Abide 2024
Conference

Pete Greig is the increasingly bewildered founder of 24-7 Prayer an international, interdenominational movement of prayer, mission and justice which has been praying night-and-day for more than twenty years, and has reached more than half the nations on earth. He and his wife Sammy, a professional counsellor, serve as Senior Pastors of Emmaus Rd, a multi congregational church in the south of England . Pete co-hosts the Lectio 365 daily devotional and brings leadership to Waverley Abbey, a 1400 year old place of prayer just outside London. His award-winning books include Red Moon Rising, God on Mute, How to Pray and How to Hear God: A Simple Guide for Normal People. Pete and Sammy split their time between a river boat on the River Wey, south of London, and an island retreat off the south coast of England where they host and mentor leaders.

Laura is a full-time teacher, a part-time writer and speaker, and she is coauthor of A Church Called Tov as well as Pivot: The Priorities, Practices and Powers That Can Transform Your Church Into a Tov Culture. She previously co-authored the children's version of The Jesus Creed and wrote a teacher's guide to accompany the book. A graduate of Wheaton College in the United States, she resides near Chicago, Illinois with her husband Mark and their three beagles.

Trudi is the National Director of 24-7 Prayer Australia and is also a pastor at Red Church in Melbourne where she has invested in building a culture of prayer over many years. Trudi’s passion for prayer has grown in fervour through witnessing first-hand the power of prayer to bring renewal in her own life and corporately for the Church. Mark & Trudi live in Melbourne’s east with their daughter Grace and twin boys, Hudson and Billy.

Mark is the senior leader of Red Church in Melbourne, Australia. He is passionate about spiritual renewal and the future of the church. Mark is the author of a number of books including Reappearing Church and A Non-Anxious Presence. Mark is married to Trudi and they live in Melbourne’s east with their daughter Grace and twin boys, Hudson and Billy.

Amy has been in church leadership at The River Ōpāwaho (formerly Cashmere New Life) for 25 years and has seen most things! Church leadership is one of the most brutifal vocational calls – beautiful and brutal. The ability to navigate leadership, your sense of what God is saying and congregational dynamics is an art she is fascinated by. For the last 10 years she has been bi-vocational – pursuing discipleship, mission and entrepreneurial leadership. As part of the Movement Leaders Collective, her passion is in the field of creating movements and systems for transformational change. she also has the privilege of leading Arrow Leadership NZ that specialises in practitioner-led, experiential training for church and for-purpose leaders. Amy is married to Bevan and they have two teenage children. She loves dark chocolate, good coffee, action thriller movies and new adventures. Amy is also a CfCL Senior Leadership Fellow

(Te Whānau-a-Apanui, Te Whakatōhea, Ngāi Tai) Language exponent, academic, education specialist, and renowned kapa haka composer and performer, Anameka is a recognised leader within all of her chosen fields of work. As a longtime performer and leader within Ōpōtiki-mai-Tawhiti and Te Kapa Haka o Te Whānau-a-Apanui, her passion for teaching led her to develop and lead undergraduate and postgraduate performing arts programmes at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiarangi. A graduate of Te Panekiretanga o Te Reo, she continues to teach and advocate for Te Reo Māori at the highest levels. In more recent years she has transitioned into educational leadership roles with NZQA and Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, ensuring the educational outcomes for Māori students and programmes are of the highest quality. A proponent of Māori philosophy and teaching pedagogy, she received First Class Honours for her Master of Arts thesis titled ‘Karangaranga te muri.’

Becs Green is the Lead Pastor of Elim Christian Centre in Botany, Auckland. Becs and Steve have been married for nearly 18 years and are also raising two growing, animated, affectionate, and ridiculously good-looking boys, Judah (14) and Rocky (11). Becs has been speaking at churches and conferences since she was 16 years old. Her teaching is relatable, authentic and full of ‘aha!’ moments. Becs’ goal is to put practical ‘stuff’ into people’s hands that will help them in their real, everyday lives. Her greatest passion is seeing others have a revelation of God’s love and the personal calling He has for them. Becs is also the author of the book, A Thousand Times Enough.

