Update on tranzsend – release 31 May 2010

From Thursday through to Saturday of last week, the tranzsend Council met to look at the results of the 53 consultation meetings that have been held around the country and our fields during the last eight months, and to consider what the future of tranzsend might look like.

 

Some things were clear:

• Baptist Churches in New Zealand have a real heart for mission. However there is a felt need by our churches to be better resourced for world mission.
• In our churches there is overwhelming support for the continuation of tranzsend as the denominational mission agency of the Baptist Churches of New Zealand.
• There is a widespread desire for us to be more inclusive of New Zealand Baptists working outside of tranzsend.
• Many of our Pastors and churches have only a limited understanding of tranzsend’s work.
• There is strong interest in there being short and medium term mission work alongside our long term work.
• There is a need for tranzsend to use technology in communicating and advancing the cause of world mission.

 Having considered what the consultations have revealed, the tranzsend Council affirms that tranzsend will continue as the overseas mission agency of the Baptist Churches of New Zealand.

The Council has initiated a process to develop a strategy for addressing the issues identified through the consultations and has begun to look at a framework through which it can better serve the Baptist Churches in New Zealand in their desire to be active in world mission.

Peter Mihaere
General Director
tranzsend