Last August my family and I had the vacation of a lifetime. We spent a month in New Zealand. You probably read this newspaper's coverage of our adventures kayaking down wide rivers, horseback riding through fern forests, and walking in caves filled with glowworms and wetas (long-legged insects). Besides all the outdoor adventures, we also visited Kiwi churches. While staying with dear friends Liz and Andrew Griffith in Wellington, they took us to their local fellowship, Churton Park Anglican Church.

The church was started 12 years ago, to serve the suburban people on the hilly northern outskirts of Wellington. The church's theme is a vineyard, as Jesus said,

"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit . . ." (John 15:5).

Their weekly bulletin is called "Wine Press," and the church seeks to share Christ's love with their community in an contemporary, vibrant, and creative way. Besides the Sunday morning service, the church also offers home groups and prayer meetings throughout the week, children's programs, youth programs, women's programs, men's programs, weekend retreats, and occasional Sunday evening services.

When we met Rev. Danny Te Hiko, he said, "Call me Danny" as he shook our hands and smiled in the Pacific Islander way (Danny is half Maori, the native people who sailed in wooden outriggers from Hawaii to New Zealand over 1000 years ago). Danny wore a simple black suit with a white clergy collar, which went well with the church's informal setting at the local elementary school's auditorium. The church service was informative and inspiring--with a praise band, upbeat music, and a relevant Biblical message. We were invited to partake in Communion, and as Danny served us the bread and wine, he called us by name and added (in a lilting Kiwi accent),

"This is the blood of Christ, shed for you."

His act of service and hospitality--a living example of Christ's love--welcomed us to a new land. And we realized that God's church is not centered in California--but can be found in far-off places.

The church offered us tea and fellowship after the service, and many people came to greet us, including Danny's wife Linda, a blond woman who has four girls of her own, works with preschoolers, and serves as the church "Mother."

We knew we would return to the Kiwi church near hills filled with silver fern trees that point toward the sea.

After we came back to California last September, Liz Griffith and Rev. Danny sent us emails--especially during The Old Fire. As we evacuated to the valley and stared up at our burning mountain, Danny wrote that he and the Churton Park church were praying for us. As we watched the mixed-up television news and wondered if all our mountaintop communities were destroyed, Liz typed a comforting Bible verse:

"When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior." (Isaiah 43:2b-3a)

Though some of us lost homes and possessions, no one was killed by the fire--not even the firefighters who battled the flames. We all remember how the wind changed direction, the heat cooled, snow fell in October, and the towns, schools, businesses, and churches on the mountaintop were mostly spared--as if God stretched out His hand against the walls of flame. And we wrote about the experience or photographed it or tried to forget it and rebuild. And the burned forest trails were repaired, the blackened trees cut down, the daffodils bloomed near scorched walls, and the grass grew again on the ashen slopes.

And this summer, my family and I returned to our Sister Church in New Zealand.

Rev. Danny unexpectedly met us at the airport on a frosty June morning (our summer is their winter). He hugged us and gave Jonathan a wrapped present for his ninth birthday. I gave Danny a copy of the "Mountain News" because he and other local pastors are hoping to start a Worship Page in a Wellington newspaper. Then Danny--like a Guardian Angel--led us through the one-way streets of Downtown Wellington, a windblown city by a bay. Edd drove the rental car on the left side of the road, I abandoned all hopes of following the map, and we arrived at Liz and Andrew's Churton Park home.

We were glad to be back at our Sister Church beneath the Equator, 11,000 kilometers across the Pacific Ocean.

On Sunday morning, Rev. Danny baptized a baby girl named Amy Grace, spoke about God's grace in our lives, and asked Edd and me to share our testimonies.

"A testimony is a powerful thing," he told the congregation. "You share the true story of how God is working in your life--and how He can help others, too."

"Greetings from your Sister Churches in the California mountains," I said as I stood at the podium. "And thank you all for your prayers."

After the service, people gave us tea, touring books, and offers of spare rooms. Liz and Andrew brought us back to their home for lunch and rest before the special potluck service Rev. Danny had arranged.

