1. Ps Ken Harrison’s Update from Christchurch
TOGETHER WE ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE
For three days this week, I (Ps Ken Harrison, NZ A/G Superintendent), was in Christchurch with
Executive members Ps La’u Faletutulu and Ps Pat Lamborn. Ps Iliafi Esera was present of the
Tuesday evening meeting.
Our purpose was to encourage the Christchurch A/G Pastors, to see what our A/G churches and
pastors are already doing, and to coordinate with them how we as the NZ A/G movement can
further assist in aid and recovery in the Canterbury area through our local churches there.
On Tuesday evening I conducted a meeting with most of our Christchurch A/G Pastors, as well as
pastors from Kaiapoi and Rangiora. There we were able to hear their stories, pray together, and
encourage one another. All our pastors and people in their churches are safe with no deaths but
many have varying degrees of injury, shock. They are facing tough times as many homes are
damaged, along with personal possessions broken. All of our churches are damaged and many
congregational members have left the city with most choosing to leave altogether as
aftershocks continue.
While in Christchurch I had the opportunity to talk with the Civil Defence, Police and the people
going door to door in the Eastern suburbs. This is where most of the home damage has taken
place. The three of us attended a meeting, with all the Ministers of Christchurch (across
denominations), to hear what all churches are doing and to coordinate together. At the end I
spoke on the need to get photos and information out to churches and people around the
country. A PowerPoint of photos can be downloaded from Harvest Christian Church webpage
www.harvestchristianchurch.net.nz and it will also be available on the AGNZ web page
www.agnz.org by the end of the weekend.
The most significant effect of the earthquake is the severe impact it has had on people. People
are traumatised, and many have damaged homes and businesses. The CBD is cordoned off and
it is estimated that over 800 buildings may have to be demolished including thousands of homes.
There are many homes that are still without water, power or sewage. The local authorities are
working 24hours around the clock to rectify this however it is a huge task.
Two Samoan A/G churches and one Korean church have been severely damaged. Most of the
churches have been damaged through liquefaction, cracks forming in walls, and furniture, and
fixtures broken. In the last earthquake Kaiapoi lost their church building but it hadn’t been
demolished as yet and it was further damaged. Two churches have had over half the
congregation move and who say they are relocating elsewhere.

2. NZA/G’s Current Response
• Food & Aid Centre
• Ps Stephen Hira along with Ps’ Peter & Vera Hira at A/G Christchurch Worship Centre,
Candice, and team are doing a phenomenal job running a food and aid distribution
centre in Aranui. This area has extensive liquefaction everywhere including in their
church building. They have set up a food centre at the School where drinking water has
been made available. So far they have given out lots of tinned food, personal items,
baby material, fruit and veggies, water, etc. All this was sourced and significant
donations have come from places like Palmerston North as well as from many other
churches. A number of businesses have contributed but they urgently require more.
Fisher and Paykel gave the food centre two fridge freezers and two washing machines
and dryers and outside using power from a generator.
Money donated by our NZ A/G churches will be used to purchase more cases of tinned food,
wipes, and hand sanitizer, etc for them to distribute.
• Aid from local churches: Other A/G churches and pastors are working in very difficult
conditions to help people and families in their communities and we thank them.
• Chaplains
We have had seven NZ A/G Chaplains involved since the week of the quake. On
Wednesday the 2nd seven Australian A/G Chaplains arrived in Christchurch. They are
helping counsel people in shock through being traumatised. They are working with our
A/G churches as well as with all the other Chaplains under the umbrella of Presbyterian
Social Services and just today the civil Defence has asked us to help.
Ps Dennis & Caro Isaacs (Kaiapoi) are doing an amazing job organising accommodation
outside Christchurch for the Chaplains and are helping in many ways to coordinate relief.
Their church office is our command centre.
As the NZ A/G movement we are financially underwriting these New Zealand Chaplains
travel and costs as we send in teams of six for the next two months. This will cost
approximately $21,000. Australia will also be sending two more teams to help in this

3. vital work and they have already raised the $17500 AUD that is required over and above
the NZ A/G amount. Thank you Australia! The Chaplains will be needed for months to
come in Christchurch for post-traumatic shock care, so we ask that you consider giving
financially to help underwrite this cost.
THANK YOU
• To all of our Pastors in Christchurch who continue to lead and minister and help people
in extremely difficult conditions – you are heroes.
• To all those in Christchurch who are reaching out to help in many ways; in the Food
Distribution centre, in taking away the liquefaction, visiting, and reaching out to their
community.
• To our A/G Chaplains who are on the ground with counselling for those with post-
traumatic stress.
• To our churches that have already given money. We have already received $10,000 and
this has already been used and more is urgently required.
• A special thank you to Australian A/G who have generously given AUD $17,500 to
Chaplaincy Australia to release some Australian A/G Chaplains to come. It is wonderful
to see our Australian A/G family stand with us at this time.
THE NEED
• PRAY - Please pray for everyone in Christchurch and our pastors and churches. (I am
attaching a PowerPoint for Pastors which contains prayer points which you may choose
to use if you want to).
• GIVE - Please highlight the need to give in your churches so we can supply food and
resources, as well as continue to financially help our pastors and their congregations,
and chaplains, who are so vital at this time and for those involved in the ongoing relief
work in Christchurch. The Bank Account no is 03 0196 0120003 000 with the reference
080120/62
• SEND - contact details to Pastor Shona Sorensen, National Secretary of any
accommodation available to people from Christchurch outside of the city. This
information will be passed on to ‘Ps Pat Lamborn our “Earthquake Coordinator”.
In conclusion, I want to say how awesome it is to be part of the NZ A/G movement. We have
pastors and churches at grass roots level right where the people and the needs are, who are
reaching out all over Christchurch, to various ethnic groups and doing a phenomenal job helping
and supporting people. Our churches in the rest of New Zealand are working together and
coordinating our support and response through prayer and finances. Our A/G Chaplains
(trained in NZ at Alphacrucis) along with our Australian Chaplains are counselling and supporting

4. people and who have been requested by authorities to stay for 3 months (we will rotate them
on and off.)
I believe in these dark days in Christchurch, Christians and our churches are bright lights offering
love, hope and help to people. Thank you to all of you as you play your part.
Isaiah 58: 11-12 The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-
scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like
a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will
raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of
Streets with Dwellings.
God bless you.
Ps Ken Harrison
General Superintendent,
Assemblies of God in New Zealand