Anglican Missions

02/09/2026

We think mission is a way of being, not a way of doing. So, we’ve created a 30 day prayer resource so that you can pray and reflect on mission over a month that suits you!

This 30 day prayer resource is designed for you to use it in your small groups, parish worship, or personal devotions. Download the resource from our website or hit the link below.

www.anglicanmissions.org.nz

28/08/2026

❗️EMERGENCY APPEAL - NEPAL❗️

A major flash flood has torn through northern Nepal, killing hundreds and leaving hundreds more injured. The toll is rising.

We're partnering with Tearfund New Zealand to help those in need today. Your donation will provide safe water, food, emergency healthcare and shelter for those affected.

Donate here: anglicanmissions.org.nz/appeals/nepal

The Nepal floods have killed at least 157 people and devastated communities in the country's north. Give through Anglican Missions to provide shelter, clean water and emergency relief.

22/07/2026

We were honoured to host the Wellington leg of the Bearing Witness tour with Christians for Peace in Palestine.

This nationwide tour features esteemed Palestinian Christian theologians Dr. Lamma Mansour and Dr. Yousef Khoury. They shared stories of their homeland, their families and the Christian community in Palestine.

Their invitation to us was to consider what attentiveness, truth-telling and active peacemaking might look like in our own lives, our parishes and our wider community.

A huge thank you to Lifepoint Church for their venue and technical support!

Anglican Movement have done a great writeup of the event which you can read below.

https://anglicanmovement.nz/blog/called-to-be-peacemakers-bearing-witness-comes-to-wellington

12/07/2026

Happy birthday, Benji. ✨

Earlier this year, we shared the heartbreaking news of the death of Benji Hartfield, the beloved son of our National Director, Michael Hartfield, and Jane, and much-loved brother of Olivia.

Today, on Benji’s birthday, we are deeply proud to share something hopeful that is being created in his memory.

The Benji Hartfield Creative Arts Programme is being established at the Rwenzori Special Needs Foundation in Western Uganda.

The programme has been founded through the generous contributions made in Benji’s memory at his funeral, together with a foundational donation from our friends at Future Partners.

That support has helped turn the love surrounding Benji and his family into something lasting: a creative space where children and young people with disabilities can express themselves, connect with others and experience joy.

Of all the programmes we have been privileged to support, this is one of the most personal and meaningful to us.

Benji was a photographer, painter, sculptor and gardener. He was endlessly creative, generous in spirit and deeply attentive to beauty, whether found in art, in nature or in the everyday world around him.

This programme carries that spirit forward.

The Rwenzori Special Needs Foundation supports children and young people with disabilities and their families in a context where disability can still bring exclusion and stigma.

For young people with severe intellectual disabilities or limited communication, opportunities to express themselves and participate fully can be especially limited.

Through painting, clay, music, movement and sensory activities, the programme will create a regular space where each young person can explore, connect and experience joy in a way that works for them.

There is no pressure to produce a finished artwork. The focus is on participation, expression and the simple dignity of being seen.

The programme will also train local staff and caregivers, particularly mothers, to lead these activities themselves using affordable, locally available materials. In this way, it can become a lasting part of life at RSNF and extend into the homes and families it supports.

Naming this programme after Benji feels profoundly fitting.

It brings together so much of what mattered to him: creativity, generosity, growth, beauty and the belief that every life has value. Through colour, texture, movement and shared moments of joy, Benji’s creative spirit will continue to make room for others.

Today, we remember Benji with love, and we continue to hold Michael, Jane, Olivia and all those who love him in our prayers.

For those who would like to mark Benji’s birthday in a practical way, a gift of $26 in his memory will support our food and livelihoods programme alongside families connected with the Rwenzori Special Needs Foundation.

🎨 Learn more about the programme and give in Benji’s memory:
https://anglicanmissions.org.nz/food-and-livelihoods/rsnf/

30/06/2026

❗️EMERGENCY APPEAL - VENEZUELA❗️

Two powerful earthquakes have devastated northern Venezuela, leaving families grieving, injured, displaced and waiting for news of missing loved ones.

