Baptist Magazine v135 n6

Baptist Churches of New Zealand

baptistmag.org.nz

Kia Tupu Whakaritorito A faithful friend

A New Zealand Baptist vision for church

Positioned for impact

THE END GAME & THE GOSPEL † INTRODUCING ALAN JAMIESON

| D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 9 / J a n u a r y 2 0 2 0 | v. 1 3 5 n o . 6 |

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OUR STORIES More Than a Roof Over Their Heads Bays Community Housing Trust partners with Christian Savings for a new development of social housing units on Long Bay Baptist Church’s land.

— ALEXANDRA PERKINS

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Acts 2:42-47 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. 44 All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45 they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need.

46 Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

42

EDITOR Linda Grigg | linda@baptistmag.org.nz GLOBAL MISSION EDITOR Greg Knowles GRAPHIC DESIGNER Rebecca McLeay PRODUCTION MANAGER Kathryn Heslop ADVERTISING Marelize Bester | advertising@baptistmag.org.nz FINANCE MANAGER Winston Hema — Baptist Churches of New Zealand PO Box 12-149, Penrose, Auckland 1642, New Zealand 09 526 0338 — Printing ICG Print

E B I R C S B U S

— Front cover photography Beccy Haylock — Scripture Unless otherwise specified, Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright ©1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission.

All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www. zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™ Scripture quotations marked MSG are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Scripture quotations marked (CEV) are from the Contemporary English Version Copyright © 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

— Opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the Baptist Churches of New Zealand or the magazine’s editorial team.

— The NZ Baptist Magazine is the magazine of the Baptist Churches of New Zealand and the New Zealand Baptist Missionary Society.

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“Impact”— influence, touch, transform

A word from the editor Our theme for this issue is ‘impact’, loosely based on Acts 2:47. In this verse we see that this group of believers had the goodwill or respect of the everyday people with whom they lived and worked. The Message puts it this way: “People in general liked what they saw.” Fast forward to today and can Christians in our country, in your neighbourhood, claim they have the same public favour?

There was something about the way these early Christians lived and the message they told that was attractive to others, and the Lord daily added to their number. Now that is impact!

However not all change is instantaneous. Often transformation develops slowly, even over years, and requires us just to be faithful and authentic in whatever we put our hands to do.

Talking of change and impact, I’d love to hear from you about your favourite Baptist magazine articles from 2019.

Maybe something you read inspired you to step out in faith in your own context? Perhaps an article was just the comfort or prompt you needed at a particular point of time?

Drop me a line and let me know. I’d love to hear from you!

As I write this, we on the magazine team are already working on the February/March 2020 issue. At this time of year, of course, many of us are thinking about the plans, goals and challenges we have ahead of us in the New Year.

So, in wishing you and your families a safe, peaceful and joyful Christmas, I hope also that 2020 will be a year of growth and adventure with God for you.

~ Blessings to you Linda Grigg

CONTENT 04 07 08 11 14 16 18 20 26 32 33

FEATURE

A faithful friend CREATIVITY

Could we use rules?

REFLECTIONS FROM CHARLES HEWLETT

A New Zealand Baptist vision for church CHILD & FAMILY

mainly music—a worthwhile investment

NEIGHBOURHOOD & JUSTICE

‘Least’ we forget… or neglect LEADERSHIP

The end game & the gospel CULTURE

Positioned for impact HUI 2019

Kia tupu whakaritorito OUR STORIES

DIRECTORY

GLOBAL MISSION

What is Christmas Angel?

Introducing Alan Jamieson 100 years of mission experience farewelled Opportunities to serve

Baptist / F E A T U R E

a faithful friend

Impacting others for Christ

Lynne Taylor spent a few years exploring what motivated previously unchurched people to come to faith, and the roles that other Christians and God played in those journeys. She discovered that when it comes to the earliest stages of faith formation, the smallest, most fragile‑seeming things can have the biggest impact.

P

erhaps it is just me, but when I hear the word ‘impact’ I tend to think first of the dramatic and exciting, like flashing lights and big events. Impact is a word that somehow opens up the possibility of change and of effect. It encourages me to look up and to look out, and to be alert and open to possibility.

I might try to bring it down a notch and wonder what impact means in my local church or neighbourhood. As Christians, we want to make a difference in our world: to impact the lives of those we care about, bring hope, help make wrong things right, share the good news of Christ, and witness to the changes that God has made in our own lives.

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These are good impulses and God-given desires, but is this the only way of thinking about impact?

Olivia’s story For my PhD research, I interviewed people from unchurched backgrounds who had become Christians in the previous two years. I analysed and considered their stories alongside a host of other research and writings.

One of the people I met and interviewed was Olivia.1 She lived with her mother when she was growing up. Because her mum “is completely anti-God”, Olivia’s only childhood exposure to Christianity came through singing religious songs in a secular choir. She made her first Christian friend, Hannah, when she was at university.

I think that allowed Hannah to be open enough that she could see I was upset about it. She could see that there was stuff going on in my life that wasn’t, you know, right.

That’s what made her get to know me a bit better.

Olivia supported Hannah through this incredibly difficult experience. The two friends went on walks together and Olivia listened closely as Hannah shared how she saw God’s role in her life and in the tragedy. Olivia commented to me: I feel like that’s probably [what] made the most difference in terms of relationships and getting to know God. Because seeing how someone else sees their own relationship with God is sort of more convicting. Obviously it wasn’t so much at that stage like she was trying to evangelise or anything. She was just literally telling me how it was for her and how she viewed her relationship

with God...So I felt like it made a big impact on me. To be able to talk to her and just see where her head was at.

Impact through vulnerability We see the importance, and impact, of two types of vulnerability in Olivia’s description of her friendship with Hannah. Firstly, Hannah, the Christian, opened herself up to Olivia. Rather than pretending to have it all together, Hannah acknowledged her need for care and support, and she allowed Olivia to comfort her. This began a deepening of their friendship.

Secondly, Hannah talked about her experiences and how she understood God’s role in her life. There was a real grief and loss in this telling—a pain that Hannah didn’t hide from.

As a result, Olivia saw how Hannah’s faith was helping her, even in the midst of the most difficult of circumstances.

Olivia wasn’t the only person who told me about Christians acting in ways that were vulnerable: Sarah described attending church for the first time and being struck by the vulnerability of the minister who was

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Anne Groton/lightstock.com

Olivia got to know Hannah better after Hannah’s family had suffered a tragedy. On hearing the news, Olivia walked up to her and burst into tears as she was going to give her condolences. She explained to me:

Baptist / F E A T U R E

In our vulnerabilit y, in making space for mutualit y, and in faithful consistency we can and do have an impact. crying on stage as he preached; Tallulah noted that their playgroup leader openly talked about the trials her family had experienced; Luke reflected on how important honesty and openness were in his forming friendships with Christians, as well as in his developing faith journey.

Of course, Christianity was established in vulnerability. In coming to earth as a tiny baby, Jesus modelled vulnerability and powerlessness. He was literally dependent upon others to meet all of his needs. As an adult, he continued to experience the vulnerability of not being welcomed (John 1:11) and having no place to lay his head (Luke 9:58).

We need not be afraid of being honest about vulnerability in our own lives.

Impact through mutuality Did you hear the echoes of mutuality in Olivia and Hannah’s story? Their relationship grew as Olivia supported Hannah through her family’s loss, just as Hannah supported Olivia in the midst of her own challenges. Such mutuality was also evident in other stories I heard.

Another whom I interviewed, Jean, was asked by her Christian friend to pray for her unwell father. Read that sentence again: it was the Christian who asked the non‑Christian to pray for the Christian’s sick dad. It was that experience—and the comfort and measure of healing that resulted—that got Jean thinking that “maybe this prayer stuff is real.”

Luke described the importance, before he was a Christian, of having his ideas accepted and discussed in his small group.

These examples indicate an openness to mutuality that welcomed—invited even—the care and input of non‑Christians to their Christian friends.

While it is certainly good for Christians to serve others, it is also important to be willing to be served. God, in whose image we are made, demonstrates mutuality between the persons of the Trinity. Father, Son and Spirit are in a relationship that is characterised by self-giving love, both given and received. Our best human relationships, including those with our non-Christian friends, can also be characterised by self-giving love, given and received.

Impact through consistency A long time passed between the friendship developing between Olivia and Hannah, and Olivia attending church

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regularly. It was too complicated for Olivia to go to church while she lived at home. It was only after she left home, broke up with her boyfriend and was teaching at a church school that Olivia decided that she should go to church.

Hannah was a faithful friend throughout.

Sarah’s story of coming to faith took place over an even longer period of time, and was supported by Christian neighbours who continued caring long after they had moved to a different city. While it was decades before Sarah embraced Christianity for herself, her friends remained in frequent contact as she journeyed towards that decision.

The story of Scripture tells the story of God’s faithfulness towards humans. God offers frequent opportunities for the covenantal relationship between God and humanity to be restored. As well as being invited into that redemptive story, we are invited to participate in sharing that story with others.

Faithfully and consistently.

Make an impact What do we learn about making an impact from these stories? Go make friends. Be vulnerable, open and honest.

Be prepared to let others support, encourage and challenge you. Be faithful friends, maintaining relationships in the long term. These things, little and big, make an impact.

But make sure to check your motives. We don’t do this stuff—vulnerability, mutuality, consistency—because it is impactful as an evangelistic tool. We do it when, and because, it is actually who we are. People whose lives are upheld and transformed by our loving God. People who have a story that is worth telling, even when that story is sad or unresolved. People who are strengthened through healthy relationships with others, and who value others’ participation in our own lives. People who are good friends, sticking around for the long haul.

In our vulnerability, in making space for mutuality, and in faithful consistency we can and do have an impact.

Story: Lynne Taylor Lynne is the Jack Somerville Lecturer in Pastoral Theology at the University of Otago, co-leader of Student Soul (congregation) and researcher for the Baptist Churches of New Zealand.

