Key Ministries
- Sending mission partners
We work alongside New Zealand churches to send their people to serve cross-culturally. This involves both mobilisation and ongoing member care. - Equipping churches
We equip local churches to both be aware of global mission and understand how to be missional. We act as a mission advocate and coach.
Spiritual Landscape in New Zealand
New Zealand’s spiritual landscape is changing rapidly. According to the 2023 census, 51.6 per cent of the population identifies as having ‘no religion’, a steady increase since 2006. Despite this, 81 per cent express some form of spiritual belief. A key reason many explore spirituality is witnessing others who genuinely live out sincere faith.
About 31 per cent identify as Christian, yet only 12.4 per cent attend church regularly, marking a significant decline from previous decades when New Zealand was known as a Christian nation with the highest mission workers per capita worldwide.
While the church’s cultural influence has diminished, vibrant faith communities remain, and there is opportunity for people to encounter Christ through friends, family, and faith communities. The society is multicultural and religiously diverse, making a clear presentation of biblical Christianity crucial. A renewed movement of the Holy Spirit (Wairua Tapu) has recently been observed in some churches.
SIM New Zealand supports the church by encouraging believers to build relationships across faiths and cultures for the sake of the gospel.
Please pray
- For new prayer groups to start that give all generations a chance to participate in praying for mission
- For our mobilisers as they focus on three New Zealand communities this year — Palmerston North, Christchurch and Dunedin — coming alongside church pastors and congregations to build mission awareness and engagement
- For four new long-term mission partners who sense God’s calling to serve cross-culturally outside New Zealand
- For our board as they work with leadership to refresh our next six-year strategic plan
- For strategic partnerships with churches to be developed through mutual relationships
Latest stories from around SIM
In southern Ecuador, Rachel Wilson is equipping local believers to follow Jesus deeply and disciple others through God’s Word.
The Lord planted Sports Friends coach John Lufani, his wife Agness and their family of five in the heart of a community hostile to the good news.
In Zimbabwe, people living with HIV are finding hope and healing through the love of Jesus. Thanks to the work of Windows of Hope and the support of volunt...
Rocio felt alone and unloved after her parents left when she was just seven. But through a Christian radio programme, she heard the message of Jesus and fo...
New Zealander Sarah Scott Webb (SIM For Freedom) has been working closely with colleagues in the European Freedom Network (EFN) and the World Evangelical A...
A simple car ride in Ecuador becomes a divine appointment to share the gospel.
To say Pastor Michael* took an interesting route into Christian work would barely do justice to his astonishing story.
Amy was given a golden opportunity to tell an Indian friend the true meaning of Christmas and she took it with both hands.
Linda Pretorius has been serving soup and the love of Jesus for more than 25 years and is now making a major gospel impact among the Bushmen of Namibia, wh...
Young mission worker Sara Hart’s ‘yes’ and the enthusiastic participation of Bolivian young people have led to a wonderful gospel puppet ...
The crows perched on the trees all lean into the wind. The wind here is strong and incessant. We are on the edge of the desert in a Gabra region of norther...
Across West Africa, widows often confront a brutal reality. Ostracised by some traditions, they can be left feeling isolated and vulnerable.