TONGA – The Friendly Isles Come to New Zealand
What a wonderful blessing it has been to welcome the Tonga Christian Radio mission team to New Zealand.
Thirteen wonderful people from Tonga, led by Pastor Willy Florian, came to share their faith, their testimonies, their music and their love for Jesus Christ with the people of the churches, schools and communities across Auckland and the Kaipara District.
Tonga is affectionately known as the Friendly Isles, and we certainly once again were reminded why. The warmth, laughter, singing and joy that accompanied the team throughout their visit was something very special.
For MotiVate New Zealand, it was a privilege to work alongside Willy and the team, together with our New Zealand church and school partners, helping facilitate the ministry opportunities and relationships that made this visit possible.
There were many moments to give thanks for, from school visits and community gatherings to worship services, baptisms, youth ministry, practical service and the wonderful fellowship we enjoyed together.
And through it all, we were reminded of Jesus’ prayer in John 17:23, that His people would be brought to complete unity.
Auckland — A Wonderful Welcome
The team began their visit in Auckland, enjoying opportunities to worship, share testimonies and connect with churches and the Tongan Christian community.
Ministry included gatherings at the Alliance church in the Cornwall Park area and with the Tongan Christian community in Māngere.
The team spent time with Radio Rhema on the Monday, sharing interviews and song and stories about the work of Tonga Christian Radio, the growth of discipleship and youth ministry in Tonga, and their heart to carry the Gospel beyond their own shores.
What a blessing to see this partnership between Tonga Christian Radio and Radio Rhema continuing to develop, with opportunities to share the work God is doing in Tonga with a wider New Zealand audience.
Kingsway School — Renewing Friendships and Looking Ahead
One of the particularly encouraging visits was to Kingsway School, where the team had an opportunity to reconnect with students who had previously participated in the school’s 2025 mission trip to Tonga.
It was also a special occasion for the newly selected Kingsway School mission team preparing to travel to Tonga in July 2027.
With student and teacher interviews now completed, the 2027 team had an early opportunity to meet Willy and members of the Tonga Christian Radio team, beginning relationships that we hope will continue to grow as they prepare for their own mission journey.
There is something wonderful about seeing these relationships develop over successive mission trips, with students returning home encouraged in their faith and new students preparing to take their own steps into cross-cultural mission.
We look forward to walking alongside Kingsway School in the coming months through their Mission 101 sessions, preparation bootcamps and fundraising activities.
Springboard — Sharing with Youth
We had a wonderful time with Springboard, sharing our testimonies and encouraging the youth, while also enjoying the farm park and the sheep-shearing show.
North to Paparoa and Maungaturoto — Churches Working Together
One of our great encouragements leading up to the October visit had been the relationships developing with churches and Christian leaders in South Kaipara.
During our earlier planning visits, Andrew Marriott and I, together with our wives, had enjoyed wonderful fellowship with Pastor Sam and Julia Turner, Pastor Paul Chambers and others in the region.
We shared our faith journeys, our hearts for ministry and our hopes for what God might do through this visit. It was encouraging to see those conversations come to life as the Tonga Christian Radio team travelled north to Paparoa and Maungaturoto.
Working alongside Paparoa Community Church, Maungaturoto Good News Church, and the wider Christian community, the team enjoyed a full programme of worship, school visits, youth ministry, practical service and fellowship.
Another highlight was the combined youth gathering involving young people from Maungaturoto Good News Church and Paparoa Community Church. There was plenty of energy, encouragement, laughter and, of course, food!
A special thank you to Kelly for organizing the youth groups and to the many others who helped provide meals and hospitality throughout our time in the region. The unity and willingness of churches to work together for the benefit of their communities was a real encouragement to us.
We were grateful for the opportunity to visit Otamatea Christian School, where the team shared their faith and culture with students and teachers. We also had a hilarious game of soccer on the Friday afternoon with the students, some who were also at the Friday evening youth group.
Encouraging Pastors and Sharing with the Community
During our time in Maungaturoto, the Good News pastors’ conference was also taking place, providing another opportunity for the Tonga Christian Radio team to minister.
Through song, dance and testimony, the team brought encouragement to pastors and ministry leaders gathered together.
We also enjoyed a wonderful reception at the Paparoa Farmers Market. It was a delight to see the team sharing their Tongan culture through music and dance, and to see the response from people in the community.
