Baptist Magazine v136 n6

Baptist Churches of New Zealand

baptistmag.org.nz

The way of the Raukura Gospel renewal in my neighbourhood

Kingdom come

Becoming a punua Pākehā

THE WORD MADE FLESH † CHRISTMAS ANGEL 2020

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

ONLINE Recently added LOSS, LAUGHTER AND LOVE Rachel Roche gives helpful reminders and action points for leaders feeling the effects of ministering during times of extreme stress, like in the current global pandemic crisis.

RELENTLESS KINDNESS A review of Paul Eden’s book about burnout prevention and healing, written from personal experience after 25 years of pastoring churches in New Zealand.

EDITOR Linda Grigg linda@baptistmag.org.nz GLOBAL MISSION EDITOR Greg Knowles GRAPHIC DESIGNER Rebecca McLeay PRODUCTION MANAGER Kathryn Heslop ADVERTISING Fiona Maisey advertising@baptistmag.org.nz SUBSCRIPTIONS Sushila Nelson subscriptions@baptistmag.org.nz FINANCE MANAGER Rangiaruaru Hema —

HIGH TREASON Jonathan Ayling writes why he believes to claim politics has no place in the church is to fundamentally misunderstand the nature of the Kingdom of God.

A GENTLE UNFOLDING A review of Judith Scully’s memoir about her spiritual journey from teen postulant in a religious order in Australia to the present as a retired spiritual director.

LIFE IS... AN ORDINARY KIWI REFLECTS George Bryant is well-known in the New Zealand Christian publishing scene. Read a review of his latest book, in which he reflects on life and our existence on Earth.

Baptist Churches of New Zealand PO Box 12149, Penrose, Auckland 1642, New Zealand +64 9 526 0338 — Printing ICG Print — Front cover photography Phil Botha — Scripture quotations marked (NRSV) 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 (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

— 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.

Check out our website for the latest news and articles at baptistmag.org.nz

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CONTENT 04 A word from the editor Creativity involves breaking out of expected patterns in order to look at things in a different way.

—Edward de Bono Firstly, I want to congratulate George Wieland for winning gold in the Best Theological Article category in the recent Australasian Religious Press Association awards. The judge commented on George’s fresh insights and the winning article’s focus on the need for Christians to reorient their understanding of missional endeavour. George’s article ‘Hosts and guests in the mission of God’ is on our website baptistmag.org.nz.

I encourage you to read it (again).

‘Having a fresh look at things’ is a theme amongst many of the stories and articles in this issue of the magazine, too: • The Way of the Raukura musical, which presented the Parihaka story in a creative new way (page 6).

• Two Auckland churches with imaginative alternatives to their usual community events (pages 10 to 11).

• Howard Webb’s book challenging readers to imagine doing mission in a different way (page 13).

• The Local Gatherings that replaced this year’s national Hui (pages 14 to 16).

• Wendy Joyes’ article about religious artworks and how these may be challenging to our personal ideas of what they ‘should’ look like (page 22 to 23).

May we always be willing to be challenged in our thinking and prepared to look at things in a fresh way!

Which brings me to this news: the way we communicate as a national body of faith communities is also being rethought, with a transition to more of a web-based and digital communication format. We will explain more about the reasons for this in the February/March 2021 issue of the magazine, which will be sent free to all current subscribers.

In the meantime, I wish you all a safe and joyful Christmas and New Year.

~ Blessings to you Linda Grigg

06 20

REFLECTIONS FROM CHARLES HEWLETT

Gospel renewal in my neighbourhood

OUR STORIES

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Becoming a punua Pākehā The Word made flesh Kingdom come

27 28 30 31 32 33

HEALTHY RESOURCES

The growing compliance expectations

COMMUNIQUÉ

WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND?

The challenge to do something

IN MEMORIAM

Ernest Stevenson

DIRECTORY

GLOBAL MISSION

Have yourself a very mission Christmas Christmas Angel 2020 We’re in this together Small bites

Gospel renewal in my neighbourhood Participating in the mission of God

The Baptist Union of New Zealand is a collective of faith communities bringing gospel renewal to people and places in our local neighbourhoods. But how well do we actually know our neighbourhoods? Where is the transformational power of God most needed? Where is God already at work? What people and places most need redemption, reconciliation and renewal?

Charles Hewlett suggests some steps to help us explore these questions.

B

elow is a simple six-week challenge I would love to encourage you to undertake. Each week involves a simple task designed to encourage you to get to know your community and to look for ways you might partner with God in bringing renewal to your neighbourhoods. Here are the six tasks:

Week 1: Walk Take 30 minutes to walk around a neighbourhood you spend a lot of time in. It might be where you live, your workplace, a school or some shops. As you walk, take note of the people, the buildings, the activities and life experiences in this community. What do you see?

What things stand out to you? Write them down.

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Week 2: Learn Spend some time online at http://infoshare.stats.govt.nz/ browse_for_stats/people_and_communities.aspx. Search for the name of your community. What can you learn about the make-up of your neighbourhood, e.g. ethnicity, employment, income levels, housing, gender, population, education, etc? What things stand out to you?

What surprises you?

Week 3: Talk Venture out into your community and find a local to have a conversation with, e.g. in a café, a shopkeeper, a schoolteacher, a next-door neighbour or at a public meeting. Tell them how you have a heart for

Megan/lightstock.com

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

Ask God to show you a specific action you can take to help bring renewal within your communit y. the neighbourhood. Ask them what they like about the place. Do they have any concerns? What could make it even better? What could be renewed? Listen carefully.

Week 4: Pray Find a quiet place and spend some time praying. Talk to God about the many things you have observed about your neighbourhood. Invite the Holy Spirit to speak clearly to you in the week that is ahead. What are the people or situations God wants you to engage with?

What questions, doubts or fears do your neighbours carry? What haven’t you noticed? Where is God already at work? Ask God to show you a specific action you can take to help bring renewal within your community.

Week 5: Dream Take a pencil, some crayons and a blank piece of paper.

Begin to write, to sketch, to list and to plan. Start to dream. With the knowledge that you now have of your local neighbourhood, come up with an idea that could be initiated to bring renewal to the people and places around you. What will it look like? Where will it be? What do you need? When can it happen? Who can help? What relationship do you need to develop? Maybe it already exists and you need to join in? What might be the results?

Week 6: Share Meet up with a friend (perhaps a small group of people) and share with them the dream you have for bringing a little bit of renewal to your neighbourhood. Go on, be brave and share! Ask them for their thoughts. Is it a good idea? How might it be even better? Could they help you? Pray together that God would provide you with the guidance and courage you need to see it fulfilled.

And remember, “If we think God is guiding us, but no one in the body of Christ that best knows us can stand alongside us and affirm it, that sense of guidance is likely doubtful and may be worth reconsidering before acting.”1 Leaders, why not build a challenge like this into your church calendar for the first part of 2021? Maybe you could design a teaching series around such an activity. Partner with another church that is perhaps a little further down the missional path than you and ask them for their help.

Engage the services of your young people to digitally record people’s findings and stories. Call the church to a season of prayer that the voice of God would be clearly heard about

action that needs to be taken. Begin to paint a picture of what could be.

When Jesus began his ministry on earth he clearly outlined that his purpose was “to proclaim good news to the poor...to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4:18‑19, NIV).

In Romans we read that “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8, NIV). The Apostle Paul explains “that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:19, NIV).

But importantly he goes on to say, “And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:19-20, NIV).

What an enormous privilege and responsibility has been given us—to participate in the very mission of God. Please pray with me that mission would remain central to the DNA of the Baptist Union of New Zealand. Oh, and let me know how you get on with the six-week challenge!

W H AT A N E N O R M O U S PRIVILEGE AND RESPONSIBILIT Y HAS BEEN GIVEN US.

Contributor: 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.”

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

1. Mark Labberton, Called: The Crisis and Promise of Following Jesus Today (Illinois: IVP Books, 2014), 143.

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

Our Stories The Way of the Raukura, a sold-out musical production that Mt Albert Baptist Church (MABC) recently hosted, was based on the true story of the invasion of Parihaka on 5th November 1881.

Over 150 people were involved in the musical, from directors, actors, musicians, wardrobe extraordinaires, stage hands and technical staff, to incredible photographers and graphic designers—an amazing team of people!

When MABC Senior Pastor Steve Worsley and the Tahere family had travelled to Parihaka in December 2018 to ask permission to perform the musical, the request was met with understandable curiosity, concern and discomfort. This was their taonga and who were we to be asking for the rights to their story, which is still being written and lived out?

This was a difficult discussion for both parties as we openly spoke back and forth over two days about their thoughts and feelings, and our intentions.

Mark Tahere spoke at the marae on the second day about his whakapapa, Nga uri o Rahiri. “I am a descendant of Rahiri,” he said. He spoke with anointing about his faith in Christ and his desire to teach his schoolchildren about the story of Parihaka.

The atmosphere almost immediately changed.

We later received an email to confirm that the Papakainga Trust were entrusting the story to us, as they felt the heart behind it.

Many who came from Parihaka to see the musical wept as they remembered the stories shared with them from their grandparents and the impact it made on them as they connected all the dots. Others were stunned as they had no idea this had happened

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in our own country. Overall the response was incredible, with requests from communities all over New Zealand wanting a tour or, at the very least, more consecutive seasons.

We have all been so privileged to be a part of The Way of the Raukura and know that God has had his hand on it. We are planning to record the soundtrack and consider possible venues for our second season.

Contributor: Sarah Tahere The Way of the Raukura cultural advisor Sarah’s story has been edited for space reasons.

Visit baptistmag.org.nz for the full story.

Photography: Phil Botha

The way of the Raukura— A Parihaka musical

VisionWest’s

30 years of service

Visionwest Community Trust recently celebrated 30 years of community service with a VIP morning tea and book launch, held in the Glen Eden Baptist Church (GEBC) café.

Taking over a year to put together, Building Hope Together is a picture‑rich historical record of the first three decades of Visionwest.

The organisation began life as The Friendship Centre Trust after a group from GEBC decided they wanted to reach out, in a practical way, to their wider community. The local council gave them permission to renovate and utilise the disused local railway station as a drop-in centre for the agreed rent of one dollar per year.

Thirty years on, the trust has multiple services, over 1,700 employees, and an annual income of around $75 million. More importantly, the lives of thousands of whānau are touched each year and a multitude of lives have been positively transformed.

