Slow down at last. We dropped Stuart and Amanda Blount, our UK Elim representatives, at their hotel by the airport last night, and Conference is now over. It is quiet around the office this week with a number of the staff taking a well earned break. It was a fantastic week with Rob Ketterling stepping in as our key-note speaker on a week’s notice. Rob spoke so well and fitted in and related to our churches. Dan Lian was our Now Generation speaker. I caught the night sessions and they really pumped. Dan preached an amazing message on love on his first night.
It was my last conference as National Leader and on the National Leadership Team. Mike Griffiths is now National Leader and Boyd was voted onto the team. Congratulations guys. I can now focus on our church and its related activities. A couple of years ago as Elders we set our BHAGS (Big Hairy Audacious Goals). Now is not the time to retire or rest; I want to be part of seeing these fulfilled.

Awesome to see NZ beat Australia in the semi-finals of the World Cup. We were given seats in the other semi-final between Wales and France by our college construction company; Arrow Construction. We also managed to get seats for Stuart and Amanda, although the Welsh loss put a damper on the occasion.

This Saturday is one of the big events on our Calendar when we distribute “Christmas in a Box.” Over $60,000.00 in food will be packed in boxes and delivered to families who have had a tough year. It is not just those in financial need but also those who just need to know that God loves them and that there are people who care. On Sunday we will include in our morning services a time of remembrance for those who are feeling the loss of special people in their life at Christmas.

This time of the year is always one of eating. We have had outstanding weather (if you are not a farmer) which has made end of the year BBQs and staff dinners extra special.

Caleb Murdoch is up from Timaru, staying with us for a couple of weeks. Caleb is taking over from Steve as our Youth Pastor next year. Steve will step up to the Associate Pastor role in the East. Caleb and Steve are in the middle of planning for Solar Camp at Rotorua over Christmas. They usually hire a huge tent for their camps but the company has closed, however a couple in the church donated $10,000.00 so they could buy one rather than hire. Church is full of great people. Caleb spoke at the final Oxygen service of the year on Friday. He has been driving around Auckland and getting lost even with a Navman.

Mike and Liz Griffiths have been up from Dunedin in preparation for joining us next year. They move quickly; they have sold their house, brought another up here, and have enrolled their children in our school. Mike preached for us at our MTC Graduation on Sunday; he was outstanding.
Marilyn took a group of ladies down to Oxford in the South Island. They had a fantastic day at Jo Seager’s cooking class. With cheap fares it was an inexpensive day out.