Community Champions
Conference 2025
May 24-25
About Community Champions
The Community Champions Conference was birthed from the ADRA Love Thy Neighbor Response to the Covid Pandemic in 2021. 37 Seventh-day Adventist Churches across New Zealand stood up to assist individuals and families affected through job loss and hard ship during this time through the delivery of grocery gift vouchers, power and mobile top ups along with psycho-social support. A debrief at the end of the first response was held where Community Champions from these churches were asked what would be helpful to support them as they continued to connect with and support the community. The Conference was one of the way they wanted to network, connect and share learnings and experiences, along with being equipped.The first ever Community Champions Conference was held in 2021at Tui Ridge Park, Rotorua 2023 saw an online Conference, followed by the second in person Conference last year at Tui Ridge Park again with around 100 participants.
Why You Should Attend the
Community Champions Conference 2025
01
Be Equipped to Serve
The event is designed to provide tools, knowledge, and inspiration for those who want to make a difference in their communities. Whether you are already involved or looking for ways to start, this is a great opportunity to learn how to engage more effectively.
02
Networking and Experience Sharing
The conference brings together people who share the same passion for positively impacting their communities. By attending, you can exchange experiences, discover new strategies, and even find partners for future projects.
03
A Strong History and Purpose
This event was birthed as a response to the Covid-19 pandemic, when 37 Seventh-day Adventist churches across New Zealand helped vulnerable individuals and families. Since then, it has been a valuable space for equipping and strengthening those who are passionate to be the hands and feet of Jesus in their local communities.
Cultural
Awareness
Pr Sarah-Jane Riley
Sarah-Jane Riley is a pastor currently serving in North New Zealand and has previously served in South New Zealand in various roles including Youth Director, High School Chaplain, Pastor, and Discipleship Director. She is passionate about the training and equipping of disciples to live a missional life and has a God-ordained obsession to see a thriving Māori ministry within the Adventist Church.
Whanaungatanga - Interconnected Relationships
Finding common ground, leaning into diversity, and growing connection through relationships aren’t always at the top of our To Do lists. When we are so good at highlighting our difference and striving to have an impact on our communities, there is a deeper call to build a foundation of trust, respect, and radical belonging. This happens when we seek reciprocal relationships and genuine connections, before we seek to serve. This workshop will explore how cultural values are not at war with kingdom values, but that they can bring them to life through the Spirit-led relationships we form. It is the simple, overlooked, and often misunderstood things that can be the biggest vehicles for change in our communities.
Mental Health
& Wellbeing
Thrive: Simple Strategies to Optimise Your Mental Health & Wellbeing
Unlock the keys to a healthier mind and a more balanced life. In this engaging session, we’ll explore practical, science-backed strategies to boost your mental resilience, reduce stress, and cultivate everyday habits that support emotional and spiritual wellbeing. Whether you’re supporting others or focusing on your own growth, you’ll leave inspired and equipped to thrive.
Adrielle Carrasco
Adrielle Carrasco, MHeaSc (Clinical), PGLTCM, RN, is an experienced healthcare professional with over 30 years in nursing, diabetes education, and community health. As Director of Health for the New Zealand Pacific Union Conference, Adrielle supports community health initiatives across the conferences and local churches, including the Community Champions Network and Mental Health First Aid training. Adrielle is married to Dan and has three grown children.
Geraldine Przybylko
Geraldine Przybylko MBA, MPH, PhD, FASLM, serves as the Health Strategy Leader for the South Pacific Division (SPD) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and is the Executive Director of ELIA Wellness. With a deep commitment to holistic health, she has played a key role in initiatives like the Destress and Thrive programme, aimed at promoting mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing across the Pacific. Geraldine's leadership reflects a strong focus on integrating faith and health, empowering communities to lead healthier, more balanced lives.
Strategy, Planning
& Communications
From Purpose to Impact: Strategy, Planning & Comms How can your church move from good ideas to real, lasting impact in your community?
This practical, interactive session will unpack three essential tools for mission success:
- Strategy – shaping your mission around real community needs,
- Planning – turning vision into focused, achievable action, and
- Comms – communicating with clarity and purpose to engage your community.
