sunz adventure magazine january 2013

adventureJanu

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Jan Adventure.indd 1 16/12/12 8:55:41 PM

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EDITORIAL

This edition of Adventure is all about starfish. Really! Children love starfish. They are incredibly interesting, and often attractive, creatures that come in a variety of colours and shapes.

Welcome

However, they are just as fascinating for adults and a bit of a dilemma for scientists. That’s because no one quite knows how they work. A starfish is a neural network of cells with no brain coordinating commands. For a starfish to move, one of the arms must convince the other arms that it’s a good idea, and they cooperate to create action. Somehow, the DNA for reproducing a new creature is embedded all over the starfish. Cut it in half and it doesn’t die. Cut off a leg and it will grow a new one. In fact, in some varieties, that leg can grow into an entirely new starfish!

There are a couple of things that I think we can learn from the starfish. One is the benefit of collaboration, as various parts of the starfish must work together to produce movement. Another is replication, the effectiveness of multiplying to increase impact.

In these pages, you will read about how SU NZ works with churches in their communities, to reach children and their

families with the love of God. That is great and powerful collaboration at work. The action doesn’t depend on us, but occurs as a consequence of empowering others. We are also reproducing when we open the Bible with children and young people, and provide them an opportunity for them to follow Jesus. We are reproducing leaders who will continue to make mission happen. To an extent, we are giving ministry away, and that is how it should be. The dynamic of SU NZ lies in this power of replication, reproducing followers of Jesus and leaders of people. Since its beginnings, SU NZ has been a movement of volunteers, supporters and a small staff team, working together like a starfish. This all adds up to growing the kingdom of God. Read on, and think of the starfish!

Want to get in touch?Visit us at www.facebook.com/sunz.nz

Wayne Fraser, National Director


ChildrenJourneying with

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I stood in a quiet school hall and waited. Then, without warning, the door banged open and 40 enthusiastic children rushed in. SUPAkidz had begun. Noise echoed around the club as we played a game together. Giggles spread across the room as bumbling reporter, Shane Sharealot, interviewed a leader, and then there was a hush as the children leant forward to hear about the four men who took their friend to Jesus. The discussion afterwards was vigorous, as we talked about what we could learn from the story, and people listened carefully as one little girl talked about what it felt like to have no friends.

There are SUPAkidz clubs like this one in primary schools right across New Zealand. Some have a few children and some have over 80; some meet in the lunch hour and some meet after school. But although each one is different, they all have the same intense moments of fun and laughter interspersed with incredibly serious moments, when it is obvious that God is at work in the children’s lives – and in the lives of the leaders too.

Team Leader, Children and Families Ministry

CHILDREN & FAMILIES

HILARY HAGUESUPAkidz camps work alongside these clubs, and provide a unique experience for further developing relationships with the children. Each camp has an exciting theme and great activities to try out. The camps are structured so that children will make friends quickly and the leaders are fully focused on the wellbeing of their small group of children.

At SU NZ, we feel really challenged by the number of children around us who are not in touch with any church. We want to help you build life changing relationships with these children and their families. We’d love you to use our SUPAkidz club and camping ministry to do this.

If you’d like us to support you as you run a SUPAkidz club, or offer you a SUPAkidz camp to take your children on as part of your on-going programme, please contact us – we’d love to help you.

Hilary PHOTO ABOVE: Hilary Hague.


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CHILDREN & FAMILIES

PHOTO ABOVE: Hilary Hague.

in SCHOOLSSchools and children are often headline news. Rightly so, since our children and teenagers spend at least 11,400 hours in school, a major part of their lives at crucial stages.

Scripture Union in New Zealand has over 80 years’ experience working with schools. Our schools’ ministry started in 1931, just after the Napier earthquake. Dr John Laird, a Scottish ships’ doctor, was in Napier harbour when the earthquake struck. He became a national hero for his rescue work. He stayed in New Zealand to work with SU NZ, and was welcomed into schools to talk about the earthquake. He also planted voluntary Christian groups of students in schools throughout New Zealand.

