The Directors Blog

Thinking of You Canterbury

2010-09-06T11:48:00.001+12:00

To all of you in Canterbury, from the tranzsend family we lift you up in our prayers.

We thank God that no lives were lost, but we are sad with all the devastation. Particularly sad is some of the damage to our churches. One I’ve seen is Oxford Terrace, sad to see such heritage so badly damaged.

May through this time we experience God and His sovereignty again.

Regards,

Peter Mihaere

On behalf of the tranzsend family

The Way Forward Download

2010-09-01T12:37:00.001+12:00

Today tranzsend has released some further information about its future. We see this is the second part of our consultation process.

This is in the form of a downloadable video or MP3 audio, along with some notes. Click on the link below to go directly to the download page.

Please view and listen, reflect and pray with us, and send us some feedback. Here are some questions we would love you to answer.

1. How do you resonate with these two major adjustments?
2. How will these changes help or hinder your commitment to world mission?
3. Would you support these changes if tranzsend/NZBMS presents them as the way forward at Assembly?
4. What concerns do you have about these suggested changes?

Please email me at peter.mihaere@tranzsend.org.nz or post to P O Box 12149 Penrose, Auckland 1642. We would love to hear from you.

Download Link: The Way Forward

Cheers, Peter

Pastors Conference Updates

2010-08-23T16:02:00.001+12:00

Over the last two weeks Neil Perry and myself have been part of a road show throughout NZ presenting at the Pastors Conferences. We presented an update of where tranzsend is at and a glimpse of some future ideas we believe God has envisioned us with, following the national consultations.

We have been overwhelmed by the sense of affirmation we have received so far and we want you to be part of that process. We video taped the Auckland presentation and will have that available for online viewing in the next ten days. We will also have a higher quality DVD version available from the office for those who want a copy. This will be restricted for New Zealand delivery only. A copy of the handout will also be available for download.

We see this as part two of the consultation process and we encourage you to watch the video, review the notes and send us your feedback.

Blessings…

Peter Mihaere

Update on tranzsend – release 31 May 2010

2010-05-31T16:02:00.000+12:00

From Thursday through to Saturday of last week, the tranzsend Council met to look at the results of the 53 consultation meetings that have been held around the country and our fields during the last eight months, and to consider what the future of tranzsend might look like.

Some things were clear:

Baptist Churches in New Zealand have a real heart for mission. However there is a felt need by our churches to be better resourced for world mission.
In our churches there is overwhelming support for the continuation of tranzsend as the denominational mission agency of the Baptist Churches of New Zealand.
There is a widespread desire for us to be more inclusive of New Zealand Baptists working outside of tranzsend.
Many of our Pastors and churches have only a limited understanding of tranzsend’s work.
There is strong interest in there being short and medium term mission work alongside our long term work.
There is a need for tranzsend to use technology in communicating and advancing the cause of world mission.

Having considered what the consultations have revealed, the tranzsend Council affirms that tranzsend will continue as the overseas mission agency of the Baptist Churches of New Zealand.

The Council has initiated a process to develop a strategy for addressing the issues identified through the consultations and has begun to look at a framework through which it can better serve the Baptist Churches in New Zealand in their desire to be active in world mission.

Peter Mihaere
General Director
tranzsend

Ordinary : Extraordinary : Big Dreams

2010-05-03T08:34:00.001+12:00

We often hear people say that God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things for Him. I think most of us understand this.

We have probably heard stories which encourage us. Some have personal testimonies of this happening to us and we share them willingly with others.

Yesterday I heard such a story. I was delighted, I was challenged afresh, and I was encouraged in my walk.

I heard a story of a kiwi farmer who went to a far off land to help the nationals who wanted a better income and life for themselves (their government wanted that as well).

The speaker got me with two things:

You don't have to be someone special to do amazing things for God, you just have to be willing to serve Him. Although I already knew this, it was good to be reminded afresh.
When you dream what God is asking of you, God dream's are big. If the dream doesn't scare you then the dream is possibly not from God or it simply isn't big enough.

That was yesterday…

This morning I read from Genesis 12. Yes, that's right, the calling of Abraham (Abram as he was known then) to serve God. Abram was no one special except that he was a man of faith and obedience and he was willing to follow and serve God.

