 Over the past six months we have articulated differently a number of the things that we do, which may have created some confusion. To help provide clarity let's use four imaginary boxes to represent who we are, from the beginning in 1885 to today, and to illustrate the major changes.
Box One: In 1885 the Baptist Churches of New Zealand established an incorporated society, the New Zealand Baptist Missionary Society (NZBMS). In November 1998, NZBMS adopted the trading name tranzsend, which was used in combination with NZBMS until 2006 when it became the only name used to describe the work. tranzsend is now a specific NZ Baptist mission ministry in Asia and the Pacific and is led by Neil Perry. NZBMS has remained the name of the legal organisation.
Box Two: In 1996 NZBMS established an entity called Baptist Aotearoa New Zealand Aid (BANZAid) when it entered development work in PNG and applied to the NZ government for funding. Sadly, securing funds was unsuccessful and BANZAid ceased activity until about 2005 when it was re-established in Bangladesh. This entity, which is led by Paul Thompson, has become strong within our work.
Box Three: Then, in July 1999,Marketplacers International Limited (MPIL) was established to operate businesses with ethical practices to serve Asian and Pacific communities by providing commercial services and employment. MPIL has had a low profile because we needed to walk cautiously to prove to the communities where MPIL companies reside that we were there for sound and productive reasons. This we have done. MPIL is led by John.
Box Four: In November 2010 we launched MISSION WORLD, led by Rachel Murray. This entity is focused on resourcing and mobilising NZ Baptist churches to reach the world through strong strategic partnerships. Rather than expanding tranzsend's geographical brief we have invited eight key organisations, already operating around the globe, to join with tranzsend to serve Baptist churches more fully.
An umbrella identity, "New Zealand Baptists Reaching the World" was launched at Parachute this past January to put these four entities together. You might say this is the new branding of NZBMS.
I'm excited about what NZBMS has done over the past 12 years and now we can bring everything together in a way that appreciates the diversity of each entity, and communicates how it all fits together.
Blessings,
Peter Mihaere
General Director
New Zealand Baptists Reaching the World
[www.reachingtheworld.org.nz]
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