Belinda’s journey to recovery

Belinda’s journey to recovery

Sitting on the couch, Belinda tried to process the news.

“Oh dear God, what do I do?” she whispered, her heart pounding. A flood of emotions rushed in – fear, confusion, anger, sadness, and an unsettling numbness. She turned to prayer, opening her heart and asking God for guidance.

The doctor had confirmed what she had feared. Cancer. She had suspected it from the moment she found the lump, but part of her had prayed that it was something else. The reality of it all settled in. She wasn’t ready for this. Whoever is?

But she knew one thing: God would give her the courage to take the next step.

Facing the unknown

At 40 years old, Belinda was far too young for this. She had always been a planner, someone who needed a clear path forward and now, she felt like she had none.

Beyond the health concerns, the financial implications weighed heavily on her mind. How long would she be off work? What if she couldn’t return? Would they manage on Sam’s income alone? Their children, Katie and Max, were still so young, and they had only recently bought their first home.

She took a deep breath. Enough sitting here in fear. Lord, help me focus on what I can do.

And so, she did what she always did when things felt overwhelming, she made a plan.

Putting a financial plan in place

Belinda started listing the things she could control.

  • Sick Leave and Holidays – Between sick leave and annual leave, she had six weeks covered. Her employer was incredibly supportive, reassuring her that they would be flexible with her recovery.
  • Health Insurance – Their basic family coverage meant she had options for treatment and specialists.
  • Life and Trauma Insurance – While she didn’t want to dwell on worst-case scenarios, knowing they had some financial security if things took a turn gave her peace of mind.
  • Christian KiwiSaver Scheme – Belinda and Sam had been contributing to Christian KiwiSaver Scheme through Anglican Financial Care for over 15 years. She had heard that a serious illness might allow for an early withdrawal. She made a note to call the Anglican Financial Care team the next day.
  • Anglican Financial Care Mortgage – She and Sam had been paying their mortgage aggressively, but perhaps it was time to reassess their payments. If they could adjust the term or find a lower interest rate, it might ease the burden.
  • Other Financial Support – She wasn’t Anglican Financial Care newsletter had mentioned that they sometimes helped with medical costs for clergy and their families. Another question for the Anglican Financial Care team.
  • Childcare Support – Thankfully, Sam’s parents lived nearby and were more than happy to help with Katie and Max.

With every practical step she noted down, she felt a little lighter. The fear hadn’t disappeared, but faith and action were beginning to replace the uncertainty.

Now, time for a cup of tea and that last piece of chocolate cake. After all, life is too short to leave cake uneaten.

Moving forward with support

We’re happy to share that Belinda’s surgery was successful, and she is now cancer-free. She needed to take extended time off work, but because she had put the right support in place, her family was able to manage financially without stress.

When Belinda reached out to Anglican Financial Care, she learned she qualified for a serious illness withdrawal from her Christian KiwiSaver Scheme, helping cover unexpected costs. Anglican Financial Care also worked with her to adjust her mortgage payments, making them more manageable during recovery.

Now, stronger than ever, Belinda is giving back. On April 5-6, 2025, she will be walking alongside the Anglican Financial Care team in the Relay for Life in Wellington, raising funds to support others facing cancer.

Do you want to stand with us in supporting people like Belinda? Join “Christian KiwiSaver – Faith in Motion” or donate here.

This story is based on true events, but names and identifying details have been changed to protect privacy.

Christian KiwiSaver Scheme is managed and issued by The New Zealand Anglican Church Pension Board (trading as Anglican Financial Care). The Product Disclosure Statement can be found here: Documents | Christian KiwiSaver Scheme.

Bishop Ana Fletcher: A Story of Faith, Resilience, and Doing Gooder

Bishop Ana Fletcher: A Story of Faith, Resilience, and Doing Gooder

This International Women’s Day (March 8th), we’re excited to celebrate a woman who inspires us every day—Assistant Bishop of Wellington, Rt Reverend Anashuya Fletcher, a client and a wonderful inspiration.

Bishop Ana’s journey is one of courage, resilience, and breaking barriers—making her an inspiring figure for women everywhere, especially on International Women’s Day. Her life story is a powerful reminder that no matter where you start, with faith, perseverance, and a heart for justice, you can achieve great things.

From Sri Lanka to New Zealand: Overcoming the Odds
Born in Sri Lanka, Bishop Ana’s early life was shaped by the turbulence of civil war. At just one year old, she and her family came to New Zealand and settled in Auckland, where Bishop Ana’s life as an immigrant began. Growing up in a new country came with its challenges, but the young Ana embraced her new home and worked hard to build a future. Her story is a testament to resilience—the ability to rise above adversity and create something meaningful from hardship.

