Come and step aside
Let Jesus reinforce and deepen your foundations in Him
SPIRITUAL FORMATION SCHOOL (SFS)
School Dates: 11th March to 31st May 2024
For the full experience come for 3 months or book in for as many weekly modules as suits.
Who: 17+
What is SFS?
SFS is a 3-month course based at Orama on beautiful Aotea, Great Barrier Island.
Our dream is to empower sons and daughters to stay with Jesus for the long-haul. In a culture of distraction, burnout, and spiritual fatigue. The Orama SFS was created to tend to our inner life, to build spiritual resilience, to learn to walk in emotional health, and stay connected to God in every season.
To be a place and space to take time away for intentional discipleship and spiritual formation.
To learn from some of Aotearoa’s most gifted teachers, each bringing rich spiritual truth.
…a place to bring your big questions to
Come and be a part of a community where Jesus is the centre. Where there is a focus on daily rhythms of prayer, worship, discipleship, and collective work. You are designed for connection and belonging.
We believe that community is important to living a full life. God did not design us to do life alone. Fellowship around the table, community living, practicing vulnerability, and being known are vital parts of this school and values we practice as a team throughout the year. We believe the challenges of practicing healthy communication and conflict are worth the connection and the depth of friendship they produce.
We see God in the everyday; The Mundane and the Extraordinary. Our Goal is to see common places of work become tabernacles, as conversations are had, lives are shared, prayers are uttered and people are changed.
Topics include
Prayer and Devotional Life
Finding Your True Identity
The Character of God
The Story of God in Aotearoa
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Moving in the Prophetic
Prophetic Art elective
Church and Worship
Exploring Miracles and Healing
How to Read and Interpret Scripture
Weekly Art Journaling in the Woolshed Art Studio
Come and step aside, let Jesus reinforce and deepen your foundations in Him
For the full experience come for 3 months or book in for as many weekly modules as you would like to attend (on site or via zoom).
Accommodation & Pricing
We offer three options for your accommodation:
The prices include your accommodation (bedding and towel included), food and school fees.
Option 1: Bunkroom/Shared room
Our lodge has three well-appointed bunkrooms.
Our large bunkroom on the second floor sleeps up to ten people, and our two downstairs bunkrooms, each cater for up to four people. All the bunk rooms have access to shared bathroom facilities.
Features:
Low-cost option
Located in the main Lodge
$7,499 NZD - 12 weeks or $685 per module/per week
Option 2: Lodge room/cabin (own room)
Lodge Rooms
The lodge provides a mix of double, queen, and single rooms. These rooms have shared facilities inside the lodge – A well-equipped guest Kitchen, Showers, Toilets & a large sea-facing lounge area with a wood burner fireplace and couches.
Features:
Centrally located - direct access via a hallway to lodge lounge, and classroom
Cabins
Our cabins are dotted up the hillside and face west giving uninterrupted views of the bay and the islands beyond. The view from the verandah of the top-most cabins is the best on the property to see the sunsets.
These cabins have recently been refurbished and are ideal for those desiring a measure of independence and privacy. The cabins share a verandah and are closely located to shared bathrooms.
Features:
Sea views from every cabin
More privacy / quiet environment
3 different levels on the hill accessible by stairs
$8,499 NZD - 12 weeks or $780 per module/per week
Option 3: SELF-CONTAINED SEAVIEW UNITS
BEAUTIFUL WEST-FACING VIEWS OF THE BAY, A PERFECT PLACE TO SEE THE SUNSET.
Peace and tranquillity by the sea. Located near the water's edge, private, off-the-grid units - the perfect spot, to get away from the hustle and bustle of life.
Each unit sleeps 5 and has a separate kitchen/lounge area, a master bedroom, and two other separate bedrooms - one with twin single beds and the other with one single bed. You will have your own room.
The kitchen, lounge area, master bedroom, and shared deck all enjoy a stunning sea vista.
Features:
Small lounge area
Private kitchen
Private bathroom
School fee with this accommodation:
$11,999 NZD - 12 weeks or $1,100 per module/per week
Summary of Accommodation Options
Please note: If your financial circumstances are such that you cannot afford to pay the full price, you can apply to receive funding support from one of our generous sponsors. In this situation, you pay what you can afford to pay, and the rest of the cost is covered by one of our generous sponsors, along with donating two hours per day of voluntary work within the community as a way to give back. To apply for funding support, when you fill out your enrolment form for the school, please indicate that you would like to apply for funding support and complete the required information.