The book launch, having been postponed twice because of COVID-19 restrictions, was finally held on 18th November.

Limited to 60 people, the guest list included local

dignitaries including MP Carmel Sepuloni and former MP Paula Bennett. Time was also taken to honour those who had journeyed with the trust since it began, many as long‑term volunteers.

Murray Cottle was pastor of GEBC in the early days of the trust and commented, “It’s amazing to see what the trust has become. It’s a testament to what can happen when a permission‑giving congregation launches into a vision with perseverance and a willingness to take a few risks.”

The event also included the launch of a new brand for the trust. No longer known as VisionWest Community Trust, it will be Visionwest, Waka Whakakitenga. The new brand logo is a koru containing symbols representative of the values, services and whānau that make up Visionwest.

CEO Lisa Woolley explains, “The trust became known as VisionWest Community Trust in 2010. A lot has changed since then. We wanted a brand that would reflect our multiple services, our move into other regions throughout New Zealand, and our intentional focus on the delivery of services within a kaupapa Māori framework.” 

The Story of Visionwest’s 30 Year Journey to Transform its Community.

Building Hope Together is the story of a local church and a small group of passionate people who shared a vision to reach out and serve their local community.

From its beginning as a drop-in centre in a dilapidated railway station with a one-dollar annual rental, Visionwest Community Trust has become one of the largest faith-led social service organisations in Aotearoa New Zealand with multiple support services and over 1,700 employees.

This 275-page, full colour, hardbound, coffee table book is interspersed with inspirational stories of people whose lives have been forever transformed and tells the story of unshakable faith, perseverance and a willingness to step out in pursuit of change.

visionwest.org.nz

Purchase Building Hope Together for $45 plus $7 packaging and postage. Scan the qr code or go to 30years.visionwest.org.nz

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

Recognising

long service

Anne MacCarthy: Women’s Board Anne MacCarthy has recently stepped down from the Baptist Women’s Board after a significant time of service to women’s ministry in New Zealand and the Pacific.

Anne began working with the women in her home church at Blockhouse Bay Baptist and then on the Auckland Baptist Women’s team.

She started serving on the New Zealand Baptist Women’s Board about 2004. She also was secretary to Olwyn Dickson and then Julie Belding during their time as president of Baptist Women’s Union of the South West Pacific.

In the course of her service, Anne has attended Baptist women’s conferences in Argentina, England, Australia, Hawaii, Thailand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and New Zealand. She says it was the 1995 Baptist Women’s Department (WD) conference in Buenos Aires that first opened her eyes to the work of Baptist Women worldwide, and the value of supporting and praying for each other.

“At the conference in Buenos Aires, some of the New Zealand representatives were walking through the foyer of the conference venue when a group of ladies came up to us. One woman began talking to us in an unfamiliar language, crying and hugging us. Her friend translated the message: ‘Thank you so much for your gift to the women of Croatia. We were able to print messages of encouragement to leave where women who came out at night looking for food would find them. These messages let them know

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that God loves and cares for them, and that others around the world were praying for them.’

“We knew nothing of the money sent, but later found out that a small group of our women had held a cake stall at a rally and had donated the proceeds to the WD to be used to assist women in need. The WD sent the money to Croatian women, whose country was suffering from the four years of the Croatian War of Independence.

Talk about God using small donations to encourage people desperate to know that he cared and that they were not forgotten!

“To me the highlights of these conferences were the friendships formed, the times of praying with sisters from around the world, and supporting various projects to assist the health and well-being of women, especially in the Pacific,” says Anne.

For some years the Baptist Women’s Board team had diminished in numbers. However, now that the Board has been reinvigorated, Anne feels the job of ‘holding the fort’ is complete.

“Now is time for me to take another step back and leave the new team to carry on the work that our Baptist Women started over 70 years ago,” she says. 

Kelvyn Fairhall: the pastoral accountant When God equips people with different gifts that can then be brought together for important roles, the right person fits the right position.

Kelvyn Fairhall is definitely a wonderful example of this happening.

First training as an accountant, and then for pastoral ministry, these two strands of his gifting and experience were brought together when he served the Baptist Churches of New Zealand in national administrative leadership.

Part of that role was being a member of the Board of the Baptist Union Superannuation Scheme (BUSS). Previously a trustee of the scheme, Kelvyn retired in October 2020 after over 30 years working to promote the scheme to our pastoral staff. He firmly believed in the benefits of pastors belonging to the scheme.

He writes, “Having charitable status means there are no taxes paid on the investment income... The matching employer contributions help the balances in individuals’ accounts grow more quickly... Consequently we have recently seen some quite large payments for people retiring after long years of service in pastoral work and

parallel membership of the scheme.”

There have been many changes in the way the scheme operates over the years of Kelvyn’s involvement.

Other board members have greatly appreciated—even depended upon— his knowledge and careful preparation so they could navigate the changed requirements. When he started there may have been a dozen meeting papers; now there is a manual for every meeting!

In expressing his appreciation of our current managers (Anglican Financial Care), Kelvyn thanks them “for the administration, as they have very competent staff who know the peculiarities of church workings.

They also facilitate the huge statutory compliance requirements imposed upon us over recent years that have unfortunately brought more costs.

This compliance would be the biggest change I have seen during my tenure and it takes a significant portion of our quarterly meetings.”

Other changes included • the scheme changing from being a pension scheme to a contribution‑based scheme

• in 2005 ACTS churches becoming a participating organisation • in 2007 the scheme becoming a complying superannuation fund (KiwiSaver look-alike) so members could obtain the ‘free’ government contributions.

It was Kelvyn’s ability to understand the needs and concerns of pastors, along with his financial acumen and his wisdom in bringing the two together, that will mean he will be greatly missed as a member of the board.

The BUSS board and the hundreds of pastors who have benefited from his service thank him for his knowledge, wisdom and pastoral concern over all these years.

Contributor: Rodney Duncan Chair of BUSS

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

Getting COVID creative Many churches hold Light Parties or other Halloween alternative events on or around the 31st October. In Auckland, with memories of a second lockdown still fresh, some churches decided to forgo their normal events this year or to try creative substitutes. We spoke to two such churches.

Manukau City Baptist Church: drive‑through movie “We have held a Light Party for probably 15 to 20 years but had to pull the pin on it this year,” says Manukau City Baptist Church’s senior pastor, Alastair Hall.

“We normally have 3,000 people attending, plus 250 volunteers and it was unknown what level we would be at by then. But we still wanted to do community outreach, so instead we held a Light Party social distancing alternative: the drive-in movie!

“We held this over three nights, with space for 120 cars per night. We thought it would be a great space to bless and engage with our community, put on a safe event, and make our church invitational.”

Drive-in movies are not a new idea for the church.

Alastair says they regularly ran them up till six or seven

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years ago, but stopped, ironically, because it became too popular. People would drive from all over Auckland to attend, thanks to social media. The church felt it wasn’t serving their local community. This year, to avoid the same thing happening, they only advertised through flyers in the local primary schools.

In past years they’d provide refreshments, inviting people to text their orders and get it delivered to their cars. They didn’t do that this time either. Instead they had a live band playing before the movie started, and also had a three‑minute promo video, inviting people to check out the church community in person or online.

“People turned up ready to socialise and really got into the event. Now we know how to produce video well, the introduction to the church video was a really effective way of connecting with people. This event can be done so simply with a projector and an FM transmitter, and people really appreciated the opportunity to get out and connect with others,” says Alastair.

“The event is an example of how Baptists need to not stop doing something, but look for the opportunity to do something differently. That needs to be the story of 2020!”

Windsor Park Baptist Church: CARnival WindsorKids normally holds a carnival as its Halloween alternative, with games, activities, pony and carnival rides, etc. set up around the church property. Around 2,000 people attend. Some are families from their CAP and single parent ministries and Small Fries Christian Childcare Centre, but there are many people from the community as well.

“There had been a lot of talk about COVID and almost daily not knowing what level we were going to be in,” says Patsy Way, WindsorKids’ pastor. “We didn’t want to take the risk of having 2,000 people in one place. Talking to families as well, most of them loved the carnival but were nervous to be in a big group of people they didn’t know. The style of our building is that it would have been a challenge to get everyone to sign in with QR codes. So, we didn’t feel like it was the right thing safety-wise to do a big event like the carnival.

“There was talk about whether we should just can the whole thing. But we prayed about it. The main motivation behind the carnival has always been to reach families in our community and to provide an alternative to Halloween. Our mantra this year was that, ‘even though the mission field has changed, the mission hasn’t changed’. So, that’s why we came up with the concept of a car rally called CARnival.

It was designed for alert level one, two and three, so that whatever level we were in, it would be easy to tweak it to stick well within government requirements.”

The plan was for families to pre-register online for the rally, then come to the church at 5.30pm on 31st October to collect pre-made packs that contained their instructions and clues book. They could then choose the order of where they went and the activities they did. The evening would end at 7pm with a picnic-style sausage sizzle, with a level two and three option of a drive-through picnic for those who wanted to collect their picnic pack and then head back home or wherever they felt comfortable to eat it.

“Normally with the carnival, families just arrive and there is no registering,” says Patsy. “It is just like a drop-in kind of thing. No matter how many volunteers we have, you can’t possibly connect with every family that comes through. But with having to register for the CARnival, we talked to and emailed families that normally we wouldn’t even know were at our event. We’ve really got to connect with the families through the registration process.

“On the 31st we had torrential rain and had to move to our level one wet-weather plan. This saw us set up all games and activities spread out across the whole church. We had an amazing night; families got to see parts of the church they had never seen, and visitors from the community felt welcomed and sent so many thank you emails commenting how much they loved the evening. Families met each other, had fun together and we ended with a BBQ. The community vibe, connection and laughter made all the hard work well worth it.” 

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

Graduating Pastoral Leadership and Youth Pastoral Leadership students of 2020

Amidst a year of lockdowns and cancelled events it was an extra special occasion for Carey students and staff to celebrate our Ministry Training graduates and to ‘send’ them out. These students are completing our Carey Training Tracks: Pastoral Leadership, Youth Pastoral Leadership, Mission Track and Ethnic Ministry Training.

Two of our Pastoral Leadership graduates share their reflections on their three-year formational programme preparing them for ministry.

Mission Track student Kevin Park (right)

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Graduating Ethnic Ministry students

seemed too hard, trying to balance everything the world has to offer.

