Bio

My early years were spent growing up in state housing in the impoverished welfare-dependent suburb of Cannon’s Creek, Porirua East, New Zealand. When I was about 7 years old, my mother and step-father moved our somewhat volatile nuclear family to cheaper rental housing in the small rural town of Martinborough (Waihenga), South Wairarapa, New Zealand. It was there that I put down roots. 40 years later I was to discover that my Maori ancestors’ bones lay near there too. This is my turangawaewae, my standing place, the earth to which I belong. At the age of 16 I accepted Jesus as Lord of my life and was baptised in my tribal river, a significance that resonates strongly with me now in the second half of my life.

I am the husband of Pauline, who I met at Faith Bible College in 1988 and we married in 1990. We have no children, but we have a conviction from the Lord that this has freed us to pursue our missions calling in special ways (similar to 1 Cor 7:32-35).

We both left the banking/clerical workforce in 1991 to pursue God’s call on our lives and invest ourselves into missions service, initially with WEC International. In 2000, I was appointed the leader of Pioneers New Zealand’s newly formed Mobilisation Base, and I remained in that role until 2015. My leadership position in Pioneers saw me responsible for every aspect of missions sending and supporting alongside a small dedicated staff team. My leadership responsibilities also extended to helping with Pioneers’ international development as part of their International Leadership Team and International Council.

Since 2007 I have been an Associate of the World Evangelical Alliance Mission Commission, although my connection with the Commission began a decade earlier in 1997 when I first met former Executive Director Dr Bill Taylor while I was studying for my MA at All Nations Christian College in the UK. In 2011 I was appointed to lead the Mobilisation Network with the WEA MC and tasked with completing a major global research project concerned with mobilisation. That project culminated “Mission in Motion: Speaking Frankly of Mobilization“, which I co-wrote, published by William Carey Library. In 2018 I was appointed to the WEA MC’s Leadership Team as Associate Director with responsibility for Publications, Funding and Communications.

In 2015, I moved on from Pioneers to take up the role of Executive Officer at Missions Interlink, the national association of missions-passionate people and organisations in Aotearoa New Zealand. Missions Interlink is the equivalent of Missio Nexus (USA), Global Connections (UK), Missions Interlink (Aus), etc. My primary responsibility in Missions Interlink was to foster greater collaboration in God’s mission from and within Aotearoa New Zealand and promote a deeper sense of being a community ‘on mission’, within our subscribed membership in particular, but also among the people of God (aka the Church) in Aotearoa New Zealand in general.

In 2018 I began voluntary service as Secretary of Interserve‘s International Council, which will conclude at the end of my second term in November 2025. In 2024 I joined A Rocha Aotearoa New Zealand‘s Board of Reference.

In 2020 my role with Missions Interlink reduced to make way for additional responsibility as the Director of the World Evangelical Alliance‘s Global Witness Department and Executive Director of its Mission Commission. The leadership responsibilities worked in synergy, ‘theoretically’ half time each for Missions Interlink and the WEA. As I have done for the missions community in Aotearoa New Zealand, so I seek to do in the global ‘Evangelical’ community — to strengthen participation in God’s mission and help God’s people flourish in missions. During my time leading Missions Interlink I also served on the working board of the New Zealand Christian Network.

I will conclude my leadership of Missions Interlink (NZ) on 31 July 2024 to pick up responsibility as Opinions Editor for the Christian Daily International online news service. This role will continue to dovetail with my responsibilities as Executive Director of the WEA’s Mission Commission.

Passions

I have many interests and passions. Writing is chief among them. I am also a poet/songwriter, singer, guitarist, and worship leader – nothing gives me greater joy than leading God’s people in sung worship, especially in multi-cultural environments. For me, singing is a deeply therapeutic and spiritual experience. I accredit that and my singing voice to my indigenous heritage. I enjoy carving and usually have a project in process. My artistic leanings extend to the digital sphere where I draw on years of desktop publishing experience to enhance my online and professional life.

My over-riding life-calling or passion is to help people extend God’s influence in the world for God’s glory. Ultimately, that is why I do all that I do. I seek first God’s kingdom and trust that the Holy Three will provide for all our needs.

Learning
with Snr Samuel Escobar
Latin American Missiologist