Hibiscus Coast church becomes independent congregation

A growing Hibiscus Coast congregation has become a church in its own right, with the Reformed Church of the Hibiscus Coast formally instituted as an independent congregation at a celebration attended by around 300 people.

The milestone celebration, held at Stanmore Bay School, marked the transition from a church plant to a self-governing congregation with its own leadership and ministry.

It also included the ordination of the church’s first pastor, Freddy Minnee.

The church began two years ago as a plant of the Reformed Church of the North Shore, established after a growing number of Hibiscus Coast residents had been travelling there to attend services.

“We are so excited to see what God has done over the past two years! When this church plant began, we hoped and prayed for numerical and spiritual growth, and God has answered those prayers. We have clearly seen the Lord working through the congregation as he established a strong fellowship of believers. Praise the Lord! We trust and pray that the Lord will continue to bless the work this congregation carries out in the community,” says Pastor Daniel Wilson of the Reformed Church of the North Shore.

The new pastor, Freddy Minnee, has had a varied path to ministry. He served as a police officer in South Auckland and later as a builder near Palmerston North. He studied through the Reformed Theological College in Melbourne, beginning by distance before relocating to complete his degree. This was followed by a period of supervised ministry training in a church in Hastings.

“No man is a self-made man. I’m here because of the input and love of so many people over the years – my wife and family, and the churches that have shaped me. Above all, I want to thank the Lord for his work in my life, calling me out of darkness into his glorious light. That’s why I’m here,” he says.

Pastor Freddy and his wife Sarah have seven children, and the family will be living in Red Beach as he begins his ministry on the Hibiscus Coast. He says he’s looking forward to serving the church and becoming part of the local community.

“My prayer is that God’s glory will be what motivates us – not ourselves, not what we’ve done. Our role as a church is to proclaim the news of Christ to our community.”

The church now meets each Sunday at 10.30am and 5pm at 48 Waiora Road, Stanmore Bay.