About

Our Story
Calling & Culture
Statement of Faith

Our Story

Alliance combined service 2018

We’ve been part of the Blockhouse Bay community since 1974. We were originally called First Alliance Church because we were the first church established in New Zealand by The Christian and Missionary Alliance. In 1998 we changed our name to Blockhouse Bay Community Church (BBCC) to more accurately reflect our location and commitment to our community but we are still very much an Alliance church, totally committed and connected with the Alliance Family.  

The Alliance is a worldwide Christian movement working in almost 90 countries, with thousands of Pastors and Missionaries and millions of members. It traces it’s history back to 1887 and the Canadian Presbyterian minister, Dr Albert B Simpson, who was known for his commitment to the deeper Christian life, and global missions. Simpson’s leadership influenced the forming of two Christian ministries which later merged to become the Christian & Missionary Alliance. One of our more widely known members is Dr A.W. Tozer, noted preacher, writer, and theologian of the 20th Century.

While the Alliance has grown to become a highly respected international denomination, it remains more of a movement at heart – still committed to helping people grow deeper in Christ, and taking the gospel to all people, everywhere. Blockhouse Bay Community Church shares this commitment and loves working with people, ministries and churches who share our passion.

Calling & Culture

Our Calling

Our Calling describes the mission, vision, and focus of our church.
We are called to be a tangible expression of Jesus to the World.

Our Culture

Real People, Real Life, Real Change
We are a Church of REAL PEOPLE experiencing REAL LIFE and pursuing REAL CHANGE.

Real People: We aspire to be a diverse community of authentic people, characterised by genuine personal relationships with God and others.

Real Life: We desire to experience the fullness of life God promises us through faith in Jesus Christ.

Real Change: Through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, we seek to be changed into fully devoted followers of Christ who make other fully devoted followers.

Our Core Values

  • We recognise Christ as the Lord of our lives and the head of the Church. (Rom. 14:8-9, Col. 1:15-20)
  • We regularly engage in diverse expressions of worship and prayer. (Rom. 15:6, Eph. 6:18, 1 Cor. 14:26)
  • We honour the Bible as the inspired Word of God. (2 Tim. 3:16-17)
  • We glorify God through consistent Christ-like conduct in every area of our lives. (1 Pet. 2:11-12)
  • We practice financial stewardship and generosity. (2 Cor. 8:1-7)
  • We facilitate gatherings that are welcoming to people from all backgrounds, cultures, and age groups. (Matt. 18:1-9, Rev. 5:9)
  • We encourage people to use their gifts, talents, and strengths to serve the Church (1 Cor. 12:1-11)
  • We equip the Church for life and ministry. (Eph. 4:11-16)
  • We facilitate opportunities for rich and rewarding fellowship (Acts 2:42-47)
  • We encourage spiritual growth and maturity which leads to holy living. (Eph. 4:11-13)
  • We preach the whole counsel of God in contemporary ways (Acts 17:16-34)
  • We are committed to taking the Gospel of Salvation to New Zealand and beyond. (Acts 1:8)
  • We believe that lost people matter to God, and he wants them found. (Luke 19:10)
  • We are concerned for justice and protecting the most vulnerable in society. (Zech. 7:8-10)
  • We are committed to sharing the truth of God in creative and loving ways. (Eph. 4:1, 1 Pet. 3:15)

Statement of Faith

A. There is one God,1 Creator of all things,2 who is infinitely perfect,3 and existing eternally in three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.4

 1Isaiah 44:6; 45:5-6, 21-22; 2Genesis 1:1-31; Colossians 1:15-16.  3Matthew 5:48; Deuteronomy 32:4.  4Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19;  2 Corinthians 13:14

 

B. Jesus Christ is true God and true man.5 He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.6  He died upon the cross, the Righteous for the unrighteous, as a substitutionary sacrifice,7 and all who believe in Him are justified on the ground of His shed blood.8  He arose from the dead according to the Scriptures.9  He is now at the right hand of the Majesty on high10 as our great High Priest.11  He will come again to establish His Kingdom of righteousness and peace.12

5Philippians 2:6-11; Hebrews 1:2-3; 2:14-18; Colossians 1:15-20; 2:9.  6Matthew 1:18; Luke 1:35.  71 Peter 2:24, 3:18; 1 John 2:2; 4:9, 10.  8Romans 3:22-25.  91 Corinthians 15:3-6.  10 Hebrews 1:3, 8:1 11Hebrews 4:14-15; 9:24-28. 12Matthew 25:31-34.

