Truth & Love
Jesus
Jesus is way more than just a name in a history book—He’s real, He’s alive, and He loves you more than you can imagine. Over 2,000 years ago, He came to earth to show us what God is like. He healed the sick, cared for the outcasts, and taught people how to truly love. But, His biggest reason for coming? To save us. We all mess up and those mistakes create distance between us and God. Jesus chose to die on a cross to take all that on Himself, so we could be forgiven, free, and fully loved. Then He rose from the dead, proving that nothing, not even death—can stop Him. He’s not just someone to know about. He’s someone you can know personally. Jesus will impact your life, set you free, guide you, and set your life on a new path of hope, life, and adventure!
Check Out These Stories of God Turning Up and Turning Lives Around
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What Happens When I Surrender My Life to Jesus?
Surrendering your life to Jesus is one of the most profound decisions you can ever make. It’s not about religion, rules, or simply attending church — it’s about entering into a life-changing relationship with the God who created you and loves you deeply.
So what actually happens when you surrender your life to Jesus?
1. You Are Forgiven
The moment you surrender, Jesus meets you with grace. Your past mistakes, failures, and sins are not held against you. Through His death on the cross and resurrection, Jesus paid the price so you could be forgiven completely. (1 John 1:9)
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
2. You Become a New Creation
You don’t just get a “fresh start” — you are made brand new. The Bible says you are a new creation in Christ. Your identity is no longer based on your past but on who you are in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"
3. The Holy Spirit Lives in You
God doesn’t leave you to figure life out on your own. When you surrender to Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes to live in you — guiding, comforting, and transforming you from the inside out. (John 14:26)
4. You Have a Purpose
Jesus doesn’t just save you from something — He saves you for something. Your life now has meaning and purpose. Whether it's serving others, sharing the Gospel, or simply living in love, your life becomes part of God’s bigger story.
5. You Become Part of God’s Family
You're not alone. You become part of the global church — a family of believers from every culture and background, united in Christ. (Romans 8:14–17)
6. You Begin a Journey of Growth
Surrender isn’t a one-time act — it’s the beginning of a journey. You grow in faith, in love, and in your understanding of who Jesus is. It’s not about being perfect, but being willing to follow Him daily.
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Giving your life to Jesus isn't about religion or following a set of rules. It's about starting a relationship with the God who made you, loves you, and gave His life for you.
So, how do you actually do it?
1. Recognise Your Need for Him
We’ve all messed up. We’ve all tried to do life our own way. The Bible calls this sin — and sin separates us from God. But Jesus came to bridge that gap.
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
— Romans 3:23The good news? Jesus paid the price for our sin on the cross — because He loves you deeply.
2. Believe That Jesus Died and Rose Again
Faith begins with believing that Jesus is who He said He is: the Son of God who died for your sins and rose from the dead.
"If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."
— Romans 10:93. Turn From Your Old Life
This is what the Bible calls “repentance.” It doesn’t mean you’ll be perfect — but it does mean you're ready to turn from living for yourself and start following Jesus. You're giving Him control.
4. Invite Jesus Into Your Life
This is the moment of surrender — a simple but sincere prayer from your heart. You can pray something like this:
A Simple Prayer:
“Jesus, I know I’ve sinned and I need You. I believe You died for me and rose again. I’m sorry for living life my way. Today, I surrender my life to You. Come into my heart, forgive me, make me new, and help me follow You every day. Thank You for loving me and saving me. Amen.”
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Take the Next Steps
Giving your life to Jesus is just the beginning! Now it’s time to grow in your faith. Here’s how:
Read the Bible – Start in the book of John to learn about Jesus.
Pray Daily – Talk to God honestly and often.
Find a Church – Surround yourself with others who will encourage your walk with Christ.
Get Baptised – It’s a public declaration of your new life in Jesus.
I SAID YES
TO JESUS
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Awesome Churches
Following Jesus was never meant to be something you do alone. Church gives you a community of people to walk alongside you as you grow—people who can pray with you, encourage you, celebrate the good times, and stand with you when life gets hard. It’s a place to experience the power of God’s love through genuine friendships, to learn and grow together, and to find people who will keep pointing you back to Jesus. Finding the right church can give you a place to belong, a family to grow with, and people to share the journey with.
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Sunday Service. Richmond New Life gathers each Sunday at 10:00am for worship, teaching, prayer, and time together as a church family. With a heart for “Loving God, Loving People,” the church is focused on helping people grow in their relationship with Jesus and build genuine connections with one another.
