Holidays:
time to get closer to God
Children’s holiday clubs: page 3 and page 34 The BIG Welcome: there’s a space for you: page 16 Holiday at home - for the older people in your community: page 22 Step Out - summer mission for young people: page 26
A bi-monthly publication of the Fellowship of Baptists in Britain and Ireland
June 2012
In this edition Page 3
Editorial: Alan Donaldson considers the real value of children’s holiday clubs.
Pages 4-7
Time with God: Read about opportunities to spend time with God through retreats, and discover how some churches have shared their faith in the great outdoors.
Page 8-9 Baptist Events: Find out about what’s going on and how you can get involved: God at Work, Events for the Senior Ministers of Larger Churches, Rural Churches’ Day, Missing Generation. Pages 10
Partnerships: Read about value of partnering with the American Interim Pastor Minstries.
Page 11 - 15 Other Events: Events being run by other organisations of interest to you or others in your church Housing Justice conference, Cafechurch training day, Growing a Healthy Church conference, HOPE All Praying Together, National Day of Prayer and Worship, Imagine: on the road events, Crucible course, Lead Academy: breaking growth barriers Pages 16 - 25 Resources: A range of resources to help you and your church in mission The BIG Welcome, Resources for Father’s Day, HOPE for Harvest, Thirsty: Harvest resource from BMS, Chariots of Fire: outreach resources from Damaris, Key dates for Olympic and Paralympic Games, More than Gold resource book, Undefeated, Holiday at Home feature, Year of Service, Cinnamon Network: community franchise funding, 12:1 time out for Baptists Pages 26-38
Youth, Children and Family Workers: News of events and resources suitable for those working with children, young people and families Young People stepping out, Prayer Day for Toddler Groups, Messy Church weekend, Messy Church Young Leaders’ Day, Children, Familes and God book, Finding a Place called Home, Who Let the Dads Out book and conference, Humanitarian Citizen award, Global Day of Prayer, Toddler Group Worship, School’s Out: overview of children’s holiday club material, Baptist Youth World Conference.
Page 38
A final word
Page 39
Contact details: Get in touch with your local representative on the Fellowship of Baptists in Britain and Ireland
is a bi-monthly publication of the Fellowship of Baptists in Britain and Ireland
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In this editorial I am asking the question, what is the real value of a children’s holiday club? In the adult world we gave up on week-long missions a long time ago in place of things like Alpha or Christianity Explored courses. In the adult world we have primarily moved to a model of evangelism as a journey experienced over many weeks, months or years as opposed to a single event. Yet this summer, all around the UK, churches will hold holiday clubs as an expression of child evangelism. In the last few years I have visited several holiday clubs in Scotland through my involvement with our Scottish Step Out programme which you will read more of in this edition of missionscene. The children I observed, drawn from the local community, looked delighted to be there; most parents, who were generally not church members, looked delighted to leave them.
3 Teenagers in the church find a place of fulfilling service where their ideas, creativity and youthfulness are needed, valued and seen to work. 4 It demonstrates to the church its ability to work together, across the ages, on a short-term mission project, bringing lots of people into service and giving others something specific to pray for and get excited about. It’s an encouragement to all.
The picture was one of happy children, happy parents and happy leaders enjoying clubs that were full of life, energy and creativity. There was always excitement in the room, and the children were feeding off it and responding to it.
5 Childcare provision in the holidays is a great blessing to working families in the community.
However, looking back over 20 years of running several clubs a year, I cannot think of many nonchurched children who have come to faith, grown in discipleship through this work and are still following Christ today, although this is the unspoken hope of most people participating. Yes, there are many children who said during the week that they wanted to follow Jesus and we all rejoiced, but to my knowledge these children do not follow today, probably something to do with the fact that we expected kids to be discipled in Sunday School each week but a regular Sunday commitment was not on their parents’ radar.
6 Saturday/Sunday events following a holiday club and pick-up/drop-off times give an opportunity for church members to get to know the parents of these children, to offer friendship to them and to introduce them to other services provided by the church. 7 Local press will gladly run with your story and communicate to the community that the church is alive and is active in the town. 8 Who knows what the church will do to follow up a holiday club? In my experience in one church it was used to plant a new congregation, launch a weekly after-school club, start a monthly kids’ club.
So why would I still choose to do a holiday club today? 1 Church kids find themselves presented with a clear gospel presentation and an opportunity to commit themselves to Christ with reasonable hope of discipleship to follow.
So I’m all for holiday clubs. You can perhaps add other valuable reasons for them. But I am also concerned that we find a working model for presenting a clear gospel message to non-churched children that has lifelong discipleship at its core. Ideas on a postcard, or even replies to this editorial, would be gratefully received! Alan Donaldson General Director of the Baptist Union of Scotland
2 It brings an opportunity to develop church children’s leaders and introduce fresh communication methods, modern music and creative energy into the life of weekly children’s activities.
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On Retreat Brian Howden, Secretary of the Baptist Union Retreat Group, explores the value of spending time ‘on retreat’ Have you ever thought of going on a retreat? The word ‘retreat’ may conjure up thoughts of getting away and finding space and stillness, and this is partly true – it may well be you find yourself in need of rest and time to find yourself again and a retreat may be a means of meeting this need. Even the word retreat carries the idea of removing oneself to a safe space. All this is true, but a retreat is more than this, for it creates a moment or space in which God can meet with you, possibly in a new way. Such an experience can be life changing and affect not only our relationship with God, but also our day-to-day relationships with family, friends and the world.
Gerard Hughes, a recognised retreat leader, talks about a ‘God of Surprises’, a God who sometimes reveals himself in unexpected ways. One such occasion happened for a person Hughes was accompanying on a retreat. The person on retreat had been given the passage of scripture that describes Jesus at the beginning of his ministry, making his way down from Nazareth to the River Jordan to be baptised. The person was invited to pray with the passage and imagine going with Jesus on that journey, to be present at the scene. The next day the person told Hughes of his experience, a bit hesitant at first and concerned that he might not have prayed correctly. He had entered into the scene and was surprised to see Jesus doing cartwheels along the road as he made his way to the River Jordan!
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Clearly this is not as the Bible records it, but it allowed a new understanding of the person of Jesus to surface in him. He had grown up with a very severe understanding of Jesus, one that was all too quick to tell him what he mustn’t do, leaving him feeling a failure and condemned. But his encounter with the Jesus doing cartwheels down the road began to change how he saw Jesus, an image of a man who knew what fun was and how to celebrate life – a person he now began to feel he could trust and relate to. Going on a retreat not only provides space to be, but opens up the opportunity for God to meet us, not escaping from life, but engaging with God and his world.
or suggestions given as to how to use the silence. Over the course of three days the leader might offer four or five led sessions as well as creating space for prayer/worship and Communion. Other forms of retreat may focus on an interest, eg painting/art or music and provide those on retreat space for silent reflection as well as interaction with one another. The Baptist Union Retreat Group (BURG), which encourages prayer and silence, began it’s life in response to Margaret Jarman’s BUGB President’s theme, ‘Prayer and Action’ (87/88). Since its formation BURG has organised and run retreats, both led and individually guided. It also publishes a Journal three times a year and a number of papers on ‘retreat’ type topics. This year BURG launched a website (www.burg.org.uk) which has details of retreats and other resources.
Last year the BBC televised a programme over three evenings entitled The Big Silence. The TV cameras followed the journey of five people on an eight-day retreat at a retreat centre in North Wales. They came from very different backgrounds but signed up to make, what for them, was their first step into ‘retreats’. The programme filmed how they coped, or didn’t cope with silence and what issues arose for them when they engaged with the silence. In conversation with those who were accompanying them on a one to one basis, they talked about what had emerged, what was life giving as well as what had deadened them. In the silence a space had been created, in which they could meet themselves, as well as a space to meet God - the only requirement being a generosity towards God. As for God’s part, he was waiting to be generous towards them.
Another support organisation, of which BURG is a founder member, is the Retreat Association. The Retreat Association has a number of very good retreat resources, not least a handbook published each year giving details and programmes of retreat houses around the country. (www.retreats.org.uk) Whatever the retreat, whether it be residential or taking place in the midst of life at home (Weeks or Months of Accompanied Prayer) it gives an opportunity to reflect more fully on how God is present in our lives – to enter into a stillness that enables us more fully to encounter the God of creation as well as the God within. Brian Howden Secretary, BURG
The BBC programme The Big Silence filmed what is known as an individually guided retreat (IGR). But there are many other forms of retreat – some may be led, in which a short talk is given, followed by space for silent reflection on whatever may have caught someone’s attention, with guidelines
Is a retreat right for you? Do you: • Wish for some quiet time? • Want a weekend to develop your interests? • Long to know more about prayer? • Need some time for reflection away from work or family? • Want to deepen your spiritual life?
A retreat is exactly what it sounds like — the chance to step aside from life for a while, to rest and just 'be' in a welcoming, peaceful place.
Then a retreat might be just for you.
