MB728 – A History of the Gospel in New Zealand

This course explores the arrival, spread and impact of the Christian gospel in Aotearoa from 1814 to the present day. It examines the development of Christianity among Maori, the growth of the settler churches, Christian engagement with social issues, church responses to secularism, and the impact of immigration on contemporary Kiwi Christianity. Students will develop an appreciation of the way in which the gospel has shaped New Zealand society. They will come to understand the historical dimensions to many contemporary issues facing the church. And, perhaps most importantly, they will learn how to apply those insights – for the sake of the gospel – in their life and leadership today.