12/08/2026
Day 56 – 12 August 2026 – Summary
Wilmington Reserve, Shirley to Annex Drive, Hoon Hay
Distance: 11 km
Started: Approximately 9:40 am | Finished: Just before 5:00 pm
Today was a very special day as we resumed the Cross Walk for Hope NZ pilgrimage after our days of rest in Rolleston.
At 8:40 am I met Wayne, Vanessa, Keegan, Riley, and Layla at Wilmington Reserve in Shirley. After assembling the cross, we gathered for a moment of prayer, Scripture reading, and blessing before stepping onto the streets of Christchurch.
I was especially blessed to have Wayne and Riley (father and son team) walk alongside me for the entire day. Together, each of us carried a cross through Christchurch CBD, stopping to speak with people, encourage them, pray, and share the hope of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Having these brothers beside me made today's walk particularly meaningful, and their willingness to serve and minister throughout the day was a tremendous encouragement.
The morning was cool and crisp, beginning around 3°C–5°C before gradually warming to around 8°C–10°C. A strong northeasterly wind blew throughout the day at around 28 km/h, with stronger gusts at times. The crosses acted almost like sails, and several particularly strong gusts nearly knocked Riley off his feet! Thankfully, the wind was largely at our backs, helping carry us through the city.
Although today's distance was only 11 kilometres, the day was rich in ministry. The streets of Christchurch became our mission field, and each of the 22 people with whom we had meaningful encounters represented another opportunity to demonstrate the love of Christ and remind people that they are loved and not alone.
The spiritual picture emerging from these 22 encounters was sobering: 6 identified as born-again, Spirit-filled and baptised; 3 were Muslim; 10 identified as having no religious faith and had never heard the Gospel; 2 were Catholic; and 1 identified with Māori ancestral beliefs. While these conversations represent only a small snapshot of Christchurch, they paint a deeply concerning picture of the spiritual condition of our society. For me, this should serve as a solemn warning and a call to the Church of Christ—to wake up, return to the authority of God's Word, embrace the Great Commission, and take seriously our responsibility to proclaim the Gospel and make disciples.
We eventually completed the day's walk just before 5:00 pm at Annex Drive in Hoon Hay, grateful for the strength God supplied and for the privilege of having Wayne and Riley alongside me.
Our day continued at the loving home of Wayne and Vanessa, where Vanessa had prepared a beautiful and delicious dinner for us. Sharing that gracious meal was far more than nourishment for the body—it was nourishment for the spirit. Every moment around that table felt like another blessing from heaven.
After dinner, Riley blessed us with beautiful piano and guitar music. I also shared a song on the guitar, while we enjoyed some light-hearted fun and play with Keegan and Layla. We blessed one another before saying goodbye and returning to Christiaan and Odette's home who also met us on the road today and blessed us with a warm cup of coffee! Thanks so much!!
There, we settled around the warm fireplace with a cup of tea, sharing stories from the day's adventures and enjoying precious fellowship. With warm hearts and grateful spirits, we eventually retired for the night.
Day 56 was another reminder that this journey is not simply about walking from one geographical point to another. It is about carrying the message of the Cross into the streets, meeting people where they are, pointing them toward the hope found in Jesus Christ, and experiencing the beautiful fellowship God creates along the way.
Thank You, Yeshua, for allowing us to carry Your cross today!
This is Cross Walk for Hope NZ reminding you that you are loved, and that you are not alone.
May YaHUaH richly bless and keep you.
Mighty Men New Zealand
Riaan Möller
Cross Walk For Hope NZ
Kainos New Zealand
ACK, Christchurch
