Born at 31 weeks herself, Jocelyn Ho knew how overwhelming life beside a Special Care Baby Unit can be. So she and a friend created Little Footsteps, a keepsake journal and music box for parents of premature babies at North Shore Hospital. With words from church friends and artwork from Hong Kong, 50 packs are now bringing comfort to families in their hardest moments. Read the full story to see how it came together.

How can churches help tackle some of the biggest challenges facing their communities? The Kaurihohore/Kamo Co-operating Parish brought together local experts, community organisations and residents for a six-week series exploring issues such as child poverty, housing, addiction, crime and Māori wellbeing. Through honest conversations and a shared commitment to justice, participants identified practical ways to strengthen connections and create positive change across Whangārei.

From two damp, disused rooms beneath Cashmere Presbyterian Church, The Book Cellar has grown into a beloved neighbourhood second-hand bookshop and gathering place. Founded by Kathleen after a chance experience volunteering at another church's bookshop, and backed from the start by minister Hamish's enthusiastic support, this community-powered project transformed unused space into somewhere people linger over coffee and conversation as much as books. Having just marked its first anniversary with a bustling book sale that raised $600, The Book Cellar shows how a borrowed idea, a working bee, and a community willing to say yes can turn two forgotten rooms into a place of genuine connection.

From a converted building on the edge of Saint Kentigern College, The Shed has grown into a vital food distribution hub supporting Auckland families through hardship. Established during the 2020 lockdown by the Saint Kentigern community, The Shed works alongside trusted social workers and partner schools to deliver food parcels with dignity and privacy at the heart of every delivery. With 70 boxes now distributed each week and hundreds of thousands of dollars in food and support provided since its founding, this student- and family-powered initiative continues to prove that even a small space can hold extraordinary generosity.

Good Grief South Collective is transforming the way our community experiences loss. Founded from personal tragedy and powered by compassion, this South Auckland movement is creating safe spaces where people can share their stories, honour loved ones and find strength in connection. Through creative events, workshops, retreats and community partnerships, Good Grief reminds us that healing does not have to happen alone. By replacing silence with conversation and isolation with belonging, they are helping grief become a journey shared, with dignity, hope and heart.

From a mission project planted in the heart of Ōpōtiki, Oasis is emerging as a fresh expression of church focused on relationships, prayer, and community engagement. Led by Jared and Jess Suisted, Oasis seeks to create welcoming spaces where people can encounter God, grow in faith, and find practical and spiritual support for life's journey. With hundreds of local connections already formed and the recent opening of Oasis House as a community mission hub, this growing faith community is helping reimagine what church can look like in today's world.

The Rev Dr Peter Clarkson Matheson (1938–2025) was a respected theologian, historian, poet, and peace activist whose life was shaped by a deep commitment to justice, reconciliation, and faith. From leading anti-nuclear protests and advocating for environmental action to pioneering scholarship on the Reformation and fostering communities of hospitality and inclusion, Peter combined intellectual rigour with compassionate activism. This tribute reflects on his remarkable journey across academia, church leadership, and public life, and the enduring legacy of a man who believed in the power of words, hope, and faith to transform the world.

The English language conversation groups at Chartwell Cooperating Church in Hamilton provide a welcoming space where adults from many cultures can practise English, build confidence and form friendships. Through guided small-group conversations in a supportive, faith-based setting, participants find their voice, grow in fluency, and experience belonging, dignity and mutual learning.

Whare Kai: A hand up, not a hand out describes how Have a Heart evolved its Covid-era food parcel service into Whare Kai, a community food hub that prioritises dignity, choice and sustainability. By redistributing rescued food, supplying local Pātaka Kai, and creating volunteering and employment opportunities, Whare Kai strengthens food security, empowers people, and builds a culture of connection and generosity across the Eastern Bay of Plenty.

Have a Heart is a Whakatāne-based community initiative started by Rev Chris Barnard to connect people with local support services and strengthen community wellbeing. What began as a church project has grown into an independent charitable trust delivering large community events, social programmes, and support services that now reach thousands each year and aim to be self-sustaining.

In central Auckland, Rev. Won Hyuk Joung is reimagining church through WeCare Ministry and BE:LOVED Church. What began as simple outreach has grown into a relational movement that empowers people to care for one another and explores new expressions of church with the support of Forge Aotearoa.

A growing youth gathering at Ōhope Marae is helping young people explore the connection between Christian faith and Te Ao Māori. Hosted by Presbyterian Youth Ministry and Te Aka Puahou, students from across Aotearoa experience marae life, learn tikanga, and engage with the history of Māori Christianity.