Ben is husband to Aimee and father to twin toddlers, delighting in this newish season of parenting life. He is the Manager of Auckland Church Network, which was founded in early 2022 as a dynamic, organic movement. It's heart is for the capital C Church to be working together for the spiritual and social flourishing of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. Ben is a jack-of-all trades - a practitioner, an encourager, an analyst, an activator. He loves playing a part in God's mission across Auckland and wider across Aotearoa. Ben also loves anything active - donning the running shoes, getting on the golf course or squash court. Very unusually, he much prefers a hot chocolate to a flat white.

Beth is an experienced educator with teaching experience in a range of schools. She was teaching at Saint Kentigern College prior to becoming a Mother and now has the joy of raising four daughter with her husband Tuhi. Beth cares deeply about children flourishing which is why she helped co-found Scholé, a one day programme that intentionally focuses on the spiritual formation of primary aged children. Beth delights in chatting with parents about how we can intentionally and joyfully enter into the worthy work of raising the next generation.

Charlotte works across a variety of different roles – counsellor, consultant, and Licensed Private Investigator. One of her central passions is ensuring that the church and parachurch organizations are safe places for all people. Charlotte believes that following the decades the church has had of hearing the stories of people who have been abused within Christian communities, we must ensure we learn from these stories, and develop community cultures which challenge the power imbalances which can lead to abuse and harm.

Clint took up his role as Director of Laidlaw’s Centre for Church Leadership (CfCL) in 2022. He is responsible for developing and fulfilling the strategic direction of CfCL to bless, love, and serve the Church of Aotearoa. This involves leading the CfCL team to develop coaching programmes, resources, workshops, and consultancy services. As a passionate advocate for the health of church leaders and the churches they serve, Clint appreciates networking with leaders of local churches, church networks, and denominations, with a responsive awareness to the wider ecosystem of the church in Aotearoa New Zealand. Clint holds degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary (MDiv) where his studies focused primarily on missional theology before continuing doctoral work at Asbury Theological Seminary (DMin). Clint’s doctoral research, anchored in biblical wisdom, explored the exercise of intuitive wisdom among ministry leaders in New Zealand and identified ways in which intuitive wisdom capabilities might be developed. Clint is an ordained minister of the Wesleyan Methodist Church of Aotearoa-New Zealand and has served as the Lead Pastor of The Well Church (Christchurch) since its inception in 2012. Clint is married to Jamie and they have two daughters. Together, Clint & Jamie have served in ministry for 20 years - they are passionate about seeing people encounter Jesus personally and being released into the unique Kingdom calling on their lives. Clint loves to travel and experience different cultures, is an avid runner, and loves music - playing, listening, and watching.

Dale is a husband and father and serves as Prayer Leader for Auckland Church Network. Former roles include Baptist pastoring, Tearfund NZ / The Justice Conference NZ, and his Master's Thesis from Carey Baptist explored Baptist Worship in Aotearoa NZ. He loves music, woodturning, smoky cheese and a great conversation.

He uri tēnei nō Ngāpuhi nui tonu, Ko Reihana-Harema te whāmere, Ko Dallas Harema ahau. Dallas and his wife Lucy have 3 tamariki and they live in Ōtautahi and together they are the Directors of Harema Development & Culture. As a part of this mahi Dallas assists teams in creating healthy cultures where people can thrive. He is also an Advisor to the Family Court, Te Tiriti workshop facilitator, Supervisor/Cultural Supervisor, CliftonStrengths Coach, qualified Counsellor and he is Dare to Lead trained. This year Dallas became the Director of the School of Emotionally Healthy (EH) Leadership Aotearoa under the Centre for Church Leadership, and completed his Enneagram Coach certification. Dallas and Lucy are 'charismatic contemplatives' who are passionate about the body of Jesus, and the world, being holistically healthy. They long to co-create spaces where people are real about their inner worlds and are bringing their stuff before God in community. Their conviction is that once we take our fig leaves off and get honest about what we carry (good, “bad” and honest), we open ourselves up (more) to Jesus and his transformative truth, grace and love. Dallas and Lucy are co-leading a kaupapa called ‘Whakapuāwai’ (to cause to flourish, bloom, thrive) which aims to help couples be formed in emotional and relational intelligence in the context of a Jesus centred spirituality. The hope is that people integrate all parts of who they are into how they follow and become like Jesus. Their ministry is connected to their local church and the wider body in Ōtautahi, and Dallas also leads a Men’s formation kaupapa with Church, Ministry and Business Leaders.