Visit Lynne’s website: lynnetaylor.nz or follow her at: facebook.com/drlynnetaylor | twitter.com/kiwilynnetaylor 1. All names of interviewees are pseudonyms.

Paul Go Images/lightstock.com

Baptist /C R E A T I V I T Y

Could we use rules?

Shall I pass on some of a writer’s tricks of the trade that work in speaking too? Here are a couple of sentences in a message to Christian workers, theoretical and forgettable.

And you can hear things like this on the sermon sites of some churches! (My point here is the communication method, not so much pride or otherwise.)

Christian workers should not be proud. They get in the way of their work like a person going fishing spoils their efforts with their shadow.

The rules to bring this to life are not hard: • tell a story • take the listener to the scene

I had stood two hours. I felt frustrated. “Why was he successful but not me?” I walked up the bank, trailing the line. Still nothing. “Why does he succeed when I’m useless?” At last I went downstream, crossed the bridge, and stood beside him.

“How do you do it?” I asked enviously. “You seem to catch one every 10 minutes.”

“Oh, you try beside me. You’ll catch some now,” he answered. “On the other side of the river your shadow falls across the water and the fish know you’re there.

You must stay in the background or you spoil your own efforts.”

• people are interested in people... and their words and thoughts

I cast again. Before 10 minutes, sure enough, I had a good big trout on my line.

• make listeners ‘feel’ (research has shown that’s what makes them remember).

That’s how it is with Christian workers who are too proud of their work. The shadow of themselves is too powerful and spoils their efforts.

Like this: One day when I was visiting my uncle I decided to have a go at fishing. I borrowed his fishing gear and trotted through the paddock to the river path. I put a fly on the line, cast across the water and waited. Nothing happened. I stood there for an hour. I tried different flies.

I thought, “Why are there no fish in this part of the river?

Am I doing this right? Is this old rod any good?” I wound in the line and checked the fly again. I peered into the river. “Yes, I can see fish.”

An old man came with a rod to the other side of the river, put a fly on and caught a handsome trout within minutes.

Dr Beulah Wood Outgoing President of the Baptist Churches of New Zealand and the New Zealand Baptist Missionary Society

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Baptist / R E F L E C T I O N S F R O M C H A R L E S H E W L E T T

A NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST

VISI

N

FOR CHURCH Gathering together under Christ’s rule

The Baptist movement’s one great distinctive—and its one great contribution to the wider body of Christ—is its radical vision of the church. Charles Hewlett shares a presentation made by Carey Baptist College’s John Tucker and Andrew Picard at Hui 2019, about a New Zealand Baptist vision for church.

T

he early Baptists, believing the state church of their day to be corrupt and ungodly, separated from that church in order to form radical communities of believers who were deeply committed to God and to one another. Drawing on Scripture, they argued that a true church is a community of disciples who Christ gathers together to live under his rule in committed relationship both with God and each other.

Our forebears believed that when they gathered together, Jesus Christ was present in their midst and his presence changed everything. The text that gripped their hearts was Matthew 18:20: “where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” Not “I might be there among them,” but “I am there among them.” It’s this promised presence of the risen Christ in the gathered church that is the beating heart of the Baptist vision, and it has profound implications for discipleship, leadership, worship, resourcing and mission.

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1. Discipleship: walking together as a committed community Many Christian traditions believe that discipleship—walking with Jesus—requires withdrawal from the distractions of community into quietness and solitude. However, we Baptists, with our emphasis on the dynamic presence of Christ in the gathered church, believe that growth in Christ can only occur within the context of a tightly-knit community.

We can’t really know Christ without knowing the members of his body.

We can’t really love Christ without loving the members of his body—not just the ones we like, but the ones we don’t like.

But this kind of community never happens by accident. There needs to be a degree of intentionality. That’s why our forebears often drew up formal written covenants in which they solemnly promised to give themselves both to the Lord and to one another, walking together in all his ways “whatsoever it should cost them.” It’s this practice of covenanting together that underlies our modern

practice of church membership, although the membership processes in most Baptist churches today bear very little resemblance to the radical, counter‑cultural commitment envisaged by our forebears in the faith.

If our churches are to be thriving faith communities filled with growing disciples, it will mean placing much greater priority on the formation of authentic community. In New Zealand today, where families and communities are often broken and relationships superficial, one of the most powerful missional strategies we can adopt is simply to recapture this dynamic of walking together in love, even when— especially when—we disagree with, or differ from, one another.

2. Leadership: seeking together as a listening community The Baptist vision also has profound implications for leadership in the church. Because Christ by his Spirit speaks directly to every believer, we’re convinced that every believer in the local church should be involved in discerning Christ’s will for that church.

As members of the body of Christ, we’re not freed from relationship; we’re freed in and through relationship.

And because Christ promises to be present and to make his will known whenever his people gather together in his name, the church meeting is the place where we can expect the Spirit of Christ to reveal the mind of Christ. Jesus Christ is the leader of the church, therefore final authority in any church rests not with the pastor, or the elders, but with the risen and ruling Christ in the midst of his people as they gather together to listen prayerfully to his word in Scripture and through community.

This does not mean the absence of human leaders. The New Testament teaches that Christ gives leaders to the church. As Baptists, we’ve always recognised this fact by appointing pastors, elders and deacons. But their leadership is secondary to Christ’s leadership discerned by the gathered community. Therefore, one of the ways leaders lead is by resourcing church members, and listening to those members when they gather together in Christ’s name to seek his will. As the scriptures indicate, Christ often speaks through people on the margins.

Effective leaders actively look for ways to promote the voices that tend to be marginalised in their faith communities.

This vision of congregational discernment does not have to degenerate into bitter formal debates decided by a majority vote. The church is not a democracy. It’s a Christocracy.

The goal when we gather together is not to win a vote and impose our will, but to listen to the voice of Christ, and to submit to his will. This means

framing our meetings with shared reflection on Scripture and prayer.

It means bringing issues for discussion and discernment, not just motions for decision and voting. It means distinguishing between management and discernment. No one aside from Jesus Christ is competent to discern the Father’s will on behalf of the community. Only Christ knows the Father’s will and he reveals it by his Spirit to the community.

3. Worship: worshipping together as a Christ-centred community Historically, Baptist worship has been shaped by three main values. Firstly, we have placed great emphasis on the reading and, especially, the preaching of Scripture. We believe the preaching of the Word of God is the Word of God. We believe the risen Jesus addresses his people through preaching that is rooted in the Bible.

The whole movement of every worship service can, therefore, be seen as three phases: (a) approaching the Word of God, (b) receiving the Word of God, and (c) responding to the Word of God. Secondly, because we believe that Christ speaks through all the members of his body, we have tended to encourage broad participation in worship. Early Baptists made sure that a range of people—not just the pastor—were given the opportunity to speak during worship. Anyone could lead communion. Anyone could share their testimony. Anyone could preach a sermon—including women ‘she-preachers’, a radical position at the time. Baptist services, in fact, often consisted of multiple sermons, preached in succession by different people, with interjections during each message and enthusiastic discussion afterwards.

Baptist worship has also been marked, thirdly, by a deep concern for freedom. We believe that the risen Christ by his Spirit leads his people when they gather to worship.

Consequently, the members of his body must be free to respond to the Spirit’s direction. We value spontaneity, flexibility, variety and creativity in our worship.

4. Resources: uniting together as an interdependent community The Baptist vision of church has significant implications for how we deploy our resources. Baptists believe that final authority over any local church rests not with a bishop or a national council but with the risen Christ who promises to be present and make his will known whenever that church gathers together to seek his will. So the members of every local church are accountable ultimately to Christ and what they discern he is saying to them. In that sense they are free from external coercion.

However that freedom does not mean unbridled autonomy.

As Baptists, we don’t believe that local churches are autonomous or independent. Rather, we believe they are interdependent. Like the members of a body (1 Corinthians 12), local churches need the support of other local churches. As members of the body of Christ, we’re not freed from relationship; we’re freed in and through relationship.

Therefore, from their beginning, Baptist churches have recognised the need to draw on the experience, insights and resources of other congregations. Drawing on texts like Acts 15, they have gathered together in regional associations and national unions in order to share wisdom on difficult or controversial matters, to provide financial support for congregations in need, and to plan combined mission initiatives.

5. Mission: witnessing together as a gospel community More than most denominations, Baptists have been relentlessly focused on mission. Steve Holmes writes that “it is difficult to think of

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Baptist / R E F L E C T I O N S F R O M C H A R L E S H E W L E T T

another Christian tradition that has so uniformly seen mission as being so central to its vision of the life of the church.”1 Why? With our insistence that no one can enter the church without first hearing the call of Christ in the gospel, we believe that evangelism is an absolute imperative. You see this in Baptist leaders like Thomas Helwys, Johann Oncken, Rosalie McGeorge, Hopestill Pillow and Billy Graham.

However, the Baptist vision of mission extends beyond the redemption of individuals to the renewal of social structures. From their experience of persecution, Baptists were freedom fighters who demanded that unless there was freedom for all there was no freedom at all.

William Carey in India led the campaign to abolish sati, or the burning of widows on their husbands’ funeral pyres. Martin Luther King Jr,

a Baptist minister, directed the campaign for civil rights in the USA. In Aotearoa, Vivienne Boyd worked for justice for women and J.J. North fought in defence of conscientious objectors. For Baptists, mission means preaching the gospel of Christ’s Kingdom both to lost sinners and fallen systems.

But mission is not just something we do; it’s something we are. As the first fruits of God’s Kingdom, the church is the trailer to God’s great movie of redemption. If people want to know what the movie is like, they just need to watch the trailer. They just need to look at our churches. When they look, will they see signs of the Kingdom, signs of reconciliation and justice?

One of the most strategic missional strategies we can adopt is to work hard at embodying Christ’s will in our common life as local churches.

Story: Charles Hewlett Charles is the national leader of the Baptist Churches of New Zealand. He is often heard saying, “I love Jesus. I love the Bible. I love the gospel. I love the church. And I love mission.”

