Prayer Requests
New Zealand
A Whanau Belonging
Meet Shekynah!
God is moving in New Zealand! The Indigenous name of our nation is Aotearoa (Ah-oo-te-ah-row-ah) meaning land of the long white cloud. Many times in the bible do we see that a cloud is referenced to the Presence of God. In many ways have we seen the Lord make Himself known in our country through moves of the Holy Spirit. We have a population of about 5 million and are a small nation tucked in a little corner of the Earth.
As a missions organization we have been sending teams into this nation for the past 2 years and it’s been clear that the harvest is ripe! In our time we have seen kiwis (People from New Zealand) listen and respond to the gospel. They are deeply relational so our teams have be able to connect with them.
When Jesus ascended in Acts 1:8 He said these words: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” From where Jesus ascended we conclude that geographically New Zealand is the “ends of the earth”. Then in Isaiah 24:14-16 it talks about the sound of praise coming from the ends of the earth.
The percentage of Christians in the nation has gone from 36% in 2018 to now 32%. That is a 4% decrease in the last few years. Many would consider New Zealand more of an agnostic nation. Our political climate leans more into a liberal stance. Although we have sent many mission teams to New Zealand and they come back saying the same thing “New Zealand is a ripe harvest!”.
We also pray that our beautiful people of the land/indigenous will know Him. Our Indigenous here in New Zealand are the Maori people. They have such a deep connection with God in a spiritual sense. God has always been known to them as Io or Atua (post missionary arrival). They are key to seeing revival in New Zealand or as known to them Aotearoa.
New Zealand has high statistics in the areas of mental health. New Zealand have high rates of depression and suicide. When we sent an outreach team to a city in the lower North Island of NZ they experienced how badly suicide had devastes a community. They lost 3 teenage girls to suicide in the space of a week. It made clear to the team the reality of the state of mental health. A few years ago we had the highest suicide and depressions rates in the world among young people. There is a strong wrestle for young people over the mind. Especially among our Maori people.
It says in 2 Corinthians 10:5 “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” Please pray that even in the battle over our minds that the Lord will be victorious.
One of the main things that we deeply treasure in this nation is Whanau (Family). A sense of belonging and protection. However, in our beautiful nation the enemy comes to distort that most precious thing to us. We have very high rates of domestic violence in New Zealand. The family space is no longer safe for people.
“But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” – Joshua 24:15 (NIV)
Meet Sofie
A missionary sent to new zealand
Two years ago, God marked me with the importance of reaching the Nations, recognizing that not everyone has the chance to hear the Gospel. In response to this calling, I committed to full-time missions work.
My mission involves not only spreading the gospel but also equipping others with the skills and confidence to become effective ambassadors for Christ. I have been working alongside local churches and ministries, helping with training sessions focused on discipleship, evangelism, and leadership development.
My vision is to inspire women to embrace their true identity as daughters of the King of Kings, ignite believers to fulfill their unique callings, and witness the eradication of human trafficking and red-light districts worldwide within my lifetime. I am dedicated to empowering individuals, advocating tirelessly, and taking decisive action to create a world where every person lives with dignity, purpose, and freedom.
Learn more about her here!
Read about Sofie’s time in New Zealand
New Zealand: The All-In Tour
During my time in New Zealand, I had the incredible opportunity to travel to New Zealand with a team of ten as part of a national outreach called the “All-In Tour.” We partnered with local Kiwis, as well as teams from South Africa, Los Angeles, and Australia, working together to see the nation encounter Jesus. It was such an honor to stand alongside believers in New Zealand and support what God was already doing in their land!
Throughout the tour, we traveled from city to city, hosting Gospel Nights—powerful gatherings where we shared testimonies, worshiped, and preached the message of Jesus. The next day, we would go out into the streets with people who had attended the event the night before, engaging in evangelism and inviting others into the hope and freedom found in Christ. The miracles we witnessed were beyond what I could have imagined—people were healed, delivered, and set free from deep bondage. Many surrendered their lives to Jesus, and we saw incredible breakthroughs, including people experiencing freedom from depression and suicidal thoughts.
One of the most powerful testimonies from this tour happened just a few weeks in. Before arriving, we had prayed specifically for the youth suicide crisis in New Zealand, knowing the nation had one of the highest rates in the world. One night, we were hosting a Gospel Night at a church, and one of our speakers shared her testimony of how God had set her free from suicide. As she spoke, a young girl in the audience felt so deeply connected to her story that she became overwhelmed and left the building. At the time, none of us knew that she had actually planned to go home that night and end her life.
But God always wins.
One of the women on our team felt a nudge from the Lord to follow her outside. She stepped out in faith and found the girl, who then opened up and confessed her struggle with suicidal thoughts. That night, my teammate led her through forgiveness, speaking life and identity over her, reminding her of how deeply loved she is by God. By the end of their conversation, this young girl surrendered her life to Jesus, repented, and was completely set free from the spirit of suicide. That moment will forever mark me—because this is the heart of God. He leaves the ninety-nine for the one.
Everywhere we went, we saw this same grace from the Lord—the grace to pursue the one who needed Him most. God used my own testimony of overcoming depression, anxiety, and self-hatred to minister to young girls who were struggling in similar ways. Time and time again, I saw the Lord take what the enemy meant for harm and turn it into something beautiful, using my story to bring light into someone else’s darkness.
New Zealand: ‘The Send’
I returned to New Zealand and once again witnessed God move in powerful ways. This time, we had the privilege of being hosted by a dear friend who welcomed us into their home, allowing us to serve the local community in a deeper way.
One of the highlights of this trip was serving at ‘The Send’—a massive gathering where thousands of believers came together with a heart to see the Great Commission fulfilled. It was a time of reconnecting with past students and friends from the last two years, celebrating all that God had done, and praying into what He is continuing to do in New Zealand.
At The Send, over 1,000 Kiwis committed to pursuing missions!** It was overwhelming to witness this historic moment—to see young people boldly step forward, laying down their fears and saying “yes” to God’s call. This event wasn’t just about inspiring people to go; it was about personal revival—a deep, tangible move of the Holy Spirit, awakening hearts with a passion for Jesus and the lost.
Leaving New Zealand, my heart was filled with hope for the islands and a burden to pray for every person who made a commitment that day. The harvest is ripe, and I know that this is only the beginning of what God is going to do in this nation.
Explore New Zealand
