Churches across Aotearoa are seeking ways to build meaningful relationships with their local communities, particularly with migrant and multicultural groups. As part of the upcoming Forum for Intercultural Networking and Dialogue (FIND), Brad sat down with Alice Kinyua, Intercultural Ministry Enabler for NZCMS, to discuss the importance of intercultural engagement, the challenges churches face, and the opportunities that exist to reach their neighbours.
Three reasons come to mind.
First, it is our mandate. God has called us to make disciples of all nations. Both the dominant local and migrant local communities are part of the mission field that God has called us to. By building relationships with the multicultural community, we create a church that reflects the diverse but united body of Christ.
Second, we need each other. Each cultural community brings an understanding of God that we cannot see with our own limited cultural lenses. The expressions of worship and reflections of experiences that people have had from overseas are gifts to the New Zealand church that can magnify our understanding of who God is.
Finally, it has been well documented that churches that are growing in the western world, including New Zealand, are growing because of the migrant population. Many people from other parts of the world arrive as Christians seeking a place to belong. Building relationships offers them a place to call home. At the same time, it is also true that migrants, especially from the Pacific Islands, Africa, Asia, and South and Central America, tend to be more open to spiritual conversations than the average Kiwi. This makes these communities a ready harvest field.
Many people feel ill-equipped to have deep conversations, particularly across cultural lines. Part of this stems from Kiwi culture, where we love people but from a safe distance. We tend not to get into people’s spaces or initiate conversations that might be seen as intrusive. If someone is from another culture, we often default to simply smiling and nodding rather than making an effort to build relationships.
Another significant barrier is busyness. Many churches are so focused on running programmes that they struggle to make time for meaningful engagement with their communities. We know that programmes alone don’t work as effectively as they used to, yet many churches continue to rely on them instead of prioritising relationship-building and organic outreach.
Rather than using the word "successfully," I prefer to highlight churches that are faithfully engaging their local community. In Nelson, I can think of several Anglican and non-Anglican churches that are making a real difference.
One church recognised the growing Chinese population in their neighbourhood and responded by developing a relationship-based ministry that is steadily growing. Another church has embraced shared meals and roundtable discussions as a way of fostering deeper connections. A different church has adapted its children's and parents' programmes to meet the needs of the community, creating an environment where gospel conversations can take place naturally.
I am also encouraged by a church that has built a vibrant and dynamic relationship with the Chin community. Rather than simply sharing a building, they have cultivated a mutual ministry partnership that is making a profound impact. Another non-Anglican church has opened its doors to international students from NMIT, providing a welcoming space where people from all walks of life can build relationships and explore faith in a safe environment.
We minister with what we have, where we are, and in the unique ways that we can. No church should feel pressured to fit a particular mould.
If every believer saw themselves as active participants in God’s mission, they would be praying for, building relationships with, and witnessing to someone in their community. This doesn’t require extra resources—just a heart for people and a willingness to engage.
A stubborn focus on the gospel is also crucial for creating not just big, but lasting impact. Whether large or small, churches must never lose sight of their primary purpose: to share the good news of Jesus Christ.
FIND provides a space where people who are passionate about local mission—particularly to migrant communities—can connect, share, and learn from one another. There are no experts in the room, just people doing the work and willing to be open about their experiences—the good, the bad, and the challenges.
This forum is also an important networking opportunity. Churches with ideas but no clear plan can connect with others who have already taken steps forward. I remember meeting a minister who had launched community outreach events but was frustrated that they weren’t translating into gospel conversations. At one of our forums, he met another minister from the same region who had been running similar events for nearly 20 years. This second minister had faced the same challenge but had learned over time how to turn outreach into intentional disciple-making. That connection was transformational.
FIND is also a place where we share practical tools, ministry ideas, and resources to help churches be more effective in cross-cultural engagement.
Most importantly, we take time to celebrate what God is doing in the Church in Aotearoa. We often don’t hear about church growth, baptisms, and faith stories in mainstream reporting, yet it is happening. Seeing God at work is one of the most encouraging things for anyone in ministry.
The next FIND forum is an opportunity for anyone interested in reaching their local communities—particularly migrant and multicultural groups. This online event will address the big question: How do we start ministries among the migrants in our neighbourhood?
FIND is a free online forum where participants will hear real-life stories, share ministry experiences, and pray together.
Date: Saturday, 15 March 2025
Time: 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM
Location: Online
To register, click the link: https://sway.cloud.microsoft/zZ0V7Ws3bEOKN70r?ref=email
For more information, contact Alice: alice@nzcms.org.nz
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.