I am greatly indebted to two faithful leaders of SU voluntary groups, in both my primary and secondary schools in the 1940s and 50s – John Jacob at Hebron School in India and Martin Yeoman at Napier Boys’ High. There are many others who have been profoundly helped. It is a joy to meet them now and see their

whole lives positively influenced by SU NZ’s school ministry.

Since the year 2000, a new SU NZ schools’ ministry in New Zealand has started and grown – voluntary groups in primary schools known as SUPAkidz. Schools’ work needs wise, skilled, sensitive leadership. This is wonderfully provided by Hilary Hague and her team of SU NZ staff and volunteers. We need to pray for our schools and this ministry, giving it our full support.

The Christian faith is not just for Sundays and our homes. It is relevant to schools, work places and everyday life. Through work in schools, SU NZ meets real kids and real life issues. This grounds the training ministries of SU (like WAY2GO) in the realities of life in New Zealand, and enables us to equip people more effectively.

Ron Fountain is a past Team Leader of our Children & Families ministry.

Ron

PHOTO: Ron Fountain & his grandchildren.


Inspiring

CHILDREN & FAMILIES

Churches forMISSION

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Nigel Winder is the SU NZ Southern Regional Director, and Children and Families Worker for Otago and Southland.

‘Running a SUPAkidz Camp in Southland for the last 4 years, I have seen it go from strength to strength.’

In the first year it ran, only 12 campers registered, and finding leaders proved to be a difficult task! This year, 38 campers registered for camp, and we found ourselves having to turn leaders away. I believe this success stems from the growing relationship with three local churches, which have adopted the camp as an extension of their own local mission.

One of these three churches is Otatara Community Church, led by Steve and Jill Harrex. Steve and Jill have been on board since the very beginning, encouraging and supporting campers and leaders. Throughout the past four years, they have made a significant contribution to the camp, both as a family, and as representatives of Otatara Community Church.


Inspiring

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In years gone by, members of Otatara Community Church were involved in SU NZ Holiday Programmes and Beach Missions, and more recently ran a SUPAkidz club at the local school for a couple of years. Currently, their focus is on the SUPAkidz camp in Southland. Church members assist with cooking, team leading, co-ordinating crafts and memory verses, and work at getting others involved. Steve says SU NZ has helped the church with its mission by:

• Training young leaders and giving them local mission experience

• Creating a vehicle to reach out to the local area, by advertising the camp through the local school and also wider Southland – it’s mission on a provincial level

The benefits of the relationships with local churches are reciprocal. Otatara Community Church, along with the other two churches (Windsor Community Church and Rosedale Bible Chapel), have got in behind the camp. They make food donations, sponsor campers, and provide volunteer team members. They have also helped significantly with planning, preparation and resources. The churches are also prayer and financial supporters for my position as a staff member with SU NZ.

Steve says some of the personal highlights for him are:

• Seeing leaders returning from camp enthusiastic about reading their bibles

• Seeing campers returning as junior leaders, putting their faith into action

CHILDREN & FAMILIES


Nigel

• Campers going home after camp influencing the faith of their whole family

• Getting to know the young leaders in my church on a new level, and seeing their faith development in a new light through serving together

• Being able to serve as a family, with my wife and daughters being involved in various ways

• Seeing campers respond to the gospel and take the opportunity to ask deep and searching questions about God

• A sense of ownership for the wider church, and the ability to celebrate in the success stories from camp together

• The opportunity to continue the relationships with campers through our own church programmes

CHILDREN & FAMILIES

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Running and further developing the camp would be an uphill battle without these churches involved, and it is very special to see churches pool resources to work toward a common end. I am extremely grateful for their support, and am excited about the future possibilities.With all the young leaders unreservedly committing to be involved next year, there is no doubt this ministry will continue to grow.

Nigel Winder is our Southern Regional Director.


Over the past year, I have had the privilege of working with a handful of volunteers from our local church, taking

Our church also runs a school holiday programme twice a year, as well as having involvement in one-off family outreach events. We are excited to see barriers removed, as other church members join with us in warmly receiving and serving these children at the various programmes offered throughout the year. These further opportunities encourage connection with some of the same children on different turf, strengthening the church-community relationship and, most importantly, having the chance to expand on the good news about Jesus.