On Sunday night, the elementary school auditorium became a dining room as we sampled multicultural dishes like curried chicken, roasted yams, and veggie noodles (the congregation consists of people from India, South Africa, China, England, and the Pacific Islands--as well as native Kiwis). My husband Edd played his guitar and led the people in worship songs. Then we presented our slideshow of The Old Fire--before, during, and after. The audience gasped at 300-foot flames above pine trees, firemen pouring water on gutted houses, and the barren slopes of ash and charred chimneys that remained. They asked questions about rebuilding, and they fed us dessert Kiwi-style (ice cream covered by fruit and served with cups of tea).

We gave them "salvation bracelets" handmade by a missionary to Mexico. The colored beads on elastic bands tell the Gospel story of how our black sins were made white by Christ's red blood so that we could grow green with Him and each other and live forever in a place more beautiful than gold.

Then Rev. Danny and the church prayed for us and our journey to the vast South Island where many churches have been closed or abandoned so that farmers and townspeople have scant spiritual support.

"Before you leave, you must come out to lunch with Linda and me--at this buffet restaurant near Wellington Bay," Danny insisted with a smile. "And while you are gone, we will pray for you and send emails."

For more information about our Sister Church in New Zealand, visit the Web at www.cpacnz.org or call Rev. Danny Te Hiko at 64-4-478-4099.

Our mountain churches have a Sister Church in New Zealand--Churton Park Anglican Church near Wellington--and its pastor is Rev. Danny Te Hiko.

When my family and I first met Rev. Te Hiko last year during our initial trip to New Zealand, he said, "Call me Danny" as he shook our hands and smiled in the Pacific Islander way. Danny wore a simple black suit with a white clergy collar, which went well with the church's informal setting at the local elementary school's auditorium. The church service was contemporary and inspiring--with a praise band, upbeat music, and a relevant Biblical message.

When we returned to Churton Park this June, Rev. Danny agreed to an interview. He came to Phil and Margaret King's house where we were staying. The setting--a rainy day by the fern-covered hills and bushland that stretches toward the sea--seemed appropriate for interviewing a man native to the Islands of New Zealand, whose ancestors--the Maori people--first discovered "Aotearoa," the "land of the long white cloud," when they sailed in wooden outriggers from Hawaii over 1000 years ago.
Rev. Danny explained that The New Zealand Anglican Church is divided into seven dioceses, and that he is a priest in the Diocese of Wellington.

"We're officially called The Diocese of Aotearoa, New Zealand, and Polynesia," Rev. Danny explained.

Although the first missionaries to New Zealand came from the Church of England, the New Zealand Anglicans are now autonomous from the Church of England--and from American Episcopalians. But the Bishops of the Anglican Dioceses do gather together in England and share experiences, basic beliefs, and doctrinal issues.

"We have an Archbishop of New Zealand," Rev. Danny stated. "He was appointed a few weeks ago. He is Maori, Bishop Whakahuihui."

The New Zealand Anglicans are very supportive of women in the ministry and were one of the first countries in the world to allow women to be ordained. Penny Jamieson, who recently retired, was the first woman Bishop in the world.

Rev. Danny explained his Maori heritage:

"My father was Maori, and my mother is Chinese. My 'Iwi' (or tribe) is called Ngatiraukawa. Our genealogy is quite complicated; my brother has written it out."
When Rev. Danny's parents got married, there was a lot of racial tension. Because his mother married out of her Chinese heritage, her family disowned her.

"My father didn't want to force the Maori culture on his six children, and Mum didn't want to force the Chinese on us, so we were brought up in a neutral way," Danny said. "They wanted us to get a good education so that we could survive in a European-dominated culture."

Rev. Danny grew up in Whanganui, a seaside community north of Wellington. His mother was born in New Zealand but educated in China, and she had to work in the family market--where she met his Dad.

"My Dad was a good musician and singer and was involved in a local Maori Culture Club," Rev. Danny recalled. "I can remember going to various 'tangis' (Maori funerals). My father literally built our family home in Whanganui. I cannot remember going without anything. We had a good home life. My Dad had wanted to be a pilot, but he never got the chance, so he wanted his children to get an education and follow their dreams." Rev. Danny's father died when Danny was only 19, but his mother is still living.
"We were brought up Roman Catholic and went right through the Catholic education system," Rev. Danny declared with a grin. "When I left school, I had nothing to do with the Christian faith though I still believed in God."

Rev. Danny got a job for the local railroad, drafting, surveying, and working with Civil Engineers. With the railroad's help he got a Civil Engineering degree from Auckland University and worked as an engineer for 12 years before he went to Seminary.

