Auckland Women of Faith Relate Life’s Journeys

Women from the Panmure community attended an interfaith devotional, “Women of Faith”, on Sunday, 12 November 2017, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ chapel in Mt. Wellington, Auckland.

Auckland women representing seven faith traditions shared thoughts on their individual journeys of faith.

A central belief common to all of them was that God loves each of His children.

Josephine Bartley observed, “God is always there, and he has a plan. We get a lot of strength from each other.”

The theme of the night’s gathering came from a quote by Rev. Victor H. Kazanjian of the United Religious Initiative, “Religious and cultural diversity is a blessing and not a curse. It is a deeper understanding of the world, never a threat to the legitimacy of one’s own faith or beliefs.”

Welcoming and thanking the participants, President William Gardner, Latter-day Saint leader in the Panmure Stake (a group of congregations) shared a Maori whakatauki (proverb) illustrating the purpose of the meeting.

 "Nāu te raurau. With your basket

Naku te raurau. And with my basket

Ka kii ake te kete i te aroha. The kete (flax kit) will be filled with love."

“Your very presence tonight has brought warmth to our house. May we keep our arms linked and stand together.”

Welcomed guests included: Lyalle Love, Faith Family Connect Baptist Church; Nisyola Fifita, Baha’I; Sue Farid, Muslim; Dr. Felicity Williamson, Presbyterian; MP Jenny Salesa, Seventh-day Adventist; Veeshayne Patuwai, LDS; and Josephine Bartley, Catholic.

Leah Couch, Public Affairs Interfaith specialist from the LDS Panmure Stake and organizer of the meeting, said in her remarks as she welcomed faith leaders and attendees from the community, “I see our diversity as a promise, not a problem.”

Each speaker shared heartwarming life experiences and stories of faith with those in attendance.

Also warmly welcomed was MP Denise Lee.