Over the weekend, Ripple Effect workshops in Greymouth and Westport brought together people eager to learn how to share their faith in an authentic and natural way. Led by Julie-Anne Laird from City-to-City Australia, these sessions helped demystify evangelism and equip participants with practical tools to have deeper, more meaningful conversations about faith.
For many, the challenge wasn’t just knowing what to say—it was how to approach faith conversations in a way that fits our Kiwi culture.
"I want to learn more about sharing my faith in an authentic way," said Stewart Nimmo (Cobden-Runanga Parish). "When it comes to actually seeking out those opportunities, I find it challenging. Any tools to help with that are valuable."
Emily Holmes (Greymouth-Kumara Parish) highlighted how cultural shifts impact the way we share the gospel:
"Julie-Anne shared how evangelism today looks different from 20 years ago. One big takeaway was understanding the mindset of younger generations—how they seek to increase pleasure and avoid pain—and how that influences faith conversations."
Beyond the practical insights, Matt Watts (Buller Parish) found the focus on confidence-building particularly helpful:
"I appreciated what Julie-Anne shared about taking conversations deeper—moving beyond surface-level chats to explore people’s motivations, desires, and hopes."
The impact of these workshops is already being felt. Several churches are planning Alpha courses, outreach concerts, and other ways to invite people into gospel conversations.
"We’ve had quite a few people sign up for the full Ripple Effect course, which is really encouraging," Matt shared. "This is already sparking ideas for how we engage with our communities."
For those who haven’t yet attended a Ripple Effect workshop, there’s still a chance! This weekend, workshops are happening in Nelson/Waimea and Marlborough—don’t miss this opportunity to gain confidence, tools, and encouragement for sharing your faith.
All Saints, Nelson – Saturday, 8 March | 9 AM – 12 PM
Nativity Church, Blenheim – Sunday, 9 March | 1 PM – 4:30 PM
No registration needed—just turn up on the day!
Come along, be encouraged, and catch Julie-Anne’s enthusiasm for evangelism. As Stewart put it:
"Go for it—it’s gold!"
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.
Over the weekend, Ripple Effect workshops in Greymouth and Westport brought together people eager to learn how to share their faith in an authentic and natural way. Led by Julie-Anne Laird from City-to-City Australia, these sessions helped demystify evangelism and equip participants with practical tools to have deeper, more meaningful conversations about faith.
For many, the challenge wasn’t just knowing what to say—it was how to approach faith conversations in a way that fits our Kiwi culture.
"I want to learn more about sharing my faith in an authentic way," said Stewart Nimmo (Cobden-Runanga Parish). "When it comes to actually seeking out those opportunities, I find it challenging. Any tools to help with that are valuable."
Emily Holmes (Greymouth-Kumara Parish) highlighted how cultural shifts impact the way we share the gospel:
"Julie-Anne shared how evangelism today looks different from 20 years ago. One big takeaway was understanding the mindset of younger generations—how they seek to increase pleasure and avoid pain—and how that influences faith conversations."
Beyond the practical insights, Matt Watts (Buller Parish) found the focus on confidence-building particularly helpful:
"I appreciated what Julie-Anne shared about taking conversations deeper—moving beyond surface-level chats to explore people’s motivations, desires, and hopes."
The impact of these workshops is already being felt. Several churches are planning Alpha courses, outreach concerts, and other ways to invite people into gospel conversations.
"We’ve had quite a few people sign up for the full Ripple Effect course, which is really encouraging," Matt shared. "This is already sparking ideas for how we engage with our communities."
For those who haven’t yet attended a Ripple Effect workshop, there’s still a chance! This weekend, workshops are happening in Nelson/Waimea and Marlborough—don’t miss this opportunity to gain confidence, tools, and encouragement for sharing your faith.
All Saints, Nelson – Saturday, 8 March | 9 AM – 12 PM
Nativity Church, Blenheim – Sunday, 9 March | 1 PM – 4:30 PM
No registration needed—just turn up on the day!
Come along, be encouraged, and catch Julie-Anne’s enthusiasm for evangelism. As Stewart put it:
"Go for it—it’s gold!"
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
