Global Impact

Brian and Joan Finlay

In New Zealand

Brian and Joan have served with Wycliffe Bible Translators and its sister organisation SIL for over 30 years, in Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Australia, using Joan’s linguistic skills and Brian’s building skills. They are passionate about ensuring that people can read God’s Word in the language they understand best. 

Since returning to New Zealand in 2022, they have joined the Wycliffe New Zealand team, living in Te Puke and working remotely with trips to the Auckland office and around the country as the need arises. Joan now works in the Member Care and Personnel department, predominantly interacting with new and prospective members as they discern the Lord’s leading into mission, and Brian has continued to use his building and maintenance skills.

Phil and Jill Tait

In Papua New Guinea

Phil and Jill are serving at the Christian Leader’s Training College (CLTC) in PNG. Phil is the Vice Principal and Jill is the health promotion officer.  The College serves the church by training pastors, church planters, and community transformation officers for PNG, Vanuatu, and the Solomon Islands.  

The College has about 300 full-time students at its three campuses studying from certificate to masters’ degrees. The College also has a distance education bible training ministry. The College is strongly evangelical and has a holistic mission focus including teaching students how to farm on its 400-acre farm.

As well as administrative responsibilities, Phil teaches leadership, education, and spiritual formation. Jill is a nurse and does health education, health checks, and runs a dental clinic for the college community and more than 100,000 people in the surrounding area.

Brendan and Wendy Roberts

In Cerritos, Mexico

The Roberts family are based in Cerritos, near the bottom of the Baja Peninsula in Mexico. 

After 2 clear God dreams they relocated to Mexico to pioneer a Retreat for Pastors and Missionaries. The Olas Retreat began in 2022. Each year the number of pastors and missionaries coming for refreshment increases. 

The Olas Retreat operates within a hotel, welcoming both full paying guests (which subsidizes ministry guests), meaning it supports their ministry if you go for a holiday at the Olas.  Brendan and Wendy also built the YWAM (Youth With A Mission) Cabo Base which is nearby the Retreat. This allows for Church groups, youth groups and ministries to stay.

The Roberts have 4 children, Max, Toby, Cooper and Demi. After spending 6 years in Mexico, in 2026 the Roberts moved home to Mount Maunganui for their youngest, Demi, to complete her final year at Bethlehem College, alongside helping Cooper enter the workforce. 

They continue to oversee the ministries by regular Zoom meetings. 

Arotahi

Arotahi (Aro— ‘to look in one direction’, ‘look, tahi— (as a modifier) means ‘together’, ‘simultaneously’) is the missions organisation of the Baptist Union of New Zealand. 

Formerly known as NZBMS (New Zealand Baptist Mission Society), they exist to help Baptist churches connect with what God is doing around the world. 

Every year, we set aside three weeks — Renew Together — to consider our part in global mission, resourced primarily by Arotahi. You can find more about the people and places that NZ Baptists are connected with on the Arotahi website.