Churches across Aotearoa are seeking ways to build meaningful relationships with their local communities, particularly with migrant and multicultural groups. As part of the upcoming Forum for Intercultural Networking and Dialogue (FIND), Brad sat down with Alice Kinyua, Intercultural Ministry Enabler for NZCMS, to discuss the importance of intercultural engagement, the challenges churches face, and the opportunities that exist to reach their neighbours.
Three reasons come to mind.
First, it is our mandate. God has called us to make disciples of all nations. Both the dominant local and migrant local communities are part of the mission field that God has called us to. By building relationships with the multicultural community, we create a church that reflects the diverse but united body of Christ.
Second, we need each other. Each cultural community brings an understanding of God that we cannot see with our own limited cultural lenses. The expressions of worship and reflections of experiences that people have had from overseas are gifts to the New Zealand church that can magnify our understanding of who God is.
Finally, it has been well documented that churches that are growing in the western world, including New Zealand, are growing because of the migrant population. Many people from other parts of the world arrive as Christians seeking a place to belong. Building relationships offers them a place to call home. At the same time, it is also true that migrants, especially from the Pacific Islands, Africa, Asia, and South and Central America, tend to be more open to spiritual conversations than the average Kiwi. This makes these communities a ready harvest field.
Many people feel ill-equipped to have deep conversations, particularly across cultural lines. Part of this stems from Kiwi culture, where we love people but from a safe distance. We tend not to get into people’s spaces or initiate conversations that might be seen as intrusive. If someone is from another culture, we often default to simply smiling and nodding rather than making an effort to build relationships.
Another significant barrier is busyness. Many churches are so focused on running programmes that they struggle to make time for meaningful engagement with their communities. We know that programmes alone don’t work as effectively as they used to, yet many churches continue to rely on them instead of prioritising relationship-building and organic outreach.
Rather than using the word "successfully," I prefer to highlight churches that are faithfully engaging their local community. In Nelson, I can think of several Anglican and non-Anglican churches that are making a real difference.
One church recognised the growing Chinese population in their neighbourhood and responded by developing a relationship-based ministry that is steadily growing. Another church has embraced shared meals and roundtable discussions as a way of fostering deeper connections. A different church has adapted its children's and parents' programmes to meet the needs of the community, creating an environment where gospel conversations can take place naturally.
I am also encouraged by a church that has built a vibrant and dynamic relationship with the Chin community. Rather than simply sharing a building, they have cultivated a mutual ministry partnership that is making a profound impact. Another non-Anglican church has opened its doors to international students from NMIT, providing a welcoming space where people from all walks of life can build relationships and explore faith in a safe environment.
We minister with what we have, where we are, and in the unique ways that we can. No church should feel pressured to fit a particular mould.
If every believer saw themselves as active participants in God’s mission, they would be praying for, building relationships with, and witnessing to someone in their community. This doesn’t require extra resources—just a heart for people and a willingness to engage.
A stubborn focus on the gospel is also crucial for creating not just big, but lasting impact. Whether large or small, churches must never lose sight of their primary purpose: to share the good news of Jesus Christ.
FIND provides a space where people who are passionate about local mission—particularly to migrant communities—can connect, share, and learn from one another. There are no experts in the room, just people doing the work and willing to be open about their experiences—the good, the bad, and the challenges.
This forum is also an important networking opportunity. Churches with ideas but no clear plan can connect with others who have already taken steps forward. I remember meeting a minister who had launched community outreach events but was frustrated that they weren’t translating into gospel conversations. At one of our forums, he met another minister from the same region who had been running similar events for nearly 20 years. This second minister had faced the same challenge but had learned over time how to turn outreach into intentional disciple-making. That connection was transformational.
FIND is also a place where we share practical tools, ministry ideas, and resources to help churches be more effective in cross-cultural engagement.
Most importantly, we take time to celebrate what God is doing in the Church in Aotearoa. We often don’t hear about church growth, baptisms, and faith stories in mainstream reporting, yet it is happening. Seeing God at work is one of the most encouraging things for anyone in ministry.
The next FIND forum is an opportunity for anyone interested in reaching their local communities—particularly migrant and multicultural groups. This online event will address the big question: How do we start ministries among the migrants in our neighbourhood?
FIND is a free online forum where participants will hear real-life stories, share ministry experiences, and pray together.
Date: Saturday, 15 March 2025
Time: 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM
Location: Online
To register, click the link: https://sway.cloud.microsoft/zZ0V7Ws3bEOKN70r?ref=email
For more information, contact Alice: alice@nzcms.org.nz
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
