Nate and the strings section lead worship at Shore Community Church.
A Team is Formed
So much has happened since our last update - we've shifted to a different house, hosted several guests from the USA, and the whole family contracted a nasty flu virus. But one of the most significant developments over the past couple of months comes as a huge step toward our next church plant: Hamish and Molly Taylor have decided to lead our church plant team! These two are the ideal teammates for us. In 2010, we planted Rechurch with Hamish and Molly, and we're so happy to announce that God has called them back into church planting. We've begun having weekly team meetings, tackled some initial details, and have entered into discussions about key partnerships and future team members. There are so many details to cover, but we're taking it one step at a time...together. Please thank God for calling the Taylors back into church planting. And continue to pray for our team as we discern God's call and will for the many details of our next church plant. Stay tuned for more!
Our Role at Shore Community Church Continues
While the Taylors joining us represents a huge step toward our next church plant, there are many things that need to happen before we can launch the church: fundraising for start-up costs, the Taylors will go on furlough to raise their own funds, Nate will continue working toward a qualification in counseling, and we'll take our next furlough back to the USA. But we've all agreed that we'll stay fully engaged in our current roles at least through the end of 2017.
We've known all along that our role at Shore Community Church was temporary, so we've intentionally engaged in long-term impact work such as leadership development, administrative upgrades, branding consultation, and the like. Since Nate took his role with the worship ministry, he's supported and encouraged several long-term worship leaders at Shore, and he's also helped raise up new worship leaders like Josh, Lydia, and Sam (pictured). We look forward to seeing the long-term fruit of our time at Shore in the years to come. Though our primary focus will shift to the new project at some point, we're building relationships and friendships at Shore that will sustain us through the challenge of starting a new church.
Family Update.
Since the New Zealand winter coincides with the USA's summer, our visitors usually show up here when the weather's not so hot. Whitney's 12-year-old niece, Grace, arrived in June and stayed for two whole months. We had a blast introducing her to New Zealand culture. Seeing the sites that this beautiful country has to offer for the first time through her eyes was a pleasure. She was also a big help with our three kids, not to mention all the help she gave us in the transition to our new house! Grace was joined at the beginning of her visit by grandma, Tami, and at the end of the visit by her mum, Alison. Unfortunately, we sent the girls home with an unexpected gift: the flu virus. Sorry ladies!
We were also visited by an old friend and ministry partner from the USA: Jason Shore. We met Jason at Northview Christian Church where we worked from 2002-2007. Jason and Nate collaborated on a few special projects while in Indianapolis. Jason, who started a company called Sardius Media, took time out with his team during their visit to Auckland to do some consulting with Shore Community Church about how best to extend the reach of their teaching around New Zealand and the world. Thanks, Jase!
Nate and the kids pose at the sky tower with guests: Alison & Grace (Whitney's sister and her daughter), and Jason (a good mate and supporter from the USA)
The cleaning crew on moving day :-)
“The Hutchisons are an immense blessing to our church community as we seek to reach out to those in Auckland and beyond.
We are so appreciative to their supporters in the U.S. for making it possible for them to invest in ministry and mission with us for this season.”
Prayer Requests.
Tami Meaige (Whitney's mum)
Please pray for Tami as she undergoes treatment for stage 1 breast cancer. She was diagnosed in May/June and is now receiving chemotherapy. She is expected to recover fully, praise God!
Praise: Our Church Planting Team
Praise God for calling Hamish and Molly Taylor to join our church planting team. These two are the ideal teammates for us since we've already planted a church together, he's a kiwi, their strengths complement ours, and we basically absolutely LOVE them!
Church Plant
We continue to have good conversations with people and forming partnerships that we hope will be significant in the process of starting our next church. Please pray that we follow God's leading in this, and that He will provide the workers we need for the spiritual harvest.
Homeless Outreach
Please pray for this blooming new ministry led by a young man Nate is mentoring, Joe Jay. We are being blessed each time we go out to bless others in the name of Jesus. Pray that more people get involved and that God continues to sustain the leaders of this ministry.
The Jenkinson Family
Please pray for this young family in our congregation who lost their boy, Olllie, at the age of 15 to a life-long battle with severe autism and seizures.
Financial Partnership
Please pray for our financial partnerships to remain strong, that God will provide for what we need, and that we will be good stewards of what He provides.
Organization Affiliation
Praise God for providing our sponsoring church, North Terrace Church of Christ.
Life Group
We're really enjoying the community we have with people in this group. Please pray for continued participation and continued discipleship.
School
Please pray that the kids make positive friendships at school, and that they will connect well with their teachers this year. Please pray also for Nate as he continues studying counseling as a support to our ministry here.
Our Family
Pray for good health and positive friendships. The transition to our new house wasn't easy. Please pray for peace and a sense of belonging in our new home.