Retreats are for ordinary people at any time in their lives.
www.retreats.org.uk
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God’s Wilderness Treks We are starting a Wilderness Ministry here in Pentrebach just outside of Merthyr Tydfil in the South Wales valleys. We have forestry, the Brecon Beacons and the Black Mountains with amazing, diverse landscapes to point the believer and nonbeliever to the creator, whether it’s a night hike on a full moon, a snowy ascent to the top of Pen- y- fan or the church family and friends out for a trek along a tranquil river. As a church we decided to use the natural beauty around us. We began by organising church walks along Offa’s Dyke; this enriched Christian fellowship. Then we began to invite non-Christians along, and conversations about Christianity soon followed. We realised we had stumbled across a simple bridge-builder into our community and a wilderness ministry began to develop.
Jesus often discipled men and women outdoors in wilderness situations. We spend a lot of time in a building discussing what Jesus did outside in the wilderness, and we struggle to get people into church. Taking people out onto the moors, the mountains and the forestry and into God’s landscapes provides a natural platform to share one’s faith. Whilst out walking with a man and listening to his divorce issues in the forestry, the beauty of God’s creation offered a natural calming effect with the smell of damp sweet pine needles as the conversation naturally flowed as to how the God of creation is interested in him and his difficult situation.
As word spread around the village about local treks, a number of people have asked if they could come along with the church group, or just with myself, which has opened up to some great pastoral times and evangelistic opportunities. This has been made possible through a BUGB Mission Project grant that has enabled funding for trekking equipment and mountain courses that needed to be attended for health and safety reasons. The courses were held in North Wales, which provided excellent opportunities to share my faith with many atheists, who when they found out I was a Baptist minister took every opportunity to discuss God with me! Amazingly, the man I shared a room with had been on an atheists’ camp for teenagers, leading kayaking classes. He saw the fact that we had been placed together as an act of God, to put him in a room with a vicar for three nights! Every night before bed we discussed what being in a relationship with Jesus actually meant. The last I saw of him he was off to kayak in the south of France with a firm belief in God!
One thing that has surprised me is the number of adults who are interested in trekking locally but have never been, for various reasons like getting lost or being attacked by a flock of angry Welsh sheep! We now try to accommodate for different abilities in trekking - for the fit and unfit, the adventurous and the sensible. Even though this wilderness ministry has just begun for us, we are slowly making new trails in the lives of rock climbers and canoeists, God has given us his wilderness to point us to him. Pastor Matt Tricker Jerusalem Baptist Church, Pentrebach Mission Project Grants are given in order to encourage and enable Baptist churches to respond to the mission needs of their community as part of their ongoing work and ministry. They are one-off grants of up to £3000 for new projects or new initiatives within existing projects. For more information see: www.baptist.org.uk/bugbmissiongrants.html
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Regional Minister Helen Wordsworth has been involved with several walking retreats in the past few years: Walk and Talk with HEBA (The heart of England Way) in 2000 and a Walk and Talk with CBA (The Grand Union Canal) in 2004.
A Peak District Getaway
In December 2008 she made a solo trip following St Cuthbert’s Way from Melrose to Holy Island, as a start to a sabbatical month. Through the different kinds of hospitality she received on this long walk, God prompted her to consider the kind of hospitality on offer at our churches, and to help them become more welcoming.
Vicarage Farm holiday cottages are in a hamlet just over a mile outside the market town of Tideswell in the unspoilt Peak District National Park. Former BMS World Mission personnel, Gordon and Ann McBain offer a hospitable welcome to visitors in the three charming grade II listed stone cottages. Built in 1637 and set in six acres of delightfully landscaped private gardens and woodland, they enjoy uninterrupted views over fields, dry stone walls and quiet country lanes.
The properties can accommodate up to fifteen people for anything from a quiet retreat to large gatherings of families and friends. They enjoy beautiful views over spectacular countryside and are an ideal location for family, walking, cycling or group holidays in the heart of the wonderful Peak District.
Helen writes ‘Walking is a great way to connect with God and with others. We did the Heart of England way carrying a large cross and I was amazed at the way it drew people to us for good conversations. Our CBA Canal walk gave lots of opportunities for talking to people as we helped them unwind the lock gates. In both cases we took contemporary copies of Luke’s gospel with us to give away.
They also benefit from saunas, open log fires, outdoor seating and eating areas, an all weather tennis court, games room, outdoor children’s play area, freeview televisions and DVD players.
‘Walking is good for whole person care...physical, mental, spiritual and community. Sometimes it’s easier to talk or listen to someone while you walk with them, rather than sitting face to face in a room. It doesn’t have to be a run or a marathon either. For people with limited mobility, regular health walks can be organised round a local park and there are training sessions available for the leaders of them. (www.walkingforhealth.co.uk) Treasure hunts can be a fun way of providing clues to your surroundings, interspersed perhaps with the occasional “pause for thought” connected to things along the way. And if you’re on your own, the local ramblers club is a good place to find company on your walks.
Gordon tells us that they still have some vacancies, mostly midweek, over the coming months and they are now offering B & B accommodation. They would love to see ministers coming to Vicarage Farm and can offer a reduction to those in Christian work if it would help. For details, see: www.vicaragefarm.co.uk
‘Some churches have walking clubs with organised walks of different lengths and levels of difficulty. This is a great way to develop friendships, relax together and get a little fitter! But it’s important to ensure that these are open to people who don’t attend church as well as those who do... so invite your neighbours and friends to join in too.’
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Rural Churches’ Day
A number of day and residential events are available throughout the year with inspiring speakers, the opportunity to share ideas and encouragement, and meet with others working in similar situations. Please book your place at events as early as possible and note that some venues have limited space - places may fill up before the closing date.
Becoming your community’s heartbeat
An interactive day to explore how churches in a rural context can engage with their communities Tuesday 11 September 10:30 - 15:30 Aylestone Baptist Church, Leicester
God at Work
The Challenge of Workplace Ministry as Mission International Mission Centre, Birmingham Saturday 16 June - 10:30 - 16:00
Speaker: Simon Mattholie CEO, Rural Ministries Hosted by: Ian Bunce Head of Mission Department, BUGB
You are invited to a day arranged by the Baptist Union’s Work and Economy Group, exploring how workplace ministry and chaplaincy responds to the mission imperative of Jesus.
Cost: £20.00 per person, including lunch Closing date for bookings: Tuesday 21 August
To enrol for the day, please contact Ian Millgate in the Ministry Department of the Baptist Union of Great Britain asap on imillgate@baptist.org.uk
For more information and booking, see: www.baptist.org.uk/events.html
Events for the Senior Ministers of Larger Churches Larger Churches’ Network Day
Larger Churches Conference
Thursday 7 June Baptist House, Didcot
Monday 26 - Wednesday 28 November High Leigh Conference Centre, Hoddesdon
Speaker: Paul Maconochie - Senior leader at Network Church, Sheffield.
Speakers: Steve Brady - Moorlands College Ian Stackhouse - Guildford Baptist Church
Cost: £10 per person including lunch.
Cost: £195 per person including accommodation in single en-suite rooms and all meals.
Closing date for bookings: Friday 1 June.
Please note, these events are by invitation only 8
MISSING HAVE YOU SEEN THIS GENERATION?
?
?
?
?
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AGE: 18 - 30 YEARS OLD VENUE:
The Younger Leaders Forum would like to invite you to come along to our own event about the Missing Generation. This is our flagship event, which we hope will open the floodgates to more events and bigger conversations. Right now we are laying the foundations to understand who are the missing generation and what we can be doing right now to engage with them. We also want to get YOU, yes you, talking about your experiences and how you have been affected. All this we want to cover at the event in October, so register today and save your place here:
INTERNATIONAL MISSION CENTRE 24 WEOLEY PARK ROAD SELLY OAK, BIRMINGHAM, B29 6QX
TIME:
10 am - 4:30pm
DATE:
Saturday, 13th of October 2012
FOR MORE INFO:
www.missinggeneration.com/events/missing
COST:
ÂŁ10 (includes refreshments)
www.missinggeneration.com/events/book Find us on Facebook
G
@missingGen
www.missinggeneration.com
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American Interim Pastor Ministries providing pastoral oversight until the church can afford a full-time pastor The churches in the Northern Baptist Association (NBA) have had a long and fruitful partnership with the American Interim Pastors Ministries (AIPM), which was founded at the beginning of this century by Chuck McComb, who had worked for Monsanto in the North East, been a member of one of the Baptist churches in Middlesbrough, and grown to love the UK. The organisation offers Southern Baptist American pastors and their wives to serve in our churches during an interregnum, normally for six months. They work full-time in the church and ask for no salary, the church being expected to provide housing and a car, and the associated expenses. The aim of AIPM is to provide pastoral oversight until such time as the church can afford another full-time English pastor. If you want more information about our experiences of AIPM in the North East, please feel free to contact: John Singleton, Regional Minister, on Tel: 01642 271767 or Email: johnsingleton@thenba.org.uk.
