New Wine 2010

14 Feb 2010

The theme of this years New Wine was ‘God’s Glory’, and what better way to start the year than living and breathing five days of community, worship, teaching and prayer?

While the sun didn’t shine all of the time, the people on site came together whatever the weather. Sleeping under canvas was a great back to basics option, however there were cabins for those who preferred more solid accommodation. But as I discovered, it’s the messages you hear rather than the lumpy bed that really wakes you up at New Wine.

This year the local speakers were truly outstanding and delivered messages that were truly relevant to our lives. Each day started with a bible study, which then moved into a choice of workshops followed by morning tea. The mornings was rounded off this year with a main midday session featuring Steve Graham’s inspirational messages. Each session he focused on one of the characteristics of God’s Glory – freedom, grace, boldness, and power.

International big gun David Parker, from Desert Vineyard Church in Southern Californian, preached in the evening sessions and focused on Leaning into the Spirit of God. This is a Pastor who genuinely wants to see people living life at its fullest, and it’s easy to see why his leadership has grown a church originally of 500 to 5000.

While I have come away with pages of notes, it’s the experience in this intergenerational family environment - grandmothers, fathers, mothers, children and other young Christians - that will stay with me. New Wine is as much about the worship, the prayer tent, the young adult’s ‘living room’, and even the casual kitchen conversions, as it was about the stirring messages.

Bishop Victoria paid a brief visit too, experiencing a bible study lead by Mike Hawke and Steve Graham’s fantastic talk on boldness. “I found it exciting, encouraging, and a refreshing invitation to boldness in the mission of Christ in a way that I have not heard for a long, long time. Well done New Wine. Next year we need a lot more Anglican’s here!”

For more information go to www.newwine.org.nz

WORDS: Sammy Lynn