There is a well-known whakataukī, or proverb, in te reo Māori that reads: Nā tō rourou, nā taku rourou, ka ora ai te iwi. It means ‘with your basket and my basket, the people will thrive’, it speaks to the sharing of resources and knowledge, and how working together is far better than working in isolation.

What a suitable proverb for missions in Aotearoa New Zealand! As a small country with many different mission organisations, this quote is very appropriate. Alone, as individual organisations, we can only achieve so much, but together, we are able to effectively reach more people with the story of God’s heart for mission.

One of the specific ways Eastwest College and WEC have seen this idea of “collaboration over competition” in the past year has been through our partnership with The Send, a global ministry focused on activating Christians for missional action. As a missions training college, Eastwest College chose to collaborate with The Send because we strongly resonated with this missional kaupapa and our desire is to see Christians equipped to go from Aotearoa to the world.

Working closely alongside the WEC Mobilising team, Eastwest's collaboration with The Send allowed us to engage with hundreds of individuals about training and global missions. We actively participated with missions booths at large events in Wellington, Christchurch, Auckland, Tauranga and Hamilton, finishing the year with the main event held at Mystery Creek in the Waikato. Team members also joined the nationwide tour and we were able to connect with people and ministries all around the country, spreading the message that missions is still relevant and needed, and that God’s heart is for the nations.

To give a quick glimpse of the impact of ministries collaborating through The Send, in total throughout the year:

  • 17,700 gathered in person

  • 32,000 tuned in online to an event

  • 3,485 commitments to missional action, with

  • 1,691 of these commitments being to the nations

Of these commitments to the nations, we were able to follow up with around 400 of these individuals. The collaborative way Eastwest, WEC, and other mission agencies joined forces was hugely encouraging and a great reminder that nā tō rourou, nā taku rourou, ka ora ai te iwi: ‘with your basket and my basket, the people will thrive’.

As 2025 thunders on, and the big Send events of 2024 begin to feel like a distant memory, the work of missions still continues. Eastwest was excited to welcome new students in 2025 who came as contacts through The Send. And while we are not focused on individual ministries or events, we look back and appreciate all the ways that God is working in Aotearoa. The collaboration by many churches and organisations is strengthening the network of relationships in Aotearoa and fostering a sense of community among various mission organisations. This is the kaupapa, the heart of Missions Interlink, and one we value in our independent organisations.

Collaboration not competition: it really does work. Together, on mission.


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