Assemblies of God Empowered Magazine NEW MERCIES | Page 6

RELATING
to our families
Ps MINA ACRAMAN EXECUTIVE

M

y brother-in-law was

challenge of how to relate my new found

of Christian thought and tradition. Prayer

70s.

powerfully by Maoritanga beliefs. I

expected.

converted in the early
he

He told us that

had

given

his

life to Christ and we saw a powerful

transformation had taken place in his

life. I always appreciated the fact that
he continued to relate to me even

though my life was caught up in a sinful

faith to my Maori family overshadowed
quickly found out that arguing over

ideologies and religious beliefs led

Despite being a busy pastor, I have

transparently was more powerful than

recent weeks. An unveiling (Hura

nowhere but living my Christian faith
any argument.

teenage lifestyle. After six attempts at

Families are the source of many of our

I reluctantly responded.

For Christians we face the challenge of

getting me to go to church with him,

That night I

made a decision that would change

my life forever, I accepted Christ as my
Saviour.

In the background, was my whanau

(family) and I faced the immediate

6

Empowered A/G New Zealand

is often requested and Christian liturgies

greatest joys and our deepest sorrows.
living for Christ amongst our families
and even introducing them to Jesus.

Some families are open. Others, for

many reasons are not so welcoming,
and may even be hostile. In my family,
there is openness, to at least, the basics

attended three family unveilings over

Kohatu), is a hui that is usually held one
year after a person has died to unveil
their headstone. Family members from

around the nations gathered together

in Rotorua. It was an opportunity to
re-affirm whanau (family) ties and for the

children of that whanau to meet up with
their aunts and uncles, sometimes, for
the first time.