ARISE Church
ARISE Church is a multi campus church with six locations in New Zealand.[1] Originally named City Church Wellington, it was founded in 2002 with seven people in a small dance and drama studio in Wellington. ARISE Church has since expanded to include campuses in six locations across New Zealand including Wellington, Hamilton, Whangarei, Kapiti, Christchurch, and Dunedin.[2]
According to Paul Morris, Professor of Religious Studies at Victoria University, ARISE is part of a "religious revival" in New Zealand's youth culture.[2] Radio New Zealand's youth channel, The Wireless, compared ARISE to Australia's Hillsong Church,[3] and other papers have described ARISE as having, "a big youth following"[4] The Church responded to the 2011 Christchurch earthquake with immediate shipments of shelf-stable food to the devastated city.[5]
ARISE Wellington now holds services every weekend in the largest indoor venues in the city, worshiping in the Michael Fowler Centre, TSB Bank Arena, and the St. James Theatre.[6]
In 2015, the Church entered the permitting process for construction of a major new campus in the Wellington suburb of Petone which will include both worship and office space.[6][7]
John and Gillian Cameron are the lead pastors of ARISE Church.[3][8]
Beliefs
Theological
ARISE professes to adhere to a form of Christian theology that mostly resembles fundamental evangelical protestantism with elements of pentecostalism. This variety of theology has its roots in Calvinism (Reformed Protestantism). They make the following affirmations as the fundamental tenets of their faith:
- The Bible is the inspired word of God.
- The doctrine of the Trinity.
- The doctrine of the fall of man. The temptation of Adam and Eve by Satan in serpent form and consequently disobeying god by eating the fruit from the tree of knowledge.
- The true and accurate rendering of the life of Jesus according to the Gospel of the New Testament. These include virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and death and resurrection.
- Salvation from sin and death by affirming that the death of Jesus by crucifixion is sufficient atonement.
- The ritual of baptism in the Holy Spirit.
- The need for a person to emulate the behaviour exemplified by Jesus.
- The concepts of heaven and hell.
- The second coming of Jesus.[9]
Services
The principle parts of the ARISE church service includes a praise and worship session, followed by the offering, and then a sermon.
Praise and worship
The praise and worship service consists of a contemporary guitar-driven rock ensemble leading the congregation in collectively singing songs.
Songs and lyrics
The lyrics of the songs that are sung in the services all have common themes of human abjection, the surrender of ones dreams and ambitions, and the adulation of Jesus and God. ARISE Church has written a number of its own songs which are detailed below
In the song "God Alone" there are references to humans being inherently shameful and broken. "Shame is broken in perfect grace" "Once was broken but Now I'm whole"
In the same song are references to divine truth and the compulsion to lavish God with praise and adoration.
"You are the truth and You are the way", "You're the reason I lift up praise"
Stated Mission
The mission of ARISE Church is formally stated as follows:
- To establish and maintain places of worship and ministries which further the Kingdom of God
- To promote, promulgate, teach and practice the gospel of Jesus Christ and to seek to lead men, women and children to a real and vital relationship with Jesus Christ.
- To render spiritual oversight, care, assistance and any other such help as may be deemed practical to assist people in need.
- To ensure all activities, organisations and controls are based on the scriptures.
- To train, teach, disciple and lead members or other persons into leadership responsibilities and/or ministerial capabilities for the extension of the Kingdom of God.
In addition, ARISE Church openly advertises, and both Pastors John and Gillian Cameron have explicitly stated, that the ultimate goal of ARISE Church is that it is a platform for the use of changing a nation for Jesus Christ.
"I feel like God's about to get us ready for what he's really got for ARISE Church as we set out to change a nation for Jesus Christ." - John Cameron.
References
- ↑ "An Outsider's Guide to Some of the Churches of Wellington". salient.org.nz. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
- 1 2 Migone, Paloma (4 July 2012). "Teens tuning in to God's new beat". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
- 1 2 "God works in mysterious ways". Radio New Zealand. 11 June 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
- ↑ Jackman, Amy (2 June 2015). "Catholic church considers banning child photography, fearing attention from abusers". Dominion Post. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
- ↑ Jackman, Amy (3 March 2011). "Church amazed by public kindness". Dominion Post. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
- 1 2 "Church plans major complex in Petone". The Dominion Post (Wellington). 17 January 2015. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
- ↑ "Church planning new Petone centre". Dominion Post. 12 November 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
- ↑ Herselman, Germari (16 June 2014). "Conference for women inspires". The Marlborough Express. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
- ↑ "What We Believe at ARISE Church". ARISE Church. Retrieved 2016-05-20.