Obituary: Maurice McDonald

Pictured 10 years ago outside Living Well Church, which they helped found, are Sharyn and Maurice McDonald. Photo / File

Minister farewelled in the church he founded

The first minister of Rotorua's Living Well Church will be farewelled in his former church today.

Maurice McDonald died on Thursday after a long illness. His funeral is at noon today and last night the Biak St church held a poroporoaki (farewell ceremony).

Living Well Church senior pastor Andrew Parrington said Mr McDonald will be remembered by many for his service to people.

"He lived his life to help people," Mr Parrington said. "I don't remember him having holidays, taking time out to do anything you would call a hobby. His hobby was people."

Mr McDonald was the first minister of Living Well, which he and six other people - including the Parringtons - opened in August 1990. It came out of the Liberty Centre in Whakatane and the first congregation were those seven people.

It now has a congregation of 400. Mr McDonald was the lead pastor of Living Well for 11 years.

"I've known him for 25 years, he was an incredible guy who gave his life to help people. He was a very popular minister, quite experienced and I was inexperienced at the time and have been trained by him.

"He's been the one who mentored me and passed the baton on. It's sad for me but even worse [I was] overseas when it happened. He's now free from pain and my thoughts are with his family."

Mr McDonald was a minister at Morrinsville Elim prior to the Living Well Church. He had lived in Tauranga for the past five years and after his service at the Biak St church today he will be buried at Pyes Pa Cemetery.

He is survived by his wife Sharyn, children Julie, Wayne and Debby and nine grandchildren.