The children are released from church just before the sermon and all meet together for Kids praise before heading to their classes.
An excellent team ensures all singing and lessons are bible based and Christ centred and pitched at an appropriate level for each of the class groups

The four classes are
Bible Explorers (3-5 year olds)
Treasure Seekers (Year 2-3)
Discoverers (Year 4-6)
Navigators (Year 7-8)

We also provide crèche during the service for infants to 3 years old.

The main church service finishes at the same time as Sunday school when parents of pre school children are expected to collect their child from class before enjoying fellowship around morning tea

Sunday (except school holidays)

Contact: Karen Major.

Girlzone is an opportunity for our young girls to get together, have some fun and make some cool things, but most of all learn more about God. In Girlzone we will look at what it means to be a Christian and work on developing our relationship with the Lord.

Every second Monday   6:30pm-8:00pm 

In the Homestead

Contact: Maria Henderson

 Girls and Boy Rally is an international organisation that began here in NZ.
Our aim is to build children up in the following three areas:
    1. Spiritual- building strong Christian character.
    2. Educational- increased knowledge and understanding.
    3. Physical- developing physical fitness and team co-operation.
At Riverbend Bible Church our Rally’s focus on Bible teaching, hobbies, games, outings and friendships in a Christian-based environment.

Contact: Andrew Young & Georgia Houghton

Location: conservatory

Jitterbugs music group is a pre-school music and movement ministry run by Riverbend Bible Church. Session are held Thursday mornings during the school term starting at 9:30am and followed by morning tea. All are welcome.

Contact: Lindel Stonestreet

Location: Conservatory

Sunday school exists to provide pre-school to primary aged children of Riverbend, and visiting children, an opportunity to learn about the character of God in a fun and child friendly environment.

The children are released from church just before the sermon and all meet together for Kids praise before heading to their classes.
An excellent team ensures all singing and lessons are bible based and Christ centred and pitched at an appropriate level for each of the class groups

The four classes are
Bible Explorers (3-5 year olds)
Treasure Seekers (Year 2-3)
Discoverers (Year 4-6)
Navigators (Year 7-8)

We also provide crèche during the service for infants to 3 years old.

The main church service finishes at the same time as Sunday school when parents of pre school children are expected to collect their child from class before enjoying fellowship around morning tea.

Sunday (except school holidays)

Contact: Karen Major.

Girlzone is an opportunity for our young girls to get together, have some fun and make some cool things, but most of all learn more about God. In Girlzone we will look at what it means to be a Christian and work on developing our relationship with the Lord.

Every second Monday   6:30pm-8:00pm
 
Contact: Vicki-Lee Dempsey

Girls and Boy Rally is an international organisation that began here in NZ.
Our aim is to build children up in the following three areas:

    1. Spiritual- building strong Christian character.

2. Educational- increased knowledge and understanding.
   

3. Physical- developing physical fitness and team co-operation.
At Riverbend Bible Church our Rally’s focus on Bible teaching, hobbies, games, outings and friendships in a Christian-based environment.

Contact: Andrew Young or Georgia Houghton

Jitterbugs music group is a pre-school music and movement ministry run by Riverbend Bible Church. Session are held Thursday mornings during the school term starting at 9:30am and followed by morning tea. All are welcome.

Samfya Bible School in Zambia has the vision of equipping men and women for Christian ministry in rural Bemba-speaking areas of Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Founded in 1935, Samfya CMML Mission and Bible School is an institution run by the Christian Brethren Church (also known in Zambia as Christian Mission in Many Lands (C.M.M.L)). The curriculum is based upon the evangelical biblical foundation on which the Christian Brethren Church is founded.

Riverbend Bible Church has supported SBC since 2001 with finances, prayer, and mission trips, which have included teaching and logistical support.

Wathabu Simfukwe serves as the Principal of Samfya Bible School and has written the following:

“What started in 1930 as a Bible study at the home of Horace Coleman, a Scottish mission worker, grew into what is Samfya Bible School today. Initially, when the school opened in 1960, it only offered a one-year discipleship course, preparing graduates to be useful church workers in their rural villages and to influence the people under their leadership with sound biblical teaching. Over the last decade, due to increased demand and need, the school has grown in terms of enrolment of students and programmes offered.

