Our Mission
Motivated by our Christian faith, we exist as a local community hub to facilitate opportunities for well-being, healthy relationships, belonging, and learning.
Our Story
Papakura Wesleyan Church (PWC) emerged out of The Methodist Church as part of the newly formed Wesleyan Methodist Church of Aotearoa-New Zealand in the late 90s-early 2000s. Strongly rooted in its Wesleyan DNA of serving communities in most need, PWC was drawn to Red Hill, Papakura–a suburb facing many challenges, particularly among its youth.
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PWC’s founding minister, Rev. Edgar Hornblow, led the small church toward realizing a vision for planting a church in Red Hill that would also be a community centre with a “one-stop-shop” for meeting the needs of people from pre-birth to adulthood. 15 Croskery Road was donated by church members Des and Verna Vince, and a trust deed was drawn up to form Papakura Community Trust in 2004. The address was later changed to 163 Dominion Road.
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The original prefab building on site became the church's new home and was known as the Papakura Wesleyan Christian Centre. With limited facilities and resources, PWC began to organize a handful of programmes and activities such as Kids’ Club, and Youth Group, and even included a social worker to support the local community. Rev. Ruth Boswell was invited to serve as the minister for PWC while Rev. Hornblow continued to be part of the church and the Trust.
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In 2005, PCT opened the Little Sunbeams Christian Early Childhood Centre to provide high-quality early childhood Christian education to the local community. PWC was also growing in numbers so began worshipping in the new building. PWC’s work was also supported by missionaries from the U.S. Rev. Josh and Becca Bowlin.
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At the end of 2008 PCT undertook further fundraising for the final development of the site and in 2009 it opened the Redhill Community Centre which comprises an auditorium, gymnasium with Rockwall, kitchen/café and various meeting rooms.
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PWC’s Vision, Mission, and Values were developed and have helped guide and underpin their continued involvement with PCT.
Vision: Connecting Christ and Community.
Mission: To connect people to Jesus Christ and His church, empowering them to be His fully devoted followers in their community.
Values: Christ-centred, Bible Based, Community, Connection, Transformation.
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Part of the fundraising initiatives included a 10-year partnership with what was then the Papakura District Council (now Auckland Council) to assist with the building of the community centre. This has been a significant platform for ensuring that Papakura Wesleyan Church manages the premises in a way that facilitates access and, most of all, meets the direct needs of the community.
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Over the years Redhill Community Centre and its community partners have provided a variety of services and programmes from its facilities. These included school holiday and youth programmes; playgroups; financial literacy courses; parenting programmes; a children’s music and movement programme (Mainly Music); movie nights; rock climbing sessions; fitness classes; social sports (e.g. basketball and table tennis); a community lunch and coffee group; and fully-funded counselling.
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The centre’s facilities are also available for hire and are used by a wide range of community groups, not-for-profit and government agencies, businesses and family groups for meetings, training courses, presentations and private functions.
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Papakura Wesleyan continues to worship, support, and manage Papakura Community Trust, the Redhill Community Centre, and Little Sunbeams Early Childhood Centre. Its members are the volunteer backbone for the majority of its operations.