As the Philippine Embassy continues to foster closer people-to-people ties and deeper friendship, solidarity and understanding between Filipinos and New Zealanders and in response to the invitation extended by Hon. Chester Borrows, Deputy Speaker of the House and Member of Parliament for Whanganui, Philippine Ambassador Virginia H. Benavidez attended for the third time the final Prayer @ Parliament for 2014 held at the Grand Hall of the Parliament of New Zealand on 6 November 2014. Pastor Rasik Ranchord, Convener of the Interdenominational Christian Prayer Gathering and Founding Pastor of the Abundant Life Church (ALC) in New Zealand, holds the Prayer @ Parliament three times a year to pray for the government, leaders, business, church, youth, family, media, sport, education, various sectors of society of New Zealand and prevailing developments, important issues and crucial concerns affecting the multi-cultural and ethnically diverse nation. Over the past twelve years, Ministers and Parliamentarians have participated in the prayer gatherings open to all people from different denominations and places in New Zealand. For this year, the Prayer @ Parliament was attended by people from the Greater Wellington region, Auckland, Taupo, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Feilding, Masterton, Whanganui, Christchurch and Invercargill. As Pastor Rasik said, “We are thrilled that it is becoming a national event.”

For the third Prayer @ Parliament for this year, the Filipino Wellington Community Choir sang a moving rendition of the National Anthem of New Zealand, former Member of Parliament Gordon Copeland led the opening prayer, Deputy Speaker, Hon. Chester Borrows and Pastor Rasik welcomed everyone present on this special occasion. This was followed by the readings from the Old Testament, Psalm 67:1-7 by Ambassador Benavidez and from the New Testament, Matthew 5:1-12 by Member of Parliament for Hamilton West Tim Macindoe. Since this was the first prayer gathering and fellowship after New Zealand’s national elections in September, individual and group prayers followed the three prayer tracks focusing on the Party Leaders, Presiding Officers and Senior Cabinet Ministers with input from Deputy Speaker Hon. Chester Borrows, Members of Parliament Code of Ethical Conduct Bill with input from former Member of Parliament Ross Robertson and the Capital Prayer Breakfast to be held on 13 November 2014 at the Banquet Hall, Parliament with input from Pastor Hamish Thompson. The Filipino Wellington Community Choir sang the closing praise songs.

“By GOD’s grace, the Philippines is honoured to be part of this prayer gathering again at the Parliament which is of utmost importance in obeying GOD’s Word to pray for all those in authority and for the nation for the common good of the people and for the welfare and peace of the country. To be able to join in individual and collective prayers right at New Zealand’s seat of government transformed into an altar of worship and a sanctuary of prayer is a moving, meaningful and memorable way of demonstrating the Christian heritage of the Philippines and the Filipino people’s solidarity and togetherness with the people of New Zealand in praying for their country and leaders,” Ambassador Benavidez stated. She thanked Pastors Rasik and Lalita Ranchord and the Members of Parliament for the honour and privilege of participating in the annual Prayer @ Parliament since she arrived in New Zealand three years ago.