We had a great opening of the new building at Alexandra on Saturday night. The building was full and included the Mayor and some other church leaders. Mike and Liz Griffiths and Bruce and Lil Corcoran came over from Dunedin; but with the flooding had to take a long way around there and back.

I was also speaking at the church on Sunday morning and without the visitors numbers were not the same. But it really struck me how big a step of faith this is for the church. Property is not cheap in Alexandra yet the church have not only purchased this fine building but have also committed themselves to clean the local supermarket every night for the next two years to pay for it. Way to go Alex.

Chris Bethwaite came across from Lawrence Sunday afternoon and we travelled to Queenstown for the final night. Look at the photos. Someone’s got to do it.

Church went well while we were away with Steve Green preaching in the East in the morning and Hayley Barrett at night. I am told they were both outstanding. You can download Steve’s message from the "Sermons" section above but unfortunately Hayley’s was not recorded.