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Turning the Church Around

Presbyterian AFFIRM has just finished a series of eight conferences held late last year held throughout New Zealand, on the theme of "Turning around the Church".

The keynote speaker at each conference was Gordon Miller, of World Vision, a noted commentator for over fifteen years on New Zealand churches.

Miller's topics included 'Confidence in the Gospel', 'What's Happening in New Zealand Churches', 'Winning or Losing on Sunday Morning', 'a Recovery Plan' for Struggling or Plateaued Congregations, 'What's Working in Evangelism and Community Ministries', and 'Cross-generational Churches'. He stressed the importance of a first-rate Sunday morning service: worship that is vibrant and sincere (with singable songs and hymns), effective ministry of the word, and warm community. He suggested that a key to jump-starting a church that has run flat is the re-vitalisation of its childrens' ministry, thus bringing in families, and laying the foundation of a stronger youth ministry.

Conferences were held in Auckland, Matamata (for Waikato-Bay of Plenty), Taranaki, Palmerston North, Blenheim, Dunedin, and Invercargill.

Conferences were organised jointly by the national AFFIRM Executive and by regional leaders. It is expected that some follow-up conferences will be held this year and beyond.

AFFIRM (Action, Faith, Fellowship, Intercession, Renewal, and Mission) is a movement within the Presbyterian church, that began in 1993. It issues a free periodic newsletter, available from PO Box 84-133, Westgate Waitakere City (or by e-mailing PresAffirm(at)xtra.co.nz).