The Common Life Mission Conference 2011
July 19-22
This is one conference you shouldn’t miss!! When I was organising a SOMA Council meeting recently I was being shown around Waikanae’s El Rancho conference centre, being ‘inducted’ through policies and rules by a new staff member. There was a moment as I ‘zoned out’ and came to a realisation that over the 37 years I have followed Jesus, I have been to conferences, meetings, worship services that would have close to six months of my life spent in that place! Somehow, over the years, I have become a little cynical of conferences – even though, when on SOMA missions I have been a conference speaker myself.
Why should you not miss this conference?
• The main keynote speaker Ben Kwashi is an orator (except during moves of the Holy Spirit!), a leader of leaders, and an evangelist. He lives in Jos, Nigeria where he has to live his faith in the face of strong Muslim persecution (30,000 Christians have died there in the last ten years). He has had his house burnt down (while he was in it!) and had assassination attempts on his life by radical Muslims. Ben and his wife Gloria and six children have 38 orphans living in their home. He isn’t a flashy conference speaker who flies in his own jet but someone who has to live day by day under the threat of persecution. So far his diocese has grown from six to 400 parishes.
• There is a gathering of Maori, Pacific and pakeha delegates, as well as speakers from around the world. SOMA is supplying 16 workshop speakers. SOMA has 17 teams from USA, UK, Ireland, Sabah, Nigeria, South African, Australia, South America, Egypt, Canada and Singapore. It will be a rich multi-cultural experience.
• The variety of worships is amazing – your biggest decision will be deciding what not to go to!
• SOMA has its own stream and will be meeting in the mornings for Bible study with Bishop Rennis Ponniah from Singapore, good worship and teaching. I believe we have more to learn from leaders from the developing world who are succeeding where the western church is moving into crisis and has few success stories. We need to learn afresh from them the gospel message that transforms lives.
• We need to spend time with the different streams that make up the church. As well as the SOMA stream, there is the St George’s Jerusalem stream, the Faith2Go stream (sponsored by CMS) etc. The rich tapestry that makes up the church is bigger than SOMA’s vision.
• Worship is being co-ordinated by our SOMA NZ Chair, Bishop Richard Ellena, and the Youth Lounge by one of our SOMA Youth Team co-ordinators Rev Glen Paddison of New Wine Matamata fame!
Things you need to know
If you are coming to the SOMA stream part of the common life conference you need to register both with SOMA on their website www.soma.org.nz and the Anglican Missions Board website www.angmissions.org.nz. The SOMA stream will have overseas delegates only as Redwood auditorium at El Rancho holds 250 people. First in, first served.
We have a SOMA stream email address somatonz@gmail.com that our co-ordinator Rebecca Corin will co-ordinate. (pictured with baby Bella)