“It is three years that have culminated in hope for the future. In the hope that I will continue to remain on fire for our Lord, bringing the good news of Jesus to all those I encounter, wherever he calls me to!”

Vince Kilpatrick “I’ve been ‘sent’ twice—four years ago from George Wieland’s Mission Track, and now presently from Pastoral Leadership. Neither have resulted in what I expected. I look a little different (beard, hair), but I don’t feel any different (unlike when I turned 30 and felt like an adult—true story), and I don’t have a particular destination that I’ve been ‘sent’ to (just out...).

“However, how Carey received me and how the world now does is different. I hope I can say that every year, actually. That I learn and grow in a way that is not stagnant, but that is in likeness to the growth in wisdom and stature of Jesus, to the point that any given year doesn’t send me how it received me. That’s a cool thought.” 

Photography: Phil Botha

Grace Curtis “2020, a year of challenge and adapting to the changing world around us. 2020, the year of completing my time at Carey. Three years of laughter and tears, of late-night assignments and games nights. 2020, a strange year in which to be graduating. Yet, a year that has reignited my call into ministry.

“As I reflect on my time at Carey, I see three years of growth, acknowledging that I still do not know everything!

It is three years of seeing the faithfulness of God in the good and the bad. When I got a good grade or saw a young person commit their life to Jesus. But also, when life

Redemptive Family Howard Webb, founder of the ministry Love Your Neighbour and co-leader of church@onetwosix, a Baptist church plant in Pt Chevalier, recently launched his first book, Redemptive Family.

Asked what motivated him to write it, Howard says he and his wife Lynette have faithfully served the church all their lives but have felt a disconnect.

“If the church exists to make disciples, on mission with God to bring all things under the lordship of Christ, does

what we do on Sunday mornings get the job done? It is this toughest of questions that I grapple with in this book.

I try and show how we can use Sunday as a springboard for a lifestyle of mission for everyone,” says Howard.

He adds he wrote the book not to ‘stick it to the establishment’, but out of pastoral concern and love for the church.

“I traverse some pretty big ideas and could not possibly do full justice to them. But I trust it will be a conversation-starter, and I look forward to iron sharpening iron as we all seek to gain focus and clarity on the place of God’s church in the world.”

He draws attention to the cover of Redemptive Family, which depicts a real event that happened in Helsinki.

A line of banquet tables runs down the main street, as far as the eye can see, with happy people gathered to eat and drink.

“For me it is a glimpse of what God’s shalom might look like when all things are brought under the lordship of Christ. Everything in balance and right relationship: God, people, creation. For me this sums up God’s mission in the world, and the mission of his church.”

For more info about the book visit loveyourneighbour.nz. 

“Now I feel like a great mum!”

How can you and your church release a family like Stacey’s from poverty?

Let’s talk about how a CAP ministry can equip you to reach your community in a fresh way!

Email partnership@capnz.org or call 0508 422 769 and we can chat over a coffee.

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

In what has been an incredibly challenging year for us all, it has been a pleasure for our leaders to visit regions around the country to connect and share our vision with churches. Between 17th October and 19th November we travelled to seven different regions: Otago & Southland, Canterbury Westland, Top of the South, Central & Wellington, Bay of Plenty & Eastland, Waikato and Northern. This is a summary of what took place and the vision that was shared.

W

hile we realise these Local Gatherings pale in comparison to our gathered national body, we have been incredibly blessed and encouraged to have this time in our regions.

To cast and unpack our vision and see the buy-in across our churches has truly been a blessing to us.

Our vision defines the Baptist Union as a collective of faith communities bringing gospel renewal to people and places in our local neighbourhoods. You will read more about this shared vision on pages 17 to 19,

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but for now we celebrate—wā whakangahau. As we have travelled around the country we have recognised and celebrated the work and achievements of our Baptist sisters and brothers in 2020. At the heart of our celebration is thanksgiving, praise and exultation as we remember what God has done for us, in us and through us by means of the service and efforts of the people we recognise. We rejoice as we honour our people and celebrate God’s goodness to us through their magnificent efforts.

David Allen, Outgoing President David has managed the role of president and Mission Council chair with balance and sensitivity. His strategic governance expertise has been a gift to our movement in 2020. We have appreciated his warm grace when attending to seemingly unsolvable questions. He has the heart of a pastor, and his love for the church has defined the ways he advocates for good governance. We see the love of Jesus in David’s life, and we acknowledge the work of the Spirit in empowering him for service.

Raewyn Moodie, Incoming President Raewyn loves to encourage people to use the gifts that God has provided for the good of his Kingdom, to connect people and to pastorally stand alongside those who are having a hard time.

Raewyn has a passion for our local churches to be thriving and strengthened in evangelism, and to see those of all ages who don’t yet know Jesus, become connected to a community of believers and grow as disciples. She has a deep love for our Baptist churches!

New church: North Shore Chinese Baptist Church (NCBC)

Welcome to our newest member church! NCBC’s vision is to demonstrate the love of God, spreading the good news of Jesus Christ, and building disciples for the Kingdom of God. They believe God’s greatest love to us is Jesus Christ, and that one of the greatest demonstrations of love to their community is to spread the good news of Jesus Christ to their friends and family. They have a particular passion for new Chinese migrants, most of whom have not had the chance to hear the full gospel. They also place a great emphasis on keeping the faith in their family so their children will also walk on the path with God.

Recommissioning overseas personnel Carley In October 2020, Carley completed over eight years’ service with NZBMS in South Asia. Carley joined our NGO, Tranzsend-Bangladesh, in January 2012, and blessed the staff and students of Golgotha English Medium School (GEMS), the wider team and many others in her community. Carley showed love to others, bringing positivity as she built up those around her. Carley’s excellence as a loving, dedicated teacher is evident in the fruit of her work. Carley leaves behind a huge hole at GEMS school— but one that will be filled by those she has mentored and developed. We are so grateful for all that Carley has given, and we know that there are a whole bunch of students and teachers who will never forget her contribution to their lives.

Josh and Robyn In September 2020, Robyn and Josh completed over three years’ service with NZBMS in South East Asia. The family arrived there in 2017 and joined the WovenLife team. There they contributed especially through working with youth and teaching English in their local church. Settling into a small village outside of town, their home became a centre of community for local children. Now as God calls them to a new season of ministry, their support of and advocacy for the work of WovenLife remains.

Kerry and Annie In September 2020, Annie and Kerry completed over 20 years’ service with NZBMS in South Asia. Freeset was a response to women looking for an alternative to prostitution, the choice to be free from a trade that robbed them of dignity and hope. With the support of a growing team, and many in New Zealand and across the world, Kerry and Annie grew Freeset into a significant business. More than that, as visionaries, they contributed to a significant move in the church to address the evils of trafficking, inspiring many others to join the movement. Yet, at their heart, Annie and Kerry loved nothing more than being with the women who had become their sisters.

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

30 years’ long service Andy Edwards • Breezes Road Baptist, formerly Wainoni, (1990‑2001) • Rangiora Baptist (2002‑2017) • NZDF/Workplace Chaplain (2013-present) “My biggest desire, which is my biggest challenge, is being ‘present’ to God, myself and others... and in this journey I have found slowing down and stillness to be the precondition of presence.”

Paul Gibson • Chapel Downs Baptist (1990-1994) • Living Waters Otara Baptist (1994-present) “I have learnt to embrace every storm that comes our way, enjoy it and watch the hands of God move in his power, changing us and those we work with. I love serving God in the valley more than being on the mountaintop. I am a pastor called by God himself. Trust God in everything, stay close to Jesus always and follow the lead of the Holy Spirit at all times.”

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Ann Marshall • Mt Albert Baptist (1990‑2004) • Blockhouse Bay Baptist (2004-2018) • Mt Roskill Baptist (2019-present) “Probably my greatest learning has been, and continues to be, to learn to trust God in the lives and situations of the people I’m involved with, and to look for the evidence of the Holy Spirit’s work and leading.”

Murray Snook • Pauanui Baptist (1990-present) “For me the reward of pastoring is to see the transformation in people’s lives as Jesus sets them free, and Holy Spirit fills and empowers them and Father God enfolds them in his love, enabling them to walk into the destiny that he has for them.”

Thank you Lord for these marvellous people who have given their lives in service to you!

Sharing the vision At the Local Gatherings, Charles Hewlett (Baptist National Leader), Alan Jamieson (NZBMS General Director) and John Tucker (Carey Principal) talked about gospel renewal in both our local and global contexts, and how we can develop the kind of robust leadership needed to support that mission. Here are summaries of what they shared.

Charles Hewlett, Baptist National Leader Over the past month or so, it has been a privilege to travel the country and meet with over 600 Baptist leaders, pastors, chaplains and laypeople. While there was much about the national Hui that we missed, the opportunity to meet face-to-face regionally with a far greater number of people was a huge benefit. I am grateful to all the people who worked so hard in hosting our seven events— thank you so much.

The main focus of my presentation was the pithy statement that I have been using when people ask me to describe the Baptist Union of New Zealand: A collective of faith communities bringing gospel renewal to people and places in our local neighbourhoods.

REGIONAL LEADERS

I would like to encourage Baptist faith communities to discuss this statement often, with real intent—what might

gospel renewal look like to people and places in our local neighbourhood? At the Local Gatherings we discussed three questions in this regard. How can gospel renewal be achieved in our local context? What things hinder gospel renewal from happening in our local context? What changes do we need to make so gospel renewal might occur? I encourage you to make these questions the focus of your conversations when you gather together.

I commented at our Local Gatherings that if our faith communities are to participate effectively in the mission of God, it is important they are marked out by four things: robust leadership, growing disciples, healthy resources and authentic worship. I encouraged our leaders to make a priority of these four things. Are we investing in the development of our leaders, including me as the pastor?

Are people growing deeper in their love for God and their neighbour? How might the Bible become more central in our priorities and decision making? Are we taking advice on how to be good stewards of the resources we have been given? I believe that when these areas come together we will be effective in our mission.

Finally, I suggested that for our local faith communities to thrive it is important that our regional associations are healthy. I am thankful to God for the team of regional leaders as pictured below.

