Baptist Life - Oct - Dec 2012

BAPTIST

Life OCT - DEC ’12

Working towards to the future of the Union

4 page Home mission pull-out

inside

4 page

prayer guide

inside

READ ONLINE AT WWW.BAPTIST.ORG.UK/BAPTISTLIFE

Supporting each other Despite a strong tradition of independence Baptist churches are working together more than ever before

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Supporting each other

by Jonathan Edwards - BUGB General Secretary

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upporting each other is not an option in the Christian faith – it’s an obligation. If you love Jesus and have committed your life to him then you are part of his body, the Church, and you are called to play your full part as a supportive member. The idea of having parts of the body that ‘go it alone’ is simply absurd!

From the first conversations about our future together as a Baptist Union we have talked about the need to support one another better. This needs to characterize every aspect of our life together, but we have focused particularly on what this would mean for the local church. The reality is that every local church has special gifts and abilities, but also weaknesses and needs.

The only way in which we will serve God effectively, as a Baptist Union of over 2,000 churches, is if we seek to reach out to one another and work together.

This edition of Baptist Life brings together some wonderful illustrations of the ways in which local churches are supporting one another. Here are real life examples of what people are doing, and I hope that they will encourage your church fellowship to explore new possibilities. What I find particularly

striking is that every story is different. That’s a sure sign of the creativity of God’s Spirit and I hope that you will seek his inspiration as you work out what is appropriate for your context. Networking is the key word and sometimes that will happen locally but, increasingly, with the aid of modern information technology, networks can be country-wide or even world-wide.

Jesus was always keen that his disciples should have their eyes open to the truth about following him. He didn’t hide from them the blessings of following him, but neither did he avoid speaking about the challenges they would face. We need to be equally clear that supporting each other in obedience to Christ will be incredibly costly.

Following Christ involves us giving up our own lives and preferences (Luke 9: 57-62); becoming servants to all (Mark 10: 43-44); and even loving our enemies with all our hearts (Matthew 5: 43-48).

This Autumn will present us all with new opportunities for supporting each other, and I encourage you to pray not only for yourself and your church but for our whole Baptist Union family as we seek to put this into practice.

Credits: Baptist Life is edited by Chris Hall. Design by Alex Baker. Printed on recycled paper Baptist House, PO BOX 44, 129 Broadway, Didcot, OX11 8RT, England Telephone 01235517756 Fax 01235517715 email communications@baptist.org.uk Registered Charity Number 1125912

Supporting each other

Cluster bond All Baptist Union churches are independent but are there advantages in us meeting and working together? In this issue of Baptist Life we see how many churches and individuals are working together in a variety of ways. Here are some examples of how some churches are forming clusters and networks.

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Facing challenges together

ix Baptist churches within close proximity in Peckham (London Baptist Association) have developed a partnership over the last five years.

“Our meeting and praying came out of the urgency we feel in the face of the challenges impacting our churches - increasing age profiles and many other issues,” says Paul Collettt, minister of South London Tabernacle. “Why were we not working together? What could be achieved if we developed a joint vision?”

Starting with Saturday morning prayer breakfasts the partnership has organised joint services, a Christmas carol service in Peckham shopping centre, outreach such as quiz evenings, trips out, joint youth events etc. This year a joint Lent discipleship group was well attended and has encouraged them to plan more joint discipleship.

“This initiative has given much needed hope and encouragement to our churches. We are not wanting to ‘shore each other up’ but to release each other into more and more effective witness. We don’t have a blueprint and don’t know exactly what shape our working together will take but believe that God is leading us step by step.”

Mutual support and encouragement

Nine Baptist churches in South Birmingham (Heart of England Baptist Association) have formed the ‘Kaleidoscope Cluster’. Ministers and lay members meet four times a year and are joined by HEBA Regional Minister Barrie Smith. The cluster has also organised a number of prayer, worship and social events.

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Supporting each other “Some of the aims of the group are mutual support, encouragement, sharing of resources, the setting up of events and gatherings for all the churches to attend, learning from each other, all the time remembering our calling as Christians in our area and our commitment to the work of the Kingdom,” says John Lawrence from Hall Green Baptist Church.

