Still Burning Bright: A Prayer at St Mary’s Church

Visiting St Mary’s Church in Motuti was more than just a step into history — it felt like stepping into the faith of a man who carried the gospel across oceans.

Watch the video here

Bishop Jean-Baptiste Pompallier came from France to Aotearoa in the early 1800s, bringing with him a deep love for Christ and a heart to share that love with the people of this land.

As I stood inside the wooden walls of St Mary’s, where Pompallier’s remains now rest, I couldn’t help but feel connected to that story. The same faith that compelled him to leave everything behind still burns here today — in small churches, in homes, in conversations, and on quiet hillsides where people still pray.

I took a moment to kneel and pray inside that church — thanking God for the courage of those who came before us, and asking that the light of Christ would continue to grow throughout the Hokianga, throughout Northland, and across this entire country.

We filmed a short video from our visit to share a glimpse of this sacred place — a reminder that the story of faith in Aotearoa is still being written.