Jesus teaches us in his sermon on the mount to “Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.” Matthew 7:7 NRSV.

With our diminishing congregational members and scarcity of resources available for mission and ministry, let the church be urged to “ask ... search ... and knock …” Along with utilising the talents and supports within our church, we must learn to look beyond the horizon, to work alongside government and other agencies.

The post-Covid announcement of the release of government funding around food security and entrepreneurial potentials, inspired the Dominion (Road) Tongan Methodist Congregation (DTMC). Assistant Secretary Viliami Liava’a said leaders saw that work must be done to bridge gaps, restore health and enhance wholesome living, while seeking to ensure the holistic development of the church. Careful planning for sufficient resourcing was followed by a well written proposal applying for complete funding of the Tongamai Community Plantation Pilot Project (TCP Pilot Project). The total sum requested was granted.

Tongamai is the name of 6.9 acres of land in Pukekohe purchased by the DTMC in the 1980s. Tongamai is a shortened form of the Tongan saying "ke 'a Tonga mai e" (literally translated, if only Tonga benefitted from that). It continues to be a safe haven for our church community; land that could be toiled, and where intergenerational exchanges take place.

The purpose of the TCP pilot was to enhance the food security of DTMC families - 518 individuals - and to empower and strengthen the ‘village approach’ of DTMC to explore the entrepreneurial potentials of Tongamai.

Viliami Liava’a says that the TCP pilot is an initiative that also contributes towards a prosperous future of the congregation’s families by lifting its delivery and focus from subsistence to becoming a social enterprise. This TPC pilot’s approach strongly aligns with Goal Two (Prosperous Pacific Communities) and the sub-goals:

● More successful and sustainable Pacific entrepreneurs and Pacific-owned businesses.

● Pacific volunteer contribution to Aotearoa is recognised and celebrated.

The application proposal stated that the pilot project would close the food security gap for at least 144 families and their relatives in Auckland, and position the DTMC to explore a more sustainable way of phasing the project into an entrepreneurial one. There is a potential for this project to generate employment and revenue for the DTMC village of families and church.

John Wesley cautions that Methodists should be engaged in “honest industry”. He says that it is the bounden duty of all who are engaged in worldly business to observe that first and great rule of Christian wisdom with respect to money, “Gain all you can.” Gain all you can by honest industry. Use all possible diligence in your calling. (Christian History Issue #110. 2014)

On Anzac Day it was heart-warming to lead devotions and bless the harvest day, celebrating the success and completion of the TCP Pilot Project. It gave me hope to witness a congregation intentionally asking, searching and knocking, to ensure that there are resources to help meet the needs of the church members and their whanau. It gives me hope to see the church partnering with government and community to equip the people to live holistic lives. Alive is a vision of the church continuing to grow.

Helen Keller says, “Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much” 

This is part one of a two part article. Dr Seini Taufa, Research Lead at Moana Research and active member of the Onehunga Tongan Methodist Congregation, serves as an independent evaluator of the TCP pilot project. In the June edition of Touchstone, Seini in her capacity as the evaluator will share her thoughts and reflections on the TCP project.