There is a sense in which who we are and what we are about is captured in our name:
Hastings Baptist Church.

• Hastings - This is where we are located, this is where the people of the church live, this is where our attention and efforts are primarily directed.  The delight and the downside of being in the Hawkes Bay; the triumphs and the trials of provincial New Zealand; the happiness and the hardship of an agricultural and horticultural economy - these are the realities of our neighbours and our members.  We have been in Hastings almost 100 years and we are committed to the good of our city and our community. For more see The Story So Far.
  
  
• Baptist - This expresses something of the convictions and values we have as Christians.  Baptists are driven to have an authentic expression of faith by taking Jesus seriously.  Engaging with the Bible and bringing God's wisdom and word to bear on all of life is a vital component of Baptist life. For more see The Baptist Union and Baptist Ideals.
  
  
• Church - We are a Christian church committed to seeing people come to know Jesus Christ and be incorporated into a community of believers.  We place a high importance on gathering together in the name of Christ - putting flesh and bones to our convictions of rescue and reconciliation in Christ. For more see Believing, Belonging and Leadership.
  

Hastings Baptist Church exists to glorify God,

by bringing others to Jesus Christ,

and growing together to maturity in Him.

As church we are committed to two strategic aims: Evangelism and Edification. All the meetings and ministries of the church are geared to these broad goals.

Evangelism

A Christian is someone who has received a message from God and responded to it.  The broad content of that message is that though humanity has rebelled against God and face his judgement a rescue has been achieved through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  The only satisfactory response to that message is to trust in the sufficiency of Jesus' rescue, and then live a new life as a rescued, forgiven person.  Both the trust and the power to live a new life are generous gifts from God.

As a church we want all people to have the privilege of hearing and responding to this message. This is evangelism.  The response that people make is beyond our control - we pray that they would respond with trust and a renewed life; we hope that they would see the greatness of Jesus Christ.

Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God ... For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. (2 Corinthians 4:1, 2, 5) 

Edification

To edify someone is to build them up, to nurture and strengthen them.  Anyone who has become a Christian needs this building work going on as they seek to live out the life of a rescued person. The transformation from an old pattern of living to the new freedom and forgiveness in Jesus is not instanteous nor is it always easy.  Christians need the wisdom of the Scriptures; the encouragement of fellow-believers; the enabling of the Spirit of God - in order to be built-up into all that Christ has won for them through his great victory. 

As a church we want to help followers of Jesus to experience this renovation and restoration in their lives both individually and corporately.

That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:20-24)