1. Stephen R. Holmes, Baptist Theology (London: T & T Clark, 2012), 142-143.

Follow Charles Hewlett: /charles.hewlett.nz /charles.hewlett

If you and your church are looking to start a community initiative and need inspiration, support and upskilling in this area, Transform20 is the conference for you!

He Rerenga Whakahoutanga

Keynote speakers include: • Charles Hewlett - National Leader of the Baptist Union • Aimee Mai - CEO Christians Against Poverty • Andrew Becroft - Children’s Commissioner More announcements to follow.

Start building a movement in your community!

Early bird registration only $65 per person for both days.

Register now!

AUCKLAND | 18 - 19 MARCH 2020 | visionwest.org.nz/transform20

Baptist / C H I L D & F A M I L Y

mainly music—

a worthwhile investment Sowing spiritual seeds Last year Elke Keeling undertook a research project with mainly music. It was a work of practical theology, to explore mainly music as a place of spiritual nurture for young children. She shares some of her research findings with us.

W

hen I asked mothers from mainly music groups whether they thought the programme was worth it, they all said an unqualified, “Yes!” However, what I often hear from churches is, “We are not sure.”

I facilitate a mainly music group myself and I experience the challenges.

I understand what it takes and I ask myself, “Is it worth it?” I add my yes to that of the mums I spoke to in my research, because mainly music makes an impact for the Kingdom through nurturing spirituality in both children and adults. Allow me to explain how.

mainly music in a nutshell The mainly music organisation resources its partner churches with a clear

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Baptist / C H I L D & F A M I L Y

mainly music makes an impact for the Kingdom through nurturing spirituality in both children and adults. vision and mission, as well as many pragmatic tools. Every local group offers the opportunity for parent and child to be together, in community with others, in creative, enjoyable and relaxing sessions. mainly music teams provide an environment of delight, acceptance and growth through music and hospitality. Further, they support families through practical love and care that goes above and beyond what participants expect.

All this together allows the Spirit of the love of Jesus to show so that children and families might experience a process of searching freely for meaning that might also include exploring a relationship with Jesus Christ. This is significant. But still the question lingers: is it worth it?

Faith development James Fowler, a well-known researcher in faith development, describes what he sees in young children in regard to their faith development:

their opposites) developed in this phase underlie (or threaten to undermine) all that comes later in faith development.1 Using Fowler’s insights, we see that mainly music can help parents to do some of this ‘work’ of nurturing their children’s spirituality, by providing an opportunity for parent and child to interact together in a safe, trusted, imaginative and musically‑creative environment.

Generous love “But where is Jesus introduced?”

I hear you ask. The approach used to realise this aim is clearly laid out throughout the mainly music vision and mission documents, in which the overarching method of operation is summed up in Ephesians 5:1-2 (The Message):

In the pre-stage called Undifferentiated faith the seeds of trust, courage, hope and love are fused in an undifferentiated way and contend with sensed threats of abandonment, inconsistencies and deprivations in an infant’s environment. Though really pre‑stage and largely inaccessible to empirical research of the kind we pursue, the quality of mutuality and the strength of trust, autonomy, hope and courage (or

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Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents.

Mostly what God does is love you.

Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in

order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us.

Love like that.

At mainly music, sessions are organised around an environment of loving community that is more about process than production. It offers children and parents a safe, relaxed environment where they can experience ‘just being’ for an hour or two a week.

This is an element of spiritual nurture that is sorely needed in our culture of busyness and work/family balancing, and makes a positive difference for children and families in our communities to be able to thrive.

Stories about God and God’s work in our lives are told in the midst of this trusted community, and the Holy Spirit grows the seeds in the lives of the children and families.

The mainly music teams facilitate this spiritual nurture by offering unconditional love and welcome in the Spirit of Jesus. In this regard, they embody the words of Jesus (Matthew 18:2-5): He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, “Truly I tell

“NUR T URING SPIRIT UA LIT Y IS NO T S OME THING YOU DO T O OR F OR YOUR CHILDREN; IT IS S OME THING YOU DO W ITH YOUR CHILDREN.”

you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.”

A worthwhile investment From my research, I would suggest that mainly music plays a significant, albeit sensitive, role in nurturing spirituality in children and their grown‑ups. Our research participants gave us a glimpse of what mainly music means to their children, highlighting that • it contributes positively to their overall development • children experience a high level of enjoyment and love for the musical and bodily interaction • relational skills and interactive experiences widen their world

TESTIMONIES

• the songs stimulate their imagination and create deep,

precognitive memories of God’s presence • it fosters spiritual nurture in a space that supports the innate ‘being’ of the child.

So is it worthwhile to take up the challenge of running a mainly music?

My research says yes! This is an investment for our future where the generations can say they attended a mainly music as a child and are now bringing their children.

Be careful, then, when you embark on this journey of nurturing children’s spiritual lives. You may have gotten into this because you want something more for your children...Nurturing spirituality is not something you do to or for your children; it is something you do with your children. And with your children, you will learn, discover, and grow in ways that you cannot predict or control. It will change you.

And you will all be better for it.

—Eugene C Roehlkepartain2

Story: Elke Keeling Elke has served for over 25 years in children’s ministry in New Zealand.

She co-leads Godly Play New Zealand and trains Godly Play teachers around the country. She is involved in postgraduate research in children’s spiritual nurture and offers coaching to leaders of children’s ministries.

Elke enjoys facilitating a mainly music group, telling stories about God to preschoolers and getting involved in environmental projects.

1. James Fowler, Stages of Faith (San Francisco: Harper, 1981), page 121.

2. Karen Marie Yust, Real Kids, Real Faith – Practices for Nurturing Children’s Spiritual Lives (San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 2004), xii.

Here are some mainly music stories from Baptist partner churches in New Zealand. These churches were not part of Elke Keeling’s research project but incidentally they do reflect her findings about the impact mainly music plays in spiritual nurture of both children and adults. Names have been changed for privacy purposes.

Story one Melissa encourages her team to look for opportunities in conversations, to get beyond day-to-day stuff.

This encouragement has led to amazing connections. One was a mainly music mum’s oldest child, in their early teens, now coming to the church youth group! Through having the regular commitment of families attending, the team commits to building relationships outside the session times.

Story two A rather hesitant Sarah arrived at mainly music with her not-yet-two-year-old boy. Rebecca, the mainly music leader, introduced herself, saying, “mainly music is a safe place, where there is no judgement, where children can run around, and where you can make yourself comfortable. And, we always have someone at the front door so children can’t get out onto the road.” This was not her usual welcome to new mums.

Rebecca realised later this was a real God moment. Unbeknown to her, this little fellow was hyperactive.

Sarah was concerned whether he would fit in or cause havoc. Sarah now comes every week. She is served with a hot drink and delicious cake, and Wednesday has become the highlight of her week.

Story three Katrina, a team member, met Sophia, a mainly music mum, on the bus. Sophia mentioned how her son had a strong Christian faith now, which she attributed to her son’s attendance at mainly music and the church’s holiday programme.

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Baptist / N E I G H B O U R H O O D & J U S T I C E

‘Least’ we forget… or neglect Prixel Creative/lightstock.com

Simply caring

One in four New Zealanders will experience mental illness in their lifetime. Not all will require hospitalisation. Many will recover, few will be cured.1 All need to be loved and befriended— something Wyatt Butcher, a chaplain to mental health inpatients, believes Christian faith communities could, and should, do.

T

wenty years ago, I knew nothing of the mentally ill except the fear and a hard heart learnt by having a cousin whose paranoid schizophrenia scared me as a child and young man. I did not understand the depth of spiritual insight and yearning that their illness gives them.

Through suffering, both physical and mental, we learn and experience so much more. In December 1999 my son was knocked off his pushbike and died 22 days before his 15th birthday.

It was, and hopefully will always be,

the worst day of my life.

It is a constant surprise to me that I can now praise God that out of that event he grew in me a heart of compassion and led me into the ministry I was made for and the passion for those I work with daily.

I thank God for the blessing those with mental illness have given me over the 15 years that I have had the privilege of serving them.

being discharged. She would then be recommitted within three weeks because she missed a compulsory injection. This was despite the fact that she had rung to ask for a new appointment as it was not possible to get to the original one on time.

She described to me how she came to hospital: I just opened the front door and there was my case manager with

Susan’s story When I first met Susan (not her real name), she had no idea she would still be in hospital several weeks before

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two policemen. “Grab a few clothes and get in the car,” they instructed.

“Look, do as you’re told and get in the car,” was even firmer when

The problem with the concept of ‘living in the community’ is that our cities and towns are not communities.

I hesitated. They hustled me to the car and brought me here. That was two weeks ago.

I am not allowed to leave, not allowed my phone and they have taken my bank cards, wallet and keys. I don’t know where my dog is or who is feeding my cat. I need to get more clothes as I am going to be here for another two weeks before I can see the judge again.

Susan’s comments are typical of many first meetings I have with patients in one of our country’s psychiatric hospitals. Her situation is common amongst those who have a ‘mental illness’. Many of her family and friends have been so hurt over the years they no longer want to have much to do with her. Holding down a steady job is extremely difficult as she has insufficient sick days to cover her times in hospital. She is back on the sickness benefit.

Living within ‘the system’ Susan lives daily with the stigma and difficulties caused by her paranoia and variable moods. Then, when she gets unwell, the very system that is set up to help her feels repressive and punitive. The control legitimised by the Mental Health Act and executed by health staff fits the pattern of her fears.

The inpatient services where I minister has almost 200 patients based on bed numbers. Often those in hospital considerably exceed the bed numbers. Ages range from six-yearolds through to those in their 70s.

They consist of every type of gender imaginable and a few who just are not sure. There are people from all backgrounds, ethnicities, religions and economic status—all sharing the same curse of being declared mentally ill.

This hospital used to hold almost 1500 patients in the 1980s. Over the later part of last century, services all around the world moved to less or no long-term housing of the mentally ill.

Instead they adopted a community services model. The vast majority of the mentally unwell now live ‘in the community’.

