Two hundred years of the Gospel in New Zealand will be commemorated in 2014. Marsden Cross Trust chairman Richard Randerson convened a meeting mid-2009 to bring together some of the groups who have an interest in this significant event. The main focus of the planning group will be the organisation of events on and around 25 December 2014, which marks the 200th anniversary of the Gospel being preached in New Zealand by the Reverend Samuel Marsden on 25 December 1814.

New Zealand Christian Network, visionnetwork, has been asked by various groups, including NZ Church Missionary Society and Tertiary Student's Christian Fellowship to help co-ordinate activities for 2014.

NZ Christian Network has scheduled a meeting for July of 15-20 people (mainly those who have already expressed an interest) to pray and assemble papers to provide an historical context. A larger meeting in September will be arranged at that time also, to include interested groups to look at some of the ideas people are already planning.

Hope 2014

In 2008, churches across the United Kingdom combined in a successful year-long Hope 08 programme to communicate to its communities, media, and politicians some of the ways in which God and the Church bring hope. The idea was also circulated around New Zealand Church leaders and received a generally positive response, but it did not progress because of a lack of resources. The Marsden Bi-centenary may be the perfect time to run this project, and NZ Christian Network will be submitting it into the planning discussions.

0 Comments