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
OUR SCHOOL CURRICULUM
SCHOOL CURRICULUM
Module 1 - Prayer Devotional Life: (Week 1) 11-15 March (Jacinda Lilly)
Module 2 - Prayer Devotional Life: (Week 2) 18-22 March (Strahan Coleman)
Module 3 - Identity: (Week 1) 25-29 March (Geoff Woodcock)
Module 4 - Identity: (Week 2) 1-5 April (Francoise Plummer)
Module 5 - The Character of God: 8-12 April (Dean McQuoid)
Module 6 - Spiritual Gifts: 15-19 April (David and Nina James)
Module 7 - The Prophetic: 22-26 April (Treena Salthouse and Johanna McQuoid)
Module 8 - The Story of God in Aotearoa: 29 April - 3 May (Dr Alistair Reese and Hana Seddon)
Module 9 - Church (Lifting the hood): 6-10 May (Matt Lilly)
Module 10 - Israel Today Understanding the OT: 13-17 May (Graeme Carle)
Module 11 - Miracles and Healing: 20-24 May (Andrew Robertson)
Module 12 - Apologetics: 27-31 May (Dr Steve Kumar)
Note: Curriculum can be subject to change
WHO ARE WE?
Orama is a Christian community, established back in ‘62’ and still going strong, with established daily-weekly rhythms of prayer, worship, discipleship, and collective work, set in the backdrop of the stunningly beautiful Karaka Bay, Aotea, Great Barrier Island. We see God at work in the everyday, in the mundane, and the extraordinary, our common places of work become tabernacles, as conversations are had, lives are shared, prayers are uttered and lives are changed.
We believe, that simply choosing to enter into the rhythms of Grace alone can be transformative in Christ. However, we believe it’s time to add a layer of intentional discipleship and spiritual formation.
We are therefore inviting some of Aotearoa’s most gifted teachers to come and bring what God has been laying on their hearts, and establishing in their lives over the years, to share and input into the Body of Christ. We are privileged to be mining such rich spiritual truth. Truth that has often come at a cost to see it established in them.
CONTACT US FOR FURTHER details or to register
Email: support@orama.org.nz
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
STRAHAN COLEMAN
Strahan Coleman is an award-winning musician, poet, writer, and spiritual director from Aotearoa, New Zealand. He is the founder of Commoners Communion, a space for exploring deepness with God through spiritual retreats, a podcast and online prayer schools. He has written three volumes of poetic-prayer books that invite readers into a more honest, close and loving prayerful life with God. He currently lives in Tairua, Coromandel with his wife Katie and three sons Mikal, Theo and Finley where he is finishing his first nonfiction book on learning to behold and be beheld by God.
We are stoked and privileged to have Strahan and Jacinda explore Spiritual Formation with us.
DR. Steve Kumar
Dr. Steve Kumar, Lecturer, Author & International Speaker, has been speaking and writing on Faith and Philosophy for over twenty-five years. As a prominent New Zealand Christian Philosopher, he is gifted in presenting the relevance of Faith in Postmodern World. Following Socrates axiom "The unexamined life is not worth living.” He believes Faith must come with Reason, Knowledge with Wisdom, Science with Value, Business with Ethics and Education with Character.
Dr Kumar has been a guest lecturer at more than twelve colleges and is regularly invited to speak at other campuses, conferences, throughout New Zealand, Canada, Australia, South East Asia, Europe and the USA.
He regularly lectures on World Views, Logic & Creative Thinking, and Philosophical Theology. We are absolutely privileged to have Steve take our Apologetics module this year.
Matt & Jacinda Lilly
Matt & Jacinda planted a church 9 years ago from scratch which is now a 700 member , multi-generational and strong community.
They have lead 3 church plants - Current church plant ‘Coast Vineyard’ on the Hibiscus Coast, involved in church leadership in the UK and California for 5 years. They have been married for 32 years, have 3 adult daughters that are following Jesus.
As well as an incredible teacher in her own right, Jacinda is also a Spiritual Director and passionate about all things ‘Spiritual Formation’. We are privileged to have this gifted team on board.
Matt will be lifting the hood on what God had in mind when He created the Church, and Jacinda will be joining Strahan to help us establish spiritual rhythms as part of the Spiritual Formation module.
GEOFF WOODCOCK
Geoff is the author of the One with Christ devotional series that helps people to step into their identity in Christ through covenant love and intimacy with God. He serves the body of Christ in restoring a vision to make the new command of loving one another our highest priority. He travels locally and internationally, encouraging believers to experience what it means to love one another in a small group framework. He is also the founder and director of freeslaves.org--a charity that redeems people from bonded labour slavery into a life in design. He is married to Melanie and has four children and is presently living in Dunedin.
Geoff, along with Francoise Plummer, will be taking us through what I believe to be one of the most critical topics of our day - Identity.
DEAN AND JO MCQUOID
(Ngāti Kuri, Te Rarawa)
Dean and Jo are passionate believers, who love to serve prophetically through worship and the arts.
They fell in love leading worship together 28 years ago, and have continued to serve through itinerant ministry nationally, internationally, and in their local church.
