Meet the City Impact Church Invercargill Location Pastors

Get to Know our Invercargill Location Pastors: Ps Daryl & Roberta Watson

We’re so blessed to have Ps Daryl and Roberta Watson leading our City Impact Church Invercargill Location. They bring with them not only years of ministry experience but also deep faith, wisdom and plenty of heart. We sat down with them to ask a few fun and faith-filled questions. Read on to get to know them a little better!

When and how did you get saved?
Daryl: At 16 years old, in church. We were made to go, but one Sunday during worship, the presence of God came over me so powerfully. My life was changed from that moment on.
Roberta: At 16 years old, in a small church in Orepuki. My boyfriend had been taking me to church and I started to ask questions about God. One night as I lay in bed, I asked Him, “Are you real?” I closed my eyes and saw a light so bright I couldn’t open them—and I heard an audible voice in my head saying, “I am right, I am the one.” That Sunday, there was an altar call to give your life to Christ and I walked to the front.

Tell us a bit about your background.
Daryl: I grew up on a farm and worked at a tanalising plant for nine years. After that, I moved to Te Anau where we planted a New Life church and I also drove trucks for thirteen years. We then moved to Melbourne for two years where I served as a youth pastor.

What inspired you to join City Impact Church?
Roberta: We were pastoring in Melbourne and we’d known Ps Peter and Bev Mortlock from our time leading New Life Church in Te Anau. Our original pastor from those early years was looking to retire and wanted the church to become part of City Impact Church. We received a call asking us to come and the rest is history.

Have you studied or got a qualification?
Roberta: Yes, I’ve studied project management to support my work and often do online courses in leadership, writing and more. I love learning and always have something on the go.

What did you do before becoming a Location Pastor?
I worked in retail and as a teacher’s aide for children with special needs.

Favourite book, food and Bible verse?
Daryl: Definitely the Bible. And you can’t beat seafood chowder and a good steak.

My favourite Bible verse is 1 John 4:4–5.

“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.”

Roberta: I’m an avid reader—my Kindle is always close by! I love historical fiction. As for food: homemade shortbread is a winner! My favourite Bible verse is John 10:10 – “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” That’s my prayer for everyone.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Daryl: Europe—there’s so much history I’d love to explore.
Roberta: Italy! I’d love to trace where my dad was during the war. He escaped a POW camp and was sheltered by a family—I dream of finding them.

How long have you been married and do you have kids?
Daryl: Roberta and I have been married for 42 years. We have four children and fourteen grandchildren.
Roberta:

Where were you born and raised?
Daryl: I was born in Tuatapere and grew up in Orepuki.
Roberta: Riverton, Southland.

Best advice you’ve ever received?
Daryl: Give God your first—save 10%, tithe 10%.
Roberta: “There are always seasons in life—embrace them and grow in them.”

Something quirky about you?
Daryl: I got the exact same marks in English and Math two years in a row for School Certificate. Still not sure how that happened!
Roberta: Haha! Nothing to see here… except I can shuck paua, I’ve started building Lego flowers and I’ve even bought podcasting gear—I want to interview older people and hear their stories. I’m thinking of calling it The Fourth Quarter!

Ps Daryl and Roberta Watson are a truly remarkable couple. Faithful, down-to-earth and full of wisdom. With a heart for people and a passion for the local church, they lead with strength, humility and vision. Whether they’re preaching the Word, connecting over seafood chowder or shortbread, or dreaming about Europe and Italy, their love for God and others shines through in everything they do. We’re so thankful for the legacy they’re building in Invercargill and beyond.

As we continue exploring this topic, we’re unpacking a key tension in the Christian life: why we still struggle with sin even though Jesus has already defeated it. Read the notes below to understand what Christ has done at the cross, what we experience today, and how God is shaping us through the ongoing journey of sanctification.

The Power of Sin

Overview
The Defeat of Sin’s Power
The Struggle with Sin’s Influence
Why We Still Struggle With Sin
The Victory We Can Have Over Sin
Conclusion

Overview

Many of us understand that when Jesus gave His life on the cross, He defeated the power and authority of sin. He became sin in our place so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Yet, it’s clear that sin is still present in the world, and many Christians still struggle with temptation and sinful habits. This can feel confusing. If sin has been defeated in Christ, why do we still struggle with it?

