Mission Projects
Below are some of the overseas mission projects we support through prayer, financial giving, and active encouragement. Each one reflects our desire to see lives transformed by the love of Christ and to stand in solidarity with our global neighbours. Regular giving and donations put in our ‘loose-change box’ supports the following:
Pacific Reach
Pacific Reach, formerly Marine Reach, provides practical and spiritual outreach to some of the poorest communities in the Pacific Islands through ship and landbased medical teams, clean water and sanitation and building homes. An example of this – in Fiji and Vanuatu, Pacific Reach has built clinics and homes, treated thousands of villagers medically, and trained locals in health and hygiene—all while sharing the gospel and strengthening local churches.
World Vision Child Sponsorship
Ireen from Chigodi, Malawi
Regular sponsorship helps provide Ireen with access to basic needs like nutritious food, school supplies and tuition, safe water and improved sanitation, healthcare and immunizations. It also contributes to community development so that Ireen and her family live in a healthier, more sustainable environment. World Vision’s sponsorship programs have led to increased school attendance, improved child survival rates, and long-term improvements in village infrastructure in Chigodi and other regions.
Christian World Service (CWS)
Special Christmas Appeal
CWS is an ecumenical aid and development agency supported by churches in Aotearoa New Zealand. They partner with local organizations around the world to address poverty, injustice, and emergency needs. A recent appeal helped farmers in the Philippines rebuild after a typhoon by providing seeds, tools, and training in climate-resilient farming, enabling families to feed themselves and their communities again.
Garth Stevenson’s trips to Vanuatu
In 2005 Garth was privileged to go with a team to the island of Tanna in Vanuatu to rebuild a cyclone damaged Church. He saw the difficulties the subsistence farm villagers faced especially obtaining clean drinking water. As an engineer he had some answers and went back with stainless steel ram pumps made at a low cost and he installed them. Over the last 14 years the work has expanded to include setting the locals up to make concrete building blocks and teaching construction to build school classrooms and homes. In 2011 a Ladies’ hall was completed which sheltered the villagers when cyclone Pat destroyed the village in 2015.
In all those years Garth says we have seen God’s leading and are grateful to St Paul’s-St Mark’s Church and all the other contributors and businesses’ who have helped raise $150,000 for the projects. In 2017 a team of 8 built a new Church on the island in 7 ½ days.
Garth’s trip to Vanuatu in August 2018
The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu is recognising and honouring Garth Stevenson for his faithful involvement through 15 mission trips to Vanuatu. Over the years, Garth has built meaningful relationships and contributed significantly to the ongoing mission in Tanna.
St Paul’s in the City, together with the Global Mission of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand, is committed to blessing and honouring Garth’s legacy by continuing to support the important work taking place in Tanna.
