Who we are

Our story and what is important to us

Whangaparaoa Baptist had its beginnings in 1955 when Roy and Sophie Thompson arrived in Whangaparaoa, and gathering a few other keen Christians together, the first services were held in the Whangaparaoa Hall on Sunday afternoons.

In 1957 with help from the Baptist Union, two sections were purchased. The site was cleared with a small wheel tractor, the pine stumps were blasted out with gelignite, and building began! People from all over New Zealand donated money and materials, and with the help of many volunteers, and the paid labour of a single tradesman, the building took shape.

Whangaparaoa Baptist Church was opened on August 30th 1958 (you can still see this original building, it is now our church café). The church grew and in 1975 the current auditorium was built to accommodate the increasing numbers attending services, there was a building upgrade in 2000, and a major refurbishment in 2018/2019.

Throughout the years WBC has continued to thrive as a local church interwoven into its community, loving people and seeing Jesus touch people’s lives. The church has been blessed with wonderful volunteers, and a pioneering attitude which has embraced new initiatives and ways of doing things as the people have felt led by God. Miss Gladys Turkington’s (church pianist in the first few years) prayer… “Lord, make this work to be as a lighthouse for our Lord on the peninsula” is as apt today as it was then.

Our Kaupapa (our values) – What we live by

We engage with a LIVING God

We love engaging with God Father, Son and Spirit. We see relationship with Him as core & crucial. We are passionate about seeing people come to know our loving, living God more.

We encourage Spiritual Rhythms in a crazy busy world

In a world of such busyness and stress, we value centring our lives, as individuals and as a church community, around spiritual rhythms.

We value you, and what makes you, you!

We appreciate the uniqueness of each other. Whatever your culture, age, gender, background or way you view the world, we value you and welcome you.

We are committed to building God’s Kingdom

We are committed to investing in and doing things that benefit God’s kingdom. We see ourselves as a people who overflow the presence and love of God into our community and world.

We are globally minded

We love and care for all people and the planet! Not just in our area, but around the globe. We want to constantly wrestle with how to bring the good news of God’s restoration to the nations.

We are present in our neighbourhoods

We believe there is no “them” and “us”. We believe in, and value, being present and making a difference in our neighbourhoods.

We are vessels of God’s love and presence

We want to be people who reflect the vast & powerful love and presence of God. In our workplaces, our schools, our cafes and pubs, as we commute to work – wherever we find ourselves.