Weaving Lives Together: A New Zealand Update
Brother Nathan and Sister Regina Tittley just returned from a three-week visit to the Heritage New Zealand church.
When they last visited in 2023, the region had just been devastated by Cyclone Gabrielle, leaving the community land—Mohaka River Farm—badly damaged, as well as devastating the surrounding region's infrastructure and further depleting their economy. Today the community property is flourishing, due to much hard work from the New Zealand brothers and sisters as well as others who came from Texas, Idaho, and other communities to help. Several families are building homes on the property.
The Wisconsin and New Zealand communities have grown closer since Isaiah Herbert and Annaliese Wayman’s wedding and David Holifield and Talia Rimmer’s engagement. Brother Zach came to minister alongside the Tittleys, and a group of young people from the Wisconsin community came to help on various projects. Brother John and Sister Grace French from our Idaho community also came for an extended visit.
The Kiwi young people have been especially encouraged and strengthened through the visits that other communities have made over the past year. They are learning to share in the music ministry and to serve and pray together.
During the Tittleys’ visit, the church held a week-long series of meetings. It was a rich time of teaching, renewed commitment, and growth. Many brothers and sisters shared their determination to continue living in the power and grace that God imparted to them.
Several families and individuals from around the world have been visiting the community, and they attended the meetings as well. A couple from the Netherlands, who grew to love the Kiwi brothers and sisters, hope to connect with the church in the Netherlands when they return home. God is weaving lives together, across the globe.
The Tittleys’ visit culminated in a baptism, where God added five members to the church.
Luke and Lisa Osborne, a local couple who were baptized, are connected with believers in the surrounding area and have many friends taking notice of their decision. Four families attended their baptism—some of them originally from South Africa and Zimbabwe. Brother Craig MacFarlane (currently visiting from our SA community) sat and shared with them afterwards.
Brother Nathan wrote, “The baptism service was powerful, and then we all walked to the river for the baptism. When we returned to the meeting house to greet the candidates and conclude the service, the meeting broke out in spontaneous, exuberant celebration! People were shouting, dancing, weeping, and every single one of our visitors were participating with us. As each family of visitors expressed how much they felt in the service, I recognized that God was at work on a tapestry of hearts and lives that will continue to unfold in the months and years ahead.”
