History

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In June 2002 BBNZ Executive adopted a fresh vision and ministry plan to take the movement from 2002 through to 2005. The plan included discussion on re-branding and re-imaging the movement to each of our five stakeholders; the church, parents, children, potential leadership and the community. The intention of this was engage the services of a half-time "marketer" who would promote Boys' Brigade as a viable resource for children's and youth ministry back into the local church.

Executive asked that a subcommittee meet to discuss the wider issues of our promotional strategy, with a view to drafting up the terms of reference for such an employee. Resulting form this, Executive asked Tim Pratt (The National Director) to convene a committee, which would comprise of Ross McCarthy, Scott Billington, Richard Harkness and Clive Raharuhi. The Sub Committee met at the Surrey Motor Lodge in Auckland on the 9th and 10th of August 2002.

The meeting came to the following conclusions.
"Our proposal was essentially to launch a new parallel movement largely consisting of new units alongside the existing Brigade and to concentrate all of our promotional efforts, resources and funding into the establishment of this, a new body. The new body will encompass a new name, logo, uniform, series of slogans and promotional resources. Should current companies desire to trade under the new name and package they will be at liberty to do so, however this will never be imposed on them".

"The marketer will work in close cooperation with the promotions ministry team of National Executive. The National Director will convene this team of Executive. As well as this the marketer will also work in conjunction with an active "Company" that will enter into partnership with National Executive to pilot\experiment with the birthing of the new entity. The value of this is that we will be able to show churches in a tangible way the new model we are promoting... Due to this partnership between the marketer and a Company, it will be important that the Company and marketing person are domiciled in the same region".

Promotions Director Appointment

In February 2003 The Boys Brigade New Zealand Executive, employed Stewart (Stu) Thompson to the position of Promotions Director. Stu, a Diploma of Children's Ministries Graduate of Bethlehem Institute of Education, has over 20 years experience in many roles within Christian Children's ministry, children's entertainment, professional swim teaching, and holiday and after school care programmes. Stu and his wife Karen have three sons and two daughters from pre-school aged into their mid teens. Stu was appointed to the position in conjunction with Richard Harkness, the Captain of 5th Tauranga Boys Brigade who was appointed as the Promotions Manager for the year while Tim Pratt was overseas. Richard proved his worth providing inspirational strategic guidance and direction for Stu in the first year of the appointment.

Identity Development Process

Stu and Richard began 2003 with a new ministry to develop without a name, logo or even uniform. This identity development process began with a project brainstorm in December 2002 with a meeting in a small apartment in Ponsonby in Auckland. Other people present this meeting were Nathan Dunn, Carl Biel, Ross McCarthy and Adrienne Adern; they discussed possible names, clothing options and other ideas for the new image branch to the movement. Many possible names were discussed and eventually within weeks of the meeting, Stu decided that ICONZ Adventure would be the new name for the initiative. Even after the Ponsonby Brainstorm it took some time more before a logo and uniform were decided upon.

The Logo ideas were developed by Stu and Richard and sent off to Design Haus (now called Away Laughing) for formal design options, which were completed with discounted costs. Design Haus sent back over 20 proposals and eventually Stu took them to a kid's holiday programme and his children for expert critical analysis. The logo they eventually chose was the kids' clear favourite and it was the first choice of the project management pair as well. Stu had specific ideas on what he wanted as far as the uniform went, and the generalisations were also discussed at the Ponsonby brainstorm. by June the team had a completed logo and a baseball style cap with the finished T shirts completed not long afterwards. Black was a feature of the colours because they wanted a pure NZ flavour to the ICONZ Identity.

Programme Development

Initially Stu undertook about 3 months of research interviewing many children's ministry workers around the central region to find out what most people in The Church know today and that is this: Successful Children's Ministries depend on passionate committed leaders. He began trialing programmes at the pilot programme Richard had set up at the 5th Tauranga BB company and by the end of 2003 he had written and fully trailed the first of three years ICONZ Adventure Curriculum. Stu says that it was this part of the job he loved best because he achieved the highest grades during his studies at Bethlehem Institute in Curriculum Development papers and with the research projects. The end of 2004 would have completed the full 3-year curriculum programme.

New ICONZ Units

The first ICONZ unit to start outside 5th Tauranga was based at the Salt and Light Community Church in Papamoa, headed by Jeff Leigh. The historic day this new ministry started was March 19th 2004. By August 2004, three of the leaders have attended weekend training and the unit now has around 23 members and as many as seven very effective leaders headed up by Neil Robertson.