Abram's God-given dream was to impact the world by becoming a great nation. Now that's getting up there - that's dreaming big.

The dream was scary, and Abram faltered along the way, but he had enough faith in God to keep following in His footsteps and the rest is living history.

The tranzsend leadership, who are very ordinary people, but people of faith, are going to be dreaming big this month. Can you pray for us? here's are a couple of prayer handles to get you started:

Pray that we will be in tune to God's voice as we seek to understand the future He has already planned for us.
Pray that although the dream, the vision, God reveals to us will likely scar us, we will have the courage to be obedient and determination to be faithful to it.

Have a great week everyone!

Peter.

What's my next step in Mission

2010-04-28T20:26:00.001+12:00

I'm so glad you asked me that question. Let me offer you an answer.

If you are, or you know someone who is, sub 35yrs and looking to answer the mission question then Destination World: The Call is the place to be.

In September (1-4 to be exact) one of the most exciting, and frankly, most needed conferences in New Zealand for many years will be arriving to mobilise kiwis in mission.

It's time to be mobilised New Zealand! It's time to be connected with God's world and the join him in the task of Mission. It's also time to reflect on His call on your life. But it's definitely time to move.

Get the message out there… click through to the website by clicking on the image below or click through to DW:The Call.

Peter.

ANZAC Day alive and well

2010-04-26T14:19:00.005+12:00

Yesterday, I attended the dawn parade of our local ANZAC day commemorations in Manurewa. I trundled out of bed around 5:30am and headed down to the Cenotaph on the corner of Great South Road and Hill Road Manurewa.

Expecting a few people out to join a dwindling number of veterans I was completely blown away at the organisation of such a well attended service. The road had been formally closed off, and as I locked my car I heard the distinct tapping of a drum which I discovered kept the marching parade in time as it descended upon the Cenotaph.

It was 5:50am and I was already scrambling for a position where I could see everything that was going to happen. This was the first ANZAC dawn parade that I can remember attending as an adult, so I didn’t know what to expect.

By 6:00AM two columns of marchers arrived. There must have been 150 people… amazing! There were possibly a further 150 people lining the streets around the Cenotaph. Wow! I couldn’t believe how may people turned up. What struck me afresh was the number of young people who got up early to be at the parade and brief service. Perhaps many had come out to support grandparents or great grandparents, but it was fantastic that they made the effort. I was moved when the young bugler sounded the ‘last post’ and ‘reveille’. By 6:35am I was heading back home for breakfast and a renewed sense of thankfulness for those who served their country in war. At 9:40am I was heading out the door again to attend the formal ANZAC day service at the same location. This time my Daughter was with me as she was part of the parade as one of Alfriston College’s head girls. If the dawn parade was amazing, the formal parade and service was even more impressive. The parade itself had approximately 250 people and the crowd number was similar. At this service there were a number of dignitaries including representatives from Manukau City Council, local business, and the guest speaker Lieutenant Colonel Holley. What moved me the most was a speech from Ashleigh Colcord, head girl, James Cook High School. She spoke of her passion about ANZAC day, her whanau and her country. The age of the attendees were youthful and many community groups were included in the parade itself. The Reverend Ross Browne, officiating the service, articulated a recent journalists view that ANZAC day was dead and no one is interested, particularly amongst the young. Perhaps the journalist should attend an ANZAC day service to find that ANZAC day is alive and well. Better than that, I am witnessing a renaissance of young kiwis wanting to attend because of the opportunity to remember those who have fallen on our behalf and to bring identity and meaning to their own lives. As the ANZAC Ode says: They shall grow not old, As we that are left grow old Age shall not weary them, nor the year condemn At the going down of the sun And in the morning We will remember them I posted something on my facebook page and a response from a friend lamented why we didn't see as many come out to the Easter Sunday dawn service. Well, perhaps we should hold it at the cenotaph than in a church building. I have already booked my holiday to be in Gillipoli on 25th April, 2015. Anyone want to join me? Peter

I can't tell lies, do I quit my job?

2010-04-12T15:58:00.001+12:00

I received an email from the field a couple of weeks ago and it described the dilemma of one of our past employees in Asia. Mary (not her real name) had moved to be near her parents and we were sad to see her go. We enjoyed her commitment and energy and invested significantly into her life. As a Christ follower and understanding some of the principles of kingdom business we prayed she would be an influence in the work she would end up doing.

