Here are the electives being offered at Envision 2011.

Sign-up sheets will be available during registration on the morning of 6 August.
There will be a limit of 25 in each elective.

Elective One

  1. Developing effective partnerships with National workers
    Steve, originally from Kenya, will discuss from his wealth of knowledge how to effectively partner and establish relationships in indigenous churches. He will give valuable insights into the skills and giftings he sees New Zealanders can offer in missions.

  2. Helping Muslims to know Jesus> –
    Anyone wanting to build relationships with Muslims, in New Zealand or overseas, needs to attend this elective. You will look at keys to their mindset and how best to build relationships with them as well as how to intelligently pray for them.

  3. Hindus, Me and God
    A practical workshop for those interested in engaging with Hindus in a meaningful way. It will cover an overview of their beliefs, practices and thinking and how you might pray for them and best share the gospel with them.


  4. Mission through Aviation and Technology
    Passionate for effective mission, Mark will share about MAF's work in over 30 countries. This will be particularly suitable for those who are interested in mission through aviation.

  5. Mission Fission – putting together the best partnership for you to achieve explosive mission
    With 16 years mobilisation experience, Jamie will look how to put together the best partnership for you to achieve explosive mission. It will cover the importance of worldview, vision, values, context, theology, aims and expectations

  6. Contextualising the Gospel
    This interactive workshop will explore how to effectively bring the gospel into a different context. If you want to share the gospel in conversation so it speaks meaningfully across cultures (ethnically, generationally etc) you will find this session very useful.

  7. The strategic place that International churches can have in cross cultural mission
    Gerard will share his experiences in International Churches in P.N.G. and Japan and their effectiveness for evangelism and discipleship. Particularly suited to those considering cross-cultural missions in large cities.

  8. Building a 'Kiwi' mission DNA in churches, agencies and individuals
    What does it mean to be Kiwi and to contribute to world mission? Here you will look at the current realities and context of the church in New Zealand – its geography, demographics, economics and generational differences. This is about developing a mission heart in your Christian organisation.

  9. Go well – the ins and outs of good short term team preparation
    Knowing yourself, and preparing well - This session will cover essential preparation topics. Lorna will include names of some good resources, plus give examples and stories.

  10. Short term missions and the Local church
    Brian comes with a wealth of experience and is passionate about seeing the local church being personally involved in STM. He will look particularly at the purposes of STM and give practical tools to maximise the positive impact for the goers, senders and receivers of STM. He will give tips and tools for planning and preparing.

  11. The changing face of missions today
    A missionary in Ecuador for 8 years Nigel will explore some of the changes in mission today and some of the issues; Partnership, Church planting missions, Business ministries, City ministries, HIV/AIDS. He will share some case studies.

  12. How to review your current mission programme - Session One - Neville Stanway
    Neville will touch on the Biblical mandate outlined in Scripture to minister to the physical, social and spiritual needs of the community. You will gain an understanding of the different types of ministries available and clarify how they reflect your own local church DNA.

Elective Two

  1. Short term mission: the Good, the Bad and a hope for something better –
    With six years of facilitating and leading STM teams Tania will take a look at positive and negative impacts of short-term mission and explore how to get the most out of a STM trip.

  2. The Rub effect: developing a world mission perspective through influence –
    If you are interested in developing a multi-generational global mission perspective then this is the elective for you. It looks at influences that encourage all ages to be involved in mission. It will include a couple of people sharing the 'rubs' that lead them into mission involvement

  3. Teachers teaching teachers to teach
    Particularly geared for teachers, Heather will share about New Hope Teachers and the work they do and the opportunities there are for teachers.

  4. Using your practical skills to serve God
    If you are practically skilled, then this elective could be for you. Bruce will share the work of MMM and how you can be involved in New Zealand or overseas

  5. The pros and cons of DIY mission trips
    Diana from Break Free Expeditions will look at the pros and cons of DIY mission trips.

  6. Are we all called to participate in mission? If so, just how do we help get people involved? –
    A missionary to Japan and Author, Christine will explore our call to mission and will look at tools for growth and involvement, and equipping people to be involved.

  7. Developing Effective Cross-Cultural Partnerships
    This elective will help churches understand what good partnership is and how to go about developing effective, mutual and on-going cross-cultural partnerships. Brian has been involved in missions for 20 years and has trained and equipped many church bodies

  8. Discipling National worksers –
    This elective speaker who himself is a 'national worker', has travelled throughout Asia for 30 years ministering the Word of God. Discipling National Workers has been a large part of his work where they are seeing much fruit. He will discuss their methods and goals in mobilising the national church.

  9. The key to making serving together really work
    Inter-relating effectively with others is a key to being effective. Without it, hopes for effectiveness can be frustrated. In this elective you will explore how God has given each of us strengths to serve the body of Christ to our max and look at how to be more effective relaters

  10. The challenge of Islam in New Zealand and Beyond
    This elective will look at Islam in New Zealand and give a better understanding of their truths, concepts and mission agenda in New Zealand. It will encourage you to reach out and pray for Muslims in New Zealand and beyond.

