Through Arotahi (NZBMS) we’ve been working globally for 140 years with incredible support from many generous and sacrificial Kiwis.
We are currently in a search process to find the next General Director of Arotahi, to be voted on at the 5-7 November 2026 Baptist National Hui. Full details here.
1885 saw our very first global worker Rosalie MacGeorge journey to British India (present day Bangladesh) to partner with, and serve, many Bengali groups. In 1931, we were invited into Tripura by the Maharaja, where many of our team served faithfully until 1973.
We’ve also been to many other beautiful nations including Zaire, Papua New Guinea, Irian Jaya (West Papua) in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Solomon Islands, France, Fiji, Hong Kong and Macau.
Currently our work takes place in South Asia, East Asia and South East Asia.
Here, in partnership with local believers, we serve Christ and our communities through evangelism and discipleship, business, education, leadership development, community development, medical work, training and tent making. We’re proud of the mutual transformation that our current, and so many past, global workers have been a part of. And we give glory to God for leading and providing.
One of the ways God has been leading us is in our relationship with Māori – a covenant partnership that offers great hope and excitement for us as people on mission. But we also must acknowledge that our history has periods in which we are not proud, and this is something we need to be honest and transparent about.
This is a journey we are on now, and one that is going to be deeply transformative. You can read about Arotahi, our people, news, stories and opinion:
Leaving the best job in the Union
After years of faithful service with Arotahi, Alan Jamieson announces he is approaching the end of his tenure as General Director.
Empower Her
By strengthening leadership, economic opportunities, rights awareness, and local systems, Empower Her aims to directly impact 5,000 women and girls, with wider benefits reaching up…
Is the revival coming? Part 2
Despite news this week that the UK “Quiet Revival” research was based on flawed data, there are still encouraging signs of growing spiritual interest among…
A build bigger than bricks
When Melva Taylor left a generous bequest to Arotahi, she hoped her years of service in Brahmanbaria, Bangladesh would continue to make a difference. Arotahi…
Bangladesh student homes
Opportunities to support the Arotahi Student Sponsorship are available for those with a heart for the ministry.
God is renewing the world
Renew Together is Arotahi’s annual appeal, a 140-year tradition inviting Baptist churches across Aotearoa to engage with God’s mission and invest in global partnerships.
The Church – the hope of the world
The 2025 annual update from Arotahi National Director Alan Jamieson and Mission Council Chair Ruby Duncan
Is a revival coming?
News of the ‘Quiet Revival’ research from the UK may only be recent, but it has raised considerable interest…
Supporting our Baptist churches in their mission
The annual update from the General Director of Arotahi, Alan Jamieson, and the Chair of Mission Council and the Develop Together Board, Ruby Duncan, for…
Pondering: Keeping Tiriti Hikoi moving forward
“The church should be a place of all cultures and peoples worshipping and serving Jesus in the fullness of their own rangatiratanga, language, culture and…
What is the DNA of a Baptist, really?
We Kiwi Baptists love to say that “mission is in our DNA”.
Arotahi update: What’s happening in Bangladesh
An update on Arotahi’s relationship with, and presence in, Bangladesh.
Request for churches to pray this Sunday for Bangladesh
Religious minorities in Bangladesh, including Christians, are being targeted following student protests and the departure of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
New Zealand Baptists and global mission
Renew Together 24 | God’s hospitality to us, radical inclusion, and demanding call on us all to be involved through our hospitality and generosity.
Who says Baptists can’t work together?
Julian challenges Baptist churches to move beyond their boundaries and become part of national Baptist church strategies.
Jesus’ command to us
The annual update from the General Director of Arotahi, Alan Jamieson, for 2023.
Help! We need your heart!
Calling for a continuation of our 137-year partnership with our Bengali whānau and reflecting on the command to ‘go!’ in Luke 10:1-3…
Arotahi Advent prayer guide 2023
Please join us in this global prayer journey from Advent to Epiphany, as we anticipate and proclaim the arrival of the one who brings love,…
The morning after (pre-Hui read: Arotahi)
“…it’s time to check in on the steps we have made together.” One year on from the launch of Arotahi!
From Ropeholders to Whiria Kids
A proposal for the relaunch of Ropeholders, a programme weaving children into God's work in the world.
A hand—carved placement
With our 3-6 month global placements, you can use your God-given skills for good alongside our overseas partners. Check out our placement list!
Flex your missional muscles with CareyLocal!
Be formed for your role in God's mission with CareyLocal - study FREE next semester with a group of 10 friends from your faith community!
Arotahi has overseas donor status!
Arotahi can now offer charitable receipts on most qualifying donations! Check out how to take advantage and get a 33% tax rebate.
Getting to know…Kelly Enright
In this column, we discover more about our Baptist whānau, meeting someone in our team of 40,000 each post. This week we are getting to…
Getting to know…Alan Jamieson
This week we are getting to know Alan Jamieson, General Director of Arotahi.
New year reflections from the cell
Reflecting on a new year’s poem by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Kelly from Arotahi sets the scene for this new year…
A united focus on Christ
An update from the General Director of NZBMS, Alan Jamieson, for 2022.
Welcoming Arotahi: A united focus on Christ
The team at NZBMS are super excited to share some BIG news with us! Discover the new name and next step in our story.
Matariki gathers people together
NZBMS has provided a bunch of Matariki resources to help faith communities honour and celebrate the season.
Happy Birthday The Loyal Workshop!
It's been 8 years since the inception of The Loyal Workshop; a whānau of talented artisans crafting handmade, high-quality leather goods in the heart of…
Vaini Village report (Tonga eruption relief)
Working with the Pacific Leadership Forum, NZBMS were able to send NZD$8000 to the village of Vaini on the island of Tongatapu. Through the kind…
Easter Sunday in the megachurch
Before I started to pray, I made a silly mistake: I looked at the Stuff newsfeed. The fourth headline down depicted the demise of another…
Our global future
NZBMS General Director Alan Jamieson shares his thoughts on the context we, as a missional Baptist movement, may soon find ourselves in.
Sending post-COVID
Mobilisation is a word often used in the arena of global mission. What it really means is to respond in obedience to God’s call. But…
NZBMS & biculturalism—a journey just begun
The first Mission Council meeting of 2020 included a historic and poignant moment as we met with Te Kapa Rautaki, (the Māori Baptist Strat Team)…
2020 NZBMS staff conference
Over New Year 2020, the NZBMS staff conference, held in Hoi An, Vietnam, brought together our NZBMS family for a time of reflection, inspiration and…
Introducing Alan Jamieson—General Director of NZBMS
At the 2019 Hui, the Baptist Churches of New Zealand inducted Alan Jamieson as the new general director of the New Zealand Baptist Missionary Society.
We believe in mutual transformation, so if you have thoughts or recommendations for us in this journey, please get in touch with us over at the Arotahi website.