The pastors are well-aware of the differences between Baptist churches in the UK and in the States and do not challenge the way we do things! They are here to serve the church and do this with grace and a great servant heart. In 2011 the NBA was very blessed by American interims who served at Westoe Road BC, South Shields and at Cambridge Road, Middlesbrough. In both situations the church was struggling to come to terms with the departure of a minister. The stories are so good that we have made a DVD about the ministries and also put these onto You Tube (see: www.youtube.com/user/aipmfilms). We invite you to look at You Tube to see whether this ministry could be a blessing to your church. If you would like to see the DVD, each Regional Minister has a copy, which we are sure you could borrow.
For more information about the AIPM scheme, see the Mission File at: www.baptist.org.uk/resourcesevents/missionfiles/doc_download/380-americaninterim-pastor-ministries.html
Mission Files AMERICAN INTERIM PASTOR MINISTRIES Helping small Baptist churches that are on a reduced budget The Mission Challenge • Congregations are ageing • Church income is limited • Resources for doing mission are limited The Mission Vision • Volunteer help by retirees • Experienced ministers come alongside church members • Help the church grow - ultimately afford an installed British pastor
The Challenge Ageing Congregations The following graph shows the age profile of those attending churches of the Baptist Union in 2002 and 2007, compared to the national population figures supplied by the Office for National Statistics. It is clear that
The Mission Opportunity • Receive help from American interim pastors • Help with the British Baptist way of doing mission • Involvement of existing members in doing mission
many congregations do not reflect the national profile, and there appears to be an increase in the number of over-50s in church. From 2002 to 2007 there was a reduction in the numbers reported to be attending Baptist Union churches of approximately 7.5%.
Thornaby Baptist Church (now has a British Baptist Pastor)
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Limited Income With many members living on fixed pensions and with the number of members declining the income available for a stipend for an installed pastor is limited and diminishing. The 2009 economy makes this more true.
Booking is now open for the annual
But perhaps we should look beyond these immediate emergency responses to address the causes of homelessness, for example by joining in with the campaign for more affordable housing? Are there certain myths about housing and homelessness which distract us from the truth and muddy the waters?
Housing Justice Conference Wednesday 13 June 09:30 - 16:00
Perhaps consciously or unconsciously we are influenced by common myths or perceptions such as:
Wilson Carlile Centre, Sheffield
Busting the Myths
• The country cannot afford more social housing
Living in a land of plenty without a secure place to call home is one of the greatest struggles an individual or family can face. Without a home we cannot flourish, cannot take part in relationships and community or contribute to society, and cannot fully become the person God created us to be.
• Britain is full. There is not enough land • Most homeless people are alcoholics and drug addicts and prefer to live on the streets • Asylum seekers and migrants come here because of our generous welfare system Closing date for bookings: Wednesday 6 June
Many Christians feel sympathy with those who are homeless or in housing need. They express their concern practically by donating money or food to individuals or to local homeless projects or perhaps volunteering with a local soup run or winter shelter.
For more information, including programme, details of optional workshops, and booking form, see: www.housingjustice.org.uk/data/files/Events/ Conference_Brochure.pdf
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Would you like to run a cafechurch in your local Costa Coffee or another venue? Come to a training day filled with worship, teaching and workshops that will equip you to run a cafechurch. Come on your own or in a group and explore this idea further. • Practical workshops and seminars • Hear about the vision to have a cafechurch on every High Street • Get a biblical perspective • Experience cafechurch for yourself • Get the training pack • Share ideas • Networking opportunities • ‘Cafechurch - Church, but not as you know it’ booklet available to purchase, with hints and tips for cafechurch leaders and teams Upcoming dates: Saturday 23 June - 10:00 - 15:30 Life Church, Cuffley, Hertfordshire Cost: £20 per person including lunch, training pack and refreshments.
What is cafechurch?
It’s church, but not as you know it.
Download a booking form from: www.cafechurch.net/files/forms/Training%20Day%20 booking%20form.pdf
cafechurch is coffee with a conscience. It’s the fresh expression of community on the high street. It brings communities into the relaxed café atmosphere of Costa Coffee and other coffee shops to deal with issues from a faith perspective.
If you would like to find out more about hosting a training day, contact Alison Latty: alisonlatty@cafechurch.net
At cafechurch you’ll tackle issues such as fair trade, the environment, stress, adoption, parenting, debt and divorce, together with quizzes, interviews, round table discussions, live music with great coffee and great chat!
cafechurch network PO Box 1892, Croydon CR90 9AR tel: 020 8664 8506 www.cafechurch.net
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/ m o .c urch s n li y-ch l o c ny ealth o h th an ing. w w ww /gro nt e v e
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All Praying Together 8 - 9 September
Prayer – making headlines
Millions of people did it when footballer Fabrice Muamba collapsed. Most people do it at least once in their lives. Many people do it daily. And this year, more people than ever are doing it together as well as individually.
Your church can become a community that envisions, equips and supports people to live fruitful lives on their daily frontlines - wherever they are
Prayer is making headlines. Prompted by headlines on the front page of The Sun and even on the side of Scottish buses, people are talking about prayer and expecting God to answer.
Join LICC’s Neil Hudson for an inspiring day of training that will offer practical help for church leaders and leadership teams who are determined to create whole-life disciplemaking churches. He’ll be exploring the biblical vision and the practical principles and process he’s been learning in his work with churches of different sizes and denominations across the nation and offering a clear framework for moving forward.
Jesus taught his disciples to pray and from Friday 7 September to Sunday 9 September Christians all over the UK will be using the prayer Jesus taught, as they all pray together, wherever they are: ‘Our Father…your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven’.
Tuesday 25 September - 09:30 - 16:00 LICC, St Peters, Vere Street, London, W1G 0DQ Cost: £15 per person including refreshments - bring your own lunch
All Praying Together is a united weekend of prayer and fasting by individuals and churches of all denominations as part of HOPE – the national mission movement. Resources and ideas will be available for all to use.
Tuesday 2 October - 19:30 - 21:30 Glenwood Church Centre, Circle Way West, Cardiff, CF23 6UW (Joint event with CICC) Cost: £6 per person
Roy Crowne, Executive Director of HOPE said: ‘We know we have a powerful God and that prayer can change situations. As ambassadors of God’s heavenly kingdom let’s be praying as well as responding to needs in our villages, towns and cities.’
Monday 8 October - 09:30 - 16:00 Dawlish Christian Fellowship, Town Street, Dawlish, South Devon, EX7 9AL Cost: £15 per person including refreshments - bring your own lunch
Visit www.hopetogether.org.uk for resources on prayer and fasting and sign up on the HOPE website to receive news of All Praying Together and the new resources as they are released.
For details, and booking, see: www.licc.org.uk/ imagine/resources/imagine-on-the-road
Wembley Stadium
Crucible consists of three intensive training weekends each year to equip Christians to follow Jesus on the margins.
www.gdoplondon.com
To download the 2012-13 brochure, see: www.baptist.org.uk/component/docman/doc_ download/874-crucible-brochure.html
Saturday 29 September Christians united in worship, prayer and celebration
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Breaking Growth Barriers
This will be an 18-month commitment and you will meet with between five and eight other church teams for two days every six months during that time. There will also be two 24-hour spiritual retreats for the senior leaders. We suggest that churches send their principal leader along with two to four other key leaders. It is not possible to attend as an individual.
starting October 2012
Join other leadership teams from churches around the UK who are passionate about making a difference in their communities and beyond. A Lead Academy learning community is a unique opportunity to work through the key issues you are facing and to begin to implement the changes needed to fulfil God’s vision for the church you are serving.
Cost: The cost for this learning community will be £250 per person per year (£500 in total).
By employing a collaborative learning approach, much of the input and knowledge comes from those serving at the front line of church life and leadership. This approach is not a course or set programme and no specific model of ‘doing church’ is employed. There are no quick-fix answers and there are certainly no ‘one-size-fits-all’ solutions but by being part of this community you will work alongside others who are in similar ministry environments, as well as learning from those who are further along the road. We will help to identify what the main questions are for you, and work with you to create a clear strategy to implement over a two-year period. No two churches are the same, and neither are the leaders, which is what makes being part of God’s plan to reach the world through the local church so exciting.
Although these are non-residential events, people are strongly encouraged to stay locally overnight, as this significantly adds to the value of the whole learning experience. The residential retreat for the primary leaders is on a full-board basis and is included in this amount. Some bursaries may be available to help offset costs under certain circumstances. Venue: Lead Academy will be using the superb conference facilities of CMS (Church Mission Society) in Oxford. This is a great venue and within easy reach of the M40 and mainline train services. There is also a wide variety of guest accommodation in the area.
Some of the issues that will be addressed:
Dates:
• Identifying and changing your church’s culture every church has a culture but not all cultures are helpful • Releasing leadership identifying and equipping the leadership that you need • Developing new missional structures creating a lifestyle of mission as opposed to short-term outreach • Refocusing the church making the main thing the main thing • Growing disciples equipping the church to be effective followers of Jesus • Engaging with your community making the church outward focussed and more inclusive
• • • •
4 – 5 October 2012 14 – 15 March 2013 23 – 24 October 2013 2 – 3 April 2014
Retreat dates to be advised. To register an interest for this learning community, please email: info@leadacademy.net If you’re interested in joining in and would like to discuss your possible involvement in more detail, contact Lead Academy using the details below. Lead Academy, PO Box 952, Aylesbury HP22 9JE email info@leadacademy.net www.leadacademy.net
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Inviting one person we know to something we love and giving them a warm welcome There’s a space for you
Last year 3000 people responded to a BIG Welcome invitation by a friend in a Baptist church. This year we are delighted to be working in partnership with Elim and Methodist churches throughout the country, and we pray that even more people will be invited to a special BIG Welcome event in 2012.
