Marilyn and I were with the City congregation on Sunday and then I joined with the City music team on Wednesday night for a sharing time. It is exciting to see the growth in attendance in the congregation over the past year and the way the team have accepted the staff changes we needed to make recently. Tim and Karen are doing an awesome job leading the team and congregation. On Wednesday as I looked out the upstairs window, I was again impressed how blessed we are to own a facility like this in the heart of our largest city.

We have amazing people. A member from the East gave me a cheque for $50,000.00 to go towards helping secure the house next door to our South property which has come onto the market. The house is small but it has a large section which would be great to secure for future development. It would be good to buy it so no one else develops on it. With the financial commitments we have building the college we are unable to finance it ourselves.

It is a big weekend coming up in NZ. The All Blacks are up against the team who beat them last two World Cups, France; and the Warriors are chasing a finals spot when they face Melbourne in the NRL. The nation will be happy or sad. Don’t let the results or Daylight Saving stop you from getting to church on Sunday!

Auckland does not normally get excited about anything but World Cup Rugby fever has hit. This morning someone had put an Aussie flag on my office door; I think that is the only flag unsold in shops! Tonight Marilyn and I are taking the ferry into the city for the celebrations. Go the All Blacks!

Tomorrow I have the privilege of taking Alison and Brett’s wedding here in the church. Alison is our Office Manager and has been a valued member of our staff for many years; we have journeyed with her when Graeme sadly passed away and are thrilled that the Lord has brought Brett into her life. She is an awesome team member.

On Sunday Marilyn and I will be in the South. In the East our special guest is Mike Francen. Mike is from the States and over the past twenty five years has ministered in ninety six nations to audiences of over 300,000 people a night. He has a great heart for seeing people won to Christ and healed from sicknesses. Mike will be ministering in every service.