Life Groups are an important part of community at Richmond New Life, creating space to build friendships, encourage one another, and grow in faith beyond Sunday mornings. Groups meet in smaller settings where people can share life, pray together, and develop deeper relationships.
Children are well catered for on Sundays, with age-appropriate programmes ranging from spaces for parents and very young children through to Kids Zone and intermediate-aged groups. The emphasis is on helping children know God, build friendships, and enjoy being part of church. During the school holidays, Richmond New Life also runs Skool Zout, an OSCAR-approved holiday programme offering activities, creativity, fun, and connection for children in a Christian environment.
Adult Ministries. There are a range of opportunities for adults to connect throughout the year, including women’s gatherings, men’s breakfasts and events, pastoral care, and ministry for older members of the church community. Together with Life Groups, these ministries provide opportunities for friendship, encouragement, discipleship, and support through different seasons of life.
Find Richmond New Life:
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Sunday Service — 10:00am. Elim Christian Centre Nelson is a welcoming Pentecostal church in Stoke with a strong focus on families, community, and helping people grow in their relationship with Jesus. Sunday services include worship, practical Bible teaching, and time to connect together, with coffee and conversation afterwards.
Kids and Families. Children are a big part of life at Elim, with Sunday programmes designed for a wide range of ages. Power Sparks caters for younger children, Power Zone for primary-aged children, and Voltage for intermediates and younger teens, creating spaces where children can learn about God, build friendships, and enjoy being part of church. Elim also runs the PowerZone Holiday Programme during the school holidays, offering full days of games, activities, creative challenges, and connection for school-aged children.
Life Groups. Life Groups provide opportunities to connect in smaller settings during the week, build friendships, pray together, and grow in faith. They are an important part of helping people develop deeper relationships within the church community beyond Sunday services.
Elim Women gathers regularly for connection, encouragement, and fellowship. The ministry creates space for women to build friendships, support one another, and grow together in faith.
Find Elim Christian Centre
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Sunday Service — 10:30am. Nelson Tasman Bays Salvation Army gathers each Sunday for worship, teaching, prayer, and fellowship. The church is part of the wider Salvation Army movement, with a strong focus on living out Christian faith through both worship and practical service to the community.
Children and Youth. There are opportunities for children, young people, and families to connect throughout the week. Programmes include Music & Movement for preschool children and their parents, Ground Zero for intermediate-aged young people, and Ignition for high-school students and young adults. These groups create space for friendship, encouragement, activities, and faith to grow in age-appropriate ways.
Connection and Support. The church runs a range of groups and gatherings designed to help people connect and find support. These include regular Drop Inn mornings for coffee, food, and fellowship, daily prayer, recovery-focused groups, and separate gatherings for men and women. There are also shared meals, breakfasts, celebrations, camps, and other events throughout the year that help build a strong sense of community.
Community Ministries. Serving the wider community is a major part of life at the Salvation Army. Nelson Tasman Bays provides practical support for individuals and whānau through food assistance, budgeting and financial mentoring, advocacy, counselling, housing support, addiction recovery services, and help with essential items such as clothing and furniture.
Find Nelson Tasman Bays Salvation Army
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Sunday Service — 10:00am. Aspire Church is a Spirit-filled, evangelical church in central Nelson with a strong emphasis on worship, biblical teaching, prayer, and encountering God. Sunday services are relaxed and welcoming, with live worship, practical teaching, and time to connect over coffee afterwards.
Aspire’s heart is to help people grow in faith, discover their identity and purpose in Christ, and live empowered by the Holy Spirit in everyday life.
Kids and Families. Children are an important part of church life at Aspire, with spaces and activities available for younger children during Sunday services. The church places a strong value on family, belonging, and creating an environment where people of all ages can grow in faith together.
Home Groups. Home Groups are one of the main ways people build deeper relationships within the church. Meeting in smaller groups during the week gives people space to share life, pray together, study the Bible, encourage one another, and grow in faith beyond Sunday mornings.
Adult Ministries. Aspire also has men’s and women’s ministries that gather at different times throughout the year for fellowship, encouragement, prayer, and connection. These sit alongside the wider life of the church and offer additional opportunities to build relationships and support one another.
Find Aspire Church
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Sunday Service — 10:00am
Impact Church Nelson is a Pentecostal church in central Nelson with a strong emphasis on the Holy Spirit, worship, prayer, and helping people grow in their relationship with Jesus. The church has a relaxed and welcoming culture, with a heart for creating a place where people from different backgrounds can belong and encounter God.
