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BY DEAN TAYLOR, Te Awamutu Courier Tuesday 25th 2014
TE AWAMUTU Day of Blessing guest Greg Bailey conducts the blessing for people involved in governance in Te Awamutu. The Burchell Pavilion was packed for this year’s Day of Blessing organised by the Combined Churches of Te Awamutu. It is just the second year of the event whereby the church can bless and express their gratitude to people who make major contributions to the life of our community and well-being of its residents. It is a world-wide event, initiated in America, and te Awamutu is one of a growing number of New Zealand communities participating. Australian guests Greg and Julie Bailey, from Christian International Ministries, shared more about the blessings, and how other places have been impacted because of this world-wide event. Mr Bailey said by blessing the good work of its citizens, Te Awamutu will prosper spiritually and in tangible ways based on the outcomes in other places. He presented a reading from Mel Ponder, now Mayor of the City of Destin in Florida where the blessings began over 50 years ago. Mayor Ponder was co-founder of Destin’s Week of Blessings, which started as a blessing of the city’s fishing fleet — now one of the most successful fleets in America. We send you great greetings and blessings from Destin, Florida. We are so honoured to hear of your second year honouring a Day of Blessing for your city. We will celebrate 11 years this year and continue to see God do amazing things in and through our city and region. We celebrate this year with you as you honour a day where the many facets of your community have set aside time to come together as one to seek blessings over the many sectors and industries of your city, as well as the overall whole of your community and surrounding areas. Each one of you plays a key part in the success of your city. Each one of you is vital to its success and has a significant role to play. But it is the collective interworking of these parts doing their share within the body of your community that brings life to a city. We join with you in praying God’s blessings over your city and region, and His protection as well. Amazing things continue to happen in and around our city because we, like you, have honoured God and come together in a setting like yours! I am very excited for each of you and expecting you to see great things. Mr Bailey, his wife and Te Awamutu Church leaders bestowed blessings on several factions of those gathered in the Pavilion. The audience also shared in prayer and words of wisdom and hope from Mr Bailey. |