  11. Mobilisation of the whole congregation
    This elective will cover the broader picture of Mobilization. Phil will look at New Zealand historically and current trends along with current examples of churches that are mobilising and empowering their people.

  12. How to review your current mission programme - Session Two- Neville Stanway
    How to review your current mission programme – part 2 Building on Part 1, you will be able to classify the different types of ministries your church is involved in, understand the connection between each category, and group the various ministries your church is involved in.

Elective Three

  1. Information Technology and Media in Mission – new possibilities and challenges
    With substantial experience in the IT and Media world this elective is aimed at those using IT and media in Mission/Churches or for those wanting to improve their effectiveness in presentation. Andrew will look at new technology and some of the challenges they bring including safety and security.

  2. Bible storytelling – an accurate and effective way to communicate the Good News –
    If you want to effectively share God's truth with people then this is the elective for you. The Taylor's are involved in running workshops helping people to craft and tell memorable stories from scriptures for all ages

  3. How to plan a short term mission team
    Brian will give an overview of how to prepare and plan for STM. He will cover philosophy, planning, preparing and equipping teams to become intentional, effective, cross-cultural learner-servants.

  4. Why mission? Why not!
    Here you will look at Biblical, theological and pragmatic reasons for continued kiwi involvement in missions; Realising some believe we should now be leaving it to the nationals of a country this elective will discuss the Why or why nots.

  5. Aotearoa New Zealand: Mission Interrupted
    A historian and theologian, Alistair will share about New Zealand's history past and present, the acceptance of the gospel by the Maori and the effect of colonisation and its repercussions on our nation. He will look at the way forward for the wider Christian community in Aotearoa.

  6. Fundraising Ideas
    Diana comes with lots of ideas on fundraising for missions – making money with minimal effort. She enjoys encouraging youth, who often have less income, how to raise funds for mission trips.

  7. The Heart of God – The origin of missions
    What is the foundation of Missions? – Explore God's heart and the why of Missions.

  8. Business as Mission
    This elective is geared for anyone interested in Business as Mission (BAM). This elective speaker is a successful businessman and has been able to use his gifts in New Zealand and Asia

  9. My Neighbours are weird
    This workshop will focus on the changing multi-cultural nature of our nation. It will explore worldview and culture and look at issues and principles in cross-cultural communication of the gospel and being a blessing to those of other cultures.

  10. How to review your current mission programme - Session Three- Neville Stanway
    With the final part of this series, you will understand the characteristics of both the Cultural Mandate and the Evangelistic mandate. You will have identified these two mandates and become more aware of the opportunities that are available within your current Mission program.

  11. Empowering the poor out of poverty
    The solution to poverty is not charity; charity creates dependency and dependency is bondage. The poor are poor not because they lack money but because they lack opportunity. Come and discover God's heart for the poor, see how Jesus engaged with the poor and learn about a new initiative that is empowering the poor out of poverty today in the Philippines

Country Reports

Yemen
 You will understand the nature of life in an Arab Muslim country and look particularly at Yemen, its current political unrest and what that means for Christians who may live there. This will also be informative for those with a passion to pray in this area.

Bukina Faso
This report will look at the growth of the church in Burkina Faso and the challenges for the future. There will be time to pray for this nation.

Fiji
A multi-cultural church planter in Fiji for 12 years, who is now lecturing in New Zealand, the presenter will report on the current situation in Fiji both politically and socially and its repercussions. There will be time to pray for this nation.

Thailand
With over 20 years experience of living in Thailand, and since returning to New Zealand, the speaker will look at statistics of Church Growth including minority people groups in Thailand and specifics for prayer.

Turkey: The cradle of cristianity
This Report will cover Facts and Information about Turkey in its Islamic status and the Church within, and opportunities to serve and support and others experiences. It will conclude with a time to pray for this nation.

Mexico
Recently returned from Mexico, Diana will share facts and information about Mexico, as well as time to pray.

Slavic speaking countries– Majoring on 5 "stan" countries of Central Asia
There will be a brief outline of each country geographically, politically and the state of the church there. You will look at what Christians face, with growing anti-Christian Government laws and false accusations. You will receive notes on prayer and information about the opportunities in this part of the world

Cambodia: Killing Fields to Harvest Fields
The history of Cambodia from a Buddhist nation – through the destruction of the Khmer days to the present day challenges and needs. Outcomes of Asian Outreach's ministry in the last 8 years will be shared as well as what opportunities there are now. There will be time for prayer for this nation and the Church in Cambodia

Israel
Passionate about informing others about Israel's place in God's agenda, Lorna will give a brief account of Biblical history, look at current needs and possible involvements through various organisations and means and show a DVD called 'I am Israel.'

China
There will be an update on the church in China, the great needs there, some uncertainties of the future and some opportunities that may arise. There will be time for prayer.

Eastern Europe
This report will look at the major challenges facing the nations and church in Europe, the passion of Next Level International and how you might be involved as part of the solution. This is another area where there are the issues of human trafficking, poverty, few contemporary churches and great need for support for church planting teams.

NE India/Bhutan/Nepal
There will be an update on these nations and the church in this part of the world, as well as an opportunity to pray.