growth?' I was asked. And my response? 'I don’t have one. It’s not my church. Jesus said he would build his church. If you ask about my approach to things of the Kingdom, I can answer that.'

We’re approaching the end of the Season of Creation. Many churches around the world celebrate Francis of Assisi day with a Blessing of the Animals service. At St. Peter’s in Kaikoura, it’s a highlight of the year.

This weekend felt like a journey into the attic of the Anglican Church, exploring the hidden treasures of silence, solitude, and contemplative prayer - which have been a part of our culture since its inception.

In the story of Babel, we often conclude that the scattering of people that results from the confusion of tongues is divine punishment. But is there a better way to read that passage?

Our expressions of worship only largely represent the dominant pakeha kiwi middle class culture. Does this sound like your church? Our churches can enjoy glorious worship enriched by different cultural expressions.