Phil and Desiree Thompson
NZ Directors, JH Aotearoa
JH Aotearoa
The vision to establish JH in this part of the world was born almost 15 years ago in the hearts of Rob and Edith Hayes St Clair, who were then part of the Leadership team at JH Ranch USA.
After years of prayer, the dream started to become a reality in 2014 when some New Zealanders were invited to attend JH Ranch with their children. Uncertain about what they were about to experience, they found the programme was both inspirational and life-changing. Dramatically bringing positive change to their families.
Having experienced the ongoing impact of a JH Ranch experience in their own lives, the small team of New Zealanders who attended the Ranch began to meet together to pray and share the Everlasting Adventure they had begun, and dream about being able to give families in Aotearoa New Zealand the same opportunity that they had received.
The vision was to bring this intentionally crafted and highly successful programme, refined over 30 years of experience in the US, and adapt it to the New Zealand context, ensuring it was culturally relevant, with the aim of making it accessible to all New Zealand whānau. In January 2015, the vision became a reality when JH Aotearoa ran its first-ever Parent & Child Event. There were 190 parents and children who attended from all over the country, and 90 young volunteers made up the team. The week was packed with 6 adventure activities. There were 5 Big Top Talks (or evening talks), delivered by Rob, Edith and Mack from the JH Ranch Leadership team and Journey of Transition Teaching (or instructional parenting talks) as well as Huddle groups, and extended solo time between the parent and child.
At that first event, we saw healing, forgiveness and restoration within families. Parents and teenagers who came to the Event, not even talking to one another, were reconnected. People who had never been to church before gave their hearts to the Lord. We saw relationships with God, and family relationships, deepened and strengthened and for many transformed. For the 180, the parents and teenagers who attended, and for many of the young volunteers also, the Everlasting adventure had begun!