 

C. The Holy Spirit is a divine person, sent to indwell, guide, teach, and empower the believer for godly living and service, to bring glory to the Lord Jesus Christ, and to convict the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment.13

13John 14:16-17; John 16:7-15.

 

D. The Old and New Testaments, inerrant as originally given, whose words were inspired by God, are a complete revelation of His will for the salvation of all people. They constitute the divine and only rule of Christian faith and practice.14

14 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21.

 

E. People were originally created in the image and likeness of God; they fell through disobedience, incurring thereby both physical and spiritual death.15 Subsequently all people are born with a sinful nature, are separated from the life of God, and can be saved only through faith in the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. 16  The destiny of the unrepentant and unbelieving is everlasting separation from God in conscious torment (Hell); but that of the believer is everlasting joy and blessing in the presence of the Lord (Heaven). 17

15Genesis 1:27, 3:1-24;  16Romans 3:9-12; 22-25; Galatians 3:22; Ephesians 4:17-18.  17 Matthew 25:41-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; Revelation 14:10-11

F. Salvation has been provided only through Jesus Christ for all people.18 Those who repent and believe in Him are justified freely by His grace, are born again of the Holy Spirit, receive the gift of eternal life, and become the children of God.19

18John 3:16; Titus 3:5-7; Acts 2:38.  19Ephesians 1:7; Romans 3:22-25; 1 Corinthians 6:11; John 1:12.

 

G. It is the will of God that each believer should be filled with the Holy Spirit and be sanctified thoroughly, thereby being separated from the power of sin and conformity to the world, and being fully dedicated to the will of God, receiving power for holy living and sacrificial and effective service toward the completion of Christ’s commission.20 This is both a distinct encounter and a progressive experience in the life of the believer subsequent to conversion.21

20 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Acts 1:8; Romans 12:1-2; Galatians 5:16-25; 21 2 Corinthians 3:18; Romans 6:1-4; 1 John 2:15-17

 
H. Provision is made in the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ for the healing of the mortal body.22 Prayer for the sick and anointing with oil as taught in the Scriptures are privileges for the Church in this present age.23

22Matthew 8:16-17.  23James 5:14-16.

 
I. The universal Church consists of all those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, are redeemed through His blood, and are born again of the Holy Spirit. Christ is the Head of the Body, the Church. He has commissioned the Church to go to all nations as a witness of the Gospel.24

The local church is a body of believers in Christ who are joined together for the worship of God, which includes being built up through the Word of God, prayer, fellowship,  the observance of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and the witness of the Gospel locally and globally. 25

241 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:22-23; 3:6-12; Matthew 16:18; 28:19-20. 25Hebrews 10:25; Acts 2:41-47; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29; Acts 1:8

 
J. There shall be a bodily resurrection of all people.26 For believers a resurrection to life; 27 for unbelievers a resurrection to judgement.28

26 John 5:25-29; Acts 24:15-16; 27 1 Corinthians 15:20-23; 28 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10.

 
K. The second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is imminent, and will be personal and visible.29 As the believer’s blessed hope, this vital truth is an incentive to holy living and faithful service toward the completion of Christ’s commission.30

29 Matthew 24:29-31; Acts 1:7-11; 1 Corinthians 1:7; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; 2 Peter 3:8-9; Revelation 1:7; Revelation 22:7,12;   30 Matthew 28:18-20; Titus 2:11-14; 2 Peter 3:10-13