An Adventure in Mission

“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”     Luke Chapter 10, verse 2
In 2019, our leaders Matt and Jacqui Watts took time to reflect on their first season as ministry leaders here in Westport. Their call to Westport was as a ‘family on mission’, but it was very clear to them that one of the biggest needs was for more ‘workers’.  As they talked and prayed, they recognised that the age groups apparently missing in the local churches are the teenagers; the vibrant young adults; and the committed 30 & 40yr olds… 

So the dream grew to make a ‘kingdom investment’ in this place. Matt and Jacqui could purchase a house locally that would be a ‘mission-house’ – a base initially for (but not limited to) Christian young adults, who are mission-minded and want to live intentionally as disciples of Jesus. They would be serving the local churches; sharing the good news of Jesus; as well as growing in their own discipleship through a ‘missional community’ model with regular patterns of prayer, mentoring and training. 
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​In the Lord’s generosity, Matt and Jacqui already had the necessary funds to purchase a 3-bedroom house! It felt like the process took a very long time, from viewing, inspecting building structures, making offers, and then being in lockdown…. but they are now the owners of 10 Bright Street!! 
This is the dream the Lord has placed on our hearts:
  • to establish in Westport a Mission Training Base (MTB);
  • where teams of ‘workers’ would come to live for a season (6 months plus);
  • in low-cost, furnished accommodation;
  • to work or study part-time, whilst they serve God in mission through the local churches.
As a church we would commit to:
  • invest in their lives by providing a ‘missional community’ structure;
  • mentor and disciple them while they are here;
  • support the growth of a lifelong passion for mission!
We would love to:
  • support & encourage the work of all our local churches; and
  • bless our local community, especially our children & youth, with the transforming message of Jesus!
Please pray:
  • for the short-term teams coming to minister in the Summer;
  • for all the details around moving furniture in and getting the house & property ready;
  • for God to be stirring the hearts of those who will come;
  • for our many combined contacts around NZ to catch the vision, and share the promo-video;
  • for our beautiful town and region, that the Lord would continue planting and watering the seeds of the gospel here in our midst;
  • for us all to have confidence in God’s mysterious plan – Jesus himself! 

​Is God calling you here on an adventure?

MTB Westport is seeking mission-hearted Jesus-followers who want to come and be part of an adventure with us. We are building an extended family-on-mission here in Westport, Kawatiri. We are praying that God will call people who:-
  • Follow Jesus and are committed to learning and growing in their relationship with him.
  • Will relocate to Westport and live in Christian community in our house at 10 Bright Street for 6 months or longer.
  • Commit at least 10 hours per week to serving God’s kingdom in our neighbourhood and in one of the churches in Westport.
For further details, please see our House Covenant, which is available as a separate file.

​We are currently recruiting people to be part of the first group living and learning at MTB starting from February 2021. Please email Matt for further details or to arrange a time to come and visit us.
​An expression of interest form is available here as PDF or as a Word document


Are you overseas and interested in coming?

Currently due to covid-19 the New Zealand border is only open to NZ citizens. However, we are interested to hear from people overseas who may want to join us in the future. You can still get in touch and fill in the expression of interest form, but you might have to be a bit flexible around when you join us!