Some have done well being out of the hospital environment; others have been reinstitutionalised into our prisons. Those chaplains who were working in the 1990s tell me many died by their own hand after being deinstitutionalised. Unfortunately, many live lonely lives at the lowest end of economic well-being, disadvantaged by their illness, co-existing addictions and disorders, and the sheer difficulty of everyday life.

The least of these The problem with the concept of ‘living in the community’ is that our cities and towns are not communities; they are populations of people living in proximity to each other. Community implies a sense of caring and support, of looking out for one another. Many people don’t even know who their neighbours are, let alone care for them, particularly if they are a bit ‘odd’.

Matthew 25:41-46 describes the damning judgement Jesus will make on those who withhold their care and support from people whom society esteems the least. Surely in New Zealand, the mentally ill are the ‘least of these’.

The simplest way we can show our care is not through programmes or healing services or expectations of change, but genuine friendship within a community of God’s people. This is the type of friendship modelled by Jesus and shown in the scriptures. It is a friendship based on real love, not

obligation or an attempt to recruit new Christians. A friendship that listens and accepts people as they are.

Such friendship is not easy.

John Swinton writes, “those who would befriend others in such difficult circumstances require guidance, support, supervision and education”.2 At present such guidance, education and support is scarce within the church. We need to be investing in the development of such resources and training. In the light of Jesus’ comments about the “least of these” and the fact that mental illness is so prevalent in our country, we need to make learning how to love, care for and befriend those with enduring mental illness a priority.

Story: Wyatt Butcher Wyatt’s career path included farming, valuation and property management, and teaching before entering Christian ministry in the mid 1990s. He has been chaplain to the Specialist Mental Health Services of the Canterbury District Health Board for 15 years. During his chaplaincy he has completed a Master of Health Science (Mental Health) and is currently researching on the beliefs and practices of the non-religious in New Zealand, towards a doctorate from the University of Aberdeen. Wyatt is married with two grown daughters. In his spare time he is a keen fisherman and hunter who restores, builds and rides custom motorcycles.

1. This figure will range from 1 in 2 to 1 in 6 depending upon which official publication is quoted. Much mental illness is of an enduring nature and further bouts of un-wellness are possible. Recovery is defined as living well in the presence or absence of your illness.

2. John Swinton, From Bedlam to Shalom: Towards a Practical Theology of Human Nature, Interpersonal Relationships, and Mental Health Care (New York: Peter Lang Publishing, 2000), 153.

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Baptist / L E A D E R S H I P

THE

END GAME

& THE GOSPEL freepik.com

Delighting in the doctrines of God

Have we become too familiar with our own well-worn version of the gospel? Are we willing to proclaim what we actually believe, instead of waffling with platitudes and sentiments?

Myk Habets offers some theological thoughts about evangelism.

MY

children play football so like all good dads I get involved.

I love the game and played it as a kid and teenager. My dad even played for the All Whites (before they were called that). So when my son’s team needed a referee for the season I jumped at the chance. I went along to classes and achieved my volunteer refereeing card.

The lesson of the whistle We were told to bring a whistle along to the first refereeing class. I had in my pocket the $2 whistle I bought at The Warehouse. We had to go on the pitch, stand in a line and then each of us had to blow our whistle. The first

guy blew on his whistle as if it had leprosy. “Blow that thing so we can hear it, man!” the instructor barked at him.

I was second in line and blew my Warehouse whistle like I was a man overboard. So I was surprised to hear the trainer now yelling at me! “What’s that you’re blowing? A whistle from a Christmas cracker?”

Next followed a 10-minute lesson to us all on whistles and the various tones and pitches they can have and how we all had to go out and purchase for ourselves a Fox 40 whistle and blow it like a westerly blows through Palmerston North.

so well? But it’s like that with a lot of things in life. Take the good news of the scriptures, for example. The gospel is such great news but I wonder, given what my theology students tell me and what I hear around the churches as I preach, if we know just how good it is.

As Michael Horton wrote: Of one thing we can be certain: God has given us the greatest show on earth, a drama full of intrigue that is not only interesting but actually brings us up onto the stage, writing us into the script as actors in the ongoing production. It gives us a role that contrasts sharply with

The great good news Who knew there was so much to learn about something I thought I knew

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those one-dimensional characters and shallow story lines of this present age.1

He is right, of course, because the life of presumed independence from God, even for those with good jobs and families, is flat—it is one trivial success or failure after another. People living in this space long to be a part of something meaningful that is bigger than themselves. The good news is that God is in control, he has a plan, it is being worked out, and within that plan there is a place for each of us.

However, for too long, many have considered the Bible, doctrine and mission—key elements in understanding and sharing this good news—to be stale, outdated and, at worst, irrelevant to contemporary culture. This is nonsense. Here the timeless words of Dorothy Sayers are salutary: We are constantly assured that the churches are empty because preachers insist too much upon doctrine—‘dull dogma,’ as people call it. The fact is the precise opposite. It is the neglect of dogma that makes for dullness. The Christian faith is the most exciting drama that ever staggered the imagination of [humanity]—and the dogma is the drama.2

Please pass it on Each week people go to church to be told or reminded of what the script for their lives is and how they should perform it. They need to make sense of their lives and find meaning and fulfilment. Here are three things I wish, as a theologian, that pastors and preachers would know and pass on: 1. The gospel includes not simply the salvation of human souls but the utter redemption and recreation of the entire cosmos. What starts in the garden ends in a city and all of it is earthly, physical, embodied and holistic. Be real in your preaching and your gospel talk. Relate it all to the embodied, the physical, the social and the concrete. The sphere of the Spirit is not in some pie in the sky—his work is in relationships,

F O R T O O L O N G , M A N Y H AV E CONSIDERED THE BIBLE, DOCTRINE AND MISSION...

T O B E S TA L E , O U T D AT E D A N D , AT W O R S T, I R R E L E VA N T T O C O N T E M P O R A R Y C U LT U R E . communities, marriages, disputes, cancer diagnoses, and all the other vicissitudes of life.

2. The gospel is about Christ in us, above us, before us, behind us and over us. It’s about Christ.

So could we finally stop talking about ‘incarnational ministry’ and every other stupid term like it. ‘Incarnational ministry’ means embodied ministry. Great—what other type of ministry do you think you can do? The good news is that Christ has lived, died, risen and ascended for us so that we are now united to Christ and found in him. Our old life is gone and the new life we have is the life of Christ in us. So there is no ‘incarnational ministry’ if that refers to you and me! There is only the ongoing incarnational ministry of Christ and our participation in that.

3. Know that the triune God has a plan and an end game that will make sense of this world and your lives.

God is for you in Christ Jesus. God loves you by his Holy Spirit. God the Father has reconciled the world to himself in the Son. Tell people what I am telling you now: there is not a single one of you that God has not created and doesn’t know everything about. God knows the best and the worst of you—and he still loves you, still wants you, and still has a way to make your life in this world, and more in the next, the most fulfilling and incredible adventure you could never imagine.

The gospel is truly good news.

So please take that seriously, understand what God has in store for us, work hard at the wonderful and beautiful doctrines of God—salvation, judgement and resurrection—and lead your communities in rescripting their lives to the glory of God. In other words, if the gospel was a football match and you were the referee, blow your Fox 40 like you mean it!

Story: Myk Habets Myk is a graduate of Laidlaw College and Otago University, and has taught theology for a number of schools and universities in New Zealand and abroad, including Carey Baptist College.

Currently he leads Laidlaw College’s School of Theology and is a member of the senior leadership team there.

This article is an abridged version of a talk Myk Habets gave at Hui 2018.

1. Michael Horton, A Better Way: Rediscovering the Drama of ChristCentered Worship (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2002), 16.

2. Dorothy L Sayers, Creed or Chaos?

(New York: Harcourt, Brace & Company, 1949), 3.

v.135 no.6 † tekau mā whitu 17

Brian Merrill/Pixabay

Baptist / C U L T U R E

POSITIONED FOR

impact Engaging NZ’s cultural diversity

We’re aware that the church in Aotearoa New Zealand has been in decline for a number of years, but is that the whole story? Steve Davis says there are big gaps in this generalisation and many voices have yet to be heard. He suggests ways churches can position themselves for greater mission impact in our culturally diverse country.

H

ow different might the picture of faith in New Zealand look if some of the currently excluded voices were incorporated?

Here’s what I mean:

• Up to 30% of Māori and Pasifika populations were not included in the 2018 census data.1 These are cultures that are known to be more focused on the spiritual in their worldview than Pākehā. How would their inclusion change the picture?

• Likewise, migrant and diaspora cultures are also under‑represented in such data collections. Even we, as the Baptist Union family, have a difficult time getting church reports from many of our migrant/diaspora churches. If all that information was included, what would that look like?

• Looking at the low polling results of the local government elections in October (for example, Ōtahuhu and Ōtara, in Auckland) has also indicated many voices are not participating in society at large.2

The world at our place Globalisation has caused the world to come to our shores, as a desirable destination country in which to live.

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A quarter of New Zealand’s population are foreign born and more than 160 languages are spoken in our country.

In our largest city, Auckland, 39% of the population were born overseas—a percentage that only two other cities in the world can top.3 There are also more than 210 people groups in Auckland, higher than New York or London!

Auckland Council’s population growth projections for 2038 is that 35% of the city may be Asian.4 We know that the Chinese people group has been the most open to the gospel in the last 20 to 30 years. It has also been projected that Auckland will become 48% Pākehā, with other cultures making up the 52%. What will the city look like in that scenario? What would a denomination look like in that new context, especially considering that many immigrants identify as Christian.

Mission impact If Revelation 7:9 paints a picture of the cultural diversity of God’s redeemed people, why are most churches monocultural?

Many Baptist churches are already engaging the cultural diversity of our country as a primary calling for mission.

