Our Outreach committee brings the mission statement of St John’s to life in a practical way. This means building ongoing relationships with groups and organisations as well as providing specific financial support.

But it’s not about just giving money. Part of what we do is about engaging theologically at a local, national, and international level. Outreach goes both ways; we hope members of our congregation can also grow in faith as we learn about the needs of the city, the country, and the world and how God is at work there. 

Our specific activities change from year to year, but in broad terms, we:

  • provide grants to organisations to help them in their work

  • organise public forums and lectures with a theological slant

  • conduct and/or support mission programmes.

 

Local outreach

Dixon Street café

The aim of this volunteer-led café is to provide a safe place for the tenants in the flats to meet, play games, and talk. It’s a way for the potential issue of isolation in such a large block of flats to be addressed effectively with minimal cost. We have also established and led a Bible discussion group.


Massey University Chaplaincy

St John’s supports the Massey University Chaplaincy, supporting tertiary students at an important and often stressful time in their lives.


Local Ordained Ministry

Our Ministers mentor David Jackson in his Local Ordained Ministry Probation as College Chaplain at Scots College. This includes providing guidance, support, and training.


Visiting Scholar Programme and Public Interest forums

St John’s has partnered with Victoria University to invite overseas scholars to come and explore theological issues with us in our New Zealand context. With public lectures and seminars, the Visiting Scholar Programme is recognised as a significant outreach project that offers up Christian thought with a credible voice and academic credentials.

Throughout the year a number of public forums are also held on diverse topics to share the Gospel by fostering an environment for critical thinking on contemporary issues.


Partnerships

The Boys and Girls Institute (BGI) was established in 1883 by a group of young people associated with St John’s and is an organisation committed to the development of youth in the community. BGI is recognised as one of the foremost non-governmental providers of youth and community projects in the Wellington region.

The BGI Board is appointed by St John’s, and our Minister is the Board President. The partnership with BGI is an important and enduring commitment by St John’s covering the continuum of need for young people in the Wellington region. You can find out more about BGI’s work at www.bgi.org.nz

 

DCM (est. 1969, formerly known as Inner City Ministry and then Downtown Community Ministry) has been working in the city of Wellington for more than 50 years to ‘focus on the needs of, and to help empower, those marginalised in the city’.  Over the past 15 years, DCM’s tagline has become ‘together we can end homelessness in Wellington’, which reflects the current focus on the needs of one key marginalised group – people experiencing homelessness, or who are at risk of homelessness, supporting them on a journey towards sustainable housing and well-being. St John’s contributes financially, through food bank donations, provides volunteers to support the work of DCM, and a St John’s member is the chair of the DCM Board.

You can find out more about DCM and sign up for updates at www.dcm.org.nz

 

Scots College is an independent, Presbyterian day and boarding school for boys from Years 1 to 13 and for girls from Years 11 to 13 , based in Strathmore, Wellington.  It was founded in 1916 by Rev Dr James Gibb (a minister of St John’s) and the Hon. John Aiken. Today, Scots College aims to provide an environment where sound work ethics, self-discipline and independent learning skills are fostered, with a key objective of developing young people recognised for the quality of their citizenship and their ability to learn creatively and independently beyond school.

Scots College maintains its links with St John’s by holding services three times a year at the church. The various Houses also join us occasionally at our Sunday worship services.

Find out more about Scots College at www.scotscollege.school.nz

 

Presbyterian Support Central was founded in 1909 by the Minister of St John’s, Rev James Gibb. Initially, the work was focused on services for orphaned and destitute children – before there was a basic social welfare system. Their services have expanded considerably since then, including care for older people. Covering the lower North Island, Presbyterian Support Central is recognised as part of one of the largest and most comprehensive not-for-profit social service organisations in the country, offering a range of health and welfare services to people, regardless of background, belief, or ability to pay.

St John’s administers bequests left for people in need, and a portion of this money is regularly directed to Presbyterian Support Central to support their work. Find out more about the Presbyterian Support Central at http://www.psc.org.nz/

 

Grants to community programmes and projects

The St John’s Outreach Committee allocates grants each year to a wide range of organisations to help them in their work. See the Grants Page for more info.

Some community programmes and projects that we have supported previously include the following.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Global outreach

St John’s affiliations with the mission of the church allow us to engage with the world outside of New Zealand also. We look for ways that supporting global projects can also be reflected in in our worship and encourage faith development.

We have been supporting (since 2004) two St John's members called to mission work overseas. They support people in great need and where there is no one else to turn to. St John's provides both financial and prayer support.

international mission work grants 2020

Following Cyclone Harold wreaking havoc in Vanuatu in April, the Moderator of Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand (PCANZ) put out a call for a special appeal. As PCANZ have been unable to to send anyone in person to help due to Covid-19 border restrictions, providing financial support is a significant boost to the Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu’s rebuilding programme, and we are pleased we could help in this way. See the PCANZ website for more details about the appeal.

Our second grant for 2020 was to the Christian World Service to help people in the Middle East already suffering hardship in refugee camps and communities. With Covid-19, this hardship has increased even more, as clean water and electricity are in short supply, and social distancing impossible as there is simply no room to do so. Medical services and medicines are also in short supply. We have provided funds to buy emergency food parcels or vouchers and hygiene kits for families. If you would like to make a personal donation, the Christian World Service website has more information on how you can do this.