For a few years, folks from Grace Baptist Church had been conducting Sunday afternoon meetings, along with children’s holiday programs in Rolleston where two of their families lived. This included one elder and a deacon. Since near the beginning of 2013 they teamed up with a few other families from St. John’s of Latimer Square and one family from St. Saviour’s. Each church had had a vision for seeing a new church established in Rolleston in the near future – partly because of the families they had living there, but also because of what was happening in Rolleston. Rolleston is one of the fastest growing towns in New Zealand. Since the earthquakes there had been a systematic plan to shift much of the housing in the Christchurch area south. As a result, Rolleston has grown from a town of about 2,000 before the earthquakes, to a town of 16,000 (2022) today, and is planned to be 30,000 to 40,000 over the next decade or so. In addition, with the motorway extension project complete, Rolleston is only a 15 minute drive from Christchurch.  It was time to plant a church in Rolleston.

Called to serve Rolleston

In the Lord’s providence, each of the ministers from these Christchurch churches and most of the families involved knew Joe Fleener from various camps and conferences. This resulted in Joe being called to consider the pastorate of Rolleston Baptist Church at the beginning of 2014 and affirmatively answering that call in March of that same year.  The Fleeners relocated from Auckland to Rolleston the beginning of August 2014 and officially began services in their home on 14 September 2014.

Our story began

Eight families, along with thee young adults (approx. 35 people including children) came together for the purpose of establishing a Baptist church in Rolleston where we continue pray that the Lord will bless and make a true church which magnifies Christ and faithfully proclaims the gospel in this community.