New Life Churches
Encyclopedia
New Life Churches International is a Pentecostal Christian
church denomination that was formally established in New Zealand
in the 1960s. It was led for many years by Rob Wheeler, a New Zealand Evangelist
and Peter Morrow, an Australia
n evangelist. Early influences date from the 1940s when a series of meetings conducted by overseas 'Bethel Temple' missionaries resulted in the planting of congregations in New Zealand and Australia. Some of its early leaders, including Morrow, attended a Bible college
in Sydney
in 1951. Further evangelistic campaigns and training occurred after 1957 and throughout the 1960s.
In 1960, meetings began in Timaru
that led to the establishment of Timaru New Life Centre. Also many evangelistic campaigns took place throughout New Zealand. The first missionaries were sent overseas in this period. Peter Morrow began work in Christchurch
in 1962 as the pastor of the church there, which was then known as the Christchurch Revival Fellowship. By 1964, thirteen "indigenous" churches had been established in the South Island
. A number of congregations were planted in the North Island
over the same period. Bible schools were established in Tauranga
, Auckland
and Christchurch.
The New Life Churches, particularly in Auckland, were influential in setting up the Associated Pentecostal Churches of New Zealand
, a pan-Pentecostal fellowship of church groups, in 1975. In 1978 the Christchurch Revival Fellowship renamed itself to the New Life Centre Christchurch, later becoming City New Life Church and now known as Majestic Church. This church functioned as the administrative offices of the New Life Centres of New Zealand for many years in the late 1980s and 1990s, but is now an independent fellowship having left the New Life Churches movement.
The movement continued to grow throughout the 1970s and 1980s with the establishment of new churches in New Zealand and the South Pacific
, and missionaries continued to be sent overseas. In 1988, the New Life Centres of New Zealand changed its name to the New Life Churches of New Zealand. It had also formally recognised the apostolic
leadership of Peter Morrow and Rob Wheeler the previous year.
The church also became involved heavily in social conservative political activism against the ratification of the United Nations
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
in 1984, the establishment of Lyndhurst Hospital (a free-standing abortion clinic) in Christchurch, and passage of the Homosexual Law Reform Act
in 1986. They had also earlier been involved in the establishment of the Coalition of Concerned Citizens
in 1974 and the Save Our Homes Campaign in 1977.
The New Life Churches are now an international movement with affiliates in Australia, Asia
and the Pacific. In keeping with Pentecostal Congregationalist
philosophy, individual churches in the NLCNZ are autonomous and not governed by the central organisation.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
church denomination that was formally established in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in the 1960s. It was led for many years by Rob Wheeler, a New Zealand Evangelist
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
and Peter Morrow, an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n evangelist. Early influences date from the 1940s when a series of meetings conducted by overseas 'Bethel Temple' missionaries resulted in the planting of congregations in New Zealand and Australia. Some of its early leaders, including Morrow, attended a Bible college
Bible college
Bible colleges are institutions of higher education that specialize in biblical studies. Curriculum is Bible-based and differs from that of liberal arts colleges or research universities. Bible colleges generally exclude the study of philosophy, unlike seminaries and theological colleges...
in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
in 1951. Further evangelistic campaigns and training occurred after 1957 and throughout the 1960s.
In 1960, meetings began in Timaru
Timaru
TimaruUrban AreaPopulation:27,200Extent:Former Timaru City CouncilTerritorial AuthorityName:Timaru District CouncilPopulation:42,867 Land area:2,736.54 km² Mayor:Janie AnnearWebsite:...
that led to the establishment of Timaru New Life Centre. Also many evangelistic campaigns took place throughout New Zealand. The first missionaries were sent overseas in this period. Peter Morrow began work in Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
in 1962 as the pastor of the church there, which was then known as the Christchurch Revival Fellowship. By 1964, thirteen "indigenous" churches had been established in the South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
. A number of congregations were planted in the North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
over the same period. Bible schools were established in Tauranga
Tauranga
Tauranga is the most populous city in the Bay of Plenty region, in the North Island of New Zealand.It was settled by Europeans in the early 19th century and was constituted as a city in 1963...
, Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
and Christchurch.
The New Life Churches, particularly in Auckland, were influential in setting up the Associated Pentecostal Churches of New Zealand
Associated Pentecostal Churches of New Zealand
The Associated Pentecostal Churches of New Zealand is a fellowship of Pentecostal bodies in New Zealand founded in 1975.Members are:* Pentecostal Church of New Zealand ,* Assemblies of God in New Zealand,...
, a pan-Pentecostal fellowship of church groups, in 1975. In 1978 the Christchurch Revival Fellowship renamed itself to the New Life Centre Christchurch, later becoming City New Life Church and now known as Majestic Church. This church functioned as the administrative offices of the New Life Centres of New Zealand for many years in the late 1980s and 1990s, but is now an independent fellowship having left the New Life Churches movement.
The movement continued to grow throughout the 1970s and 1980s with the establishment of new churches in New Zealand and the South Pacific
Oceania
Oceania is a region centered on the islands of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Conceptions of what constitutes Oceania range from the coral atolls and volcanic islands of the South Pacific to the entire insular region between Asia and the Americas, including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago...
, and missionaries continued to be sent overseas. In 1988, the New Life Centres of New Zealand changed its name to the New Life Churches of New Zealand. It had also formally recognised the apostolic
Apostolic
Apostolic may refer to:An Apostle meaning one sent on a mission*The Twelve Apostles of Jesus, or something related to them, such as the Church of the Holy Apostles...
leadership of Peter Morrow and Rob Wheeler the previous year.
The church also became involved heavily in social conservative political activism against the ratification of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women is an international convention adopted in 1979 by the United Nations General Assembly....
in 1984, the establishment of Lyndhurst Hospital (a free-standing abortion clinic) in Christchurch, and passage of the Homosexual Law Reform Act
Homosexual Law Reform Act
The New Zealand Homosexual Law Reform Act 1986 is a law that legalised consensual sex between men aged 16 and older. It removed the provisions of the Crimes Act 1961 that criminalised this behaviour.-Background:...
in 1986. They had also earlier been involved in the establishment of the Coalition of Concerned Citizens
Coalition of Concerned Citizens
The Coalition of Concerned Citizens was a New Zealand Christian conservative pressure group, and one of several attempts to form pro-censorship, anti-abortion, anti-gay and sex education opponents into a comprehensive social conservative political coalition...
in 1974 and the Save Our Homes Campaign in 1977.
The New Life Churches are now an international movement with affiliates in Australia, Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
and the Pacific. In keeping with Pentecostal Congregationalist
Congregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
philosophy, individual churches in the NLCNZ are autonomous and not governed by the central organisation.