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Mobile Outreach Makes Positive Inroads
They've travelled distances equal to the length of New Zealand several times, shared hundreds of cups of tea and visited dozens of towns and cities. It's fair to say that Titirangi Presbyterian Church's coach trip passengers are no strangers to the North Island's highways and byways.
The church runs eight trips annually and has used a 45-seater coach driven by the same driver for the past 21 years. Not surprisingly with about 170 journeys made and only one break down, the outings forge strong links between the church and community.
Church Council member Peter Blaiklock put the project's success down to good organisation, interesting destinations and Titirangi's geographical location. Over the years they've visited destinations everywhere from Raglan's Public Gardens to the Waiouru Military Museum.
The project began following Mr Blaiklock and driver Malcolm Cole's involvement transporting people to Blockhouse Bay Baptist Church youth group. Later the pair introduced Titirangi's Presbyterian Church to the idea of coach trips as a form of outreach.
About 400 people, including a "hard core of supporters" have participated in the excursions, many of whom are not members of the congregation.