A Passion for Justice
Bishop Ana’s determination to make a difference led her to pursue a law degree, and she became a solicitor with a strong passion for social justice. She didn’t stop there; lawyer Ana worked with the International Justice Mission, focusing on human rights advocacy. This experience deepened her commitment to fighting for the rights of marginalised people and defending the vulnerable. Her career has always been about more than just personal success—she’s used her skills to stand up for others, to fight for fairness, and to bring about positive change.

Breaking New Ground: Becoming Bishop
Bishop Ana’s journey took a transformative turn when she felt called to ministry. In 2018, she and her husband, Reverend Paul Fletcher, were ordained as priests at Wellington Cathedral and co-led St. Peter’s Anglican Church in Whanganui, New Zealand, building a strong, supportive community. As the second woman and the youngest ever consecrated as the Assistant Bishop of Wellington—Bishop Ana continued to inspire women to pursue their own paths to leadership.

Empowering People through Coffee
Then came the coffee! Bishop Ana and Rev’d Paul helped to found Common Good Coffee, a social enterprise aimed at addressing modern slavery and poverty, through fair-trade coffee. With the catchy tagline ‘Drink Gooder, Feel Gooder, Do Gooder,’ the goal is to raise money to help relieve extreme poverty and modern slavery in India and locally. This initiative shows how business can be a force for good, combining Bishop Ana’s faith, entrepreneurial spirit, and dedication to social change. You can learn more about Common Good Coffee and their impact at Common Good Coffee | Three Times As Good – Common Good Coffee

Inspiration for Women Everywhere
Bishop Ana Fletcher’s journey is an embodiment of what is possible when you combine faith, passion, and a commitment to justice. From overcoming the challenges of immigration to making a significant mark in both the Church and the community, she exemplifies women who lead, inspire, and create change.

When asked what advice she would give to young women today, Bishop Ana shared:

“I have found Frederich Buechner’s statement that the place that God calls you is where your deep gladness and the world’s hunger meet to be true. Over and over again, I’ve had the privilege to work with people and in places that I am passionate about; following God’s call has taken me on the most amazing joy-filled adventures.”

To be inspired by Bishop Ana and hear her first-hand account of how ‘Jesus changes everything’ click here.

This International Women’s Day, we celebrate all the Bishop Ana Fletchers of the world—trailblazers, women with a vision, and living examples of how you can break through barriers, lead with purpose, and shape the future with courage.

Christmas message 2022

Dear friends,

It is a pleasure to bring greetings to all who are members of Christian KiwiSaver Scheme, the Anglican Church’s clergy Pension Fund, members of the Retire Fund, and all our friends and supporters.

In this great festival of Christmas, Christian people all over the world will gather to celebrate God choosing to come in humility, as a vulnerable and dependent child, to dwell with us, so that we and all creation may be filled with God. God chooses not to remain safely aloof but to come into this world to experience human life in its fullness and in its harshness. Jesus will grow up to face trial and temptation, betrayal, fear, trauma, and death. He speaks to us as one who knows what we are facing and what we are going through, for he has experienced our fears and trials.

Christmas is a festival of hope that brings us close to heaven. As we come to adore the Christ child, we stand in the presence of heaven coming to earth, bringing the light and love of God into our midst. Crib scenes show the holy family living in humility; but animals also surround them to remind us that all creation joins in adoring the newborn Christ.

And yet that creation, which Christ comes to fill with God, is facing an unprecedented climate crisis brought about by human greed and exploitation. This crisis is robbing people worldwide of water, interrupting food supplies, and damaging communities. This Christmas, may we come to Christ in an attitude of repentance to renew our commitment to stand with those who are losing their homes and livelihoods and who fear for their future. May we commit ourselves afresh to caring for creation in every decision we make with our resources.

We give thanks, too, that God’s choice to take on human flesh and blood is as real now as it was in Bethlehem on that first Christmas Day. In the birth of Christ, we celebrate God’s love coming to us in human, personal form. We pray that Christ will be born in our hearts again; Christ living, dying, speaking and acting in our own bodies; Christ in the ones full of pressure and stress; Christ in the family struggling to find a home; Christ in the grieving person mourning the loss of a loved one; Christ in those living in war zones crying out for peace and justice. God chooses to dwell with us. He is Love come down from heaven. His agenda is always for our good, and he will be with us as we continue the next stage of our life’s journey.

I would like to thank the Board and the Investment Committee of Anglican Financial Care, our Chief Executive, Margaret Bearsley, and her team for their fantastic work supporting all of us this year. May our infant saviour give us all the joy of the Bethlehem shepherds, the awe of the sages and the humility of the holy family.

The Very Rev’d Lawrence Kimberley
Chair of Anglican Financial Care
Dean of Christchurch.