Sharing leadership and resources

The Cornerstone Churches cluster is made up of five congregations. It grew out of Chipping Camden Baptist Church (Southern Counties Baptist Association) and churches that it has planted. The ministers regularly meet for prayer, encouragement and accountability whilst joint church activities include monthly praise and prayer meetings and an annual covenant service where they commit to one another.

“The benefits of clustering are experienced at many levels,” says Phil Dellor, minister at Chipping Camden Baptist. “As ministers we seek to be accountable to one another and to keep growing in our leadership skills by setting ourselves books to read together, reflecting on what we have learnt. We eat together and laugh together and at times cry together.

“The churches benefit as we stand in unity - unity expressed as we intentionally pray for and bless each other’s ministries and outreach in particular. We are able to provide help to one another in areas of worship, children’s work etc – especially at church weekends where we can give the normal volunteers a break. We are also able to put on an excellent summer conference where we gather together to worship and learn together as one.”

Planting churches together

The Soar Valley Gospel Partnership is a cluster of 11 churches in the East Midlands Baptist Association.

Their goal is to plant and support churches in the villages and towns of the Soar Valley, the river which runs from Leicester to Derbyshire and joins the Trent. The cluster has a team of about 12 working at a church plant in the village of Long Whatton holding Sunday services, school assemblies, working in the school and serving on the PTA, leading a mother and baby group, seniors coffee morning and other initiatives.

The ministers meet every two months and the churches pray together every three months. Mutual support happens through sharing preachers and worship leaders. They also run a leadership training course called ‘Learn to Lead’ for equipping lay leaders in their churches.

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Supporting each other “We do feel we have hardly got going but there are some positive things going on between Baptists in our area and we look forward to what God will do in the future,” says Mark Turner, minister at Barrow Baptist Church.

Sharing and praying

The Cotswold Cluster (West of England Baptist Association) consists of around 15 churches, of which 10 have pastors.

Representatives from all the churches meet three times a year to share and pray. Two of the larger churches are partnering/replanting smaller churches in the area.

“The pastors meet regularly to share and pray which is very valuable,” says Matt Frost, minister at Cirencester Baptist Church. “Relationships and prayer is good, and a number of the churches are growing.”

Valuable and enriching

Cole Valley Cluster is a group of Baptist churches in East Birmingham that started meeting together in the early 1990s.

They saw the need to engage in cooperative ministry, and to encourage each other through ministerial challenges. The aims of the cluster are to enhance unity and cooperation between churches, whilst sharing resources.

Due to dwindling attendees at their monthly celebration services, the cluster was re-launched this year.

Approximately 170 members attended a celebration service at Newbridge Baptist Church in May which generated a renewed interest from members of all churches, and led to another celebration service in August at Saltley Baptist Church.

“All are enriched from the sharing of resources and joint fellowship,” says John Ibidokun, minister of Newbridge Baptist Church. “From all indications our churches value the diversity that each church brings to the joint service and that we are interrelated In Christ Jesus.”

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Prayer Guide Welcome to the final quarter of the 2012 Prayer Guide – your opportunity to pray for the wider Baptist family over the next three months.

’Harvest’ God of faithfulness your generous love supplies us with the fruits of the earth in their seasons.

Give us grace to be thankful for your gifts, to use them wisely, and to share our plenty with others; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

AMEN

Prayer taken from Gathering for Worship, available from the BUGB online store www.baptist.org.uk/resources/bugb-online-store.html If you would like more prayer resources, contact your Baptist association or go to www.baptist.org.uk/prayer.html where you will find a range of materials including monthly prayers of intercession.

October 30 September-6 October National Resource, Didcot Thank God for the staff at the National Resource. Pray for wisdom for those tasked with restructuring them into three new teams and for those whose work will be coming to an end in the coming months.

7-13 October Missing Generation missinggeneration.com Pray that the Missing Generation website and November training day will generate useful conversation and help identify ways to attract more people aged 18-30 to faith and church.

