Neurodiversity and Youth Ministry
Kelly McLeod (2024)
Kelly is from the budding metropolis that is Rolleston, Canterbury, and is a mum of two amazing teens,(that are both neurodiverse). She is currently working with Youth and Young Adults for Cornerstone Church Rolleston.
Kelly grew up with a cousin who was blind and had autism, and another that had quite extreme ADHD. Living life closely with them gave me a massive heart for those with neurodiversity. She went on to work for (what was then) IHC specialising in autism and epilepsy. She graduated from Bible College in 2008 and has the privilege of serving God wherever he places her.
The World is Not Ours to Save – Our Role in God’s Mission
Jen Lun (Anglican Missions) and Rev Rosie Fyfe (NZ Church Missionary Society)(2024)
It's a big world! Where do we even begin? We have two incredible organisations pulling this workshop together, to help us figure out how to engage here and abroad - individually, as families, with youth ministry teams, and with our young people.
Living Wage and the Faith Community
Finn Cordwell (2024)
Finn is a community organiser focused on building power across faith, union, and community groups to ensure that public funds pay workers a fair wage, enabling them to live with dignity. In this workshop, he explains how the church can join together to create change.
Making ministry spaces actively welcoming to our rainbow community
Esme and friends (2024)
Esmé is a software developer, organiser and very bad basketball player. She has spent the last five years living in and helping to lead a network of community houses - including an old backpackers that was a space of discipleship, prayer and radical hospitality in central Pōneke.
She now lives in Kelburn with her wife Aleisha, their pet fish, and some friends from that community who didn’t get sick of her nacho recipe.
Join Esme and Aleisha as they share their lived experience and discuss how to make ministry spaces actively welcoming to the rainbow community.
Designing a personal rule of life
Rev. Spanky Moore (2024)
Over the past few years John Mark Comer and others have helped raise the interest in this ancient, exotic thing called a "Rule of Life". Many Christians down through the ages have found them to be a profound and practical way to grow as a follower of Jesus.
Spanky is one of New Zealand's leading voices in how a Rule of Life can help young adults in their spiritual formation. Join him as he introduces what one is, and how it can help you to flourish in your faith.
When Faith is Forbidden
Courtney Cray (2024)
In over 60 countries, sharing your faith in Jesus, owning a Bible, or gathering to worship could lead to violence, hardships, imprisonment, or even death. This workshop explores the profound experiences of those who risk everything for the gospel, offering practical and spiritual ways to support them. Join us to learn how to embody God's love and forgiveness, and stand in solidarity with our persecuted family.
Youth Work in School's 101
Georgia Armstrong (2025)
Georgia lives in sunny Nelson with her husband, Dan. Though she was born and raised in Australia, she has been living in the amazing Aotearoa for 9 years. For the past 7.5 years, she has worked as a Youth pastor for St Barnabas Anglican church, and as a 24-7 Youth Worker in Waimea College.
Whether you have already begun your school ministry journey, or you are open to the idea of working in a school, you'll glean some new insights from this workshop.
Listen to the talk to hear some hot tips, some stories, some epic fails, and some unexpected wins Georgia has discovered during her time as a youth worker in a high school.
Reclaiming Joy Through Forgiveness
Rev. Pete Hull
Forgiveness can be one of the hardest things we are called to do as Christians, but it is also one of the most freeing.
In this workshop, Pete will share his own story of how forgiving someone challenged him, changed him, and drew him closer to God. Pete will talk honestly about the struggle, the process, and the surprising healing that followed.
Whether you’re wrestling with forgiveness or just interested in hearing Pete’s story, come along for an honest sharing of grace, healing, and freedom.
Working the soil: Why the church needs more creatives
Rev. Sam and Petra Oomen (2025)
How does creativity reflect the image of God? What value do art and aesthetics have in his Kingdom? What is the call of creativity in the life of every Christian?
Petra brings a practical perspective as an artist and employed creative in the Nelson Anglican Diocese, while Sam, a youth worker at All Saints in Nelson with a bachelor of applied theology, explores creativity through a biblical lens.
The Stones in our Soil
Rev. Spanky Moore (2025)
Rev Spanky Moore comes from Whakatu/Nelson where he works for the Anglican church as a Pioneering Ministry Developer. In his past lives he's been the Senior Chaplain at the University of Canterbury, a breakfast host on a student radio station, and the frontman of a notorious punk rock band. Spanky is passionate about storytelling, discipleship, mission, and journeying with young people as they navigate what it means to follow Jesus in this crazy world.
Before becoming the Pioneering Ministry Developer for the Diocese of Nelson, Spanky Moore was Chaplain and the University of Canterbury. From things learned in conversations with immigrants and international students, Spanky will share unique insights into what many of us don’t know about ourselves, and how this might affect the way we share the Gospel in Aotearoa.
Working through Anxiety
Miriam Bucknell (2025)
Miriam lives on the beautiful Kapiti Coast with her husband Tama and 2 of her 5 children. She is an Educator for Praxis looking after the Year 2 Diploma students across the motu, and has also worked as a teacher, secondary school guidance counsellor, and volunteer youth worker.
In her workshop Miriam explores the area of anxiety. What is looks like, what’s happening in our brain, and some simple techniques to manage anxiety. In this workshop expect to be entertained by stories, lots of Talanoa and questions.
