Church Talk
'Come with heart first'
Friday 16 March 2012 | Published in Church Talk
The various stages without doubt heighten to an increased intensified level when the cause of death is due to the intentional taking of one’s own life or when someone commits suicide. Not only do those who have lost loved ones to suicide have to deal with their own personal battles of constantly questioning themselves as […]
Praying an effective prayer
Friday 9 March 2012 | Published in Church Talk
The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced […]
Te au Papa, ka tu, ka aaki – ka rave au
Friday 9 March 2012 | Published in Church Talk
I had the most blessed and awesome week when one of my sons handed me this DVD movie entitled ‘Courageous’ to watch. In support of all the good intentions, efforts, meetings and programmes that many are launching, demonstrating concerns over youth crimes, suicide, alcohol abuse, sex abuse, drug abuse and so forth, I rise to […]
Love, not war, for Celebration on the Rock
Saturday 3 March 2012 | Published in Church Talk
When Celebration on the Rock pastor Jonathan Cargill whipped out a gun mid-sermon, a few members of his congregation did a double-take. But Cargill allayed their concern when he launched into an explanation of the church’s newest venture – Paintball Natives, a recreational paintball club focused on fun for the whole family. Owned and operated […]
Arorangi CICC confronts suicide issue
Saturday 3 March 2012 | Published in Church Talk
Ahead of this month’s national suicide forum, members of the Arorangi Cook Islands Christian Church (CICC) are putting their heads together to determine how they can address the country’s suicide problem. Last Friday Arorangi CICC Ekalesia executives met with its Boys Brigade, Girls Brigade, Girl Guides, Sunday school and youth club to talk about suicide. […]
LDS elder reports back
Friday 2 March 2012 | Published in Church Talk
An international Church of Latter Day Saints website published the following story on Monday. It details the visit of Elder F Michael Watson to the Cook Islands in January. Elder F. Michael Watson of the Seventy was warmly greeted by members of the church as he visited the Cook Islands in January. Elder Watson presided […]
The solution to self-centeredness
Friday 2 March 2012 | Published in Church Talk
Aim-i-self.jpg “/> Part 1 of an article by Pastor Tevai Matapo of the Assemblies of God (Part 2 – The solution to self-centeredness) I believe that there was a time in Cook Islands culture when we could safely say that we are a collective society where the majority of people truly cared for the welfare […]
If only I wouldn't be this way
Friday 24 February 2012 | Published in Church Talk
I asked my daughter Miriama if she could write the “churchtalk” article for me. I did not give her any topic, I just told her, write from the heart, from your personal journey. The article below is what she came up with. I read it and concluded that the activation of life is so real […]
Cardinal of Manila welcomed
Friday 24 February 2012 | Published in Church Talk
The Cardinal of Manila, Gaudencio Borbon Rosales, has spent the last two weeks visiting the Cook Islands. He took time out this week to chat with CINews about his visit, his life and renewable energy. Sitting on the veranda of the Bishop’s House in Avarua, Cardinal Rosales looks as though he enjoys life. “I am […]
If suicide is the answer, what is the question?
Friday 17 February 2012 | Published in Church Talk
The word “suicide” comes from the Latin roots, Sui (“of oneself”) and Cidium (“killing” or “slaying”). A number of ‘suicidologists’ have criticised news coverage of suicides, citing that reading about suicide victims in the news often triggers copycat or “contagion” suicides. So do we go into denial hoping the problem goes away, or should we […]
Get out of the junk business!
Friday 17 February 2012 | Published in Church Talk
In the greatest sermon that was ever preached, the greatest man who ever lived gave what was probably the wisest counsel that has ever been given when he said that we should lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven. And that is probably our most profitable idea. However, the thing that we spend more time […]
Sunday radio ministry returns
Friday 10 February 2012 | Published in Church Talk
The Cook Islands Christian Church radio ministry has returned to the air waves. The first programme for 2012 began last Sunday with host aunty Nga Teao-Papatua. This year the popular show starts at the new time of 12.30pm. The radio ministry is broadcast on Radio Cook Islands and brings together church leaders within the CICC […]
Fundraiser for 8 boys going to Hong Kong
Friday 10 February 2012 | Published in Church Talk
To send eight local boys to Discipleship Training School in Hong Kong, Youth With A Mission (YWAM) is holding an island night fundraiser from 7pm today. Discipleship Training School (DTS) is a five-month programme during which students learn to know God and make him known. It is an intensive Christian training course involving 12 weeks […]
Ditching the crutches, standing upright
Friday 10 February 2012 | Published in Church Talk
I noticed Christmas and New Years’ messages were given prominence in the newspapers at the end of 2011. These addresses appeal to me as they enable our leaders to express what is happening around them and how a particular leader would like to see us responding. One that stood out for me this year was […]
Let's do more than just talk Rave kare ka tuatua ua
Friday 3 February 2012 | Published in Church Talk
“But be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves Ei aronga rave oki kotou i te tuatua nei, auraka ei aronga akarongo ua, i te pikikaa ua anga ia kotou uaorai”–James/Iakobo 1:22 We are barely over our concern with crimes, road death tolls and domestic violence and now suicide […]
Pastor says it's a spiritual war
Friday 3 February 2012 | Published in Church Talk
Pastor Ngarima George applauds Cook Islands National Youth Council president Nukutau Pokura’s intention to form a suicide task force, but believes it is vital that the panel include people who know the word of God. The reason for that, he says, is we are “not fighting a physical war against suicide – it’s a spiritual […]
Keep yourself for the very best, not for second best
Saturday 28 January 2012 | Published in Church Talk
It is absolutely gut-wrenching and cruelly heartbreaking to hear far too many of our teenage suicide cases as resulting or involving some kind of a boyfriend and girlfriend relationship. Where in the world did we ever get this concept or notion of a boyfriend and girlfriend relationship? It certainly did not and does not come […]
What to do when someone you love is making poor choices
Friday 27 January 2012 | Published in Church Talk
This article is actually Part 1 of a teaching series by Pastor Tevai Matapo. Last weeks article was Part 2 and was supplied and printed inadvertently. (See How to correct someone, part two) Today I want to explore an issue which I believe many of us have difficulty with and that is, what to do […]
How to correct someone, part two
Friday 20 January 2012 | Published in Church Talk
(Part 1 What to do when someone you love is making poor choices) If your heart is in the right place, how can God use you in this kind of situation? I want us to look at 2 Samuel 12 for some practical steps you can take. Step 1: Get very clear about the issue. […]
Quality decisions vital
Friday 13 January 2012 | Published in Church Talk
This is Part 3 of a series on knowing and discerning God’s will by Pastor Jonathon Cargill of Celebration on the Rock Church. (Part 1 –Hearing the voice of God; Part 2 – Hearing the voice of God) A brand new year is here with fresh opportunities and challenges that will require us to make […]