The Church Army has relaunched under a new name, 'The Salt & Light Collective' (S&LC), which aims to better reflect the shape of its work promoting and resourcing incarnational mission beyond church walls. 

Jethro Day, who is the new national Director of Salt & Light Collective, says the Church Army's historic drive to go out and bring the good news of Jesus to where people live, work and play is still at the heart of the S&LC mission, which takes up its mahi alongside and in cooperation with the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia and its organisations.

"Our history is one of going to the edges in ways that connect authentically with those who wouldn't usually hear about Jesus, or those who wouldn't step foot in a church building." said Jethro Day today.

The Army's illustrious history includes the story of the first Auckland City Missioner, who was appointed to the role while an officer in the Church Army. But while that history is rich, the name no longer speaks into the communities Salt & Light Collective hopes to serve. 

"The name "Church Army" had become a barrier, not a gateway, to this kind of mission and community." said S&LC National Director Jethro Day.

Archbishop Justin Duckworth is pleased to see Salt & Light Collective relaunch its outreach and evangelism ministry with renewed vigour. 

“A little salt and light can go a long way." he said. "Salt & Light Collective is helping good things grow, one community at a time across Aotearoa New Zealand.”

While the name changes, the mission that mobilised the Church Army in the 19th century still holds true for today's Salt & Light Collective - to go to the places where the love of God and the friendship of Jesus is most needed – and to offer it as a gift. 

So from here, the Salt & Light Collective will continue to encourage, resource and send out evangelists, and work to build teams of passionate, committed and disciplined Jesus followers.

Jethro's friend the Reverend Spanky Moore, who ran the former Christchurch-based Society of Salt and Light, helped inspire the new name for S&LC, as did Jethro's own experience with a ministry start-up called 'The Motorcycle Collective'.

"With the language of Collective we take the original vision forward to continue to form a community of missional practitioners, learning together, supporting one another, and sharing what we've learnt with the wider Church." he said.

The Salt & Light Collective's renewed kaupapa sets out its mission for the late 2020s and beyond, which is to:

– Recruit, train, resource and support individuals and whānau to mobilise the Church for mission in Aotearoa New Zealand.
– Identify and encourage people called to evangelism and local mission
– Equip individuals, whānau and church leaders to share their faith naturally and confidently.
– Create practical, culturally-grounded tools for churches, vestries and evangelists.
– Walk alongside evangelists and church leaders through mentoring, encouragement and trusted relationships. 

The current team of Salt & Light Collective mission partners include evangelists from their twenties to their eighties. 

Esther Wood from the Diocese of Nelson's Parish of Golden Bay shares the good news of Jesus through creating welcoming spaces where people can encounter God's radical love exactly as and where they are: from beachside conversations to spontaneous dance parties. 

Paul Milson runs 'One Thousand Small Stories,' an innovative grassroots ministry in the Nelson-Tasman region dedicated to equipping ordinary Christians for everyday mission and disciple-making. By fostering a network of relational Discovery Groups and providing intentional mentorship, the ministry creates inviting spaces for the spiritually curious and new believers to authentically journey toward Jesus.

Louisa Weller is a Canterbury Kids Coach(CKC) who meets young people on the margins with music and fun. CKC is a mission project that has spanned twenty three years under Louisa Weller's faithful leadership. At times, they have taken to the streets in their coach, going to out encounter those who seldom get to hear about Jesus. 

Jethro Day says the Salt & Light Collective is always looking for new mission partners.

"You don’t need to fit a particular mould to be an mission partner." he said today.

"If God is stirring a call to share Jesus, begin new work or serve beyond the familiar – or maybe you are already doing that mahi – either way we would love to hear from you!" 

To find out more about the Salt & Light Collective go to: saltandlightcollective.org.nz