Regional Focus: Bay of Plenty

Tauranga

Tauranga is one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing regions situated in the Bay of Plenty. There are 130 plus churches in the Tauranga, Mount Maunganui, Papamoa area, with a number of growing house churches that also are part of the make up of the body of Christ. While there is much good work being done, the broader church fraternity is currently weaker and more fragmented than in past decades, reflecting a shift from the stronger unity experienced in earlier years.

Graham Preston

Graham Preston is the Founding Principal and visionary behind Bethlehem College, a 180-acre Christian campus serving around 4,000 students daily. Passionate about raising Christian young leaders through a biblical, Christ-centred education “from the cradle to the grave,” Graham has dedicated his life to shaping faith-based learning and leadership.For more than 25 years, he has been deeply involved in church planting and ministry across the Bay, helping establish five churches. He is currently an Elder at Matua Baptist Church, where Stephen Tyrell serves as Pastor. Over four decades, Graham has been actively engaged in the wider Baptist movement, particularly in Tauranga, where he has witnessed both seasons of remarkable growth and periods of challenge.

Prayer Points

1. Unity & Spiritual Strength

- - Pray for unity in the Body of Christ across Tauranga.
  - Pray that the “open heaven” over the city would be fully embraced through faithful prayer and effective church ministry.
  - Pray for bold, Bible-based preaching and strong promotion of the Gospel.

2. The Recent Slips & Community Impact

- - Pray for families who have lost loved ones in the recent slips at Mount Maunganui and Papamoa — that they would know comfort and support.
  - Pray for all those displaced or affected by property loss and ongoing disruption.
  - Pray for wisdom for civic leaders and engineers as the city responds to the more than 20 slips, particularly around The Mount.
  - Pray for long-term solutions, especially where rebuilding may not be possible.
  - Pray for protection over Tauranga, recognising the region’s vulnerability to heavy and sustained rainfall.

3. Bethlehem College’s Influence

- Pray for the ongoing outreach and influence of Bethlehem College, its 4,000 students, and 330 Christian staff.
- Pray that the College would continue to have a positive and lasting spiritual impact on Tauranga.

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Whakatane

Grant Bateson and his wife, Abby, have been the Senior Pastors of Liberty Church since October 2012. Before and during the first few years of pastoring Grant worked as an Operations Manager in a family building company and Abby was a Primary School teacher.

Grant has been in the Eastern Bay of Plenty for most of his life, whereas Abby moved to the Bay from Palmerston North in 2001. They first meet at a Liberty Church Life Group and got married in 2004. Grant and Abby have 3 children, Joseph, Tylah and Millie.

Prayer Points

1. Combined prayer once a term:

- Pentecost prayer,
- Council prayer,
- Hope prayer walk,
- Combined night with Tak Bhana in 2025. We look forward to the next one

2. Community involvement and opportunities are growing:

- Homeless gathering, social sector. Kingdom community. Local Marae etc.
- Walls coming down, bridges being built

3. Pray for healing for individuals, families, communities and groups

4. Ongoing and growing unity of Pastors and leaders, churches, community and beyond

Regional Focus: Bay of Plenty