Rachel Murray Otago & Southland

Kim Peters Canterbury Westland

Mike Warring Wellington

Mick & Ruby Duncan Central Districts

Mike Walker Waikato

Neil Perry Bay of Plenty & Eastland

Reti Ah-Voa Northern

Rick Pierce Northern Network Pastor, Health and Developemnt

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

The main role of a regional leader is to develop strong relationships with local church pastors and leaders in their region. It is also to help the region associate well, e.g. a sense of collegiality, healthy clusters, region-wide activities and initiatives, formation of new faith communities, etc. I look forward to working collaboratively with this team in leadership of the Baptist Union of New Zealand. And as a national centre based in Auckland, we look forward to serving our regional leaders the best that we can in their service of you.

Please pray with us that God would use Baptist faith communities to bring gospel renewal to many people in many places.

Alan Jamieson, NZBMS General Director I’ve enjoyed our Local Gatherings. It has been great to be with church people, leaders and pastors in your regions.

Great to hear your stories and see a glimpse of the life, issues, pressures and joys for each region. It has been a tough year for everyone. Thank you for welcoming me into your space so generously.

Thank you for your continued commitment to Jesus, your local church community, your neighbourhood and God’s world. As so many struggle through this pandemic it is appropriate to thank you for, and continue to ask for, your prayers and open hearts to the call to join God in his global mission. That during this time in particular the global heartbeat of God rings out clearly and loudly in every New Zealand Baptist church.

For me, these Local Gatherings were a wonderful opportunity to talk through a potential new strategy for NZBMS. A strategy that we are developing collaboratively, each conversation at the Local Gatherings adding to and polishing our emerging strategy.

The proposed strategy is founded on the vision of us as a collective of faith communities bringing gospel renewal to people and places in our local neighbourhoods. For NZBMS this is a vision statement we can own and are excited about.

A vision that sees every neighbourhood as significant and the site of God’s work. It picks up Jesus’ great command

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that we love our neighbours and make space in our lives and communities for everyone—young and old, recent immigrants and tangata whenua, the wealthy and the struggling. It is, quite simply, for everyone everywhere.

I love that the renewal described in this vision is local and global and that what we do in global mission is seen as the same as what we do right here in our suburbs in New Zealand. That’s a challenge to us all, wherever we live. Our mission call to nurture community is the same in essence, even if it is unique in location.

For NZBMS our focus will primarily be on our global neighbourhoods but how we go about it is the same in Whanganui, Taupō, Christchurch, Invercargill, Kolkata, Tripura, Bangladesh and elsewhere. Now that’s an exciting, challenging and all-embracing call to mission.

We see the wholeness of the gospel in renewal that seeks transformation in people and places. We all know it takes a village to raise a child or keep a vulnerable person safe or an elderly person respected and contributing. So, we need to see deep renewal in individuals’ lives and in the places where we live and work.

But mostly I’m encouraged by this vision because it is all about the gospel of Jesus. That gospel renewal can be the basis of our local churches and our global mission. That is the good news of Jesus. Jesus who said he was anointed by the Holy Spirit to announce good news to the poor, to bring freedom and healing, to open eyes and minds, to set the oppressed free and to usher in the reality of God’s hope.

John Tucker, Carey Baptist College Principal If our churches are to be thriving faith communities that bring gospel renewal to people and places, they will be marked by robust leaders. They will be leaders with these kinds of qualities: • a strong focus on Jesus • biblical literacy and a capacity to equip others biblically • emotional intelligence, with self-awareness • ability to think and work strategically • ability to lead teams and empower others

• capacity to effect change, and take risks when required • ability to cope with difference and handle conflict • appreciation of Baptist ecclesiology and church governance • commitment to professional development • commitment to the Treaty of Waitangi and an understanding of Māori tikanga.

These kinds of leaders don’t spring up overnight. They need to be nurtured. They need to be grown. That’s why 94 years ago our family of churches established Carey.

Our pastoral leadership training programme is a three-year formation process for growing these kinds of leaders. It has four components: • theological study: either part-time or full-time, on site or online • ministry placements: supervised leadership in a church or missional community • cohort learning: focusing on the character, skills and spirituality crucial to ministry • personal mentoring: to help each student integrate their head, heart and hands.

Regional ministry training This is a rigorous, comprehensive, transformative process.

But it has one major limitation: it’s based in Auckland! For 94 years, as a collective of churches, we’ve said, “Let’s send our best young leaders to Carey for training, and they’ll send them back to us.” The reality is, though, not everyone can get to Auckland. Two years ago, we surveyed Baptist churches right across Aotearoa. We asked them, “How can we serve you better?” The reply: “Make your training more accessible.”

In response, we’ve piloted this year a regional mode of ministry training based in churches across New Zealand.

It’s gone really well. So, next year, in partnership with the Baptist Union, Carey is launching a regional pathway for ministry training. Now your gifted emerging ministry leaders can participate in Carey’s pastoral ministry training

programme without leaving their region. You no longer need to come to Carey to train. Carey is coming to you.

This is a major initiative for both Carey and the Baptist Union. Our ministry training team is looking forward to exploring with each regional leader how we can work together to train robust leaders in each region from next year. Think about the emerging leaders in your faith community. Who’s the young leader that comes to mind?

With focused training, could they be the next pastoral leader for your church? With focused training, could they be one of the most resilient and effective leaders in your region? That training is now available, wherever you’re based.

Contextual professional development Carey’s move to an accessible regional model of training also extends to professional development. We’ve designed a postgraduate curriculum for busy pastors and leaders in the midst of ministry. The courses are practice-based.

They’re designed to help you engage more effectively with the opportunities and challenges in your ministry context.

Through our Centre for Lifelong Learning, we’ve also designed a range of online leadership development courses that are accessible from any church, any home.

They’re shaped around our movement’s five priorities: robust leaders, growing disciples, healthy resources, authentic worship and effective mission.

Along with these courses, we’ve developed an online teaching series for life groups and Christians who are wanting to grow in their discipleship. This Focus webinar series is a monthly hour-long lecture with live Q & A. It’s designed to bring into focus important Bible, theology and mission topics.

Carey exists to serve our collective of faith communities, both by equipping pastors, and by resourcing churches.

We’re excited by the way technology is making our training accessible to every leader, every church, every disciple in our movement. I hope you can make use of it this coming year. (For more information about postgraduate and leadership courses and the Focus webinar series, visit carey.ac.nz and lifelonglearning.nz.) 

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Baptist / F O O D F O R T H O U G H T

BECOMING A

PUNUA PĀ K E H Ā Making Jesus manifest At Hui 2019, John Catmur was awarded the Lionel Stewart scholarship. He planned to use the scholarship for advanced studies in te reo Māori and to explore the use of taonga puoro (traditional Māori musical instruments) in Christian worship. He updates us on his progress with both.

I

t turns out that 2020 has been a very cheap year for the Lionel Stewart scholarship! Many aspects of life, including language courses, have been disrupted by COVID-19.

January began bright and full of promise. I drove to Waimārama, south of Napier, to the marae that kicked off the entire kura reo (literally ‘language school’) movement 31 years ago as the Māori renaissance gathered pace.

In this beautiful rural coastal setting I was privileged to sit under some of the finest tutors in the country, like Sir Tīmoti Kāretu, who once upon a time (1987) was the inaugural Māori Language commissioner.

My Waimārama experience Papa Tīmoti, now 83 and still the sharpest tool in the box, has affectionately called me his punua Pākehā (pet Pākehā) much to everyone’s amusement, including mine. But underneath his droll manner is a deep commitment to anyone passionate about reviving te reo Māori.

At Waimārama 2020 he did me the great honour of bestowing me a Māori name: Te Kaiiriiri (the Baptist). I took this as a sign that I am considered worthy to be called a friend of the Māori language world. I belong. It also gives everyone a good laugh, knowing that John the Baptist is in their midst.

I am just one of many non-Māori who are on this journey of advanced Māori language studies, but each one who takes that journey is adding just one small dab of healing anointment to the wounds that have divided the peoples in Aotearoa.

Waimārama was also the first time I prayed freestyle in public at a kura reo in te reo Māori! Every day begins and ends with karakia. Karakia time involves a song or two, a prayer and a short homily (which in this secular context is normally a motivational testimony from someone’s language learning journey). But these are also great spaces to share a living faith in Jesus Christ using the indigenous language of our country. It was a privilege to do so at Waimārama this year.

COVID-19 disruption Aside from Waimārama that’s about it in terms of formal learning; all other kura reo have been cancelled or were unavailable to me as an Aucklander because of COVID-19 restrictions. I got a few neat books and my reading skills and vocabulary have massively improved as a result, but the other steps forward I took were due to COVID-19 itself.

Because of our lockdowns people have been far more willing to kōrero Māori online, making it possible for me to have a conversation in te reo Māori around five days a week on average since April. Sometimes the best things in life are free!

Part two to come I want to confess before you all, as one who was trusted with a valuable kaupapa—exploring the use of taonga puoro (traditional Māori musical instruments) in Christian worship—the other half of my scholarship has not been very fruitful so far.

Taonga puoro is a kaupapa close to my heart, my first Bachelor degree having been in music. But I’ve suffered from a lack of opportunities and also a strange lack of motivation that has been difficult to contend with.

I now have some knowledge and a wonderful albatross bone kōauau (small flute) in my possession, and hope to make the most of that, but that is all at this stage. The little I have spent of my scholarship money has been mainly focused on te reo.

However, I do want to continue and make something of it, and I’ve got a lot more excited since managing to get a sound out of my kōauau! After discussing it with David Moko, we agreed that my scholarship would carry over into 2021, given the COVID-19 disruption. So, expect part two of my story next year!

The hope of the world As I reflect on where I’m at now, something very deep is in my heart. Someone said to me recently in a fit of wild adulation that they should write a book about my journey.

Never! I want to say this: te reo Māori, although a taonga, is nothing compared to the love of Jesus! It offers no ultimate hope whatsoever to the world, except as a wonderful common grace to give earthly dignity to people, and as one platform for reconciliation. Only Jesus’ power can transform hearts, truly humble us and cause us to serve one another

I COMMIT TO BECOMING A P U N U A PĀ K E H Ā . I N F A C T, I COMMIT TO BECOMING NOTHING, IN THE HOPE T H AT J E S U S W I L L B E M A D E MANIFEST IN ME. for the healing of our country and the turning of souls to the Father.

If they’re going to write a book, they should write one about someone who has pointed only to Jesus, not some freak of Pākehā nature who has basked in the spotlight of the new cool, wretched man that I am.

