For our Volunteer Appreciation Night we booked the Auckland Zoo. We had nine hundred replies from our people and around eight hundred and fifty came out for a fantastic night. The weather was kind, the band fitted perfectly with the evening, and a good night was had by all. Rachel Briscoe and her team of staff worked so hard to bless our volunteers.

Our big push now is our Christmas in a Box appeal. Each year we are able to bless families who for many reasons have had a tough year. We have two size boxes; a $130.00 for a couple or small family and a $230.00 box for larger families. Members donate money for a whole or part box, and some of our members with businesses sponsor a number of boxes. Christmas is about Christ and giving. Forms are at the church.

Shane Birmingham our Ministry Training College Principal has just returned from Los Angeles where he is working with Kings College, (which is part of the Church on the Way), about MTC being able to offer their Degree Programme. Progress towards this is going well with the American accrediting agency approving MTC. Hopefully we will start offering this course later next year.

Marilyn, Mike and I had a great night with our Alpha team at an Alpha NZ dinner last night. This is an incredible ministry world-wide. Daniel Lee has been a key driver in our own church and over 500 have attended Alpha in the church over the past six years. Daniel is now helping for a season in Alpha Singapore and is part of an exciting opportunity to take Alpha Marriage into China with the support of the Beijing Government. They are concerned at the high divorce rate in China. Jonathan and Lynne Hesp who have recently been appointed to lead Alpha in NZ have moved to Auckland and attend our East congregation.