Emma is lecturer in Bible and Mission at Carey Baptist College. Alongside teaching, she also leads Mission Track, facilitating the formation of students preparing for participation in God’s mission in a variety of settings. Emma is driven by a deep conviction that the gospel of Jesus Christ has the power to transform lives and communities. This fuels her participation in mission and her desire to be part of a learning community where there is an intentional focus on helping students integrate their faith across all aspects of life and ministry. Emma has been involved in mission training and discipleship for nearly 20 years. This began with her time as Youth Director for Global Connections in Mission where she developed and led Headspace (a missional gap year program for school leavers). She serves on the Boards of GC3 and Bright Hope World and is part of the adjunct faculty at Pathways Bible College. Alongside her husband Mark, she also serves as a Partnership Facilitator for Bright Hope World in S.E. Asia. Emma is working towards a PhD in New Testament at Otago University. She and Mark live with their two crazy-wonderful boys in the beautiful Bay of Plenty. They are part of the Lifezone Church whānau.

Fraser has helped pioneer and lead the LinkNZ network of churches which is committed to strengthening leadership teams throughout our whenua. Prayer and spiritual formation has been central to this, helping to support communities who are embracing and outworking the call to prayer. Look forward to catching you.

When Jacinda said “Yes” to Jesus, it set her on an incredible journey full of unexpected adventures! Her path has taken her across the globe, serving in churches in the UK, US, and New Zealand, and embracing roles like church planting and walking alongside pastors and leaders in spiritual direction and ministry supervision. Jacinda has been deeply involved in the Vineyard movement, and is helping pioneer 24-7 Prayer in New Zealand. She’s had seasons of study, including a Masters of Ministry and other Post Grad learning, woven into her journey that has added tools to her kete to outwork her passion for helping people develop a rich, resilient relationship with God and to flourish in their vocational callings. Alongside her husband Matt, she has the joy of leading Coast Vineyard Church in Orewa which they planted 11 years ago. She’s the super proud mum of three strong daughters and two wonderful sons-in-law.

Nō ngā hau e whā ōku tūpuna, engari, i tupu ake au i raro i te korowai o Kā Kohatu Whakarekareka o Tamatea Pokai Whenua. E noho ana au kei reira. These days James is the Associate Pastor at The River Ōpāwaho Church. He supports the flourishing of the gospel in Aotearoa through his work with the Wilberforce Foundation. He is also the Project manager for A Rocha's Eco Church Network. You may have listened to his podcast - Ngā Here, caught him on radio, TV or even read one of his many articles or his (very funny) children’s book, Eliza Loves Rocks.

He’s a husband to Robyn and a father to four children. Jonathan (or ‘JD’ as most call him) began as Senior Pastor of Gracecity Church in October, 2014. He is responsible for the overall church vision, direction of our sites, staff, and preaching. JD is a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary, where he earned a Master of Theology degree and Robyn a Master of Biblical Studies degree. Jonathan also convenes Auckland Church Network which is made up of bishops and senior leaders from mainstream denominations and large city churches, all working together for the spiritual and social flourishing of our city. Jonathan is a visionary, a gifted teacher, as well as a life-long learner. He is passionate about people coming to know Jesus and building a strong community of believers that renew people and places in the way they work, play and live. Each summer, he loves returning to his home town in Havelock North (Hawkes Bay) and enjoys walks around his maunga at Te Mata Peak. His spare time is made up of family adventures, quality coffee, a good book, and ideally, an All Blacks game.