These were simple opportunities to connect with people, build relationships and share something of the joy and hope we have in Jesus Christ.
Oakridge Haven - Serving Together
For much of our time in South Kaipara, the team was based at Oakridge Haven, formerly a YWAM base with more than 40 years of ministry history in the region.
The property, which also has an earlier connection with the Porteous brothers, is now entering another chapter through its relationship with the local Paparoa Christian community.
It was a privilege to spend time in a place that has already been used for Christian ministry over so many years.
Alongside the programme of church and community visits, the team rolled up their sleeves to help with practical work around the property.
There were buildings to clean, areas to tidy and railings to paint.
But what might ordinarily have been described as a working bee became another opportunity for fellowship, singing and laughter.
Christian music playing, people singing along, the occasional cheeky comment, and everyone working together.
It was such a good reminder that serving God is not confined to the church service or the mission programme. Sometimes it looks like a paintbrush, a broom, a shared meal or simply being willing to help wherever there is a need.
We are thankful for the opportunity to contribute in a small way to the ongoing work at Oak Ridge Haven.
Seven Baptisms at Pahi
One of the special moments of the visit was the afternoon at Pahi, where seven people chose to be baptised. What a joy to witness these public expressions of faith in Jesus Christ, surrounded by fellow believers, friends and members of the team.
Baptism is such a wonderful picture of our identification with Christ, and of the new life we have in Him. These moments were triggered by our discussions on the Great Commission, with Jesus calling us to go, to make disciples, baptising them and teaching them to obey all that He has commanded.
It was a privilege to share in such a significant moment, and we pray that each person baptised will continue to grow in their faith, surrounded by a Christian community that will encourage and disciple them.
A Sunday of Worship, Fellowship and Thanksgiving
Our final Sunday in South Kaipara was a particularly special day.
We enjoyed a rich time of fellowship and worship with Paparoa Community Church, where the team shared through music, testimony and ministry. Then, on Sunday evening, we gathered at Oakridge for Come and Worship, a wonderful occasion bringing people together to lift up the name of Jesus Christ.
It was so encouraging as we gathered with the saints from different churches, backgrounds and cultures worshipping together. After months of conversations, preparation, planning, travel and practical arrangements, here we were, together in worship.
It reminded us again that ministry is about people coming together around Jesus Christ and responding to His invitation to participate in the work He is doing.
For those of us who had been involved in preparing for the visit, it was a wonderful culmination to our time together in South Kaipara.
What We Took Home - Testimony, Discipleship and Joy
There were many lessons and encouragements from these ten days together. One of the strongest reminders was that every Christian has a testimony to share. We each have a story of how we came to faith, how God has met us in the circumstances of our lives, and what He has done and continues to do within us.
We may think our stories are ordinary, but we never know how God might use our testimony to speak to the heart of another person.
We were also reminded of the importance of discipleship. Jesus commissioned His followers to [1] go [2] make disciples [3] baptise them [4] teaching them to obey everything He commanded (Matthew 28:19–20).
We spent time considering what it might look like for twelve believers to each disciple another twelve, and for those disciples to do likewise. The potential for multiplication is remarkable, but it begins with ordinary people willing to invest in the lives of others.
And perhaps one of the simplest lessons was just how much joy there is in serving God together. Joyfully working together, traveling together, praying together. Shared meals, worship, song, laughter and encouraging one another.
Always another song, another story and another laugh. To say we were richly blessed by the Tonga Christian Radio team would be an understatement.
Giving Thanks
We give thanks to God for making this visit possible and for bringing together so many people who shared a heart to serve Him. Our sincere thanks to Pastor Willy Florian and every member of the Tonga Christian Radio mission team for coming to New Zealand and sharing so generously of yourselves.
Thank you to Pastor Sam and Julia Turner, Pastor Paul Chambers, Sheryl, Mark, Kelly, Peter, and so many others who welcomed us. The churches of Paparoa and Maungaturoto, Oakridge, the schools, youth leaders, families, local farmers market, community and everyone who gave, who prayed and contributed to making this visit possible.
Thank you also to the many churches and ministry partners, Radio Rhema and the team led by Jade and the many people who welcomed the team throughout their time here in New Zealand.
Thank you.
As Jesus prayed: “so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me” John 17:23
May that unity continue to bear fruit in our churches, schools and communities, of New Zealand, and throughout Tonga.
To God be the glory.
Mark Elley
National Director
MotiVate New Zealand