14-20 October Baptist Colleges As the academic year gets underway pray for new students settling into life at our Baptist colleges – ministerials, undergraduates and postgraduates. Pray for the staff who endeavour to provide an environment in which students may flourish. Pray for students who left college this summer and are still facing an uncertain future.

21-27 October Baptist Assembly in Scotland www.baptistassemblyinscotland.org The theme of the Baptist Assembly in Scotland (25-27 October in Dundee), ‘Come home again’, is about reconciliation and participating in the mission of God. Pray that all who attend will be inspired and encouraged by this theme.

28 October-3 November Associations: Working together Pray for the future as associations work together strategically, taking on further responsibilities, developing networks and establishing association partnerships.

Just imagine...

Playing your part The most exciting thing about Home Mission is the impact it is having in our churches This and the communities special they are pullout explores part of. creative ways for sharing Home Mission stories and how you can play your part in ensuring this important work continues to grow.

Promoting Home Mission: 12 for 12 Earlier this year an initiative called 12 for 12 encouraged churches in the Eastern Baptist Association to engage with 12 local stories of gospel mission that Home Mission grants are enabling. Here is how two Baptist churches in Essex played their part in 12 for 12.

A joy and a challenge Each week during the 12 for 12 initiative we focused on Home Mission in our Sunday services, using the prayer material provided by the EBA. Many took up the challenge to give a pound a week extra to Home Mission, for the 12 weeks of the project. And most significantly, a group of members decided to visit some of the churches which were featured. During the 12 weeks of the project, they visited three other churches, sharing in their Sunday worship, and then reported back with great enthusiasm on what they had learned from the visits. They were particularly struck by the welcome they received, the loving relationships within each fellowship, and how the churches were finding new ways to connect to their communities. It was a joy, a challenge and an encouragement to those who went, and to the rest of the fellowship at Theydon Bois.

Sue Barclay, Minister, Theydon Bois Baptist Church

The benefits of Home Mission Clare is a self supporting church and it is easy for us to enjoy our material comfort and forget the needs of others. We have a policy of giving 5% of our income to Home Mission but there our interest stops. Sue Hills our chair of deacons did a lot of work during 12 for 12 in making us aware of where our money goes and what it helps to achieve. We all signed greeting cards which were then sent to 12 of the local Baptist causes supported by Home Mission.

We also made time to find out the details about these churches and spend time praying for them. My first two churches were aided by Home Mission so I remember the benefits of being helped by the wider Baptist family. I think we are beginning to appreciate what that means at Clare because of 12 for 12.

David K West, Minister, Clare Baptist Church

INvesting in our future

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hen I came into post as the Union Treasurer just over four years ago I sensed then that God was calling us to a new way of giving so that not only would we be able to provide for a sustained future, but that more monies would be diverted towards church planting and new ways of being church in the 21st century.

At my first Baptist Assembly as Union Treasurer in Blackpool I asked churches to give ‘at least 5% of their General Fund income’ each year to the Home Mission Appeal and I have reiterated that call every year since. Many churches have accepted the call to give at least 5% - thankyou.

As someone responsible for making proposals on the level of the Home Mission Stipend each year I am acutely aware of the impact on churches of the cost of ministry and the increased costs of pensions caused by the huge deficits in the Minister’s Pension Scheme. I am equally aware that in some of our churches offering income has been adversely affected by people made redundant and those people on lower incomes as a result of the low interest rates on their savings.

This year we have celebrated 400 years of Baptist witness and we need to invest in the future just as our forefathers did many years ago. What better time to rethink our giving? – at the Baptist Union Council in June I suggested we need 1,000 Baptists to give £400 each and I received the first £400 cheque moments afterwards! Are you in a position where you could give £400 in celebration of 400 years Baptist history? (Individuals can now give online on the BUGB website www.baptist.org.uk by clicking the ‘Donate: Home Mission’ button on the left hand of the screen.)

> Could you as a church give £400 extra this year to the Home Mission Appeal and make a commitment to give ‘at least 5%’ in the future? > Or could you as a church give £1 for every year of your history to the Home Mission Appeal this year and consider afresh your commitment to Home Mission in the future?

