Team

Leadership

PASTORS:
Lead Pastor: Angus Budge. Assistant Pastor: Wendy Budge. Youth Pastor: Josh Fail

LEADERSHIP TEAM (Eldership):

Provide governance, pastoral/spiritual oversight and direction to the Church, ministries and ministry leaders within the church. Matt Pepper, Caleb Hines, Jessica Lee, Neil McCullum, Rose Powley.

OPERATIONS TEAM:

Provide oversight of the Church operations and property management. Jonny McCullum (treasurer), Kevin Beals/Keith Chan (property) and Hamish Lee (sound and technology).

ADMINISTRATION TEAM:

Nikki Hyde (finance) and Leanne Yanikkakis (office manager)

Lead Pastor - Angus Budge

Angus is married to Wendy and they have four adult children (2 sons and 2 daughters and one daughter-in-law).

Scots heritage and proud of it. Ex-lawyer (don't hold that against him!), 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). And more recently, a reluctant gym attendee! (don't even ask!)

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, induging in chocolate and a glass of milk, reading a good book or in the kitchen cooking his famous Paella or curry. And he's even pretty good at the dishes too.

Angus is on the Baptist Union Assembly Council, the Te Hahi National board and is the Rotorua Police Chaplain.

“My desire is to persuasively communicate God's love and to see lives transformed".

CONTACT: angus@rotoruabaptist.org.nz
Assistant Pastor - Wendy Budge

Married to Angus and they have four adult children: Hugh (married to Laura), Callum, Meg and Allie, and a 11 year old dog, called Georgie, which the kids think is her favourite child!

Trained as a nurse but has more recently worked in ministry roles.
She loves spending time with people and enjoys cooking and hospitality on all levels (the gathering of people, the decorating of the space, the cooking, the eating), coffee, exercising with the dog, gardening, art, design, fashion and a good movie or podcast! 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 faithful God.”

CONTACT: wendy@rotoruabaptist.org.nz
Youth Pastor - Josh Fail

Josh was born in Germany and raised in a missionary family. When he was 11 he and his family moved back to New Zealand so his dad could pursue his call to pastoral ministry. He has a BA degree and a diploma in ministry studies.

He’s full of life, energetic, and loves talking. Despite his outgoing nature, he’s actually an introvert at heart and enjoys spending his downtime inventing board games and watching movies and tv shows, and gets far too invested in history, theology, and geeky stuff like Star Wars, Marvel, DC, Lord of the Rings, Transformers and Pokémon. He’s also a self-proclaimed coffee snob and will never say no to a good brew.

Josh loves hanging out with youth, having deep conversations, and creating spaces where they have fun, grow, and feel safe, seen, and supported. You’ll often find him with a coffee in hand, planning the next youth event, or geeking out over some obscure historical fact.

“My desire is to see the youth of Rotorua encounter Jesus and experience the hope, grace, truth, and love that He offers.”
Neil McCullum

Married to Ruth and have 4 adult children and 14 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. When not at work, Neil loves the outdoors, reading, pottering on his land, building more garden areas for his wife, and going on many and regular adventures with his large extended family.

He owns and runs a very busy small IT business employing 4 staff.

“My desire to be obedient to all that God tells me to do".
Jessica Lee

Jess is married to Hamish, Mum to Christopher and is expecting baby number two in September.

She has been hairdressing for 11 years yrs and is the assistant manager in a local Salon.

She loves being a home-maker and Mum, and enjoys spending time with family and friends. She enjoys hospitality, entertaining, cooking and baking. (She is an expert at these things too!) Jess has a passion for hair, makeup, fashion and loves a good long soak in a bath or hot pool. She makes designer cakes for special occasions in her spare time (usually at midnight!). 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. She is a gun at the board game Articulate and secretly likes to win too!

"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".
Matt Pepper

Matt is married to Louise and they have three children: Keegan (married to Melissa), 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. Matt sits on numerous governance boards and is an avid adventure sportsman doing crazy things in crazy places! (eg days in the bush orienteering in the deep south!)

"I have a desire to be an obedient disciple, and to take joy in being part of a growing and thriving church community".
Rose Powley

Rose is married to Rob and they have 3 grown children with partners and one precious grand-daughter. 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 has held many leadership roles in her career as a Primary trained teacher and is currently working as a specialist literacy teacher serving many of the Schools in Rotorua. She 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".
Caleb Hines

Caleb is married to Jo and they have three young children. His hobbies are many and varied. He has a passion for learning new skills, and pulling things apart to find out how they work (and often successful at putting them back together again), music, reading, sports, hunting and fishing. Caleb enjoys good food and good coffee and loves spending time with family, enjoying their garden which is full of produce.
Caleb has lived in both North and South Islands. As a result, his Church families have been from various congregations from different denominations, He was baptised at a young age at Ashburton New Life Church, learnt how to play the drums at Elim Church in Wellington, and was a key part in the youth leadership at Whangaparaoa Baptist Church. He also directed kids camps at the Peter Snell Youth Village, led home groups, and has always found himself drawn to walking alongside and encouraging others, coming from a passion to share knowledge and see others thrive.
He has a genuine understanding of how life is unique, and everyone's journey is unique.
"I’d love to see not just my children but everyone to know the love, grace and peace that comes from having a relationship with God and fostering into them their own unique walk with Him".
Treasurer - Jonny McCullum

Jonny is married to Bethany and they have two daughters. He is currently a stay at home dad while looking after their farm in Mamaku. He grew up in Rotorua Baptist and accepted Jesus as his Saviour in his early twenties.

Bethany and Jonny met and married in this church, and have come back to be based here after moving around for 7 years. He enjoys being outside in nature and especially being in the bush. He also enjoys spreadsheets, ice cream, completing projects, weighing cows and hiding away in his workshop creating something useful. Interesting fact: He has a 90% win rate at 500 against his father.
"I love the Church and feel blessed to be able to serve the Church in the area of finance".
Administrator - Nikki Hyde

Nikki is married to Graeme and they have two teenage children, a Border-Collie and an old ginger cat. They all moved to Rotorua from Auckland three years ago and haven't looked back.

Nikki loves to get her nature hit by walking her energetic dog in the Redwood Forest and swimming in one of Rotorua's many lakes in the warmer months. She also has tried her hand at many creative activities from crochet to theatre to painting with watercolours. She has also worked in Banking and Admin, so likes numbers too.

With a background in Nursing, Nikki has a heart for the hurting.
Office manager - Leanne Yannikakis

Leanne is married to Alex, and they have two young children. She and her family have immigrated to New Zealand from South Africa. Leanne is a bit of a fitness enthusiast - she loves CrossFit, weightlifting, cycling (preferably in the Redwood forest) and does the odd bit of running now and then as well.

Leanne has a heart and passion for people and wants to see people come to know the love of Jesus.

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2