He and Linda married in 1979. Linda had been brought up Anglican, and when their first daughter (Sarah) was born, Linda wanted to have the baby baptized in an Anglican church. Rev. Danny was happy with that, but the young couple didn't get involved with the church until later, after their third daughter was born.

"We realized we were saying baptismal vows to bring up our children in the Christian faith, so we got involved in the local Anglican church," Danny explained.

"God started working on me. I think He was working on me back when I was going to Catholic school because I had thought about becoming a Catholic priest. God called me back to the flock. I was engineering in Taupo when God called me to be an Anglican Priest. I had been thinking about it for months, and one night I couldn't sleep. I tossed and turned, sort of wrestling with God. In the wee hours of morning, I finally decided to be a priest, God's peace came, and I was able to fall asleep."

Rev. Danny went to The College of Saint John the Evangelist in Auckland for three years, finishing in 1993.

"It was a special time of focusing on God's word, and I look back on it as very precious. Linda was able to do theological papers as well--on Biblical languages. Now she is a preschool teacher."

The Te Hiko's first parish was in Rotaroua, a North Island lake town where Rev. Danny was the assistant priest. His first parish as priest was in Opotiki on the East Coast, a rural area with about 4000 people, half of them Maori. That was a good chance for Rev. Danny to be in touch with his Maori roots. The Te Hikos stayed there four years and loved the small-town life and fishing in the ocean. They weren't looking to move, but one day they got a letter from Churton Park, inviting Rev. Danny to come be their pastor.

"I initially threw the letter in the rubbish bin," Rev. Danny admitted with a grin. "Linda told me I should at least reply, so I began thinking and praying about it. God often sends the unexpected, and we finally realized that God was calling us to Churton Park. We came and met the people and knew it was meant to be. That was 3 1/2 years ago. We really love it here and hope to be here for a good length of time."

The older Te Hiko daughters are now either in college or graduated and working in the field of education or business. The youngest, Jessica, is still in high school, and Linda is Jessica's field hockey "Team Mum."

Although Churton Park is an Anglican church, many of the members were not raised Anglican. They worship in a contemporary way, not the traditional manner of using a prayer book. The church body consists of about 200 people, and half of them are children or youth.

"We have a big challenge to provide interesting children and youth programs," Rev. Danny explained. "And we are working on reaching out to the wider community. Several pastors and I hope to start a Worship Page like the one in the 'Mountain News.' Our church emphasizes missions and is sending a short-term team to a Pacific Island. Studying the word of God and prayer are very important for a growing church, as is fellowship with one another."

In New Zealand, only about 5% of the people go to church regularly. "So there's a huge potential!" Rev. Danny exclaimed. "We in New Zealand see ourselves as self-sufficient, so we don't need God. We're very isolated from the rest of the world, yet we are on the cutting edge of things and a leader in many ways, in fields such as technology, computers, education, sports, and entertainment, especially since Peter Jackson's Academy-Award-winning 'The Lord of the Rings' films. The films were so successful because they used many different locations throughout the country--forests, mountains, rugged coastal areas . . ."

In the early days, people thought of New Zealand as God's Own Land. Now there is no real concept of God. Even the National Anthem speaks of "God of nations" and is sung at the All Blacks' rugby games.

"Ask the people who God is, and they may not know," Rev. Danny observed. "Sports like rugby are some of our idols. Rugby, horse racing, and beer are our national religions."
Rev. Danny doesn't know much about the South Island, so he was surprised to hear of many churches being shut down or abandoned. The North Island seems to host most of the Promise Keepers and Harvest Crusade events. There are only a few Christian bookstores and one or two Christian radio or television stations in the entire country of New Zealand. Politically, the United Future Party (Christian-based) has lately gained more influence in Parliament. Many Christian leaders overseas have said that New Zealand is going to be a place God will impact and make a light to the world.

"New Zealand has major problems with alcoholism, teenage suicide, abortions, and child abuse. We're on the cutting edge of wrong things as well," Rev. Danny added.

His favorite Bible verse is Philippians 4:13:

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

"I've held on to that for a long time," Rev. Danny said. "Someone once wrote it on a card and gave it to me, and I treasure it."

"Before I became a pastor, I was motivated by making money," Rev. Danny admitted. "But then I started asking questions like 'is making money all that life is about?' Being an engineer helped me, for it was a relationship type of job, and I can also use my experience for church building projects. I have no regrets. Linda and I see pastoring as a team effort, a partnership. Without her support, I wouldn't be able to do this. Linda visits the sick and is considered the church 'Mother.' She also plays the keyboard and does worship sometimes."