And so, if I ever use te reo Māori again may it only be as an overflow of the desperate love of Christ that God has put inside me for others. His love touches so much more deeply than even speaking the noble Māori language can.

Biculturalism is not the hope of the world—Jesus Christ is! The love of Jesus, if it really lives in us, will cause us to humble ourselves, sacrifice, honour, forgive and reform at a far deeper and more radical level than is possible in human strength. Then Māori and Pākehā will be reconciled!

We will become slaves to one another. “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another...” (Romans 13:8, NIV).

I commit to becoming a punua Pākehā. In fact, I commit to becoming nothing, in the hope that Jesus will be made manifest in me. To paraphrase an old saying, I will preach the gospel at all times. And I will use (te reo Māori) words if necessary.

Contributor: John Catmur John is the pastor of Māngere Baptist church. He was born in London, England, where he lived until moving to Aotearoa in 2007. He has always held to the value that any people group are as important as his own. But this value didn’t really find expression in Aotearoa until about seven years into his life here, when, with the help of David Moko, he began to meet the Māori world.

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Baptist / F O O D F O R T H O U G H T

The

Word made flesh Which Jesus are we talking about?

Christmas means different things to different people. Wendy Joyes explores how art has variously portrayed Jesus and his coming as a baby, and what the variety of those different perspectives may tell us.

W

hen I was at university working in a fruit and vegetable shop over the summer, Christmas was a day of rest sandwiched between people buying for Christmas dinner and New Year’s parties. When I was a child it was about presents and extended family. Last year I helped children and adults ‘discover’ that Jesus is the point of Christmas. But which Jesus are we talking about?

Head of Christ Warner Sallman’s Head of Christ from 1940 is one famous depiction of an adult Jesus. Sallman cleverly made friends with Catholic and Protestant publishers in the USA, which helped promulgate the image to the level we have come to know. (See URL #1 at the end of the article for a link to this image.)

I’m sure I remember a print of this image, or one similar, in a frame on my bedroom wall as a child. But is this the Jesus we’re talking about at Christmas? Well, no. For one thing, this is adult Jesus and Christmas is about a baby.

Sallman’s work might not actually depict a blue-eyed blonde-haired man, not to mention the Eurocentric

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features of the face, but that is the impression that is often evoked and represented in other artwork. However, having said all this, Sallman’s famous artwork is a valid and important depiction of Jesus.

Holy Family with the Lamb Raphael’s artwork Holy Family with the Lamb (see image above) depicts a younger Jesus. We may see him here as a toddler rather than a baby, but he would likely have been around this age during some of the traditional nativity stories we tell (Matthew 2:1-12) and those we don’t (Matthew 2:13-18).

In this sense, this artwork is a closer description of the Jesus of Christmas than Sallman’s. However, this too is not an accurate picture to my Western postenlightenment scientific brain. I may be a generation removed from the farm, but I am yet to meet a sheep that behaves this way. Mary and Joseph’s ages are incongruous, their clothes are the wrong fashion, and the physical features are even less Middle Eastern than before. However, this artwork, too, is a valid and important depiction of the Jesus of Christmas.

The Star of Bethlehem This artwork The Star of Bethlehem (see above) was painted

by Edward Burne-Jones in 1887. An internet search readily produces many more pictures like this, like those previously referred to, and many more styles besides. (See the end of the article for links to this and other artwork examples.)

It is difficult to find a picture that shows a manger and poor Middle Eastern teenage parents wearing clothes accurate to the period. However, all these pieces of art are relevant depictions of the Christmas story. The problem is not with the artistic styles. The problem is with me.

Missing the point Children have asked some fantastic questions during our mid-week discipleship programme. Three are particularly relevant here. Why was Jesus born a Jew if the Jews didn’t like him? What did Jesus look like? And later, what is DNA? Thanks to my YouTube notifications I am reminded of a few lines from the opening song of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar. As the crew arrives on a bus and is setting up the stage in the middle of a desert, Judas sings, “If you’d come today you could have reached the whole nation—Israel in 4BC had no mass communication.” These three questions and this lyric is why the problem is with me.

My critique of the accuracy of the art shows that I have missed the point entirely of how and why Jesus came to Earth, lived among us and died (John 1:1-18).

If Jesus was born today and made the claims he made, it is likely we would not recognise him. We would be running DNA tests, assessing him and his parents for mental health disorders, and involving child protection and border control agencies to sort out the housing and refugee issues. We would be looking at photos of Jesus on Facebook, comparing him to an orthodontically-enhanced tele-evangelist or to George Clooney, and ignoring him (Isaiah 53:2).

We would be saying we can’t relate to Jesus, that Jesus has nothing to offer us because he doesn’t share our background or hasn’t walked a mile in our shoes. We would be hearing his whakapapa and pepeha and finding points of discord rather than points of harmony. At best he’d be an

inspiring motivational speaker. At worst he’d be a lunatic cult leader. We would be no different than the people among whom Jesus lived (Isaiah 53:3).

We have no actual pictures of what Jesus looked like because we do not need one. John 1:14 tells us all we need to know: “...the Word became flesh and lived among us...” (NRSV). That is why Matteo Ricci (1552-1610) dressed as a Buddhist monk and a Chinese scholar. That is why missionaries in Kathmandu on the hippie trail often wore clothes like those of the people they were helping. That is why artists have taken Sallman’s work and reinterpreted it in different cultural contexts. That is why artists have created pieces that depict aspects of the Christmas story in different cultural settings.

Why do we not know what Jesus looks like? Why are the historical and modern artworks all vital and relevant?

Because Jesus looks like you and me.

Contributor: Wendy Joyes Wendy is passionate about building relationships and supporting families’ spiritual development in the home. She runs Hutt City Baptist Church’s children’s programmes, including mainly music.

In her spare time she can usually be found with her dog Biko.

The Star of Bethlehem by Edward Burne-Jones by Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is licensed with CC BY-NC 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by-nc/2.0.

Wendy’s artwork suggestions These URLs are for artworks about Jesus and the nativity, from different cultural views: 1. https://bit.ly/3nmQm9U 2. https://bit.ly/3ku7msT 3. https://bit.ly/3eZz7Is 4. https://bit.ly/32EubUw 5. https://bit.ly/36zrBQQ 6. https://binged.it/3eRRJu9 7. https://bit.ly/3eRJuOC 8. https://bit.ly/36DHMN9 9. https://bit.ly/2UolFEC 10. https://bit.ly/38C1qLX

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Kingdom come

Partnering with the Spirit

Each time we say the Lord’s Prayer, we ask for God’s Kingdom to come. This is not just a prayer of hope for the future, however, but a bold request for the coming Kingdom to change our lives here and now. How can this happen? Greg Liston explains.

A

s followers of Jesus, our ultimate destination is truly breathtaking. The captivating description of God’s coming Kingdom in Revelation 21‑22 paints a picture of the church as Christ’s radiant bride, completely united with him. We look forward to a world where every remnant of evil and darkness has been swept away by God’s all-encompassing goodness and light.

It is almost impossible to read these descriptions of the coming Kingdom without a deep sense of longing.

Together, we hope for the eventual day when abundant life, truth, justice and love will be our complete and defining reality. Come, Lord Jesus!

But the Kingdom is not just something we wait for. The extraordinary claim made over and over in the Bible is that

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the Kingdom is already here! How can this be? Through the Spirit, who brings the future back to enrich our present reality. In particular, the Spirit brings back the presence of Christ the King, who—at least in part—exerts his kingly influence in our churches and lives right now.

Even more than that, the Spirit leads us forward, transforming us into the kind of people who actually belong in this Kingdom. As Paul says, “And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image” (2 Corinthians 3:18, NLT).

Preparation and partnership The important question this raises, though, is how this transformation happens. How does the Spirit transform the church, and how can we partner with the Spirit in

Pearl/lightstock.com

Baptist / F O O D F O R T H O U G H T

this transformation? For our lives are all about preparation.

This world is the gymnasium, not the rugby field; it is the rehearsal space, not the concert hall.

Just as the Israelites were led through the desert for 40 years to prepare them to become true inhabitants of the promised land, so we are led through this life to prepare us to become true inhabitants of the coming Kingdom.

Over the last few years, a growing chorus of theologians have claimed that the primary way the Spirit prepares us for the coming Kingdom is through normal church life: gathering, singing, taking the Lord’s Supper, hearing God’s Word, and so on. While this has always been the historic Christian understanding, it is worth recognising just how radically different it is from the way we think about church these days.

Ask your average Kiwi Christian why they attend church, and they will (probably) say, “to express our devotion and praise to God”. These theologians would reply that it is not us but God who “is the primary...agent...in the worship encounter”.1 We receive; he gives.

Ask Kiwi Christians where transformation happens, and they will mostly point to their daily life or their daily devotions. While not denying God works in all aspects of our lives, these theologians would maintain, in contrast, that church gatherings are the primary place where the Spirit transforms us. And he does this through the interplay of experienced presence, enabled imagination and empowered practice.

1

Experienced presence First and foremost, God transforms us through his presence. And he is particularly with us when we come together. Jesus said this explicitly: “For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them” (Matthew 18:20, NLT).

When we sing, God inhabits our praises (Psalm 22:3).

When we listen to a sermon, it is God who speaks. When we take communion together, Christ is in the bread and the cup. And God’s presence changes the very nature of who we are. He writes the laws of the coming Kingdom onto our hearts. The Spirit moves us to follow Christ’s kingly decrees (Ezekiel 36:27).

THE SPIRIT LEADS US F O R W A R D, T R A N S F O R M I N G US INTO THE KIND OF PEOPLE W H O A C T U A L LY B E L O N G I N THIS KINGDOM.

There are times, of course, when our experience of God’s presence during these gatherings is undeniable and the transformation we experience is virtually instantaneous.

Examples include Peter’s Pentecost message, David Wilkerson speaking to New York gang members, and many others.

While not uncommon, such rapid and undeniable transformation is not an everyday occurrence, however.

Scripturally, we affirm God’s presence in all our gatherings, but at least at this point in our journey, our experience of God’s presence is often limited and inconsistent.

Furthermore, our response is not always unrestrained faith.

Too often we respond with weak wills, grudging obedience or even outright resistance.

2

Enabled imagination What is the impact of these varied experiences? Our positive encounters when God’s presence is undeniable and our responses sure and certain make us long for the day when this will be our constant reality. And our negative encounters remind us that this future hope is not yet our sustained experience.