I believe this is a special moment for the Baptist movement in this country and a special moment for us to dream dreams and imagine what we could do with additional resources in pursuit of the mission of God. I pray that your church will join us on that journey together as part of the Baptist family nationwide.

Malcolm Broad MBE, BUGB Treasurer

Just imagine...

There are many ways you can play your part in supporting Home Mission:

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By praying

Commit to pray for the wider Baptist family and the work that Home Mission makes possible. Use the prayer diary in Baptist Life or your association’s prayer diary. Why not ask your association to let you know where Home Mission is making a difference near you?

By linking up with a church or project where Home Mission is making a difference

Ask your association to suggest a church or project your church could visit to see at firsthand how Home Mission is enabling mission. Alternatively, invite a speaker from (or arrange a ‘pulpit-swap’ with) a nearby church that is currently receiving from Home Mission. Again your association could help you identify one.

By holding a Home Mission ‘Just Imagine’ Sunday or event

Book a date for a Home Mission Sunday at your church once a year. You could have a ‘bring and share’ lunch after the morning service and provide yummy desserts! Invite a speaker or show one of the Home Mission DVDs and invite people to make a donation to Home Mission.

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By giving at least 5% of your church’s General Fund

Chat with your Treasurer about giving at least 5% to Home Mission. If all our churches did this we could fund more mission initiatives!

November 4-10 November Baptist Women’s World Day of Prayer www.baptist.org.uk/faith-a-unity-home.html Pray that the Lord will raise up women to serve Him and that they will experience joy in the midst of suffering, unemployment, disasters, criticisms, jealousy and abuse. Pray that women will become more involved in sharing Christ’s message of salvation to others. Pray for the next generation that they may recognize the true values and joys of life.

11-17 November Baptist Union Council Pray for the BU Council as it gathers this week. Pray for wisdom as amidst the many concerns and priorities representatives seek to discern the mind of Christ. Pray especially for decisions to be made on the Futures Process and the impact it will have on staff who work for the associations and National Resource in Didcot.

18-24 November Inter Faith Week www.interfaithweek.org Pray that Baptists will be good neighbours to our multi faith communities, that we will be a gospel people who respect and celebrate diversity. Pray for national inter faith dialogue through the Christian Muslim Forum and other bodies. Pray that the new resources being produced by the Mission Department will be helpful to churches on their inter faith journeys.

25 November-1 December Associations: Mediation Baptist churches often find themselves going through a time of transition or difficulty, sometimes causing tension or conflict.

Regional ministers will try to help in such situations by offering a helpful perspective and mediating where there has been a breakdown of relationships. Pray for regional ministers, that they may provide grace and wisdom in facilitating reconciliation and healthy relationships.

December 2 – 8 December Advent

Pray for the many ways churches will be engaging with their communities this Advent. Pray for the Get in the Picture initiative, that this will bring to life the Christmas story for hundreds of people in towns and cities across our country. Pray for church leaders at a very busy time, for patience, stamina and spiritual refreshment.

9 – 15 December Supporting Each Other

The Futures Process has highlighted a desire to work closer together, for local churches to relate and share resources. Thank God for the ways churches are already partnering together through clusters and for the ways individuals are collaborating on creative projects. Pray that we will find more ways to relate and resource each other.

16 – 22 December Associations: Supporting smaller churches Pray for the work that associations do with smaller churches, working alongside them, helping them to develop in mission, networking them together and bringing encouragement in difficult contexts. Pray that larger churches would be willing to partner with smaller churches for the sake of the Kingdom.

23 – 29 December Christmas Living God, may the worship we share this Christmas lead to acts of service which transform people’s lives. May the nativity story be good news of great joy to us and all people in our lives. Help us as we celebrate Christmas to put you at the centre.

2013

30 December – 5 January Looking back, looking forward Lord Jesus, we thank you for the ways you have blessed and guided us through the last year. Thank you that you have been there through the good and bad times of 2012. Help us to continue to put our trust and faith in you. We pray that you will guide our lives, our churches and our Union in 2013.

