17 August 2021


Alumni High Tea

It was a delight to reconnect with former staff and students at two Alumni High Tea events on consecutive Saturdays in August at our Henderson and Christchurch campuses. It was an afternoon of story telling, with National Principal Roshan Allpress sharing the stories of three of our founding students in 1921 and the continuing impact of their ministries, in Brazil, India and among Māori in Aotearoa. Alumni present shared their own stories, and the afternoon concluded with staff talking  about the present day students and programmes of the College, and the plans to move to a new campus in Henderson.

In his address, Roshan reminded those present of the “by faith” chapters in Hebrews 11 and 12, and the great cloud of witnesses who have gone before us. We gave thanks for those who began the NZ Bible Training Institute by faith in 1922, the students who have gone on to faithfully serve God in the context in which he has placed them, and the continuing need to trust God for provision as the College navigates through a pandemic and shifting education policies. 

Alumni present represented each decade of the College, from 96 year old Mary who graduated from the Queen Street campus of NZBTI in 1948, to more recent graduates. At the Christchurch event we were joined via zoom later in the afternoon by former staff and students from other parts of New Zealand, Australia and the USA. There were lots of excited greetings and waves as familiar faces appeared on screen – including former Dean of Women, Helena Stretton from Adelaide.

We are looking forward with excitement to more opportunities to connect on a larger scale at Centenary celebrations in 2022! If you are not on our events mailing list and would like to be informed about the upcoming celebrations, please send us your details.