Well, I’d love to pass on a success story to you, but right now I can’t. You see the reality for this young lady, and I’m sure for many of us here in NZ, is that she finds herself in a work environment that is not great. She writes… “…this week I found myself covered over by a cloud of evil, at least I felt sick, by being asked to tell lies, to buy a product…” She went onto explain how devious her boss is, an extremely rich person, and how he would put pressure on employees to do things that were not honest.

Mary asks our tranzsend overseas worker what to do. She asks, “could you give me any advice?” We continue to help her, even though she is not working with us directly to make God honoring decisions. Please pray for Mary and our overseas worker as they dialogue. May God’s presence be very real in Mary’s life and work situation.

Peter.

Waikato Consultations

2010-04-12T14:06:00.001+12:00

Next week [20-23 April] the final consultations will be conducted in the Waikato Region as follows:

Tuesday 20^th April @ 7:30pm: Hamilton South Baptist Church

Wednesday 21^st April @ 7:30pm: Cambridge Baptist Church

Thursday 22^nd April @ 7:30pm: Hamilton Central Baptist Church

Friday 23^rd April @ 7:30pm: Tokoroa Baptist Church

Have we lost our confidence in the Gospel?

2010-04-08T14:53:00.001+12:00

By Neil Perry

A little while back I was talking to the pastor of one of our churches about global missions when he made the statement; “You know Neil, the problem is that half the members of my church are not Christians”. As you can imagine I was a little surprised by this statement! However as we talked further I began to understand that what he was meaning was that many of the people in his church, didn’t have a living understanding of the message of the Good News of Jesus that expressed itself in the way they lived their lives! He went on to talk about the “sub Christian” attitudes and behaviour of some of the members of his church and their lack of interest in mission, both local and overseas.

I’ve been thinking about how this could be possible and so far I’ve come up with two possible answers:

Maybe these people have an inadequate understanding of what it means to be a follower of Jesus because they weren’t ever told. I recall at the Gathering last year, Merrilyn Withers making the statement; “What we win people with is what we win them to”. If we flip that statement around and look at what we have “won them to” (as in what they have become), then maybe what we “won them with” (the message and perhaps the methodology), may have been flawed or inadequate.
Or maybe these people have become disillusioned with and lost confidence in the Gospel, and maybe even with God, to the point that they no longer have a “practicing” belief in the Gospel. Can I suggest that this may have happened for one of two reasons: 1. They may have tried their best to live a Christian life and to reach out to others but have become tired of constant set-backs and their perceived inability to change their patterns of behaviour let allow see others changed with by the Gospel. Or 2. They have in a sense of having become “punch drunk” from the constant barrage of messages from our society which tell us that “Christianity is not relevant to a modern society”, or “no thinking person would believe that stuff”; and they have withdrawn into themselves and that which is “safe”.

So have we in our personal lives and as the Church lost confidence in the Gospel or perhaps even in God?

Farewell NZ | Hello the World

2010-04-01T16:25:00.001+13:00

It’s 4pm on Thursday the 1^st April 2010.

It can’t be an ‘April Fools’ trick because it’s the afternoon. Pip has just left the tranzsend office as she heads out the door to South Asia to embark on the rest of her life as a tranzsend overseas worker. Well we hope its for a very long time anyway.

Having known Pip since she was 6 years old I find myself rather melancholic for some reason. Watching this young girl grow into a young woman who has a definite and special call on her life has been something extra ordinary to witness. I had the privilege of speaking at her commissioning last weekend and she certainly has had an amazing life so far. Great parents who showed the way, a full church life that anchored her faith, friends and colleagues who encouraged her and have been inspired because of her all add to the distinct call to mission she has.

I won’t get to see her off on Wednesday, but I know it will be an important time for her and her family as she steps onto an aeroplane to being a new life.

I am reminded of Rosalie McGeorge, another young woman of similar age, character and devotion to God, who stepped onto a ship 124 years ago to begin a new life in the same part of the world that Pip is heading to. What a feeling it must be.

What a legacy we have as New Zealand Baptists. Young men and woman of fine character and devotion to the Lord called to leave the comforts of Aotearoa, New Zealand, with missionary zeal to change the world, serve their God and witness the changing of lives of those they choose to live with. Awesome I say and bring it on for more to do the same.

