In this blog I (very occasionally now) focus on issues that in some way connect with communication, church, and society. These topics overlap with others such as theology and missiology, so if you’re interested in things like the mission of the church, or being missional, or evangelism, topics might emerge here that you find interesting, and this might become a space where you can share and help others – comments on posts are open to all (I’ll only remove spam and anything intentionally offensive).
My goal with this blog is to see if I can create and offer content that people with similar interests want to engage with. I care about the future of the church (and being Christian), if you do too, we have something in common!
Brief autobiography
I completed a PhD in Communication Studies in November 2013. My thesis is called “The disconnected church: a critical examination of the communication of the Christian church in New Zealand.”
I live in Auckland, New Zealand and in June 2021 I became the Communications Director for the Baptist Churches of New Zealand (the Baptist Union). This was a new role on the senior leadership team located at the Baptist Support Centre, and a key objective is to help connect the 40,000 people who identify as being Baptist in Aotearoa New Zealand. (Note: ideas and opinions shared on this blog must not be assumed to be those of the Baptist Union of New Zealand – unless explicitly stated.)
My previous work was 5 years as the Director of the Carey Centre for Lifelong Learning, establishing and running this Centre that provides ongoing professional development and support for church leaders throughout New Zealand. The Centre is part of Carey Baptist College, this is New Zealand’s Baptist theological college that has an ecumenical mix of students focusing on applied theology, pastoral leadership and mission training. This is the second time I’ve been on staff at this college.
For the six years between February 2009 and December 2014 I was a pastor with a central city Baptist church in Christchurch, New Zealand. The church is called Oxford Terrace Baptist Church and I had an Assistant Minister role half-time alongside my PhD research.
Before going to Christchurch I was on staff at Carey Baptist College. For three years I travelled around New Zealand in a student support role visiting “distance” (or correspondence) students, as well as church leaders and congregations. My last two years at Carey were looking after the Field Education courses and facilitating ministry training internships.
For most of 2003 I was a pastor at Graceway Baptist Church in Ellerslie, Auckland, where I had earlier enjoyed a formative two-year student placement as part of my pastoral leadership training from 2000.
In 2002 I graduated from Carey Baptist College with a Diploma of Pastoral Leadership, and a Bachelor of Theology through the University of Auckland. Since this time I have been a registered minister of the Baptist Union of New Zealand.
Between 2007 and 2013 I studied half-time through the School of Communication Studies at the Auckland University of Technology, completing a Postgraduate Diploma in Communication Studies in 2010, and going on as a PhD Candidate until completing the doctorate in November 2013.
My postgraduate interest in Communication Studies came out of my desire to investigate the communication of the church and its interaction with society in a way that did not seem possible within theological or religious faculties. My hope is to bring my research back into these contexts.
Before the year 2000, and after leaving school, I studied Electronic Engineering, and worked for six years in a telecommunications company in Wellington, New Zealand, in the areas of research and design.
I have written one book, which has nothing to do with the content of this blog! It is a photographic souvenir book of one of the best bits of New Zealand: the Abel Tasman Coastal Track, one of our National Parks that has a hiking trail alongside a spectacular bit of coastline containing many golden-sand beaches surrounded by native forest. Most of my growing up was in a small town called Motueka very near the Abel Tasman National Park. I enjoy visiting family there and have walked the Abel Tasman coastal track more than 20 times with many friends.
In my free time, I like to do things that foster a healthy lifestyle. I enjoy hanging out with my family, growing passionfruit, avocados and feijoa, watching movies, eating food with friends, art, city centres, and travel.
My contact information
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