Ministering From Weakness

Ministering from Weakness was the theme of this year’s Ministry Leaders’ Family Camp held on 10-12 March at El Rancho in Waikanae. Throughout the weekend we were stimulated, challenged and humbled by some powerful testimonies of God’s goodness in the midst of immense suffering.

Rev. Scottie Reeve on Friday night and Rev. Anashuya Fletcher on Saturday night both shared vulnerably with stories of how God had used them in the midst of their brokenness rather than once the dark times had lifted.

Equally Wendy Scott in her Saturday workshop on the same topic of ministering from weakness shared her experience of being struck down by illness while caring for dependent foster children in the same year as the first covid lockdowns. She offered her reflections on what she learnt from her experience as well as many practical actions that helped her re-establish her faith and return to ministry.

At another workshop in the chapel Gendy Thomson offered some stories of transformation from her own experience of discipling others, both informally and through the 3DM models. Once again the camp theme was central as we learnt that the more vulnerable we can be, and more imperfect we are, the easier it is for us to disciple others.

There were a wide variety of other workshops on offer with everything from learning to juggle with Bishop Justin to church planting and ministering prophetically. The biggest challenge for those of us attending (and not wanting to miss out) was in deciding which workshop to choose.

As well as plenty of teaching for the adults, there was a comprehensive programme on offer for the pre-schoolers, school-aged children and youth among us, where bouncy castles, an inflatable football field, and El Rancho favourites including the waterslide and horses all featured. On Sunday morning we were treated to a sung performance and enthusiastic feedback on the activities on Sunday by the young people and some passionate leaders.

The main sessions also featured inspiring worship led by Karel van Helden and a combined team from St Thomas’ Church in Newtown and the Anglican Chaplaincy at Victoria University. This music complemented the theme of the conference and the positive messages of the songs lingered long after the sessions had finished. The entire event was MCed by Rev. Mel McKenzie weaving connections between each of the different speakers and distilling key information on different aspects of camp for us participants.

There were plenty of opportunities for connection at the pool party, over mocktails or tea in the Founders Lounge or at the Saturday night bonfire as well as many morning and afternoon tea breaks. Others took the opportunity to receive and offer prayer appointments and join the overnight vigil in the chapel. It was a time of new connections and reconnections, and the buzz in the Kauri Hall from before the first session began on Friday indicated just how much people were enjoying the opportunity to be together. No doubt the value of the many conversations will endure for a much longer time to come.

Thanks to everyone for making such an enjoyable and thought-provoking camp happen and all within six months of organising the last one (in order to return it to an annual March event in the calendar). Behind the scenes one name kept coming up more than any other, and that was Anglican Movement Events Manager Daile Long. So a huge thanks to her and the massive crew that were involved in making it all happen. We’ll look forward to seeing you back at MLFC 2024.

By Fiona Roberton

Over the next couple of weeks, we will be uploading some of the recorded sessions from camp, in the meantime, check our the photos and lost property list.