OUR MINISTER

 Minister of the People

John isn’t here to preach from a pedestal — he’s here to stand with people, shoulder to shoulder.
WestFlow isn’t about “perfect people” or rigid rules — it’s about good people doing good things, no matter their background, race, religion, or journey.

As Minister, John:

• Works in the community, hands in the dirt, boots on the street
  
  

• Offers spiritual support, real talk, and zero judgment
  
  

• Welcomes all walks of life — from struggling youth to wise kaumātua
  
  

• Leads WestFlow with faith, humility, and fire
  
  

He’ll help you carry a fridge, clean your gutters, or simply listen when no one else will.

He’s not here to build walls — he’s here to build bridges.

All Cultures, All Faiths, All Welcome

John proudly opens the door of WestFlow to everyone — from all cultures, all faiths, and all beliefs.

You’ll hear warm greetings and open hearts at our gatherings:

• Nau mai, haere mai (Welcome, Māori)
  
  

• Salaam Alaikum (Peace be upon you, Muslim)
  
  

• Namaste (Hindu & Buddhist friends)
  
  

• Sat Sri Akaal (Sikh community)
  
  

• Talofa lava / Malo e lelei / Kia orana (Pacific brothers and sisters)
  
  

• Kia ora koutou katoa – to every person who wants to do good, feel safe, and belong.
  
  

There is no conversion agenda here — just connection.

You bring your belief, your culture, your story — we bring the kettle and a place to stand.

🪶 A Man of Mana

John carries the spirit of unity, redemption, and real-world action.
He honours tangata whenua, stands for tikanga, and welcomes those who feel like they don’t fit anywhere else.

This isn’t a church that sits still. It walks. It cleans. It hugs. It hustles.
And John is right there in the mud beside you, pulling weeds or pushing a mower with a smile.

Why I Started WestFlow Ministry

Growing up, I always had a desire to help people. As a child, I was fascinated by emergency services, vehicles, animals—anything that helped people in crisis. I had dreams of being someone who could make a real difference. But, unfortunately, my journey didn't follow the path I envisioned.

I struggled with addiction from a young age. I started with cannabis and tobacco, I had faced intense emotional, physical, and sexual abuse and things escalated quickly to butane huffing and herbal highs. Eventually, I found myself in the grip of ketamine and MDMA, using substances to escape and numb the pain. My life became a vicious cycle of bad decisions and destructive habits. I was lost.

On top of the addiction, I was no stranger to pain, and my reckless actions reflected the confusion and trauma I was going through. I made choices that haunted me—choices that led me down a path where detectives were involved after the tragic death of a friend (though I won’t go into the details of that).

Addiction to theft also took hold of me during this time. I was stuck, caught in a cycle of needing more, doing anything to feed my addictions. I spent about six months at Opihi Services Academy, where I was able to do some intense courses that helped me develop a love for personal growth, even if it didn’t come easy. It was tough, but it was a place where I could find direction after years of chaos.

After being discharged from CYFS care, I went back to my mum’s, but things quickly turned back to the familiar struggle. Without much financial support, I was back to stealing and doing drugs again, spiraling deeper into poverty. I moved to Nelson with dreams of finding work, but it didn’t happen—and frankly, I didn’t try as hard as I should’ve. Instead, I found myself homeless, begging on the streets and using any money I could get for drugs.

Through all of this, something kept me grounded: the deep, moral compass I had as a child. I still knew what was right, deep down, and that’s what ultimately brought me back from the edge. I took the first step toward turning my life around by going to the NZ Army course (LSV), and I was glad to be closer to that sense of purpose I had always dreamed of. I loved every bit of it, even the hard parts. I was tempted to join the army, but my past—particularly my history with theft—kept me from moving forward in that way.

But I didn’t give up. After the course, I went back to Nelson, got a job, and then fell back into old habits with drugs. The cycle continued until I hit rock bottom. But this time, something was different. I made a conscious decision to stop all drugs, even alcohol, except for the occasional drink every now and then. It wasn’t easy, but I was determined to break free from the chains that had held me for so long.

Now, here I am, working every day to better myself. It’s been a tough road, but I’ve kept going. WestFlow Ministry became my way to channel all of my experiences, my growth, and my passion for helping others. I’ve learned that no one is beyond redemption, and that we all have the power to turn things around.

My journey isn’t over yet—I’m still working on rebuilding myself, and my next goal is success. I have faith that, with this ministry, I can create something bigger than myself—something that helps others just like I needed help. Success is the next step, and I’m on my way.

Join me, now its your turn! 

⚒️ Let’s Get Real

John's kind of ministry looks like:

• Picking up rubbish at 7AM on a Saturday.
  
  

• Cooking kai for someone who hasn't eaten in days.
  
  

• Talking someone down from a panic attack in a carpark.
  
  

• Showing up. Again. And again. And again.
  
  

He believes in a New Zealand that lifts people up, no matter where they’ve fallen — and WestFlow is here to make that happen.