Designed for pastors, ministry leaders, and members alike, this session will equip you to serve more effectively and fulfil your church’s mission with greater impact and intention.
Vic Kulakov
Vic Kulakov, Counsellor, Personal Development Coach & Speaker. He is a co-founder of Accelerate, a Personal Development Network, Property investor and Co-founder of trendyful.com – Lux Accessories Online Store. Victor's greatest passion is empowering people to fall in love with life; to make positive changes, to have prosperity and success in all aspects of life.
Ole Pedersen
Ole Pedersen is the General Manager of Media and Communications for the New Zealand Pacific Union Conference and also leads the Hope Channel ministry in New Zealand. With over 35 years of experience in sales, marketing, management, and leadership, Ole has held key roles at Sanitarium, the Swedish Union of Churches, and Nielsen Research. Ole has a passion for reaching the unchurched and people of other faiths through media and communication and helping others to do the same. He and his wife Lisa, married for 38 years, also run a property investment business. They have two adult children and are proud grandparents to five energetic grandchildren.
Volunteer & Project
Sustainability, Outreach Strategies
Growing Volunteers, Growing Community: How can we grow strong, connected, and sustainable volunteer-led initiatives that truly serve our communities - both now and into the future?
This practical, hands-on session is all about building up local volunteers and keeping our mahi (work) strong for the long haul. We’ll swap stories, share real-life tips, and dig into how to welcome new faces, match people to what they love doing, and keep the fire burning without burning out. From handling tricky conversations to teaming up with other groups, budgeting, and planning for the future — we’ll cover the tools that help grassroots projects thrive. It’s all about connection, care, and growing something that lasts, together.
Sahara Anae
Sahara Anae is the International Programme Director at the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) of New Zealand, where she has worked 9 years. For almost 20 years of Sahara’s career, she had worked as a Water Engineer in the regional water sectors of Samoa (Operations Engineer, Samoa Water Authority), Auckland New Zealand (Planning Engineer, Watercare), and in Melbourne, Australia (Senior Engineer, City West Water). She continues to utilise her water engineer skills and her greatest achievement in her work; (she has lost count); is having been instrumental in supplying more than 2 million people with safe drinking water, and access to sanitation and hygiene facilities. Sahara’s love and passion is elevating indigenous knowledge and practices as solutions to sustainable development and being an advocate in this space.
Joanne Wieland
Joanne Wieland is an international development practitioner with a heart for community development, she has worked in this field for over a decade. Joanne has been serving as an International Program Manager at ADRA New Zealand for two years, where she works alongside in-country partners to support their initiatives with local communities. She holds a masters in International Development with a focus on climate impacts through life histories. When Jo is not working, you'll find her enjoying the outdoors through working with volunteers on a youth camp, kayaking, or connecting on a board for a small trust between NZ and Nepal. Joanne has a strong belief that we are better when we collaborate, and the world is better when people of difference come together.
Community Champions
Conference Team
Adrielle Carrasco
Vic
Kulakov
Ole
Pedersen
Tony Fautua
CEO
Luana Tupou
DRC Coordinator
Sally Lavea
National Programme Manager
Event Prices
- Welcome Pack
- 4 x Sessions
- Food and Refreshments
- Access to available resources
Event Access
Access to all Community Champions Conference sessions and activities 2025.
$75.00
- Welcome Pack
- 4 x Sessions
- Food and Refreshments
- Access to available resources
- Accomodation (Saturday evening)
Event Hosting
One nights accommodation and access to all Community Champions Conference sessions and activities 2025.
$95.00
The Community Champions Conference is where you can be equipped, network and share learning and experiences with others to be better prepared to connect with your community and make a real difference by meeting some of their needs. Whether you have been connecting with your community for years, or want to connect but don’t know where to start. Come along to be EQUIPPED TO SERVE!
Te Mahurehure Cultural Marae
Address:
65/73 Premier Avenue,
Point Chevalier,
Auckland 1022
- New Zealand Pacific Union Conference