Julia Bloore spent her childhood in the South Island—Mosgiel and Christchurch—and developed a love for acting and communication, with various on-screen and on-stage roles. After completing a degree in Film and Television Studies, she spent the first decade of her adult life writing and hosting television shows, including ‘Sticky TV’, ‘In Between’ and ‘Volunteer Power’. Working in the television industry and experiencing the challenges of being a person of faith in that environment led her to set up ‘SALT’ in 2010, a network of Christians who work in mainstream media. SALT works to help its members integrate their faith and their work. Becoming a full-time mum to Eden, Benjamin, and Sophia slowed Julia’s media involvement down a little and she began working with her husband Sam for the Venn Foundation. She worked as Residential Host for the fellowship program and enjoyed getting her teeth stuck into a bit of teaching every now and then. Most recently, Julia has co-founded 'Scholé', a one day school with a focus on faith formation in children. This has become an area of great passion for her. She sits on the board of Christian Broadcasting Association and every now and then jumps back in front of the microphone for their Christmas and Easter program on Newstalk ZB.

Mark and Kirsty have led the wonderfully diverse and eccentric St Tom’s Church in Newtown, Wellington since 2015. Mark was also the Supervising Chaplain at Victoria University from 2011 to 2017. Prior to coming to New Zealand, Mark was the director of the Minneapolis base of Steiger International (a ministry that came out of YWAM in Amsterdam) and pastor of The Salvage Yard Church, a church to the counter culture (punks, hippies, artists, musicians, and university students) that was planted out of that ministry. For the last five years they have also led a team (St Tom’s on Wheels) that has functioned as a traveling Jesus Community that brings the love of God to the new age hippie scene at festivals and in towns across New Zealand.

Lui is passionate about activating and mobilising leaders and churches to engage in global missions and church planting. Lui leads CCCi, a network of churches globally, chairs Pacific2Nations missions movement, is a member of the Laidlaw National Governing Council and a Senior Leadership Fellow with Laidlaw's Centre for Church Leadership. Lui and his wife Ane are Senior Pastors of Life Church in Manurewa.

Mac has been a formative Christian leader in New York City for 35 years. In 1988, he co-founded Concerts of Prayer, a forerunner to the Metro NYC Prayer Movement in which 250,000 people from 2,000 churches have participated. Alongside Timothy Keller, in 2003 he co-founded the Church Multiplication Alliance. It's emphasis on united prayer and church planting was a catalyst for the 500% growth of evangelical Christianity in Manhattan from 1989-2014. In 2008, responding to the expressed needs of local leaders and pastors, Mac founded the New York City Leadership Center (renamed Movement.org in 2018). Movement Day began shortly after in 2010. Since then, leaders from 400 cities in 95 countries have participated in Movement Day expressions with new cities being added monthly. Mac also serves the Lausanne Movement as Co-Catalyst for Cities. Mac and Marya have lived in New York City for 40 years. They have three married children and five grandchildren.

Rev. Dr Maja Whitaker is the Academic Dean and lecturer in Practical Theology at Laidlaw College, based at the Christchurch campus, and a pastor in the Equippers network of churches. She is passionate about spiritual formation and seeks to develop Christian leaders who are deeply formed by their followership of Christ and who flourish in ministry and vocation. Maja’s research interests include human flourishing, body theology, disability and all forms of diversity in contemporary cultural contexts. She is married to Dave and they have four daughters. She loves to spend her downtime with plants or books, baking, running, or napping

