A Weekend of Walking With Jesus
A Weekend of Walking with Jesus: Ministry Leaders’ Family Camp 2026
This past weekend our diocesan whānau gathered for one of the most joy-filled and spiritually rich events in our calendar: Ministry Leaders’ Family Camp (MLFC). Held at beautiful El Rancho, MLFC once again brought together leaders, families, children, and youth from across the region to rest, reconnect, and rediscover the heart of Jesus as we serve in the communities God has placed us among.
This year, our journey together was shaped by the profound and deeply human story of the Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13–35) — a narrative of confusion, heartbreak, hope, and revelation that speaks so directly into the rhythms of ministry life. The Emmaus text featured prominently throughout the weekend in our keynotes, bible studies and workshops.
From Friday evening’s mihi whakatau through to Sunday’s final Eucharist, the theme of walking with Jesus resonated through every gathering. Our four keynote sessions invited us to slow down, listen well, and recognise the risen Christ among us — sometimes in the breaking of bread, sometimes in the quiet conversations between sessions, and sometimes in laughter echoing across the fields of El Rancho.
The weekend also offered space for deep engagement with Scripture through Bible studies led by Rev. Digby Wilkinson, who helped us explore Emmaus with pastoral wisdom and theological insight. These studies grounded us again in the truth that Jesus walks beside us even when our eyes are “kept from recognising him,” and that hope often emerges precisely in the places we least expect.
MLFC has always been a camp where all generations belong, and once again our children enjoyed an exceptional programme led by Ella Brown. The tamariki explored the same Emmaus theme in creative, age‑appropriate ways, learning what it means to walk with Jesus in their everyday lives. The children’s schedule included morning sessions, shared worship moments, outdoor activities, and even a special movie night — complete with pyjamas, and pillows — all delivered with care and thoughtful planning.
Children were encouraged to bring togs, towels, water bottles, and sports shoes as the team prepared a mixture of indoor and outdoor activities, including Sunday’s water play.
What makes MLFC so special each year is the beautiful sense of togetherness that emerges when our Anglican whānau gathers in one place. It invites us into a weekend where we “walk with Jesus, connect with each other and rediscover hope along the road.” And that’s exactly what happened.
Across mealtimes, late‑night chats, prayer ministry, and the many informal moments where strangers became friends, we witnessed the Spirit drawing us into deeper unity. Our shared love for Jesus and our shared call to serve His people in our local communities felt especially tangible.
Every smile, every moment of worship, every sound of children’s laughter felt like part of a larger tapestry of faithfulness — a sign of God’s ongoing work in our diocese.
We’ve gathered an incredible set of photos that beautifully capture the vitality and joy of the weekend — the worship, the play, the learning, the rest, the conversations, and the sense that Jesus was indeed walking with us.
As we close this year’s camp, we give thanks for every leader, parent, volunteer, and child who helped make the weekend such a blessing. Thank you for showing up, for bringing your whole selves, and for choosing to walk this road together.
MLFC will be back next year, providing the opportunity to rediscover hope, encounter Jesus, and continue building the Kingdom in every community we dwell among.
