NewsPosted August 10, 2017 Auckland, New Zealand: Churches Serve Hundreds in Community

By Maritza Brunt/Jacinda Turnbull-Harman, courtesy Adventist Record

Several Adventist congregations in South Auckland (NZ) recently combined efforts to “be the church” in Clendon, a suburb in Auckland stricken with poverty, unemployment, gangs and crime.

The initiative, called “iCAN58″—a reference to “cans of food” and “Isaiah 58″—is in its third year. In previous years, the outreach included a food drive of generous food parcels, where members donated thousands of cans of food and packets of rice over several months that were hand delivered to every household in Clendon.

This year iCAN58 looked a little different: a large-scale community fun day was run in the heart of Clendon at their local shopping centre. The event included live music, performances, testimonies, and praise and worship. Food parcels, on-the-spot health checks, face-painting, balloons, sausage sizzle, donuts, and Up & Go were also all provided for free.