It was great to catch up with Kiwi-International Jeff Fountain (Schuman Centre, Europe) last week in Auckland. Jeff was a keynote speaker at the 6th NZCN Christian Leaders Congress in 2011 and is registered for the 7th Congress later this week in the Bay of Islands, so it will provide another opportunity to talk face-to-face about recent developments aimed at reducing harm caused by the sex-trade.
A sea-change is taking place in the way Europeans view prostitution.
In an almost too-good-to-be-true-report, the European Parliament announced it will vote later this month on criminalising clients rather than the sex workers.
“Because marriage is a gift of the Creator, uniting a man and a woman, and affirmed by Jesus himself, intended for the birth and nurture of children and for building up human families in mutual support and care, it is a lifelong commitment.
Such marriages generate growth in oneness of heart, body, and mind, and provide stability to family life, so that children are cared for lovingly and grow to full maturity. In this way marriage is foundational to a good society.”
 NZCN Healthy Marriage discussion group, 2013
Marriage – Why it matters
Healthy marriages are a foundation for strong families and strong communities.
Evidence strongly suggests that outcomes for children, on a range of social and emotional indicators, are better when parents are married. And outcomes for adults who are married are generally better than in other co-habiting arrangements.
Many parents achieve exceptional outcomes despite divorce, bereavement, or children born outside of marriage.
But this does not alter the statistics that show better outcomes for marriage.
Marriage involves a publicly declared commitment which is a stronger basis for the security which enables children to grow and flourish than uncommitted relationships.
Marriage creates a unit that performs better financially and economically. This not only benefits those in the family but also increases the likelihood of a beneficial impact for society.
Marriage statistics suggest a correlation with lower rates of violence and domestic violence. These are problems that plague our society.
Marriage – where is it heading?
The rate of marriage has declined over recent decades in favour of casual and de facto relationships. This has gone hand-in-hand with a rise in the rate of divorce.
Some people focus on recent challenges to the legal definition of marriage as a factor in the erosion of marriage. But this is more a symptom than a cause of the problem.
Andrew J. Cherlin, Professor of Sociology at Johns Hopkins University, says that two shifts occurred around the start of the 20th century – over 100 years ago – that have had a serious impact on marriage. (Andrew Cherlin, The-Marriage-Go –Round, Vintage Books, 2010)
Radical individualism – making self-interest the top priority
‘Companionate marriage’ – the notion that marriage is just about adult companionship, exacerbated today by the idea that romantic love is sufficient basis to get married.
If the present common attitude to marriage is not changed for a better one that appreciates the importance of marriage, the best we can expect is that the situation will drift along – maybe a bit better at some times, maybe a bit worse at others.
At worst, we may see a continual slide over time away from marriage, from commitment, and from God.
What do we need to do?
Commit to doing what you can to change things.
Recognise that marriage between a man and a woman is part of God’s created order. As such it is relevant for everyone – not just Christians or ‘religious’ people.
Learn about God’s purpose, plan, and provision for marriage.
For those who are married, commit to building your marriage based on God’s plan, as a model and encouragement to others, and a witness to God.
Be available to help others, especially younger marrieds.
Talk about marriage – especially to those who don’t know God or who haven’t had good role models.
Celebrate marriage – in your churches, and even better – outside your churches, in the community.
Work together – connect to New Zealand Christian Network via the web. If you are able, consider supporting the Network and the work we do promoting Marriage Week.
Mark Marriage Week 7-14 February each year in your calendar.
Check outTowards a Strategy for Building a Healthy Marriage Culture on www.marriageweek.org.nz – This is a short paper developed by the Healthy Marriage Discussion group organised by New Zealand Christian Network. Please offer any comments or suggestions you have.
If you agree with the Christian Marriage Commitment that forms part of that statement, please go to the website and register your support. Tell your church and friends about it!
Marriage involves a publicly declared commitment which is a stronger basis for the security which enables children to grow and flourish than uncommitted relationships.
Marriage creates a unit that performs better financially and economically. This not only benefits those in the family but also increases the likelihood of a beneficial impact for society.
Marriage statistics suggest a correlation with lower rates of violence and domestic violence. These are problems that plague our society.
They say necessity is the mother of all invention. NZCN was recently contacted Prison Fellowship NZ’s Wellington office and asked if there was anything we could do to help promote their annual Angel Tree appeal because their usual source for advertising no longer existed.