In this blog, we’ll explore:

The defeat of sin’s power at the cross
The ongoing influence of sin
Why believers still struggle today
How we can walk in victory over sin

The Defeat of Sin’s Power

At the cross, Jesus didn’t just deal with sin emotionally or symbolically. He broke its authority and dominion over believers completely.

We are no longer slaves to sin.

Romans 6:6–11 explains this clearly:

Our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.

This is a decisive spiritual reality for everyone in Christ:

Sin no longer rules over us
We are no longer under its authority
We are now alive to God in Christ Jesus

Before salvation, sin wasn’t just something we did. It was something that ruled us. Paul uses the image of slavery to explain this:

“You were once slaves of sin…” (Romans 6:17–18)

A slave does not have full autonomy. In the same way, sin shaped our desires, decisions, and direction before Christ.

Freedom through Christ’s exchange.

Jesus broke that system through His death and resurrection:

“For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin…” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Through Christ’s sacrifice:

We are freed from sin’s power
We are transferred into righteousness
Sin is no longer our master

But this leads to an important question: If sin is defeated, why do we still struggle?

The Struggle with Sin’s Influence

Although sin’s power has been broken, its presence and influence remain in the world.

Sin is no longer our master, but it still tries to tempt, lure, and influence us. We still live in a fallen world where spiritual battle is real.

Even Jesus experienced temptation, yet He never sinned.

Scripture is clear that believers must still actively resist sin:

Ephesians 6:10–12 – We wrestle against spiritual forces
1 Peter 5:8 – The devil seeks to devour
James 1:13–14 – Temptation comes through desire

We are still in a spiritual battle

While sin no longer rules us, it still:

Appeals to our flesh
Uses external influences
Seeks to draw us away from God

However, sin will not always remain. Scripture promises a future where it will be completely removed:

“He will wipe away every tear… death shall be no more…” (Revelation 21:4)

Why We Still Struggle With Sin

To understand the tension we live in, we need to understand the three stages of salvation (Ordo Salutis):

Justification

We are saved instantly

Freed from sin’s power
Declared righteous in Christ

2. Sanctification

We are being saved progressively

Freed from sin’s influence over time
Becoming more like Christ

3. Glorification

We will be saved fully in the future

Completely free from sin’s presence

Where we live now

We currently live in sanctification:

Sin’s power is broken
Sin’s influence is still present
Sin’s presence will one day be removed

State of sin vs acts of sin

A helpful distinction:

State of sin: We are no longer separated from God
Acts of sin: We still sometimes fall and miss the mark

Being saved does not mean we never sin again. It means sin no longer defines our identity or separates us from God.

We are:

Fully forgiven in Christ
Still being transformed in daily life

The Victory We Can Have Over Sin

We are not powerless against temptation. Scripture gives us practical ways to walk in victory.

1. Identify the sin

You cannot overcome what you refuse to acknowledge.

2. Understand there is no condemnation

“There is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)

Conviction leads us to God. Condemnation pushes us away from Him.

3. Recognise triggers

Identify patterns and remove environments that fuel temptation.

4. Repent quickly

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just…” (1 John 1:9)

Don’t delay restoration.

5. Bring sin into the light

Confession breaks secrecy. Sin grows in darkness and weakens in the light.

6. Remember your identity

You fight sin from freedom, not for freedom.

“Be transformed by the renewal of your mind…” (Romans 12:2)

7. Rely on the Holy Spirit

Change is a process empowered by God, not human willpower alone.

“He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion…” (Philippians 1:6)

Conclusion

Jesus has defeated sin, but sin has not yet been fully destroyed.

That is why:

We are free from sin’s power
We still face its influence
We still experience the process of sanctification

One day, at glorification, sin will be gone completely. Until then, we live in the tension of already free, but still being transformed.

The good news is this:

Sin does not define you
Sin does not separate you from God
Sin does not have authority over your life

You are justified, being sanctified, and one day will be glorified.

And in the meantime, the Holy Spirit is faithfully shaping you into the image of Christ.

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