You know now if you didn’t before, from our chats about Australia, that it is winter south of the equator! But did you know we have SFC in New Zealand? Did you realize SFC began in this gorgeous, diverse country?! If you knew, sick. If not, not you do. Either way, we think you should dive into this email to learn more about what God is up to in this two-island beauty of a country!
SFC’S NEW ZEALAND NATIONAL COORDINATOR
Tim Nugerton is SFC’s New Zealand National Coordinator. The story of how he got involved with SFC is wild. One day, Tim’s buddy Andre gave him a ring. He invited him to what he referred to as a “Christian board sports conference.” Tim shows up at this conference and quickly realizes it is exclusively a surf conference. Tim doesn’t surf; he snowboards and skateboards! He felt out of place and was not sure what to do. He ended up chatting with Ruben Yomen, who later became one of SFC’s founders, along with Kevin Grimwood. They discovered he was a snowboarder and invited him to the first SFC Conference in Queenstown. Shortly after attending the conference, Tim was hyped up about the mission of SFC and started a Group in Christchurch. SFC took off in New Zealand. “The fact I got involved with SFC was a total God moment…. Everything about it. You can see God’s hand in the strange circumstance,” Tim shared.
A few years later, Tim was invited to visit Colorado for another SFC Conference. While there, he was appointed the SFC New Zealand National Coordinator. In 2012, Tim got married, and he and his wife Yvette moved to Queenstown, where they started another SFC Group. He later moved him and his young family back to Christchurch and got involved in the Christchurch Group again. Many years have passed, and things have shifted. Tim is working to rebuild the SFC Christchurch Group.
In his free time, Tim snowboards (obviously), fly fishes, hunts, reads or runs his homestead farm with his wife, Yvette, and their three incredible sons. “I’m an immature shepherd,” laughs Tim. He calls himself a practical person because he likes to make and build things using his hands.
NEW ZEALAND’S SEASON AND RESORTS
New Zealand’s ski season typically ranges from June to October. Most Kiwis have to travel to the mountains to ski. It’s not common for a town to be at the base of a ski area. If you want to go skiing, it means driving up a dirt road to a ski field for the day. Ski fields in New Zealand are a lot smaller. They typically have 3-6 chairlifts. All fields are above the treeline. Most are steep and rugged. Powder days are rare, but when they happen, it is hard to get to the slopes because of avalanche control. It takes considerable effort to be involved with the ski industry in New Zealand. Those who participate in it want it, and that attitude creates the incredible shred culture in this gorgeous country.
The main ski field on the north island is Mount Ruapehu, an active volcano; it has two ski fields, Turoa and Whakapapa (these ski resorts are named after the indigenous people). The main ski resort on South Island in Canterbury is Mt Hutt. In Queenstown/Wanaka are Coronet Peak, the Remarkables, and Cadrona and Treble Cone. Aside from these significant ski fields, small “mom and pop” like ski areas exist.
HOPE, PRAYER, VISION
Tim says he can see God putting things in place. He can see a lot of potential for something happening in the town surrounding Mt. Hutt. “The New Zealand retreat was in Methven, and people came from all over to gather for this retreat. It seems like the door is opening there, and a light is shining or focusing on this area,” Tim shared. All the connections Tim made leading up to this retreat felt like God’s hands had been in them. Dave, for example, is part of the story of the doors opening in Methven and for SFC to begin again. Dave used to do an outreach on Sunday nights, where he would feed people who worked on the mountain. So many people would show up, and the gospel was often shared. There is hope that a ministry like this will start again.
The hope, prayer, and vision of SFC New Zealand is to reconnect people and build new relationships. “It feels vital to connect Christian skiers and riders across NZ right now,” Tim shared. He thinks bringing in new blood and new passion is essential to help kick SFC off again.
In the long term, Tim would love to establish SFC Groups across NZ in different towns that last from season to season. It is key to raise up leaders in the next generation so that SFC does not cycle and drop off and then have to be rebuilt again. Pray for new leaders in the next generation. SFC was started by teens with a vision; those who started it are older now. Sustaining this ministry is a huge goal.
If you want to support SFC New Zealand please pray and visit the link in our bio to help! You can donate to this ministry area by giving to the General Fund and making a note that the donation is for SFC New Zealand.
HOW TO HELP
Want to participate in SFC New Zealand? Well! Good news: We have a couple of different ways you can. If you live and shred in New Zealand or know someone who does, reach out to [email protected]. He would love to connect with you. Please join us in praying for the hope and vision of SFC New Zealand this season. If you want to help further the missional possibilities of SFC New Zealand, click the link below to generously take part in the mission. Select “General Fund” and make a note that your gift is for SFC New Zealand. We are elated to share with you about the work God is doing in New Zealand and invite you to participate in it!