The prayer coasters have been designed to be used before your BIG Welcome event in creative ways - eg: • Ask your church to write on the names of those they are going to invite to your BIG Welcome event. • Link the coasters together in a prayer wall with the names of the people being prayed for. • Spend time praying. • Ask each member of your church to take away a puzzle piece and continue to pray for that person.
New for 2012 is a BIG Welcome website (www.thebigwelcome.org) dedicated to providing all you need to help plan your BIG Welcome. Have a look at the website to find more information about this year’s posters, invitations, etc, (all of which can be ordered in English or Welsh) and place your order. Watch the video from the partner denominations encouraging your church to take part.
Take up the challenge, and begin to plan ways to offer a warm welcome to those who do not usually come to church.
Gift coaster
We are using the theme of welcoming the prodigal this year, and offering a variety of flexible resources suitable for you to use at your Sunday service and at other times. We suggest planning your event(s) on or around Sunday 23 September, but the resources are undated, so you can fit them with your church’s calendar.
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Prayer coaster
We want everyone to know that there’s a space for them in your church, so we’re using the image of a jigsaw puzzle on this year’s publicity.
The giveaway coasters can be given to everyone who comes to your BIG Welcome event, as a daily reminder of the time they spent with your church family.
Ordering resources for your church’s events This year’s resources to help you prepare for your BIG Welcome event are: • posters ranging from A4 - A0 size, which can be overprinted by our supplier • invitations with space for your event details, or overprinted by our supplier • prayer coasters for church members • gift coasters for people who come to your event • banners - in vinyl or pop-up formats which can be overprinted with your church’s details Three sizes of ‘Essential Packs’ are available with a selection of resources suitable for varying sizes of church. Alternatively, you can order the individual items separately to make up a pack which is suitable for your church. For full details of what’s available, and the prices, please see the website. The invitations and posters will be produced on paper which can be overprinted using a photocopier, laser printer or inkjet printer. They can also be ordered for overprinting by our supplier, Verite, with details of your church’s activity. Verite will contact you direct to discuss your requirements once you have placed your order. Packs will be made to order, and sent in late July/early August, so you can start advertising your event(s) in plenty of time. More information about how to use these resources and how to prepare your church to offer a BIG Welcome is available in the revised BIG Welcome Mission File - download a copy free of charge from www.thebigwelcome.org
There’s no need to stick to one day in the year to offer people a BIG Welcome. Why not plan a BIG Welcome family fun day, a BIG Welcome at Christmas – the possibilities are endless! Feedback from The BIG Welcome 2011: We had a great time! We made special welcome badges and steward badges using people of all ages so no one felt excluded. We served fresh fairtrade coffee and Morrison’s extra jammy doughnuts. ... We kept everything really simple, had some fun, and spoke about Jesus - one lady said that we should do these kind of services more often, everyone enjoyed themselves!
www.thebigwelcome.org 17
Resources from Christian Vision for Men for Father’s Day - Sunday 17 June, 2012 Finding Form DVD pack
Celebrating Fatherhood DVD pack
A man-friendly pack for church leaders to use before, during and after Father’s Day. The pack is based around The Code movement focussing on code XII: ‘If I fail I will not give up. He never gives up on me’ outlining the ways to deal with the pressures of being a father and how to live with your shortcomings.
Featuring a DVD of interviews and insights into fatherhood, a suggested service and sermon outline for Sunday, children’s activities for Sunday School and small group ideas for dads as they get together. Whether you’re a minister, Sunday School teacher, church leader or just someone concerned about modern-day fatherhood, this feature-rich pack is not to be missed!
Practical tips on gearing your service towards blokes and finetuning your men’s ministry is a major feature of the pack.
Cost: £10 + p&p
Cost: £12 + p&p
To order either of these resources, see: http://cvm.org.uk/fathers
Sorted is a good, wholesome alternative magazine for blokes, with a team of writers including Bear Grylls, Rob Parsons, Jeff Lucas, Steve Chalke, GP Taylor, Eric Delve, Gerald Coates, Nick Battle, J John, Simon Day, Lee and Baz, Lyndon Bowring and Carl Beech and many others. The magazine looks at success, faith, finance, fitness, passion and purity, motoring, movies, tons of football and other sports, good books, DVD’s, addictions, accountability, mentoring and encouraging each other. It also has a Gadgets expert and a motoring correspondent as well as a ‘60 Second Life Coach’ and a ‘Sex Doc’. Sorted is a 92 page glossy bi-monthly magazine, costing £3.50 an issue, with discounts if you subscribe and great offers for larger orders. As a special offer for Father’s Day, Sorted is available in a pack of 50 for only £50. Why not order copies to give away to Dads, or to leave at work, at doctors’ and dentists’ surgeries, on the bus, or in prisons. Place your order at: www.sorted-magazine.com/product/?pid=10014
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HOPE brings a fresh mission focus on harvest New HOPE for Harvest book published • Create a community collage to display outside your church, with positive stories and pictures of activities taking place in your area. • Encourage your church to have a meat-free Sunday – if everyone in the UK gave up meat once a week, the emission savings would be the same as taking 5 million cars off the road. • Have a technology fast – no TV, iPod, computer or mobile phone for a whole day. These are just three of the ideas in HOPE for Harvest, the latest book from HOPE, helping churches to use key moments in the Christian calendar as a focus for mission. As well as offering fresh ideas for harvest festivals, the new book focuses on the importance of work, generosity and thankfulness as key aspects of a mission lifestyle. HOPE for Harvest includes: • Fresh ideas for harvest festival services and • Articles from Tearfund on thankfulness, generosity, celebrations, plus ways to reach your community mission and caring for the environment with the good news of Jesus during harvest. • A youth group session, lots of mission ideas and a • Four weeks’ worth of Bible studies from the Bible study for young people Stewardship Trust looking at harvest in the Old and New Testaments. Cost: £5.99 For more details, and to order a copy, see: www.hopetogether.org.uk/Groups/133405/HOPE/HOPE_ • Articles and ideas from Mark Greene of London step_by/Books/Books.aspx Institute for Contemporary Christianity on the value of work and how to support your congregation in their workplaces.
HOPE is a national movement encouraging and equipping churches to work together in mission.
thirsty Today a billion people worldwide will be using dirty water to drink, cook and wash with. They have no other choice. Use thirsty at your harvest celebrations this year and discover the refreshing difference that clean water projects are making to people in Haiti. You can help BMS save lives there and in similar situations around the world. www.bmsworldmission.org/resources/video/harvest
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This July a new digitally re-mastered version of Chariots of Fire will be coming to cinemas.
These will include: • • • •
Movie Moments episode on ‘passion’ Reel to Real video on ‘dedication’ Reel to Real video on ‘trust’ Resources for schools, including Primary and Secondary Assemblies and a secondary RE lesson • Free illustrations from Tools for Talks
Winner of four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Chariots of Fire is the inspiring true story of Eric Liddell, Harold Abrahams and the Olympic team of 1924, who brought Britain one of its greatest sporting victories. The Damaris Trust are creating free official community outreach resources to accompany the film’s release, which will appear on their website as they are released.
These will be available to download, or order now to be sent a printed Leaders’ Guide and DVD at the end of June. See www.damaris.org/chariots for details.
Key dates in 2012 for the Olympic and Paralympic Games June 3 Jun
Olympic Torch Relay reaches Northern Ireland 6 Jun Olympic Torch Relay reaches Dublin 8 Jun Olympic Torch Relay reaches Scotland 21 Jun Start of London 2012 Festival 23-24 Jun London 2012 Festival Radio 1 Big Weekend event, Hackney Marshes 25 Jun London 2012 World Sport Day celebrations in UK schools
August 12 Aug 24 Aug 25 Aug
July 20 Jul
Olympic Flame arrives in London (evening) 21-22 Jul London 2012 Festival River of Music concerts along River Thames 23 Jul Olympic Flame visits Albert Square in EastEnders episode 25 Jul First Olympic Games sports events – Women’s Football Preliminary matches at Cardiff (including Team GB), Coventry and Glasgow 27 Jul Olympic Games Opening Ceremony
26 Aug 27 Aug 28 Aug 29 Aug
Olympic Games Closing Ceremony Paralympic Flame lighting in London Paralympic Flame lighting and flame festival in Belfast Paralympic Flame lighting and flame festival in Edinburgh Paralympic Flame lighting and flame festival in Cardiff Paralympic Flame festival in Stoke Mandeville, start of the 24 hour Paralympic Torch Relay to London Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony
September 9 Sep Paralympic Games Closing Ceremony
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Free pack helps churches respond to the 2012 Games
Undefeated has been produced in partnership by BMS World Mission, the Baptist Union of Wales and the Baptist Union of Great Britain. It is designed for a one-hour church service, particularly suitable for use during the Olympics and Paralympics.