They have been a part of the Christian band scene, church leadership, worship directing, prophetic art, recording projects, evangelistic outreach, both internationally and throughout Aotearoa, and recently they released their first full-length album ‘The Strength of Stones’
At Orama, Dean is the Spiritual Formation School director.
Jo is our Event Manager and focus on all things fun! She’s also spearheading the development of the arts, with a particular focus on the establishment of our new Woolshed art studio.
Jo, along with Treena, will be taking us through our ‘Prophetic’ week.
Dean will be exploring the ‘Character of God’ with us.
DR. Alistair Reese
Alistair lives with his wife Jeannie on a farm in Paengaroa, Bay of Plenty. He has postgraduate degrees in Theology, History and Tikanga Māori.
His PhD in theology from the University of Auckland focused on reconciliation and Pākehā identity. Alistair is involved in local and national efforts to promote reconciliation between Māori and Pākehā and exploring understandings of what an indigenous form of Christianity might look like.
We are privileged to have Alistair, along with Hana Seddon take us through ‘The story of God in Aotearoa’.
Hana Seddon
(Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Pūkenga, Ngāi te Rangi, Te Rarawa.)
Hana is a Salvation Army officer, leading the church and social services in Rotorua and a proud mum of two adult sons. A social worker by trade, with a passion for education, social justice and public health leadership, she has had the privilege of working in several different communities over the past 20 years. Hana is currently studying theology with the University of Otago, with a focus on theologies from Indigenous perspectives. In between singing and storytelling, Hana is often found facilitating conversations around Tiriti-based leadership in faith communities.
We are privileged to have Hana, along with Dr. Alistair Reese take us through ‘The story of God in Aotearoa’.
Graeme Carle
Graeme was a devout atheist and evolutionist until in 1973, he had an encounter with Jesus and became a follower. His faith and skill in apologetics were developed on the streets of Christchurch during the Jesus Revolution - confronted by the multitude of ideas and beliefs held by sects, cults, and orthodox churches, he focussed on how to hear God and understanding the Scriptures.
Since then Graeme has worked with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) equipping international missionaries to work amongst indigenous peoples in the 10/40 Window, especially in the newly independent republics of the old USSR, been a Baptist Pastor, an itinerant lecturer and author of several books specialising on Israel, typology, the New Testament church, and end-times.
We are privileged to have Graeme come and help us explore the fascinating story of Israel, and whether the nation still has a part to play in the current and future plans of God.
David and Nina James
As founders and leaders of ATELIER Ministries, David and Nina James live to see the kingdom of God impact and influence every sector of society. Their heart is for the creative and redemptive presence of God to release people into their true identity and purpose.
Nina James is a clear communicator - a straight shooter with a magnetic personality and a heart to raise up strong, mature and influential voices.
Nina speaks into both the church and marketplace arenas as a prophet, leader and successful business woman. With a significant testimony of the healing and restorative power of Jesus, Nina’s mandate is to see people find their place and purpose in the Kingdom of God, to be strengthened to negotiate the challenges of life, and reach a security and maturity to honour God and one another.
David James is an artist, educator, and director of ATELIER Studio|Gallery, a not-for-profit arts initiative in Nelson, NZ. His heart is to see the arts and artists valued, positioned, and empowered to engage culture and reveal the nature of God.
David and Nina reside in sunny Nelson, New Zealand and have three beautiful adult daughters.
We’re stoked to have David and Nina take us through what it means to engage in Spiritual Battle and to function in Spiritual Gifts.
francoise plummer
Frans was born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa in 1972, and was then born again in 1995! Frans is a son of God, and a husband, and a father of four children, and owner of 3 dogs. Frans and his wife, Katie, brought their family to live in New Zealand in 2007, and after much travelling around the country are settled on country land in Te Arai just outside Wellsford. They have lived with much and with little. and have only known God to be 100% with them and completely faithful to keep ALL that He promises. Frans loves anything to do with water, but surfing is a firm favourite clear-my-head activity :)
Francoise, along with Geoff Woodcock, will be taking us through what we believe to be one of the most critical topics of our day - Identity.
Treena Salthouse
Her passion is to see people succeed and to help them step into all that God created them to be, through hearing the voice of God and the creative process. Treena brings a kingdom perspective to creativity, dream interpretation, and developing a prophetic lifestyle.
Treena has run and helped facilitate a number of creative, prophetic, and well-being workshops throughout New Zealand and Australia and was one of the founders of Be You Charitable Trust.
At Orama, Treena is the General Manager and draws on her many years in leadership in the not-for-profit and business sectors.
Treena along with Jo McQuoid will be teaching on the Prophetic. These sessions will be interactive, and hands-on where you will learn to recognise and respond to the voice of God.