Joseph

FEATURE

Taking to mythe SUPAkidz programme into two local schools. Located in a semi-rural setting, we work in a Waiuku school, and also out on the Awhitu Peninsula.

The SUPAkidz ministry extends much further than just the short time period we spend with the students each week. As we are based in a relatively small community, we are constantly amazed at how recognised we are when out and about! SUPAkidz children often call out or wave cheerfully on their way past, and this is a reminder that we are being closely observed outside the classroom, as well as in it. Having taught them Christ-like values, the rest of the week is living those out in day to day activities, mindful of young and impressionable eyes.

local schools

PHOTO ABOVE: Joseph Martin & family

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FEATURE

“Can I please come back to camp next year? I know I’m going to be too old, but can I come back anyway?”

Perhaps the kids really do say it best! SU NZ’s SUPAkidz camps are fun and exciting for children, and help them to form a closer relationship to God. SU NZ has a long reputation of working closely with churches: providing resources, training and inspiration. Leaders at SUPAkidz camps are provided with comprehensive training, and the camps help to develop the leaders’ own personal faith in God. SUPAkidz camps provide a place for church children to invite along their non-church friends, and children learn about God in an open and fun environment. After camp, leaders return to their churches with many new skills that are easily

If you would like to know more about how your church can get involved with SUPAkidz camp or a SUPAkidz club, or if you are inspired to help the Children & Families ministry in any way, please contact us!Email: [email protected] or Freephone: 0508 423 836

How churches can useCamps and Clubs

translated in their own church ministry as well as stronger, ongoing relationships with the children and their families.

We see our clubs and camping ministry as working together to help churches achieve this. With permission from the school, SUPAkidz club leaders can invite the children at their club along to one of our camps. SUPAkidz camps provide a unique opportunity for further developing these relationships and give children the chance to find out more about God.

SUPAkidz ministries work in partnership with a number of churches in local communities, and value the support given by members of these churches. Whether this support is through prayer, the sponsoring of leaders and children, or volunteers, we always welcome support from churches and leaders to grow this important mission.


How churches can use


1. Try this with your team to get them talking about how they work together. It’s not as easy as it sounds!• Askyourteamtolineupintwogroupsfacingeach

other,andpointthefirstfingerofeachhandoutinfrontofthem.

• Placealongpieceofbambooontopoftheirout-stretchedfingerssothatitisbalancedalongthetopofeachperson’sfingersinastraightline.

• Asktheteamtolowerthesticktothegroundwith-outholdingontoitinanyway,orlosingcontactwithitwiththeirfingers.

• Makesurethestickstaysbalancedoneachperson’sfingersatalltimes.Ifanyonestopstouchingthestick,theteammuststartagain.

2. Discuss the following:• Whatwasdifficultaboutthechallenge?• Howdidyourespondinthebeginning?• Howwelldidyoumanageasagroup?• Whatskillsdidtheteamneedtosucceed?• Whatwereyourstrengthsandweaknesses?

3. Here are some key signs to help you know if your team is going well.*• Youhaveavarietyofskills,personalitytypes,

gifts,etc.• Thereiscreativityflowing.• Peoplehaveenthusiasmforthetask.• Peoplehaveclearvision.• Mistakesviewedasopportunitiesforgrowth.• Problemsarefacedtogether.Aproblemisseenas

achallengeforthewholeteam,notthefaultofanindividual.

• Goodrelationshipsexistoutsideteam.• Peoplehaveopencommunication.• Peoplehavefriendshipsatalltimes.• Theteamknowswhentouseoutsidehelp.• Theteamhaveregularreviews.

Discussthesesignswithyourteam.Whichonesmatchyourteam?Whichonescanyouworkon?

4. Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 together and pray.

*TheseideascomefromTeamwork: how to build relationships byGordonandRosemaryJones.Readingtheirbookwillhelpyouthinkaboutwhyteamsaresoimportant,howtobuildaneffectiveteamandwaysoflearning

tocommunicatebetter.