Supporting each other

Developing partnerships

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n 2004 with the support of Home Mission I became the minister of a smallish Baptist Church in Huddersfield. About five years ago I became quite interested in what was happening at large BUGB church, St Thomas’ Church in Sheffield. Their primary way of organising and doing mission was through groups. These groups would number anywhere between 15 and 50 people, roughly the size of our church.

I was also drawn by their commitment to and methods of discipling leaders. I quickly found it a place where I was being discipled, something I had not experienced for quite a long time.

So when the opportunity came through the Yorkshire Baptist Association (YBA) to learn from the people at St Thomas Philadelphia, especially Paul Maconochie (Senior Leader and Baptist Minister), I jumped at the chance. This in turn lead to us as a church being invited to join a learning community, which I believe has directly helped us as a church to grow in numbers and in our ways of prioritising and doing mission. I along with the leaders of our church increasingly felt that this was not just for us but for other churches in the area.

We began a series of meetings where we (YBA Regional Ministers and myself) strongly encouraged attendance from representatives of all the Baptist churches in the Huddersfield area, as well as invited representatives from

other local churches. These meetings led to Christian Communities Network (CCN), an agreement of three Baptists churches to work together in partnership, along with an Anglican ‘fresh expressions’ church, a couple who own buildings including an art gallery and a number of other individuals.

While other Baptist churches have shown a lot of interest they have decided not to join with us at this stage, however the hope is that others will join us in due course.

All those involved have agreed to look at a new model for working together. In brief the model is one of a resource centre (including a staff team) that resources the churches to do the work of mission.

I do believe in a God who can work in and through the small. However with the increased pressure and demands placed upon all churches I believe we need to look at different ways of doing things including smaller churches working together with a mission focus not simply as a way to survive.

Change is not easy but the decisions and changes that our churches have already made give reasons to be encouraged about the future. I am looking forward to all that God has planned for us.

Chris Hawley, Team Leader, Christian Communities Network (Huddersfield) For more on Christian Communities Network visit www.ccnhuddersfield.org.uk

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Supporting each other

Creative collaboration The Littlest Star

Last November Richard Littledale wrote a Christmas story for an Advent event at his church, Teddington Baptist (London Baptist Association). The story’s reading went down so well it inspired Richard to get it published with proceeds going to a local children’s hospice service, Shooting Star CHASE. Thanks to collaboration with amongst others a press officer, an illustrator, a comedian, a graphic designer, and a BBC journalist The Littlest Star was on sale in local shops within three weeks of Richard writing it and raised £1,800 for the hospice.

“Once an author finishes the typescript it is not unusual for the rest of the journey from computer to bookshelf to take several months,” says Richard. “Getting The Littlest Star written and published in three weeks was a minor miracle and shows what can be achieved through collaborating with others.”

Missing Generation

missinggeneration.com The lack of 18-30 year olds in many Baptist churches has led to a new collaborative project.

The Younger Leaders Forum of the Baptist Union of Great Britain (BUGB) launched in June the Missing Generation website to generate discussion and networking ‘to bring a greater voice and understanding of the situation, to then feedback into Baptist Union Council and consequently to result in action in our local church’. A Missing

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Generation conference is happening on 13 October.

“We want to resource, encourage and empower our churches, young adults and youth leaders into reaching the young adults of their locality,” says Younger Leaders Forum moderator Ben Christine.

“We believe that Jesus Christ is the answer and His word is the greatest tool for reviving this missing generation but we believe that as churches we need to be re-educated in how to relate and involve the young adults of the UK.”

Baptist collaboration from scratch

Baptist minister Peter Dominey is well used to collaborating with others on creative Christian projects. He has worked to draw Baptist pioneers together to form Incarnate Network. His church in Essex, Church from Scratch, worked with others on the Christmas Experience that brought the Christmas story to life in real time through Twitter, email, Facebook and text message updates.

