Global Mission

Thank you for your interest in our Church's global mission programme. To help you navigate the information on these pages, please use these links:

Myanmar Earthquake updates - donate to PCM
Vanuatu Partnership
I Love Taiwan
World Leprosy Sunday
Earthquake Appeal for the Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu
Talua Theological College Business Manager
Tahan Theological College Newsletters
The Hope of a Victory for Democracy in Myanmar
St. Kentigern School Service Project in Vanuatu
Partners in Mission ProgrammeGlobal Mission newsletters
Global Mission stories
Key mission partnerships
Why, where & how of Global Mission
Contact us

The Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand has key Global Mission partnerships the Presbyterian Churches of Vanuatu and Myanmar.  Our historic involvement with the Church of North India is now largely focused on St. Tomas School in Jagadhri. We also have important relationships with networks of churches across Asia and the Pacific, and international bodies like the Council for World Mission.

Through these partnerships we respond to the call of Jesus Christ to make disciples of all nations and help to provide much-needed resources for Christian mission overseas. This also enriches the life of our Church through our mutual sharing and growing together in the worldwide body of Christ. The various links on this site will provide you with information about the current status of our Church's Global Mission efforts, and give you an insight into new trends and future possibilities.

Individuals and congregations within the Presbyterian Church are invited to enquire about how to participate in and support our work, by contacting the Global Mission Director, Phil King.

Updates on Myanmar Earthquake

7 April 2025 Update - donate to PCM

Today we can provide a further update following the devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Myanmar on Friday March 28.
 
Images of loss of life and the damage to property and infrastructure have filled our screens. The people of Myanmar are enduring much suffering. The earthquake on top of immense suffering under the ongoing military dictatorship has further compounded the struggles of the Myanmar people, making access to emergency relief, medical aid, and shelter even more challenging. Many are left homeless, traumatised, and struggling to survive amidst the aftershocks, food scarcity, and disrupted communication networks.
 
We have heard from our partner, the Presbyterian Church of Myanmar (PCM).  They write:

“By the grace of God we are safe. The properties of PCM in Mandalay are also safe so far. Although there are cracks in some buildings. We thank God that no lives of PCM member have been lost. We are focusing on the relief work now. Thank you for your prayers.”
 
The Presbyterian Church of Myanmar recognises the urgent need to respond to the suffering of their fellow citizens. In an emergency, PCM held its Assembly Executive meeting on 2 April 2025 and resolved to take immediate and long term actions to provide relief and recovery assistance. The plans include:

• Allocating ten million kyats as emergency aid to the victims in Sagaing and Mandalay city, in collaboration with registered humanitarian organisations, Chin Pawlpi and Mizo Thalai Pawl.
• Opening the PCM Centre in Mandalay to shelter displaced people, providing water pumping machines and toiletries to ensure their basic needs are met.
• Seeking financial support from ecumenical and partner churches and organisations to resource PCM Centre buildings and sustain relief efforts.
• We plan to immediately send funds to assist the Presbyterian Church of Myanmar in this work. We also warmly encourage you to consider giving support to this particular work.

You can make donations to the following account, please reference your donation with your name and Myanmar/Quake. If you require a receipt, please email Katrina.

BNZ Account: 02-0500-0086963-010
Act Name: Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand-GMO

- Rev Wayne Matheson, PCANZ Assembly Executive Secretary, on behalf of PCANZ Global Mission

31 March 2025 Update

On 31 March 2025, AES Rev Wayne Matheson writing on behalf of GM, advised: "Many people have been asking questions since the devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Myanmar on Friday March 28, so I thought I should send a brief update... Since the earthquake, members of the Presbyterian Church of Myanmar (PCM) international partners roundtable group have been in communication with each other to try and determine the impact on the PCM. So far, there has been no direct contact with any of the PCM’s leaders apart from the former General Secretary Rev Ramthanga, who lives a long way from the epicentre of the quake. He said things are fine in his area near the Indian border, but didn't provide any other information..." Read the full update here.

