Visit by Chief Apostle Schneider Move-a-thon 2015 NZ Youth Convention Victorian Sunday School ...

20 Pages·2015·2.12 MB·English

Australia
District News
Edition 30/4 -Summer 2015
In this issue:
Visit by Chief Apostle Schneider
Move-a-thon 2015
NZ Youth Convention
Victorian Sunday School Camp
From the Desk of District Apostle Andersen
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
A very eventful spring season now lies behind us. The The final statistics for the Move-a-thon in Australia
recent visit of our Chief Apostle to Auckland (featured were:
in this issue) brought us great joy and laid untold
blessings for us that we can continue to benefit from in Number of participants: 879
the future. Thanksgiving was also a very blessed event Kilometers travelled: 3,188
and the Thanksgiving Offering this year was a district Funds raised: $23,662.00
record.
Since the Move-a-thon many brothers and sisters
Another event within our district was the Move-a- have asked that the event itself becomes an annual
thon 2015 where Canada challenged Australia to occasion with a focus on health and wellbeing. We have
a competition based on people involved, distance explored this and it seems that a suitable date for this
travelled and funds raised. In the end I wrote to District to occur would be the second Saturday of September
Apostle Woll advising him that the beaver has been annually. Further, we are considering that this
victorious over the kangaroo and Australia concedes would be promoted as a ”National Day of Fellowship”
defeat. We congratulate our fellow NAC members in throughout our whole district. We do not foresee a
Canada! fundraising effort for each such event but rather a day
2 Australia District News
From the Desk of District Apostle Andersen
where the members of each congregation engage in a provided by the peaceful time surrounding it. It is a
theme to do with health, wellbeing and fellowship. holy time of the year and also a very special, personal
time of the year. I truly hope that you enjoy it.
The Move-a-thon challenge has been the catalyst for
our district to establish an Australian New Apostolic I take this opportunity to thank you, dear Brother, dear
charity which has been named ”NACare Foundation”. Sister for all you have done for the Lord’s work to this
The proceeds of the Move-a-thon fundraising effort are point in your congregation, in your circle of friends and
now the foundation of that charity. The next issue of in your community. I wish you and your loved ones a
the Australia District News will feature details of this very blessed Christmas and a joy-filled and successful
charity. New Year.
The celebration of Advent is now under way leading With loving greetings,
us into the Christmas period. For Margaret and me
personally this means joyful moments spent erecting a
Christmas tree, decorating it with feeling and focusing on
the joy of Christmas, its meaning and the opportunities Andrew H. Andersen
Australia District News 3
Chief Apostle
visit to Auckland
After a brief stopover in New Caledonia to visit the
members there, Chief Apostle Schneider arrived into
Auckland on Friday, 11 September.
On this occasion the Chief Apostle was accompanied
by District Apostle Noel Barnes from Cape Town,
South Africa, District Apostle Helper David Devaraj
from Bangalore, India and District Apostle Helper John
Fendt from New York, USA. District Apostle Andersen,
Apostles Hungito, Lodewick, Pouru, Wasimbai and
Williams and Bishops Green and Yasi were also in
attendance, as were the district ministers from Fiji,
Samoa and Solomon Islands.
Saturday was spent with the Sunday School children
and teachers at the annual Big Day Out event. Here
the Chief Apostle and his party spent time in a relaxed
setting listening to the presentations, answering
questions and enjoying lunch with our younger
members. Further details about this event can be
found in the pages following.
Sunday provided the highlight of the weekend: the
divine service conducted by the Chief Apostle in the
Victory Convention Centre. This venue serves as the
home to the Victory Christian Church and as they
hold Sunday morning services there it was decided
that the Chief Apostle service would commence at
2.00pm. This later time also allowed congregations in
Australia, Fiji and Papua New Guinea to be connected
via satellite without being disadvantaged by the time
difference.
The Chief Apostle, District Apostles, Apostles and
Bishops were welcomed to the venue with a song
performed by the Sunday School children. The Chief
Apostle then spent a few moments talking with the
children.
The Chief Apostle based his sermon on Deuteronomy
5:3, “The Lord did not make this covenant with our
fathers, but with us, those who are here today, all of
us who are alive.’
In all, nearly 900 brothers and sisters participated in
the divine service in Auckland. An additional 1,100
members were connected to the transmission in
various congregations.
4 Australia District News
AAuussttrraalliiaa DDiissttrriicctt NNeewwss 55

Sunday School
Big Day Out
The Big Day Out is an annual event on the New
Zealand Sunday School calendar. This year, the
event coincided with the visit of Chief Apostle
Schneider to Auckland.
After much planning, the day finally arrived.
Although Auckland had experienced a week of
wet and stormy weather, on this day the skies
were clear and the sun shone overhead. Upon
arrival the children were registered and provided
with a welcome pack which contained a bright
yellow T-shirt with the slogan ”Be about my
Father’s business”. The Chief Apostle and his
party were given a traditional Pacific welcome,
followed by a Maori welcome song sung by all
the children. They were accompanied by ukuleles
and guitars.
The children then broke into four groups and
spent an hour asking questions and getting to
know the Chief Apostle and the District Apostles
and Apostles in his party. For lunch, the Chief
Apostle and the visitors sat among the children.
The Chief Apostle and the children sitting at his
table all celebrated a birthday in September and
after lunch they celebrated with a large birthday
cake.
When the news was delivered that the
afternoon’s activities were open, the children
rushed outside to enjoy the kayaks, water
slide, water pool, flying fox, archery, air rifles,
trampolines, and many other activities. Shrieks
of laughter could be heard emanating from the
water slide area where kids covered in mud
slid down slides, totally oblivious to the cold
water. The Chief Apostle and the visitors walked
around the site, engaging in conversation with
the children and watching the activities with
interest. Although not quite brave enough to
participate in most of the events, some Apostles
showed they still have what it takes to do the
‘hopscotch’.
It was a day that created many special memories
for the children which will surely remain with
them forever.
8 Australia District News

Move-a-thon 2015
Saturday, 24 October was a very special day for all waiting for Australia to complete theirs as they entered their
congregations on the Australian continent. It had been springtime season.
planned as a national day of fellowship where each
congregation was invited to plan some fellowship activities In Australia the members adapted to the environment where
for the members. the various congregations are located; some in the tropical
climate and some still in the grips of cold and wet conditions.
The reports are that the event was an outstanding success However, all enjoyed a day of great joy as the various
as everyone knew that their fellow brethren were bonded activities showed the ingenuity of many. In some places
together in activity. Sunday School children, youth and seniors alike walked many
kilometres to add to the aggregate total while others cycled
The project began with an invitation last year from District or ran marathon style. In one congregation some seniors
Apostle Woll of Canada to District Apostle Andersen to join even drove on ride-on lawnmowers for 12 kilometres!
them in a day of physical activity across the two nations.
The invitation quickly turned into a friendly challenge to see Picnic lunches, barbeques and all other known forms of
which nation could travel the furthest distance when all enjoyment topped off a day where congregational spirit was
the activities were added together. Thus the international at its peak. As for the results: on this occasion Australia were
Move-a-thon was born. To add even further competition, it the runners up, however the fellowship that was enjoyed
was decided that the occasion would also be used to raise by so many more than makes up for this. In addition, the
funds for charitable purposes. Canada had already held their contributions of so many towards the new charity NACare
Move-a-thon event in the warm June weather and had been produced an outstanding result.
Rivervale, WA
Victorian Sunday School camp
Victoria Townsville, Qld
Buranda, Qld Redcliffe, Qld