FAITH LIVES RIGHT IN THE THICK OF IT.

- IN THIS ISSUE -

Faith in the thick of it, Anglican Missions in the field & Lenten Appeal updates

Just over a week ago, Christians around the world celebrated Easter - the heart of the Christian faith and a powerful reminder that from death can come life, and from despair, hope. It’s a story of transformation. It's not a story that avoids pain. It speaks to the tension we live in: joy and grief, loss and renewal, all held together.

In that same week, we marked the passing of Pope Francis, a leader whose ministry was shaped by humility and a deep commitment to those on the margins. Here in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia, ANZAC Day gave us space to remember lives lost in war and to pray for peace in our own time. Moments of grief, celebration, reflection, and progress rarely arrive neatly separated. They overlap. They collide.

And that’s where faith lives - not above the mess of life, but right in the thick of it.

So when there’s good news, we celebrate it - not because life is simple, but because hope still matters.

We’re pleased to share that the first tranche of government funding has come through, and Mark is currently in Honiara working with the Anglican Church of Melanesia and other partners to co-design a significant new project for Ontong Java, the world’s largest inhabited atoll. You can read more about Mark’s visits below. We’re excited to see this project take shape over the coming months.

This year’s Lenten Appeal income is very encouraging. Donations are up on previous years - thank you to everyone who has given so far.

We’re also celebrating a one-off grant from the New Zealand High Commission in Uganda to support the Rwenzori Special Needs Foundation (RSNF), recognising the real difference this work is making.

And finally, thank you to the key stakeholders we approached who responded to our recent survey. The insights we've so far received are thoughtful, grounded, and full of vision. They will help shape a new Strategic Intent to guide our next chapter as an organisation.

That’s worth celebrating too. And if you've been invited to fill the survey and haven't yet, there’s still time - we’d love to hear your voice.

Michael Hartfield

National Director, Anglican Missions

Mark in Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands.

This month, Mark has been on the ground across the Pacific, representing Anglican Missions as we work alongside churches and communities to strengthen resilience and support local leadership.

Mark’s first stop was Vanuatu, where he was able to visit, monitor, and encourage teams working to deliver vital food aid to those affected by the December earthquake. The response was made possible through close partnership with Barnabas Aid (who sourced the food supplies) and the Anglican Church of Melanesia (ACoM), who ensured that food supplies reached communities facing ongoing hardship.

Psychosocial support and refresher training were also delivered to local teams - recognising the importance of holistic care in times of crisis.

This type of partnership is a powerful demonstration of the reach of the church when it crosses denominational lines.

Mark is currently in the Solomon Islands, where he has been helping to shape the next phase of our Ontong Java Resilience Project, supported by the New Zealand Government. With the concept note now complete and the first tranche of funding available, the focus is now turning to action: plans are underway to restore rainwater systems, strengthen small-scale food production, and to build disaster preparedness based on community knowledge and leadership.

Key to this work are leaders like Lawrence Makili and Father Nigel Kalaepa, who both come from Ontong Java and now live in the Lord Howe settlement in Honiara - a community of around 800 people with strong cultural and familial ties to the Atoll.

As a Polynesian minority within the Solomon Islands, the Ontong Java community is often overlooked by national authorities. But their lived experience and deep connection to the land and sea make them an essential source of knowledge and insight for this work. Lawrence put it best:

“We are the real resilience - we have lived it for generations,”

Mark’s journey this month is a real reminder that our work is highly relational. Partnering with the Anglican Communion across the Pacific and supporting each other's vision and knowledge only makes our work stronger.

Community leader Lawrence Makili.

Lenten Appeal updates.

We're very excited to report that our Lenten Appeal giving has crossed $20,000 so far. This is incredibly heartening given that we were running a concurrent emergency appeal for the Myanmar Earthquake. The Myanmar appeal has raised just over $16,000.

Thank you for your incredible generosity. From Gaza to The Solomon Islands to Myanmar, your gift is helping people and places all around the world that are in huge need.

We are still issuing receipts manually, and we thank you for your patience. If you would still like to make a donation or if your parish is still sitting on funds from over Easter, we encourage you make your deposit (and send us an email to let us know!). Just hit the button below for all the instructions.

Lenten Appeal - there's still time to donate!

Temporary Issue with Credit Card Donations

We’re still working with our payment gateway provider to restore our ability to accept credit card donations. Please know that we’re actively working to resolve this as quickly as possible.

In the meantime, if you’d like to contribute, you can still give safely and securely through internet banking — just follow the instructions on our donations page. Thanks for your support!