Peter was also one of six ministers to set up Beyond 400, a blog where 40 different voices shared their thoughts on the future of the BUGB and many others joined in with comments. Next up for Peter is co-ordinating a team to produce a baptism resource due out this November, in partnership with the BUGB Mission Department. “Grass-roots collaboration and networking will be key to the future BUGB, let’s not neglect it,” says Peter.

from the president

You can do it!

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henever one of my three children faces a challenge the other two start a kind of chant which I join: ‘You can do it, you can do it!’ It brings a smile to the face of the one struggling and some renewed confidence as they stand with a rope swing in hand ready to jump or face a steep hill to bike up.

I’m a street evangelist - sounds scary. The number one question I am asked as I teach different groups of Christians up and down the UK is usually something like: ‘How can you do what you do?! What response do you get?’

It often surprises those who question me to find that on the contrary to criticism I am often thanked by people for sharing my faith! However, despite the positive encounters, like most of us, I still find faith-sharing a scary adventure. Can I let you into a secret of how I manage to get over the fear-factor? It’s simple really. I always work with others. It’s when we collaborate with nervous fellow brothers and sisters that evangelism takes on a new dynamic.

Last week I worked in Lincoln to meet church leaders about street evangelism. I took a friend along with me and instead of just meeting to simply talk shop we went and did some outreach in the city centre offering free cold water on a hot day. We gave out hundreds of cups of iced water and were able to talk to people about the free gift of the man who said ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.…’ The day was packed with good news opportunities, but I doubt I would have had the impetus to do that if I hadn’t brought a friend to motivate me. There’s no wonder Jesus sent out his first friends two by two.

Recently after teaching a group of Baptists on the Big Hearted Tour a man commented, ‘I think the barriers to the gospel aren’t in those outside the church but rather inside… we need to get over our fear of talking good news!’ How about making yourself accountable to one or two others in how you are sharing your faith at work or in your community? Perhaps there are things you desire to do in letting others know the gospel but need a helping hand. Ask someone to join you. ‘You can do it, you can do it!’

Chris Duffett, President of the Baptist Union of Great Britain Read Chris Duffett’s monthly blog at www.baptist.org.uk/blogs/ big-hearted.html

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our future

Working towards the future

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here was a very clear sense of God’s presence as BU Council in June worked its way through the various Futures proposals; they may not satisfy everyone but we believe they have come through the leading of God’s Spirit. They are not an end in themselves, but are a sound foundation on which we can begin to build for the future.

We agreed on the following: • A set of values and principles to define how our Union operates and a commitment to widespread accountability. We want to be defined not simply by WHAT we do, but HOW we do it.

• A renewed commitment to Relational Interdependence. The key expression of our shared life (and Baptist identity) is local churches and activists relating and networking with one another.

• Association Partnerships will be set up to decide the allocation of Home Mission grants in their areas and to work together on initiatives and to share resources where it is helpful to do so.

• Collective resources and activities at Baptist House will be reorganised and offered through three new specialist teams: Ministry, Church and Society and Shared Services.

Reliance on paid staff would be reduced by a better use of the wealth of experience and knowledge that exists across the Union.

• A new leadership body that draws together the priorities and aspirations across the Union would be established to provide a more focussed, integrated and responsive oversight of our shared life, within clear

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bounds of accountability. It would set an agenda and develop a strategy that reflects the priorities of local Baptist Christians.

This is the first stage of a process of change, offering the basis for renewal and a re-setting of our priorities in a world of significant change. The outcome will depend more on the spirit in which it is undertaken that the plans on which it is founded.

We have deliberately stepped away from some grand plan, or complex organisation driven from the centre, embracing afresh that Baptist commitment to celebrate, support and empower local expressions of missional community. The questions for every Baptist Christian in our Union must therefore be, ‘What possibilities might now be released and pursued? What is the Spirit saying to the churches?’

Please continue to pray for the Futures Process and everyone involved in taking plans forward.

Pray especially for the BU Council on 12 to 14 November where more detailed proposals about the Futures Process will be discussed.