Wehaveacopytogiveawaytothefirstpersonwhoringsupandmentionsthismagazine.Ifyoumissout,it’savailablefromwww.sunz.org.nz for $29.99

3. Train and model

Thinkabouttheskillsthatyourteamwillneedandhowtohelppeoplelearnthem.Usea

mixtureofteaching,modellingandmentoring.Includetrainingasaregularpartofallyourmeetingsandmakethemostoftraining

eventsrunbyothers.

2. relaTeYes,thetaskisimportant.Butitisthedepthoftherelationshipsthatwilladdqualitytothelifeoftheteam,andmodelapositivefaithcommunitytothechildren.Itisveryimportantforpeopletofeelyouconnect

withthemrelationally.

4. TrusTSupportandmentor

people,thentrustthemtohaveagoforthemselves.Butmakesureyougivelotsofappreciationandencouragement,andhelpthemevaluatewhattheyaredoingagainstyouroverallaimsregularly.

These 4 elements are worth doing because having a good team is a vital component of an effective children’s ministry.

Thinkaboutthose12disciplesthatJesusworkedwithandhow,afteranunpromisingstart,theywentontochangetheworld.MayGodblessyouandyourteamasyouworktogether,

andmayheworkthroughyoutochangetheworldofthechildrenwhoyouworkwith.

Hilary Hague Team leader, Children and Families Ministry

I have clear memories of the first time I ever led a team. I planned, I prepared, I produced lots of ideas. I worked very hard.

But after a few months, I realised something – my team had disappeared.

ItookgreatcomfortfrommyBibleasIreadaboutJesusandhisdisciples.Thingsdidn’talwaysgowellforhimwithhisteameither.Ilearntalotfromreadingabouthim,andIcametorealisethatbuildinghealthyteamstakestimeandskill.

These days, there are 4 elements I like to think about as I work with teams:

leadinG a Team

1. PrayThemostimportantthingistorelyon

Godinyourleadership.Prayforyourselfandprayforyourteamregularly.Askthe

HolySpirittohelpyouandthem.

THE FLOATING STICK


KIDS TALK

“Are we doing that Bible thing again tonight?” –Camper “We

will read the Bible to you tonight, but will be doing our Quiet Times again in the morning.” – Leader,

Camper replies “COOOL”

*Kids’ spelling and phrasing has not been changed

“I have had a lot of fun doing lots of activitys and having fun being with my caben mates and learning

about God and Jesus”

“I am having a great time here and I love the

dinner”

“The best game at the moment is when me and my group dress up our leader with paper and wet him (top

to bottom)”

“I like doing the scavenger hunt

lots”

“…buy the way the food is better than yours”

“Jesus has really helped my dad to be

a better person” SUPAkidz camper to Camp

Leader

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RESOURCES

CHOOSING

RESOURCE THE

FOR very BEST

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RESOURCES

Ah, craft! That often messy activity that kids (and many grown adults) love! Ultimate Craft is your guide to creative and imaginative ways to help children explore the Bible through cutting, sticking, painting, drawing, sewing and, well, you get the idea! The book includes photocopiable templates and easy instructions, so you can feel confident in presenting the craft activities to children!

ULTIMATE CRAFT

Ultimate Creative Prayer is crammed full of creative and imaginative ways to help you and your children’s group get praying. Ideas include prayers to draw and make, prayers to shout and sing, prayers to pray alone and pray together. Inside, this book provides instructions and guidance to help your group pray and grow together.

ULTIMATE CREATIVE PRAYER

Deciding which resource is best for you is no easy task because, as we all know, each child is different. Often, a combination of activities and projects enables children to engage with the Bible, and helps grow their understanding of God in a way they find fun and exciting.

