The National Leader of the Baptist Churches of New Zealand is formally an Officer of the Baptist Union and is elected by Assembly on four-year, then three-year terms as recommended by Assembly Council.

This role oversees the strategic and spiritual wellbeing of the collective of 250 faith communities, along with their leadership team and the regional Association Chairs. The vision and direction of our movement of churches is shaped and guided by the National Leader who accounts to Assembly Council.

Our current leader

Kia ora

I love Jesus. I love the Bible. I love the Gospel. I love the Church. And I love Mission.

My number one task is to keep the eyes of New Zealand Baptist’s firmly fixed on Jesus. It is his words that we must listen to the most. He will show us what our priorities must be. How to treat one another. How to live in our neighbourhoods. It is the power of his Gospel that will bring renewal to people and places.

While my leadership philosophy comes from the Bible verse, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love”, I have been mostly shaped in my own leadership by people with severe intellectual and physical disability. My daughter was born with inoperable brain cancer. Despite living until she was 13 her life was marked out by much suffering. And my 28-year-old son lives with the cognitive abilities of a 9-month-old baby.

Prior to becoming National Leader I spent 13 years on the staff at Carey Baptist College, 8 of these as Principal.

From the National Leader's keyboard

Charles Mail: Starting with prayer Image
Articles

Charles Mail: Starting with prayer

Be in the room as we shape our future together...

Charles Mail: Our leaders Image
Articles

Charles Mail: Our leaders

This week, we’re hearing from some awesome leaders, learning a tongikura, reflecting on the Apostle Paul’s spirit of thankfulness, and praying for our young adults.

Charles Mail: God of grace and glory Image
Articles

Charles Mail: God of grace and glory

A new ending date for Charles’ second term as Baptist National Leader | A season for taking ‘Big Bites’ | Introducing our next Baptist Union…

Charles Mail: Carried Image
Articles

Charles Mail: Carried

...despite the circumstances I find myself in, my God is present and intimately engaged in my reality...

Charles Mail: Where do we place our confidence? Image
Articles

Charles Mail: Where do we place our confidence?

We’re saying farewell to Kathryn Heslop, hearing ways God speaks, praying for Manipur, planning Baptist National Hui events. Also, here’s why we can have confidence…

Charles Mail: God speaks to us Image
Articles

Charles Mail: God speaks to us

New Zealand Baptists, let us listen carefully for our Heavenly Father’s voice…and be encouraged :)

Charles Mail: Changing the future Image
Articles

Charles Mail: Changing the future

A lot has gone down in the last week - shaping the future of our Baptist movement.

Charles Mail: I look expectantly to the future Image
Articles

Charles Mail: I look expectantly to the future

Following the Baptist World Alliance conference, overseas adventures and hip replacement surgery, here's the 'what's happening' from our Baptist National Leader.

Opening Golden Sands Baptist Church building

Sharing the joy of Golden Sands Baptist Church’s new building in Pāpāmoa, Tauranga.

Update from Norway: Highlights of Day 4

What’s on our National Leader’s mind after another day with the BWA in Stavanger?

Charles' Podcasts

Photo gallery of people and places