Why do I write this reflection under the Future tab? Simple! Young men and woman like Pip are the future and their zeal to reach the nations is something we, back here in New Zealand, need to taste and support.

If you feel called, give us a call we would love to talk with you. If you are investigating there is an awesome opportunity to heed The Call in September. 01-04 Sept 10 Destination World is creating a space where you can explore mission… check it out at www.destinationworld.net.

Farewell Pip, as Frederick Buechner said once, “The vocation for you is the one in which your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”

Peter Mihaere.

The Easter

2010-04-01T13:18:00.001+13:00

We enter into the Easter season. One thing I personally do is watch the movie ‘The Passion’ prior to Sunday. It causes me to reflect once again about the enormity of Jesus’ sacrifice. Whilst we know what happens on day three, the first followers thought ‘The Way’ had come to an end. I wonder how I would have coped in reality? Definitely not like Judas, hopefully not like Peter. I guess I would have scattered like the others.

Then on day three… what an amazing reality of truth that brought all that Jesus had said to fruition. What passion must have surged through each of the eleven and those who followed Jesus… What he said really was true and it all makes sense now.

As you enter this time of reflection remember that we all go through the same realities in life that the disciples experienced, but may we remember most the surge of passion for our Lord on day three as we bring the message of amazing grace to those we work and live with.

World Mission conscience

2010-03-03T18:59:00.001+13:00

I was reminded this past weekend through a friend that tranzsend must be the world mission conscience for New Zealand Baptists. He was saying that someone must continually remind local Baptist churches to keep mission at the front of the purpose of their existence.

I think he’s right, because, tranzsend IS the world mission arm of the Baptist Churches of New Zealand. It was originally set up to send all Baptists in New Zealand with a call to cross cultural mission to the world. While these days many Baptists serve overseas with other organisations, as the mission arm of the Baptist Churches of New Zealand we can still stand alongside and help. We can help through guiding people to organisations, to expertise and to ministries that we can’t provide directly. We can also help by generally raising mission awareness even if that doesn’t result in our gaining new workers.

A great New Zealand Baptist was said to have stated once that “mission is like the grain of sand in the oyster”. It’s uncomfortable, it’s irritating, it’s constantly there and the oyster cannot escape its presence. Yet the more the irritant moves around the more the sand is transformed into a ‘pearl’.

What a great analogy. Well folks, I feel a new calling… I feel called to be a deliverer of grains of sand to the churches. Yes, it might be uncomfortable, perhaps I’ll be irritating but, hopefully, I can be a constant reminder to you about our mission task to the world.

Consultations - Taranaki - Manawatu

2010-02-15T07:32:00.001+13:00

Peter Mihaere will be facilitating consultation meetings next week in the following areas:

Tuesday 23 February 7.30pm - New Plymouth Central Baptist Church

Wednesday 24 February 7.30pm – Stratford Baptist Church

Thursday 25 February 7.30pm – Wanganui Central Baptist Church

Friday 26 February 7.30pm – Hokowhitu Baptist Church

Auckland Consultations

2010-02-15T07:28:00.001+13:00

This week we are running seven consultation meeting around Auckland. Here is a reminder of times and venues:

Monday (today)

1.30pm Manurewa Baptist Church (facilitator: Peter Mihaere)

7.30pm Manukau City Baptist Church (facilitator: Neil Perry)

Tuesday

7.30pm Royal Oak Baptist Church (facilitator: Neil Perry)

7.30pm Henderson Baptist Church (facilitator: Peter Mihaere)

Wednesday

7.30pm Windsor Park Baptist Church (facilitator: Neil Perry)

7.30pm Orewa Baptist Church (facilitator: Peter Mihaere)

Thursday

10.30am Northcote Baptist Church (facilitator: Neil Perry)

Merry Christmas

2009-12-22T16:21:00.001+13:00

I want to thank you all for your support over the past few months. We at tranzsend have truly appreciated your gifts, your prayers, and your encouragement as we have navigated difficult times. One thing is for certain… we head into a future where great things will happen for the Kingdom of God.

