Contributors

Take the time to read and feel free to comment on what you read and thereby help the conversation to develop.

• Lynne M. Baab is lecturer in pastoral theology at the University of Otago. She is a Presbyterian minister and the author of numerous books, including Friending: Real Relationships in a Virtual World, Reaching Out in a Networked World, Sabbath Keeping and Fasting. Many of her articles and information about her books can be found on her website: www.lynnebaab.com.
• Sean du Toit, along with his wife, Sue, [who he’s had a crush on since he was sixteen], is a follower of Jesus trying to make sense of this world. This quest to be faithful to Jesus has led him into the byways and alleys of theology, history, philosophy and now a community called, “Common Ground.” Part of this quest involves teaching the New Testament, pursuing his own post-grad research and trying to connect with his friends, as often as possible.
• Sarah Harris is a wife, mum, Anglican Priest and Otago doctoral student working in the Gospel of Luke and telling the salvation story of Zacchaeus.
• Andrew Picard is husband of Margaret, dad of Olivia and Amy, a friend to many, and a follower of Jesus. He lectures at Carey Baptist College and co-ordinates Field Education.
• Jonathan Robinson is a lanky bearded Brit who has been preaching since 1999, in NZ since 2006, and blogging since 2008.  He is one of the pastors at Blockhouse Bay Baptist Church and blogs at http://Xenos-Theology.blogspot.com.
• Laura Giddey is youth and young adults pastor at Shore Community Church (in Albany), and makes excellent brownies.
• George Wieland is the newly appointed Director of Mission Research and Training at Carey Baptist College. A former missionary and pastor, he preaches regularly in a range of contexts.
• Thalia Kehoe Rowden is an awesome parallel parker and the pastor of New Plymouth West Baptist Church, a place of shelter, faith and laughter.
• Reuben Munn is Senior Pastor of Shore Community Church on Auckland’s North Shore. He also preaches on the TV programme Connection Point, a ministry of SCC, which screens on Shine TV. He enjoys reading and is a keen piano player.
• John Catmur is on the pastoral team at Auckland Baptist Tabernacle. He arrived there after a journey through a music degree, a government job, a dash of theology in London and a flight across the world.  He likes bicycles and cheese.
• Tony Plews is the Executive Director of Langham Partnership New Zealand (LPNZ). He has a long connection with theological education both at home (with many years on the faculty at Laidlaw College) and overseas (with his leadership of “LeaDev-Langham” which is committed to strengthening the work of colleges in various parts of Asia).
• Robyn Mellar-Smith is a daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, and the pastor of Epuni Baptist Church in Lower Hutt.
• Paul Davison has been the pastor of Hastings Baptist Church longer than anyone else.  He tries hard to be effective through all kinds of ministry of the Word, including preaching.
• Geoff New has been minister of Papakura East & Hunua Presbtyterian Church since 1997. He is currently working on a DMin thesis exploring the effect of using Ignatian Gospel Contemplation and lectio divina in sermon preparation.
• Steve Taylor is a Baptist-on-loan and a kiwi-in-exile, working as Director of Missiology for the Uniting College of Leadership and Theology, Adelaide, Australia. He is author of Out of Bounds Church?, Learning to Create a Community of Faith in a Culture of Change and writes regularly at www.emergentkiwi.org.nz
• Myk Habets teaches systematic theology at Carey Baptist College and is Director of the R.J. Thompson Centre for Theological Study. Myk was an itinerant preacher for over a decade but now, with his wife Odele and two children, he attends Windsor Park Baptist Church.
• John Tucker serves as the Director of Ministry Training at Carey Baptist College, where he is also involved in the teaching of preaching. He has recently completed a PhD on Baptist engagement in social issues in New Zealand.
• Rewai Te Kahu is a Maori Baptist minister serving with the New Zealand Army as a Chaplain. He has just completed three years of ministry in Waiouru and is now posted to Linton with his whanau Josie, and their three sons.
• Dale Campbell is married to Diane, father to Thomas, Associate Pastor at Northcote Baptist Church. He also blogs (fruitfulfaith.net) and plays/writes music (dalecampbell.bandcamp.com).
• Melissa Powell was the Associate Pastor of cession|community for 6 years until December 2009 and is currently embarking on the journey of church planting. She is married to Jacob and mum to Emily, and soon to be mum of one more.
• Greg Liston is currently pursuing doctoral studies in systematic theology, after recently completing 7½ years as the senior pastor of Hillsborough Baptist Church. Previous roles include strategic management consulting and a Ph.D. in quantum physics. He is married to Diane and has two children, Emily (9) and James (6).
• Nigel Pollock has a passion for effective evangelism, whole-life discipleship and encouraging the next generation of people of influence.  He is married to Ailsa and they have three boys; Luke (15), Jamie (13) and Craig (9).  The family live in Wellington, where Nigel is National Director of TSCF (Tertiary Students Christian Fellowship). Nigel travels extensively around the Pacific Rim and beyond.  Nigel is the author of “Unconditional” and the best-selling “Relationships Revolution“.
• Steve Worsley has been Senior Pastor at Petone Baptist Church for five years. He wrote and created the worship leader training course called, ‘One Step Ahead Worship‘ and has more recently interviewed key preachers to create ‘One Step Ahead Preaching‘. He is passionate about helping churches find ways to upskill and improve what they do in their gathered church services.
• Dr Andrew Butcher attends and occasionally preaches at Tawa Baptist Church, Wellington. He is Director, Policy and Research at the Asia New Zealand Foundation. His personal website is www.andrewbutcher.org
• Rod Thompson has just commenced as National Principal/CEO of Laidlaw College in Auckland. He is passionate about family (he and Rosanne have recently become grandparents for the second time), the Bible, theology, art, music, history, culture – and red wine in moderation.
• Tim Harris is Dean of Bishopdale Theological College and a dedicated connoisseur of movies and the creative arts—and happily finds any excuse to show clips of the same in the classroom.
• Karen Spoelstra is a lay preacher, bible-teacher, trainer, mother and mentor – currently working for Anglican Youth Ministries in Auckland helping young leaders reach their potential. She is a member of St George’s Anglican Church.
• Brad Carr is the husband of Rochelle, father of three boys, and lead pastor of BotanyLife Community Church in East Auckland, a church they helped to plant in 2004. Brad is a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary and a contributor to the One Step Ahead preaching course.
• Brett Jones is pastor to cession|community in the eastern suburbs of Auckland and Assistant National Superintendent (Church Development) for the Wesleyan Methodist Church.  In his spare time he is father to 3 and husband to 1.
• Mark Keown is a senior lecturer in New Testament at Laidlaw College, Auckland NZ. He has been a Presbyterian and Baptist Pastor and is often found preaching and teaching in churches. He is married to Emma the minister of Glenfield Presbyterian, and has three wonderful daughters. His books include Congregational Evangelism in Philippians (Paternoster, 2008), and What’s God Up To On Planet Earth (Castle, 2010).
• Andrea McDougall is an Anglican priest who is currently studying at Otago University for a PhD on Karl Barth’s theology of humility.