Who we are

pssmPSSM was started over 80 years ago by Robert Laidlaw and James Rowan in an effort to deliver the benefits of ‘Sunday school’ to the rural children of Aotearoa. Mr. Laidlaw (who also started Farmer’s Trading Company) and Mr. Rowan realised that if they could deliver Farmer’s catalogues to rural New Zealand, they could also deliver Sunday school lessons – and so the ‘Postal Sunday School Movement’ began connecting kids to the Bible.

Today, this is still what we are all about – CONNECTING. Connecting kids to the Bible, connecting kids to churches, connecting kids to each other, and connecting kids to God.

Our Staff

Carl Becker – CEO

BTchLn, GradDipAppTheol
Carl had a 25 year career in state education concluding (2005) his service as a Intermediate School Principal for eight years. Since then he has served in church ministry as an Executive Pastor, Acting Pastor and Ministries Coordinator; studied theology (Post Graduate Diploma at Carey Baptist College), become a consultant to Christian Schools, written Christian curriculum for Christian Schools, advised boards on governance and strategic planning matters and chaired two school boards. Carl is passionate about education and theology in the context of the school
environment. He is constantly looking at creative ways to help students engage their lives in the greatest true story of all time. Carl is an experienced and competent educational and pastoral leader who makes a difference where ever he is serving in the Kingdom.

Al Ronberg – Communications and Promotions

B.Sc (Psychology)
Al Ronberg is our Communications and Promotions Director for the 2ndcity project. He has been involved in Youth Ministry for more years than he would care to admit and is passionate about forging new and exciting ways to connect young people with their Creator. Al has been a Youth Pastor, Chaplain and Youth Ministry advisor in New Zealand and overseas and has recently been working in a development role with ICONZ, the Boys’ Brigade’s realtively new venture. A keen photographer, communicator and musician, Al is very much loving his part in building and growing 2ndcity.

Elizabeth Baillie – Administrator

Elizabeth is married, with 3 grown-up children. When they were all at school, she returned to the workforce, and learnt computer and office skills. She was brought up in a Christian home, on the West Coast, and did PSSM lessons from a young age, advancing through all five levels, which gave her a solid foundation in the truth of God’s Word. She became a Christian when 12yrs old. She has been working part-time in the PSSM office for the past 18yrs, updating student’s records, and encouraging them through correspondence. Elizabeth attends Kelston Community Church, and is actively involved in the church committee.

Villette Kolose – PA and Admin

Villette is PA to CEO Carl Becker and looks after all our admin and accounts. Villette has a broad range of experiences, having worked for churches and NGO’s over the last 10 years that make her a perfect fit for the 2ndcity team. She has been involved in Youthwork AND Media, with her passion being in serving in Worship and spending time with her hubby and 3 young sons. Villette attends Life South Church with her family.

Our Board

Wayne Schache

BCom, CA, Board Chairman

Wayne is a Chartered Accountant, currently employed as Commercial Manager for Synergine Group, a multidisciplinary consultancy firm. Wayne and his wife have a long association with PSSM, Wayne at a Board level and Janine previously as an Editor of the Discovery magazine. It is exciting to be part of the redevelopment of the PSSM ministry, as we look to update the way which we bring the Word of God to the current generation so that it greatly impacts their lives.

Wayne is also on the Board of Carey Park Christian Camp in Henderson, Auckland, and is a member of the Arahoe Primary School Board of Trustees.

Sefton Marshall

Campbell McSkimming

Campbell trained as a school teacher. After graduating from a Bible training course at NZBTI (now known as Laidlaw College), he served as a missionary in Singapore for 15 years. In 1977 he was invited to join PSSM, so returned to NZ with his wife and family where he took up the role as director. He worked together with his wife Elaine, for many years in the challenging task of sharing God’s truth with thousands of people through the printed studies. Now as a board member, he is keen to see PSSM continue to make God’s word known, using modern methods to encourage people of all ages to know and love God.

KH

Kelvin Hicks

MA (Educ), M Mgt (Communication), Dip Tching
Kelvin is involved in education. He has taught at primary and secondary schools and is currently lecturing at AUT University. He is married to Marion and they have three boys. He believes the deepest questions about human experience are answered in the Bible. As a child and young person Kelvin received PSSM courses each month which helped him find God’s answers to the critical questions about life, and living, and dying, and beyond. As a board member now he is supporting the mission of PSSM in pursuing that goal of connecting people to God’s word and His truth.

