Kia ora!
I am Steve!
I have always had an interest in missions and evangelism, and a heart for the most vulnerable.
Born and raised in Rotorua, New Zealand, I have been working with youth for the past 25 years in both a professional and voluntary capacity. Currently the youth development manager of the Rotorua Youth Centre, my role includes ensuring that all of our programmes achieve the best outcomes for our rangatahi (youth) and helps them reach their full potential.
In my spare time, I perform on stage with a local musical theatre society, and I also enjoy singing with two other cabaret performance groups.
I am extremely fortunate to live right next door to the beautiful Whakarewarewa forest which boasts some of the best mountain biking in the world.
When ever I can, I love heading in to the forest and working on my mountain biking skills.
People come from all over the world to experience the mountain bike tracks that I get to enjoy every weekend!
In February of 2016 I planned a trip to the Philippines. A few weeks prior to travelling my whole reason for going flipped on its head and I found myself, thanks to a friend of his, connecting with Felix Ada; a Pastor of a small community Church to observe how they dedicate themselves to reaching out to their local community with food and aid.
While there I purposefully went looking for need and in doing so I spent a great deal of time in a neighbourhood in a nearby slum area running some community meals and supplying school books, toys and stationary to the children in the area.
Seeing the amount of need and deprivation and made a huge impact on my life and led to my commitment to helping in some way. Thus Golden Heart was born!
Since then, I have been taking groups of likeminded people to the Philippines annually to pour out the love of Jesus on the people of Angeles City.
Continuing to organise annual missions, My longer term vision for Golden Heart is to create sustainable ways of building a supportive relationship between the people of Angeles and people with golden hearts back home in New Zealand.
I am so excited to take such a wonderful group of gifted and passionate people and looking forward to what God is going to do.