The ‘Unpacking Life’ series of videos showcase the stories of everyday New Zealanders who have journeyed through trial to experience triumph. They testify to the promise of ‘hope’ that’s available to us all.
We all live with limitations — some are visible and others hidden. For some, they are emotional; for others, physical. For Emma, they are neurological. Even as a young child, Emma knew she was different.
Married young, Lani and Teremoana soon had an active young family. Life was good — but not without its struggles. Having journeyed through grief over the death of a prior partner and contending with drug use, Teremoana had — in her words — ‘encountered God’.
Growing in a world where drink, drugs and violence were normal, the drugs took control – and Jared’s life spun out of control. How could he change?
Having growing up in a Christian family. Kerensa’s world fell apart when her parents divorced. As a result, her life took a turn for the worse.
Life was going great – until the debt kicked in. Feeling trapped, their hope started to fail, and even their marriage showed cracks.
From a traditional Indian Hindu upbringing Lila felt unfulfilled. She was living a double life… and after a failed marriage and the loss of her parents in car accident, Lila was in a bad way.
Born and raised in a typical Māori family, Shadrach was exposed to racist attitudes towards his culture while attending a largely non- Māori school.
Born into a violent home in rural Australia, every day held uncertainty, even danger, for Rosalie and her seven siblings.
Suffering abuse while young by a young family friend, resulting anxiety and anger led Anna toward a path of self-destruction.
Aaron’s younger years were full of success. He joined the army at an early age, and by 24 was fulfilling his lifelong dream to become a pilot, and settling down to a happy marriage.
Jamie’s daughter, Carrie, was just 9 when they found out she had cancer. She underwent gruelling treatment and regained her health, but relapsed some time later.
As a mischief child, Peter rebelled. Growing up being told that he was a nobody… a waste of space… and was fat, black and ugly didn’t help. Sadly Peter believed these things and they shaped his life – leading to criminal activity and violence.
Coming from an active life on a farm and a subsequent career as a mechanic, Timothy’s life took a dramatic turn when he suffered a spinal cord injury in 2010.
While still a child, Raki found himself at home in charge of two younger siblings. Forced to steal to keep life going… with the trauma of molestation to endure… and with alcohol and drugs a tempting distraction… where was hope?
From a happy childhood, growing up in a Christian family, Hans' teenage years gravitated toward rebellion against everything that he had been taught. His lifestyle stood in sharp contrast to his initial commitments to God
Exposed to the horrors of a concentration camp at the age of 12, Rob shares how he was able to move beyond his immense anger and turn his life into one of love: for both himself, those around him and even his enemy.
Contending with aggressive breast cancer and losing her only daughter in a tragic car accident would’ve shattered most people.
Rebekah understands exactly what it’s like to face difficulties in life, as well as the rejection and misunderstanding that can come as a result of them.
Jerram shares how a sense of God’s calling led him away from his dream job in television journalism and into the adventure of rescuing children from slavery and sexual exploitation in Asia.
Aimee was faced with a challenging decision. While enjoying her job and having a great home life she was offered a role with a charitable organisation called Christians Against Poverty (CAP), which helps people to break free from debt and poverty.
We all live with limitations — some are visible and others hidden. For some, they are emotional; for others, physical. For Emma, they are neurological. Even as a young child, Emma knew she was different.
Born with her heart on the outside of her body and other complications, Aisha wasn’t even expected to survive a single night, let alone over thirty years.
By the time Marty was 21, he was an alcoholic and getting caught up in bar fights. He also had two kids outside of marriage, despite being brought up in an Irish Catholic family and going to church most Sundays.
When a friend – who was a Christian, died in a car accident, a thought sunk into Leayne’s heart: If there is a God, there is no way he can be good!
Growing up with family violence, Penni and Mike saw marriage as a possible escape. But having married as teenagers, it was just a matter of time before violence crept into their relationship too.
Petrina came from “a very dark corner of the world”. From an alcoholic, dysfunctional family she left home and was living on the streets by 12 years old. Gang life and violence followed… along with drugs to try and dull the pain.
It was a massive shock when Wayne’s wife Mary was diagnosed with a brain tumour and given six months to live.
Nancy and her husband Paul, were happily married and re-discovering their love for each other as ’empty-nest’ parents. Getting on “the romantic boat again” was a joy and an adventure. At 12:51pm on Tuesday the 22nd of February 2011 a massive earthquake struck Christchurch… and Nancy’s life changed dramatically.
Married young, Lani and Teremoana soon had an active young family. Life was good — but not without its struggles. Having journeyed through grief over the death of a prior partner and contending with drug use, Teremoana had — in her words — ‘encountered God’.
As a teenager, personal insecurities gave way to significant anger, and violence became a way of life.
What seemed like an ordinary days work on the farm for Helena and Stef dramatically changed when Stef had a terrible quad-bike accident. The resulting bleeding on his brain, emergency surgery and induced coma put both of their lives in turmoil.
Zion was born into Gloriavale – a reclusive community now based on the West Coast of New Zealand.
After 25 years in their arranged marriage at Gloriavale, while Zion and Gloriana still loved each other very much, they realised they could no longer agree with the vows they once made.
For David and Linda Cowie, charity is not just something they do, but the focus of their entire lives. Over the years, they have founded several charities.
Is Christian faith the problem – or the solution?
Leonie (known as Loll) started life without a sense of identity, belonging or love. She had been given away at birth, without even a name. Her adoptive family was abusive, and by the time she was 11, she was using drugs to ease the pain.
