Big Church

| 11:00am SUNDAY

Big Church is where we really get going. Our worship is God-centred, our preaching is Bible-based, and our service is Holy Spirit-lead. Children are provided with activity packs, but encouraged to soak up the service with their family. We love kids, don’t worry if they’re noisy. Church is supposed to be full of life! A nursing room is available for mothers.

Integrated Community Hub

As the social service arm of Hastings Church, Connect Community Trust has been outworking our faith in the community of Hastings through loving people right on our doorstep.

While acknowledging the effectiveness of the work Connect Community Trust had been doing in the community for years, it was obvious that further resourcing was necessary to ensure a sustainable future for the trust’s work. Following a discussion led by Anglican Care Waiapu and the completion of the homelessness discovery study by Hastings District Council, a historical heads of agreement was signed by Hastings Church, HDC, and Anglican Care Waiapu to develop an Integrated Community Hub, enhancing the work Connect Community Trust was already doing and providing the necessary resources to ensure an effective and sustainable solution is established in Hastings.

The Integrated Community Hub opened its doors in August 2022. It provides a safe space, day-time facilities and individualised wrap-around support for the most vulnerable in Hastings, many of whom suffer through chronic homelessness, addiction, violence, disability, and mental health challenges.

The hub provides a place for service users to connect with service providers such as Te Whatu Ora Hawke’s Bay, Ministry of Social Development and other local agencies. This enables users to build trusting relationships and encourages personal agency through participation in person-centric positive outcomes.

For more information please visit the Connect Community Trust website

Empowered and Equipped in the Grace of Jesus

We are passionate about the work and life of the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to flow through every facet of our lives, individually and corporately. Through His empowering, we are then motivated by God’s love to exercise our individual gifts to equip others, always pointing people to the redeeming work of Jesus Christ.

Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do His work and to build up the Church…the body of Christ. (Ephesians 4:12)

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Corinthians 13:14)

Jesus at the Centre

Everything we need is found in Jesus. Everything we do is because of Him, through Him and for Him. We are a church dependant on Jesus Christ. Without Him at the centre, we lose all meaning and purpose.

“All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.” (Colossians 1:16-17)

Grace changes Everything

We believe in sounding a constant note of grace through all that we do. We understand that true grace always results in changed lives that now display holiness and justice. Grace changes how we see people. It changes how we understand scripture. It changes how we respond to others. It changes how we respond to God. Our desire is that people encounter not only the conviction of sin but the beauty of grace.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8, 9)

People not Programs

One result of our transformed lives is that we love God, each other and our community. All our ministries are birthed out of this love. Rather than copy someone else’s successful program, it is our desire to find God-inspired ways to love, engage with and challenge our own local community and cultures.

“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35)

The Word is our Measure

We want to make sure we are doing exactly what God tells us to do. If it is time for a mid-stream adjustment, we will make it because we desire, individually and as a church, to be in alignment with His will – even when it means inconvenient or even massive change.  The Hastings Church culture is one that honours faithfulness and commitment.  We also recognise the need for fruitfulness and productivity.  Our trust and reliance is on the guiding hand of the Lord.  When we don’t know what God wants us to do, we ask Him. When we do know what God wants us to do, we do it. As the Psalmist says:

Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you.

Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you.

Rescue me from my enemies, Lord; I run to you to hide me.

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God.

May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing. (Psalm 143:8-10)