Combined together, both our positive and negative encounters (and the nuanced shades between them) fuel our imagination. There is a day coming when we will truly see and know the Father as Christ knows him, a day when God will truly have made his home among us (Revelation 21:3). There is a day coming when abundant life, truth, justice and love will describe both the world we live in and the kind of people we are: “we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is” (1 John 3:2, NLT).

Such imagination is not merely wishful thinking; it is a way of seeing, understanding and doing life that defines us and characterises our very essence. It is a renewing of our minds that transforms us, as Paul puts it (Romans 12:2). And it is not purely intellectual, either. A Spirit-fuelled imagination affects our gut-level instinct and emotion. It is a deeply held vision of what is to come that drives us forward.

3

Empowered practice So our experienced presence leads to enabled imagination, which in turn leads to empowered practice.

We gather together to practise being part of this coming Kingdom. Why sing together? Because singing is a core feature of the coming Kingdom (Revelation 5:9-14). Why listen to a sermon? To practise hearing and responding to God speak, another feature of the coming Kingdom.

The Lord’s Supper is training as well. As Leithart puts it, “At the Supper, we eat bread and drink wine together with thanksgiving not merely to show the way things really ought to be, but to practise the way things really ought to be.”2 Indeed, our very gathering itself is practice, because the Kingdom will gather people from every tribe and tongue and nation. From beginning to end, then,

v.136 no.6 † rua tekau mā rima 25

Baptist / F O O D F O R T H O U G H T

Church services are all about practising the presence of God.

Perhaps being a little more heavenly minded in our church gatherings will make us of more earthly use. At the very least, it would mean that when we pray “Your Kingdom come”, we would actually mean it.

church services are all about practising the presence of God. This is why church services (at least historically) had congregations repeat certain rituals week after week.

Practise makes perfect; and practising God’s presence transforms us into people who genuinely belong in God’s perfect Kingdom.

Final thoughts So it is through presence, imagination and practice that the Spirit prepares us for the coming Kingdom. Experiencing the presence of God changes our core being, for the Spirit writes the laws of the King on our hearts. Enabled imagination renews our minds, filling our thoughts with a Kingdom vision of abundant life, truth, justice and love.

And empowered practice converts our actions, training us to be loyal and faithful servants of the King.

Preparing us for the Kingdom is not the only purpose of church life, of course, but it is a vital component.

Contributor: Greg Liston Greg lectures in systematic theology at Laidlaw College and previously pastored at Hillsborough Baptist Church and Mt Albert Baptist Church. He has one beautiful wife, two incredible children, two hefty Ph.Ds., attends Mt Albert Baptist and cooks awesome roast potatoes.

1. James K A Smith, You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit (Grand Rapids: Brazos, 2016), 77.

2. Peter J Leithart, “The Way Things Really Ought to Be: Eucharist, Eschatology, and Culture,” The Westminister Theological Journal 59, no. 2 (1997):175. (Italics in original.)

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Baptist / H E A L T H Y R E S O U R C E S

The growing

compliance

expectations

Having healthy resources means that we are caring for our assets, that we are ensuring we have provided for the next generation and that we are protected from high risks.

Rangiaruaru Hema outlines a helpful new checklist for Baptist churches.

A

recent piece of work that I have collaborated on with a number of people has been a basic church checklist of what we recommend to have in place to ensure that our churches can thrive.

When I reflect on this list, I know that our different churches vary in whether these matters are in order.

However, the reality is we need all of these areas tidy

Asbestos management If your building was built between the 1940s and the 1980s, you are likely to have asbestos and need to have an asbestos management plan in place. We have partnered with EnviroWise to create a solution for our churches. Let’s get a plan for your church.

Insurance valuations Are we refreshing our insurance valuations every three years?

The main way we will ensure that we will have enough coverage should an event happen is with an up-to-date valuation.

Contact us to help you find a valuer and make sure you have sufficient insurance.

Building WOF Ensuring the safety of our members means we need to check that our building has been certified for its current use.

Regular checks that our buildings meet current fire safety protocols should be important. We have partnered with John Devery of BC Group and they are ready to assist you today.

and attended to. The expectations of our society have increased and this is likely to continue, so we need to step forward and source help to attend to these matters.

Often we need specialist professional services and the Baptist Union has partners in every one of the listed areas, ready to assist your church. Below are some of the checklist items, and a simple explanation around why these areas are required.

Health and Safety Do we have a strong incident reporting process and management? Would the community group using your hall know how to report an incident?

Having policies is important, but our processes need to be active and being carried out.

Please contact us to ensure that you can input a robust process for your church. The Baptist Union has partnered with Sphere Safety and they are ready to help you activate a strong Health and Safety system.

Keeping people safe Do we have a local contact person who our people can talk to regarding abuse in the church?

Are we police vetting all of our staff and volunteers? Do we have a Keeping Children Safe policy?

Property maintenance plan Do we have long-term plans that ensure we have appropriate assets set aside to maintain our properties? For larger sites, sourcing professionals to assess your site is invaluable to ensure an effective plan is in place.

The Baptist National Centre is here to serve our churches and to take the scary complexity out of these areas. The full checklist is available on the Baptist intranet.

With strong connections to professionals, who have our interests in mind, we can be amazing stewards of our properties—building healthy resources so that our Baptist faith communities thrive.

Contributor: Rangiaruaru Hema Rangiaruaru is the operations, property and finance director at the Baptist National Centre. He is from Ngāti Kahungunu iwi.

v.136 no.6 † rua tekau mā whitu 27

Baptist / C O M M U N I Q U É

New appointments

Assembly Council continues to have full meetings either in person or by Zoom. October’s meeting was no different, although the COVID-19 lockdown issues in Auckland delayed it by several weeks.

During this meeting we • signed off on a budget for 2021, noting the desire from Hui 2019 to deliver a balanced budget, not a deficit budget, and the challenging constraints that go with achieving that • received a draft parental leave policy—a policy that we have been in need of for quite some time • prayed for and with Charles Hewlett, and for the change process he is working though with his team at the National Centre • celebrated the new life that a strong team of regional leaders brings to the work we are keen to see strengthened in our regions • thanked David Allen for his work as our president in 2020, and noted the particular challenges that he as our president had to work with, in a year that has been unlike any other in living memory • received an interim report from Dean Kimpton about the strategic asset review he is conducting.

Our desire is to steward well the assets we have inherited from our predecessors. We are in a time of change, and a period of review has been a big theme for our movement recently.

We have just successfully completed the series of Local Gatherings that were held instead of our national Hui this year.

Join us as we seek the way forward to God’s good tomorrow for our movement—a movement that becomes more and more characterised by ‘thriving faith communities’ that are all about the transformation of people and places.

God’s best for you Chris Chamberlain Assembly Council Chair

Assembly Council acts as the Assembly between annual Baptist Assemblies (Hui) and provides leadership for our Baptist movement. It is responsible for establishing policies and practices consistent with the determinations of Baptist Assembly and the well‑being of the movement.

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RACHEL MURRAY Regional Leader Otago & Southland Association Otago and Southland have a deep Christian heritage, of which Baptists are a core part. I’m enjoying spending time with pastors and teams, and attending Sunday services and events, as I get to know the people, contexts, challenges, and the dreams and visions that God has laid on their hearts. There is much to celebrate of what God has done here to date.

I look forward to building on the work of others gone before and to support, contribute to and assist pastors and leadership teams to be strengthened and developed in their roles, and to see churches go deeper and stronger to be thriving communities of Jesus‑followers. There is much opportunity and I look forward to seeing how God works. Oh and I’ll enjoy the scenery as I get around!

MICK & RUBY DUNCAN Regional Leaders Central Districts This new role will have Ruby and I driving through some of this country’s most beautiful landscape. We will be catching up with so many faithful servants of the Lord who love what Jesus loves: the local church.

What a privilege it will be to come alongside some who are struggling as pastors and to be there for broken churches—to offer the service of listening and then more listening. The role will mean, at times, having to say hard things in the context of courageous conversations. But we see ourselves as those who simply want to mend and heal. It will have us on our knees in constant prayer. What a wonderful way to possibly do our last chapter!

RETI AH-VOA Regional Leader Northern Association Talofa lava i le tou paia ma tou mamalu, malo lava le soifua maua ma le lagi e mama. (Greetings to you and the mana that you hold, wishing you good health and well-being.)

I look forward to serving the Baptist faith communities of Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) and Te Tai Tokerau (Northland). I am eager to learn more about the uniqueness in each expression, from our northernmost faith community in Doubtless Bay to our southernmost in Waiuku. I am excited to be involved in growing our collective sense of identity both as local churches and as a family of churches, and to be part of discerning together our mission—for both the places where God has planted us, and the places he may be calling us to. Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

RICK PIERCE Network Pastor, Health & Development Northern Association Today, in a world where absolute truth is an anomaly, the greatest witness of the way, the truth and the life of God is a community of his people living it, together. In the midst of all the pain, uncertainty and injustice in the world, my hope is for our Northern region churches to become living testimonies of the life of God, growing in maturity, finding unity in Christ, and becoming abundant in love and grace. I aim to facilitate this work of God through inspiring greater association, serving pastors to fulfil their calling, and resourcing churches to strengthen and empower leadership. I look forward to playing my part in equipping and growing our churches to become thriving faith communities, bringing gospel renewal to our neighbourhoods.

MURRAY COTTLE National Regional Leader Coach; Evangelism My role with the Northern Baptist Association has come to an end. For the last 19 years I have worked with churches from Waiuku to Doubtless Bay, mentoring pastors, working with church leadership groups and helping churches find a new pastor. Now, Charles Hewlett has asked me to take on a more national role that includes coaching the regional leaders to help them to see the desires of their hearts become a reality. I will also continue to lead evangelism retreats for pastors—to help our churches become more fruitful in seeing people being transformed by the power of the cross of Jesus. The number of people being baptised must increase. I have a deep love for the church and I want to do all I can to help each local church be healthy and fruitful. I will be available to take on other projects to help this wonderful collective of churches reach their ‘God‑sized’ dreams.

v.136 no.6 † rua tekau mā iwa 29

Sven Scheuermeier/unsplash.com

Baptist / W H A T ’ S O N Y O U R M I N D ?

