Te Wairua Tapu, the Sydney Maori Anglican Fellowship, celebrated 25 years of ministry at a service held on October 24 at the church's Redfern home.
Archbishop of New Zealand, William Brown Turei was one of several people who travelled from New Zealand for the celebration.
He preached to the congregation of nearly 250, giving his recollections of the early Maori ministry in Sydney and the growth that it has seen.
"[Mr Brown Turei] spoke about what the Maori people were looking for 40 years ago and their need to worship in their own language," said Archdeacon Kaio Karipa, senior minister at Te Wairua Tapu.
Te Wairua Tapu was established 25 years ago as a chaplaincy to the Maori community but has grown from there.
"We do a lot of work within the community," Mr Karipa said. "We want to have a strong presence in the Maori community in Sydney."
Services at Te Wairua Tapu are conducted in traditional languages, giving Maori people an opportunity to worship in a familiar setting.
"It's really important to have specific Maori ministry. It gives Maori people the opportunity to worship and learn form the gospel in a context that they understand," Me Karipa said.
As they celebrate 25 years of ministry in Sydney, Te Wairua Tapu is seeking to ensure that it's ministry continues to grow.
"The future of our church is our youth, because that is where the gospel is being lost," Mr Karipa said. "We also need to find a suitable church plant that will meet the needs of our community."
