Christian Heroes

Brian Geoffrey Hathaway    

“We want this town to see Jesus”  Bible College of New Zealand’s national principal Brian Hathaway died  suddenly in Auckland on Sunday 5th October. The funeral took place on Friday, 10th October, at Greenlane Christian Centre. Mr Hathaway, 61, was an internationally known speaker, preacher and author, and prior to becoming principal of the College in 1998 was a facilitator for the networking and evangelism organisation Vision New Zealand. He was also pastor of Auckland ’s Te Atatu Bible Chapel for 14 years. “Brian’s contribution to the Christian community in New Zealand over the last 20-30 years has been profound,” says the College’s president Peter McKenzie. “His capacity to inspire and encourage will be significantly lost.” Mr Hathaway had a Master of Science (honours) from Auckland University in cell biology and lectured in science at secondary and primary teachers’ colleges in Auckland . Mr Hathaway had a vision for the College’s students to become more like Jesus, saying this was God’s purpose for bringing people into His kingdom.  He also emphasised the need for New Zealand Christians to work together in evangelism and mission. (Picture of Brian Hathaway and family) “The Trinity longs to see Christians working together,” he said at a Vision New Zealand congress. “I long for the day when the leaders of the Bible believing churches in a town, or a city in this nation say ‘enough of this madness’.  Let’s work together, let’s pool our resources, we want this town to see Jesus.” Brian Hathaway is survived by his wife Noeleen and adult children Glen, Steven, Sharon and Phillip. Garth George, editor - Challenge Weekly P.O. Box 68-800, Newton,  Auckland Phone: 64 9 378 4052 or 64 027 271 2849 - editor@challengeweekly.co.nz

5 February 1942 - 5 October 2003 Brian Hathaway wore many hats. Among them, though little known to the public, Brian served as part of the Across Ministries Board of References. If you have a tribute to Brian, you can send it to Across Ministries: Email “The Trinity longs to see Christians working together

These words of a song found in Brian Hathaway's Bible that inspired and challenged him:

So Send I You

So send I you to labour unrewarded
To serve unpaid, unloved, unsought, unknown
To bear rebuke, to suffer scorn and scoffing
So send I you to toil for me alone

So send I you to bind the bruised and broken
Or wandering souls to work, to weep, to wake
To bear the burdens of a world aweary
So send I you to suffer for my sake

So send I you to loneliness and longing
With heart a-hungering for the loved and known
Forsaking home and kindred friend and dear one,
So send I you to know my love alone.

So send I you to hearts made hard by hatred
To eyes made blind because they cannot see
To spend, tho' it be blood to spend and spare not
So send I you to taste of Calvary


As thou hast sent me unto the world
even so have I sent them into the world
John 17:18

Then said Jesus unto them again, Peace be unto you;
as my Father has sent me, so send I you.
John 20:21

His life's passion...

"Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." 
Matthew 6:33