The challenge to do something

T

he current economic climate presents churches, particularly those with active community trusts, with amazing opportunities to speak into the social concerns facing New Zealand today. I’ve singled out three issues Christian groups can positively impact.

Housing With over 20,000 families currently in desperate need of housing, state housing is vital, but it’s not enough.

Only through strategic community housing programmes can we end homelessness. That means we need to continue to grow the community housing sector within which many churches already play a part.

Such programmes provide a number of positives. First, they bring new stock into the housing market. Second, with incomerelated rents, whereby people pay a maximum of 25% of their income on accommodation, suitable housing becomes more affordable for whānau. Finally, tenants are integrated into a support structure which journeys alongside them to maximise the potential of a sustained tenancy.

Food COVID-19 highlighted the precarious nature of the personal

30 toru tekau † v.136 no.6 baptistmag.org.nz

finances of many New Zealanders.

COVID lockdown saw significant increases in the number of people accessing food banks. While that lockdown demand has decreased, food parcel requests remain significantly higher than this time last year.

The issue of hungry families is not a new one, but it is hitting a new demographic. Lost jobs and lower incomes mean people now find themselves in the unenviable position of having to access a benefit or social supports through a system they are totally unfamiliar with. Many food banks report that people who once donated generously to them are now coming to request food.

Training and employment A traditional skills-based education is crucial, but not enough for many; people need mentoring and training that will lead to employment.

Supporting an individual into employment is about walking alongside them as they prepare their CV and job application, go through the interview process and move into that role. It includes helping the participant learn aspects of employment that many of us take for granted, such as turning up to work on time, or how to relate to the boss and others at work.

Looking ahead Faith-based individuals and organisations have a responsibility to walk alongside and journey with vulnerable people. This means that while it’s the government’s role to ensure people have housing, food and employment, our role is to draw alongside and walk closely with whānau, ensuring they are able to access the support that is available to them.

The unavoidable challenge for churches and Christians throughout New Zealand is to ask the simple question, “Who needs my help?” and then do something tangible to answer that need. That could be as simple as donating money, food or time. The important thing is that we do something.

Contributor: Lisa Woolley Lisa is the CEO of Visionwest Community Trust. Part of Glen Eden Baptist Church, the trust has over 1,700 employees and provides wraparound care in West Auckland and regions throughout New Zealand.

In Memoriam

Ernest Young Stevenson: Teacher, Pastor, Mentor 30 September 1936 – 6 November 2020

Ernest Stevenson passed away peacefully, but somewhat unexpectedly, in Wairau Hospital on Friday morning, 6th November 2020. Ernest was 84 years old and died less than three months after his wife Margaret’s death on 27 August 2020. He had given 49 years of his life in service to God. Born in Howick, the eldest of two boys (he and his brother John), Ernest attended Auckland Grammar School and then moved to train as a teacher at Christchurch Teacher’s College. He married Margaret Tamplin, and taught nature studies in New Zealand and also in England. He later trained as a minister, starting in the London Bible College and then completing his study here in New Zealand.

His first role was as pastor at Fairfield Baptist Church from 1971 to 1975 and then Northcote Baptist Church from 1975 to 1979.

In 1979, with four children, the dog and all their possessions, Margaret and Ernest moved to Canada. Ernest pastored first at Kitimat Baptist Church in British Columbia, followed by Moose Jaw Baptist Church in Saskatchewan, from 1979 to 1997.

By this time, Margaret and Ernest had tired of the long, snow-filled winters and felt a call back to New Zealand. Ernest became the senior pastor at Blenheim Baptist Church for six years, until 2004. Blenheim was a lovely home for the couple for 23 years. It was the longest they had been in one place, actually. As they already had family and old friends in Blenheim and elsewhere in New Zealand, they were easily able to put down roots, both as a family and also within the church there.

Ernest had interim pastorates in the South Island from 2004 to 2009, at Halswell, Ilam, Oxford Terrace, Oamaru and Greymouth, where he supported and lead churches through difficult times. He was very good at helping churches to navigate their way through transitions or to find a pastor to lead their church. He greatly enjoyed these interim roles and it was evident that the congregations appreciated his care for them, as he was warmly welcomed on any of his visits back.

Ernest’s desire was to see others grow to know God. He had a passion for education and learning and he incorporated this into his sermons, detailing theology in an accessible way for others to take in and apply to their lives. He also supported the development of pastors who were earlier on in their careers and could offer insight and experiential wisdom into difficult situations.

From 2010 until his death, Ernest served as an assistant pastor at Blenheim Baptist. He also served the wider Baptist family as part of the Sexual Misconduct Response Team, from 2009 to 2019.

Both Ernest and his wife Margaret were much loved by those that they have ministered to over their many years of service to God and they will be greatly missed. 

v.136 no.6 † toru tekau mā tahi 31

Directory

100 Years Ago

YOUTH MINISTRY TEAM LEADER

KATIKATI COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH

Passionate about helping young people become disciples of Christ engaged in Christ’s mission in our community and beyond?

Able to engage youth unfamiliar with church?

Initial 12 month contract available 12‑18hrs per week.

Passing Notes The “Join-the-Church” Committee is already at work.

Within the next few weeks each Church will be addressed on this great subject. A tract is in the press and will be available for all our people. The Committee is suggesting a special conference in each Church, and special prayer for an ingathering. They are suggesting that those who attend our Churches and who frequent the Lord’s Table, but who have never joined the Church, and never made the confession in baptism, should all be approached, and the duty and the glory be clearly put to them. They are suggesting as well that special efforts be made among the young people. We are persuaded that if this thing is kept before our people we shall see a great ingathering. We cannot too earnestly insist on the importance of Church. Christ’s love for the individual is the first of all the facts of our religion. But Christ does not contemplate the individual in his loneliness, as a complete being. How great is the word “Christ loved the Church.” It is in the closely-knit social organism that a man’s life finds its full expression. It is in the Church of redeemed men, who in mutual services and sacrifices constitute a glorious whole, that Christ sees of the travail of His soul. The people need the Church and the Church needs the people. A join-the-church campaign is along the lines of God’s purpose.

Baptist magazine, October 1920 (abridged)

32 toru tekau mā rua † v.136 no.6 baptistmag.org.nz

Our mission is: To transform lives and communities through Christ

FOR INFORMATION & JOB DESCRIPTION CONTACT PASTOR RUSSELL EMBLING russell.embling@xtra.co.nz

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 A large number of the NZBMS team were able to gather for a staff hui in November— what a blessing! As you can see, it’s been a pretty wild year for everyone.

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

v.136 no.6 † toru tekau mā toru 33

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

A word from Alan A CHRISTMAS LIKE NO OTHER The countdown to Christmas is on! A time of year for thanksgiving and celebration. And yet Christmas will look different for so many this year, with some families still in lockdown, some without a home or daily income, and some with an empty chair at the dinner table.

But the reason for thanksgiving and celebrations remains the same—God is with us.

For all the challenges of 2020, we live in arguably the most fortunate country in the world. That is something to be aware of and to be grateful for. This immense privilege begs for our generosity and our willingness to be part of the world’s healing and rebuilding, in whatever way God calls us to do so.

Let’s start with prayer for those who stayed in their overseas communities throughout this year and will share Christmas with their international families. And for those who have been back in New Zealand and are eagerly awaiting return to their global locations, ready to continue their work in business, health and education, social and compassionate support, church growth, and discipleship and evangelism. I met a lady in Dunedin at one of our Baptist Local Gatherings, who came straight up to me and said, “I’m looking you up and down because we’ve never met but I pray for you and our NZBMS team every day.” Thank you!

Thank you to everyone who prays for, financially supports, and encourages our New Zealand Baptist team.

On behalf of those who are oppressed and who don’t know Jesus in our global communities—thank you. Thank you for being part of our whānau.

Yes, our world has changed, and yet God continues to call us to join him in global mission. My prayer is that we would each hear that call this Christmas. As we remember God entering our world and dwelling with us, may we also remember to partner with him to achieve the mission he has set for us—Christ everywhere, for everyone!

Tama tu, tama ora, Tama noho, tama mate, Kia kaha e hoa ma!

Don’t be discouraged, give it heaps my friends!

Alan Jamieson, General Director

P.S. At each Local Gathering I have introduced a collaborative process to shape a new strategy for NZBMS. Talking this through with Mission Council, our global team, and those at these Local Gatherings, has helped hone this strategy. If you would like to watch a brief summary of this emerging strategy and have your input into its shaping, visit this link: linktr.ee/nzbms.

34 toru tekau mā whā † v.136 no.6 baptistmag.org.nz

HAVE YOU A VERY It’s easy to think of mission as only overseas or ‘out there somewhere’.

But mission can be done wherever you are, right now—in your neighbourhood, at your school or workplace, in your sports team and even at home. Here’s some fun and festive ideas to get your mission juices flowing.

Deliver a koha kirihimete!

Here is an easy-to-make Christmas gift—you may have even seen these before! Who doesn’t love a Mallowpuff? Have fun making these as a family, then deliver some to your neighbours.

Ingredients • Packet of Mallowpuffs • White chocolate • Jaffas • Mint leaf lollies or green jubes Instructions 1. Freeze the Mallowpuffs ahead of time to ensure the chocolate doesn’t melt the biscuit.

2. Slice the green lollies until they are small and look like mini leaves.

3. Melt the white chocolate in the microwave; heat for 30 seconds, then stir. Repeat at 10-second intervals, stirring in between until the chocolate is melted and smooth.

4. Using a teaspoon, drizzle a small amount of white chocolate over the top of a Mallowpuff.

Use a spoon to gently encourage the chocolate to drizzle down the side.

5. While the chocolate is still melted, add a Jaffa and one or two sliced green lollies to the top.

6. Repeat with all Mallowpuffs and leave until solid.

N Z B M S

-

RSELF

mission

CHRISTMAS

R E A C H I N G

Taurangitia an act of service!

For this activity you need paper, colouring pens and scissors.

Cut some reasonably sized rectangular paper cards. Let the children decide what acts of service they would like to offer people. It can be things like mowing the lawn, taking a dog for a walk, washing a car, making a meal, or playing a game with them. Draw/write these acts of service on the cards, making them into vouchers. Decide who you would like to give them to and go and deliver them as a family.

Talk about what it means to do an ‘act of service’ for someone. Talk about what things each of them could do to help (depending on their age).

Explain what a voucher is and how it works. Giving a gift of your time is sometimes more valuable than the biggest present in the world.

