With our annual Convergence Camp just around the corner, I took the opportunity to chat with this year’s speakers: Simon and Jenny Gill.
Since moving from the UK to Aotearoa in 2012, their whānau has been part of The Street Church in Wellington – first with Simon serving as teaching pastor, then pioneering the church’s first multi-location site in Wellington’s eastern suburbs. In 2021, they stepped into the role of senior pastors.
Simon and Jenny lead with the clear conviction that church should be lived beyond its walls: “Imagine if our church being present in an area actually made a difference to the way the people speak in that area, the way the people treat each other, the way it feels to be in those suburbs.”
Simon’s biggest prayer for a number of years now has been that he would see a significant move of God within his lifetime. Jenny has a deep desire to see women being able to thrive in church leadership. They want to see a church where stories of God changing lives are the norm, and people of all backgrounds and walks of life come together, united by Jesus.
Here’s how our conversation went.
Simon: My favourite food is probably Texas barbecue. A few years ago I bought a smoker and love to cook brisket.
Jenny: I love to be by the ocean. Back in the UK we lived a long way from the beach and so it's a joy to be able to go for walks along the beach or find a spot overlooking the ocean. Sometimes I even go and practice preaching my sermons to the ocean before the sun comes up!
S & J: Following Jesus requires us to choose to walk in his footsteps every single day. It involves us leaning into everything that he has for us and that inevitably is MORE than we know and experience right now. Our desire for this camp is that every one of us would walk away with a deep desire in our hearts for more. More love for the Lord, more desire to follow him, more courage to step out into the unknown, more faith to take him at his word, and more equipped to live as salt and light in this world.
S & J: We heard a pastor speaking recently about how our "want" is more powerful than our "will" and our "won't". You can decide you "will" or "won't" do something, but invariably your "wants" will overpower those things. We would love you to come to the sessions WANTING more. If you come wanting more of God we know he will honour that desire.
S & J: We would love people to go away inspired, encouraged, refreshed, full of faith, and with a renewed determination to give God everything. More than that though, we hope you will go away knowing the steps you will take as a result. We long for our lives to look different as a result of this camp – where as we make changes we will notice a growing capacity for more in our lives.
S & J: We have been to Kaiteriteri before, yes. We've actually holidayed in the Abel Tasman three times as a family and have spent some lovely days on the beach at Little Kaiteriteri. We're really excited to come and spend some time in this beautiful part of the world, and hopefully escape the wind of Wellington! We're also excited to meet you all – to hear your stories, pray with you, and hopefully have some fun together!
Convergence Camp runs on 13-15 February – sign up here. Online registrations close on 10 February, but you’re still welcome to turn up on the day.
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series below.
More articles in the
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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.
With our annual Convergence Camp just around the corner, I took the opportunity to chat with this year’s speakers: Simon and Jenny Gill.
Since moving from the UK to Aotearoa in 2012, their whānau has been part of The Street Church in Wellington – first with Simon serving as teaching pastor, then pioneering the church’s first multi-location site in Wellington’s eastern suburbs. In 2021, they stepped into the role of senior pastors.
Simon and Jenny lead with the clear conviction that church should be lived beyond its walls: “Imagine if our church being present in an area actually made a difference to the way the people speak in that area, the way the people treat each other, the way it feels to be in those suburbs.”
Simon’s biggest prayer for a number of years now has been that he would see a significant move of God within his lifetime. Jenny has a deep desire to see women being able to thrive in church leadership. They want to see a church where stories of God changing lives are the norm, and people of all backgrounds and walks of life come together, united by Jesus.
Here’s how our conversation went.
Simon: My favourite food is probably Texas barbecue. A few years ago I bought a smoker and love to cook brisket.
Jenny: I love to be by the ocean. Back in the UK we lived a long way from the beach and so it's a joy to be able to go for walks along the beach or find a spot overlooking the ocean. Sometimes I even go and practice preaching my sermons to the ocean before the sun comes up!
S & J: Following Jesus requires us to choose to walk in his footsteps every single day. It involves us leaning into everything that he has for us and that inevitably is MORE than we know and experience right now. Our desire for this camp is that every one of us would walk away with a deep desire in our hearts for more. More love for the Lord, more desire to follow him, more courage to step out into the unknown, more faith to take him at his word, and more equipped to live as salt and light in this world.
S & J: We heard a pastor speaking recently about how our "want" is more powerful than our "will" and our "won't". You can decide you "will" or "won't" do something, but invariably your "wants" will overpower those things. We would love you to come to the sessions WANTING more. If you come wanting more of God we know he will honour that desire.
S & J: We would love people to go away inspired, encouraged, refreshed, full of faith, and with a renewed determination to give God everything. More than that though, we hope you will go away knowing the steps you will take as a result. We long for our lives to look different as a result of this camp – where as we make changes we will notice a growing capacity for more in our lives.
S & J: We have been to Kaiteriteri before, yes. We've actually holidayed in the Abel Tasman three times as a family and have spent some lovely days on the beach at Little Kaiteriteri. We're really excited to come and spend some time in this beautiful part of the world, and hopefully escape the wind of Wellington! We're also excited to meet you all – to hear your stories, pray with you, and hopefully have some fun together!
Convergence Camp runs on 13-15 February – sign up here. Online registrations close on 10 February, but you’re still welcome to turn up on the day.
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