But if a church is yet to make that step, how can it transition and go down this pathway? How does it create

t

How different might the picture of faith in New Zealand look if some of the currently excluded voices were incorporated? the relationships, find resources, and join with other companions to explore the different pathways that such a journey can take it on? What are some of the basic steps or key phases that a faith community can take in positioning themselves for this task?

From my own ministry experience, these are my suggestions: 1. As a faith community, intentionally seek God’s vision for your community, and be open to all the preparatory work that the Spirit needs to do in your leaders and the wider community for such a journey. Intentionally pray for connections with ‘people of peace’ in your community— entry points into the different cultures in your location.

Pray also for recruits who are good at building bridges (returning missionaries or those who have worked overseas?), and for cultural ambassadors to emerge and join you in that venture.

2. Build everyone’s capacity in cultural intelligence. Seek to gain wisdom and confidence (both by workshops and personal experience) in meeting people different from yourselves. Seek to learn culture in a relational way—not just as a cognitive and cerebral exercise through reading, but through face-to-face engagement. It’s good to get ‘lost in the fog of cultural misunderstanding’ because then perhaps you will see your own cultural biases in a new light! This helps us to unlearn our own worldview, and get a taste and appreciation of other worldviews.

3. Engage and get to know all that you can about your community or the people group towards whom the Holy Spirit is directing you. Community door-to-door surveys are especially valuable, as teams can reflect together on what the community is saying to them in terms of local needs and issues. City councils also have information that can help, plus real estate agents, schools, other pastors in the community, etc.

4. Go on the bicultural journey. The Treaty of Waitangi is part of our past and our present; it is a vital part of the land in which we live. Learn the stories of your local region. Meet and ask the local iwi for their welcome and blessing on your journey. Watch for that side benefit of seeing how that opens doors for other cultures to be open to your approaches and makes space for them to have a sense of belonging to your revitalised faith

community. The best expression of the multicultural journey here in Aotearoa New Zealand goes through the bicultural gate.

5. Cultivate a culturally diverse leadership team. You will need each other in this diversity to both interpret and navigate where God is leading you on your journey, and to model how to share life and faith together across cultures. This process will enable you to experience the inner transformational change that is necessary for such a journey, and give you an idea of what others will go through as they journey with your faith community.

Leadership especially will have to monitor the stress levels that this process naturally causes, and have the skills to work through the messy stuff that will arise.

Story: Steve Davis Steve is the national team leader for Baptist Multicultural Inclusion Ministries. He and his wife Lyn have spent 38 years in ministry in three continents, and have been doing cross‑cultural ministry for the last 25 years. Their last two church plants in the past decade, Macau and Auckland, have also been intentionally culturally diverse.

1. www.temanararaunga.maori.nz/nga-panui.

2. www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/elections/Pages/resultsturnout.aspx.

3. http://archive.stats.govt.nz/Census/2013-census/profile-andsummary-reports/quickstats-culture-identity/birthplace.aspx.

4. www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/plans-projects-policiesreports-bylaws/our-plans-strategies/auckland-plan/aboutthe-auckland-plan/Pages/aucklands-asian-population.aspx.

Training opportunity The Carey Centre for Lifelong Learning course Leading Multicultural Faith Communities is specifically designed to coach and equip leaders to engage positively in transitioning their faith communities towards being more culturally diverse.

Contact either Steve Davis or Lindsay Jones (Northern Baptist Association’s Multicultural Ministries coach) for more info on this course, which will be offered in 2020.

Steve: steve.davis@baptist.org.nz | 022 183 2364 Lindsay: lindsay@northernbaptist.nz | 021 546 379

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The 137th Assembly of the Baptist Union of New Zealand and the 134th Assembly of the New Zealand Baptist Missionary Society (NZBMS) were held 7th to 9th November at South West Baptist Church, Christchurch.

Baptist / H U I 2 0 1 9

Pōwhiri As the leaves rustled in the mighty totara and the sound of bird calls echoed across the grassy lawn, we were welcomed on to Rehua Marae to open Hui 2019. Kia Tupu Whakaritorito was our mandate and from the opening waiata we were positioning ourselves to thrive.

Matt Hakiaha acknowledged to all those gathered how great it is to have brothers and sisters coming together in unity with open hearts to be welcomed to Ōtautahi. After a bus tour through Christchurch we returned to South West Baptist to be welcomed to their home and the site of our gathering.

Hui prayer and commissioning of leaders Kia whai korōria te Atua i runga rawa Kia mau te rongo ki runga ki te whenua Me te whakaaro pai ki ngā tāngata Glory to God on high Peace on earth Goodwill to all mankind Alan Jamieson, senior pastor of South West Baptist, reflected on the tragedies that have befallen Christchurch over the last decade and how that has affected their own church in a very real way. We were then led in prayers for peace, to acknowledge our dependence on God and to ask him for forgiveness in the areas where we are tempted. We prayed together as a movement for strong leadership, resources, people and our mission. Then, with a sense of solidarity, we stood and affirmed Charles Hewlett as the national leader of Baptist Churches of New Zealand and Alan Jamieson as the general director of NZBMS.

Baptist celebration South West Baptist had promised us a party and what a party it was! The food trucks were pumping out a delicious array of food, while the jazz band had many toes tapping and the occasional punter dancing. The weather was glorious and the general hum of happy people, combined with building anticipation for what was to come, created an atmosphere that could be compared to a New Orleans Mardi Gras.

Hui 2019 was under way and the days ahead promised to bring fresh revelation. A sense of newness was already in the air.

Karen Warner and Brian Krum continued to build that with their easy banter and

seamless leading of our Baptist celebration as we welcomed Albany Korean, God’s Family, Grace Baptist and church@onetwosix into fellowship and celebrated with the new Golden Sands Baptist Church. The long service of Murray and Marj Robertson, Alan and Sandra Jamieson, and Brian and Gay Cochran was acknowledged.

Some of our leaders were surprised with special messages of love and thanks from their congregation. Beulah Wood stepped down from her year as president and shared how she had been encouraged by the new emerging female leaders amongst us. David Allen, who was welcomed as our new president, is particularly focused on leadership and working in the governance space for churches.

It was a pleasure to hear from Peter Olds as he takes up his position as principal defence chaplain for the New Zealand Defence Force.

Military chaplains are embedded into camps and bases in a pastoral well-being role and often provide a sense of moral validation in the services. Our defence men and women live with the question of mortality every day, which creates a deep spiritual space for these chaplains to speak into.

NZBMS welcomed home Neil and Barb Perry, and Ilkka and Maree Rauhala, who were recommissioned back to New Zealand. A minute of appreciation was also given to Rachel Murray as we acknowledged the work of this strong and capable woman who served as general director of NZBMS from 2014 to 2019.

Our celebration would not have been complete without the awarding of the Lionel Stewart scholarship for 2020. Congratulations to John Catmur from Māngere Baptist who will use some of his scholarship to study the pūtōrino (Māori flute) and make it available for worship.

It was encouraging to hear Luke Kaa-Morgan share with us all the happenings at Ihumātao and the sphere of influence that Baptist pastors and leaders are carrying in that place. There is a stirring, particularly amongst millennials, to see social justice become a platform for the gospel message.

One of the highlights of our Baptist celebration was looking to the future, where we celebrated Carey Baptist College graduates and newly registered pastors. They are an energetic and exciting bunch of people who are diverse in their backgrounds and experience, yet united in their passion for the gospel of Jesus.

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Baptist / H U I 2 0 1 9

Minutes of appreciation for Rob Stacey and Andrew Bollen, outgoing chairs of the Baptist Union Assembly Council and NZBMS Mission Council respectively, were noted at Hui. Rob served six years on the Union Council and was chair for the last two years. Andrew served 22 years on Mission Council, the last three as chair. Both men’s contribution, diligence and leadership at critical times for our movement were gratefully acknowledged.

Women’s breakfast and worship Friday morning dawned with a promise of another beautiful day. Ninety women gathered in the South West Baptist café to share together over breakfast the challenges and opportunities presented to women in leadership. What an inspiring group of women serve us on the Baptist Women’s Board! They were quick to encourage us with a message of place and identity as women in God’s Kingdom. Fia Turner from Māngere Baptist reminded us that as women we bring with us everything God has put in us—our language, culture, values, beliefs and hopes. We need to walk proudly in that and understand that, with eyes on Jesus, falling is not an option.

As the coffee supplied by Addington Coffee Co-op started to hit the spot and the South West Baptist worship team led us into God’s presence, Charles Hewlett began to reveal what he sees as a framework for thriving faith communities. This included robust leadership, growing disciples, effective mission and healthy resources. One of the changes to this year’s Hui was the importance of table conversation and the ability to freely discuss the issues and ideas being presented from the stage. This form of open communication led us to a better understanding of what it is ‘to hui’ and produced the first addition to Charles’s framework—authentic worship.

The world we are about to live in Positioning ourselves to thrive means we need to understand the world we are about to live in. Charles had lined up a sterling panel to help us unpack this. Our world is changing.

The baby boomer generation has a different, diverse and dissatisfied population coming up behind them. It is ethnically mixed, with Pākehā having less children but other ethnic groups having more. Our disadvantaged people groups are growing, our faith culture population is shifting to a non-Christian majority, and there is a growing dissatisfaction with what has previously

been produced. There is an assumption that consumerism and industrialisation rules the world, yet the next generation to whom we are presenting the gospel see social issues over consumerism. They want a demonstration that we are all equal under God. What does flourishing and thriving look like to those who are in a wilderness?

From the panel, Charles asked Sarah Rice from Papanui Baptist Church to reflect on the example of Greta Thunberg. The emerging generation has a love for the world it is about to live in. They may be less able to articulate what they want but they are able to see what they don’t want. They are challenging the system that exists.

Colin Gruetzmacher is an American who grew up in Mexico, worked in England and came to New Zealand six years ago. Charles asked him to reflect on what Israel Folau’s stand is telling us about the world in which we are about to live.

While we could focus on hate speech and how we share a message, maybe it is more about how we navigate sexuality in the 21st century. The world we are about to live in is telling our young people that to deny yourself is now oppression.