Coincidence? In addition to my work at NZCN, I am also a regular volunteer on a Prison Fellowship team, friends of mine have run Angel Tree in their church for the past couple of years and NZCN shares office space with PFNZ in Auckland. Needless to say I was motivated to see what I could do to help.
A key word in NZCN’s name is Network. It resonates with me and it’s easy to see why.
One of the pages on the old site we wish to re-instate is a list that links to all of the networks and ministries that are connected to NZCN. However, the necessity for ministries and networks to let other people know about their activities has made us re-think how to present that information – which is how the idea of Spotlight came into being.
Who will feature in Spotlight
Basically, any national network, ministry or public cause that the church is able to engage in will be considered to feature in a spotlight. The purpose is to inform about activities and projects that we can make a difference in and to help equip these projects through a variety of resources.
What you can find in Spotlight
Spotlight is an interactive facility to inform Christians about a variety of national projects, ministries and networks through links, videos, graphics, photos etc.
Contributors are encouraged to provide the information required to put together each spotlight page. We would like to take Spotlight further by integrating prayer request in the features because that is one way we can all be involved.
Where to find Spotlight
All the information will be presented on our website, so you will find links to the spotlights in NZCN | News, our Facebook page and tweets on Twitter so make sure you are signed up to follow us!
On the website, the most recent spotlights will feature on the rotating banner on the home page, but if you want to go back and look at previous spotlights, you can find them through the top menu under Articles > Spotlight. Spotlights will also be cross-linked with the Networks once their links are re-instated. Additionally, there is the search function available in the upper right corner of the site.
When items will feature in Spotlight
Whenever possible, Spotlights will be posted at times that are relevant to what is being promoted – either because of project timing or events in the calendar that correspond with the network/ministry.
Why you should keep track of Spotlight
Spotlight provides the opportunity to hear about something when it is particularly relevant. Once it is up and in full swing, NZCN will be the central hub informing the church about a variety of initiatives it can get involved in.
How you can get involved
Contact us if you have a project, ministry or network that you would like us to consider featuring in Spotlight.
Share this post with someone who might want to submit for a Spotlight as well as to your church, friends and contacts.
Keep track of Spotlight to be informed. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Pray for the various projects and ministries featured in Spotlight and share the links!
Tell us what you think and make suggestions so that we can develop this idea by posting your comments below.
Blessings,
Gayann
Gayann and her husband, Stephen, have provided web design and email communication support to NZCN since 2006. She has home schooled their two children for the past nine years, but was ‘made redundant’ at the start of 2013. Since then, she has taken a more active role with NZCN.
Stuff.co.nz reported last week that children as young as 13 are being issued with 12-trip passes to safer sex, in an effort to drive down abortions and teenage pregnancies.
The scheme is being trialled in Hawkes Bay but the report says it could be picked up nationwide.
National Director of New Zealand Christian Network is wondering what is it going to take for Kiwis to ‘wake up’ and reverse the sexualisation insanity going on in our country.
“For so long we’ve tolerated an increasing sexualisation in society – in adverts, TV, films, videos, and music – that we’ve become like the frog in boiling water – too stupefied to realise we’re being cooked to death.
The decision over whether to give condoms to an underage person who is sexually active and refuses to stop is actually a very difficult one. Even though it would have been utterly unthinkable 30, even 20, years ago – it’s where we’ve arrived at.
But if the situation is not to deteriorate further, if we are to reduce the negative statistics related to the selfish individualism which exists in our society, we have to make some radical changes, and be prepared to commit to them unto the change has taken hold.
There’s been endless hand-wringing over the group of young boys in Auckland who have posted claims of sexual exploits on social media which amount to drugging and rape of girls.
But there’s been precious little comment about the sexual imagery that is ubiquitous in society, from which soft- and hard-core porn are inevitable transitions for some. And there’s enough consensus among experts establishing the link between porn and the behaviour being condemned that it should have everyone focused on changing the culture of sexualisation.
And just what are we teaching to our young folk regarding sex?
Wherever the bar is set it is the nature of young people to push against it – to test the boundaries. This is what is so great about young people – they push boundaries, try things that older folk have lost the drive or courage to do.
But if the bar in this area is not set at the highest level, that sex has it’s proper place only in a committed faithful relationship, which is what marriage is all about, we share the responsibility when the problems occur.
Last week I got back from the WEA ILF (World Evangelical Alliance International Leadership Forum) in Manila. This is the annual meeting for the people representing the 7 WEA regions, the 20 Commissions, Initiatives, and Task Forces, and the WEA Executive.
