Concert to help St John's church rise from ashes

Rob Howard is performing at fundraising concert for St John's Church. Photograph by Ben Fraser

A fantastic variety of music is lined up for this Sunday's concert raising money for St John's community programmes.

The spectrum of entertainment includes a variety of singers and musicians, a choir, and a pipe band, showcasing just how much talent this city had, said co-ordinator Bruce Norman.

"I'm excited. Rotorua has such a wealth of talent. These people have been so willing and lovely in the way they have been prepared to help out the cause."

St John's was burned down in February, leaving its social programmes with nowhere to go.

One of the performers at this Sunday's concert is acoustic funk guitarist/singer, Rob Howard, who is happy to support the fundraiser.

"I go to church myself and I was pretty sad when it burnt down. I'm a musician who is just trying to show my support. When they approached me I said 'I would love to'."

While Mr Norman is a member of the St Mary's Catholic congregation, and St John's is Presbyterian, "the concert is an act of other churches to show their support and appreciation for the work of St John's that they do in the community for their programmes and helping the homeless," said Mr Norman.

"Sometimes adversity brings about strength. It brings us and St John's and a lot of other churches closer together to help one another."

He hoped the entire Rotorua community would get behind the concert, not just the Christian churches and was hoping to raise $5000 for the community programmes.

St John's was forced to find a new base for its homeless support, food bank, morning tea for the unemployed, and pre-school programmes. It recently moved some programmes to a new base at Fenton St while the pre-school programme has been moved to the Methodist Church.

However, funds are needed for practical things such as replacing equipment that was destroyed, transporting food to people who can't get to the food bank and "simple things such as sterilising cups for morning tea which we lost the ability to do with the fire", said Reverend Lance Thomas from St John's.

He said he was thrilled, but not surprised, by how other churches in Rotorua had stepped in to help out.

"The church scene in Rotorua is not denominational. We all work together and support each other. This is a lovely expression of that."

Entertainment will include Rotorua City Junior Pipe Band, Rob Howard, Sunrise Rockers, the Edward Brothers, St John's Youth Music Group, Anahera Waiariki, Michael Jones, Bainbridge Youth Choir and Acclaim/Gabriel's Presence.

What: Rising From the Ashes Concert
Where: Rotorua Energy Events Centre
When: Sunday 1pm -3pm