At the northeastern tip of the South Island of New Zealand is a small town with a not-so-small congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Welcome to Blenheim.
In recent months the Blenheim congregation (known as a branch) has seen a surge of growth. On December 14, 2025, twelve people entered the waters of baptism to become members of the Church and began their personal covenant path of discipleship. That kind of growth is evident each Sunday as the chapel fills beyond capacity.
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The Blenheim New Zealand congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. February 2026.© 2026 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Speaking about those who were recently baptised, the branch leader, President Paea Lavulavu said, “Their journey was supported by faithful Church members who ministered with love and consistency. It was a wonderful feeling to see members support those being baptised. Everyone who attended the baptismal service came dressed in white to show their love and unity.”
But that love and unity didn’t start there. It started many days before.
“Leading up to the day, the branch members did service work together and ministered one by one. That included the youth and the children’s organisation known as the Primary. This united effort strengthened both those being baptised and the entire branch. As a result, the branch has not just grown in numbers but also in unity and faith,” said President Lavulavu.
Five of those baptised that day were the Manila family – mum, dad and three sons.
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Congregation leader, President Lavulavu (left) with the Manila family on their baptism day. February 2026.© 2026 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.“Through the kindness and example of branch members, our family came to know the gospel of Jesus Christ. Being baptised together was a meaningful experience, and we felt supported throughout our journey,” said the dad, Chan Manila.
His wife, Fatima Manila, agreed. “From the beginning, we felt genuine care from the Church members here in Blenheim. As we learned about the gospel, we felt peace and confidence in our decision to be baptised.”
The growth of the of the Church in Blenheim doesn’t surprise President Jason Prasad; he oversees three other congregations in the area.
“Ministering one by one has made a clear difference in Blenheim. As members follow the Saviour’s example and care for individuals personally, faith and growth naturally follow.”
Leading up to Christmas, the Blenheim Branch decided to hold a Christmas pageant titled, “Walk With Christ – Light the World.” Adults and children were invited to use one of the classrooms in their church building to depict part of the story of Christ’s birth. Once all had made their costumes, practiced their parts, and built their unique, one-room sets, invitations went out for the community to attend – and hundreds of people came.
| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
Witnessing the response from the community, Blenheim Branch Church member, Gary Hebberd said, “The Christmas pageant united members of all ages and invited the community to reflect on the birth of Jesus Christ. The Spirit was felt as many came to experience His light.”
The Blenheim Branch believes everyone in their congregation is a minister to the community – ministering to others one by one as would Jesus Christ.
President Lavulavu believes this is how the Saviour ministered to others.
“As we seek to minister one by one, we have seen the Saviour working among us. Jesus Christ knows everyone personally, and as we follow His example, hearts are softened and lives are strengthened. As we focused on loving, serving, and inviting others to come unto Christ, the Lord magnified our efforts and blessed our branch and community. I love Jesus Christ, and I love serving His children as we invite all to come, follow Him.”