The 2025 annual update from Otago & Southland Baptist Association Regional Leader Rachel Murray
God has been so faithful in this last year through some wonderful highs and even some pretty deep lows for many. 2024-2025 adds to what has come before, and we’re grateful for opportunity and even the challenges to work through and learn from.
Small in number, our associating and resultant support continues to grow. For the 2nd year in a row, we’ve had 100% of our churches contributing to the Association. A change of balance date in 2024 resulted in a 10-month financial year, and although a deficit result, this was still more positive than anticipated. The 2024 AGM agreed the sale of 3 properties in North East Valley, Dunedin. This has been a challenging process to deal with, navigating the concern and interest from the community and media, and yet by the end of June, all three were under offer. The sales will remove a key income line for us in rentals but also remove all compliance, maintenance and increasing insurance costs on deteriorating property. Our total assets remain very healthy although these do support our annual deficits along with ministry investment.
Regional Hui 2025 was held in March at Gore Baptist Church with folk in a range of roles from across most our region’s churches, along with a handful from the wider national team. With a theme of ‘Expect great things from God; Attempt great things for God’ we leaned into topics such as the influence of different generations in our churches, leadership development, community outreach, discipleship, worship, associating, plus OSBA updates. The annual OSBA women’s event was held at Dunedin City Baptist Church in early April with approx. 115 women aged 13-85 years present. A very encouraging day.
The Association has supported three churches in upgrading needed equipment, property development, and community and ministry events. We’ve also been able to support the strengthening of the Dunedin Easter Camp. Several of our Baptist church youth groups attend this camp and it is significant in the faith development of our young people. As a commitment to encourage leadership development, 6 individuals from 6 churches were financially supported in study – 2 in pastoral leadership, 2 in post graduate study through Carey Baptist College, plus 2 in general ministry leadership study through Carey Baptist College and Otago University. 23 folk from 11 churches undertook the subsidised Child Protection online training in February and it’s encouraging to see this issue taken seriously. Numbers of registered Baptist leaders have increased to 17 from 9 churches.
The Central Otago Baptist Network (COBN)
The COBN is a key ministry investment for our Association, in prayer, time and finance. These sorts of church plants don’t happen quickly and take patience to see results. Yet there has been encouraging momentum with 4 new groups of differing sizes in Wānaka, Queenstown and Cromwell. Most involved have not been part of a faith community recently if at all, are new Christians or are yet to make a decision for Christ. The development of leaders to facilitate these groups is a focus to ensure growth and sustainability.
Two churches have sought new senior pastoral leads this past year with one filled. Leadership development remains a critical need, not only for the now but for the future. A number of churches are facing significant decisions regarding property and future ministry focus, along with leadership needs (of various types). However, alongside this there is a whole range of current ministry activity continuing to great effect. Baptisms continue to be a strong feature throughout the region along with celebrations of folk coming to know Christ and also returnees to church community.
Our desire is to see all our church communities and their leaders being bold and courageous, expecting great things from God and therefore attempting great things for him.
There is more to lean into, with some rather big steps of faith no doubt but that’s part of the adventure as we strive to see the growth of God’s Kingdom here in Otago and Southland.
This report is from the 2025 Annual Report of the Baptist Churches of New Zealand which can be viewed here.
Image: OSBA Regional Hui 2025, Rachel Murray