I’ve just finished reading Richard Stearns book “The hole in our Gospel”, a tremendous read but a challenging one. Another thing for certain about the future is that if we as the body of Christ do not more intentionally get about our Fathers business through bringing the good news to all people, especially the poor, we will have a lot to answer for at judgement day.

A word of caution… if you are happy with the status quo DON’T read this book. If you believe our duty is to focus only on those who are lost in our immediate community DON’T read this book. If on the other hand you want to unravel the knot in your stomach that there is more to the gospel than what you currently experience then READ the book. It will challenge you, it will change you and I pray it will give you more resolve to engage the world we live in.

We celebrate one of the most powerful acts of grace one could imagine. God the Father chose to send his Son in spectacular fashion to incarnate himself in our world. May we reflect on that this Christmas time as we consider our response to a world that is in great need. May you be inspired, resourced and mobilised to join God in his work around the globe.

Merry Christmas, Peter Mihaere

Auckland Dates and Locations confirmed

2009-12-11T14:25:00.003+13:00

For all those waiting for the Auckland dates for our consultations in February… here they are:

Monday 15^th February

1.30pm – 3pm Manurewa Baptist Church, 9 Lupton Rd, Manurewa

7.30pm – 9pm Manukau City Baptist Church, Lambie Drive, Manukau

Tuesday 16^th February

7.30pm – 9pm Royal Oak Baptist Church, 114 Symonds St, Royal Oak

7.30pm – 9pm Henderson Baptist Church, 319 Great North Rd, Henderson

Wed 17^th February

7.30pm – 9pm Windsor Park Baptist Church, 550 East Coast Bays Rd., Mairangi Bay

7.30pm – 9pm Orewa Baptist Church, 2-4 Loop Rd., Orewa

Thurs 18^th February

10.30am – 12.00 Northcote Baptist Church, 67 Eban Ave., Hillcrest, North Shore City

All sessions will be 90 minutes long…

Baptist Gathering affirming of tranzsend's journey

2009-12-02T10:41:00.001+13:00

At the beginning of November the annual gathering of Baptist Churches met in Rangiora. The theme of the gathering was “hearing from the God who speaks”, an appropriate theme for the 124^th Assembly of the New Zealand Missionary Society, tranzsend.

On the Friday night tranzsend launched its 125^th year with ‘Rove’ styled interviews with missionaries past, present and future under the titles THEN, NOW, NEXT. We even Skyped in people from the field including 14 year old Lora as she shared how God was speaking to her. Celebrating 125 years of global mission will be one of our themes for the next 12 months as we celebrate 125 years of global mission and honour the messengers who take the Good News to the world.

Saturday during the business session where we presented our annual report, our financial performance and budget for the coming year.

Unexpectedly, we were greatly affirmed as an organisation and as a ministry of the family of baptist churches. We take this affirmation seriously. What has helped has been the consultations that Neil and I have been conducting around the country. Neil has concluded a consultation in the deep south and we pick up the rest of the country in February. See the latest dates:

Auckland – 15^th to 18^th February (Peter & Neil)

Taranaki/Manuwatu/Ruapehu – 21^st to 28^th February (Peter)

Wellington/Wairarapa/Kapiti Coast – 1^st to 7^th March (Neil)

Waikato – 14^th to 21^st March (Peter)

Eastern BOP, Gisborne, Napier, Taupo & Putararu 22^nd to 29^th March (Neil)

Please come out and dialogue… we will post exact dates and venues shortly.

Cheers, Peter Mihaere

NZ Baptists writing in about the future

2009-09-30T16:20:00.001+13:00

I’m encouraged by the letters I am receiving by folk in Baptist Churches about my article in the October Baptist magazine.

Some have agreed, others have not, but I am so grateful that each has taken the time out of their busy schedules to write to me.

I have appreciated the views that differ from mine and the insights they have added to the conversation.

For those that have given me kind words I have appreciated their support and encouragement.

Some have even rung me to discuss.

Keep the feedback coming… through this type of interaction we have the opportunity to hear God’s voice in it all.

Many thanks Peter.

Peter Mihaere Meetings in Hastings and Rotorua

2009-09-25T16:34:00.005+12:00

My East coast trip didn’t quite come off as originally planned but I has a good meeting with Hasting Pastors and a church meeting at Hasting Baptist covering the Hastings churches earlier this week (Tue 22 Sept).

