Date: 2 November 2022
Time: 9am-5pm
Location: Bethlehem Baptist Church
Cost: $40

E nga mana, e nga reo, e nga iwi, e rau rangatira ma.  

Tena koutou, tena koutou, tena tatou katoa. 

Good News! Chaplain’s Day is back! 

After a long, Covid 19 caused hiatus, all chaplains in the wider Baptist network are warmly invited to a day, tailor-made for chaplains . 

Chaplaincy is a specialist ministry, requiring a high level of wisdom, understanding and spiritual gifts. It’s in the front lines of Christian service, especially in these times of pressure, stress and strain for so many people in our communities. Jesus calls us to be salt and light, lights in the good days and in the storms of life, and that’s a chaplain’s role. Sometimes it is mysterious, “What is it about these God people?” sometimes it opens the window to sacred moments of great beauty, sometimes it is a challenging and lonely road to walk. 

Chaplain’s day is a one-off opportunity for Baptist chaplains (volunteers, part-timers, full-timers) to mix and mingle with colleagues, to share stories, to build relationships, and to receive input specifically related to chaplaincy. 

It is very exciting to have Chris Parsons as our guest speaker. Over many years Chris has seen chaplaincy at work from the other side, as a military commander. He has unique insights and wisdom to share.  

We will hear chaplain’s stories, Charles Hewlett will share with us, Donna Reid opens the Word to us, Chris Haines shares from his years of experience as a navy chaplain and his new role in the corporate world, and we pray together. 

Lunch and morning and afternoon tea breaks are intentionally given a generous amount of time to facilitate opportunities for fellowship and community building. 

You are warmly invited, come and bless us as you share from your kite, come and receive replenishment for your kite. 

Please register for Chaplains Day as part of the Hui registration process. There is a cost of $40 for this event.  

If you have any questions, please contact Paul Askin on 021 140 2074.

Born in the Waikato. Bred in the Far North and deeply connected to the Manukau.

Motivated by a desire to protect others, to save for a farm and a taste for adventure, Chris joined the New Zealand Army in 1989. Experiences followed in logistics, infantry (briefly) and special operations.

Chris commanded the New Zealand’s Special Air Service during one of its busiest operational periods (2009-2011). He was then selected as the inaugural commander of the 1st (New Zealand) Brigade, then a multipurpose team of 3,300 people. A variety of strategic leadership roles followed; including the GM Commercial Services in an Engineering Company (while on leave without pay), the Deputy Chief of the New Zealand Army and most recently, responsibility for Defence Diplomacy in the United Kingdom and Europe. 

He has seen operational service in Africa, South East Asia, the Pacific and the Middle East. He holds two master’s degrees in Management and Strategic Studies respectively, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Defence and Strategic Studies. He is a Chartered Member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors. He is a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, a recipient of the Distinguished Service Decoration and the United States Defense Meritorious Service Medal.

Noting a growing global need for leaders who can navigate the complex challenges of feeding the world while simultaneously protecting our environment, Chris has recently returned to his roots in the food and fibre sector. Today, as CEO of the New Zealand Rural Leadership Trust, Chris is charged with growing strategic leaders for New Zealand’s largest export earning sector. He is also a shareholding director of Ashgrove Genetics, a 600-hectare sheep and beef stud in the Kaipara District. Chris is married to Hayley and they have four grown children. Hayley is a recipient of the Chief of Army’s Commendation for her support of military families.

Together, Chris and Hayley support Te Kiwi Māia (courageous kiwis) a charity for first responders and veterans. Passionate about educational opportunities for challenged communities, they are also Patrons of Villa Education Trust, which opened the first of New Zealand’s (then) Charter Schools. Chris is also an Ambassador for SAVSIM, a UK-based wildlife charity. SAVSIM is powered by veterans who help train wildlife rangers in Mozambique.  In their spare time, Chris and Hayley wrangle a lifestyle block on the shores of the Manukau Harbour. 

Mt. Maunganui Baptist Church 1991 – 2011 

Royal New Zealand Navy 2009 –  

SAARA CS Ltd – 2022 –  

I was born in Tauranga, and very privileged to grow up in an outdoor adventure rich environment, courtesy of my close proximity to the surf and the opportunity to be an enthusiastic participant in the scouting movement.  Cobam Outward Bound School and Basic Training with the New Zealand Army further developed my love for adventure, leading me to become an avid Kayaker, Scuba Diver and Sky Diver.  

Surrendering my life to the Lord Jesus Christ in the late 70s resulted in a calling to ministry and over a decade spent in the USA, completing my ordination studies in 1986.  During this time I married my beautiful Nancy and together we led churches in Salem, Oregon and Los Angeles California, with a 2 year break in-between congregations serving as the Director of a Ministry Training Academy in Northern California.  

Returning to NZ in 1991, Nancy and I with our 2 children took up the pastorate at Mount Baptist where over the next 20 years we became a part of the community and also worked to develop relationships with other nearby church fellowships of various denominational affiliations; a ‘movement of the heart’ which came to be called ‘the church on the coast’. 

In 2009, in my capacity as a Baptist minister, I accepted an ‘Offer of Service’ to enter the Royal New Zealand Navy as a Reserve Officer and Chaplain. In 2012, I transferred into the Regular Force and in February 2020 became the Principal Chaplain of the Navy. In 2022, I returned to the Navy Reserves, RNZNR, and having already enjoyed almost 13 years in the military, I accepted a position with an exciting and relatively new Kiwi company as their ‘Chief Culture Officer’. This, with my employers gracious support, has opened a new door for ministry into the corporate world.  I have already had wonderful opportunities to share my faith and present a practical boots under the desk understanding of the Christian world view.   Weaving the dynamic principles of scripture into workshops on Leadership and the development of company culture and values, is part of my job description now.  

October 9th 2022 marks 40 years of marriage to my precious Nancy, and 43 years with Jesus – the adventure continues and I remain very grateful.