We take a threefold approach to teaching, providing students with a biblical foundation and experience in Christian ministry, and equipping them with life skills. We seek to raise and develop qualified and credible church leaders who will meet the challenge of providing effective leadership to God’s people in a way that is relevant to the current needs of society. To meet this aim, the school has designed programmes and courses that are accessible and relevant to the local people. We have introduced youth and church-based discipleship programmes, Bible studies, literacy classes for students’ wives, practical agricultural courses, and health information. We thank God for changed lives.”

“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow”. 1 Corinthians 3:7-8.

Paul is describing an ideal situation here which stresses the fact that we are all fellow workers in the field and God is the ultimate authority over us. We all have a task to do in our different capacities and our partnership together allows us to accomplish more. This is true with the work at Samfya Bible School, and those who partner with us in prayer and financial support, and the churches that have sent us students are all key players in our ministry.

·    We plant the seed of God’s Word in the lives of our students.

·     Our partners water it with their unwavering support.

·     God makes the students grow spiritually.

·     The students go out and impact the rural community with the gospel: churches are planted, spiritual leaders are raised, souls are set free, and Christ is glorified.  

Discipleship Extension Programme

The church-based Discipleship Extension Programme is a ten-month course which seeks to:

• train local church members to effectively disciple new believers in their church
• encourage students and graduates to work together, to unify and strengthen the church
• identify those who may be suitable candidates for on-campus biblical training.

In 2014, we ran our first programme in Mwewa, 80km east of Samfya. Since then training has taken place in more than 18 locations. At each site students share their own unique experiences and inspiring stories.

Bemba Bibles for the Rural Church in Zambia

With an average income of less than a dollar per day there is little extra to buy a bible. However, through help from Riverbend Bible Church and other partners Samfya Bible School is able to supply Bemba Bibles at reduced prices in the Bemba speaking region of Luapula, northern provinces of Zambia, and southern parts of the DRC.

Skills Development for Women

The school works to empower rural Christian women with the skills and knowledge to help support their family and gospel work. The Students’ Wives Programme offers classes in cooking, knitting, tailoring and other practical skills. Bible and literacy classes help to develop their knowledge and understanding of Scripture, and help with fluency and reading comprehension so that the women can read and learn from the Bible for themselves.

Youth Leaders’ Training

Samfya Bible School has recruited young people and started the Youth Leaders’ Training Course to help run church youth groups. In addition to a variety of other community development projects, we run a ‘Matrons and Patrons’ Programme to help mentor young people and guide them to make wise life decisions and grow spiritually.

2020 Update

In 2019 the School graduated 30 students. In 2020, 31 students and their families enrolled. However due to the Covid 19 outbreak the School had to close in March 2020 for the rest of the year, and the students have returned home. Other programs such as the Extension Training, Youth Leader’s trainings and Seminars for various church ministries have continued, and staff  have been busy working more intensively with churches in the immediate area of Samfya, and doing maintenance work around the School.

Training Local Pastors, Creating and Translating Resources in Asia Pacific

Simon and Ann Pyatt have served in Indonesia and further abroad in Asia since 2006. During that time they have been focused on teaching church planters and pastors using the Indonesian language. Simon teaches theology, New Testament letters, church-planting and counselling. He is also completing a series of New Testament commentaries. Ann has been involved in children’s ministry and helping mothers with their babies. In 2023 they joined the Master’s Academy International team in Jakarta Indonesia. TMAI establishes high quality theological colleges and works with existing ones to train local pastors. They are also committed to creating and translating solid written resources and sermons into the local language. At present Simon is teaching online and he and Ann make visits to Asia at least twice a year. When circumstances allow they plan to move to Jakarta.

Jeremy Dempsey is the National Director for OAC N.Z. and Vicki-Lee the National Administrator. Jeremy works full time by faith for this evangelistic organisation. As well as managing the team across N.Z. Jeremy also travels around the pacific training others in evangelism. For more information check out the website www.oac.org.nz