Ron Fountain:

After a career as a primary school teacher and university lecturer in Teaching English as a Second Language, Ron felt called to work full-time for Scripture Union in New Zealand (SUNZ). He co-ordinated the national Children and Families ministries of SUNZ from 1981 to 1996, when he retired.

His church, Porirua Gospel Chapel, a multi-cultural and inter-generational church in Cannons Creek, the lowest socio-economic suburb in the greater Wellington area, asked him to write a teaching curriculum and resources for them. He did this from 1997 – 2003 and from 2007 – 2019. (From 2004 to 2006 he was a pastor in Bethesda Pasir Ris Mission Church in Singapore.) He also taught English through Bible Studies to refugees from Cambodia and Vietnam as an alternative to Sunday sermons.

A teaching plan was drawn up for each year on a chosen theme. Background notes, not sermon outlines, were supplied for those leading teaching with brief suggestions for service leaders. Bible Studies were written (later at two levels, the “alternative” ones were simpler) for those leading home groups. Resources were not supplied for an all-age family service each month or for the summer school holidays. One month each year was reserved for topics, not supplied. There are resources for about 30 Sundays each year for seven years (2013 – 2019). They are provided free with hopes and prayers that they will be of help to other churches.

'Tricia Fountain:

After graduating from the Glasgow Bible Training Institute (later International Christian College), 'Tricia emigrated to New Zealand and worked for SUNZ as a shorthand typist. After 'Tricia and Ron were married in 1968, they went to Indonesia for three years under the Colombo Plan. Ron was an Adviser on TESL.

When both their children reaching school-age, 'Tricia returned to work for SUNZ to eventually become National Administration Manager. She worked for SUNZ for 25 years.

'Tricia and Ron have worked together throughout their married life as voluntary and paid Christian workers. 'Tricia’s typing and computer skills have been essential for the production of these resources.