W O R L D

MISSI

T R I V IOAN How m an cities h y world ave ov er 5

,000,00 0 peo

Answe

Share kai!

Take a trip to the grocery store with the family!

Grab a nice-sized box and fill it with food that a family in need can use over the Christmas period.

If you have children, let them guide the shopping and select what they think is needed or might be special. Wrap the box and include a message from your family letting the family who receives the box know that you are sharing God’s love with them this Christmas. Find out from your church or the local Citizen’s Advice Bureau where you could take your hamper.

While you are packing the hamper, or after you have delivered it, talk about how God looks after us and wants us to do the same for the people in our community. As a family, pray over the hamper that the people who receive it would be blessed and would know that God loves them this Christmas.

T H E

ple?

r on p age 38

Visit te tiakitanga ā noho mō te pahake!

Put a day aside in your diary for you or your family to visit a rest home in your area. During the Christmas season older people often miss their families and the opportunity to be out and about. Also, COVID has meant many have been isolated for long periods during the past year. A visit from your family can really brighten their day! Phone the rest home and ask the staff which of their people would benefit from a visit.

Older folks love chatting or just listening to your stories. If you are musical, take along some instruments and sing some songs. Alternatively, you could visit some elderly neighbours.

Talk together about the joy of family and how much each of us mean, not only to each other, but to God. Thanks to Karen Warner and New Zealand Baptist Children and Family Ministries for the ideas!

MERI KIRIHIMETE!

KIDS!

Join our online Advent Calendar

It’s time to get festive!

Check out facebook.com/NZBMS or @nzbms.org daily or visit: linktr.ee/nzbms

Meri Kirihimete!

v.136 no.6 † toru tekau mā rima 35

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

CHRISTMAS ANGEL 2020

Giving thanks—Tuku whakawhetai ki te Atua “I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving” Psalm 69:30 (NIV).

What is Christmas Angel?

Christmas Angel is an annual opportunity for churches and individuals to contribute to the work that we, as New Zealand Baptist churches, are involved in amongst the poor throughout a number of regions in Asia.

Our NZBMS team serves in communities where many people, already oppressed and vulnerable, have faced a new challenge in 2020—COVID-19.

This pandemic has been especially severe in many of the nations in which we serve, placing already struggling people under immense hardship.

And yet, there are still things to be thankful for both in our own lives and in the work that is being done overseas. And we, as New Zealand Baptists, know there is no better season to give thanks than Christmas.

Giving thanks—Tuku whakawhetai ki te Atua Our theme for Christmas Angel 2020 is Giving thanks—Tuku whakawhetai ki te Atua.

It’s a reminder that as we close a year that has brought many challenges, we also remember the ways in which our lives have been blessed and enriched in 2020.

This year, we’re encouraging you to think about the things you can be thankful for and, with grateful hearts, give to the Christmas Angel 2020 appeal by using the QR code below or visiting our website.

As part of Christmas Angel 2020, Jay Matenga (Missions Interlink) has written a song based on Giving thanks. Watch the video and hear Jay’s song with this QR code or visit linktr.ee/nzbms

Let’s hear from some of our NZBMS global workers, about what they’re giving thanks for this year:

I’m thankful... t ...for my community in my hos in and nation as I see them rise aga cious gra so n bee e again. They hav of e tim my ing towards me dur be to e tinu language study and I con ol ar encouraged by them. C ...for the privilege of serving here, even for the dif ficult times because that means we have to rely on God.

R oss & Cindy

...for times when, through relationships and the variety of people my work involves me with, I catch a glimpse of God’s lov e in an extra‑special way.

Peter

...for the relationship with New Zealand Baptists.

Without your support we would not be doing the work we are involved in here. Tsao

about the work of Tranzsend at tranzsend.org.nz

R E A D M O R E

N Z B M S

Kia ora e te wha- nau, As I reflect on the year that has been, I too am thinking of what I am grateful for. Looking back on 2020, I am grateful for you. I am grateful for the continued support and prayer NZBMS receives from our Baptist whānau.

I am also grateful for the work that is being done globally by our team, who are partnering with and trusting God every day. I want to offer you the opportunity to join us, and once again change lives overseas through our Christmas Angel 2020 appeal.

Your generous donation will change lives this Christmas: • aid and development work, particularly amongst the poor • freedom initiatives, in particular helping trafficked women to find freedom • resourcing local Christians and churches to initiate community programmes • pastoral care of national workers • education, particularly among children from poorer families • community development programmes to help poor communities • New Zealand office administration; yes, a very small percentage goes towards helping provide a strong foundation to enable the overseas work to flourish.

Be part of Christmas Angel 2020 by visiting us at nzbms.org.nz to donate!

Or, if you would prefer to receive a paper copy of this year’s appeal information, email communications@nzbms.org.nz, or phone (09) 526 8444.

Thank you again,

Alan Jamieson

NZBMS General Director

-

R E A C H I N G

T H E

W O R L D

We’re in this together

7

ways to get the best out of a mission interview

This column provides information and encouragement to help church mission committees promote mission within our churches.

So, you’re taking advantage of the world of technology that surrounds you, and using an online platform to interview your overseas worker? Great! But... interviewing isn’t your strongest suit? Don’t worry, we have you covered! Here are some tips for making the most of interviewing an overseas worker online.

1. Time zones Don’t forget to organise the interview in advance! Chances are, if you randomly call an overseas worker during your Sunday service, you’ll probably be their alarm clock. Make sure they know in advance that you’re calling.

2. Check the technology It’s the bane of every person who ever led a church service.

You arrive at the vital moment and someone’s forgotten to connect a cable or misplaced the church Wi-Fi password.

Take a minute to do a practice run, and make sure everything is working.

3. Know your overseas worker If you’ve never met the person being interviewed, contact them in advance to introduce yourself! A quick call is even better so they feel comfortable with who they’re chatting to.

4. Prepare your questions in advance Send some questions to your interviewee in advance. That way, they can give well-thought-out answers rather than answering off the cuff.

5. Make questions specific and relevant The questions you ask will make or break the interview.

Supporters want to know what’s happening in the life of your workers today. Check out their recent newsletters or chat to them in advance to find out what’s going on in their life and community. Avoid general or trivial questions like, “What’s the weather like where you are?” or “What do the national people eat?” Focus instead on questions like, “You said in your last email that you were hosting an outreach dinner in a neighbouring town. How was that received?”

6. Ask for specific prayer points Make sure the worker knows you are going to ask this so they can have specific needs ready. Another idea is to request these prayer points in advance and have someone in the congregation pray for them while the worker is online.

7. Get people on board Use your interviews to help promote mission in your church.

Make it obvious and easy for people to sign up for newsletters, contribute financially, or find out more about overseas work.

Personal stories really are the most inspiring!

v.136 no.6 † toru tekau mā whitu 37

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

SMALL BITES

LOCAL GATHERINGS— KANOHI KI TE KANOHI Kelly Enright, NZBMS communications coordinator, shares her thoughts on the Northern Local Gathering.

WELCOME TO THE WHĀNAU, KELLY Kelly Enright is the newest member of the NZBMS staff team, joining us as communications coordinator in the Auckland office. Having recently returned from Singapore where she worked in the marketing team for a craft brewery, Kelly is keen to get her teeth stuck into her new role, which includes social media and external communications. Kelly loves drinking coffee and running (though not at the same time). Welcome aboard, Kelly.

Kelly’s email is: kelly.enright@nzbms.org.nz.

HONOURING JACK VAN KAMPEN We were unable to hold our combined national Baptist Hui this year—I think we all know why. However, as the saying goes, “when life gives you lemons—make separate Local Gatherings!”

The Northern Local Gathering was held on 10th November at Windsor Park Baptist Church. What a fine crowd! With more than 200 in attendance, the place was buzzing. Beautiful fruit platters, delicious espresso, and pre-made lunch boxes from Eat My Lunch were among the particularly memorable perks.

The real highlight for me, however, was the kōrero: gritty, honest, constructive discussion.

Charles Hewlett and Alan Jamieson (Baptist National Leader and General Director of NZBMS, respectively), each presented some structural shifts within our Baptist movement that will shape how these organisations may look in the future. Following each presentation an opportunity was provided for attendees to respond to the changes. The limited time meant only a handful were able to adequately respond, as these changes are ongoing and dynamic.

Those who were able to offer their thoughts did so graciously, humbly, honestly and with a faithful attitude, believing God’s Kingdom work will be done.

With a seemingly increasing pace, our world is changing. This leaves our movement with the task of creating a road map that will continue to guide us, while maintaining our desire to always glorify God. The conversation in the gathering reflected that desire; our pastors and church leaders have conviction, they have ideas, and they are deeply committed to seeing his Kingdom on earth.

Let’s see what we can make with the lemons for 2021!

38 toru tekau mā waru † v.136 no.6 baptistmag.org.nz

We want to honour Jack Van Kampen of Pakuranga Baptist Church. Now aged 96 years old, Jack has felt the need to step down from BMF (Baptist Mission Fellowship), the prayer support arm of NZBMS. Jack has recently moved to a Howick rest home and, because he can no longer drive due to his loss of hearing, will be doing his mission praying from home. Jack is a true inspiration. Faithful to God for his entire life, he constantly stressed to those around him, the importance of the Great Commission and the need to pray for the work that is happening globally.

Jack led his last BMF group on 6th August and left delighted to know that his ministry will continue to support our work through prayer and MISSION by funding five selected NZBMS missionaries.

Thanks, Jack, world cit you’re a legend! ies have

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—PRAY—PAY—GO— We are all called to be involved in mission but there is more than one way to be involved. Here are three ways you can involve yourself in the work of NZBMS.

PRAY

PAY

GO

We believe in prayer—it has the power to change circumstances and lives of men and women we will never meet this side of heaven.

Become an NZBMS Team Supporter. Support an NZBMS team member and receive regular news updates on their work.

We have mission work projects throughout Asia and, chances are, there will be a task to fit your skill set.

Email info@nzbms.org.nz and ask for a list of NZBMS team members currently needing financial support.

If you’re interested in talking more about working overseas with NZBMS, email andrew.page@tranzsend.org.nz.

Email info@nzbms.org.nz and ask to receive our Weekly News and Prayer Update.

Give thanks this Advent!

Join us online for daily reminders of thankfulness this festive season.

facebook.com/NZBMS @nzbms_org

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