During their free time (which isn't often--being a pastor means long hours, phone calls in the middle of the night, and dealing with crisis), Danny and Linda love surf-casting (fishing on the beach). Danny has also taken up oil painting and golfing.

Danny would say to the church in America: "It's such a small world now. We're able to access what's happening in America. Forty Days of Purpose (from bestselling author and Pastor Rick Warren) has hit New Zealand, so we learn from each other. Prayer is the key. We pray for you, and you can pray for us. Keep praying that God's kingdom will come on earth--not only in America, but here in New Zealand."

For more information about our Sister Church in New Zealand or Rev. Danny Te Hiko, visit the Web at www.cpacnz.org. or call 64-4-478-4099. Or travel to New Zealand and attend a Sunday Service. You'll be sure to receive smiles, handshakes, and a cup of tea.

If you knock on the door of the Vicarage next to St. Peter's church in Queenstown, you will meet a large, bearded Scotsman who may invite you to sit by the fireplace and listen to fascinating narrations peppered with humor.

"I have been in the ministry for ten years," Rev. McCafferty explained as he and his wife Sue sat near the blazing fire. "And it was a long road that brought me here."

For the past year and a half, Hugh McCafferty has been Priest in Charge of the "Anglican Church in the Wakatipu," which covers St. Peter's in Queenstown and St. Paul's in Arrowtown. His wife also is an ordained Anglican priest of the "Upper Clutha" parish which covers Wanaka, Cromwell, and the surrounding areas.

Hugh's parents were from western Scotland, and he was raised as a Catholic in London, England. He went through the Catholic education system and even attended Seminary where he studied to be a priest and a missionary. He received his Baccalaureate in Theology from Stausburgh University, but his career as a Catholic priest was short-lived when he returned to London and met Sue, an Anglican nurse in a local hospital. They married and moved to the South Island of New Zealand in 1975. They raised their four children in Catholicism but sometimes took Communion at the Anglican church as well. Hugh began studying social sciences and worked for Anglican Social Services in South Canterbury. Then the family moved to Dunedin where Sue began studying for her License in Theology at Selwyn University. She was ordained as an Anglican priest in 1993 while Huge was still working with Social Services.

"Local Anglican churches started asking me to be a guest preacher, and I realized they liked me," Hugh admitted with a grin. "That started me thinking about pursuing ministry in the Anglican Church. I had been working at a psychiatric hospital and for the Department of Child Protection. I was doing the gritty end of stuff. I wasn't burned out, but I was ready for change when the Call came," McCafferty explained.

"I don't often get telephone calls from God, but I occasionally do, and when I saw a job advertised for a University Chaplain, I knew God had prepared that job for me. Bishop Penny also encouraged me."

As time went on, people kept asking Hugh to bless things or marry them, so Bishop Penny encouraged him to use that theological degree he had obtained from Strausburgh. He was ordained and then pursued some postgraduate studies in Theology at Otago University. He was Chaplain for five years at Selwyn College (the original college in New Zealand, founded in 1869) and Warden of one of the Halls of Residence for three years.

"I was good at working with the students, but I didn't like the business and staffing issues of working with the Halls of Residence," Rev. McCafferty stated. "But it was nice to get dressed up for the dinners in the grand hall," he added with a wink.

The McCaffertys' life changed when they moved to Queenstown.

A young woman named Jazi Ewington was buried by Rev. McCafferty a couple of weeks ago. Feeling isolated and in despair, she took her own life.

Rev. McCafferty believes that one reason for the high incidence of suicide in the modern world is that the personal village life has been changed to the impersonal city life. People generally don't have the close relationships that came with village life, and they suffer from a lack of norms.

"Many young people come to Queenstown looking for a good time," Rev. McCafferty stated. "Those who have a solid family life, a supportive group of friends, and a good internal structure seem to cope well with their problems. But those who come to try and work out their problems in Queenstown--where one can party every night--find difficulty. They may not be able to hold down a joy and keep partying."

"The church is not reaching those young people--I am not reaching those young people--but somehow we've got to try," he declared. "I said at Jazi's funeral that if you are out and about at night and your private devil is out to get you, know you are not alone. You can come and see the old fogey who lives at the Vicarage." He smiled and added, "Many friends of Jazzy were at her funeral. She had friends; she just didn't realize it."

