Biography

Dave Mann is a creative communicator, author and evangelism strategist with a passion for seeing the Christian faith understood, valued and positively represented in the public square in Aotearoa New Zealand.

After studying theology at Bible College of New Zealand (now Laidlaw College), Dave worked in community outreach ministry in South Taranaki before spending nearly nine years as a pastor in Singapore. Returning to New Zealand in 2010, he established Shining Lights Trust, a strategic resourcing ministry dedicated to equipping and encouraging churches to share the message of God’s love with a world in need of hope.

Dave is perhaps best known for pioneering the Hope Project, a nationwide multimedia initiative designed to bring the Christian message back into the public conversation, particularly around Easter and Christmas. Through nationwide campaigns, media, storytelling, books and practical church resources, he has helped churches find creative ways to connect with people who might otherwise have little engagement with Christianity.

A gifted communicator and innovative thinker, Dave brings a practical, big-picture approach to evangelism. He is passionate about helping Christians understand how people think, creating opportunities for meaningful conversations and finding fresh ways to communicate the relevance of the Gospel in today’s culture.

dave@shininglights.co.nz

https://shininglights.co.nz/ 

 

Speaking Topics

  1. Rethinking Evangelism in Aotearoa – Exploring how the Church can reconnect with New Zealand society and communicate the Gospel effectively.

  2. The Art of Starting Conversations About Jesus – Practical ways to create meaningful opportunities to talk about faith.

  3. Engaging a Changing Culture – Understanding how people think and how Christians can communicate the Gospel in today’s cultural environment.

  4. The Power of Storytelling – How stories can open doors, challenge perspectives and communicate timeless truths.

  5. Reaching the Next Generation – Rethinking how churches engage young people and help them discover the Christian faith.

  6. Bringing Faith Back into the Public Square – Exploring the place of Christianity in New Zealand’s history, culture and national identity.

  7. Creative Approaches to Evangelism – Learning how to think outside the box and develop innovative ways to reach communities.

  8. Building an Outward-Facing Church – Helping churches develop a culture where evangelism becomes part of everyday Christian life.

Book Dave for Your Next Event

Want to inspire your church to think differently about evangelism and reaching the wider community? Dave Mann brings years of practical experience, creative thinking and a passion for seeing the Gospel make an impact in New Zealand. Whether speaking to church leaders, equipping congregations or challenging Christians to rethink how they engage with the world around them, Dave offers practical insights and fresh ideas that can help turn a passion for evangelism into meaningful action.

BOOKING FORM

Dave's Quotes

"Thinking leads to behaviour. So if we want new results, we will first need to help people think or perceive of that thing in a new way!"
"We need to recover this gospel passion and vision and belief for our nation."
"The key to great conversations is great questions."
"We need to love the places that smell of death because we believe in the power of life."
“There is nothing I want to do except to help people discover that their Creator exists and he can actually be known.”
"Thinking leads to behaviour. So if we want new results, we will first need to help people think or perceive of that thing in a new way!"
"We need to recover this gospel passion and vision and belief for our nation."
"The key to great conversations is great questions."
"We need to love the places that smell of death because we believe in the power of life."
“There is nothing I want to do except to help people discover that their Creator exists and he can actually be known.”