CHOOSING

RESOURCE THE

FOR very BEST

children’s

YOUULTIMATE GAMESHave you ever been stuck for a new game to play? Ultimate Games allows you to help children explore the Bible through playing games. Active games, quiet games, team games, individual games, games for children, games for young people - they’re all inside! Comprehensive instructions and guidance means that even

SU NZ has a number of resources

available to people working with

children. Highlighted are three

popular books within the

‘ULTIMATE’ series, but check out

our online bookstore at

the most game-shy leader will be able to make the most of this fun way to explore God’s Word!

www.scriptureunion.org.nz/store to see

our range of puzzles, games, Bible reading

guides, storybooks, curriculum

resources and prayer books!

(Phew, that’s a lot of resources!)

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REGIONAL NEWS

REGIONAL NEWS

Northern R

egion

WaikatoBay of PlentyN

elson

CanterburySouthland

Otago

Northern Region

Wai-BoP

In everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Phil 4:6)

Summer = camping, and in Auckland the season begins and ends

with prayer events, praising God and praying for campers and leaders alike. At the pre-summer evening on 13 November, three of the prayer stations symbolised the features of our new brand: the mountain for places and physical needs; the journey with stepping stones bearing leaders’ names; the lamp for the light of God’s Word. Forty people attended and it was a moving time as we gathered around the leaders commending them to God for his grace and help. The end of summer event will be a Thanksgiving Picnic on Ponui Island (16 February 2013).

Steve Adams has been appointed to the position of SU Youth Worker for the Waikato & BOP. Steve will

be based in Tauranga and he will be working with Churches

throughout the Waikato & BOP to provide training for youth workers and school students as part of the new high school Disclosure programme.

We believe that Steve is the ideal person for this role of mentoring and training of young leaders in the Waikato & BOP. His previous involvement in youth work, in Christian counseling and discipleship, as well as in some business ventures means that Steve comes to us very well equipped for the task. Steve plans on starting his work with SU NZ in February 2013.

(Waikato/Bay of Plenty)


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REGIONAL NEWS

REGIONAL NEWS

Northern R

egion

WaikatoBay of PlentyN

elson

CanterburySouthland

Otago

November and December have been busy getting camps under way for summer, and ensuring we

have some quality teams! With three camps on in the South Island at the moment, we have volunteers and staff working hard and gifting lots of time to see young people getting along. We are also excited about our up and coming leader training in March, and two new South Island camps happening in winter and spring! We are currently busy forming some Camps Support groups in the South and are looking forward to getting into 2013.

The “Southern Team” gratefully welcomed student Rosie Janssen to the staff over the Christmas break.

Rosie worked on a casual basis, helping with the time consuming task of chasing up and processing camper and leader paperwork for the summer camps. These camps are coming to an end for another year, allowing Heather Zwies and Bronwyn Withington (our camp administrators) to come up for some air after a couple of months of intense effort. We are so grateful and appreciative for them, and all our camping volunteers, for their commitment and dedication to the SU NZ camping ministry. May they be blessed as they have blessed others! We are looking forward to the WAY2GO Children’s Ministry Training Day in Invercargill on 23 March.

Otago/Southland

Canterbury


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FEATURE

SUNZ aNd PriSoN FellowShiP

The caregiver arrived to pick up two brothers at the end of camp and, within minutes of talking with a

Prison Fellowship Staff member, was in tears. When asked what was wrong she replied, “This is the first camp which the boys have been to, that I wasn’t phoned on the first night of camp to be asked to come and collect them.”

The boys almost didn’t come to camp. There was a reluctance to send them, because of behavioural difficulties that were thought to be too challenging for the camp environment to handle. We reassured them that we would put measures in place to manage those difficulties, and that camp was designed to be a place where children could come, have fun, and explore who God is in an exciting and safe environment. Both boys had struggles at camp, and the leaders worked hard at loving and guiding them, which resulted in a change of behaviour for both of them in a positive way.

These boys were on a camp called ‘Breakaway’, the 2012 camp run by SU NZ, in partnership with Prison Fellowship. These camps, the first of which was held in 2011, were established for children from families who have a person who has been, or is, a prisoner. Besides the usual camp goals, these camps aim to change the statistic that says 70% of children from this background are likely to end up in prison themselves. These camps, which provide the children with the opportunity to grow, are seeing transformation in the lives of children so often forgotten.