Glyn Carpenter from NZ/South Pacific meeting with fellow Secretaries General of Africa and Europe
I am invited as a representative from the South Pacific region, which is a great privilege not only because I get to discuss issues with representatives from Europe, Africa, and the other regions, but because I also get the opportunity to spend quality time with the people who head up WEA’s work in areas such as theology, religious liberty, and human trafficking, and in some cases who represent evangelical Christians in forums at the United Nations.
There was a little more pressure than usual on this year’s agenda because the 6-yearly General Assembly is taking place in Korea in October next year, and as you would expect, there was plenty to discuss and finalise about programme, content, structure, invitations, registration details, potential visa issues, political sensitivities, and so on.
More than 6,000 evangelical Christians from the 7 regions and 129 countries that make up the WEA are expected to gather, to worship, be resourced, and strategise about effective mission in a wide range of topics.
Amazing to arrive in a hotel where there is not only a Bible in the room but also a devotion book plus a prayer request sheet from hotel management.
Although like most people attending, I didn’t get to see much more than the insides of the airport and hotel and the road that connects them, we did get something of the local context when the PCEC (Philippines Council of Evangelical Christians) joined us one evening for dinner and to share about their work in the Philippines.
Bishop Efraim Tendero has been chairing the PCEC for over 20 years and shared on the recent Disaster Management conference held in Manila which will feature also at the GA 2014. The Philippines, with a landmass similar to NZ, but a population of 104 million compared to our 4 million, is known by many as the disaster capital of the world. Around 20 typhoons hit the country each year, in addition to earthquakes (such as the 7.2 magnitude quake in Bohol that killed 215 people just 4 days before I arrived). and other types of disaster.
Other useful discussions with people like Christine MacMillan (human trafficking), Joel Edwards (Micah Challenge), Brian O’Connell (Refugee Highway), Chris Elisara (Creation Care), Bertil Ekstrom (Missions Commission), Godfrey Yogarajah (Religious Liberty Commission), Mats Tunehag (Business as Mission), Eileen Stewart-Rhude (Women’s Commission), Rosalee Velloso Ewell (theology), and Sas Conradie (Generosity Network), as well as country/region focused meetings with the WEA Executive, will be filtered through to specific groups over coming weeks.
One small resource you might be interested in is the PCEC’s use of Bill Bright’s 7 pillars of society (see below). This is their prayer. Let’s make it our prayer too.
Glyn
7 Spheres of the Philippine Society Let us pray that these spheres of our society will come to the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and serve Him in accordance to His perfect will. (2 Peter 3:9) 1. Arts & Sciences – Let us pray that this pillar of our society will display the glory and majesty of our Creator. (Ecclesiastes 2:4) 2. Business – Let us pray that the business people will remember God, who gives them the ability to produce wealth. (Deut. 8:18) 3. Church – Pray that the Church will be faithful to obey her mandate for the Great Commission. (Matthew 28:19-20) 4. Daily News/Media – Let us pray that our media people will be honest and truthful in their reports and advocacies. 5. Education – Pray that this pillar of society will be passionate in carrying out the mandate of training and educating the children and our youth for the transformation of our nation. (Prov.22:6) 6. Family – Let us pray that that the blueprint of families as God had mandated be restored. (Ps. 68:5-6; 2 Tim. 3:1-4) 7. Government – Pray that the Executive, Judiciary, Legislative, Military, Regional, Local and Barangay units will recognize the lordship of Jesus Christ. (Proverbs 29:2)
New Zealand Christian Network national director Glyn Carpenter is interested in the study on religious values of Kiwis being undertaken by Professor Joseph Bulbulia, of Victoria University (stuff.co.nz. 30 Oct). But he is surprised at the comment attributed to Mr Bulbulia that ‘census data showed the country had been secular since at least the 1960s’.
“That statement is so imprecise as to be meaningless and certainly not what one would expect to hear from a professional academic’ said Carpenter.
“It is also inaccurate given that even the most recent census data still shows around half of Kiwis still call themselves Christian.
“The constant repetition through the media that New Zealand is a secular might suit some people’s agendas” said Carpenter, “but it is confusing and misleading and just plain wrong”.
It is far better to describe New Zealand as a religiously plural country. It would not be inaccurate to even describe New Zealand as a significantly Christian country because the largest belief group in the country is Christian.
Marriage – where is it heading?
For those who are married, commit to building your marriage based on God’s plan, as a model and encouragement to others, and a witness to God.
