More Than Theology

The recent Church Life Survey revealed a disturbing truth about the New Zealand church: it’s ageing. Why is that a problem, and more importantly, what can we do to reverse that trend? Rosie is joined by Jake Mulder (author of Growing Young) Laura Hewett (youth pastor) and Mike Crudge (Baptist Union comms director)  to discuss helping churches to “grow young” by attracting young people. Get inspired about engaging younger generations to ensure that the Kiwi church survives and even thrives in the future. (Pssst! If your church didn’t participate in the Church Life Survey this time, let them know you want to do it next time—the greater the participation, the better the data! And if you want to read more of Mike’s musings on the survey, check out https://baptist.nz/church-life-survey-first-response/)

The recent Faith and Belief Survey gives us a brilliant insight into the spiritual landscape of Aotearoa. No doubt, you’ve heard the news: religion is on the decline. But did you know that most non-religious Kiwis still have some sort of spiritual beliefs. Chris Clarke, CEO of the Wilberforce Foundation, discusses this valuable research with Richard and explains what it means to live missionally as the church in New Zealand.

The Church Life Survey was recently conducted to give an up-to-the-minute snapshot of the church in Aotearoa. One of the key findings? The church in NZ is ageing - and that’s an ominous sign for the future. One of the masterminds behind the survey, Peter Lineham, joins Richard to discuss what this means for the church now and in the future. Due to Lineham’s background in the Open Brethren Heritage movement, he digs deep into data especially relevant to those churches. 

Unless you've been living under a rock this year, no doubt you've heard the buzz about Artificial Intelligence. The sudden arrival of AI in the public consciousness signals a step into a brave new world. How should we navigate that world as followers of Jesus? Media and technology guru Stephen Garner joins Richard and co-host Aaron Hodgson to discuss the challenges and opportunities AI presents.

How do you revive a dying church? Richard's guest in this episode, Russell Grainger and his team took on a small, ageing congregation and helped it grow into a vibrant, healthy church. Find out from Russell's experience how an ailing church can be nurtured into a thriving church.

Were the early missionaries to New Zealand a positive or a negative for our country? Everyone agrees the missionaries were central to New Zealand's colonial history, but opinion about their legacy remains divided. Richard discusses this with historian Luke Goodwin by examining his original research into the life and relationships of Alfred Brown, missionary to Ngāti Hauā.

Have you ever had a sacred moment while watching a movie, almost like you were experiencing God? Our own faculty member Dr. Richard Goodwin has—and so he has written a book about it. In this episode, Grace Chamberlain interviews Richard about how we might encounter God through film, its imagery, and the emotions we feel in response. They discuss how we can receive divine revelation in surprising places...even in a movie theatre.

Has "internship" become a dirty word? With the recent media scrutiny of church-based internships, how can we run healthy internships? In this episode, Richard talks with pastor Isaac Pettersen from Crossroads Church in Palmerston North about how to run an effective, enriching internship programme, including how to recruit, mentor, and care for interns. With the right ethos and approach, a ministry internship can be a life-giving experience.

How can the church make a greater impact on the culture of Aotearoa New Zealand? In this episode, Richard interviews renowned religious historian Dr. Peter Lineham about his book Sunday Best, exploring how the church has shaped our national culture—and vice versa—as well as what lessons our history might teach us for how we influence society today.

How should we respond to a culture that is increasingly hostile towards the church? Richard talks with communications specialist Sophia Sinclair about resisting the impulse to adopt a warring or defensive posture, and instead learn to cultivate a winsome, appealing presence in our current context.