The Upper South Baptist Association has 37 faith communities, the furthest north is in Motueka, the most southern is Oamaru, Greymouth in the west, and 13 within Christchurch on the eastern side of the island.

The network of six Baptist Associations throughout New Zealand connects local churches with other local churches in their region. Associations utilise the experience and expertise of both pastoral and other leaders to inspire, resource and encourage in order to help each local church bring gospel
renewal to people and places in their own local contexts.

Upper South news, stories and media

Resourcing, gathering and creating Image
Articles
January 19, 2024 | Chris Chamberlain Channel: 2144749

Resourcing, gathering and creating

The annual update from the Upper South Baptist Association.

Student accommodation: Chester House – Christchurch Central Image
Articles
September 7, 2023 | Andrew Meek Channel: 2144749

Student accommodation: Chester House – Christchurch Central

If you or someone you know is moving to Christchurch to study, Chester House provides a great place for students to call home.

Getting to know…Bradley Nicolson Image
Articles
July 19, 2023 | Bradley Nicolson Channel: 2144749

Getting to know…Bradley Nicolson

This week we are getting to know Bradley Nicolson, General Manager of Oxford Terrace Baptist Church’s Kānuka Hopestill Limited.

Pentecost Sunday Motueka style Image
News
June 15, 2023 | Paul Cossey Channel: 2144749

Pentecost Sunday Motueka style

The overwhelming feeling was one of unity between the churches…

Connecting communities through kai Image
Articles
March 28, 2023 | Sophie Bond Channel: 2144749

Connecting communities through kai

Oxford Baptist Church partners with Foodtogether to help with local food security.

The power of pilgrimage Image
Events
February 21, 2023 | Chris Donaldson Channel: 2144749

The power of pilgrimage

In 2015 Ian and Alison Syme of Oxford Baptist Church went on a pilgrimage to Turkey and Israel: “Each time we now read about one…

Waitangi Day commemorated at Nelson Baptist Church Image
Stories
February 8, 2023 | Helen Brereton Channel: 2144749

Waitangi Day commemorated at Nelson Baptist Church

We Baptists are he iwi kawenata tatou (we are a covenanting people)...

Our five focuses Image
News
January 25, 2023 | Kim Peters Channel: 2144749

Our five focuses

An update from Canterbury Westland and Top of the South Baptist Associations for 2022.

Solar success: People, location and renewal in Ōtautahi Christchurch Image
Stories
December 27, 2022 | Sonia Groes-Petrie Channel: 2144749

Solar success: People, location and renewal in Ōtautahi Christchurch

Sonia from A Rocha’s Eco Church writes about a solar project at Oxford Terrace Baptist Church, now providing around 25% of the church’s energy needs.

Big Dream Day for Nelson Baptist Church Image
News
October 27, 2022 | Helen Brereton Channel: 2144749

Big Dream Day for Nelson Baptist Church

What do you get when you put a congregation, two senior pastors, a national leader, a regional leader and an operations and finance director in…

Getting to know…Samuel Schuurman Image
Articles
October 17, 2022 | Samuel Schuurman Channel: 2144749

Getting to know…Samuel Schuurman

This week we are getting to know Samuel Schuurman, a Baptist chaplain in the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

Discernment part 1: Grieving KTown Image
Stories
October 5, 2022 | Sophie Channel: 2144749

Discernment part 1: Grieving KTown

NZBMS global workers share their discernment journey in their return to Aotearoa New Zealand.

Alpha on Sunday mornings?! Image
Stories
September 7, 2022 | Rachel Sangster Channel: 2144749

Alpha on Sunday mornings?!

Read about how Riccarton Baptist Church replaced their Sunday morning church services with breakfast and the Alpha course.

Rachel and Tiaki talk Matariki: God, family, injustice and tradition Image
Articles
June 16, 2022 | Tiaki Leathers and Rachel Sangster Channel: 2144749

Rachel and Tiaki talk Matariki: God, family, injustice and tradition

Listen in on two people, Tiaki and Rachel, tangata whenua and tangata Tiriti, chatting about the coming season of Matariki, including the prophet Amos who…

Gospel Stories—Sue Avery Image
Stories
July 6, 2021 | Sue Avery Channel: 2144749

Gospel Stories—Sue Avery

Here at Connect in Blenheim Gospel Renewal in our neighbourhood has come from individuals deliberately inviting the Holy Spirit’s presence into their community and then…

‘A Night in Bethlehem’ Image
Stories
February 16, 2019 | Oxford Baptist Church Channel: 2144749

‘A Night in Bethlehem’

Hear how Oxford Baptist Church transformed their auditorium and hall into a Nativity-themed bustling ‘night market’ that drew around 500 people.

Oxford Terrace rebuild Image
News
February 4, 2018 | Chris Chamberlain Channel: 2144749

Oxford Terrace rebuild

On Christmas Eve 2017, Oxford Terrace Baptist Church held their first worship services in their new facilities. Hear more about the journey of their rebuild...

Our Regional Associations

Baptists have used the word ‘association’ for a long time, because local churches want to associate with each other:
we are better together!

Each Regional Association has a board or executive elected by the collective of associating churches in each region. Each Association has a Regional Leader who is responsible for supporting and resourcing local churches. The Board or Executive and the Regional Leader work together to facilitate the encouragement and resourcing of churches. The Regional Leader meets regularly with the National Leader and other Regional Leaders.

Contact Upper South Region