Family, hospitality, adventure, innovation, and truth – these five deeply held values of our diocese shape our communities of faith, and they were on full display this past weekend at Convergence 2025, our annual diocese-wide church camp.
This past weekend, it looked like friends swimming together, young kids riding their bikes freely around camp for hours, the sound of teenagers laughing, children playing with bubbles, and endless turns down the waterslide. A gospel-shaped life was seen in beautiful moments of worship, prayer, listening, sharing communion, and gathering around meals as one family—an intergenerational, multicultural, dynamic family, where everyone, from the youngest to the oldest, had a place at the table and truly belonged.
A gospel-shaped life makes room for others—the kind of radical hospitality that welcomes, connects, and serves generously. This was evident in so many ways at Convergence—through the wonderful volunteers in the children’s and youth programmes, who gave their time to care for our tamariki and rangatahi; through those who stood behind the BBQ, preparing meals for everyone; and through the many conversations where generosity flowed among old and new friends alike.
A gospel-shaped life is one of adventure, celebration, and dependence on the Holy Spirit. Leaving our homes and daily routines to attend Convergence allows us to pause, enter a new space, and experience the beauty of creation, a spontaneous conversation, or the exhilaration of a mountain bike ride. Convergence is an invitation to hear God afresh, to tune into the promptings of the Holy Spirit, and to carry that sense of adventure and expectation into the year ahead.
A gospel-shaped life is one of innovation. Being a disciple of Jesus means we are always growing, adaptable, and mouldable. At Convergence, we were shaped by Biblical wisdom, with opportunities to hear from speakers, worship together, and learn from each other. Young leaders stepped up in the kids’ programme and worship team, adapting and leading with courage. We are always looking for new ways to connect and share faith—even if that means bringing in an ice cream truck and bonding over real-fruit cones!
A gospel-shaped life is one of worship, rooted in the Bible. Convergence was filled with worship, scripture, and moments of honouring King Jesus. I hope you left inspired by all that you heard and experienced. May we go forward with fresh intention, living gospel-shaped lives, connecting with those in our neighbourhoods and circles, and extending an invitation for others to belong. May they, too, experience the gifts of family, hospitality, adventure, innovation, and truth in Jesus.
A huge thank you to everyone who helped organise and serve, making this weekend such a beautiful time together!
I’m already looking forward to Convergence 2026—stay tuned for details, and start thinking about who you could invite into this incredible whānau!
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
We have invited these writers to share their experiences, ideas and opinions in the hope that these will provoke thought, challenge you to go deeper and inspire you to put your faith into action. These articles should not be taken as the official view of the Nelson Diocese on any particular matter.
Family, hospitality, adventure, innovation, and truth – these five deeply held values of our diocese shape our communities of faith, and they were on full display this past weekend at Convergence 2025, our annual diocese-wide church camp.
This past weekend, it looked like friends swimming together, young kids riding their bikes freely around camp for hours, the sound of teenagers laughing, children playing with bubbles, and endless turns down the waterslide. A gospel-shaped life was seen in beautiful moments of worship, prayer, listening, sharing communion, and gathering around meals as one family—an intergenerational, multicultural, dynamic family, where everyone, from the youngest to the oldest, had a place at the table and truly belonged.
A gospel-shaped life makes room for others—the kind of radical hospitality that welcomes, connects, and serves generously. This was evident in so many ways at Convergence—through the wonderful volunteers in the children’s and youth programmes, who gave their time to care for our tamariki and rangatahi; through those who stood behind the BBQ, preparing meals for everyone; and through the many conversations where generosity flowed among old and new friends alike.
A gospel-shaped life is one of adventure, celebration, and dependence on the Holy Spirit. Leaving our homes and daily routines to attend Convergence allows us to pause, enter a new space, and experience the beauty of creation, a spontaneous conversation, or the exhilaration of a mountain bike ride. Convergence is an invitation to hear God afresh, to tune into the promptings of the Holy Spirit, and to carry that sense of adventure and expectation into the year ahead.
A gospel-shaped life is one of innovation. Being a disciple of Jesus means we are always growing, adaptable, and mouldable. At Convergence, we were shaped by Biblical wisdom, with opportunities to hear from speakers, worship together, and learn from each other. Young leaders stepped up in the kids’ programme and worship team, adapting and leading with courage. We are always looking for new ways to connect and share faith—even if that means bringing in an ice cream truck and bonding over real-fruit cones!
A gospel-shaped life is one of worship, rooted in the Bible. Convergence was filled with worship, scripture, and moments of honouring King Jesus. I hope you left inspired by all that you heard and experienced. May we go forward with fresh intention, living gospel-shaped lives, connecting with those in our neighbourhoods and circles, and extending an invitation for others to belong. May they, too, experience the gifts of family, hospitality, adventure, innovation, and truth in Jesus.
A huge thank you to everyone who helped organise and serve, making this weekend such a beautiful time together!
I’m already looking forward to Convergence 2026—stay tuned for details, and start thinking about who you could invite into this incredible whānau!
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
