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Our Team
Andrew Lim Pastor and Trustee
In my early teenage years I found myself at a critical milestone of my life when I suffered the loss of my mother. Providentially, it was in that season that the Lord saved me through the ministry of the Boys’ Brigade.
Fast tracking some years forward, I trained and worked as a school teacher, got married to my beautiful school sweetheart, Gloria, and subsequently answered God's call on my life after years of trying to dodge it. Studies at the Bible College of New Zealand in Auckland and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Chicago led me down the paths of pastoral ministry and seminary teaching.
The call on my life to found and pastor Christ Sanctuary offers me an enormous opportunity to bring glory to God through preaching, teaching, discipling and mentoring. I have the joyful privilege of guiding Christ Sanctuary to be a place where a steady voice speaks to a shifting culture. It also opens up fresh opportunities on Massey campus with the philosophical mandate to help students see that the Christian commitment is intellectually defensible.
For refuge, I retreat to my cabin to read, tie fishing flies, and mess about with vintage brass stoves and plumb bobs and be caught napping! My two daughters, Hannah and Rachael, keep me informed with what’s up and about with the pop-culture out there!
Gloria Lim Trustee
I was in my last year at high school in Malaysia when I responded to a visiting Indian evangelist's challenge to give my life to Jesus. Not long after that I sensed God wanting me to be in full-time ministry and tried, unsuccessfully, to get in to Bible College. It was years later when Andrew came back into my life (we were in school together) that I understood why God shut that door then.
Some 30 years later, strengthened and kept by God, we are still ministering together. I count it a privilege and honour to serve God alongside Andrew, helping people journey with God and discovering the reality of Him through His Word and prayer.
In the last 10 years I have learned that it is when I walk through the darkest corridors of life that I get to see and hear God more clearly and experience His unending faithfulness and nearness.
Della Hadfield Trustee
Moving from our family farm to town when I was a mid-teen meant many changes for me, one of them being the experience of regular attendance at church and youth group. It was the influence of excellent youth leaders that pointed me to Christ and I gave my life to Him when I was 15.
I became involved in Sunday School teaching, learning more than I ever taught the kids. Over subsequent years I have worked with kids and youth, and also served in leadership roles in churches in the various cities we moved to. As a family we have taken strong interest in world mission for over 45 years, through prayer, giving, mobilisation and a few months in West Africa.
I believe Christ Sanctuary is where God has placed me, and I like to serve in whatever way I can. I love to see people identify where they can best serve, and go on to be equipped for all God plans for them.
Tracey Hunt Ministry Assistant and Trustee
After spending most of my twenties drifting around travelling and getting caught up in destructive New Age thinking I came to faith in 1993. Since then God has grown me in many ways and opened up many doors for me.
I am now working part-time as a ministry assistant for Christ Sanctuary and part-time as an administrator for the local Bible College. God has given me opportunities to study His word, to teach and to serve Him in numerous ways. I love working with students and I love the multicultural mix at Christ Sanctuary. As part of the leadership, I am enjoying the journey as we learn to seek God’s guidance every step of the way. Our goal is that together we might create a beautiful community to the glory of God, centred on His Word and led by His Spirit.
I look forward to seeing what He will do through us and pray that we might help many people turn from the emptiness of this world to find true life in Christ.
As for hobbies, recently I picked up the flute again for the first time in 20 years and could still remember how to play! I’m now enjoying going to lessons. I also enjoy going for walks along the nearby Manawatu River.
Anahera McGregor Ministry Leader (Worship)
Nga mihi aroha ki a koutou i te ingoa o Ihu Karaiti. Greetings to you all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I spent the first sixteen years of my life growing up on a farm in nearby Tokomaru – home to the famous swimming hole Horseshoe Bend. Upon leaving the farm, I set off to pursue a career in Maori language and culture.
In the year 2002, God brought into one of my language classes three Christian students. These students shone the light of God into my heart over the year. The Hound of Heaven knocked ever so loudly on the door to my heart, and in November I invited Him in to be my Saviour and the Lord of my life.
My wonderful husband Damian and I have three beautiful children, 10 year old twins Hinewai and Taonga, and the youngest, Revere, who is soon to turn 2 and keeps me very busy at home. We live in the tranquil settings of Ashhurst below the Ruahine Ranges and enjoy the natural surroundings of the Pohangina river and native forests.
I love to worship the Lord in song and in music, and am privileged to be called into service as a worship ministry leader in our church. Worship is a very intimate aspect of my relationship with God, whether it is worship in joy or worship in tears. Being surrendered in pure adoration is the beating pulse of my heart tied to God’s.
David Zhou Ministry Leader (Finance)
Hi, my name is David Zhou. I was born in Canton, China, and arrived in New Zealand when I was 10. I started attending church in return for English lessons and came to faith at the age of 20. I was involved with the youth group of Grace International for several years and it was at this church that I met my wife Victoria.
We went and lived in Cambridge, UK, for 2 years after getting married and spent part of our time there as wardens in a Christian hostel. This taught us a huge amount about relational evangelism which is something I remain passionate about.
These days I am a qualified accountant, working at Massey University. Victoria and I have two small daughters. In my free time I can be found playing Ultimate Frisbee or taking photographs.
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