Rev'd Matt is husband to Zara and Dad to Piper and Paige. He holds an adjunct position at Laidlaw college as a teaching fellow primarily for the youth-focussed practical theology papers. Matt has been doing youth ministry for over a decade in both Ōtautahi and Tāmaki Makaurau. He studied theology while working in youth development for the Salvation Army and a local youth trust in Christchurch. More recently Matt spent five years on the leadership team of Saint Augustine’s Anglican church in Auckland. Currently, Matt is a Curate at Christchurch Transitional Cathedral where he thoroughly enjoys preaching, the contemplative worship, engaging with the diverse visitors and spending time with the homeless community in the city. Matt is interested in how theology makes sense of the world around us and its integration with other disciplines such as philosophy, psychology and the sciences. His master's research on the French philosopher Blaise Pascal stems from his interest in embodied cognition and how what we do with our bodies creates a certain kind of knowledge. Matt has also presented research on the popular expressions of the anti-natalist movement in dialogue with a Christian theology of hope. When he’s not got his face in a book, Matt enjoys mixed martial arts, Xbox in moderation, the art of coffee making (and consuming), strumming a guitar and riling up his daughters Piper and Paige before bed.

Michael is married to Alison. They have three children and four grandchildren. He has been the senior pastor of Faith City in South Auckland for the past 24 years. He began his career in law and business. Michael had something of a Damascus Road experience in 1992 while searching the scriptures for ‘ammunition’ to win an argument with a client. It was the first time he read the Bible and had a powerful encounter with Christ while doing so. He eventually gave up law and business and was ordained a church pastor in 1998. Michael and Alison also serve on the New Covenant Ministries International Eph 4:11 team. For 40 years, this team has been planting and partnering with churches in many countries to fulfil the Great Commission. Michael is passionate about the Gospel and its transformative power on individuals, communities, cities and nations. He loves the Word and the Spirit and discovering new and old Gospel treasures.

Catalyst Movement exists to save the lost and send the saved. We are a group of people from various churches who truly believe what Jesus says in Matthew 9:37 'The harvest is ripe but the workers are few'. We run regular evangelism times and also provide training to churches, specifically in youth and young adult groups. Miriam has been on staff with Catalyst Movement for just over 2 years now. She has been involved in all of the 3 tours across the nation that they have done. She has a heart for missions and to see God's kingdom come in every possible way.

Rev. Neihana Reihana is from Ngāti Raukawa and Ngāti Ranginui. He was raised in Porirua in a whānau of four. Neihana has a Bachelor of Business in Marketing and Management, and spent five years as a secondary school teacher in both kura Māori and mainstream schools. Now, he is focused on completing Postgraduate studies in Theology, while juggling clergy commitments for Te Pīhopatanga o Te Tai Tokerau, under the Māori Anglican Church in Tāmaki Makaurau. Neihana is passionate about Christian formation, mātauranga Māori, and encouraging others to be all they were meant to be in Christ. He is a board member of Oati (Te Wānanga Ihorangi), and is a teaching fellow at Venn Foundation. Married to Elena, and father to Whakaaria and Mākoha, he is often travelling back home to support te reo regeneration hui at his marae, Mangakāretu.

Paul lives in semi-rural Nelson, is married to Melanie, and has three mostly adult boys. He has been involved in various leadership roles with churches and NGOs over the last two decades, and is currently (and surprisingly!) the Vicar of Brightwater – a little Anglican church in small-town New Zealand. He has a passion for local churches being more than just worship and teaching centres - and longs to see churches emerge that value Christian community, local mission, and disciple-making. He enjoys the outdoors and sport, and still attempts to play masters football with his ‘Dad-bod’ mates from the local football club.

Dr Roshan Allpress took up his role as National Principal/CEO of Laidlaw College in February 2017. Roshan holds degrees in History from the Universities of Canterbury and Oxford. His doctoral research at Oxford focused on how intergenerational groups of Evangelical entrepreneurs in the eighteenth and nineteenth century British world shaped society and culture, most prominently in the work of the Clapham Sect. His research interests include how the Gospel has motivated social and cultural reform, with particular emphases on evangelicalism and the history of religious reform, the origins of philanthropy and humanitarianism, and intersections of theology and political economic thought. Prior to Laidlaw, he helped found and then led the Compass Foundation until 2011 (now part of the Venn Foundation), working to help young adults ‘know the Gospel; know the culture; translate’. Compass’s mission involved running residential conferences on Biblical theology and leadership around Australasia, cultivating networks of young Christian leaders, and developing resources for these growing networks. Prior to Compass, Roshan was the first manager of Maxim Institute’s internship programme. He is a co-author of popular books, The Insect and the Buffalo: how the story of the Bible changes everything and The Hare and the Tortoise: learning to pace ourselves in a world gone mad, and is a regular speaker in churches and at Christian events. Born in India (his parents and grandparents served as missionaries), he was raised in Christchurch, where he met and married Lottie. They have three young children.

