HOW RICCARTON BAPTIST TURNED A HOLE IN THE ROOF INTO A MISSIONAL OPPORTUNITY.
As the rain gently patters against the windows, Rachel, the pastor of Riccarton Baptist Church, smiles knowingly. “It’s raining outside, but I’m not as worried about it as I used to be,” she says as she, Geoff—the church manager—and I settle into our chairs in the church office.
Her southern stoicism and playful grin belie just how difficult the situation was for the church just a few months ago.
“Our roof was in desperate need of attention,” Geoff recalls. “There were times when we had to put out buckets to catch leaks, and it became a real challenge for people using the building.” We climb onto the roof, where Rachel points out the areas that were worst affected. One quote for repairs came back at a staggering $100,000. Given the urgency of the situation, the church leaders began looking at their options. With limited cash reserves but valuable assets, their initial reaction was to sell off the manse on the adjacent property. “We’re asset-rich but pretty cash-poor,” Rachel explains. “So our knee-jerk reaction was to say, ‘Let’s sell off the land and get a cash injection.’”
But before making any drastic decisions, they reached out to Baptist Resources for advice.
Inside the warmth of the church, about a dozen Filipino mums and their kids have gathered for their lively weekly get-together. As Mainly Music’s greatest hits play in the background, Rachel shares how a member of the Filipino community—facing tough economic times—was able to step in and complete some of the much-needed internal repair work caused by the water damage from the roof. “That was a real blessing,” she says. “But we still had to figure out how to fund the roof repairs without putting the church’s long-term future at risk.”
When Baptist Resources came on board, their advice was clear: don’t rush into selling the land. “They helped us see that selling the manse might give us quick cash, but we’d be losing a valuable asset,” Geoff says. “Instead, they worked with us to find a better solution.” Baptist Resources not only guided them through the financial complexities but also offered to act as a guarantor for a loan, something that made a huge difference. “That gave us breathing room,” Rachel says. “We could get the roof fixed without having to make a decision we might regret later.” But their support didn’t stop there. What began as a conversation about fixing a leaky roof turned into a much bigger conversation about the church’s future. “They didn’t just help us with the immediate issue—they built a relationship with us,” Geoff explains. “Now, they’re helping us develop a long-term plan for how we can best use our land.” Rachel nods. “It’s exciting. At our recent AGM, we presented a plan to use the land for housing, which will serve the community in a much more meaningful way.” “We’re a community hub,” Geoff adds. “We want to use our resources wisely—not just for quick fixes, but to bless the people around us in a lasting way.” With Baptist Resources guiding them through the financial side of things, the church has been able to focus on what they do best—serving their congregation and community.
“We’re not financial experts,” Rachel admits with a laugh. “But sitting down with them, it’s like having a trusted uncle who genuinely wants to help. ”Geoff agrees. “It’s a different kind of relationship. It’s not like dealing with a bank. They’re invested in seeing us succeed, and that makes all the difference. One of the Baptist Resources team members stood alongside us when we presented the plan to the church at the AGM.” Looking back, Rachel says she’s grateful they didn’t go with their first instinct to sell the land. “If we’d gone into this without their support, I think we would have really struggled,” she says. “Now, we not only have a fixed roof—we have a plan for the future.”