RIM RESIDENT TO SERVE IN AUCKLAND
World Methodist Evangelism is excited to launch the Residency In Mission program with the placement of our first Resident, Eliza Edge. Eliza will serve in Auckland, New Zealand at the Millwater Wesleyan Methodist Church of New Zealand.
As a part of our ongoing commitment to raise up the next generation of leadership in Evangelism and Mission, RIM seeks to foster evangelistic and missional engagement and learning among young adults in the Wesleyan Family through intentional service, guided mentorship, and robust theological reflection. Eliza will serve with key leaders in church planting, evangelism, and mission in a highly secular environment in Auckland.
Despite New Zealand’s famous scenery, known internationally through movies such as the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and its first-world economic status, New Zealand has always had a secular cultural component. In more recent years there has been a marked increase of this secularism with nearly 40% of the population indicating they have no religion. According to one analysis New Zealand is the most secular English-speaking country in the world! Against this secularism backdrop and with its accompanied mental health and addiction issues there are many opportunities to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. Such work needs always needs to be done intelligibly and with grace and truth (John 1:14). Rev. Dr. Richard Waugh, WME Regional Secretary for the Pacific Region and National Superintendent of the Wesleyan Methodist Church of New Zealand says, “It is vital that young people have opportunity to understand the gospel and why the church is such a life-giving part of society. Young committed Christians can have a prominent role in such missional work, and we are excited by the potential of ‘Residency in Mission’ (RIM) through World Methodist Evangelism.”
Learn more about the need for the work of World Methodist Evangelism in New Zealand and the way RIM is filling that need by watching this video from Dr. Waugh.
Eliza is uniquely qualified to serve through a variety of gifts and talents. A recent graduate of the University of Cincinnati, Eliza has been active Wesleyan Methodist ministries throughout her life. She has experience working with youth and children and is an accomplished musician. Using these gifts and experiences in Auckland will not only serve the local church but also help prepare her to use these gifts through lifetime of service to the Kingdom of God. Eliza describes her service with great humility, “I am under no misconception that I can save a country, a city or even one person, but I do know that God can and has saved the world and all I can do is allow the one who is almighty to work through me….”
The Residency In Mission program provides this real-life learning lab through a variety of activities:
- Working with World Methodist Evangelism Regional Secretaries and local ministry leadership, World Methodist Evangelism facilitates Residency In Mission opportunities for young adults. Ideally, these ministry contexts will be in cross-cultural, international settings to strengthen bonds of global ministry, mutual learning, and ministry partnership.
- Residency In Mission students will be embedded in places of service that allow them to use their gifts and talents to benefit the local ministry, while developing new skills, understanding, and leadership abilities.
- Mentors provided by World Methodist Evangelism will provide learning opportunities, coaching, mentoring, and spiritual guidance for Residency In Mission students.
We invite you to prayerfully support Eliza, the pastors in New Zealand, and those whom they will serve. To support RIM, the residents, or to learn more, visit www.ResidencyInMission.org.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]