Missionary work flourished under the leadership of John Watson, with outposts in Asia, Africa and South America.

In 1982, pastor Johnson publicly opposed plans for a proposed monolithic statue of Jesus in the Waitematā Harbour.

Such was the ambiguity and lack of clarity of the situation that many continued to give to Neville for months to come believing he had done nothing wrong.

Mission work was scaled back (with many workers finding other supporters) and the Zion Bible Training Centre had to close.

Following on from Kem Price, Rick Seaward, an American missionary from Singapore led the church from June 1988.