Ōtautahi Christchurch
Donald Scott is a respected Christian leader in Christchurch who served as senior pastor of Northcity Church for around 20 years before transitioning into a broader city-wide ministry. He now focuses on spiritual direction, mentoring, and fostering unity across churches in Christchurch and beyond.
Donald facilitates the core leadership team of Te Raranga, a city-wide network that seeks to “weave together” churches across Ōtautahi/Christchurch. The network was established following the Canterbury earthquakes and has become a key platform for collaboration, prayer, and engagement between churches, community organisations, and government agencies.
Together with Ps. Clint Ussher, Donald helps co-lead the Christchurch Prayer Breakfasts.
__
Ōtautahi Christchurch
Christchurch is a city marked by resilience, having rebuilt through earthquakes, tragedy, and rapid change, yet many people continue to experience loneliness, mental health challenges, and social isolation despite its renewed confidence. The city is becoming increasingly diverse, creating opportunities to build communities that are welcoming, connected, and united across cultures and generations. Spiritually, Christchurch has a rich Christian heritage, but many people remain disconnected from faith, highlighting the need for renewed gospel witness, prayer, and churches working together with humility and hope. As the city continues to grow and shape its future, there is an opportunity to pray for wise leadership, flourishing families, justice for the vulnerable, and a fresh movement of God’s Spirit that brings hope, reconciliation, and lasting transformation.
Christchurch Coat of Arms: Fide Condita, Fructu Beata, Spe Fortis Translates to “Founded in Faith, Rich in the Fulfilment thereof, Strong in Hope for the Future”
- “Fide condita” is a reference to ecclesiastical origins and the name of the city, taking “fides” in the sense of the Christian Faith.
- “Fructu beata” means “rich in the fruits of the earth” and “rich in the fruits of her industry”, as well as in the fulfilment of the Founders’ Faith.
- “Spe fortis” means at once “strong in hope” and “bold in her claims upon the future”
As we go through great changes in our city, ethnically, religiously, etc., our foundations become very important. Let’s use the three phrases from the coat of arms as prayer prompts: grateful for the foundations in faith (Christian faith), working towards the fruitfulness of that founding faith here and now, and remaining strong in hope for the future.
Prayer Points
FIDE CONDITA (Founded in Faith): Gratitude / Thankfulness
Thankfulness: God, we know you’re good. You’ve shown this in the past.
- Recognition of two founding stories – mana whenua & European settlers
- We’ve journeyed through lots of difficulty & hardship (EQ’s, Shootings, Fires, etc.) and yet evidence of God’s faithfulness (and of God’s people) in the midst of it all
FRUCTU BEATA (Rich in the Fruitfulness thereof here & now): The Social Needs of the City
Thankfulness for the incredible ministry of the wider body of Christ across the city
- Pray for the healing and flourishing of our city & region… here and now
- Pray for specific social needs where we want to see the power of God move in our time (e.g. loneliness and isolation, mental health, others)
SPE FORTIS (Strong in Hope for the Future): The Spiritual Climate of the CityKingdom / Revival
- Praying strong and lasting hope into people and communities, leaders, churches, etc.
- Praying bold claims upon the future (prophetically)
- Praying for the increasing ethnic and cultural diversity of the church and community, for welcome, unity
- Praying for the next generation/s and future residents of Christchurch