A vast compendium of resources is now available to help churches make the most of their engagement with the 2012 Games. The 48 page publication offers churches a host of practical ways to engage with their community during the Games and the Torch Relay, which will come within ten miles of most of the UK churches. The ideas include large screen festivals, barbecues, street parties, picnics, breakfasts, children’s games, sports quizzes and sport competitions.
The aim of Undefeated is to help churches to: • Become more inclusive in their welcome towards people with disabilities • Be inspired by the faith of athletes hoping to compete in the Paralympics • Acknowledge the excellence of Paralympic sport • Discover what the Bible has to say about disability • Celebrate the contributions made by people with disabilities in our churches • Remember international issues of justice and disability • Highlight how BMS is serving people with disabilities around the world
There are also resources for church activities, including an all-age sermon outline, sketches, prayers and outlines for small groups. To help churches publicise their activities there are a sample press release and church magazine article.
The DVD contains four short videos and a range of other resources. Two of the videos feature sport contributions and comment from four leading athletes with a disability: • wheelchair racer Anne Wafula Strike • archer Robert Shaw • runner Sophia Warner • goalball player Michael Sharkey.
The pack comes from More Than Gold, the agency set up by all the main denominations to help churches make the most of the Games. Produced and funded by Traidcraft, it is available free of charge from www.traidcraftshop.co.uk/ churcheventpack or calling 0845 330 8900. There are also lots of additional resources, linked to ideas in the Event Pack for Churches, which can be downloaded from www.traidcraft.co.uk/get_involved/ Churches2/2012_Games
Order your copy, at £6.00 + £2.50 p&p, from www.bmsworldmission.org/undefeated
The Christian Enquiry Agency and the Olympics
All the Christian responses from UK visitors to the Olympics this year will be channelled to the Christian Enquiry Agency. This would be a good time to be putting the link to the excellent CEA website on your own church website by going to the ABOUT US page, and making contact.
www.christianity.org.uk
www.morethangold.org.uk
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Holiday at Home Holiday clubs have been run for children during their school holidays by many churches, and for many years. However, holiday clubs for older people, who are often unable to go away on holiday for health or financial reasons, are a valuable way to share God’s love and serve the community. Many older people can feel lonely and isolated - a problem which intensifies during the summer when regular clubs have a break, and carers or neighbours are away on their holidays. Providing a holiday club during the summer is a wonderful way to honour older people in the community, to build up relationships and share God’s love with them. Many Baptist churches have used this crossingplace opportunity to develop creative teams to plan and run special summer holiday at home events. Here we share some of their stories, and offer ideas for those churches considering this kind of ministry. The days include lunch, board games, and interesting speaker, perhaps a bit of a sing song and generally some good conversation and time to chat with each other. Numbers for this are in the region of 40 people, and they always show much appreciation to the team who organise it.’
Creech St Michael Baptist Church has run a Holiday at Home twice a year for about five years. Minister Gary Birch explains: ‘Our Holiday at Home is built upon our successful ‘Tea Break’ club for the retired which happens each fortnight.
Winchester Baptist Church Holiday at Home
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Ashby Baptist Church, which has about 90 members, called Diane Holmes to be a minister with special responsibility for older people. She tells us: “Our annual Holiday at Homes started after we were inspired by an Outlook conference. Aided by Outlook’s Handy Hints for Holiday at Home, our older people’s workers decided to turn the Baptist church into a cruise ship and sailed away for the first Holiday at Home in May 2005. “From the start we had a fantastically inspired and hard working team which has grown over the years, and a wonderfully supportive group of older people who have entered into the fun from the beginning, told their friends, grown with us and with God along the way.
Winchester Baptist Church Holiday at Home
“As well as cruising rather haphazardly ‘across the world’ over four days on our first holiday, we have since been on Safari, to Egypt, to Scotland, and in 2009 we went down memory lane for a traditional seaside holiday. Each year we decorate the church, and ourselves, accordingly – the baptistry has been a swimming pool, a watering hole complete with crocodile, a river with bullrushes and Moses basket, Loch Ness plus monster and a beach with deckchairs – depending on where we have been. And we were thrilled last year about how many of our holiday-makers came with sun hats and memories to share.
“We feel that the whole church supports our venture, both practically and through much prayer, and generations have grown closer through the involvement of the younger people who serve meals, help with decorating and join in with crafts and conversation. About 25 people help each year. The youngest holiday maker is probably about fifty, and the oldest, one year, was 100. Most people are in their seventies and eighties. “The annual event has become part of our church life – enriching our relationships and reaching out into the community. In the past couple of years we have received grants from Age Concern and from the local council, as well as being continually supported by the Ashby sickness fund which gives out small grants to local ventures which value vulnerable people.
“In 2010 we went off to ‘France’, which coincided with the fiftieth anniversary of the Pithiviers Society – our twin town connection, so there were high hopes for some community cohesion! “We are always grateful to our creative caterers who serve up food appropriate to the destination – and enjoyed some gourmet French fare on our trip to ‘France’. Our usual programme includes plenty of time for companionship and conversation, as well as organised activities, crafts and entertainment plus some time for reflection, and the opportunity to come to our morning service on the Sunday, followed by lunch and a tea dance or sing along.
“Our church motto is ‘To know God, to love God, to show God through Jesus’ and I feel that our Holiday at Home is a real outworking of that love. And it’s a lot of fun! “We love our annual holiday at home – through this event, spin-offs and more ‘usual stuff’, older people feel valued, engaged and needed – and it’s all a lot of fun!”
“We run from Wednesday to Sunday in the May/ June half term, (with Saturday off!) with a coach trip on the Thursday. Tickets are sold (£5 a day per person) so the holiday can be tailored to individual needs. We do a press release each year, put up posters around the town and I’ve also been interviewed on local radio, but publicity is mostly by word of mouth.
Diane Holmes is happy to be contacted by churches interested in putting on a Holiday at Home event. See: www.ashbybaptist.co.uk or email info@ashbybaptist.co.uk [taken from the Mission File Second Half of Life: Journey Between Third And Fourth-Age]
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‘Holiday at Home’ DVD with manual
A second edition was filmed professionally in 2008 and the manual has also been updated, including new material from participating churches.
The Outlook Trust first produced this resource in 2004 to address the need for some guidelines on how to organise a ‘Holiday at Home’ for older people, and it covers all aspects of such a venture. Examples of activities, dramas, biblical input, programmes are included in the manual, and the DVD shows exactly how some churches have produced the actual programmes.
Cost: £10.00 (Members) £15.00 (Non-Members) Available from Outlook Trust, The Wycliffe Centre, Horsleys Green, High Wycombe, Bucks, HP14 3XL ‘Our visits to Broughton and Olney Baptist Churches for tea are always an added delight. Songs of Praise on the last Sunday was truly an act of thanksgiving and joy to our God who never disappoints.’ Holiday at Home and Songs of Praise is a very special part of Mount Pleasant’s ministry. They are keen to spread the Holiday at Home format in other churches and organisations and have put together some information for churches considering developing a similar ministry. To receive a copy, contact the church office: Mount Pleasant Baptist Church 147 - 155 Kettering Road, Northampton NN1 4BS Email: office@mountpleasantchurch.com Phone: 01604 459761
Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Northampton holds its annual Holiday at Home week in July for people over 65 who have not had a holiday in the last two years. Entertainment has included singers, a magician, panto, pianist, granny’s attic, tea dance, birds of prey, coach trips and much more. There is no charge made to the Holiday at Home guests. To follow up on the summer event, there is a Reunion each December, and a monthly Songs of Praise service to which all Holiday at Home guests are invited. Church member Jean Westwood shares her experience of Holiday at Home: ‘It’s the visiting of Residential Homes, the Venton Age Concern Centre and other enquirers that is arduous! The interviews too, when we think we have an ideal candidate for the Holiday, but who, when it’s time to sign the agreement to attend all week, says that a week will be too much.
Holiday at Home Outlook Trust have produced a step-by-step guide to help you run a successful holiday club for the over 65s in your community, drawing on the theme of the coming Games. It is being sold on the More than Gold web shop at: www.morethangoldresources.org. uk/index.php?page=shop.browse&category_ id=6&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=2&vmcchk= 1&Itemid=2
‘When the comparatively unknown guests arrive and they become dear companions, then everything changes. This year we had five men, two of whom were partially sighted. Several were over ninety years old, Gertie with a broken ankle which refuses to heal, Vera - almost blind - who kept us amused by tales of her escapades, such as the time she used washing up liquid in her coffee, and Elsie, 98, who arrived with her bruised face, telling all who would listen that Jesus was her friend and looked after her. ‘The outings were the usual fun even when it poured with rain at Wicksteed Park, with Martin gentlemanly urging and heaving us up the coach steps, Ivan doing his excellent job as compère, Steve producing the famous Sticky Toffee Pudding, Barbara always an irreplaceable support and Brian organising the transport. Thanks also to Carol, Denise, David and Eric and all who helped with driving and cooking. We appreciate, also, the contribution of Lion Club members to the transport.
