Up to 60 members of the Hosanna World Harvest Church have been helping to ‘Keep Manukau Beautiful’ both spiritually and physically by collecting and recycling paper and street rubbish from Manukau City streets.

Pastor Chris Sola says the congregation meets every month, either walking or driving, to pick up street rubbish and clear drains around the different wards. He says the environment in which people live should be maintained and ministered to just as much as the spirit. The Hosanna World Harvest Church want to play a role in enhancing the City’s image.

“Faith without works is dead faith. We are doing something practical to enhance the City. The young people that are willing to give us their time see the practical value our ministering has for them ”

Pastor Sola wants to encourage others to take responsibility for their own back yards.

“Cleanliness is next to Godliness. There’s so much rubbish out there – if people would only keep the front of their own homes free from paper and rubbish by recycling it or disposing of it properly we would be much better physically and spiritually. 89% of Pacific Islanders go to church. We [the church] are meant to be the light in our community and with all the churches in Manukau it doesn’t make sense that there should be so much rubbish.”

Pastor Sola says most garden material and 90% of paper waste can and should be recycled.

Over 50% of all rubbish put out by householders is paper and garden waste.

Councils are currently running a two week campaign with a clear message ‘Before you bin it. Think again’.

Paper can be collected on normal rubbish days and anyone who takes a boot or trailer load of garden waste to transfer stations before November 12 will get a free bag of compost.

The next cleanup organised by Hosanna Harvest Church will be on November 18. For more information contact Pastor Chris Sola Ph 09 533 5050

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