Contact the Elders via email here.
James Styles
James Styles is married to Hannah and they have three children - Amelia (9), Malachi (8) and Christine (6). They live in Reporoa on a lifestyle block.
James serves at Taupo Baptist Church by leading the sound and video team where he can use both his technical and creative skills. He also uses his sound skills by volunteering at E-camp and has been doing so for the last 12 years. E-camp is an Easter camp for intermediate aged kids coming from throughout the North Island with over 1000 kids attending each year.
James is a senior manager and director of an engineering firm in Rotorua with over 60 staff. He believes that he has been put in this position to learn skills of leadership for use in the church.
James Styles is married to Hannah and they have three children - Amelia (9), Malachi (8) and Christine (6). They live in Reporoa on a lifestyle block.
James serves at Taupo Baptist Church by leading the sound and video team where he can use both his technical and creative skills. He also uses his sound skills by volunteering at E-camp and has been doing so for the last 12 years. E-camp is an Easter camp for intermediate aged kids coming from throughout the North Island with over 1000 kids attending each year.
James is a senior manager and director of an engineering firm in Rotorua with over 60 staff. He believes that he has been put in this position to learn skills of leadership for use in the church.
Colleen Robertson
Colleen was born and grew up in Te Awamutu. The youngest of 5 she had a great childhood living on a farm. At the age of 12 she made a decision to follow Christ and at 15 was baptised.
At the age of 17 she moved to Auckland to train at Secondary Teacher College to teach Home Economics. It was in Auckland that she met her husband Ian and they have been married for 52 years.
Colleen has served the Lord, alongside her husband Ian, for 37 years pastoring in NZ Baptist Churches including 15years of mission with Tranzsend in Kolkata and Thailand. Her giftings are Leadership and Teaching and early in her ministry God laid on her heart to reach women of all ages in the church to see them develop to their full potential in Christ. This involved her in Chairing the Baptist Women’s Ministry Board for NZ and setting up and speaking at workshops, conferences and retreats for women throughout N.Z. Presently Colleen is leading a Women’s Bible Study, attends an evening Life Group and volunteers when possible at the Community Meal. She still has a strong heart to see women become all that God intends them to be, and since her retirement early this year, she looks forward to what God has for her in this area at TBC.
Colleen was born and grew up in Te Awamutu. The youngest of 5 she had a great childhood living on a farm. At the age of 12 she made a decision to follow Christ and at 15 was baptised.
At the age of 17 she moved to Auckland to train at Secondary Teacher College to teach Home Economics. It was in Auckland that she met her husband Ian and they have been married for 52 years.
Colleen has served the Lord, alongside her husband Ian, for 37 years pastoring in NZ Baptist Churches including 15years of mission with Tranzsend in Kolkata and Thailand. Her giftings are Leadership and Teaching and early in her ministry God laid on her heart to reach women of all ages in the church to see them develop to their full potential in Christ. This involved her in Chairing the Baptist Women’s Ministry Board for NZ and setting up and speaking at workshops, conferences and retreats for women throughout N.Z. Presently Colleen is leading a Women’s Bible Study, attends an evening Life Group and volunteers when possible at the Community Meal. She still has a strong heart to see women become all that God intends them to be, and since her retirement early this year, she looks forward to what God has for her in this area at TBC.
Neil Christophersen
Neil has been married to Sue for 47 years and have 2 married daughters and 3 grand-daughters.
Served in NZ Police in Hawkes Bay, then moved to Rotorua to go into business. Became a Christian in the New Life church serving in a variety of positions over several years. Took on role of Industrial Chaplain and after various trainings set in as Assistant Pastor in COC church. Neil set up a Suicide Peer Support group and facilitated that for 4 years. Promoted firstly to Area Manager BOP Chaplains and subsequently to CEO Northern Region of ITIM Chaplaincy for 4.5years.
Returned to HB as Operations Manager of another charitable trust (WIT), building and renting existing accommodation for mental health clients. Neil saw an interest in matters of faith so approached the Board for permission to set up and run a Christian drop-in safe place to teach about Jesus Christ. This grew to 16 people within 18 months and lives were changed
Neil has been married to Sue for 47 years and have 2 married daughters and 3 grand-daughters.