Last night (Thus 24 Sept) I had a good meeting with Church leaders, Missions team members and staff at Rotorua Baptist. Peter Foster, Whakatane Baptist, came across to support the meeting as well.

Similar to the South Island in the numbers attending department but some good conversations.

Its certainly a privilege to serve in the Baptist denomination with the amount of world mission activity that we are involved in… it was great hearing the level of commitment some churches have.

Peter

Peter Mihaere Covers the top half of South Island

2009-09-25T16:34:00.003+12:00

Heading out from Christchurch for seven days of the most spectacular weather imaginable. I did the top of the South Island loop up to Picton, Blenheim, Nelson, Greymouth, Darfield and Rangiora/Kaiapoi.

I had meetings with church groups and pastors and with some health discussion in each meeting.

I appreciated that fact that people made the commitment to come out and meet with me and some very good conversations about tranzsend, world mission today and what the future might bring.

I have been been encouraged by the level of support that tranzsend enjoys and many in the groups we some of out greatest fans.

The has been some good honest discussion about where we are at and I have been particularly appreciate at the dialogue I’m having with Pastors who see the importance of a denomination based missionary society.

Neil Perry Visits Northland

2009-09-25T16:34:00.001+12:00

I was on the road in Northland for four days wending my way along country roads in the midst of spectacular scenery on my way to visit Pastors and Churches.

While the meetings weren’t large, there was lively discussion and honest debate. Most of the participants were older folk but not all were from traditional Baptist backgrounds.

Key points from my listening: Some churches give world mission a very high profile in their Sunday services and general congregational life. Others give little or no profile to world missions.

A collective response to world missions gives; a sense of credibility and safety to our overseas work, as well as keeping the Baptist family focused on mission.

However our limited overseas locations and sometimes lack of personal relationship with our overseas workers can sometimes be a disadvantage.

In the future we need to be sharply focused and very strategic.

tranzsend’s challenge: money or something deeper

2009-09-23T07:37:00.001+12:00

by Peter Mihaere

tranzsend facing tough financial times

It’s a well communicated fact that tranzsend is now facing tough financial times and this is likely to continue into the future.

A friend said to me up front, “Peter, we need to know what went wrong, why it went wrong and get about fixing the problem.” My immediate response was, “It’s quite simple, we can only steward what’s been given to us.”

As I sat in Kelvyn Fairhall’s office one day shortly after that conversation lamenting tranzsend’s financial results I verbalised the feeling that even if someone walked into our reception and handed us a million dollar cheque, I didn’t think it would solve our problem.

A much deeper problem

Our problem is not whether we have enough money, it’s much deeper than that. If it was only about the money then we could put on a new fundraising hat, shake a few trees, get about sharing our vision and take the result to the bank.

We did that, in part, in June by sending an open letter to the churches about our financial crisis, and our denomination responded, for which we are truly grateful. Not with a million dollars, but we have probably cleared our potential deficit for this year. Praise the Lord!

So money is NOT the problem here. Something deeper is going on and I believe we need to tackle this deeper issue head on.

In my personal devotions at the moment I am reflecting on Nehemiah. In Chapter five, Nehemiah starts to have some internal problems with the community. There is slave trading and loan sharking going on and Nehemiah wants and needs to put a stop to it, so he reflects and then confronts the people with the issue. While I don’t think there is slave trading or loan sharking going on in our denomination I do feel the need to stick my neck out and confront us with an issue we are facing. It goes to the core of who we are….

To read the full article click here.

National Consultation on New Zealand Baptists in World Mission

2009-09-23T07:08:00.001+12:00

Over the next five months, Neil Perry and Peter Mihaere will be travelling throughout New Zealand to hold consultation meetings about what we do as Baptists in respect to World Mission.

What is our purpose?

“As the leadership of tranzsend we call the denomination to discern with us what God is doing in the world of mission today and how, as New Zealand Baptists, we continue with a collective response to world mission.”

Who is this for?

We want to consult with as many people who attend local Baptist Churches as possible. For that reason we are committed to travelling extensively throughout New Zealand to meet with you.

What will we be seeking to do?

Our desire is to have as many face to face and group meetings as physically possible so as to give every person attending an opportunity to input into this process. We have a number of questions we would like to ask including:

· What are the things your local church is doing in world mission?