How do we present a gospel that encourages us to deny ourselves without shame?

The story of Ihumātao is a narrative that preferences one people group. Jennie Ekigbo is a passionate global citizen from Hillsborough Baptist Church who spoke strongly into Charles’s question over race reconciliation. How do we come together as one with a loving Father?

Dr Fiona Beals is a sociologist interested in addressing systemic injustice through enabling others to read and rewrite their story and the greater Kingdom story. Charles’s question to her was about suicide and our appalling statistics.

We tell our young people a shameful lie—“do whatever you choose, be whatever you want”— but the reality is that this New Zealand dream is only achievable for a small group. How do we as churches give this emerging world an upside‑down Kingdom where hope is a tangible and real experience?

So for this world we are about to live in, hope is the key but we need to reframe what hope looks like. For too long we have been in the practice of attracting people to our buildings and programmes rather than presenting the work of the Holy Spirit to people already in our spaces. When the local church is present in the neighbourhood, the stories of Scripture that tell us about social justice or racial reconciliation

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Baptist / H U I 2 0 1 9

present to the world a good news that addresses pain and leads people to hope. This world that we are about to live in implores us to develop empathy for different people, to learn to be part of a minority and be present in spaces where we are uncomfortable. Be excited about the future of the church; we have always thrived when God takes us into the desert.

Baptists in the ’hood Wow! If Hui 2019 had to close down at this moment I would have had enough to reflect on until next Hui. But there was still plenty more to feed on at this banquet. Over the course of the next two days we heard from people who were intentionally being Baptist in the neighbourhood they have been called to. And we learnt the stories around South West Baptist and the neighbourhoods they call home. It wasn’t about the words they said but the commitment they made to their neighbourhood.

Duane Major and Alan Jamieson have been leaders in this space for a while now and they shared with us some thoughts around presencebased or preference-based faith communities.

We need different ways of doing church. Why? We need connections. “Loneliness hangs over our culture today like a thick smog. More people say they feel lonely than ever before,” says Johann Hari in Lost Connections. A presence‑based community expression of faith means everyday people engaging in everyday ways to emotionally connect and become resilient, and creating a place to rebuild thriving, woven communities.

Positioning our identity With all this insight into what the future might look like when establishing thriving faith communities, we needed to sit and digest what it means to be Baptist and what our movement’s response is for thriving.

John Tucker and Andrew Picard of Carey Baptist College presented a positioning paper on Baptist identity. This is available from the Baptist National Centre for churches to discuss leading into Hui next year. Charles gave time for us to kōrero around where our movement is right now.

How are our regional associations positioned to thrive? Many of them are fragile and struggling.

For change and strength to come we need to build a team that can resource faith communities across Aotearoa. Of course this takes some financial capability and Winston Hema and Kelvyn Fairhall presented our financial reports for

discussion and comment. Yes we will need to be generous givers, but if we believe in the place of the Union and the work of NZBMS, we need to be creative in how we find this giving.

The Sutherland Lecture Tim Cooper, a lecturer at Otago University and member of Dunedin City Baptist, presented the Sutherland Lecture this year. He unpacked his research on Richard Baxter, a 17th century English Puritan whose writings challenge us to consider what the reformed pastor for the 21st century may need to look like. Tim left us with two questions: how are we going to keep watch over ourselves and how are we going to keep watch over all the flock? In a thriving faith community we need to be able to answer these questions.

Positioning our leadership for mission As a movement we are so thankful for Carey Baptist College. They produce outstanding pastors and leaders and support lifelong learning.

George Wieland is director of Mission Research and Training at Carey and one of the college’s lecturers. Giving him the last slot before the Hui closing was a stroke of genius. His witty unpacking of Acts 13 encouraged us to position leaders for mission. We each have a place in creating thriving faith communities because God is moving and he has invited us to be a part of his plan.

With so much to consider and reflect on, the warmth and hospitality shown by the volunteers at South West kept us going. We can’t thank them enough for keeping us fed, supplying us with coffee and generally keeping the house open and inviting for us. Yes, the fire alarm caused some lighthearted banter but we pressed on!

Hui 2019 may just be a marker for our movement as we push forward. There was so much to take away from this year. We acknowledge that some in our movement are tired and barely keeping their heads above water, but we are stronger when we come together.

What do you need in order to thrive? Who’s in your corner championing you on and where do you need to turn in order to be refreshed and resourced?

Hui 2019 may be over but the pūtātara has been passed to Waikato Association for 2020 planning. Will you be there?

Story: Fiona Maisey Photos: Beccy Haylock and Claire Russell v.135 no.6 † rua tekau mā rima 25

In 2020 Carey Baptist College will offer a new way of learning. Called the Fast4 Online Teaching Series, it is something anyone can do to go a little deeper in a range of topics, with some specifically for pastors’ ongoing learning and development.

Each Fast4 runs over four weeks, with a one-hour live and interactive webinar for each of those weeks.

Four readings are provided as well. It’s this grouping of four things that the name Fast4 came from.

“Carey’s biggest ‘classroom’ in 2019 was our Focus webinar series, with people right across the country learning in groups or on their own,” says Mike Crudge of the Carey Centre for Lifelong Learning.

“Fast4 is another exciting way we’re offering learning opportunities to our people wherever they are. The series will provide overviews or more

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in‑depth looks at various topics to do with Bible study, theology, mission and practice. The teachers are all high-calibre, research-active Carey lecturers or other experts in their field.”

Topics in 2020 will be: Life in Christ: A Journey through Romans Chapters 5-8 with New Testament lecturer Dr Sarah Harris; Knowing the Story that You Are Part of: Te Tiriti O Waitangi with David Moko and Dr Alistair Reese; Introduction to Preaching with Dr John Tucker; Taking Your Children’s Ministry from Good to Great with Karen Warner; Conflict Resolution for Church Leaders with John Peachey; and Organisational Leadership for Church Leaders with Mark Powell.

Go to lifelonglearning.nz/fast4 for more information and to register.

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Our stories

Investments bring significant ministry returns Three Northland projects that received grants from the Baptist Foundation (BF) have demonstrated the principle of wise investment and the big difference it can make for our churches and communities in the region.

Doubtless Bay Christian Centre This church’s successful op shop had grown to occupy all its ancillary rooms. This meant that each week faithful volunteers would have to pack up the shop and then unpack it again so the space could be used for other purposes.

BF provided a grant of $25,000 for a relocated building for the op shop (pictured below). A disused bowling club house was found in Kawakawa. After much work and submissions to Far North District Council, it was relocated to the site in February 2019. When work is completed, the church will have a 300m2 dedicated space for the op shop that will enable them to accept furniture to sell too.

Russell Baptist Church The church acquired their 1913 heritage building (pictured above) from the Methodists five years ago and started work on making it a more flexible space. BF granted $15,000 to help them create better community use. Chairs have replaced pews and new side doors open onto an existing deck, creating flow. Shade sails and other additions have made it a welcoming space. Other grants helped convert the kitchen and provide a coffee machine.

The team were gifted paint and they redecorated all the exterior, as well as adding a storeroom for furniture. The new facility was officially opened in December 2018, with more than 60 people from the community visiting. Now the weekly programme includes games, craft, exercise classes and some music groups, along with monthly or one-off events. The numbers attending on a Sunday are growing, to nearly 40, and BF recently gave more funds so more chairs could be bought.

Regent Community Trust partnership As previously reported (Baptist, December 2018), BF recognised the need to resource fundraising applications in Northland. Through a partnership with Regent Community Trust (Whangarei Central Baptist Church), we secured Didi Skinner’s services for 10 hours a week. In the past three years she has raised more than $160,000 from a variety of sources.

As she leaves to pursue a different career, we thank her for her amazing efforts and can see what a good investment this has been. At the time of writing it is hoped to continue the partnership into 2020 and beyond.

Story: Stephen Parker Grants convener for the Baptist Foundation

v.135 no.6 † rua tekau mā whitu 27

Baptist / O U R S T O R I E S

Graduating Pastoral Leadership and Youth Pastoral Leadership students, spouses and families

SENDing is a highlight on the Carey Baptist College calendar, as students and staff are celebrated. For the past two years I have been an observer, imagining what it will be like to be ‘sent’ myself.

SENDing heralded a change of seasons, much like the budding daffodils remind us that winter is ending and spring is on its way. Or like stage curtains closing between acts, where the stage is cleared from what was in order to be reset for what is to come.

This current season or act has been one of ‘lasts’:

But it’s also a new scene or season of ‘firsts’:

• My last assignment submitted. (Thank you, Jesus!)

• The first step in discerning what God is saying.

• The last time my cohort will all be together in one room.

As I reflect on SENDing and my own journey to get to this place of being trained and ready for pastoral ministry, maybe there are others, perhaps even reading this, who sense a season is ending and aren’t sure what that means.

Can I offer a word of encouragement from Psalm 104, which reminds us God knows what he’s doing, and if the season you are in is one of ‘lasts’ it means you are about to enter a new season of ‘firsts’.

• The last lecture, community lunch and chapel at Carey.

• The last time I try and fail to make a fancy pattern in the steamed milk from the barista coffee machine in Carey’s Wharekai!

• The last time my family and I cross the harbour bridge to Albany Baptist Church as my placement ends.

Graduating Intermission students

• The first leisurely and slow meander along the beach, because I now have free time!

• The first day with no lectures or academic requirements to be met—a very strange feeling!

• The first time in three years to really catch my breath and dream about what the future holds.

• The first documents received from a church looking for a pastor.

Story: Julie Redwood, Pastoral Leadership graduate

Graduating Ethnic Ministry Training students

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Graduating Mission Track students

65, not out 1954 left New Zealand reeling.

The year started with a royal visit, then in May two teenagers murdered one of their mothers, and in September the Mazengarb Report on the moral decline of New Zealand youth hit the nation.

The response of faith to these testing times was seen in one West Auckland suburb where a small group of men and women had been working hard reaching children through a Sunday school outreach for the previous two years.

