On Sunday, 29th June 2025, St Christopher’s Anglican Church gathered as one united congregation for a special Missions Sunday Service. As it was both a fifth Sunday and a designated Missions focus, the usual 9am and 10.30am services were combined into a single joint service at 10.30am – bringing together worshippers from across our church family for a meaningful time of praise, prayer, and purpose.
The central focus of the day was our partnership with Barnabas Aid and their special appeal to “provide one million pigs and one million chickens” to Christian farmers living in contexts of marginalisation and poverty. This visionary project seeks to empower Christian communities across the globe by helping them become self-sustaining through livestock farming.
We were delighted to welcome Rev Richard Drury, Barnabas Aid’s South Island Coordinator, as our guest preacher. Richard preached from Galatians 1:1–10, reflecting on the timely and challenging theme: “The Importance of Asserting and Defending the Gospel.” He reminded us that the gospel – literally, good news – is the message of hope, salvation, and reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ. In a world longing for truth and healing, Christians are called to declare and defend this gospel with courage and compassion.
Richard acknowledged that many believers find it difficult to speak openly about their faith, often choosing silence to avoid conflict or discomfort. Yet from Galatians, we are encouraged not to shy away from proclaiming the good news of Jesus. “It is a good thing,” he said, “a loving thing—even when it’s not easy, and even when it invites opposition.” His message was both stirring and deeply relevant to our ongoing mission as the church.
Our intercessory prayers lifted up not only the work of Barnabas Aid but also the other mission partners we support at St Christopher’s, including the Anglican Missions Board and Matthew and Anika Gwynne, serving in sports chaplaincy in France.
Following the service, a Fundraising Luncheon was held in support of Barnabas Aid’s livestock project. Over a shared meal, Richard spoke about the initiative and the real-life impact it will have in vulnerable communities. The response from our church was overwhelming: more than $4,500 was raised – a testament to the generosity and missional heart of our church family.
We give thanks to God for the unity of worship, the richness of the Word, the spirit of generosity, and the shared commitment to global mission. May we continue to be a church that not only gathers but also goes – declaring and demonstrating the love of Christ near and far.
Submitted by Church Staff
