Charismatic Renewal Movement (CRM)

Dear Pastors

If you are around 40 years of age or younger you will probably be saying, ‘what is that?’

If you are around my vintage you will know exactly what I am talking about and for many of you it will bring back very good memories……hopefully.

As a youngster in my mid-teens growing up in a superb Presbyterian Church in downtown Wellington I was one of literally thousands of Christians around NZ that was deeply impacted by this incredible ‘move of the Spirit’. It changed me for good. Fast forward to 1983. I am 29 years old and begin ministry as pastor of Miramar Baptist Church and I am a thoroughly ‘charismatic-ised’ believer (as I am to this day). As it turned out Miramar Baptist was already a ‘charismatic church’ under my predecessor, Eric Chambers. So it was a very good fit coupled with the fact that the church of about 200 was predominately made up of young families. Looking back it was a fabulous place to start out in pastoral ministry. Jeanette and I loved it and to this day we still have a number of good friends from those days.

Let me share with you some ‘key’ features about the CRM.

1. It started in NZ in the late 50’s.
2. It was a ‘move of the Holy Spirit’ that spread quickly amongst Christians in the more traditional denominational scene (non-Pentecostal churches) including the Catholics.
3. It brought alive the gifts (charisms) of the Spirit and new forms of worship. To the astonishment of many Pentecostals at the time, this meant that suddenly (and it was quite sudden) Presbyterians, Baptists, Anglicans, Catholics and others were speaking in tongues, prophesying and praying for the sick. Glorious!
4. Many Sunday Morning church services went from the strict one hour ‘hymn sandwich’ to around two hours because of extended times of singing, longer sermons and ministry time. And that wasn’t a mis-print…TWO hour long services and then often we would come back at Sunday night for another round. I have to admit that season didn’t last too long as we were all exhausted!
5. Christians up and down NZ were ‘renewed’ in their faith after receiving a second experience known as the Baptism in(of) the Holy Spirit.
6. This resulted in new music, heartfelt corporate worship, home groups, warmer fellowship, bible studies and personal prayer.
7. And God did some amazing things.

What I think was and is particularly striking about this sovereign work of God is how wide spread it was in NZ. Even in Australia it didn’t spread as widely as it did in NZ. It was fascinating to me that when you visited a church back in those days that had been impacted by the CRM though ‘stylistically’ a bit different, in most other ways very similar. So whether it was an Anglican Church, a Baptist Church or a Presbyterian Church there was a similarity of belief and practise that was remarkably similar to most Pentecostal churches. As a side note. It is an interesting observation from where I sit that the churches in that are still ‘in this stream’ are about the only ones that are growing. The so called ‘progressives’ (formally called liberals) are declining in NZ and according to both Pew and Barna, they are declining around the world.

The other interesting aspect of this movement was the interface with the Pentecostals which in my opinion continues to be an interesting feature to this day. But that’s for another day.

At the end of August about 15 of us are meeting in Wellington (actually at Miramar Baptist as it turns out, now known as Gateway Baptist) for a weekend to talk about the CRM. For some time now I have felt the need to gather some folks who were leading in the 70’s and 80’s and reflect on those days, talk about what we learnt and what was CRM’s lasting legacy. I hope that we will produce a helpful document that a younger generation of pastors and leaders will find useful.

A key question we will be discussing is, ‘what do you think is the greatest contribution the CRM has given the NZ church’? If you would like to share your thoughts on this question ahead of the Gathering I’d be very grateful. Either just hit ‘reply’ or write to me directly at alan.vink@leadershipworx.org.nz

Blessings

Alan

Announcement

Sir Bill English and Ben Cort are speaking on Sunday 8th September 2019.

Topic 1: Sir Bill: Euthanasia – The Threat to Individuals, Families, and Medical Professionals.

Topic 2: Ben Cort: What NZ Needs To Understand About The Marijuana Debate.

Details: [Please Note: These are identical Public Meetings].

Tauranga:

Date: Sunday 8th September 2019

Time: 2.30 – 4.00pm

Venue: Life Church, 934 Cameron Rd, Gate Pa, Tauranga.

Koha towards expenses.

Hamilton:

Date: Sunday 8th September 2019

Time: 7.00 – 8.30pm

Venue: West Hamilton Community Church, 27A Rifle Range Road, Dinsdale, Hamilton.

Koha towards expenses.

Alan Vink is currently the Executive Director for LeadershipWorx. Prior to this role he has been the Executive Director of Willow Creek Association NZ (WillowNZ), a Baptist pastor (23 years), Bible College teacher, and church consultant.