Our Story
Welcome to our story, where we share a bit of the journey of how The Found, previously known as C3 Queenstown came to be.
In May of 2012 Pastors Andrew and Alana Waples moved from Whangaparāoa, north of Auckland, to plant a new C3 Church here in the Whakatipu. C3 Queenstown had humble beginnings, meeting from November 2012 in the St Johns Ambulance rooms in Frankton, with a intimate bunch of people who are still passionate about building a vibrant community focused church for locals and visitors alike.
We are known in our community for being authentic, having integrity, being generous and building genuine relationships; our heart is to show people the love of Jesus. “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Jesus, John 13:34-35.
In October 2020 we moved into our very own leased space at The Hangar in Arthur's Point, which was an incredible answer to prayer and a continuation of our vision to establish places of worship; whare karakia, with spaces that can serve the community we live in and care for.
We love people wholeheartedly, we desire for people to get to know Jesus personally and to find community through genuine connection in our Church whānau. We are committed to seeing people grow and discover purpose and hope in their lives.
Our Pastors
Our Pastors
Pastors Andrew and Alana Waples are passionate about seeing people be authentic in their journey of coming to know Jesus and to be filled with and in step with the Holy Spirit. They love seeing people find genuine connection and community within Church whānau. They see it as a huge delight and privilege to walk with and disciple people as they seek the purpose for which God has created them for in any given season.
Pastor Andrew works as builder and Pastor Alana studies and works as freelance graphic designer, they have four amazing children Jacob, Elle, Violet (who is in heaven) and Reuben.
The Call to Queenstown
Andrew grew up in Southland and lived in Queenstown in the early 2000's where he had his first vision of a dark cloud over the town of Queenstown, then he saw bright white light beams shoot through the darkness, these light beams represented believers gathered together shining. This same vision was seen by a prophetic elder when Ps Andrew and Alana were prayed for on their wedding day, unbeknown to the elder.
In 2004 Andrew was studying in Auckland and met Alana, who grew up in Whangaparāoa, north of Auckland, whilst leading at Peter Snell Youth Village, a Christian holiday camp. They were married in March 2006 and started their family whilst basing themselves in Whangaparāoa. They both attended and were involved in a number of areas of Church ministry and leadership over 6 years at C3 Church Hibiscus Coast, including leading connect groups, Zone Youth, C3 Kids, Sound & AV, looking after events and programmes, Ps Alana was also a Primal Youth Pastor for 3 years.
When they attended a C3 Pacific leadership gathering in 2009, they went up on an alter-call for Church planting, knowing in their hearts since before they were married, that God was calling them to Queenstown. They continued to serve, grow and learn at C3 while also attending C3NZ Church Building Intensive training sessions for three years. They moved to Queenstown in May 2012 and the Church started meeting in November 2012.
Tragedy struck in 2013, when Violet went to heaven
Nine months into the Church starting, on 6 August 2013 Ps Andrew and Alana's daughter Violet died at the young age of 2 years, 10 month. Violet unexpectedly wandered from their lakefront home in Kelvin Heights and drowned in Lake Whakatipu.
Ps Andrew and Alana are always willing to share about their daughter Violet and their experience of grief and pain, what it feel like to have the peace of God with you that surpasses human understanding, the hope of Heaven that we have through Jesus Christ and how keeping in step with the Holy Spirit helps to get through the tough times. They have a great deal of compassion for those who have experienced grief and loss in any form, their belief is that we are all called to walk this journey of faith and questions together, supporting and loving one another with a commitment to remain in Christ. John 15:1-17