Girls’ Brigade turns 90
2018 was the 90th anniversary of Girls’ Brigade in New Zealand, which was introduced to New Zealand through Baptist missionaries, at Caversham Baptist …
BYM’s ‘You’re a Gift’ Christmas Challenge
Showing generosity and kindness this Christmas has never been easier! The ‘You’re a Gift Challenge’ is all about random and contagious acts of kindn…
West Papua statement
The Justice Initiative writes about a terrible example of injustice unfolding right on our country’s backdoor, in West Papua, and explains what New Zea…
He mihi mai he ngākau iti
Adrienne Thompson shares her journey of learning te reo Māori. E tū ana au i te pūtake o Whārangi, i te tahataha o Waipahihi, i te rohe o Te Atiawa. N…
Listen up!
Matilda Poasa is a New Zealand-born Samoan, has a Bachelor of Māori Development in Māori Media, and recently completed an internship with the Native Am…
One decision or 52?
Change may happen almost imperceptibly over time but we can measure trends. Craig Vernall explains why one of the most worrying changes in our Baptist …
He iwi tahi tātou
Paul Askin was the recipient of the Lionel Stewart Scholarship in 2017. The scholarship seeks to encourage New Zealand Baptist pastors to further the w…
From Prince Philip to Jesus—joy in evangelism
A storytelling approach to sharing faith It was the worst of times. It was the best of times. Years ago I tried to tell a non-Christian friend, Derek …
The hidden power of the all-age service
A supercharged opportunity for spiritual growth Every pastor and church leader wants their congregation to grow spiritually, but how many of us are …
Meet Katie Herron—environmentalist
Sixteen-year-old Katie Herron and her family attend Palmerston North Central Baptist Church. This is her story. Where did your interest in environment…
Prepared in advance
As I walked home the other evening, I bumped into a couple walking with their five-month-old baby. The last time I saw them together was in a hospital …
Easter conversion
I was enjoying singing “Hosanna, hosanna, here comes the King of Peace” on Palm Sunday in our local church. There didn’t seem to be much peace in our c…
A courageous stand
I recently received a text message from a 15-year-old girl with whom I’ve been meeting for the past 19 months. She explained that, after going to her s…
Baptist churches sponsor refugees in pilot scheme
South West Baptist Church in Christchurch and Gleniti Baptist Church in Timaru are two of four community-based organisations chosen to sponsor refugee …
Training new missional leaders
Jesus’ main task for the three years of his ministry was training leaders for a new movement, and training leaders remains a crucial task for all churc…
The cutting edge
Twenty-year-old Jackson Roach is the youth leader at Long Bay Baptist Church. Earlier this year he opened a barber shop called 'Fresh Cuts for Freedom'…
Evangelise those most open
In every church Russell Watts has pastored, God has given a different strategy for evangelism. However, in his current position as Senior Pastor at Wha…
Migration & Mission in Acts & Aotearoa
Aotearoa New Zealand is undergoing profound demographic change. This means, as New Zealand Baptists, we are in a changed—and changing—mission context. …
“Kia ora, Cuzzy, I’ve saved you a seat”
When Clendon Baptist Church called their pastor’s son to lead them on to the next thing, they were ready for change. Even so, some of the young leader’…
I want it all, and I want it now
Many people would say that music is a window into our soul; so many messages are communicated through the gift music it’s no wonder the lyrics of songs…