YOUR MONTHLY MEMBER'S REPORT DECEMBER 2024
New Zealand
Christianity has been integral to New Zealand’s history since missionaries arrived in the early 19th century. For decades, it shaped the spiritual identity of many. However, recent years have seen a shift toward secularism, with growing numbers identifying as having no religion.
Massey University Professor Emeritus of History, Peter Lineham, comments that the sacredness of Sunday has gone, and that religion is no longer automatically assumed to be good.
Dr Stuart Lange, Senior Research Fellow at Laidlaw College, notes that Christianity was once a societal norm, with children commonly attending Sunday Schools and youth groups. But today, many secular families are raising secular children.
The 2023 census confirms this shift: 52{0efa61f77e4cd09e7b4f08094b2911ffcdf8ad00293cb60de4a24edfe6036ea2} of New Zealanders now identify as having no religion, while the number identifying as Christian has dropped from 36.5{0efa61f77e4cd09e7b4f08094b2911ffcdf8ad00293cb60de4a24edfe6036ea2} in 2018 to 32{0efa61f77e4cd09e7b4f08094b2911ffcdf8ad00293cb60de4a24edfe6036ea2} in 2023.
Despite this decline, those who identify as Christian often display strong commitment. Bible Society New Zealand is actively supporting these individuals and communities through initiatives aimed at encouraging Bible engagement, ending Bible poverty, and fostering Bible literacy.
This year, we continue distributing Bibles to prisons, hospitals, schools, and churches, including a reprint of 5,000 Bibles for the New Zealand Police. Our work on creating an audio Māori Bible progresses with the Gospel of Luke set to launch by Christmas. Additionally, 75,000 copies of Festive Fred Finds the Greatest Gift have already been distributed, with 25,000 more in reprint.
Your gift to Bible a Month Regular Giving will help sustain these vital efforts, ensuring God’s Word reaches more hearts across New Zealand.
View the PDF version of your Member's Report here.
https://vimeo.com/417868393/1f88165e9e
Prayer Points for New Zealand
Pray for those who identify as having no religion to encounter Jesus Christ in unexpected ways.
Pray for unique expressions of Christian faith to grow among Māori and other minority groups.
Pray for a spirit of co-operation and unity among churches and denominations and for the mission of Bible Society supporting churches.
Give thanks for the dynamic growth that occurred among churches from the 1960s onwards and pray for that growth to continue.
Pray more with us here.
FURTHER BIBLE MISSION PROJECTS
Belarus
In 1991, Belarus became independent from the Soviet Union, but it has remained under Russia’s influence. In 1986, the Chernobyl disaster occurred in Ukraine, which affected Belarus more severely than any other country leaving it with significant environmental and human devastation. Today, 1.7 million children live in poverty with 500,000 children living in contaminated zones, which brings unbelievable suffering as many are born with genetic defects.
The country has many orphans and children living in dysfunctional families where there are issues such as alcoholism or drugs. Bible Society has a long-standing ministry to orphanages, boarding schools, and hospitals where it provides children’s Scriptures including Bibles, New Testaments, and portions to vulnerable children.
Nepal
In 1715, Christianity reached Nepal brought there by Capuchin Friars. In 1768, following Nepal’s unification, Christian groups were banned from the country. After the revolution of 1951, foreign missionaries were permitted to enter Nepal but only to perform social service work. In the same year, a church was planted in Kathmandu by Indian Christian technicians working in the area. However, church growth was slow due to a hostile cultural and political environment.
In 1976, the Nepal Bible society was formed. Today, it is working to provide scripture engagement projects to women and children. It is providing audio bibles to vulnerable people including illiterate and semi- literate people, the visually disabled and disabled people.
Moldova
In the 4th century, Christianity reached Moldova. Today, 90 per cent of Moldovans identify as belonging to the Eastern Orthodox Church while a further three per cent belong to other denominations. In 1991, Moldova achieved independence from the Soviet Union. In the same year, the Interconfessional Bible Society of Moldova was established.
Bible Society is focusing on two key areas of work. Firstly, it is travelling to remote rural areas to serve the churches using a Bible Bus which enables it to go to places, such as marketplaces, summer camps and church outreaches. Secondly, it is distributing free family Bibles to give vulnerable families, single-parent families and elderly people access to the Word of God.
Latvia
In the 13th century, Christianity reached Latvia. In 1813, the first Bible Society in the territory of Latvia was established. Latvians were early supporters of Luther and much of the population converted to Lutheranism.
The churches in Latvia were harshly persecuted under both the Nazis and the Communists. Today, although the country is neither anti-Christian nor anti-religion, it remains a challenging mission field to work in.
The Latvian Bible Society is working to revise the Modern Latvian Bible to make it more accessible to a new generation. It is producing the Gospel of Mark in Latvian sign language. And it is creating a new website with an online shop.
Belarus
In 1991, Belarus became independent from the Soviet Union, but it has remained under Russia’s influence. In 1986, the Chernobyl disaster occurred in Ukraine, which affected Belarus more severely than any other country leaving it with significant environmental and human devastation. Today, 1.7 million children live in poverty with 500,000 children living in contaminated zones, which brings unbelievable suffering as many are born with genetic defects.
The country has many orphans and children living in dysfunctional families where there are issues such as alcoholism or drugs. Bible Society has a long-standing ministry to orphanages, boarding schools, and hospitals where it provides children’s Scriptures including Bibles, New Testaments, and portions to vulnerable children.
Nepal
In 1715, Christianity reached Nepal brought there by Capuchin Friars. In 1768, following Nepal’s unification, Christian groups were banned from the country. After the revolution of 1951, foreign missionaries were permitted to enter Nepal but only to perform social service work. In the same year, a church was planted in Kathmandu by Indian Christian technicians working in the area. However, church growth was slow due to a hostile cultural and political environment.
In 1976, the Nepal Bible society was formed. Today, it is working to provide scripture engagement projects to women and children. It is providing audio bibles to vulnerable people including illiterate and semi- literate people, the visually disabled and disabled people.
Moldova
In the 4th century, Christianity reached Moldova. Today, 90 per cent of Moldovans identify as belonging to the Eastern Orthodox Church while a further three per cent belong to other denominations. In 1991, Moldova achieved independence from the Soviet Union. In the same year, the Interconfessional Bible Society of Moldova was established.
Bible Society is focusing on two key areas of work. Firstly, it is travelling to remote rural areas to serve the churches using a Bible Bus which enables it to go to places, such as marketplaces, summer camps and church outreaches. Secondly, it is distributing free family Bibles to give vulnerable families, single-parent families and elderly people access to the Word of God.
Latvia
In the 13th century, Christianity reached Latvia. In 1813, the first Bible Society in the territory of Latvia was established. Latvians were early supporters of Luther and much of the population converted to Lutheranism.
The churches in Latvia were harshly persecuted under both the Nazis and the Communists. Today, although the country is neither anti-Christian nor anti-religion, it remains a challenging mission field to work in.
The Latvian Bible Society is working to revise the Modern Latvian Bible to make it more accessible to a new generation. It is producing the Gospel of Mark in Latvian sign language. And it is creating a new website with an online shop.
Wisdom for Everyday Life
We live in an information-saturated world – but what we really need to navigate this complex, challenging life, is wisdom. In this five-part series, Stephen Foster turns to the book of Proverbs to uncover timeless truth we can apply to our everyday lives as we depend on the power of the Holy Spirit and look to the example of Jesus, God most wise.
WATCH NOW
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EMPTY HANDS
BIBLE POVERTY
EMPTY HEARTS
BIBLE ENGAGEMENT
EMPTY MINDS
BIBLE LITERACY