Anglican Missions is launching an emergency appeal to support the local Anglican response through the Episcopal Diocese of Venezuela and Anglican Alliance partners.

Immediate needs include food, water, health support and shelter.

Please pray for the people of Venezuela, and if you are able, give to support the response.

Donate here: anglicanmissions.org.nz/appeals/venezuela/

Powerful earthquakes have devastated northern Venezuela. Give through Anglican Missions to support food, water, health care and shelter through local Anglican partners.

26/06/2026

13/05/2026

“Rats are attacking babies.”

A devastating call from my friend Sawsan Batato from the Diocese of Jerusalem reveals a crisis in Gaza which is still unfolding beyond the headlines.

Read our latest Substack piece by our Humanitarian and Development Manager Mark Mitchell here.

“Rats are attacking babies.” A devastating call from my friend Sawsan Batato from the Diocese of Jerusalem reveals a crisis still unfolding beyond the headlines.

07/05/2026

Pray the News has a new home!

Our latest edition (and our first on Substack) looks at Iran, energy, and the hidden humanitarian impact of rising fuel costs.

When energy prices rise, the pressure is not only felt at petrol pumps or in weekly shopping bills. For vulnerable communities, it can affect food security, livelihoods, transport, electricity, and the cost of getting humanitarian aid to those who need it most.

In this edition, we pause to pray for those most exposed to these rising pressures, for communities already living with conflict and instability, and for those working to provide practical support in increasingly difficult conditions.

Read the latest edition of Pray the News now!

If you haven’t already, consider subscribing on Substack so future editions arrive directly in your inbox.

The conflict involving Iran is driving up energy costs and disrupting supply chains, with the heaviest burden falling on vulnerable communities already facing insecurity.

06/05/2026

Our Anglican Missions team was grateful to spend time in Fiji in April for ORAC 2026, the Oceania Regional Advisory Committee conference.

ORAC brings together Anglican development agencies and church partners from across Oceania and the wider Anglican Communion. For us, it was a wonderful opportunity to listen, learn, share stories, and spend time with partners and friends from across the region.

The week held rich conversations around disaster preparedness, climate resilience, safeguarding, gender justice, water and sanitation, oceans and plastics, and ethical development practice. We were also pleased to contribute to the programme, with Kris leading a workshop on artificial intelligence and what it may mean for church, mission and development work.

Gatherings like ORAC remind us that mission is never just about projects or programmes. It is about people, relationships, trust, and the work we do together over time.

We give thanks for the faithful work already happening across Oceania, and for the partnerships that continue to shape and strengthen our shared mission.

19/04/2026

As we watch the impact of flooding across Wellington today, we're reminded that while we can’t control the weather, we can control how we stay connected.

We're seeing incredible examples of local coordination right now, with communities using platforms like WhatsApp to check in on neighbours, organise local clean-ups, and share real-time updates.

Our National Director, Michael, has been seeing this first-hand with his own congregation at St Hilda’s, using digital groups to ensure the drains are kept clean and people affected have dry bedding and towels.

Is your community ready to communicate?

When a weather event starts, having a pre-established group chat or phone tree can be the difference between a rapid response and a missed opportunity to help. We encourage all parishes and community groups to:

🟢 Establish your channel now: Don't wait for the event to happen to set up your WhatsApp or messenger groups.

🟢 Assign roles: Who is checking on the elderly? Who is monitoring the church drains?

🟢 Use our resources: We have developed a suite of disaster preparedness guides to help you navigate these moments safely and effectively.

Explore our preparedness resources here:
👉 https://anglicanmissions.org.nz/emergency-preparedness/

Our thoughts are with everyone currently dealing with water damage and local clean-ups. Stay safe, stay connected, and keep looking out for one another.

Faith Communities have always served in times of disaster and cared for those in need. Churches and marae already have significant strengths that can be incredibly effective in supporting communities before, during and after disasters. These strengths include familiar buildings, established connecti...