Church members, including candidates for baptism, from the local congregations of Wellington, Hutt Valley, Waikanae, and Palmerston North in the New Zealand Ecclesiastical District joined hands for a beachfront cleanup drive at Petone Beach on September 4, 2022.

Popular to many beach-goers, Petone Beach is situated in Wellington Harbour, also called Port Nicholson, the southern tip of North Island, New Zealand.

Kim Tancock, a candidate for baptism from the Wellington Congregation, was motivated to join in the activity as he “wanted to help [in the protection of] the environment.” He added, “It’s very much better to see that the shore was cleaned up.”

Representatives from the local government and the Philippine Embassy were also present during the activity.

“It’s an honor to be here,” said Josh Briggs, the City Councilor of Hutt Valley. “A huge thank you to all of the members and the leadership who organized the event and brought the community altogether, not only the Church, but also the members of the community like myself.”

Auckland City Council Members Pamela Gill and Alanah Mullin expressed their gratitude to the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) members for extending their help to the environment. “We love to see you every year. I’ve been seeing you since 2009 and it’s been fantastic to connect with you doing community outreach programs,” said Mullin. Meanwhile, Gill, appreciated the Church for its “long-term support projects. So, two thumbs up to you!”

Mrs. Querobine Laccay, Philippine Embassy Chargée d’Affaires to New Zealand, shared her thoughts about the activity, “We are here represented by the embassy because we’ve found most of your initiatives very meaningful. I hope that the Church will continue to remain strong and a good example among the community, especially abroad.” — With reports from INC News Section