Click here to VOTE! for Breezes Road Baptist Church
Prior to the Canterbury earthquakes, the Breezes Road Baptist Church (BRBC) had an active congregation of between 100 – 120 members and a full-time pastor.
The premises, owned by the national Baptist Union, incorporate two houses, a hall and the church building. The houses were put to good use after the earthquakes.
BRBC housed up to 25 Habitat for Humanity workers for more than a year, giving volunteers the base they needed as they repaired homes for others.
Meanwhile, the congregation had to meet at a local school as the hall and church buildings were condemned. Six years on, the hall is repaired and the congregation meets there: but the church still waits.
Plans are in progress, but being bordered by red-zoned green fields has meant the congregation has dwindled by two-thirds and the pastor now works part-time.
Limited funds remain to cover repairing the church to meet 67% of earthquake strengthening code but the congregation believes it should really be 100% for the wellbeing of its members.
SmartLift’s help with a lift and re-level would enable that to happen and let the BRBC get on with supporting their community. They are known for their music-to-movement programmes for mums and pre-schoolers, and for social outreach in the area.
The church’s facilities used to regularly host at least three local groups including meetings for the AA and a Samoan church group.
Vote now for Breezes Road Baptist Church