OUR STORIES
THIS YEAR
This year was a year like no other...
YET GOD STILL DID
AMAZING THINGS
HERE'S A SNAPSHOT
WE RE-DISCOVERED THE VALUE OF COMMUNITY
"The Wattle Downs care group was rad! I met and built deeper relationships with fellow MCBC’ers than I do when regularly attending Sunday church. Our group consisted of people from vastly different walks of life. The group's success lay in these common factors; we loved and leaned on God and prayer and we accepted and supported one another. The Holy Spirit moved, and we became entrenched with what was going on in each other's lives. We were able to share the experience of God's work through the reports back about our prayer list — how neat!"
- Karen Tusani
WE BAPTISED MORE PEOPLE THAN EVER
We rejoice in the baptism of:
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Akaperepere Marsters
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Johnny Marsters
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Jefferson Lamb
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Samuel Chang
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Riccardo Chandra
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Rachel Kathagen
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Oliva Taani
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Marvin Mackey
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Anamei Graham
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Trixie Gurnie
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John Bell
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Veisinia Mapa
WE STARTED A BUNCH OF NEW MINISTRIES
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Sunday Nights: Growth & Discipleship
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Livestreamed Services
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Care Groups
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Prison Care
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Exercise Class
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Photography/Video team
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Op Shop
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Friday Night Youth
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Life's Healing Choices
WE SPRUCED UP THE PLACE A BIT
While our buildings were unusually empty for some portions of the year, we managed to tackle some decent reno projects:
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The Arena was massively upgraded and is now used for children's ministry as well as everything else it was doing.
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We have new onsite storage with 2x40ft shipping containers.
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The Chapel looks so different and functions better and we have had a few furniture updates.
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Our new Op Shop has become a reality. Open Tuesday to Saturday 10am-4pm.
We have some faith goals too as we ask God to help us to clear our mortgage. Our building are an awesome asset we get to use for the kingdom!
WE SAW PEOPLE GROW IN THEIR FAITH
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Started the year with Prayer & Fasting
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Launched Believe discipleship strategy
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Brave Love Bootcamp
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Deeper Bible
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Alpha
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Prayer ministries
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Her/Men's ministries
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Youth Camp
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Worship
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Beach Mission
AND WE HEARD SOME TIMELY MESSAGES
“Online, in church, in the Arena, in your homes, around the world… Morning Church has certainly been different this year! We have learnt and adapted, we have grown and changed. We have learnt the value of being physically with others and how powerful it is to worship together.
Have we Thrived in 2020? In God’s way – absolutely!”
- Pastor Alastair (Arnie)
THIS HAS BEEN A YEAR OF
INNOVATION
WHICH IS THE NICE WAY OF SAYING
"ARGHHHH HOW ON EARTH DO WE DO THAT?!"
18
WEEKS OF CHURCH@HOME
Thank you to all who helped film, edit, record worship, do a bible reading etc.
65+
DAILY/WEEKLY DEVOS
Thank you to all those people who encouraged us with scripture & devos this year.
28.1K
VIEWS ON
YOUTUBE CHANNEL
That's a lot of eyeballs. Thank you to all who hel
08
EPISODES OF YOUTH@HOME
A creative Friday night show with live quizzes, teaching, Bubble vs Bubble and clips.
40
COMMUNITY
CARE GROUPS
A more localised way of caring for each other. Thank you to everyone who helped!
01
NEW ANNUAL REPORT
Something fresh that reflects the awesome things God has done this year!
OUR PASTORS/INTERNET SENSATIONS
HAVE LEARNT A LOT THIS YEAR
Click each face to hear their stories
Pastor Alastair
Pastor Suz
Pastor Marty
Pastor Troy
Pastor Alick
OUR SOCIAL MEDIA COMMUNITY
GREW 300%
WE PROVIDED
OVER 1,000
FOOD PARCELS
WITH HELP FROM OUR FRIENDS AT
WE ALSO COVERED A TOTAL OF 1150KM
MAKING DELIVERIES DURING LOCKDOWN
UPDATES FROM KEY MINISTRIES
WE GOT SUPER CREATIVE IN KIDS MINISTRY
"Having the kids become so much a part of our corporate worship in the lockdown services was exciting, and a great example of the fun and flavour that God uses to benefit the whole church when we are together. We are better together!"
- Denise Snook
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LIL' MEGA
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MINI MEGA
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MEGA
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Mainly Music
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Flavor Cafe
What do you enjoy about being back at Mega?