Church Army Discovering Faith in Later Life June 2006 Number 5
‘HOLIDAY AT HOME’
Running events for older people during the summer holidays: part of a mission strategy or just a good idea?
Michael Collyer CA Researcher: Older People Exploring evangelism, spiritual needs & fresh expressions of church among older people. The Sheffield Centre Church Army’s Research Unit Directed by Revd George Lings Email: ask@sheffieldcentre.org.uk
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Church Army has produced a very helpful document in the Discovering Faith in Later Life series which looks at the value of Holiday at Home and offers guidance and a sample programme for churches. Download this free of charge from: www.churcharmy.org. uk/nmsruntime/saveasdialog. aspx?lID=5470&sID=7362
The Cinnamon Network Fund is now endowed with a grant from the Cabinet Office Social Action Fund. There are two grants available: 1 150 seed funding grants of £2,000 available to local churches who would like to request assistance is setting up an established Community Franchise project.
All faith communities have within their ethical teachings the values of compassion, care and social justice. One of the ways that their members put these values into everyday practice is through volunteering.
2 10 concept development grants of £6,000 available to local churches who would like to request help in developing a new Community Franchise model.
In 2012 a special project called ‘A Year of Service’ is taking place. In each month, for A Year of Service, faith communities will be hosting a day or days of volunteering and inviting people of other faiths and non-religious beliefs to join in. There will also be workplace volunteering opportunities. The Year provides an opportunity for marking in a practical way the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen of whose reign ‘service’ has been a key theme.
You can apply for these grants at www.communityfranchising.net
Monday 28 February saw the formal launch of the project in London at the first faith community volunteering day of A Year of Service, led by the Baha’i community. The Year of Service is a golden opportunity for Christians to make connections with neighbouring communities of another faith or culture in charitable and voluntary work. The idea is to invite our neighbouring faith community to be part of what we are doing, and to get involved in what they are doing. This might be clean-up operations, tree planting, feeding the hungry, working on an allotment, visiting the elderly, helping the homeless.
12:1 is an exciting new partnership between the Baptist Union of GB and four organisations that offer excellent time out opportunities - both in the UK and abroad - for people of all ages, whether it be students looking for a gap year or baby boomers in retirement. There is something for all. In many ways it is one scheme with four partners, all within the Baptist track:
If your congregation, Churches Together group or other Christian project wants to get involved in the Year of Service, have a look at the website www.ayearofservice.org.uk
Track 1:
BMS World Mission
Track 2: DNA Track 3: The Light Project Track 4: Viz-a-Viz - Taste To find out more see: www.baptist.org.uk/mission-opportunities.html
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Young People Stepping Out In the Baptist Union of Scotland we are continuing to explore themes set out in a recent document, An Invitation To A Journey. These are a calling to be Intentionally Relational, Unashamedly Missional and Creatively Rooted. However, a document is just words until it lives. Step Out is an embodiment of these principles.
Each summer young people from the age of 14 upwards are able to apply to be part of small teams that are sent out across Scotland to different Baptist churches for a week, Sunday to Sunday. They receive a weekend of training at the start of the summer and come back together for a reunion weekend after, with team leaders receiving additional training.
Step Out is the BUS’s summer mission programme, giving young people the opportunity to take part in missional activities that support and encourage local Baptist churches in their mission and ministry to the communities in which they are placed. It began many years ago and the fact that it is still running shows the success it has been.
Cornton Step Out Team 26
It also enables them to form links with churches other than their own, seeing the breadth and width of expressions of Baptist life in Scotland, discovering what it can mean and look like to be creatively rooted to Baptist practices. The activities that take place help grow the young people’s gifting and potential, enabling them to channel their love of Jesus and passions creatively and constructively, helping develop a missional approach to life that reaches beyond the summer. Practically, the extent to which a team is involved in leading the activities varies, depending upon need. Year after year churches testify to the benefits of having a team come and partner with them for a week. Sometimes having a team enables a church to undertake something they won’t be able to otherwise, other times it adds vibrancy and new faces to something that already happens. Yet even churches not having teams are able to benefit from Step Out. Each year a team of young people working in task groups design and write the materials for the summer. Churches running their own clubs are able to contact us and use the materials, allowing them to join in with what is going on in other churches across Scotland.
Step Out Team
Inverkeithing
Whilst with the churches, the teams help run different activities for children and young people, traditionally children’s holiday clubs and youth nights. Each team comprises young people from all over Scotland, making it a great way for them to form friendships with one another.
Coordinating it is hard work, but so rewarding. I have met amazing young people who love Jesus and want to serve him with all they have, and I have seen the kingdom-impact they can have as they are open to God working through them. As they take part in Step Out they see it too, and that spurs them on in their home churches. Only God knows the impact that may have! Mo Gibbs Youth Development Coordinator Baptist Union of Scotland
The Baptist Union of Scotland 48 Speirs Wharf, Glasgow G4 9TH Tel: 0141 433 4554 Email: mo@scottishbaptist.org.uk
Fort William Step Out Team
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A National Day of Prayer for Church-based Toddler Groups
Announcing the
National Prayer Day for
Sunday 10 June
Parent and Toddler
The 1277 group is encouraging churches to pray for their toddler groups. Download a poster to advertise your event from: www.baptist.org.uk/component/docman/doc_ download/1103-national-prayer-day-for-toddlergroups.html
Groups on
Sunday, 10 June 2012 An initiative of
www.1277.org.uk
Pray for your local toddler group, its leaders and all the families with whom it comes into contact
I commit to pray for parent and toddler groups, their leaders and the families and communities they impact.
Local Information
Father, as we seek to nurture, develop and encourage our children, would You challenge us with Your love, deepen us with Your grace and teach us with Your wisdom, so that through us Your Kingdom comes and Your will is done. Amen
Download a prayer card for your event: www.baptist.org.uk/component/docman/doc_ download/1102-1277-prayer-card.html If you would like to order hard copies of the Member prayer cards, please contact Mike Barnes on Organisations 0207 3674 788.
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Messy Church Weekend
Messy Church Young Leaders’ Day
An opportunity to be refreshed and re-equipped for Messy Ministry
A day for teenagers who help at Messy Churches across the UK and their accompanying adults
15 - 17 June 2012
(Friday evening meal to Sunday lunch inclusive)
Saturday 14 July 2012 11:00 - 16:00
High Leigh Conference Centre, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire
Whalley Methodist Church, Whalley, Lancs
If you haven’t booked your team’s places on the next Messy Weekend at High Leigh Conference Centre in Hertfordshire, don’t delay! You’ll go home refreshed and bursting with new ideas and enthusiasm. We’d love to spend time with you for a whole weekend, talking messiness, swapping messy ideas, getting messy (of course), getting off the treadmill for a couple of days and listening to God together. It’s for leaders and teams already running a Messy Church, so we’ll have loads of ideas, crafts, recipes, problems and solutions to share. The programme is light to allow plenty of time for informal chats and will still have plenty of quality input from Jane, Lucy and others. Think guided retreat combined with hands-on practical ideas to take home. It’s going to be fun. Do see if you can join us.
Messy Church is a great place for young people to start learning leadership skills, and skills for mission and outreach to the families who belong to Messy Church. How can Messy Churches listen to their young people and make the most of the gifts they bring? How can young people give to and take from Messy Church? How can our churches make the most of the gift of the willing presence of young people at Messy Church? The day will: • Empower young people to have a voice in the shaping of their Messy Church locally and nationally • Communicate to leaders how they might empower and engage young people in their own church • Encourage all participants to take seriously the all-age nature of Messy Church • Help Messy Churches reach young people more effectively
This is part of BRF’s commitment to support and sustain Messy Church leaders so that you can do what you do with renewed energy, vision and skill. We hope your church may find funding to help you and other members of your team to come. Cost: Varies according to specific rooms - see website for details. Costs quoted are per person and cover all meals, accommodation and programme.
The day will be fun and very participative with a minimum of 'sitting listening' and a maximum of 'doing and talking'. It is aimed at young people between the ages of 11-18 with accompanying adults. If you are above this age and would like to attend, please find a young person to bring with you.
Closing date for bookings: Wednesday 6 June
Cost: £5 for under 18's and 18 year olds and £10 for over 18's and includes drinks and cake. Please bring lunch. (It is hoped that your church will support you financially).
Find out more, and book your place at: www.brfonline.org.uk/the-messy-churchweekend
Find out more, and book your places at: www.brfonline.org.uk/messy-church-youngleaders-day-july-2012
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Children, Families and God In this book Lynn shares her passion for ministry to children and families, her thoughts on their awareness and development of spirituality, and her biblical basis for such ministry. She challenges readers to acknowledge ways in which, often unintentionally, children’s needs have been overlooked or swept aside in today’s church, and offers practical ideas and inspiring stories of how God might bring about change. In particular I was encouraged by two aspects of Lynn’s writing. Firstly, the author has a heartfelt desire to see whole family discipleship, as illustrated in both Old and New Testament communities of God’s people; she calls for an end to ‘continual partitioning or excluding of children from the key events in the life of the church’, including worship, prayer, baptism, communion, housegroups. In this respect, there is a useful exploration of some key principles of church ministry, as well as encouraging stories of how God has worked in children and families. Secondly, and inextricably linked to the above, the theme of mission runs throughout the book. Lynn’s primary motivation for discipling families in their relationship with God and with each other is that they might be equipped to reach out to other families and see God’s kingdom grow in their community. There are examples of some specific programmes to get you started in your missional thinking, including the current model of Missional Communities.
