Who's who
Leadership
PASTORS: Rotorua Baptist is led by Pastor Angus Budge and alongside him are Wendy Budge, Assistant Pastor and Grace Hartley, Youth Pastor.
LEADERSHIP TEAM: Matt Pepper (chair), Jessica Lee, Greg Manzano, Neil McCullum, Rose Powley and Maree Rauhala. Together they provide governance, pastoral and spiritual oversight and direction. They provide support to the ministries and ministry leaders within the church.
OPERATIONS TEAM: Elisha Hartley (Administrator), Murray Dillner (treasurer), Ivan Thomson (finance team), Hamish Lee (building convener). This team provides oversight of the Church operations and property management.
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Lead Pastor - Angus Budge
Angus is married to Wendy and they have four adult children (2 sons and 2 daughters).
Scots heritage and proud of it. Ex-lawyer, loves all sport - mostly from the couch or side-line these days, average but dedicated golfer and keen fisherman - desperate to know how to actually catch them! (All tips are welcomed).
Angus loves hanging out with his family, sharing stories with folk over coffee or a meal, and absolutely loves the Church. He enjoys living in this fabulous part of the country, with its friendly people and beautiful nature. You will often find him pottering in the garden - learning the art of espaliering fruit trees, sneaking chocolate or a sausage roll, reading a good book or in the kitchen cooking his famous Paella or a warmly spiced curry. And he's even pretty good at the dishes too.
“My desire is to persuasively communicate God's love and to see lives transformed".
CONTACT: angus@rotoruabaptist.org.n
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Assistant Pastor - Wendy Budge
Married to Angus and they have four adult children: Hugh (soon to be married to Laura), Callum, Meg and Allie.
Trained as a nurse but has more recently worked in management and ministry roles.
She loves spending time with people and enjoys hospitality on all levels (the gathering of people, the decorating of the space, the cooking, the eating), coffee, exercising with the family dog, gardening, art, design, fashion and a good movie! And time spent with family is one of her favourite things.Wendy is the Chair of the Bay of Plenty/Eastland Baptist Association and also has a special interest and experience in women's ministry - facilitating events and spiritual retreats. Journeying alongside young families is also a passion of hers.
‘’My desire is to see people and faith communities thrive and walk in fullness, wholeness and obedience, knowing that even through the ups and downs of life - they are loved to bits by a great big God.”
CONTACT: wendy@rotoruabaptist.org.nz
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Youth Pastor - Grace Hartley
Married to Elisha who she met while studying at Carey Baptist College. Originally from Auckland but loves living in Rotorua and exploring all of the different things to do here. She loves spending time with her family and friends, coffee (as long as it is dairy-free) and adventuring to new and different places with Elisha and anyone else who is up for a long drive. Grace and Elisha are excited to welcome their baby girl to the family in May 2023.
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"My desire is to see teenagers (and ultimately everyone) understand their identity in Christ, knowing that they are loved unconditionally and have a place to belong in His home".
CONTACT: 021 024 42510 grace@rotoruabaptist.org.nz
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Neil McCullum
Married to Ruth and have 4 adult children and 10 Grandchildren who they spend time with regularly - all who are following their faith and attend church. Neil has been attending Rotorua Baptist Church for over 30 years and was baptised not far away - in Whakatane.
He owns and runs a very busy small business employing 3.5 staff.
“My desire to be obedient to all that God tells me to do".
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Greg Manzano
Married to Frocy and have 3 children and 2 grandchildren.
Greg and his family migrated to New Zealand in 1995 from the Philippines and have been attending Rotorua Baptist Church for almost 12 years now.
Greg is a chartered engineer and works for a local authority involved in the planning and management of core infrastructure services delivery to the community.
“My desire is to see the church grow in quantity and quality and become an agent of positive change to the community.”
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Jessica Lee
Married to Hamish and Mum to baby Christopher.
Hairdressing now for 8 1/2 yrs and is back at work as the assistant manager, after taking maternity leave.
She loves being a Mum and enjoys spending time with family and friends. She loves hospitality, entertaining, cooking and baking. Jess has a passion for hair, makeup, fashion and loves a good long soak in a bath or hot pool. Jess has been at RBC since she was 9yrs old after coming back from the mission field with her family in 2005. She also serves in the sound box at church doing digital media along side her husband and the rest of the team.
"My desire is to see a new vibrancy come to the church, for church to grow and be inviting for new and current church goers and for relationships to be strengthened with God and friends".
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Matt Pepper (Chair)
Matt is married to Louise and they have three children: Keegan, Lucy and Aaron. Aaron is the only one left at home and attends John Paul College.
He has a background in management and has been dairy farming for a number of years. He will happily tell you all the benefits of drinking lots of milk and eating lots of cheese.
Matt likes to be continually learning (just started guitar lessons!) and keeping active by regularly mountain biking in the Redwoods, adventure racing or heading to the beach.
"I have a desire to be an obedient disciple, and to take joy in being part of a growing and thriving church community".
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Maree Rauhala
Maree has been married to Ilkka for 27 years – 10 of those they have resided in Asia doing mission work. Maree and Ilkka have three adult children, one son-in-law and two grandchildren.
Maree has a background in banking, administration and ESOL teaching. She currently works part-time from home, as the Funding Co-Ordinator for a local NPO working with at-risk youth.
In her spare time Maree loves to get outside in the forest, beach or play in the garden, or spend time with her grandchildren.
Maree is part of the kids church team.
"My desire is to always be ready to direct others to Jesus". -
Rose Powley
Rose is married to Rob and they have 3 grown children with partners. They have been part of the RBC community for a long time, with Rob being an accomplished musician and part of the music team. Rose is a Deputy Principal in a rural school and brings many leadership and governance strengths to the team as well as a strong pastoral heart.
In her spare time you will find her with her family, surrounded by art and music or out enjoying nature with Rob in their campervan. "I am looking forward to serving and contributing to this wonderful Church community and beyond".
Treasurer - Murray Dillner
Murray is married to Kathy and together they have 2 married sons and 4 grandchildren. Murray is retired and in his spare time, loves to fish, read and potter in the beautiful nature around his home. Murray serves at the local fire station. He is often found helping people with odd jobs, firewood and gardening.
He is a Pastoral care elder alongside his wife Kathy. Murray and Kathy run regular Alpha courses at the Church and have a heart for journeying alongside people as they seek to answer the big questions in life. They have a special interest in mission. He also serves on the visual/data team on a Sunday morning.
‘My desire is to see people love and follow Jesus'
Pastoral care elders
Murray and Kathy Dillner, Rob and Jan Bellingham, Chris and Barbara Thomson, Val and Ivan Thomson.
Ministry leaders
Administrator: Elisha Hartley
Music team: Angus Budge (interim).
Kids church: Jennifer Lee.
Creche: Ruth McCullum
Intermediates: Grace Hartley
Kitchen and hospitality: Lyn Hughes
Newcomers: Val Thomson
Technology: Hamish and Jess Lee
Meet n Eat: Lyn Hughes and Diny Snijders
Te hahi: Robyn Currie and Ann Lawrence
Global mission: Bronwyn Schick
BMF: Mike Power
Alpha: Murray and Kathy Dillner
Prayer: Pastors and Ann Clausen
Homegroups: