For most people, Tuesday is just a normal day of the week. However, for the community around the Kaitaia [kai-tai-uh] Seventh-day Adventist Church, Tuesdays have become more than just a normal day.

“Every Tuesday we have what's called the kids program. We start with a meal for the kids because they come in hungry. After that we have activities set up for them and the kids just love them.”

But the project was not always like that. It started in a very simple way.

“Some years ago, before we started this program, our church was like a theological museum. Just in the street but not part of the street. And we needed a way to connect with the community and bring those two groups of people together. We want to mix, get to know each other, and spend time together. So that's been the flavor of our community meal program.”

“Bringing them to the community program was good for them and it was good for me to see. I love watching them play with other kids, get to know the kids, doing all the activities, and being proud of themselves like, “Hey, mom, did you see? I colored this and I played this and I won! And I'm like, “Oh, cool!”

“The whole family environment here is very welcoming. That's something I have really noticed about being here and you just feel part of the family. That’s kind of what it is. It's just a big family.”

The Kaitaia Community Project, as the name suggests, is for the community. Not only are children and their families being affected, but those involved are being touched by this movement as well.

Like Brian, who came to town looking for just a home, but he found much more than that.

“I saw the notice outside saying community meal, and I heard that it was a vegetarian meal. I like vegetarian food so I came in and it seemed really good.”

“Every Tuesday there's a children's group. In the children's group, the children are nourished both body and soul. I get hugs from the children sometimes and I love that!”

This whole project wouldn't be possible without the special support of ADRA New Zealand.

“ADRA is the Adventist Development and Relief Agency. We are the humanitarian arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Effectively, we have international projects where we help families or communities in need.”

“Here in New Zealand we specifically look at some of the needs that there are throughout our communities. Through our churches, we then meet some of those needs through the community initiatives that we have.”

“The Kaitaia Church is doing an amazing job and ADRA loves working with this church because of the impact that they're having in their local community. For us, it's about reaching as many people as we can, in helping as many families in the community to thrive. By partnering with Kaitaia we’re able to maximize the impact they have in the community.”

“The process is this, that as they come in, and they feel the love that we have for them, and the concern that we have for them as people, and the fact that they're coming into a safe place, and they enjoy their Tuesdays, that they will want more of this.”

“Willing hearts, open minds, anything is possible. With God, of course, that's exactly what happened.”

“So I came back on a Saturday to the church and I really enjoyed it because I'd never been to a Christian service in my whole life before.”

“I love the project and my kids love the project. I loved the church so I started bringing them on Saturday.”

Simple gestures like these are the things that actually connect us at a much deeper level. They show us that kindness can overcome indifference, that life is precious, and most importantly, not only can we hope for a better future, but we can help make it happen.

You can be a changemaker in your community as well. Just find your local Seventh-day Adventist Church or get in touch with the Adventist Development and Relief Agency, known as ADRA, to see how you can make it a reality.