Served in NZ Police in Hawkes Bay, then moved to Rotorua to go into business. Became a Christian in the New Life church serving in a variety of positions over several years. Took on role of Industrial Chaplain and after various trainings set in as Assistant Pastor in COC church. Neil set up a Suicide Peer Support group and facilitated that for 4 years. Promoted firstly to Area Manager BOP Chaplains and subsequently to CEO Northern Region of ITIM Chaplaincy for 4.5years.
Returned to HB as Operations Manager of another charitable trust (WIT), building and renting existing accommodation for mental health clients. Neil saw an interest in matters of faith so approached the Board for permission to set up and run a Christian drop-in safe place to teach about Jesus Christ. This grew to 16 people within 18 months and lives were changed
Dale Boddy
Dale was born and grew up in the Hutt Valley, the eldest of three girls. It was a good place to grow up as the camaraderie after the war was great and they all knew their neighbours well. Dale was brought up in the Presbyterian Church but after moving to Taupo in 1982 she decided that she enjoyed the family- friendly atmosphere of the Baptist Church. She has always embraced the doctrine of baptism by immersion and was actually baptised in the Presbyterian Church by the minister
Dale thinks we have a tremendous 'church' with so many people really getting in and making things happen. She loves being a part of our church and want to help make it grow even more in our vision of not only reaching out to our community but also making everyone feel a part of our family here.
Dale was born and grew up in the Hutt Valley, the eldest of three girls. It was a good place to grow up as the camaraderie after the war was great and they all knew their neighbours well. Dale was brought up in the Presbyterian Church but after moving to Taupo in 1982 she decided that she enjoyed the family- friendly atmosphere of the Baptist Church. She has always embraced the doctrine of baptism by immersion and was actually baptised in the Presbyterian Church by the minister
Dale thinks we have a tremendous 'church' with so many people really getting in and making things happen. She loves being a part of our church and want to help make it grow even more in our vision of not only reaching out to our community but also making everyone feel a part of our family here.
Jim Corbett
Jim has been coming to TBC for the last 3 years since shifting to Taupo from Raetihi (over the mountain). Jim grew up Presbyterian, was saved in the Salvation Army, was discipled in the Apostolic church, joined the Baptist Church as he moved around NZ with work. Jim was part of the Raetihi Baptist church for 32 years and undertook many roles in that time, including preaching, eldership, leading home groups & a men's group (for Christian and non-Christian). Jim trained for a year at Baptist College's Church Growth School and has done BCNZ courses by distance. Jim recently trained as a Spiritual Director through Spiritual Growth Ministries. Jim’s passion is to support others in transformation into Christlikeness through the Word and the Spirit. Jim is married to Petra has 4 children and many mokopuna.
Jim has been coming to TBC for the last 3 years since shifting to Taupo from Raetihi (over the mountain). Jim grew up Presbyterian, was saved in the Salvation Army, was discipled in the Apostolic church, joined the Baptist Church as he moved around NZ with work. Jim was part of the Raetihi Baptist church for 32 years and undertook many roles in that time, including preaching, eldership, leading home groups & a men's group (for Christian and non-Christian). Jim trained for a year at Baptist College's Church Growth School and has done BCNZ courses by distance. Jim recently trained as a Spiritual Director through Spiritual Growth Ministries. Jim’s passion is to support others in transformation into Christlikeness through the Word and the Spirit. Jim is married to Petra has 4 children and many mokopuna.
Laurie Bateup
Laurie is married to Heather and have 3 children and 2 grandchildren in Taupo, 4 in Auckland and 4 in London. Laurie grew up in the Hokianga but has since lived in a variety of places in New Zealand, working in a range of industries including farming, retail, and hospitality. In churches at different times, Laurie has been involved in children’s and youth ministries and been a deacon, an elder and a Pastor, having obtained a theology degree at Carey Baptist College in 1999. |