About Us
Team Beginnings
The Dunedin-based Southern Fire management team began with around fifteen people from the Mosgiel/Dunedin area. These took on specific roles such as prayer and prayer co-ordination, counselling, publicity, music co-ordination, event support, finance and administration, and other roles as they felt called. Others situated in other parts of the country also committed themselves to involvement in the outreach in their respective locales, from Bluff to Northland.
While some of the original fifteen people have moved on, there is still a core group that regularly travels with Southern Fire.
John Watson, who had the initial vision for the Southern Fire outreach, is currently pastoring Abundant Life Centre in Dunedin, New Zealand. John has pastored in Southland previously and has also traveled extensively with Wake Up Ministry, sharing the Gospel in other nations in a Holy Spirit-empowered ministry, accompanied by healings and deliverance.
If you believe God is calling you to be involved also, we would love to hear from you!
Team and helpers at Rotorua 2018
John Watson's Original Revelation
"The vision for southern fire started in 1981. I had just had an encounter with Jesus as He had appeared in my bedroom and I became born again. This was the beginning of 21 days of visitation
by the Holy Spirit in which one night I was caught up in the Spirit and saw fires beginning to burn all over the south of New Zealand. A south wind blew and the fires become one fire and began to burn the full length of New Zealand.At this time the Lord gave me Ezekiel 20:45-49 which says:
"Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field; And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the LORD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein. And all flesh shall see that I the LORD have kindled it: it shall not be quenched. Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?"
In 2013 I felt led by the Holy Spirit that now is the time for an awakening and an out-pouring of His Spirit in New Zealand." - Pastor John Watson.
Jesus said:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed."
Luke 4.18