Early influences date from the 1940s when a series of meetings conducted by overseas 'Bethel Temple' missionaries resulted in the planting of congregations in New Zealand and Australia. Some of its early leaders, including Morrow, attended a Bible college in Sydney in 1951. Further evangelistic campaigns and training occurred after 1957 and throughout the 1960s.
In 1960, meetings began in Timaru that led to the establishment of Timaru New Life Centre. Also many evangelistic campaigns took place throughout New Zealand. The first missionaries were sent overseas in this period. Peter Morrow began work in Christchurch in 1962 as the pastor of the church there, which was then known as the Christchurch Revival Fellowship. By 1964, thirteen "indigenous" churches had been established in the South Island. A number of congregations were planted in the North Island over the same period. Bible schools were established in Tauranga, Auckland and Christchurch.
In 1975, Auckland pastor Shaun Kearney (an associate of the then ICNZ) was influential in setting up the Associated Pentecostal Churches of New Zealand, a pan-Pentecostal fellowship of church groups. In 1978 the Christchurch Revival Fellowship renamed itself the New Life Centre Christchurch, later becoming City New Life Church and now known as Majestic Church. This church functioned as the administrative offices of the New Life Centres of New Zealand for many years in the late 1980s and 1990s, but is now an independent fellowship having left the New Life Churches movement.
In 1987, twenty associate pastors of ICNZ left the renamed New Life Churches group, in reluctance to embrace the new governmental structure chosen at the 1987 ICNZ conference. These pastors eventually formed a new association named South Pacific Fellowship, and endeavoured to maintain the less structured fellowship they had known prior to 1987.
The name 'New Life Churches' was adopted during the 1988 ICNZ Conference and a structure of national governance, including elected apostles and regional leaders, was agreed upon. The first apostles chosen by the 1987 conference were Rob Wheeler, a New Zealand Evangelist and Peter Morrow, an Australian evangelist. Both these men had been leading figures in the former ICNZ, and pioneers in spreading the Latter Rain Revival in New Zealand.
The New Life Churches are now an international movement with affiliates in Australia, Asia and the Pacific. In keeping with Pentecostal Congregationalist philosophy, individual churches in the NLCNZ are autonomous and not governed by the central organisation.
Bibliographyedit
Brett Knowles: New Life: The New Life Churches of New Zealand: 1942-1979, 3rd edition: Lexington, Kentucky: Emeth Press: 2015:ISBN978-1-60947-093-7
For New Zealand Pentecostalism as a whole: Brett Knowles: Transforming Pentecostalism: The Changing Face of New Zealand Pentecostalism, 1920-2010: Lexington, Kentucky: Emeth Press: 2014:ISBN978-1-60947-076-0
David Collins: The Latter Rain Revival - The New Zealand Story. 2021 Little King Books. ISBN 978-0-473-57338-6
life, churches, zealand, life, churches, redirects, here, american, presbyterian, movement, sonship, theology, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introd. New Life Churches redirects here For the American Presbyterian movement see Sonship theology This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations June 2010 Learn how and when to remove this message New Life Churches formerly known as New Life Churches International 1 is a Pentecostal Christian church movement in New Zealand New Life ChurchesNew Life Churches InternationalCountryNew ZealandDenominationPentecostalWebsitewww wbr newlifechurches wbr nzHistoryFounded1978ClergySenior pastor s Adam and Anita White National Leaders LaityMusic group s New Life Music Contents 1 History 2 Bibliography 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory editEarly influences date from the 1940s when a series of meetings conducted by overseas Bethel Temple missionaries resulted in the planting of congregations in New Zealand and Australia Some of its early leaders including Morrow attended a Bible college in Sydney in 1951 Further evangelistic campaigns and training occurred after 1957 and throughout the 1960s In 1960 meetings began in Timaru that led to the establishment of Timaru New Life Centre Also many evangelistic campaigns took place throughout New Zealand The first missionaries were sent overseas in this period Peter Morrow began work in Christchurch in 1962 as the pastor of the church there which was then known as the Christchurch Revival Fellowship By 1964 thirteen indigenous churches had been established in the South Island A number of congregations were planted in the North Island over the same period Bible schools were established in Tauranga Auckland and Christchurch In 1975 Auckland pastor Shaun Kearney an associate of the then ICNZ was influential in setting up the Associated Pentecostal Churches of New Zealand a pan Pentecostal fellowship of church groups In 1978 the Christchurch Revival Fellowship renamed itself the New Life Centre Christchurch later becoming City New Life Church and now known as Majestic Church This church functioned as the administrative offices of the New Life Centres of New Zealand for many years in the late 1980s and 1990s but is now an independent fellowship having left the New Life Churches movement In 1987 twenty associate pastors of ICNZ left the renamed New Life Churches group in reluctance to embrace the new governmental structure chosen at the 1987 ICNZ conference These pastors eventually formed a new association named South Pacific Fellowship and endeavoured to maintain the less structured fellowship they had known prior to 1987 The name New Life Churches was adopted during the 1988 ICNZ Conference and a structure of national governance including elected apostles and regional leaders was agreed upon The first apostles chosen by the 1987 conference were Rob Wheeler a New Zealand Evangelist and Peter Morrow an Australian evangelist Both these men had been leading figures in the former ICNZ and pioneers in spreading the Latter Rain Revival in New Zealand Many member churches became involved heavily in social conservative political activism against the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women in 1984 the establishment of Lyndhurst Hospital a free standing abortion clinic in Christchurch and passage of the Homosexual Law Reform Act in 1986 They had also earlier been involved in the establishment of the Coalition of Concerned Citizens in 1974 and the Save Our Homes Campaign in 1977 The New Life Churches are now an international movement with affiliates in Australia Asia and the Pacific In keeping with Pentecostal Congregationalist philosophy individual churches in the NLCNZ are autonomous and not governed by the central organisation Bibliography editBrett Knowles New Life The New Life Churches of New Zealand 1942 1979 3rd edition Lexington Kentucky Emeth Press 2015 ISBN 978 1 60947 093 7 For New Zealand Pentecostalism as a whole Brett Knowles Transforming Pentecostalism The Changing Face of New Zealand Pentecostalism 1920 2010 Lexington Kentucky Emeth Press 2014 ISBN 978 1 60947 076 0 David Collins The Latter Rain Revival The New Zealand Story 2021 Little King Books ISBN 978 0 473 57338 6See also editChristian politics in New ZealandReferences edit Our Leaders External links editNew Life Churches official website New Life Fellowship Association official website The Latter Rain Revival The New Zealand Story https amzn asia d hZb5OVT Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title New Life Churches New Zealand amp oldid 1097524708, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