Kids and Youth
Children and young people are an important part of church life at Impact. The church has ministries for kids alongside Impact Youth, which meets during the school term for high-school-aged young people.
Impact Youth provides a place for friendship, activities, encouragement, and exploring faith together in a relaxed environment.
Home Groups and Community
Home Groups give people the opportunity to build deeper relationships beyond Sunday services, with space for prayer, friendship, encouragement, and growing together in faith.
Impact also has a strong emphasis on practical care and supporting people within the wider community. Over the years, this has included meals, drop-in support, and other forms of practical help for people facing difficult seasons.
A Spirit-Filled Church
As part of the wider Pentecostal tradition, Impact places a strong value on the work of the Holy Spirit and on creating space for people to respond to God personally. The church encourages everyday people to grow in faith, discover their gifts, and take an active part in sharing the love of Jesus with others.
Find Impact Church
Location: 16–18 Halifax Street, Nelson
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Sunday Service — 10:30am. Victory Church is an Anglican church in Nelson South with a strong intercultural and intergenerational identity. Its Sunday service brings together people from a range of cultures, ages, and backgrounds for worship, Bible teaching, prayer, and fellowship, with a children’s programme running alongside the service. The church also holds a more traditional Anglican service on Wednesday mornings, with hymns, teaching, prayer, and communion.
Cross-Cultural Community. Being a genuinely cross-cultural church is an important part of Victory’s identity. The church seeks to create a community where people from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds can worship, build relationships, and grow in faith together. This includes Matu Fellowship, a Chin Christian community that gathers on Sunday afternoons for worship, fellowship, and mutual support.
Kids and Youth. Victory has a strong focus on children and young people, both within the church and in the wider neighbourhood. Sunday services include a children’s programme, while Victory Kea Kids runs holiday programmes, after-school activities, special events, and community projects designed to help children build friendships, have fun, serve others, and learn about Jesus.
Victory Youth meets during the week, creating a relaxed space for young people to spend time together, enjoy food and activities, build friendships, and explore faith.
Community Outreach. Victory is strongly connected with the surrounding community and is involved in a range of practical ministries. These include work with local young people, support for older people, neighbourhood activities, and partnerships addressing needs such as housing and social connection.
The church has also been involved in Wikitōria, a transitional housing initiative beside the church developed in partnership with other local organisations. Together, these ministries reflect Victory’s desire to be actively involved in the life of its neighbourhood and to share the love of Jesus in practical ways.
Find Victory Church
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Sunday Services — 9:00am & 10:30am. St Stephens Community Church in Tāhunanui offers two different Sunday gatherings, giving people a choice of worship style. The 9:00am service is quieter and more reflective, with prayer, hymns, and a more traditional feel. The 10:30am Family Service is more contemporary and includes a children’s programme, making it especially suited to families. Both services are followed by morning tea and time to connect.
Kids and Families. Children and families are an important part of life at St Stephens. The 10:30am Sunday service includes a Bible-based children’s programme designed to help kids grow in faith, confidence, resilience, and kindness. During the week, Chill provides a space for parents and preschoolers to enjoy music, movement, conversation, and connection, while Monday Club offers a free after-school programme for primary-aged children with food, activities, waiata, and stories about Jesus.
Life Groups and Discipleship. Life Groups are central to the way St Stephens builds community and helps people grow in faith. They offer smaller spaces for friendship, prayer, Bible study, support, and intentional discipleship throughout the week. The church also has a structured discipleship pathway through DNA, LIFE, and Equip, helping people explore belonging, grow in following Jesus, and develop their gifts for service and leadership.
50+ and Community. St Stephens has an active 50+ ministry, sometimes described as its “senior youth group.” It creates opportunities for friendship, spiritual growth, outings, activities, and involvement in the wider community. This includes initiatives such as the Silver Service Repair Café, where practical skills are used to help others while building relationships and connection.
Find St Stephens Community Church
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A Different Way of Doing Church
Jesus Way is a Spirit-filled house church community in Nelson, offering a more relational and informal expression of church life. Rather than gathering primarily around a traditional Sunday service or church building, the community is centred on meeting together, sharing life, following Jesus, and growing in faith through close relationships.
Jesus Way is connected with the wider Foursquare movement and has a strong emphasis on the work of the Holy Spirit, discipleship, and mission.