Rev. McCafferty also mentioned that St. Peter's might be able to create some sort of youth shelter when they build their new Church Complex. He has mentioned his idea to various other local priests and pastors and received positive response.

"We want to offer something to the youth of our town. A lot of folk come to Queenstown because it is the land of dreams. Sue and I get people knocking on our door because they have no money or job. The best advice I give is to tell them to put their thumb out and go back to where they came from but not to stay here because it can be a cruel place."

Queenstown currently has no night shelter, but the Citizen's Advice Bureau, backpackers' lodgings, and camps can help.

"I've put people up in the campsites and even had them stay here in the Vicarage overnight, though I don't encourage that. I have some discretionary money I can use to help those is a tight spot."

What can one do to help a depressed young person on the brink of suicide?

"You can get alongside and talk to him or her, and that can be encouraging," Rev. McCafferty said. "Micah 6 states that 'He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.'"

"The Gospel is a simple message, but it's not easy," Rev. McCafferty observed. "People are putting sex, liquor, and drugs into a God-shaped hole inside them. No amount of sex, liquor, or drugs can fill that hole." When people start realizing that, they may come to church, find a personal relationship with Christ, and discover that the Bible is not just stale words but life--and that church is not a duty but a joy.

"There's more than one way of serving God. There are plenty of churches here in our community, like the Catholics, Baptists, and Presbyterians. We are on the same team. Most of the clergy meet on Friday mornings to pray for this town. I think God is going to do something here!" McCafferty exclaimed.

For a Good Friday service, the local churches gather together and carry a cross up the hill to the Catholic Church. Many people turn up for that. At Christmas the churches serve a dinner for the backpacker community. The Presbyterians host Pasta Evenings on Friday nights at 7:00 for the youth--with Mark Wilson (the local jazz genius) playing keyboard. The Salvation Army offers an after-school children's program on Wednesdays from 3:30 until 5:00, with games and other activities (Rev. McCafferty often shows up to help with that).

Because St. Peter's is an iconic church set in a central location, Rev. McCafferty wants to make the facilities available to the townspeopl--like they did for the Winter Festival. The church put a float in the parade (a miniature of the church on which McCafferty wore his vestments and played "the Mad Vicar," complete with a saxophone and a choir). St. Peter's Sunday Service was part of the official Winter Festival events, and the church was decorated with flowers to celebrate. Last year the church was part of the local Jazz festival, and talented church members like Mark Wilson participated.

Rev. McCafferty leaves the church open all day so that people can come in to light a candle and pray.

"We believe in showing hospitality--in turning tourists into pilgrims," Rev. McCafferty chuckled.

St. Peter's has Holy Communion On Wednesday mornings at 10:00, Thursday mornings at 7:30, and Saturdays at 7:30 and 10:30 (3:00 p.m. in Glenorchy). "Taize" worships occur on occasional Sunday evenings, with periods of silence, monastic-style chanting, and a praise band--which younger people enjoy.

The McCafferty's four children are grown and pursuing their own careers. Hugh (28) is social worker; Jim (27) a policeman; Claire (24) a botanist; and John (21), an artist.

Like many hard workers, Rev. McCafferty had a period in his life when he faced burnout. Bishop Penny helped him with that, as did therapists and medication.

"I learned a couple of metaphors that helped me. One was 'showing my steel.' That meant to learn to stand up a bit, like a knight would just show part of his sword by starting to slide it out of the scabbard. Ironically, I became a navy Chaplain! I'm planning to meet with the ship 'Te Mana' when she leaves the Persian Gulf and sails from Perth back to Auckland in September. The other metaphor was 'finding my voice,' so I took singing lessons--much cheaper than psychotherapy. Using 'my voice' means knowing I have authority and claiming it--saying 'no' when necessary."

McCafferty paused a moment and remembered something he had declared at Jazi's funeral:

"I don't want to bury you."

If you find yourself needing help, take up Rev. McCafferty's offer. St. Peter's is open all day, and there is usually an old fogey at the Vicarage--day and night.

For more information, you can contact Rev. Hugh McCafferty at 1 Earl Street in Queenstown, phone number (03) 442-8391; email anglican@queenstown.co.nz; website www.stpeters.co.nz. (Special thanks to the "Mountain Scene")