Sam* came to camp as a very withdrawn child. He didn’t want to participate, and hung around the edges of the activities. Nothing the leaders could do would encourage him to get involved. The morning of the second day, he was talking with one of the leaders, and told her that during the night there had been a big storm outside and he had been running around chasing vampires. As she listened, she realised that there was something serious going on for this boy. He was deeply troubled. So, she went and talked to his cabin group leader.

His small group leader acted with sensitivity and compassion, and the next night he got his entire group together and prayed with them all before bed. This was the beginning of a change in this young boy’s life. Not only did he sleep soundly, without storms and vampires, but he began to move in from the edges. Slowly, we watched him join in the activities, until on the last day we looked for him in his usual corner at the back of the room. Instead, he was right at the front of the group, praying and asking great questions about God.

Through the care and nurture of the leadership team, this boy not only broke free of his dreadful dreams, but was drawn in from the edges and towards God.

*Name changed

Andrew Andrew Ramsbottom is a Children and Family Ministry Worker based in Auckland.


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TheSe camPS aim To chaNge The STaTiSTic

ThaT SayS 70% oF childreN From ThiS

backgroUNd are likely To eNd UP iN PriSoN ThemSelveS

‘ ‘

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FEATURE


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REFLECTION

Light for the PathChildren & The New Testament

Plato once said “...of all the wild beasts, the child is the most intractable; for insofar as it, above all others, possesses a fount of reason that is as yet uncurbed, it is a treacherous, sly and most insolent creature.”

What a terrible way to talk about children! Imagine reading this in a magazine or newspaper today. But this was a common way of thinking about children in the time of the New Testament. While the Jewish context and some Graeco-Roman writers were more complimentary and wrote of their deep love for their own children, the predominant view of children was negative. They were seen as irrational and unpredictable. The state of childhood was to be passed through as fast as possible. Children are also fairly absent from the written sources we have access to. This reflects the fact that they were to be ‘seen and not heard’ as the saying goes, and in most cases they weren’t to be seen either.

But the New Testament offers us something different. Rather than being absent, children are present throughout the New Testament and, in some cases, take centre stage. Rather than being viewed negatively, they have a positive contribution to make.

In Matthew and Mark, the disciples were having one of their regular arguments about who was the greatest when Jesus stopped them. He called their attention to a child and opened their eyes to this child as a model to follow and an example

of what a person of the Kingdom is like.

Throughout Acts, we find children as part of the church. We read that entire households became Christians and were baptised. In Acts 21:4-6 Luke specifically mentions that children were a part of the church family on the beach, as they sent Paul off on his mission to Jerusalem.

Paul’s letters are rich with family language, as he describes the believers as sisters and brothers, but also as children. Paul also speaks directly to children in the household codes of Ephesians 6 and Colossians 3 and instructs them to obey their parents as an expression of worship to God.

What makes these three examples remarkable is that they make direct reference to children, in a culture where this was rare. Paul gives them responsibilities to please God in their family life, Luke makes sure we know that children were present in the activities of the church, and Jesus astoundingly points to children as examples of Kingdom dwellers. How’s that for positively encouraging people to think differently about children! These are radical inclusions. At SU NZ, we believe in the radical inclusion of children in the story of the gospel and the continuing story of the church. “Children are a blessing and a gift from the LORD.” Psalm 127:3. Take that Plato! AnnetteAnnette Osborne is a SUPAkidz worker based in Auckland.


Children

are a blessing

& a gift from

the LORD.

Psalm 127:3

REFLECTION

ABOVE: Annette Osborne, photo taken on her trip to Israel.

“

”

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SUNZ Adv Mag Final.pdf 1 17/12/2012 10:01:33 a.m.

He rama tau kupu ki oku wae / Your word is a Lamp to my feet - Psalms 119:105¯ ¯PO Box 760, Wellington 6140 - 0508 423 836 - [email protected] - www.sunz.org.nz

sunzis a member ofSCRIPTURE UNION INTERNATIONAL FAMILY


sunz adventure magazine january 2013

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