Through loving, determined, sacrificial giving and action, reaching the families of those children, a church was established.

Atkinson Valley Church of Christ

Life and Advent held their first meeting in early September. The attendance that year averaged at 12. Soon the new name of Kaurilands Church of Christ Life and Advent was taken.

An emphasis on strong church community, biblical teaching and a passion for outreach in order to honour God saw the church grow further as part of a small denomination.

In 1997 the then pastor, Jonathan (Jonny) Weir, and the new youth pastor, Gary Grut, oversaw the church becoming part of the Baptist Union. The name was changed to Titirangi Baptist Church (TBC). Jonny and Gary saw a remarkable expansion of

the church and would be joined by others and would send out more, locally and globally. Charles Hewlett was just one of these.

Andy Shudall is the current senior pastor at TBC. The church gathered on 6th October 2019 to celebrate what God has done and is doing, giving thanks, eating cake and singing in worship and hymns with gusto. TBC is 65 and full of life. The building project is a third complete, a new youth pastor is about to take up his position, and new believers are growing in confidence. We are committed to all that God is doing and to whatever will honour God and reach our community.

Jonny Weir, former pastor

Gary Grut, former youth pastor

v.135 no.6 † rua tekau mā iwa 29

Baptist / O U R S T O R I E S

In Memoriam

Rev Angus Hamilton MacLeod: Preacher, pastor, writer 26 February 1926 – 14 October 2019

Angus was a teen evacuee from Scotland to New Zealand during World War II. He returned to Scotland, trained for ministry there, and ministered at the Whitley Bay Baptist Church in England before deciding to return to New Zealand.

He became the first minister at Taupō Baptist Church, and then spent 13 years at Oxford Terrace Baptist Church in Christchurch. As general secretary of the National Council of Churches for 10 years, he had both a national and an international influence in the wider church. His final five years of ministry were spent at Long Bay Baptist Church on the North Shore of Auckland.

He had a rich Scottish accent that Kiwis loved listening to, and was much appreciated as a thoughtful, intelligent preacher. His ability with words was also very evident in his writing, especially in the area of

church history. He wrote the history of a number of New Zealand local churches. As a visiting lecturer at Carey Baptist College, he made a valuable contribution.

In 1969 he was president of the Baptist Union of churches, and for a number of years he was chair of the Union Council. In his contact with pastors he related warmly to both his contemporaries and to younger pastors who valued his friendship and mentoring.

Angus died after a short illness, aged 93. He was married to his beloved wife Janet for 65 years and was a much‑loved father and grandfather.

Many people throughout New Zealand are thankful for his contribution to their life. He was a man of integrity, deep thought, and an honesty in dealing with the hard questions of faith, but always faithful to his Lord.

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Rev Dr Stephen Gilbert Timothy (Tim) Bulkeley: Gentle Wise Teacher 15 May 1948 – 31 October 2019 Tim Bulkeley died on 31st October very suddenly after a short illness. He was surrounded by his family and remained wise and kind until the end.

Tim was born and raised in England and after ministerial training at Regents Park College, Oxford, was ordained

and inducted to Upper Studley Baptist Church, in Trowbridge, Wiltshire. After marrying Barbara in 1975, then earning a PhD at The University of Glasgow, they began serving with the Baptist Missionary Society in Kinshasa, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo). Tim taught Old Testament to students from many Protestant denominations from 1982 to 1991. One of Tim’s colleagues wrote, “Tim trained so many leaders in Congo, made many friends, and blessed so many people in Congo. His heart may have taken the shape of Congo.”

Tim and Barbara, with their children Richard, Thomas, Nathan and Sarah, were evacuated from Kinshasa in September 1991 when there was a failed coup d’etat. Once it was clear they could not go back, Tim applied for and was accepted as Old Testament lecturer at Carey Baptist College in Auckland, starting in 1993. He taught there for almost 20 years, educating and inspiring a generation of Baptist pastors and leaders. He also taught at the School of Theology at The University of Auckland. During this time he wrote articles, books including

Not Only a Father and published the first of a hypertext Bible commentary series, on Amos.

Once Tim ‘retired’, he almost seemed to get busier. He taught courses for Laidlaw Graduate School, online teaching for ACOM, developed his 5minutebible.com, the PodBible project, often wrote for the Baptist and served on the leadership team of South City Baptist Church in Tauranga.

He and Barbara made nine overseas teaching trips, going to a refugee camp in Thailand, and seminaries in the Philippines and Sri Lanka.

There were hundreds of tributes for Tim, coming from all over New Zealand, Africa and Asia. It was wonderful to see how many people valued him as a teacher, colleague, mentor and friend.

His funeral was a fitting tribute to the impact he had on so many. One of the readings included 2 Corinthians 4:13 (CEV) “In the Scriptures it says, ‘I spoke because I had faith.’” Despite being an introvert, Tim loved to speak when it mattered. On issues of faith, justice and kindness, his words inspired many. He will be missed.

Kenda malamu, Tim. (Go well.)

Thinking about study next year?

Discover Carey in 2020

Applied Theology | Pastoral Leadership Youth Pastoral Leadership | Pastoral care Child and Family Leadership | Mission Ngā Pou Amorangi | Intermission Chinese | Ethnic Ministry Training

carey.ac.nz | 0800 773 776

Directory LEADERSHIP TEAM OPPORTUNITY

PASTOR PART-TIME

PHOTOGRAPHERS FOR BAPTIST MAGAZINE

OTAKI BAPTIST CHURCH

We are seeking expressions of interest from passionate Christian leaders responding to God’s call on their lives to be part of a redemptive community of faith discipling lifelong followers of Jesus.

Our pastor is retiring in March 2020 so we are looking for a new pastor (three days a week).

We are a small church with a desire to expand our ministry to young families and youth and to be more effective in our community.

FOR MORE INFO CONTACT GRAEME gjbeggs@gmail.com

We are considering engaging an additional, full-time pastor to complement our existing leadership team in 2020. Reporting to Senior Pastor, Alan Jamieson, the leadership team provides shared shepherd leadership and strategic direction across the whole church.

Our primary requirement is for demonstrated leadership skills and an ability to lead people through change, empowering them to be lifelong followers who make lifelong followers of Jesus. The role will hold responsibility for allocated areas of organisational leadership and may also involve shared preaching and teaching.

Experience leading young adults, and skills in training and development would be desirable.

A strong commitment to our bicultural journey and to living out the SWBC vision is essential.

EMAIL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IN CONFIDENCE C/-: mritchie@swbc.org.nz Subject: “Expression of interest – Leadership Team”

Please include a summary of your faith journey, leadership skills and a contact telephone number (mobile preferred).

COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT PART-TIME

We are seeking volunteer photographers who can submit either stock images for general use, and/or (where location permits) take commissioned photographs of people and events.

Suitable candidates need to have a good understanding of what makes a ‘good’ photo and be able to take direction. Submission does not guarantee publication, but all photos published will be acknowledged, and the photographer will retain copyright over their work.

If you want to find out more, or wish to send some samples of your photography that shows your range or specialist interest, contact the editor.

Looking for something new in 2020?

Eastgate Christian Centre in East Auckland is looking for someone with good communication and technical skills. If you enjoy working with Adobe and WordPress and are passionate about the church having a voice online then we’d like to hear from you. Hours per week flexible.

Key outputs include: • Oversight of all website and App content • Providing creative input • Key interface with website and database developers

www.swbc.org.nz

32 toru tekau mā rua † v.135 no.6 baptistmag.org.nz

SEND US YOUR CV OR CONTACT PASTOR CHRISTINE FOR MORE DETAILS christines@eastgatecc.org.nz 021 078 1376

EMAIL linda@baptistmag.org.nz Please note, we are not looking for scenic or nature photography, but people and journalistic-style photography.

GAY & CHRISTIAN

PONSONBY BAPTIST

Gay & Christian support & discussion group monthly meetings 027 279 4461 office@ponsonbybaptist.org.nz ponsonbybaptist.org.nz/gay-andchristian-information

Glo bal Mis si on

Photo of the month At the Baptist Hui in November 2019, Alan Jamieson was inducted as the new general director of NZBMS. To find out more about Alan and his appointment as general director, turn to page 36-37.

TOG ETHER W E CA N RE A C H T H E W O RL D

v.135 no.6 †toru tekau mÄ toru 33

Baptist / G L O B A L M I S S I O N

A word from Andrew NZBMS ANNUAL REPORT 2019 This is an abridged version of the NZBMS 2019 Annual Report presented to the 2019 Hui. This has been a busy and challenging year for NZBMS. On 31 May, we said farewell to Rachel who had been our general director since August 2014. Rachel is well-loved by the NZBMS team and highly respected around the mission community, home and overseas.

Freeset’s ongoing transition to Banyan Tree has taken up a lot of time for the office and Mission Council. Thank you for your ongoing support of Freeset.

Mission fundraising remains a challenge. Our finances show a deficit, despite most major income and expense areas being at, or better, than budget.

Across the world, we are seeing an increase of opposition to the good news. This is affecting most of our fields, our people, and our local partners in various ways.

Within the office, we have struggled to fill our finance role, but are grateful to John Osborne, Kelvyn Fairhall and Mairi Barrett for their help, as well as support from Winston Hema and the Baptist National Centre finance team. Shayla Ball has since joined us as accounts clerk.

Helen Futter has taken on the role of Marketplacers sales and administration. We have appreciated our volunteers, Susan Osborne, Janet Vaughan, Rob Vos and Murray Calder.

Most importantly of course, we are seeing people being redeemed, delivered, baptised and discipled through our ministries. For example, over the time we have been working in Kalasin, the Christian population there has doubled, from 0.04% to 0.08% of the population.

Looking to the future, we are excited about our ongoing engagement with Manatū Iriiri Māori and exploring a growing question over whether we need to re-engage with the Pacific.

We look forward to welcoming Alan Jamieson as our new general director. We believe God is leading NZBMS into a new season, and we look forward to discerning this together with our churches more over the coming months.

