Te Awamutu Person of the Year – Phil Strong.
Te Awamutu News person of the year Phil Strong has preached his last sermon as senior leader of Zion People church.
Zion People senior leader Phil Strong and his wife Kathy, centre, are blessed by Tom Watson as they leave the church after 10 years.
Strong’s decade in ministry at the church in Racecourse Road and Churchill Street was celebrated with a meal on Sunday.
Strong said he had resigned after coming to the realisation that “the Lord leads us in and out of seasons”.
“I am confident He has said to me that I have a new assignment, so I’m watchful and waiting,” he said.
“I guess I see this, as with many areas of my life, as an opportunity for testifying to God’s goodness and providence. As a committed contributor to the community, I am glad to have touched many areas of the region with the mission of the church.”
The News named Strong person of the year after his church partnered with Habitat for Humanity central region chief executive Nic Greene to lead a $10 million affordable housing project on the church’s former Racecourse Road site.
Greene described Strong as a man with infinite energy and a clear passion for his community.
“Working with him on the rejuvenation of the old church site has been a great experience, while we are all frustrated by the time it takes to get these things over the line and the impact of a changing economic climate his commitment to the long-term goal of affordable housing resonates with that of Habitats and inspires us all to keep going.”
Te Awamutu Business Chamber chief executive Shane Walsh, who worked with Strong on the town’s Christmas tree paining initiative, described Strong’s departure as “a bit sad”.
“He was a pleasure to work with,” Walsh said. “We hope that initiative will continue with the church.”
As chair of the Waipā Christian School board of proprietors, Strong plans to continue to be involved in finding space to add secondary schooling for pupils.
He is the author of Becoming Money Wise and How to Smash Your Mortgage.
Strong said he and his wife Kathy, who works as a university pastoral care worker, hoped to remain living and working in the Waipa district.
Meanwhile , development is underway on Habitat for Humanity’s Palmer Street development in Te Awamutu.
Over a time frame of about 10 years, seven two-storey blocks, containing a total of 46 one and two bedroom units, are planned to be constructed in stages. Development on Phase One began this week and will see one new block of six units completed by mid-2026.
Habitat Central Region chief executive Nic Greene says the development will provide new homes for public housing tenants aged 60 and over.
In Te Awamutu, Habitat Central Region, a Community Housing Provider, manages 36 pensioner housing units as well as the Freeman Court independent living facility on neighbouring Roche Street. It also runs a meal delivery service offering affordable, freshly cooked meals for Te Awamutu residents, and operates Alma Brotherhood Court, a retirement village in Kihikihi.
Zion Church pastor Phil Strong