Discipleship and Community
Discipleship is at the heart of Jesus Way. The focus is not simply on attending church, but on learning to follow Jesus in everyday life and helping others do the same.
Smaller gatherings create space for prayer, conversation, encouragement, learning, and genuine connection, with people walking alongside one another as they grow in faith.
Mission
Jesus Way has a strong missionary outlook, with connections to both local and international discipleship and mission networks. The community is shaped by a desire to share Jesus with others, equip people to live out their faith, and see new disciples and Christian communities grow.
Its house-church model reflects that emphasis, keeping church life relational, flexible, and centred on people rather than programmes or buildings.
Connect with Jesus Way
Jesus Way gathers as a house-church community rather than through a conventional public church venue. Contact and gathering details are best obtained directly through the community.
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Sunday Service — 10:00am. Alive Church gathers each Sunday at 10:00am for worship, biblical teaching, and fellowship. The church welcomes people of all ages and stages of faith, with children’s and intermediate programmes running during the service and refreshments afterwards.
Alive Youth. Alive Youth meets on Wednesday evenings during the school term for high-school-aged young people. The evenings include games, competitions, food, and conversations about God, creating a relaxed and encouraging place to build friendships and grow in faith.
Home Groups. Home Groups are an important part of community at Alive Church, giving people space to study the Bible, pray, support one another, and build deeper friendships. They are designed for people at every stage of faith, whether someone is new to church or has been following Jesus for many years.
Young Adults. Young adults meet fortnightly on Monday evenings for Bible discussion, prayer, friendship, and leadership development. The group provides a space to grow in faith while building strong relationships with others at a similar stage of life.
Christian Foundations is an eight-week course exploring the foundations of life with Christ. It is suitable for people who are exploring Christianity, are new to faith, or simply want to revisit the essentials and strengthen their understanding of what they believe.
Find Alive Church
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Sunday Service — 10:00am
Motueka Baptist Church is a relaxed and welcoming church with a charismatic style of worship, a strong commitment to biblical teaching, and a heart for serving the wider Motueka community. Sunday services include worship, teaching, prayer, and a children’s programme, with an emphasis on helping people grow in faith and use their gifts to serve others.
Kids and Youth
Children are part of Sunday church life, with a programme running during the service. The church also has an active youth ministry, creating space for young people to build friendships, explore faith, and grow in their relationship with God.
Community and Connection
Motueka Baptist has a strong community focus, with a range of gatherings and activities throughout the week. These include shared meals, prayer gatherings, Bible studies, men’s breakfasts, and other opportunities to connect and build relationships.
The church also opens its doors to wider community programmes, including recovery support and cultural activities, making the building a place of connection well beyond Sunday mornings.
Faith in Action
Practical service is an important part of the church’s identity. Motueka Baptist describes its approach as “faith with sleeves rolled up,” with a desire to express God’s love through action as well as words.
This includes community meals, environmental initiatives, engagement with Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and a broader commitment to serving people in ways that bring hope, connection, and transformation.
Find Motueka Baptist
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Sunday Service — 9:30am
Hills Community Church is an independent Christian church in Māpua with roots in Anglican, Presbyterian/Methodist, and Pentecostal traditions. That mixed heritage still shapes the church today, with a welcoming community and a range of worship styles across different Sundays.
Services may include Holy Communion, family worship, celebration services, or the more informal Cafe Church, with morning tea and time to connect afterwards.
Kids and Families
Children and families are an important part of church life at Hills. Kids Space runs during Sunday services, while Kids Club meets during the week for primary-aged children, creating opportunities for fun, learning, friendship, and connection across generations.
Hills also hosts Kids ’n Koffee, a long-running community playgroup for preschool children and their caregivers, offering a relaxed space for children to play and parents to build friendships and support one another.
Life Groups and Community
Life Groups provide space to study the Bible, pray, build friendships, and support one another through everyday life.
Throughout the week, Hills also hosts informal gatherings such as Craft & Coffee and Prayer & Coffee, helping the church serve as a place of connection for both the congregation and the wider Māpua community.
Seniors and Pastoral Care
Seniors Connect brings older adults together regularly for friendship, speakers, activities, outings, and shared meals. The church also has a strong pastoral-care focus, including visits and practical support for people in the wider community.
Hills can also connect people with specialist support through organisations such as Christians Against Poverty, reflecting the church’s broader commitment to care, compassion, and practical help.
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