Ngā mihi nui Andrew Page Acting General Director

WHAT IS

CHRIST Over Christmas each year, NZBMS holds the Christmas Angel Appeal to promote the work that we, as New Zealand Baptist churches, are involved in amongst the poor throughout areas of Asia.

Christmas Angel this year is set around the parable of the Great Banquet (Luke 14), with a specific focus on the forgotten—those who live on the periphery of society.

Our Tranzsend team serves in communities where many are oppressed and vulnerable.

Through our various ministries, we invite individuals within these communities to join in ‘the banquet’, believing that, through this, Jesus will draw them into relationship with himself.

Examples of how donations received are used include • aid and development work, particularly amongst the poor • resourcing local Christians and churches to initiate programmes that will transform their communities • pastoral care of national workers • education, particularly among children from poorer families • social services • community development programmes to help poor communities • freedom initiatives, in particular helping trafficked women to find freedom • New Zealand office administration. Yes, a small percentage goes towards helping provide a strong foundation to enable the overseas work to flourish.

about the work of Tranzsend at tranzsend.org.nz

R E A D M O R E

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N Z B M S

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R E A C H I N G

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MAS ANGEL? 2019 focus ...when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed.

Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous (Luke 14:13-14, NIV).

This year, a number of Tranzsend team members have prepared reflections on what the parable of the Great Banquet means for their community. These include stories, poems, pictures, and even a song. A couple of these reflections are included on this page and, for the first 12 days of December, a different daily reflection will be posted on our website: tranzsend.org.nz. Visit our website each of those days to be inspired and to take time to pray for the work of Tranzsend.

As his reflection, Peter in East Asia has written and performed, ‘Hurry Out’, the soundtrack for this year’s Christmas Angel video. Use the QR code (to the right) to view the video and hear Peter’s song.

How you can help To find out more, or to donate, visit our website: tranzsend.org.nz or phone 09 526 8444.

We also invite you to support our people and projects long term. Email info@tranzsend.org.nz or contact the office for more information.

REFLECTIONS Come, come

by Andrew, Roanna, Noah, Miles & Theo, Tranzsend workers in South-East Asia.

The great banquet—South Asian style

by Carley, Tranzsend worker in South Asia.

Come, come.

The table is ready, Prepared just for you.

I say, มา มา (come).

Sticky rice, som dtam and chicken.

All your favourites, Because I know you.

I created you. I love you.

So, leave your rice fields.

Do not stop at the temples, Or pause before the monks.

Come young and old.

Bring your family and friends.

Come out of the heat, Find shelter and peace in my name.

I am the God of all.

Come, come.

The table is ready, Prepared just for you.

I say, มา มา มา มา (come, come).

v.135 no.6 † toru tekau mā rima 35

Baptist / G L O B A L M I S S I O N

Leaving a Legacy Susan Osborne reflects on events from days gone by.

1984—A team from Brahmanbaria travelled to Isaac’s village to share the good news of Jesus.

As a result, three families took the risky step of becoming Christians. Baptised in 1986, they began a small fellowship in their village. In 1988, Isaac and his brother David went to live in the John Takle Hostel—an NZBMS hostel for village boys. They received a good education at the local mission school and learnt much about Jesus and his love for them.

1994—When the family’s father died of liver cancer, Isaac’s mother moved into Brahmanbaria to live with an older brother. Isaac and David moved onto university study. Isaac graduated with a Bachelor of Social Science while David trained as a doctor, sponsored by the Bangladesh Baptist Church Fellowship (BBCF). It was hard work but, after six years, David graduated. After interning at other hospitals, he joined the work of the Christian Medical Centre in Brahmanbaria.

2007—Isaac was offered the role of administrator of the BBCF hostel programme.

He jumped at the chance to give back to the organisation that had made it possible for him to receive his excellent education.

2019—A few years ago the family returned to their village home and established a small hospital in the nearby town. Dr David and his older brother both work there. Isaac's wife and children live in the village also; they have built a house from where they run church meetings.

Here is one result of investing in young people, usually from poor families, through the John Takle hostel. Children like Isaac and David, who were sponsored through the NZBMS sponsorship programme, can go on to do astonishing things. In their case, sponsorship enabled the boys to gain an education and to grow in their understanding of Jesus. Today they serve their community with those skills and that faith. The world needs more young people like Isaac and David. To achieve that, we need more student sponsors, so if you are keen to be part of the development of young people in Bangladesh and Tripura, please contact sponsorship@tranzsend.org.nz.

Thanks to Susan Osborne, who has diligently researched and presented articles for this Leaving a Legacy column over the past year.

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INTRODUCING

ALAN JA GENERAL DIRECTOR OF

At the 2019 Hui, the Baptist Churches of New Zealand inducted Alan Jamieson as the new general director of NZBMS. Senior pastor of South West Baptist Church, Alan is well-known within New Zealand churches for his well-researched and thought-provoking writings on the relationship between church, faith and culture in New Zealand.

Alan’s initial vocation was as an intermediate school teacher before joining the RNZAF. In 1989, he was appointed pastor of the Ilam Congregation of Spreydon Baptist Church before accepting a call to Wellington Central Baptist Church, where he served as senior pastor from 1998 to 2007. In 2009, he was appointed senior pastor of Spreydon Baptist Church (now South West Baptist Church). He also currently teaches courses in Christian Spirituality and Missional Leadership at Carey Baptist College.

Alan is married to Sandra, and they have been blessed with two children, Emma and Chris, and four grandchildren who he thoroughly enjoys spending time with.

In taking on the role of general director, Alan’s initial focus is well-defined. Mission Council (the governance

N Z B M S

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R E A C H I N G

MIESON 1. to lead a major strategic review of the direction and activities of NZBMS in dialogue with NZBMS council, staff and Baptist churches 2. to develop an effective strategy to encourage, educate and facilitate New Zealand Baptist churches to be engaged in ongoing, dynamic, and fruitful global mission 3. to be an effective future-focused organisation.

In a letter to Baptist churches introducing Alan’s nomination, Mission Council chair, Andrew Bollen, wrote, “We believe God has called and gifted Alan to lead NZBMS through this strategic review and into the next phase of ministry and mission. Alan brings a depth of leadership experience and a proven commitment to mobilisation of the church which will be invaluable in helping us shape the direction of NZBMS.” Andrew went on to explain some details of Alan’s appointment. “While we were initially looking at a full-time appointment to this role, Alan wishes to continue as senior pastor of South West Baptist while offering himself as available for this position. The search committee are convinced that Alan has the skillset we are looking for and have spent significant time with Alan and the leadership of South West Baptist to consider how this might work out in practice.

“Alan is a high-capacity leader who we believe is capable of leading a highly effective team. Alan will be in the Auckland office regularly, and in touch daily via video calls and conferencing.”

Alan will commence his role as general director on 2nd March 2020.

W O R L D

N O I S S I M

TRIVIA

ve ople ha e p y n a How m en Scripture in t r NO w it language? their age 38

NZBMS

board of NZBMS) has identified these strategic priorities as being

T H E

Answe

r on p

A note from Alan I’m writing while taking part in Auck-Chch-Welly presentations with church leaders on the faith, worldviews and engagement of millennials (people born between the early 1980s and mid‑to-late 1990s). These conversations are based on interviews with over 15,000 millennials from 25 countries throughout the world, which make up part of a Barna/World Vision research project.

The project is a world first and the findings are both alarming and instructive.

The project’s conclusions open opportunities for churches to engage more fully and deeply with this crucial generation that cares deeply about the needs of the world but remains disconnected to, and perhaps even cynical with, organised church and faith-based initiatives. And yet, this generation is crucial to our churches and to our church’s engagement in mission—both locally and globally.

I’m concerned to connect this generation with our church’s deep engagement in global mission—to link them with the inspirational story of New Zealand Baptists’ involvement in global mission and with today’s missional needs and practitioners.

Alongside the need to engage new generations, I want to see our local Baptist churches as the primary world mission inspirers, senders, supporters and learners. We are a movement of local churches. Local churches who can inspire a dream for mission and send people out to do global mission. Churches who should be the primary supporters and, through media and travel, the primary carers for, and learners of, the people they send. This is what gets me up in the mornings.

From Alan Jamieson NZBMS General Director Elect Alan Jamieson and Andrew Page speaking at the 2019 Baptist Hui

v.135 no.6 † toru tekau mā whitu 37

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OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE Whatever you do—whatever your skills—whatever your level of education—there will be a role for you somewhere in the world of overseas missions. If you have any of the specific skills needed below, please pray about whether you are being called to serve, and contact the emails below for more, no obligation, information.

PEOPLE WITH PASSION

ESOL TEACHERS

Serving with Tranzsend.

Serving with OMF.

Woven Life Foundation— South East Asia, partners with local churches to transform communities. Opportunities exist for people with skills in mentoring, working with children or youth, and more... Short or long term.

Required to work within an established Marketplacers business in East Asia.

Join a team committed to mission through business.

ESOL qualification required.

Contact us for more information with no obligation.

For more, email: info@tranzsend.org.nz

For more, email: info@tranzsend.org.nz

For more, email: nz.serveasia@omfmail.com

Serving with Tranzsend.

SHORT-TERM CHILDREN’S WORKER Love working with kids? We need organised, flexible, patient and approachable people to help run a children's programme in Singapore.

Dates for 2020: 1 - 29 Feb | 25 Apr - 23 May 4 Jul - 1 Aug | 31 Oct - 28 Nov

For more information and to express an interest email info@missionworld.org.nz or phone 09 526 8446

SPECIAL PROJECTS We have a number of special projects that we would love for you to prayerfully consider giving towards.

• •

•

•

Keeping Families Together Programme: $1,300 per annum, per family Daily Devotional Reading Project: $330 per month for app runing costs or $200 for 10 mp3 players Christian Literature Centre: $5000 per commentary, $450 per issue of Nabajug magazine Subsidising the employment of a woman at Freeset: $2,500 per woman, per year For more information on projects, visit tranzsend.org.nz

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