New Zealand, South Pacific

New Zealand is one of our more mature movements and is having a national impact on the country.

Contact Information: www.FamilyLife.co.nz
info@familylife.org.nz
64-9-360-5468

Marriage conference testamony:

"You probably get lots of feedback after weekends. It has been, in one word: inspiring, but apart from the impact it has had on me and my husband in just again standing still and remembering that God has a plan for our life and our union, it also had an immediate impact on our kids…. So I will tell you the story….
 
When we received the marriage covenant page on Sunday we decided to sign it that night with our two girls (aged 6 and 8 years). So after dinner we sat down with them and explained what a “covenant” was. That it is like making a very special promise you are not allowed to break and that you are including God in this promise. Our 6 year old is a very spirited child who doesn’t often get involved in things that are symbolic or philosophical. However last night she was listening attentively to me reading out loud the words on the certificate. We explained that this “basically” means that mum and dad promises to always love each other and not get divorced etc. 

AJ then looked at me and said his own (spur of the moment) vows and just as he took the pen to sign, Karmi (the 6 year old) stopped him and said “wait Dad …I want to ask you something?”, we paused and with a very serious face she looked at him and said: “Dad tell us now, do you choose Mum forever or not?” (Luckily we managed to keep our own faces serious), AJ proceeded to say “I do” and she said: “sign it now Dad”. I then had to follow suit and said my vows and was asked the same question when the pen was handed to me. I also said “I do”.

We then gave the pen to our oldest you signed as witness on the line and when the pen was given to Karmi she again stopped and looked at us. She looked AJ in the eyes and said: “Dad I promise to always be your daughter and love you and not to leave you even when you are old”…..” Mum I will always love you and stay with you and be you kid”…..”Chare I am your sister and always want to be your sister, and I will play with you and be your friend….” She then turned to the page and wrote “Karmi” in her best 6 year old handwriting.

We all sat there in the presence of God (almost not knowing what hit us) because in some way the true meaning of a covenant was planted in a 6 year old’s heart that night….we might never know the impact this will have on the future, but for someone who’s name in Hebrew means “tiller of God’s vineyard” the Weekend to Remember might have just started a journey – A life time of covenants…."

History of FamilyLife New Zealand

FamilyLife in New Zealand began in 1990, and is now led by Andy and Nikki Bray. They have seen God strengthen hundreds of families in New Zealand through Weekend to Remember conferences and HomeBuilders groups. Andy and Nikki also have a successful radio ministry. They also developed a one-day marriage conference manual entitled A Day to Treasure for New Zealand. Other countries are now using it as well.

Andy Bray has written a book about his life, his family's triumphs and trials entitled Treasures in the Darkness.  At the age of 21, Andy went on a ski trip that sent him down a path of kidney failure, dialysis, cancer, transplant failure, and stroke. But that same path led him on an abundant journey of faith to a home life filled with love and appreciation, a rewarding ministry to families, and a life of purpose and significance eve in the face of tragedy and death. In 2008 Andy and Nikki lost their daughter, Natasha, in a tragic accident. This book is a testimony to the power of a covenant marriage, the endurance of love, and God's amazing steadfastnerss to provide treasures in the darkness.