For more detail on these decisions visit the Futures section on the BUGB website: www.baptist.org.uk/about-baptists/bugbfutures.html Phil Jump is Regional Minister Team Leader, North Western Baptist Association

Church magazines

Sharing faith in a non-threatening way

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ince Tabs magazine won Best Church Magazine in the 2012 BUGB Communication Awards, I have been assailed by Galatians 6:14: ‘I will not boast in anything, except in Jesus.’ It is a reminder that the real prize is winning hearts and minds for Christ through the pages of what, at first glance, looks like a commercial lifestyle magazine.

I set up the magazine in its current form in 2005. Production and funding of the 12-page, full colour glossy, published by Tabernacle Baptist Church in Penarth (South Wales Baptist Association), comes under the umbrella of mission. Our magazine aims to show that the 21st century church is relevant to society today and is a vital part of our effort to take ‘church’ beyond the building and into the community.

We find that giving away an attractive magazine is a non-threatening way of sharing our faith. Personal distribution of Tabs magazine is part of the process. Taking our model of liberal seed-casting from the ‘Parable of the Sower’, we pop magazines through people’s doors in the neighbourhood and hand them out face-to-face in our town centre.

Each themed edition publicises a key event in the church’s calendar and follows a similar format: news, gospel message, invitations

to church events, testimony and a Christian perspective of a topical debate. The award-winning magazine was inspired by Tabernacle’s growing women’s ministry and shared some of the teaching from ‘Refined’, our annual ladies day conference.

If you edit a church or community magazine or are thinking of doing so, here are my top tips: Keep a cuttings file, stay abreast of current affairs and get on relevant mailing lists to ensure a fresh flow of creative content.

The Bible is so encyclopaedic that most aspects of contemporary culture can be re-packaged with a Christian angle, armed with a decent concordance and some lateral thinking. Jesus’ ministry was defined by his dealings with people as much as his teaching, so pieces with a strong human interest are an excellent way of getting your message across.

While the magazine certainly can’t claim all the credit, Tabernacle is beginning to see more people coming through its doors. There is a positive vibe about the church. People know where it is and some of what we do.

There is a feeling that God is doing a new thing in our town and it makes for interesting reading.

Suzanne Jones, Editor of Tabs magazine To view a copy of Tabs magazine go to www.baptist.org.uk/baptistlife

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in brief Baptist Women’s World Day of Prayer

www.baptist.org.uk/faith-a-unity-home.html Every year on the first Monday of November Baptist women from across the globe gather to pray. This year the theme of the Baptist Women’s World Day of Prayer on Monday 5 November is Joy. “This is a day when we always get together to pray for one another but especially to pray for the cause of missions around the world,” says Baptist World Alliance Women’s Department President, Raquel Contreras. “Joy is linked with the central message of the gospel, the coming of Jesus Christ into the world. Joy is an evidence of the presence of God in your life.” For more information and resources visit the Faith and Unity page on the BUGB website.

Challenging inter faith myths

www.baptist.org.uk/mission.html This November during Inter Faith Week (18-27 November) the BUGB Mission Department will be launching the first of three new resources to help Christians engage with the challenges and opportunities which arise from living alongside people of other religions and cultures. The new resource will tackle some of the myths that have arisen in terms of inter faith. Myths such as there is no reference to inter faith encounters in the ministry of Jesus, inter faith engagement only relates to major world faiths and people of other faiths are persecuting Christians and we are a peaceable faith. “This new resource aims to dispel myths and replace them with facts that will help churches engage with inter faith issues,” said Ian Bunce, Head of the Mission Department.

Get in the Picture returns in 2012

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www.getinthepicture.org.uk It is almost time to get your camera and nativity costume ready. Get in the Picture (GITP), which encourages people to engage with the Christmas story in a fun way by dressing up as one of the characters and having their photograph taken in a nativity tableau, is back. There is a brand new GITP website which will make it easier for churches to register and upload photos, and for people to share them with friends and family. New Life Baptist Church, Birmingham (Heart of England Baptist Association) was one of over 100 churches that did GITP last year. “I know some people downloaded their photos and sent them out as Christmas cards, which they loved,” says coordinator Carol Salt. “They couldn’t believe it was free, and several people asked why we were doing it, which gave us the opportunity to talk to them about Jesus in a non-threatening manner.”

