After months of limbo, stop-start, pause, hurry up and wait, it is with great excitement we can now confirm that we are all go for this years Police Christian Support Network Conference. I am stoked to announce that we have been able to secure dates, venue and speakers for the….
· PCSN conference #Revive2020 is all booked to now run from 16th to 18th October 2020 at the Royal NZ Police College.
In light of all of the events of the past year, a global pandemic, the tragic loss of our friend and colleague, and the rest of what we carry, this is a very significant and important time for us to gather, to support, empower and encourage each other. This is going to be a momentous event, returning to our roots and running conference at college for the first time (it is also our first conference since 2016). Conference will include some great speakers (such as Norm McLeod and Kim Workman for a sniff), fellowship, encouragement and the launch of our very own Bible.
The Bible for Police has taken over a year to bring together in partnership with the Bible Society, but it is now on the ground in NZ, and we can’t wait to launch it at conference and then get it into your hands….it looks amazing (see the cover beneath). Everyone who comes to conference will get a free copy and then after that they will be available for distribution (free to all Police staff).
There is only 3 months to conference so please book your leave now and gather a group of mates. Let’s make this the biggest and best conference ever!!! If you know of other staff who are not on this national PCSN list, please forward this email to them and encourage them to email PCSN2@police.govt.nz to get their names added to the national list to ensure they are in the loop.
Pricing for conference is being calculated as we speak and will be released as soon as possible so registrations can be made. In the meantime please do your part by booking your leave, spreading the word and gathering a group. A huge amount of work has been going on behind the scenes with our Bible, website, reps, conference, newsletters etc, and there have been some really exciting developments across the PCSN network over the last year with a new groundswell of interest. As such we believe it is a pivotal time to embrace this momentum by gathering for conference…now!!! So please do your bit by supporting and joining us for this years #Revive2020 conference and sow into the reviving of God’s vision for PCSN.
Things are progressing well in relation to the next PCSN Conference in Christchurch in 2022. Feedback from last years conference was exceptional, and having attended all of them I can say unequivocally that it was genuinely something special for a range of reasons. If you want a reminder of the value of the PCSN conference read through snippets from some of the feedback beneath. So many times staff say they weren’t too fussed or motivated about getting to conferences, and then after going to one wondered why they had not gone sooner.
We have an awesome planning group working hard on the ground in Christchurch to make sure things are organised early. As such we would love to encourage you to start making plans, booking some leave and flights so that you can attend. So often people saying they weren’t able to make it because they couldn’t get leave etc, so with plenty of advance notice and planning we want to create the opportunity for as many staff as possible to be blessed by this awesome opportunity.
So here’s what you need to know for now:
- Conference Date – Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd April 2022 and Conference Centre,
- 34a Hansons Lane, Upper Riccarton, Christchurch
- Theme – “Refresh, Empower, Influence”
- Email PCSN2@police.govt.nz for a list of nearby Motels for accommodation within walking distance of the venue. (Consider booking units in groups to save costs)
- We are also intending to have billeting options with Christchurch staff who will be attending conference
- Flights from Auckland to Christchurch for the conference dates are currently $59 each way and there are multiple time options available at present
- Flights from Wellington to Christchurch on the conference dates are currently $49 each way and there are multiple time options available at present
- Shuttles will be available on Friday to transport people from the airport to their accommodation, and on Sunday to get out to the airport
- Book your flights and arrange your accommodation early to get the best deals
- As usual we are working hard behind the scenes to line up some excellent speakers and keep costs down to a bare minimum. So please start planning and making bookings to come and join us….because it’s actually for you.
- Also remember our southern whanau have travelled north for each conference, so now it’s the northerners turn to return the favour and honour and support them.
And just a reminder on some of the awesome feedback:
Much thanks to the organising team for an amazingly incredible event! Talk about over and above expectations!...we’re all STILL BUZZING! The speakers. Wowsa! World Kingdom class. Weighty. Inspiring.
The programme was intense but intensely good. I left the conference with my hunger satisfied but my appetite whetted for more!!
Thank you for putting on the best conference I have attended so far. (We) have come away pumped…
What an amazing experience!! Loved every minute of it, have nothing but praise for everyone involved, great speakers, pumping band, yummy food, great time meeting other staff and creating new connections, special thanks to the wonderful staff who helped put it all together. The weekend was jam packed and full of power, such an privilege to be part of this group and feeling so much more confident in sharing my faith with other staff. My first year attending having been with Police for 4 years so missed the last one, only just. Looking forward to the next one and excited to bring my husband along. I’ve got so much more to say but I’ll leave it at that.