World Leprosy Sunday

The Leprosy Mission invites you to acknowledge World Leprosy Sunday on any Sunday until the end of March and shares the following message:
CALL TO ACTION
We are reaching out to the churches and so today we are inviting your church congregations to a CALL TO PRAYER in 2025. 
World Leprosy Day is an important opportunity to raise awareness of leprosy in so many crucial contexts. In leprosy-endemic countries our teams organise events that bring together communities, organisations of persons affected by leprosy, government representatives, and other key stakeholders to celebrate persons affected by leprosy and raise awareness of the disease.
In other contexts, World Leprosy Day is an opportunity to raise funds for the fight to defeat leprosy. Churches host collections on World Leprosy Day (or commemorate the day on a Leprosy Sunday in the surrounding weeks right up until March 2025), individuals generously give what they can, and new people hear about leprosy and write in/email to learn more.
If you have any more questions about planning a Leprosy Sunday, please don’t hesitate to contact me on freephone number: 0800 862 873 or mobile 022 199 5758 or email Nadia Paul.  
Once again, thank you for your support in dedicating a day to pray with thousands of others on your choice of a World Leprosy Sunday in 2025.

Earthquake Appeal for the Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu

On December 17, 2024, a 7.3 magnitude earthquake destroyed multiple buildings in Port Vila, Vanuatu. The earthquake claimed 12 lives, with more than 200 people injured.  The Port Vila CBD was seriously affected and is currently in lockdown, with the demolition of buildings now under way. Businesses and schools are facing serious logistical challenges. Thousands of residents in and around Port Vila have had to relocate, with some communities possibly facing permanent relocation to new, safer sites. 

The Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu (PCV) owns several buildings in Port Vila. While none of these collapsed, due to the severity of the earthquake there are concerns about the safety of a number of these buildings. As a sign of our commitment to our partnership with the PCV, Global Mission has offered to send two structural engineers to Port Vila to undertake assessments on these buildings to help the PCV determine the next steps.  Following this, we anticipate significant costs will be involved in building repairs that are likely to take some time. 

So as a sign of solidarity with the PCV, Global Mission is launching an earthquake appeal to help meet costs associated with supporting individuals and communities affected by the earthquake, and for maintenance and repairs on damaged buildings. Funds can be banked into the Global Mission account, 02 0500 0086963 10 with the reference PCV Earthquake Appeal. Please send an email to Katrina Graham, katrina@presbyterian.org.nz confirming the donation so a receipt can be emailed

Talua Theological College Business Manager

Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand has a longstanding partnership with the Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu (PCV) and has supported theological education at the PCV’s Talua Theological Training Institute for many years. Talua is seeking a suitable candidate for the position of Business Manager. The Business Manager would be responsible for overseeing financial planning, budgeting, accounting, and compliance with both local and international standards. Talua is looking for someone with solid experience in financial management, strategic planning, and a passion for advancing the Kingdom of God through education and ministry. Click here for more information about this position.

Tahan Theological College Newsletters

TTC Newsletter Aug-Sept 2024
TTC Newsletter June-July 2024
TTC Newsletter April-May 2024

Our Key Mission Partnerships

Follow the links for information on our mission partnerships in Vanuatu, India and Myanmar.

Global Mission - Why, Where, and How

The Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand affirms that it is called to work with others to make Jesus Christ known through the five faces of mission:

• Through proclamation of the gospel
• Through the nurture and teaching of people in the Christian faith
• Through response to human need in loving service
• Through seeking to transform society
• Through care for creation

Contact Us

You are invited to like the Global Mission Facebook page

The Rev Phil King is our Global Mission Director, email Phil King or 021 250 6467, to find out how you can get involved in the mission of the PCANZ. Donations for our overseas projects and partners can be sent to Global Mission, PCANZ Assembly Office, P.O. Box 9049, Wellington, 6141.

The Rev Phil King is on study leave until Monday 16 June (see below for contacts during leave period)
Monday 17 March - Tuesday 8 April: contact Rev Wayne Matheson (Assembly Executive Secretary)
Mob - 027 569 1971  Email - aes@presbyterian.org.nz
Wednesday 9 April - Friday 13 June: contact Acting Global Mission Director Rev Dr Jaco Reyneke
Mob - 027 325 9003   Email - minister@stenochs.org.nz