John Setters

NZCE Civil
John is currently working as Property Manager of Lakes Ranch Christian Youth Camp in Rotorua. John and Valerie, his wife, who have two adult children, moved from Auckland to Rotorua in 2007 where they attend Fenton Park Bible Church. As a child John attended Howe Street Chapel where Mr. R A Laidlaw, the founder of PSSM, was an elder. PSSM and Joybells magazine have always been a part of his learning and heritage. John joined the Board of PSSM in 1997 to bring computer expertise and the desire to ‘go live’ on the internet; a dream that is only now being fully realized. John has a wide experience in building design and construction together with computer aided design, GIS mapping and the computer industry.

Braden Simpson

BSc (Computer Science)
Braden is a senior software engineer based in Palmerston North with more than 15 years’ experience in the industry. He and his wife Raeleen have five children who keep life busy and on the move. Braden is excited about the pssm 2ndcity project and sees it as key to carrying God’s Word to this new tech-savvy generation. Braden attends Crossroads Bible Centre where he is involved in a number of ministries alongside his wife, including parenting, worship, and leading a Life Group.

CE

Charles Erlam

BE (Elec), MDiv

Charles left his engineering career to undertake theological study. With his wife, Charles pastored a church in Palmerston North for four years before joining the teaching staff of Laidlaw College in 2001. He is currently Director of the Centre for Distance Learning at Laidlaw College. Charles has had a long association with PSSM since a young boy, and is committed to seeing PSSM reach out to the youth of New Zealand with the gospel. Charles attends Titirangi Baptist Church.
MH

Myk Habets

Bachelor of Ministries; Master of Theology Research Graduate Diploma in Tertiary Teaching; PhD [Theology]

Myk has a passion to teach theology – the great doctrines of the Christian faith, founded in Scripture, forged in tradition, applied to culture, and lived out in experience. Myk has taught at Carey for six years now and loves every minute of it. When not teaching he can be found preaching around Baptist Churches, running seminars, or having fun with his family – mostly at one of the many splendid beaches on Auckland’s North Shore. One day he hopes to own his own Harley Davidson. He and his wife Odele are members of Windsor Park Baptist Church and they have two adorable young kids

Skip Parker

Skip has worked in Youth Ministry for a good 10 years before moving into IT & Electrical Engineering. He is currently an ICT Engineer at Rhema Broadcasting Group where he has worked on a development project which has become the cornerstone software for managing daily devotional distribution globally for Bob Gass’ Word for Today. The system includes aspects that allow communication across an ever changing Social Networking landscape, and is continuing development as we explore communication into different new media systems.

He is also involved with Gameguide, Filmguide, Drone and Kinect. Four websites that review and explore gaming, music and film related entertainment. These sites have been on-going for a number of years now and continue to grow.

GW

Grant Warner

Coming on board in 2012

Grant was trained as an Educator, teaching in the primary and intermediate sector. He moved on to become an educational Advisor to primary and secondary schools in Auckland and Northland.  Following 20 years in the Education sector Grant become the Development Advisor and then Director of Growing Families NZ.  This was followed by self-employment in strategic development project work.  Clients include, ICONZ (Boys Brigade), Titirangi Baptist Church Community Project, Carey Park Christian Camp, PSSM and currently the Baptist Union.  
Grant and Michelle have 4 children. They are engaged in the faith community at Titirangi Baptist, directing the Family ministry, facilitating a young adult’s community, and until 
recently Grant served as an Elder.
MB

Murray Burton

Joining us in 2012

Murray is the current Principal of Elim Christian College in East Auckland has now had the privilege of leading 5 schools in his career to date. Murray thrives on the challenge of Christian world-view education. He is dedicated to inspiring staff and students to discover their amazing God-given abilities! He has also served as an Education Review Officer, Youth Pastor, a member of the Advisory Board of Laidlaw College Education Faculty and the short-lived World Vision Education Team of Influence
2008 proved to be a year of massive challenge for Murray being called on to lead a school community in grief following the death of 6 students and a teacher in the Mangatepopo tragedy. Reluctantly he received the acknowledgment of the media and his peers when he was named the North & South New Zealander of the Year and awarded ‘Service with Distinction’ by the New Zealand Principals’ Federation. This year, 2011 he was awarded an MNZM for bravery and services to the community.

Got a question?

Fill in the form to send us an email.
You can also find us on these channels:
@pssmNZ

+649 846 1776
PSSM Bible Discovery
DX Box CP 40014
Auckland Sort
New Zealand
Suite 5, 399 New North Road
Kingsland
Auckland 1021
New Zealand

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