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: Keeping you informed Image
Articles
March 18, 2024 | Charles Hewlett Channel: 2144749

Charles Mail: Keeping you informed

Preparing to meet with the Prime Minister | 100 years at Liberty Baptist Church | What’s our Lead Team reviewing? | What does self-care look…

Charles Mail: Tracing footprints Image
Articles
March 11, 2024 | Charles Hewlett Channel: 2144749

Charles Mail: Tracing footprints

Baptist Māori Ministry pioneers | National Support Centre staff retreat | Seminar with Otago Southland Association | Podcasts Baptist leaders are listening to | And…

Charles Mail: Life to the full Image
Articles
March 4, 2024 | Charles Hewlett Channel: 2144749

Charles Mail: Life to the full

Baptisms & learning about the purpose of life | Meetings with Regional Leaders, Chinese Pastors, Children and Families coaches, eCamp 2024 team and Baptist Union…

Charles Mail: New life Image
Articles
February 26, 2024 | Charles Hewlett Channel: 2144749

Charles Mail: New life

New Chair of Baptist Women New Zealand, cohort of Pastoral Leadership students, and pastoral appointments…

Charles Mail: Painting a picture of gospel renewal Image
Articles
February 19, 2024 | Charles Hewlett Channel: 2144749

Charles Mail: Painting a picture of gospel renewal

A chat with Old Testament Lecturer, Michael Rhodes | Assembly Council and ‘30 around 30’ retreats | Gospel renewal on marae | Adoring Jesus |…

Charles Mail: What gospel renewal looks like Image
Articles
February 12, 2024 | Charles Hewlett Channel: 2144749

Charles Mail: What gospel renewal looks like

How we might pivot our strategic priorities more towards gospel renewal | Arotahi Renew Together 24 | A phenomenal day at Waitangi | There is…

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Articles
February 8, 2024 | Charles Hewlett Channel: 2144749

Baptist pivot to mission

The Baptist movement is a missionary one. Four mission leaders share what bringing gospel renewal to our local neighbourhoods looks like.

Charles Mail: A privilege to serve you Image
Articles
February 5, 2024 | Charles Hewlett Channel: 2144749

Charles Mail: A privilege to serve you

Charles shares his decision after reviewing his finishing date as Baptist National Leader | Baptisms | Luke Kaa-Morgan’s experience at the recent national Hui-aa-Motu |…

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Articles
January 8, 2024 | Charles Hewlett Channel: 2144749

We are making a difference!

The annual update from our National Leader, Charles Hewlett, for 2023.

An angel sits on top of our Christmas Tree Image
Articles
December 25, 2023 | Charles Hewlett Channel: 2144749

An angel sits on top of our Christmas Tree

A Christmas message from our Baptist National Leader, Charles Hewlett.

Charles' Podcasts

Photo gallery of people and places