What is God like? Can he be trusted? Do we need to prove ourselves to him to his favour? A mum of three in her early 20s, Gina’s daughter unexpectedly died.
Amy’s dad died when she was very young, leaving her mum to raise her and her two siblings. She spent lots of time with her grandparents, who instilled a great respect for the church and education.
Born and raised in a typical Māori family, Shadrach was exposed to racist attitudes towards his culture while attending a largely non- Māori school.
Born into a violent home in rural Australia, every day held uncertainty, even danger, for Rosalie and her seven siblings.
Aimee was faced with a challenging decision. While enjoying her job and having a great home life she was offered a role with a charitable organisation called Christians Against Poverty (CAP), which helps people to break free from debt and poverty.
What is God like? Can he be trusted? Do we need to prove ourselves to him to his favour? A mum of three in her early 20s, Gina’s daughter unexpectedly died.
Petrina came from “a very dark corner of the world”. From an alcoholic, dysfunctional family she left home and was living on the streets by 12 years old. Gang life and violence followed… along with drugs to try and dull the pain.
As a teenager, personal insecurities gave way to significant anger, and violence became a way of life.
Is Christian faith the problem – or the solution?
From a traditional Indian Hindu upbringing Lila felt unfulfilled. She was living a double life… and after a failed marriage and the loss of her parents in car accident, Lila was in a bad way.
Leonie (known as Loll) started life without a sense of identity, belonging or love. She had been given away at birth, without even a name. Her adoptive family was abusive, and by the time she was 11, she was using drugs to ease the pain.
For David and Linda Cowie, charity is not just something they do, but the focus of their entire lives. Over the years, they have founded several charities.
Growing up with family violence, Penni and Mike saw marriage as a possible escape. But having married as teenagers, it was just a matter of time before violence crept into their relationship too.
Growing in a world where drink, drugs and violence were normal, the drugs took control – and Jared’s life spun out of control. How could he change?
From a happy childhood, growing up in a Christian family, Hans' teenage years gravitated toward rebellion against everything that he had been taught. His lifestyle stood in sharp contrast to his initial commitments to God
We all live with limitations — some are visible and others hidden. For some, they are emotional; for others, physical. For Emma, they are neurological. Even as a young child, Emma knew she was different.
Jerram shares how a sense of God’s calling led him away from his dream job in television journalism and into the adventure of rescuing children from slavery and sexual exploitation in Asia.
Nancy and her husband Paul, were happily married and re-discovering their love for each other as ’empty-nest’ parents. Getting on “the romantic boat again” was a joy and an adventure. At 12:51pm on Tuesday the 22nd of February 2011 a massive earthquake struck Christchurch… and Nancy’s life changed dramatically.
Born with her heart on the outside of her body and other complications, Aisha wasn’t even expected to survive a single night, let alone over thirty years.
When a friend – who was a Christian, died in a car accident, a thought sunk into Leayne’s heart: If there is a God, there is no way he can be good!
It was a massive shock when Wayne’s wife Mary was diagnosed with a brain tumour and given six months to live.
What seemed like an ordinary days work on the farm for Helena and Stef dramatically changed when Stef had a terrible quad-bike accident. The resulting bleeding on his brain, emergency surgery and induced coma put both of their lives in turmoil.
By the time Marty was 21, he was an alcoholic and getting caught up in bar fights. He also had two kids outside of marriage, despite being brought up in an Irish Catholic family and going to church most Sundays.
Having growing up in a Christian family. Kerensa’s world fell apart when her parents divorced. As a result, her life took a turn for the worse.
Amy’s dad died when she was very young, leaving her mum to raise her and her two siblings. She spent lots of time with her grandparents, who instilled a great respect for the church and education.
Coming from an active life on a farm and a subsequent career as a mechanic, Timothy’s life took a dramatic turn when he suffered a spinal cord injury in 2010.
While still a child, Raki found himself at home in charge of two younger siblings. Forced to steal to keep life going… with the trauma of molestation to endure… and with alcohol and drugs a tempting distraction… where was hope?
After 25 years in their arranged marriage at Gloriavale, while Zion and Gloriana still loved each other very much, they realised they could no longer agree with the vows they once made.
Suffering abuse while young by a young family friend, resulting anxiety and anger led Anna toward a path of self-destruction.
Rebekah understands exactly what it’s like to face difficulties in life, as well as the rejection and misunderstanding that can come as a result of them.
Zion was born into Gloriavale – a reclusive community now based on the West Coast of New Zealand.
As a mischief child, Peter rebelled. Growing up being told that he was a nobody… a waste of space… and was fat, black and ugly didn’t help. Sadly Peter believed these things and they shaped his life – leading to criminal activity and violence.
Life was going great – until the debt kicked in. Feeling trapped, their hope started to fail, and even their marriage showed cracks.
Exposed to the horrors of a concentration camp at the age of 12, Rob shares how he was able to move beyond his immense anger and turn his life into one of love: for both himself, those around him and even his enemy.
Aaron’s younger years were full of success. He joined the army at an early age, and by 24 was fulfilling his lifelong dream to become a pilot, and settling down to a happy marriage.
Jamie’s daughter, Carrie, was just 9 when they found out she had cancer. She underwent gruelling treatment and regained her health, but relapsed some time later.
Married young, Lani and Teremoana soon had an active young family. Life was good — but not without its struggles. Having journeyed through grief over the death of a prior partner and contending with drug use, Teremoana had — in her words — ‘encountered God’.
Contending with aggressive breast cancer and losing her only daughter in a tragic car accident would’ve shattered most people.
Explore other hope-filled stories
