At St Christopher’s Church in Redwoodtown, the vision has long been clear: to be a growing church, making disciples of Jesus. This year, that calling found fresh and surprising expression through Haere Mai.
Spanky Moore sat down with Vicar Deo Vistar to hear how it all unfolded.
A Gospel Invitation
Haere Mai began with a simple but bold idea: to create spaces where people could explore the Christian faith relationally, gently, and prayerfully. The heart of the initiative for St Christophers was Christianity Explored, a course centred on the Gospel of Mark, hosted in home-based small groups and supported by a dedicated team of parishioners.
“We wanted people to encounter Jesus through genuine relationships and open discussion,” explains Deo. “Christianity Explored gave us a great framework to ask the big questions: Who is Jesus? Why did he come? And what does it mean to follow him?”
A Church-Wide Effort
The response was encouraging. Volunteers stepped forward as hosts and facilitators, and five groups were formed—including two existing ones that restructured specifically for Haere Mai. Diversity was a strength, with both a Chinese and a Filipino group among the five, reflecting the multicultural character of the St Christopher’s community.
Training played a key role. Leaders received preparation on both group dynamics and the course material, equipping them to lead with confidence. While filling all the groups proved a challenge—particularly among Kiwi participants—the overall spirit remained strong: relational evangelism, gospel hospitality, and plenty of prayer.
Celebrating the Journey
Launched on Easter Sunday, Haere Mai ran through to Pentecost. Over those seven weeks, groups met weekly—sharing meals, stories, and Scripture. The season culminated in Haere Mai Celebration Sunday, a joyful Pentecost service featuring five powerful testimonies from participants. Stories of new friendships, spiritual growth, and faith awakening were shared with warmth and conviction.
A celebratory lunch followed, bringing the church together to honour all those who had supported and participated in Haere Mai.
Unexpected and Lasting Fruit
Although Haere Mai officially concluded in June, its ripple effects are still being felt. Deo shares some of the standout outcomes:
An average of 34 participants gathered weekly, including 13 newcomers to St Christopher’s.
A Chinese participant has started running Christianity Explored one-on-one with a friend who couldn’t attend a group.
Two existing small groups found renewed purpose and vitality.
Two new ongoing groups have formed: a continuing Filipino Bible study group, and the launch of a brand-new Young Adults group—the first at St Christopher’s in many years.
These signs of growth point to something deeper: a renewed sense of community, greater ownership from the congregation, and fresh opportunities for discipleship and mission.
Looking Ahead with Gratitude
“The Haere Mai journey was undergirded by prayer, shaped by generous leadership, and—most importantly—it was Spirit-led,” says Deo. “For us, it wasn’t just a programme. It was a step of faith, a shared commitment to offer Christ’s welcome to others. A real expression of what it means to be disciples of Jesus.”
As the seeds planted through Haere Mai continue to grow, St Christopher’s remains prayerful and expectant.
“May we continue to be a church that welcomes well, loves deeply, and faithfully makes disciples of Jesus.”
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We have invited these writers to share their experiences, ideas and opinions in the hope that these will provoke thought, challenge you to go deeper and inspire you to put your faith into action. These articles should not be taken as the official view of the Nelson Diocese on any particular matter.
At St Christopher’s Church in Redwoodtown, the vision has long been clear: to be a growing church, making disciples of Jesus. This year, that calling found fresh and surprising expression through Haere Mai.
Spanky Moore sat down with Vicar Deo Vistar to hear how it all unfolded.
A Gospel Invitation
Haere Mai began with a simple but bold idea: to create spaces where people could explore the Christian faith relationally, gently, and prayerfully. The heart of the initiative for St Christophers was Christianity Explored, a course centred on the Gospel of Mark, hosted in home-based small groups and supported by a dedicated team of parishioners.
“We wanted people to encounter Jesus through genuine relationships and open discussion,” explains Deo. “Christianity Explored gave us a great framework to ask the big questions: Who is Jesus? Why did he come? And what does it mean to follow him?”
A Church-Wide Effort
The response was encouraging. Volunteers stepped forward as hosts and facilitators, and five groups were formed—including two existing ones that restructured specifically for Haere Mai. Diversity was a strength, with both a Chinese and a Filipino group among the five, reflecting the multicultural character of the St Christopher’s community.
Training played a key role. Leaders received preparation on both group dynamics and the course material, equipping them to lead with confidence. While filling all the groups proved a challenge—particularly among Kiwi participants—the overall spirit remained strong: relational evangelism, gospel hospitality, and plenty of prayer.
Celebrating the Journey
Launched on Easter Sunday, Haere Mai ran through to Pentecost. Over those seven weeks, groups met weekly—sharing meals, stories, and Scripture. The season culminated in Haere Mai Celebration Sunday, a joyful Pentecost service featuring five powerful testimonies from participants. Stories of new friendships, spiritual growth, and faith awakening were shared with warmth and conviction.
A celebratory lunch followed, bringing the church together to honour all those who had supported and participated in Haere Mai.
Unexpected and Lasting Fruit
Although Haere Mai officially concluded in June, its ripple effects are still being felt. Deo shares some of the standout outcomes:
An average of 34 participants gathered weekly, including 13 newcomers to St Christopher’s.
A Chinese participant has started running Christianity Explored one-on-one with a friend who couldn’t attend a group.
Two existing small groups found renewed purpose and vitality.
Two new ongoing groups have formed: a continuing Filipino Bible study group, and the launch of a brand-new Young Adults group—the first at St Christopher’s in many years.
These signs of growth point to something deeper: a renewed sense of community, greater ownership from the congregation, and fresh opportunities for discipleship and mission.
Looking Ahead with Gratitude
“The Haere Mai journey was undergirded by prayer, shaped by generous leadership, and—most importantly—it was Spirit-led,” says Deo. “For us, it wasn’t just a programme. It was a step of faith, a shared commitment to offer Christ’s welcome to others. A real expression of what it means to be disciples of Jesus.”
As the seeds planted through Haere Mai continue to grow, St Christopher’s remains prayerful and expectant.
“May we continue to be a church that welcomes well, loves deeply, and faithfully makes disciples of Jesus.”
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