"Playing games"
"Doing activities"
"The fun and learning about God"
WE BUILT WHANAU
IN YOUTH
"Max and Kotahi both aligned to be on Friday nights this year. And they have both been amazing! Through all the ups and downs we have seen God move in such a powerful way within our young people and in our leaders."
- Casey, Ben & Troy
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MAX & MAX DELUXE
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KOTAHI
WE GOT BACK TO BASICS IN YOUNG ADULTS
"God has taught me that ‘small community’ is totally important to him. He loves when we get together and do life. God used this to bring change to how we do our Young Adults ministry, where we now do alternate fortnightly home groups one week & then all together the other week. I am loving our home groups and the depth of relationships that are growing. "
- Pastor Suz
What do you enjoy about being back at Mega?
"Playing games"
"Doing activities"
"The fun and learning about God"
WE SAW GROWTH IN THE SENIORS
"I have seen how God honours our seniors with his provision and strength. He continues to sustain them and gives them energy to carry on for another day. It was exciting to see one of our Seniors be Baptised and follow Jesus even more passionately." - Pastor Alick
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Come Walking
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Exercise Class
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Super Friday
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Chapel Service
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Find Out Friday
WE GOT INTENTIONAL ABOUT DISCIPLESHIP
ON SUNDAY NIGHTS
"God has worked within my family this year, bringing us closer to Him and to each other. Sunday Night Discipleship sessions have meant I am learning helpful tools each week to show my faith to those around me. It has helped me learn more about God and the bible, and my friendship with Jesus is getting stronger. I feel like I belong to God’s family "
- Jo Brewer
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Core Discipleship
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Alpha
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Marriage Course
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Life's Healing Choices
MISSIONS BECAME MORE DIFFICULT,
BUT MORE IMPORTANT
What has COVID done to missions?
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Unprecedented challenges
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Ability to travel massively reduced (eg Angela Cornelius couldn’t be home for the birth of their first grandchild)
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No short term mission opportunities
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Increased ability for our missionaries to be part of MCBC through services online… and we all know how to Zoom now
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All our missionaries stayed overseas during COVID
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Czepanski family return from Bangladesh in December 2020 – went out for 12 months, stayed for 18 months
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Aimee Forbes-Brown is now in Cambodia with YWAM
WHAT AN INCREDIBLE YEAR.
WE'RE SO THANKFUL FOR
GOD'S PROVISION
& THE SUPPORT OF OUR
#MCBCWHANAU
BECAUSE OF YOUR GENEROSITY
100%
of staff were retained on full
wages during Covid-19
100%
of missions support was
paid through lockdown
100%
of our missionaries
remained on the missionfield
SOME FINANCIAL STATS
1 WAGE SUBSIDY
Qualified for during first lockdown
$128,880
Paid off our mortgage
despite paying only interest
during lockdown
32%
On expected casual
building hireage
due to lockdown.
OVERALL:
A surplus was achieved in 2020!
This will be used to catch up on mortgage repayments put on hold during lockdown and was also used on Arena Capital project upgrade.
OUR FINANCIALS
AT A GLANCE
WHERE OUR FINANCES COME FROM:
68% Tithing & Offerings
25% Building & Lease Income
7% Govt Wage Subsidy
WHAT OUR FINANCES GET USED FOR:
54% Ministry by staff
4% Ministry Expenses
8% Missons & Baptist Support
2% Administration
12% Property Costs
6% Interest Expenses
14% Mortgage Principal Repayments
WHAT'S NEXT FOR US
2021 LIFE & SERMON SERIES
In 2021, we are encouraging you to read the Bible in one year. You can read the New Testament every day, or include reading the Old Testament, Psalms & Proverbs.
Imagine if we were reading the Bible together
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That means we can talk with each other about what we read that day or that week
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Each Sunday, the sermon will be based on the New Testament Bible reading for that day
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If you have a Hang Out Group, you can base your study on that day’s Bible reading
Why are we doing this?
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We need to know God better as the world changes around us
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We want to encourage you to meet with Jesus every day
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Ultimately, we want to grow in Faith, Hope & Love together in 2021!
GET ON BOARD
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Purchase a book from church office
Congratulations for making it to the end of this year's new and improved Annual Report! We have a free gift available as a reward - a free bracelet so you can rep 'Faith, Hope & Aroha out in the streets.