Copies of Children, Families & God will be available from mid-June onwards. Initially it will be available to order through www.lynnalexander.org.uk (website going live in June) but you can also request it through your Christian bookshop.
The book will appeal to a wide audience, although particular sections may hold more or less relevance for particular readers: the detailed chapter on areas of church life requiring attention and potentially repentance, entitled ‘The Turning Point: Starting Afresh’, may be particularly challenging for senior pastors and leaders, whereas other sections such as ‘Building a Team’ will be of more specific interest to children’s pastors themselves. Whatever your role, if you share God’s heart of compassion for children and families, yet sometimes wonder how best to advance God’s kingdom among them, then this book is worth reading. Ruth Donaldson
Children, Families and God Author: Lynn Alexander Publisher: Evangelista Media (June 2012)
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Finding a place called home Krish Kandiah shares his thoughts on adopting and fostering, and invites you to an event near you
As you read this there are 6,800 children waiting to be adopted in the UK and a further 8,750 foster families needed to cope with the increasing pressure on the care system. Some of those children are siblings currently separated from each other after already losing their ability to live with their parents and extended family, usually through no fault of their own. Some of those children are being told they are too old or too difficult to adopt. Funding is short, delays are long and every day more cases arrive on the desk of social services, each with heart-breaking stories of children in our communities who are at risk.
Sign up for one of the consultation tour dates taking place: • • • • • •
The God we believe in describes himself as a ‘father to the fatherless’, protector of widows and orphans. If we are going to reflect God’s character accurately, the Church must have the same reputation. As I travel up and down the UK speaking in conferences and churches I meet some of the hundreds of Christian adoptive and foster families, and hear inspirational stories of how they are making a difference in the lives of vulnerable young people.
Tuesday 19 June – Cardiff Wednesday 20 June – Belfast Thursday 21 June – Glasgow Tuesday 26 June – Manchester Wednesday 27 June – Birmingham Thursday 28 June – London
There will be afternoon events for church leaders and professionals (eg social workers, adoption agencies) interested in exploring how our churches can make a difference. And in the evening we’d like to invite those of you with a personal interest in adoption or fostering to join us. Visit the Care for the Family website for more information and to book your place.
I believe the UK Church needs to support and encourage these families better, but I also believe we can go one step further and find ways to make adoption and fostering more normal in the life and practice of our churches. Working together with just one adoptive or foster family per church we could effectively provide safe and loving homes and end the wait for children in the care system.
If you’re interested, but unable to attend any of these consultations, please register your interest on the website and we’ll be in touch. www.careforthefamily.org.uk/adopt
The UK Church has the potential to make a significant impact on the waiting children of our generation, and to begin this seed change, the Evangelical Alliance is working in conjunction with Care for the Family to begin a consultation with families, church pastors and care professionals. Collectively we can begin to discover how we can instil a mindset change in our families and churches to open our arms and hearts to the children who need temporary and permanent homes, where they can be accepted and loved unconditionally.
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Who Let the Dads Out? is an effective way for churches to engage with fathers, male carers and their pre-school children. What began as a local church initiative in 2003 has now grown, and there are around 50 Who Let the Dads Out? groups around the country. In March 2012, Who Let the Dads Out? became a core BRF ministry, enabling the team to support this growing national ministry, and this book was published at the same time. ‘Parent and toddler work can transform relationships and strengthen families, yet sometimes men may have very limited access to the parent and toddler world. ‘This book tells the story of how Who Let The Dads Out? came into being. It gives a practical guide for setting up and running the monthly sessions, complete with theological background, real-life case studies, helpful hints and tips, and twelve easy craft ideas.’ [From BRF website] Author: Publisher: ISBN: RRP:
Who Let The Dads Out? Conference
Mark Chester (founder of Who let the Dads Out?) BRF (March 2012) 978 184101 885 0 £6.99
Come and join with others who are passionate about engaging dads, granddads and male carers with their children and the Christian faith.
Developing Discipleship within Who Let The Dads Out?
Speakers include:
Saturday 22 September 09:30 - 15:30
• Mark Chester, founder of Who Let The Dads Out? and Family Officer at Liverpool Football Club
The Lighthouse Centre, Middleton, North Manchester, M24 1AZ Cost: £15.00 including lunch (bring four people and get the fifth place free)
• Lucy Moore, founder of Messy Church and part of the BRF team
At the fourth annual Who Let The Dad’s Out (WLTDO) conference the speakers and workshops will explore the theme of making disciples. How do we point people towards a greater commitment? How do we help them understand who Jesus is? How can we invite them to join us on a journey of discipleship?
• Ian Bunce, Head of Mission Department at the Baptist Union of Great Britain • Helen Lock, Playtime Co-ordinator at Care for the Family For more information, and to book your place, see: www.brfonline.org.uk/wltdo
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The Humanitarian Citizen Award categories
– for first aid, community action, volunteering and fundraising – recognise the many different ways in which young people (aged 25 and below) help others. We need your help in finding, and nominating, the UK’s young heroes for this year’s Humanitarian Citizen Award. If you work with young people, know others that work with young people or have access to groups that do - please let them know about this award and help us find this year’s biggest young heroes.
Sometimes ordinary people do extraordinary things.
For more information or to nominate an individual or group please visit www.redcross.org.uk/theaward
They may not wear masks or capes, but every day young heroes across the UK make a difference to the lives of others.
The closing date for this year’s Humanitarian Citizen Awards will be 8 July.
Global Day of Prayer Saturday 29 September 14:00 - 18:00
Toddler Group Worship
Young people from across Britain are invited to gather at Wembley Stadium to pray for our nation and be part of the Global Day of Prayer.
Some simple Toddler worship services are now available to download from the Tiddlywinks website. These provide a little more Christian input for your toddler group, whilst maintaining the relaxed group atmosphere. Currently, service outlines are available to download for Christmas, Mothering Sunday and Easter, with more to come.
See the video at https://vimeo.com/42341444 or download a Leaders’ Pack from www.hope-revolution.com/united and encourage your young people to join in. (see also p14)
Download these services from: www.scriptureunion. org.uk/Tiddlywinks/Parentandtoddlergroups/ Toddlerworshipservices/157321.id Scripture Union has also published another booklet in its ‘Top Tips’ range. Worshipping with under-5s is written by SU’s Under-5s consultant, Alison Dayer, and contains practical pointers for anyone working with children. ISBN: 978 18442 7568 7 RRP: £3.50
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School’s Out!!
children mainly come from the two local primary schools with which we have good relations.
For many years, Baptist churches, working on their own or with their local ‘Churches Together’ group, have used the opportunity of the school holidays to engage with children and young people in their community by inviting them to a holiday club. Creech St Michael Baptist Church has been running children’s Holiday Clubs each year for over 10 years. Minister Gary Birch tells us:
‘We also work with the local Children’s Centre to host a creche facility for our helpers’ young children; this frees people up to be able to help at Holiday Club. ‘Often the local supermarkets donate the fruit that we use for refreshments, and other church members give the drinks. ‘On the Thursday evening of the Holiday Club week we host a ‘Family Fun Evening’ in the local School field and invite anyone from the village to come and share in fun and games, competitions, free food and hear about what’s been going on at Holiday Club. We usually get about 300 people attend. Then we have a finale family service on the Sunday, which for the first time in 2011 was also held in the School field with the opportunity for a picnic and fun and games afterwards. Some of the holiday club families come to that too.
‘For a week in the Summer holidays we have about 120 children in school year R to 6 come each morning from 09:30 to 12:00 for fun, games, refreshments, craft, bible teaching and general mayhem! We use the Scripture Union material and split the children into five groups by age. Each group has a lead helper, with five or six other helpers. There is a team who organise the craft and one for the refreshments too, so in all we have about 40+ helpers from the church to make it all run smoothly. ‘Every year we open the bookings on 1 June and within two weeks we are usually near full capacity. The
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‘We regularly have one or two children who profess faith during the club and often give out numerous bibles to those interested.’
Razzamatazz Robots Holiday Club!
Publishers like BRF and Scripture Union are recognised for producing high quality, easy-touse resources to help churches plan for and run a holiday club. These pages outline some of the resources which they have produced:
A five-day holiday club plan, complete and ready-to-run for five 2 1/2 hour sessions. This is a fun-filled adventure, designed to help children unpack the plan of the Master Designer from creation to re-creation.
From BRF Barnabas The Sports Academy Holiday Club! This sports-themed holiday club has five complete 2 1/2 hour programmes plus extra ideas for a special service or event.
