Spreydon Baptist Church 1960-2000 - Knox Centre for Ministry and ...

make it to these mission groups and feeling like here I was
coming to terms with little babies and I’m meant to be doing
mission as well when I actually needed someone to share with
and help me in this.’ 46
The development of this concern for justice issues, and
for the physical and emotional needs of the poor, as well as
their spiritual health, was unusual in a church focused about
personal conversion and experiencing the power of the Spirit
in the charismatic dimension. It completed the four dimensions
that, as the church proceeded into the last decade of the
century, have become integral to its life: the first was the importance
of sound biblical teaching and preaching at its centre,
Robertson’s first focus; the second was a concern for mission,
demonstrated in the development of evangelistic visitation as
well as involvement in overseas mission; the third was the
charismatic dimension of the power of the spirit, and place of
spiritual gifts in the life of the church; the fourth this commitment
to justice issues and concern for the poor. 47
In church life however the bottom line is often to do with
figures, especially of attendances and membership. These
plateaued in this period. Total Sunday attendances over the
period 1984 to 1993 showed only a slight increase, from an
average of about 1200 to a little over 1300. In this ten year
period church membership had increased by only around 30%,
compared with 450% over the previous ten year period. In
46 Discussion in a group interview 11/04/11.
47 The last three of these have been outlined by Robertson in an article
published in Transformation as well as in several other places. The first
point is my own addition from my observation of Spreydon over 30
years, and now acknowledged by Robertson as being central the whole
way through. See ‘Renewal Brings New Life,’ Transformation Vol . 8,
No. 4, Oct. 1991, 19-22.
NZJBR 9, Oct. 2004 28