What's Happening

Pōwhiri in its everyday sense is to invite or beckon in or welcome. For formal events a pōwhiri acknowledges mana whenua of the land (pre-settlement occupational and territorial rights) despite these rights not necessarily surviving into present day. For Māori, we all whakapapa to land somewhere and the pōwhiri acknowledges and respects the land rights and responsibilities of other people; starting our Hui in this manner is giving life and substance to our Treaty journey. 

This year’s Hui is being held in Tauranga-moana and the pōwhiri will be held at Bethlehem Baptist Church where the tangata whenua will formally pōwhiri us into Tauranga and the start of our Hui together. 

Note: A dress, skirt or adequate covering of legs is required dress code for attending the pōwhiri. On entering the venue, women need to be in front and men to follow. Guidelines will also be uploaded to the app.

Jesus Christ is the head of the church. We depend upon him alone, and in his goodness he chooses to work through the Baptist Union of churches in New Zealand. 

We want to spend time calling out to him in gathered prayer. We want to worship his name, we want to confess our sin, and we want to ask him for his clear guidance throughout the Hui.   

Has there ever been a moment in our history as Baptists that we haven’t met as a gathered body of believers for 3 consecutive years? Let’s celebrate the fact that we are together again as a whanau of churches. Let’s enjoy one another and relish this moment of coming together again.  

Let’s applaud so much of the good that has happened across our movement over the past year. There is a lot to celebrate with many people to honour. Whether that be our president, our long service leaders, new churches, overseas personnel, newly registered leaders…This will be a night of celebration not to be missed! 

We take the mandate of mission from God seriously, which is why we want to invite you to join us as we signal the entering of a new season for NZBMS/Arotahi. As we look to engage and equip a fresh generation for the Missio Dei, we would love you to join us as we all walk together into the next part of our exciting Baptist journey. 

Join us for delicious kai, compelling guest-speakers, global updates, a fresh look, and some take-home  gifts from us!

• Friday evening 4th November, 5.30 – 9pm
• Bethlehem Baptist Church auditorium
• Dinner + dessert included

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 

Acts 1:8 NIV 

We have some incredible creativity in our midst. Let’s take time to worship God in creative expression during Hui, through the writing of a song, the performance of a haka, the honouring of a carving, the beauty of a painting, and the power of the spoken word.

Baptist’s celebrate the fact that God works through all people. We get excited about the words of Jesus that, “where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them”. During our Hui we will have plenty of time for conversation with one another, collectively discerning the mind of Christ together.

We look forward in expectation to this amazing line up…

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