· How is God calling us, as New Zealand Baptists, to join Him in world mission today?

· Should we, as New Zealand Baptists, have a collective response to world mission?

· If so, how can we be more effective in that collective response?

· What could a collective response look like in the future?

Is this just tranzsend wanting more money?

This is a very fair question as tranzsend’s financial situation has precipitated this discussion. The answer is simply no.

tranzsend is probably the most extensive collective activity we do as New Zealand Baptists and we want to hear your voice on how we advance into the future. The world has and is continually changing and we need to make sure we are delivering what our key stakeholders believe is the right thing for us to be doing. There are many questions on people’s minds about World Mission. This consultation provides a platform for people to ask those questions.

It is tranzsend‘s intention to be in listening mode during this consultation and we would value your input.

To ensure you keep fully up to date and when meetings are happening in your town or city please visit the tranzsend website (www.tranzsend.org.nz) and click on “the future” tab. Here we will provide the latest information. Keep an eye on our new blog as we feature news throughout the consultation period which runs from September to February 2010.

Financial Update

2009-09-23T07:06:00.001+12:00

We continue to be blessed by God’s abundance through your response to this crisis.

In June I advised you that we could be facing a $500,000 deficit. If our predictions are correct, and we are being a little conservative, we could be finishing the financial year with a small surplus.

We have gone through the budgeting process for the up coming year. At the time of writing (around mid August) we needed to heavily review our budget figures to ensure we present to Mission Council a realistic budget for submission to the Gathering in November. This is not an easy task and we ask you to continue to prayer with us as we finalise these during September.

400 Years - comment

2009-08-12T10:20:00.001+12:00

I just read an article about the celebration of 400 years of Baptist Mission from David Kerrigan, General Director BMS World Mission (UK) and two things stuck out for me in reflection:

1. tranzsend is the trading name of the New Zealand Baptist Missionary Society – David comments: “The use of the word ‘society’ described the commitment of individuals and churches to a common cause, a model that survives strongly to this day.”

2. David made special comment of Johann Gerhard Oncken, a German, who was baptised in 1834 and helped form a church in Hamburg. Onken travelled across Europe and when asked if he was a missionary, famously responded, “Jeder Baptist ein Missionar” (“Every Baptist is a missionary”).

Interesting huh?

Peter

400 YEARS OF BAPTIST MISSION

2009-08-12T10:19:00.002+12:00

By David Kerrigan

Baptists have a reputation for being a missionary people!

And that activism surely flows from the radical commitment of the early Baptists to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and a fresh engagement with scripture. Peering through nearly 1,600 years of ecclesiastical layering, they rediscovered the biblical witness to the missionary God of the Old and New Testament, and his purposes for his church.

Their experience of persecution demanded a radical commitment to the cause. And with that commitment came a genuinely missionary zeal.

The journey to Amsterdam resulted in the first Baptist church in 1609, the anniversary we celebrate this year. A subsequent return to England saw the first Baptist church on English soil opening in 1611. Pilgrims sailing to America were the precursor to Baptist churches appearing there by the 1630s. And rapid growth was evident there by the mid-18th century.

That growth was particularly strong amongst slaves and former slaves who were drawn to the liberating gospel of Jesus Christ. And so, as they were freed, their faith became the launch pad for major missionary endeavor.

In 1773, George Liele became the first African American to be licensed as a preacher, moving to Kingston, Jamaica, in 1783, along with many others, where he established a thriving Baptist witness.

In a similar way, Prince Williams, also a freed slave from South Carolina, traveled to the Bahamas and helped establish a Baptist church, Bethel Meeting House. In Williams’ long life (he died aged 104), he influenced many people through his preaching and leadership, and subsequently more than 160 churches were planted in the Bahamas.

David George, through his childhood friendship with George Liele, was himself converted and baptized in South Carolina and eventually traveled to Sierra Leone with 12,000 Black settlers and founded the first Baptist church in that land.

Lott Carey, another freed slave, went on to pastor an 800-strong congregation in Virginia before he traveled to West Africa in 1821, establishing a ministry of church planting, healthcare and education before he died in 1828.

More names could be added to this roll call of honor but the significance of this migration is often underestimated. If for no other reason, we should be reminded of the potential for strong missionary currents flowing within the major people migrations we see today.

