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Contributors

This site will feature a weekly column from a range of contributors. Some will be mature and experienced preachers while others are much younger with preaching ministries that are embryonic. We like it this way! We want to be encouraging the development of a fresh generation of preachers.

All of them are wrestling with this Kiwi context and are committed to biblical preaching. We will add a brief bio-line to this page when they make their first post. Every now and then we plan to have a guest contributor from outside the New Zealand setting.

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 Joy Together: Spiritual Practices for Your Congregation, Sabbath Keeping and Fasting. Many of her articles and information about her books can be found on her website: www.lynnebaab.com.
  • Miriam Bier teaches Old Testament at the London School of Theology. She loves to get out and about exploring but also daydreams regularly about the classic Kiwi summer!
  • Dr Andrew Butcher lives in Whitby and attends Anchor Church. He is Director, Policy and Research at the Asia New Zealand Foundation. His personal website is www.andrewbutcher.org
  • 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)
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Stu Crosson  has been the Vicar of St Matthews, Dunedin since 2006, after a period in exile in Babylon Auckland. Married to Mary, they have three school age boys and he is committed to help in raising up the next generation of Christian Leaders. Stu goes onto Facebook at least once a year.
  • 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.
  • Sean du Toit, is a husband to Sue, an uncle, a NT lecturer at Alphacrucis, a PhD candidate, and an ardent follower of Jesus, trying to be faithful.
  • Laura Giddey is youth and young adults pastor at Shore Community Church (in Albany), and makes excellent brownies.
  • Val Goold- KoTapuae o Uenuku toku maunga. Ko Kurahaupo toku waka.  Ko Rangitane o Wairau toku iwi. Val was born in the Waikato and is still a committed fan of Waikato rugby (complete with Mooloo cowbell!!). Val studied at Victoria University completing a BA in Economic History and then completed a B.Div at Laidlaw. Val taught History and Economics at Macleans College before moving up an age group to work with university students. Since 2002 Val has worked as the Head of Student Ministries, for Tertiary Students Christian Fellowship. Val is passionate about helping people live authentic, growing, and biblically shaped lives wherever God leads them (whether that be the lecture theatre, the workplace, the sports field, or the pub!). Val is nearing completion on her Masters in Education (Adult Education) where she has focussed her thesis on women in leadership of not-for-profit organisations in 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Thalia Kehoe Rowden began 2011 as the full-time minister of New Plymouth West Baptist Church and ended it as the full-time mother of Sweet Baby James. She now lives in inner-city Wellington and blogs at sacraparental.com whenever James is asleep.
  • 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).
  • Jody Kilpatrick leads a charmed life filled with meaningful work, excellent family and friends, and slow-but-steady swims at the Tepid Baths. Amongst the people of Ponsonby Baptist Church she is discovering what it is to pastor.
  • 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 (12) and James (8).
  • Andrea McDougall is an Anglican priest who is currently studying at Otago University for a PhD on Karl Barth’s theology of humility.
  • Simon McLeay is the Senior Minister at St Peters in the City, Tauranga. As the son of a Presbyterian Minister he has listened to and been formed by preaching all his life. Simon is married to Karen a Dietitian and has three school-age children. Simon has served in four diverse churches, been a mission consultant with his denomination and served as Auckland coordinator for the Alpha Course. He also has a M.Min and is one of the Moderators of the Kaimai Presbytery.
  • Robyn Mellar-Smith is blessed to be married to Grant, have a bunch of beautiful kids and grand-kids, and be the pastor of Epuni Baptist Church.
  • 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.
  • Geoff New has been minister of Papakura East & Hunua Presbtyterian Church since 1997. His DMin thesis explored the effect of using Ignatian Gospel Contemplation and lectio divina in sermon preparation. He commenced as director of Kiwi-Made Preaching in 2012.
  • 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.
  • 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“.
  • 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.
  • 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).
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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
  • 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.
  • Rod Thompson has is 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.
  • John Tucker serves as the Director of Ministry Training at Carey Baptist College, where he teaches preaching and heads up Carey’s School of Preaching. He is married to Lorraine. They have three children, Emma, Sophie and Daniel.
  • Kevin Ward joined the team at the School of Ministry (Knox College Dundein) in 2003. His previous experience has been as a secondary school teacher, Baptist minister and then for thirteen years as a lecturer and Associate Dean at the Christchurch Centre of the Bible College of New Zealand. His research interests are in religion and church in contemporary society and in congregational studies. He has published widely in these areas in New Zealand and overseas, for both academic and more general readers. He keeps himself balanced by running, tramping, golf, movies (he has taught on Spirituality in Film at Otago University) and enjoying red wine and good coffee.
  • George Wieland is the Director of Mission Research and Training at Carey Baptist College, where he formerly taught Biblical Studies for a number of years. He has pastored churches in Brazil, England and Scotland, and preaches regularly in a range of contexts in NZ and overseas.
  • Steve Worsley has been Senior Pastor at Petone Baptist Church for eight years. Steve (Mmus, BD) is a professional musician turned pastor.  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. Steve has conducted a lecture module on the history, theology and biblical background of worship at Lifeway College – which was the most fun he’s had in ages!