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.

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!

What a packed night in the city Friday was. Marilyn and I caught the ferry in from Pine Harbour which was fine, but on reaching the city it was almost impossible to get off as the streets were so full for the Rugby World Cup opening. We squeezed our way around; got a burger for dinner and found a good spot against the fence in the Viaduct right in front of a big screen. So we got to watch the fireworks display especially from the Sky Tower, and the Rugby on the screen.
Was it worth it? No probably not but we did it, and it is unlikely the city will have an event like this again.
Sad to see the Government take the management of the down-town activities off the City Council for the event. I feel for Mayor Len Brown as he is a top bloke and has become a great friend of the church.

Brett and Alison’s wedding day was perfect with a beautiful day. Brett is an ex All Black so I thought he would have planned his wedding to not clash with the Rugby World Cup!

Tuesday was our combined campus staff meeting and our weekend guest Mike Francen gave some great teaching to the team.

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.