Sam grew up, and still returns to holiday, in the Far North and has a deep appreciation for small town and city life. After graduating from medicine and bioethics at Otago University, he worked as a doctor for five years before a gradual career change saw him join the staff of his church and complete a Master of Arts in Pastoral Theology. Sam is passionate about the intersection of faith and culture – in particular how individuals establish and enhance a personal, Christian spirituality that is sustaining and sustainable. His recent roles have included teaching pastor at St Paul’s Symonds Street and lecturer for Venn Foundation’s Fellowship Programme. He is excruciatingly close to completing a Doctorate of Ministry through Fuller Theological Seminary—which has included projects in Sexuality and Ethics, Technology, the Visual Arts, and the Discipling of Emerging Adults. Sam, Julia and their three young children live in Auckland and are happiest on, in, or near the sea.

Sam is the lead pastor of Bay Vineyard Church and the National Coordinator for 24-7 Prayer New Zealand. He is passionate about encouraging church leaders to build a strong prayer culture. He frequently prays for good waves.

Sam is a man that loves Jesus...pulled out of the darkness of his own making, and privileged to be used by God to help pull others out.

Steve Green is the Senior Pastor of Elim Christian Centre in Auckland and Whangarei. It is multisite church that also consists of three schools and a leadership college. Steve and his wife Becs have been in ministry together for nearly 20 years. Steve is a passionate communicator who delivers the gospel in a way that is both challenging and compelling. He is easy to relate to, helping people feel at ease, making complicated concepts simple for all to understand. He has a massive heart for the local church and also for leaders. He shares regularly from his own journey of leadership in a very real and raw way. You can easily win him over with a good cup of coffee or a perfectly-executed movie quote.

(Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hauā) Poet, community educator, and whānau advocate, Te Karere Scarborough has spent the last 15 years working in the community-wellbeing and arts sector. An ordained priest within Te Pīhopatanga o Te Tai Tokerau and appointed trustee of his hapū board, Whatitiri Māori Reserves Trust, he is also studying a Masters of Chaplaincy through The University of Otago. Te Karere is currently a co-leader of Te Wānanga Ihorangi, a faith-based te reo Māori institute based in Waitākere, Henderson.

(Ngāti Haka (Tūhoe), Waitaha, Tapuika (Te Arawa), Ngāti Hine) Born and raised in Aotearoa’s kiwifruit capital, Te Puke – Waiora is deeply committed to whānau, whakapapa, and whakapono. Passionate about the place of Māori in God’s story for humanity, Waiora has recently left studying theology at St John’s Theological College to teach at Te Wānanga Ihorangi. Holding a Bachelor of Communication Studies from AUT, she has also formally studied te reo Māori at the University of Waikato and Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. Waiora is ordained under Te Pīhopatanga o Te Tai Tokerau and serves at Te Ana Tapu | Tātai Hono in Auckland City.

Zara Maslin is an experienced communicator from Ōtautahi, married to Rev'd Matt. With a background in social services and 15 years serving young people, she specializes in youth work ethics and teaches practical theology at Laidlaw College. She is passionate about equipping frontline youth workers by connecting classroom concepts to ministry practice. Through stories, research, and cultural critique, she teaches Christ-centered leadership shaped by steady character, self-development, and proactive wellbeing. A busy working mum of two young girls, Zara juggles her roles as clergy wife, domestic goddess, and distracted parishioner at the Cardboard Cathedral. Her hobbies include holding tension in her shoulders, breastfeeding, and sometimes even finding time to shower. Zara's humorous and candid insights into honest ministry and modern life make her a relatable and engaging speaker.