BAPTIST Portraits

Interviews with people from across the Baptist Union of Great Britain Stuart Davison is Regional Minister Team Leader of the South Eastern Baptist Association.

Favourite Bible verse Deuteronomy 31:8: ‘The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.’ This was given to me at my baptism by a lady who introduced me to Christian Endeavour, where I learnt about discipleship without even knowing that was what I was learning!

How are churches working together in your association?

Networking, whilst patchy, is working well in some areas with ministers meeting, praying and studying together. Retreats are happening in some networks. Each Network has an annual celebration which includes the SEBA AGM, some having other celebrations as well during the year.

What is your hope for the future of the Baptist movement in the UK? That we may have ministers who understand they are in covenant relationship with each other, committed to mutual support. That we will lose the ‘independent’ word from our vocabulary as Baptists and our churches will seek the Kingdom and work together for mission. In a world that so needs the gospel, may we give even more effort to loving the lost than we have to reorganising our structures.

Ruth Rice is minister at New Life Baptist Church in West Bridgford, near Nottingham (East Midlands Baptist Association) and is on the leadership team for Baptist movement Fresh Streams (formerly Mainstream) Favourite Bible verse John 3:16: ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life’. From a very young child I have loved knowing that God LOVES the world so much that he came, he sent Jesus... loved us, loves us... It’s still amazing even now I am ‘slightly’ older!

How are church leaders working together through Fresh Streams?

It is great to be part of a network where we are genuinely good friends encouraging one another to follow Jesus. The conference in January is a fantastic chance to get away and be inspired. It is increasingly encouraging to connect up across the year at the Prayer and Fasting days to pray together for the nation.

What is your hope for the future of the Baptist movement in the UK? That we realise the UK is a mission field and we stop playing at church and get mobilised as a missionary movement...full of joy at the incredible gospel we hold in our hands. My prayer is that the Baptist denomination embraces their freedom and goes for it!

Since its launch in April, www.baptisttimes.co.uk has featured: • Inspiring stories from Baptist churches and Christians around the country • News on what’s happening in the denomination, including the Futures Process and daily updated reports from the Baptist Assembly • A varied mix of columnists, providing practical advice on your faith walk and ministry and analysis of recent news • In-depth looks at Baptists around the world • Topical prayers each week • Baptisms, testimonies and more • Regular Christian book and music reviews • Film reviews from a Christian perspective, including the Dark Knight Rises and Prometheus • Sporting comment from a faith angle

The Baptist Times also provides two free emails: • The Daily News Sweep • The Weekly News Round-up

And is a place to advertise job vacancies Take a look at www.baptisttimes.co.uk Send your news to editor@baptisttimes.co.uk

Baptist Assembly 3 – 6 May 2013

Norbreck Castle Hotel, Blackpool You are warmly invited to join us as we return to the Norbreck Castle Hotel, Blackpool, for our 2013 Baptist Assembly!

Speakers will include Ernie Whalley (incoming BUGB President), Dianne Tidball, Joe Kapolyo and Malcolm Duncan.

For further information and to register visit www.baptistassembly.org.uk

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We asked our customers why they chose Baptist Insurance to insure their homes and they told us it was because of our levels of customer service, the competitiveness of our rates and the fact we give back to the Baptist community.

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Choosing Baptist Insurance means you will get great levels of cover as standard. It also means you can help us to continue to support your community. Over the past 10 years alone we’ve given over £2.5 million in grants back to the Baptist family.

Call us today on 0845 070 2223 quoting BUBG12 and ask us to quote for your home insurance cover to find out for yourself. Or visit www.baptist-insurance.co.uk Source: Baptist Insurance Customer Opinion Survey 2011 The Baptist Insurance Company PLC. Registered in England No. 83597. Registered Office: Beaufort House, Brunswick Road, Gloucester GL1 1JZ. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. FSA registration number 202032. A member of the Association of British Insurers and the Financial Ombudsman Service.

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