Author: John Hardwick ISBN: 978 184101 577 4 RRP: £9.99 Currently out of stock but available as a download from www.brfonline.org.uk/9781841016146Z
Running alongside the primary theme of David’s rise from shepherd boy to king of Israel, the material links the biblical teaching to contemporary living by exploring five essential ingredients of sport, not just for healthy living, but also as a tool for spiritual well-being on the journey of faith.
The Starship Discovery Holiday Club! A complete five-day holiday club plan, which explores five characteristics of Peter - fisherman and disciple. It also introduces five qualities common to Christians today. Again, the material provides five 2 1/2 hour sessions.
Author: John Hardwick ISBN: 978 1 84101 433 3 RRP: £11.99
Author: John Hardwick ISBN: 978 184101 545 3 RRP: £8.99 Currently out of stock but available as a download from www.brfonline.org.uk/9781841016139Z
Bible Journeys Holiday Club
A five-day holiday club plan for small churches, which could equally be used as a series of one-off activity days. The material is ideal for welcoming children into the life of a rural church using minimal resources. All the ideas and insights are from a rural perspective and rooted in the particular challenges found in rural situations - although many of the circumstances encountered would equally apply in the urban context. Author: Eleanor Zuercher ISBN: 978 184101 808 9 RRP: £8.99
Junior Heroes! (PDF download) A five-day holiday club plan, focused on the lives of five children from the Bible who became junior heroes: Samuel; the boy in the story of the feeding of the 5,000; David; Naaman’s servant girl and King Josiah. Each had a strong faith in God and made a real difference in the face of adversity. Each story also incorporates an aspect of the armour of God from Ephesians 6.
Author: John Hardwick ISBN: 978 184101 5842 Z RRP: £8.99 Available as a download from www.brfonline.org. uk/9781841015842Z
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Champions! (PDF Download)
We’re going on a Jungle Jamboree! (PDF Download)
Champions uses the analogy of the Olympic games to explore how Jesus ‘ran the race’ for God. The five Bible stories are taken from the life of Jesus in the Gospels and link into the memory verses, which all come from the Epistles.
See the Bible stories unfold before your very eyes and find out why the right track produces a great reward! There are jungle crafts to make, action songs to sing and jungle games to enjoy as you experience your very own Jungle Jamboree!
Author: John Hardwick ISBN: 978 184101 7754 Z RRP: £8.99 Available as a download from www.brfonline.org. uk/9781841017754Z
Author: John Hardwick ISBN: 978 184101 7747 Z RRP: £7.99 Available as a download from www.brfonline.org. uk/9781841017747Z
Waterlooville Baptist Church holiday club 2007
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From Scripture Union
Wastewatchers
Focuses on the themes of transformation and the environment. Explore the wonder of God’s creation! Think about how we should be looking after what God has made! For more information, see: www.scriptureunion.org.uk/ HolidayandMidweekClubs/Wastewatchers/119178.id
On Your Marks
A five-day holiday club, for 5 to 11s, especially suitable for children who are not yet part of a church community. It has a ‘Global Games’ sports theme and is based on significant events from the life of Jesus found in Mark’s Gospel. For more information, see: www.scriptureunion.org.uk/ HolidayandMidweekClubs/OnYourMarks/153591.id
Pyramid Rock
Travel up the Nile to encounter Joseph - who trusted God despite everything. For more information, see: www.scriptureunion. org.uk/HolidayandMidweekClubs/Olderholidayclubs/ PyramidRock/68788.id
Mission Rescue
Discover how God rescued the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, and how God continues to rescue people today through Jesus. For more information, see: www. scriptureunion.org.uk/HolidayandMidweekClubs/ MissionRescue/135490.id
Landlubbers
Landlubbers are pirates searching for hidden treasure on a desert island. They discover the greatest treasure of all - knowing Jesus. Based on Paul’s letters to the Philippians. For more information, see: www.scriptureunion.org.uk/ HolidayandMidweekClubs/Olderholidayclubs/ Landlubbers/68884.id
Rocky’s Plaice
Based around the character of Peter and the early church with a fish and chip restaurant setting! Find out more about Peter and how knowing Jesus changed his life, and how he and his friends started to change the world! For more information, see: www.scriptureunion.org. uk/HolidayandMidweekClubs/RockysPlaice/119168. id
Xpedition Force
Xplorers join the Xpedition up to the mountain for adventures and possible danger! Follows Jesus’ journey to the cross. For more information, see: www.scriptureunion.org. uk/HolidayandMidweekClubs/Olderholidayclubs/ XpeditionForce/68886.id
Showstoppers
Get ready to lift the curtain on the greatest show on earth – God’s great plan for salvation! For more information, see: www.scriptureunion.org.uk/ HolidayandMidweekClubs/Showstoppers/119166.id
Seaside Rock
Enjoy all the excitement of the beach and hear how Peter took up the challenge to follow Jesus. For more information, see: www. scriptureunion.org.uk/HolidayandMidweekClubs/ Olderholidayclubs/SeasideRock/75726.id
Champion’s Challenge
Focuses on the events from Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, and on sport. Find out what Jesus did for everyone and achieve your personal best! For more information, see: www. scriptureunion.org.uk/HolidayandMidweekClubs/ ChampionsChallenge/119176.id
Follow-up midweek club material is also available for many of these Scripture Union holiday club resources.
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When we start to put together each edition of missionscene, we do so around a theme and with an eye to keeping everyone informed of mission ideas and events. This time we did so around the theme of holidays and I hope you have found much to be encouraged by in it. Another key topic that has come to the fore though in this publication, was of retreat and prayer. There is a national season of prayer at the moment with so many prayer initiatives. From the wave of prayer following the Torch Relay with More than Gold, to the HOPE Weekend of Prayer with churches praying together at the end of the Olympics on the weekend of 8-9 September (see page 14 for more details). Then, on 29 September it is hoped that 80,000 Christians will gather at Wembley for a day of worship and prayer; for more details see www.gdoplondon.com. So will you be a part of this season of prayer? It could be dangerous, but we cannot do mission in our own strength. Ian Bunce BUGB Mission Department
A life-changing experience. Youth strengthened . . . encouraged . . . emboldened
Meet, fellowship & worship with Baptist youth from around the world.
Singapore 17-21 July 2013 Baptist World Alliance www.bwanet.org 38
We are working on a package for groups attending the conference. If your group is interested in finding out more, contact mission@baptist.org.uk
Fellowship of Baptists in Britain and Ireland Baptist Union of Scotland Alan Donaldson 0141 423 6169 alan@scottishbaptist.org.uk Scottish Baptist College Principal - Jim Gordon 0141 848 3988 scottishbaptistcollege@uws.ac.uk
1 Shetland Islands
1
Northern John Singleton 2 01642 655551 johnsingleton@thenba.org.uk
1
North Western Sandra Crawford 01942 221595 sandra@nwba.org.uk
3
Northern Community Learning Network
Glen Marshall 0161 249 2520 glen.marshall@bigfoot.com Yorkshire Jane Day 0113 278 4954 jane.day@yba.org.uk
3 2 4 4
3
Baptist Union of Wales Marc Owen 5 01267 245660 marc@bedyddwyrcymru.co.uk
7
Y Coleg Gwyn (North Wales Baptist College) Elfryn Jones 5 01248 362608 coleg-gwyn@hotmail.co.uk
7
South Wales Andy Hughes 029 2049 1366
8
andy@southwalesbaptistassociation.org.uk
Bristol Baptist College Principal - Stephen Finamore 0117 946 7050 admin@bristol-baptist.ac.uk
9
9
11
richard.lewis@easternbaptist.org.uk
12 14
13
15
Channel Islands
London David Shosanya 0208 543 6447
12
Spurgeon’s Baptist College Roger Standing 12 020 8653 0850 ex228 r.standing@spurgeons.ac.uk South West Barbara Carpenter 01823 490195
13
barbara@heurisco.globalnet.co.uk
Central Helen Wordsworth 10 01788 817292 rev.h@rhwordsworth.plus.com Eastern Richard Lewis 01842 754953
9
Peter Dunn (Director for Mission) 01235 517648 pdunn@bmsworldmission.org
david.shosanya@londonbaptist.org.uk
South Wales Baptist College Principal - Peter Stevenson 8 029 2025 6066 pks@swbc.org.uk West of England Alisdair Longwill 01453 883308 awlongwill@googlemail.com
11 10
8
Heart of England Adrian Argile 6 0121 472 4986 adrian.argile@blueyonder.co.uk East Midland Mike Fegredo 07972 350242 mfegredo.emba@gmail.com
6
5
Southern Counties Colin Norris 07725 039943 c.norris@scba.org.uk Regent’s Park Baptist College Nick Wood 01865 288129 nicholas.wood@regents.ox.ac.uk South Eastern Stuart Davison 01444 253163 stuart@seba-baptist.org.uk
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Mat Wilson (IMC Team Leader) 0121 683 7948
mwilson@bmsworldmission.org
www.bmsworldmission.org Irish Baptist Networks Stephen Adams stephen.adams@ibnetworks.org www.ibnetworks.org
14
14
BUGB Mission Department Ian Bunce 01235 517716 mission@baptist.org.uk
15 June 2012