At the end of Term 3, a group of Year 10–13 students went on a local mission trip to Pukekohe, led by Mr and Mrs Fernando and working in partnership with Unity Rek Church. In preparation for the trip, the students practised sharing their testimonies and connecting meaningfully with people from different backgrounds—important skills for both local outreach and future international mission trips. The weekend served as an opportunity for the students to demonstrate their faith and share God’s love through serving the community.

Saturday was packed with action as the team set up a community day in Pukekohe. They arrived with a trailer full of donated clothes, free sausage sizzles, home baking made by fellow Kingsway students, and fun activities like face painting, rock painting, chalk art, and games. Additional activities were also held in the town centre, including face painting, games, chalk art, rock painting, and candy accompanied by encouraging Bible verses. The local pastor shared messages of hope over the microphone, inviting people to take part in the activities. This created a welcoming environment for community members to engage, interact, and hear about the love of Jesus through conversations with students and messages from local church leaders. The community responded with warmth and curiosity, as many had never experienced this kind of outreach before.

The trip concluded on Sunday as the students returned to Unity Rek Church, where they performed a song and several students shared testimonies of what God had spoken to them over the weekend. The morning continued with heartfelt worship, prayer, and a powerful message from Andrew Marriott. Afterwards, the students connected with the Unity Rek youth while enjoying a shared lunch of delicious traditional Islander food. It was a powerful and unforgettable weekend that strengthened faith, built friendships, and revealed how much can happen when we step out to serve others.

The experience left students and community members alike deeply inspired, spiritually refreshed, and more committed than ever to living out their faith through service. As it says in 1 Peter 4:10, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”

Written by Eva Rasskazova (Year 11)