Dr Diane Divett, a part Maori New Zealander, graduated from Waikato University with a four year Bachelor of Education degree in Education and Sociology in 1975, as well as a Diploma of Teaching. After teaching for a number of years, she was able to pursue her passion in Pastoral care.

This led to working in churches alongside her husband Hamish until 1987, when their ‘call’ to pioneer Christian City Church Auckland (C.C.C.) redirected them. This resulted in them doing just that, pioneering and establishing C.C.C. which they grew to a congregation of about 1500. Then in October 2006 they went on to plant and pioneer yet another church – simply called C¹ Church; which by December 2006 already had a congregation of about 300 (see c1 church.)

While pastoring Diane was able to complete the Master of Education degree in counselling at the University of Auckland graduating with first class honours, which was followed by completing a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D), also at the University of Auckland.

Diane and Hamish have been married for thirty four years and together they have been in the pastoral ministry for 30 years. They have two adult children Lisa ( married to Daniel providing Diane and Hamish with their first grandchild – Jozef) and David, 28. In addition, they have two Australian cattle dogs (Tozer, named after the theologian A.W. Tozer) and Siggy (named after Sigmund Freud).

They are also responding to fulfill the increasing demand for them to preach, teach and conduct training seminars internationally. Already this has required them to speak and teach at conferences and churches in a variety of contexts: such as Kensington Temple in London – Colin Dye; Christian City Church Oxford Falls in Sydney – Phil Pringle; City Life Church – Mark Conner (formerly Waverly Christian Fellowship) in Melbourne; Jubilee Christian Center in San Jose – Dick Bernal, USA; all churches with many thousands of members as well as numerous smaller congregations in Europe, Asia and the USA.

They have enjoyed teaching in a wide variety of denominations, such as: Presbyterian, Salvation Army, Baptist, Assemblies of God, Elim, Apostolic, Independent, Roman Catholic and Christian City Churches.

Hamish and Diane are uniquely placed in that:

1. Diane’s completed Ph.D gives international recognition to her own theory, Refocussing, with further post-graduate research by other students demonstrating the extraordinary results that can be achieved.
2. Early research (1992-1995) conducted by Diane (but with Hamish’s perspective and pastoral wisdom) provided a nowhere else documented sociological and psychological perspective on renewal, which demonstrated how to achieve positive mental health outcomes.
3. Therefore this academic emphasis when  coupled with the enormous experience Hamish and Diane have gained, as together they personally pioneered, led and pastored three churches, has enabled them to provide both a sound perspective on the church and how it can be positioned  for the years ahead to achieve healthy, visionary, and functional people who will provide solutions in an increasingly needy and thirsty world.
4. A hallmark of their ministry to date, has been their creativity and courage to step out and do the ‘new thing’ as they have  ”refocussed” themselves and trusted in God’s faithfulness to supply for them – to catch the ‘sound’ of the new and establish cutting-edge churches that resonate with the culture and ‘needs’ of the time.
5. For example, it was their ability to hear the need for a new sound in the 80s as young people desired to be takes seriously with respect to their ability to do the work of the ministry, that inspired them to pioneer CCC in NZ. So, beginning in 1987, they not only pioneered and pastored what became  a safe church for young people in particular, but they also began establishing other churches in NZ, as well as serving on an international executive to facilitate the pioneering of other churches worldwide.
6. It is this ability to hear a new sound with the same values of safety and care for people, that has led them once again to plant a new church. This way of doing “Church” is designed to  honour ,respect and develop the unique ways people connect to God via their God Spaces so that they can hear God and respond to the vision and call He has for them, empowering them with skills and tools to achieve the vision (see church.).

Hamish and Diane feel that it is really only now, armed with their academic knowledge, coupled with their thirty years of successful ministry experience that they are suitably qualified to make themselves more available to assist Pastors and leaders with any of the skills and expertise they have.

To contact Hamish and Diane: dianedivett@refocussing.com