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Over 105 Years of History

Over 105 Years of History


The Mairangi Bay Community Church was established in Mairangi Bay in the 1950s, and at the time consisted of about 20 locals (Kiwis). However the roots of the church go back much further to 1912.

 

MBCC began as a small fellowship of people meeting on Auckland’s North Shore in Devonport. The church was an offshoot of the Ponsonby Road Church of Christ. The first chapel (in Old Lake Road, Devonport) was opened on Saturday December 17th 1927.

 

In the early 1950s the Devonport chapel was physically relocated to Mairangi Bay and the church became known as the Mairangi Bay Church of Christ. The little chapel (seen to the right) stood almost on the corner of Beach Road and Ramsgate Terrace - where Countdown Supermarket car park is today. 

 

The old chapel was demolished in December 1972 and a new church opened not far away in March 1973 at our present site on the corner of Maxwelton Drive and Noumea Place. In 2012, on the occasion of our 100th. anniversary, our beautiful new auditorium and extended facilities were officially opened.   

 

Early in 1998 the name of the church was changed to Mairangi Bay Community Church, a name which reflected our calling to serve the community and our desire to welcome all, regardless of denominational or ethnic background.

 

MBCC is an autonomous, self-governing evangelical church and members come from many denominational backgrounds. Many indeed come from totally non-church backgrounds.

 

We are affiliated with a dynamic movement of churches known as Christian Churches New Zealand.

 

CCNZ is the name for what used to be the Associated Churches of Christ in New Zealand which historically is linked to groups around the world known variously as Christian Churches, Churches of Christ, and Disciples. Today there are about 4,000,000 members of these churches in the United States and many similar churches around the world.

 

These denominations grew out of the so-called Restoration Movement of the early Nineteenth Century which stressed non-sectarianism and Christian unity and encouraged a return to the simple faith and practice of the Early Church. The Restoration Movement was part of the wider explosion of evangelical Christianity known as Second Great Awakening.

 

The photograph on the left shows Brent Liebezeit (current President of Christian Churches New Zealand) & his wife Viv. Brent is also senior pastor of Annesbrook Church in Nelson.

 

We are very happy that at the October 2014 CCNZ Conference a very fine biblically-based Statement on Marriage and Sexuality was overwhelmingly endorced by all our churches. You may read this statement below.

 

At MBCC we highly value the fact we are part of the wider "body of Christ" both in our local context and worldwide. Denominational labels and affiliations, as well as social, linguistic and ethnic background should not become barriers hindering true believers from enjoying fellowship together and from witnessing together to our common faith and our common Lord.

 

We recognize that true unity grows out of a common commitment to the Word of God and out of an obedience to the Holy Spirit. 

 

MBCC is also privileged to be a member of the New Zealand Christian Network. The NZ Christian Network seeks to promote the unity & mission of the Church in NZ & reflect the common views held by the 500,000 evangelical or biblically orthodox Christians in our nation. NZ Christian Network seeks to:

 

  • Gather Christians to share topics of interest & concern

  • Build networks to bring Christians together,

  • Speak with & listen to the Church & the wider community throughout New Zealand.

 

Rodney Cowell (seen to the left) served as MBCC pastor from late 1997 to February 2006. He played a key role in helping the church look outwards in reaching the community and in becoming intentionally multi-cultural and welcoming. After retiring Rodney wrote a book entitled "God's Secret Plan - Experiences & Lessons in Multi-cultural Christian Ministry" which drew upon his rich experiences in leading MBCC. For some years in retirement Rodney (supported by his lovely wife Beryl) helped in a number of churches around New Zealand as their interrim pastor - including the well-known Baptist Tabernacle in Auckland City. After a brief illness Ps Rodney went to be with the Lord on 18 November 2015 at the age of 74. 

 

Rodney and Beryl were succeeded by Peter and Elizabeth Anderson, who served with MBCC for just over 10 years. Peter ‘retired’ at the end of March 2016. It was in November 2012, during the years the Andersons served at MBCC, that the new auditorium and church extension were completed.


Then Peter and Elizabeth Anderson were succeeded by Abri and Leoni Brancken from April 2016 to December 2022. He led the church to a Hebraic understanding of the Bible and through covid period, the church opened the doors to those who were vaccinated and non-vaccinated people. He preached on the book of Revelation which has given the people a new insight and understanding of the book.

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