Meanwhile, in England, the challenge of William Carey to the prevailing theology of the day led to the formation of the Baptist Missionary Society (today BMS World Mission), a work that spread to the far corners of the British Empire within a generation.

This initiative was remarkable in many respects and none more so than the new model that BMS represented. Based on the joint-stock model of the East India Company, Carey and others saw that cooperation in mission would allow so much more to be done. The use of the word “society” described the commitment of individuals and churches to a common cause, a model that survives strongly to this day.

A similar model emerged later in America and encouraged the formation of various Baptist associations and conventions. The largest of these is the Southern Baptist Convention, which has more than 5,000 career missionaries today.

As a result of the emancipation of slaves and the reach of empire, Baptists in the 19th century became established in Britain, throughout the New World, in Africa and Asia. But strangely there was almost no presence in mainland Europe until Johann Gerhard Oncken, a German, was baptized in 1834 and helped form a church in Hamburg. Oncken traveled across Europe and when asked if he was a missionary, famously responded, “Jeder Baptist ein Missionar” (“Every Baptist is a missionary”).

Today, the world of Baptist missions is transformed. Baptists from Mizoram, Nigeria, Ukraine and Korea stand alongside those from the Old World and what was once called the New World. Those from Brazil are coming close to the size and influence of those from America. Mission is happening from everywhere to everywhere.

And new missionary models are being pioneered by Baptists. The support of indigenous missionaries by traditional sending agencies is hugely significant. The utilization of business as a mission model, major Baptist input into broadcasting and bold experiments in reaching those from a Muslim background are all characteristic of a continuing missionary commitment.

Oncken was right – every Baptist is a missionary. That is how we have always understood our faith.

David Kerrigan is General Director of BMS World Mission, the primary mission agency for British Baptists. He is a member of the BWA Commission on Doctrine and Interchurch Cooperation, the Mission and Evangelism Workgroup, the BWAid Committee, and the BWA Membership Committee. Published in Jul/September 2009 edition of Baptist World (go to www.bwanet.org for full ezine)

Financial Update

2009-08-07T09:58:00.001+12:00

I am continually amazed at the way in which God’s people respond to financial difficulties.

To say that the issues facing tranzsend is a financial one is not true. We face a need to understand, collectively, what we should be doing together in World Mission.

And here are some figures to Praise God for:

tranzsends Deficit Appeal, via the Open letter send out in June has raised $86,312.70 so far.

There have been a number of individuals who have sacrificially given to help us. I’ve read some of the names and I know many of them… I am truly humbled by each and every gift. Churches have helped through special appeals or made specific grants in response to our needs.

Our general giving has gone up since June. We estimate a further $15-20,000 from this giving channel.

Those who have are doing our annual appeal Prayer and Self Denial during this period are setting new records for giving. A number of churches have doubled, tripled and nearly quadrupled their normal giving pattern. We estimate an additional $50-60,000 from this giving channel.

Are we in recession? Yes we are BUT we who call ourselves Christian and give like this understand the higher purpose of the task of Mission and the need to adequately resource it.

May each of you be abundantly blessed, may your Church be blessed.

Thank you so much….

Bless you, PJ

National Consultation… coming your way…

2009-08-07T09:36:00.001+12:00

We are in the planning stage of setting up meetings across New Zealand.

Look out for the notices, flyers, emails etc of the National Consultation of New Zealand Baptists in World Mission.

The consultation will run from September 2009 through to February 2010 recognising recognising the great New Zealand shutdown over the summer.

This is a denominational consultation and we want to hear your voice.

Details of where and when will be published here as confirmations come to hand.

Cheers, PJ

Welcome The Future Updates

2009-08-07T09:25:00.001+12:00

Greetings,

This blog will be updated on a regular basis so that you can keep up to date with what's happening in terms of the future at tranzsend.

The next 12 to 15 months are a crucial time for tranzsend AND for the New Zealand Baptist movement as it decides on its collective response to World Mission.

We will keep you up to date on all aspects of this right here. We would encourage you to do two things:

Bookmark this page for later reference
Register your email address so that we can notify you of these updates and any additional news as it comes to hand.

These updates will also be posted to Facebook and Twitter.

Cheers, PJ