About Interserve
Te Riu Whakaoreore
The hull of an ocean-going waka, journeying by faith into the hard places of our world — awakening and mobilising others, attuned to the call of the Holy Spirit.
Our calling
An international community of ordinary disciples
Interserve is an international, non-denominational community of over 800 partners serving globally — ordinary disciples of Jesus Christ who share the calling to join God’s redeeming and reconciling work in all of creation.
We fulfil our calling by reflecting Christ and making him known, serving those in need together with God, with followers of Jesus, and with the communities to which we are called — in formal and informal ways, in many different professions, trades, and ministries.
Where invited, we seek to bring not only spiritual transformation, but also physical, mental, emotional and social healing — and all for the glory of God.
Our vision is to see lives and communities of peoples of Asia and the Arab World transformed through encounter with Jesus Christ.
Interserve vision statement
Our story
Cutting edge from the beginning
1852
A radical beginning
Mary Anne Cooke founded the Indian Female Normal School and Instruction Society in India — investing in the education and medical care of women who were ostracised from society. Breaking social and religious norms from its very beginning.
1861
Zenana Bible and Medical Mission
The mission was renamed ZBMM, combining religious instruction with education and medical care — a wholistic ministry to upper-caste South Asian women living in female-only quarters called zenanas, who had little or no access to education, healthcare, or the gospel.
1940s
Interserve NZ office established
The New Zealand national office began supporting people in their journey of faith and mission — mobilising, partnering with churches as sending communities, and walking with partners through every season.
2019
Te Riu Whakaoreore
Kaumātua Fred Astle graciously gifted the te reo Māori name during celebrations marking the vision’s heritage. Along with the name came Te Whāriki (The Woven Mat), a korowai whose colour and patterning tells the story of heritage, relationships, and connections.
Today
800+ partners across Asia and the Arab World
Continually evaluating and developing new models and strategies that bring gospel transformation — with humility, learning from and celebrating every culture’s unique expression of what it means to be made in the image of God.
Our bicultural journey
A prophetic edge to our mission
As a New Zealand agency, we are placed here by God. If we don’t use what we can learn from te ao Māori and the unique relationship between te tangata whenua and the church of New Zealand, then we risk making common mistakes on the mission field wherever we go.
We are committed to growing our understanding of God through our developing understanding of te ao Māori. As the people of Aotearoa NZ, we want to point to Rangatiratanga o te Atua — the Kingdom of God — via the taonga of this land which we carry within us and our community.
Our greatest taonga is our people. With the diverse cultural makeup of Aotearoa, we are committed to all people — tangata whenua and tangata Tiriti — bringing their unique expressions of relationship to God and fully participating in God’s mission in culturally distinctive and honouring ways.
Our greatest taonga is our people.
Our pou
In pre-European times a waka would be launched between two pou (posts) — markers of home. Wherever the waka lands, the pou stand as reminders of what is important.
He Pou Whakaoreore Wairua
Spiritual movement, awakening, mobilising — Christ inside and beyond, calling us.
He Pou Wahine Rangatira
Women’s leadership — honouring the founding vision of women missionaries who broke barriers to serve.
Te Whāriki
The Woven Mat — a korowai gifted alongside the name, whose colour and patterning tells the story of our heritage, relationships, connections, collaborations, and our pou.
Explore Te WhārikiWhat shapes us
Our values
01
Dependence on God
Everything we do flows from dependence on God’s leading and provision. We listen before we act.
02
Community
God is all about community. We partner with each other — encouraging and building one another up across cultures and nations.
03
Oneness in Christ
We battle against a dominant culture, raising the volume of those often marginalised. Every culture’s expression of faith matters.
04
Partnership
Walk alongside the Church of the nations served, even where it is persecuted or small. Build, equip, and empower.
05
Wholistic
Not only spiritual transformation, but physical, mental, emotional and social healing — the whole person, the whole community.
06
Servanthood & Integrity
We serve with humility and transparency, accountable to God, to one another, and to the communities we are called to.
“Just as you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world… that they may all be one.”
John 17:18–23
What’s your next step?
Join the journey
Whether you’re exploring, ready to serve, or want to support the work — the best place to start is a conversation.