Well done! I know that the wonderful weekend we were all just blessed by was the work of God, but it took a whole lot of faith, energy and obedience on your part to make it happen. WHAT AN AWESOME CONFERENCE. Well done. I really enjoyed it on so many levels. Good ministry, great worship, met so many neat people, and a very comfortable location. I loved the whole thing, although the testimonies took it to a whole new level for me.
Thank you so much for everything you put into that conference, it was phenomenal and we both walked away from that weekend empowered, inspired and on fire for God as a couple. I was challenged in my faith to step closer to God by praying together as a couple – doing so has brought our relationship to a whole new level. We were also challenged to make a difference in the workplace and not let the opinions of others in us being Christian affect us. The day of Lucky’s testimony.…was one of the many highlights of the weekend. I think most the auditorium was in tears. I’ve been in the Police 7.5 years, I just wish I had attended prior conferences - and we both can’t wait for the next one. Once again thank you and the team for putting together such a fantastic event.
God is so amazing, and I smile to myself at what a wonderful God we serve. The Police conference this year certainly revived my spirit, and reminded me of how grateful I am to be working in an organisation that supports fellow Christians and being a child of God. The line-up of the speakers were extraordinary and I am inspired by Jade and Norm in particular.
We just feel so privileged to be part of such an monumental event truly God ordained!
On behalf of my wife and myself I’d like to say thank you to you all who made this conference happen. I know these things don’t just happen and somebody else’s efforts and sacrifices made it so easy and enjoyable for us. From the moment we arrived we were greeted by friendly registration volunteers and the atmosphere in the mess hall was friendly and relaxed. The worship team were awesome and the song choice was excellent. Great worship times. The speakers and messages were fantastic. It was a real privilege to have Pastor Norm McLeod involved in a large part of the conference speaking but we also enjoyed hearing Lucky Te Koha, Jade Hohaia and David Tua. They were dynamic speakers. I don’t think I can put my finger on one thing that touched me about the conference but I feel stirred to press into God and see what He does in my workplace and personal life…of us has been impacted by God for good. My wife really enjoyed the conference and she was initially reluctant to come as she feels that ‘Police’ events are not very family oriented or welcoming. This was not the case for our conference and as she is Maori, it was encouraging to have Maori speakers and honouring of Maori throughout the conference in other ways. Thanks again.
Sadly we need to announce that the Police Christian Support Network Conference planned for 1st to 3rd April 2022 in Christchurch has been postponed due to the current covid-19 red light status in operation.
We have been assessing this situation for a while wanting to make sure that every opportunity to proceed was considered, however in light of the ongoing uncertainty around the current red light status, it has become clear that continuing with our present plans would mean unacceptable restrictions to our intended format for the event, as well significant uncertainty for those planning travel.
The National Coordinating Group in conjunction with the Christchurch Conference Committee feel that waiting any longer to make a decision is irresponsible in relation to people planning leave and transport (let alone the associated planning for conference).
As such we are sad to advise that the Police Christian Support Network Conference planned for 1st to 3rd April 2022 is POSTPONED.
However….we have been here before and we have seen God’s goodness in using the delays and challenges for great blessings, and so we remain in planning mode and are looking for the best-fit opportunities for running conference along the same lines hopefully later in the year.
Another aspect to the decision to postpone is the effects of the vaccine mandate on a number of staff, including people from the PCSN network. This is a time when we need to genuinely stand with and support each other. This is not a matter of right or wrong decisions, but all staff making decisions on the basis of much consideration and prayer. We know clearly that God is using Christians on both sides of this issue. Our position is not to take sides but to love, support, empower and respect each other. These have been difficult and challenging issues for many and sadly they have caused much division in our nation, workplaces, families and even churches. This is not God’s fruit. It is our responsibility to walk in a spirit of unity and love. So please continue to pray for those effected and for God to bring heal and restoration into our nation and workplaces.
Also please pray for God’s perfect time and direction as we continue planning towards confirming details for the Police Christian Support Network Conference in Christchurch, hopefully later in the year.