ANDREW ROBERTSON
Andrew Robertson has Pastored in Auckland City NZ for over 20 years and is the Pastor of World Harvest Church on the North Shore of Auckland, is married to Joanne with four Adult Children.
Alongside the Ministry Andrew has owned and operated cafes and a catering business in Auckland from 1996 until 2018. Surf N Turf Tacos Hawaii was started in 2012.
Andrew operates in a strong Gift of Faith with a healing and Deliverance anointing and has traveled to over twenty nations to share the Gospel. Since 2022 the travelling Ministry has become more extensive with many receiving notable miracles and many Souls being won for the Lord through the Ministry.
We’re privileged to have Andrew come and take us through the Healing and Miracles journey.
SCHOOL MODULE CURRICULUM
What will we explore?
SPIRITUAL FORMATION
Deepening the devotional life by practicing the way of Jesus. Developing a more resilient faith by exploring and establishing spiritual rhythms of prayer, silence and solitude, Sabbath, biblical meditation. Developing a rule of life.
We are stoked and privileged to have Strahan Coleman and Jacinda Lilly come and explore Spiritual Formation with us.
Dates: 11th to 22nd March 2024
IDENTITY
Understanding our identity is fundamental to all that we are as human. Are we being intentional with allowing Christ to shape that identity? Or are we being shaped by a dominant world culture that desires to mould us into its own image? We explore what it means to be ‘in’ Christ? Why is that important? How does it form how we see ourselves and how we interact with the world around us.
Geoff Woodcock and Francoise Plummer will be taking us through what I believe to be one of the most critical topics of our day - Identity.
Dates: 25th March to 5th April 2024
MIRACLES AND HEALING
The Apostle Paul said, “the Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.” Is it possible for you to move in the miraculous power today? If so, how?
We are privileged to have Andrew Robertson come and help us explore the supernatural.
Dates: 20th to 24th May 2024
PROPHETIC
What is the Prophetic? Does God want to speak to us and through us? How do we hear God’s voice? We will explore the importance of the Prophetic gifts and their role in our world today and in our own personal lives.
We’re excited to have Treena Salthouse and Johanna McQuoid come and help us explore what it means to hear the voice of God, and then know what to do with what we hear.
Dates: 22nd to 26th April 2024
APOLOGETICS
The need for apologetics has never been greater in our pluralistic and secularized culture. The confusion is systemic, and apologetics can be a great tool for providing some much-needed clarity.
So prepare well, and “contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).
We are absolutely privileged to have Dr. Steve Kumar take our ‘Apologetics’ module this year.
Dates: 27th to 31st May 2024
THE STORY OF GOD IN AOTEAROA
God has been at work in our nation. Come and hear how Jesus has been weaving Himself through the history of this nation and into today.
We are privileged to have Dr. Alistair Reese, along with Hana Seddon take us through ‘The story of God in Aotearoa’.
Dates: 29th April to 3rd May 2024
A PERSPECTIVE ON ISRAEL AND THE END TIMES
The story of Israel is fascinating. As Christians we spiritually whakapapa back to Israel, but as Christians do we truly understand God’s purpose for this nation? As ancient Israel, and in its current form as the state of Israel? Does it still have a part to play in God’s plans?
We are privileged to have Graeme Carle come and bring his perspective on the fascinating story of Israel, and to help us understand the importance of good biblical hermeneutics and exegesis when it comes to understand end times.
Dates: 13th to 17th May 2024
SPIRITUAL BATTLE AND SPIRITUAL GIFTS
“We are at war. Not with a foreign government or domestic terrorists or a creepy new artificial intelligence hell-bent on taking over the world. No, it’s a war we feel deep inside our own chests: we are at war with lies… the choice is not whether to fight or not fight, but whether we win or surrender.” (John Mark Comer - ‘Live No Lies’).
The bible makes it clear - the battle is real and the weapons we’ve been given to fight with are spiritual, and they come in the form of Spiritual Gifts, we ignore these at our peril.
We’re stoked to have David and Nina take us through what it means to engage in Spiritual Battle and to function in Spiritual Gifts.
Dates: 15th to 19th April 2024
THE CHARACTER OF GOD
I’d like to argue that there are few things more essential or even critical in our discipleship journey, than how we see and understand God’s character. As we know Him, so we will portray Him.
(Dean McQuoid).
Dates: 8th to 12th April 2024
CHURCH (TAKING A LOOK UNDER THE HOOD)
Is it maybe possible that our closeness and familiarity with the subject matter, can potentially blind us from the profound truth of what they are in the mind of God? Maybe it's like we get in the car and turn the ignition over, but how many of us have ever really looked under the hood. We are stoked and privileged to have Matt Lilly come and help us take a look under the hood of what God had in mind when He established the Church.
Dates: 6th to 10th May 2024