NEWCHURCH

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31584, 23 January 1968, Page 17

NEWCHURCH

Assistant To Minister A Christchurch independent Methodist minister (the Rev D. W. Edmonds) who has established a new church at New Brighton, the Church of the Open Door, has been joined in his work by Mr G. Moody, who was formerly in charge of the Rehua Maori Boys’ hostel, run by the Christchurch Methodist Central Mission.

Mr Edmonds, who was closely associated with the work of the Methodist Church for more than 20 years and who has been an ordained minister for 13 years, resigned from the Methodist Church of New Zealand last June, because of theological differences with the Church. In the latest issue of “Lightbearer” the official magazine of the Church of the Open Door, Mr Edmonds says that the work at New Brighton was a venture in evangelism which was new and challenging for both Mr Moody and himself.

Although in the initial stages of the ministry it was intended to hire a hall for prayer meetings and services, it was hoped eventually to establish a Christian faith centre where services could be held at various times every day. There was a need for evengelistic services on Sundays and week nights as well as for lunch-hour services and shoppers’ services, said Mr Edmonds.

“Along with this centre, we will move from place to place across Christchurch and beyond holding meetings and preaching Christ wherever we are able.”