Baptist NZ

29/05/2026

Introducing the Search Team for the next General Director of Arotahi (NZBMS), and outlining Mission Council's process, which includes a time of listening to people in our Baptist churches.

Debbie Cunningham attends Bethlehem Baptist Church and serves on Mission Council, the governance board of Arotahi/NZBMS. She is also a member of the Arotahi General Director search team.

28/05/2026

AI isn’t dangerous to us … until we forget that it’s just ‘pretend’, writes pastor Andy Shudall.

It was a Friday afternoon, and I was working on a sermon. Stuck for a phrase to express an idea, I was using AI to refine my drafts, searching for that missing word. "We" got there. As I closed the conversation, ChatGPT offered, "I'm praying for you."

27/05/2026

Ep 1 | Is the Gospel Political?

In this introductory episode, Michael and Marshall explore how faith and politics connect, unpacking how Scripture speaks into everyday public life in ways many Christians overlook.

Available on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Youtube | Baptist NZ

26/05/2026

New Episode! Does church make us too comfortable? With Lily Melville

What happens when someone starts asking questions and rethinking faith? In this episode, we hear some of Lily’s story as she shares how her evolving view of faith and the Bible is radically changing her impression of church, and as she wonders if too much comfort in church might be a bad thing.

Available on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Youtube | Baptist NZ and app

It is no secret that the church in the West is in decline and there seems to have been unending talk about the church needing to change. Despite this, the number of sustainable alternatives or even smaller changes to what most would be familiar with as church is tragically low.This podcast is captur...

25/05/2026

Is comparing social housing to winning Lotto a harmless metaphor — or does it reveal something deeper about how we see the poor?

Last Sunday was Pentecost Sunday, when the Holy Spirit was sent to us – and also sent us. Now we all know that the coming of the Holy Spirit is about comfort and counsel, about being filled and taking action. 

21/05/2026

Chris Chamberlain calls on all Christians to celebrate the Pentecost season.

What's the new National Leader of the Baptist Union of New Zealand been thinking about lately? Find out in this video update from Chris Chamberlain – see the abridged transcript below. 

19/05/2026

How does the way we spend our money and time reflect our devotion to God, asks Rachael Ayres.

Rachael Ayres is a lifelong learner, wild dreamer, sourdough baker and traveller who loves solitude, words, ideas, fibre arts, walking long distances and spending time with family and friends. She is a member of Auckland’s Titirangi Baptist Church. 

14/05/2026

Beyond a personal faith-decision, immersion draws believers into shared identity, mutual belonging, and an outward-facing witness to the whole created order.

This article is the third in a series entitled Worship in community, exploring the interaction between the worship of the church community and the relationships between the people in that community. Previous articles introduced this series and explored the historic Baptist practice of forming church...

13/05/2026

National Leader of New Zealand Baptists Chris Chamberlain calls us to remember our baptism and offers a quick peek into the Hanmer Holy Spirit retreat.

What's the new National Leader of the Baptist Union of New Zealand been thinking about lately? Find out in this video update from Chris Chamberlain – see the abridged transcript below. 

12/05/2026

Nearly 600,000 New Zealanders have no congregation nearby. A growing movement of ordinary people is quietly doing something about it.

Ben Mai is part of the Auckland Church Network which has a nationwide Church Planting Learning Community initiative. He is also a member of Māngere Bridge Baptist Church. The following article is republished with permission from the New Zealand Christian Network email newsletter on 8 May 2026.