Connect January

Connect Next Generation ministries The Baptist Union of Scotland is looking for a new development coordinator with a strategic focus to encourage and develop a new generation of young leaders in our churches.

Resolve “How do I become the better version of myself?” is the question behind many of the New Year’s resolutions being made.

January 2017

Resolve “How do I become the better version of myself?” is the question behind many of the New Year’s resolutions being made. Gym membership will be taken out, dance classes signed up to by couples realising they need to do more together, diets will be started. As a nation we will resolve to get fitter, healthier, more loving, and our intentions are sincere.

Within churches, people will resolve to read the entire Bible in a year, (I’ve set out to do it several times and managed it once), to grow in their discipleship, to pray more, to give more, to increase their witness, in summary to demonstrate in a clear way that Jesus is their Lord. Like those on a diet, temptation will come quickly to rob us of our best intentions. Our time, money and focus will be stretched and something will have to give.

What will it be?

In Acts 3 and 4 we read the story where Peter and John heal a man who is looking for some money to feed himself. They boldly state that healing comes in Jesus’ name and unsurprisingly, the crowd who gather to witness the miracle are curious to find out more. The controllers of the public space, who police what is deemed polite to talk about, recognise that their act of kindness, the miracle of healing cannot be denied but that they must not speak about Jesus. They declare that they can do no such thing and then return to the church for worship, prayer, teaching and refreshing to restore their resolve.

There are many who are happy for us to serve the nation of Scotland, to spend our time demonstrating the power of God in acts of kindness, generosity and in the outworking of his miraculous power but they would also seek to police the spaces and conversations where these acts are carried out. May we strengthen our resolve to not only serve in the name of Jesus but to speak out his name and his truth as the one who can truly help people “become the better version of myself.”

Rev Alan Donaldson

General Director

Broughty Ferry We are thankful for the Resource Grant which has helped to fund our part-time Children and Families Worker (Claire) for a second year. We run a range of activities such as Toddler groups, Craft Club, Boogie Babies and Messy Church between our two venues in Broughty Ferry.

Our activities provide a service to the community by offering something that people enjoy attending but they also give the church an excellent opportunity to connect with many people who would not otherwise be in church. As we learn about their situations we can offer to pray or offer practical support. It was encouraging to hear one mum with no church connection attribute the sense of comfort she felt in a difficult time to the fact that she was being prayed for. We’ve also seen a number of families join us for Christmas services and a few came to the baptismal service of a church mum.

At Messy Church we have a core of families who regularly join us but don’t attend church elsewhere. As we learn about God through the Bible stories and worship together, we pray that the families will come to know Jesus personally. Messy Church requires a big team of volunteers and we’re thankful that God has provided enough helpers each month.

A recent Carol service held by Broughty Ferry

Claire attended Care for the Family training for their Let’s Stick Together course last year. This involves giving a short presentation to parents to help keep relationships strong, particularly through the stressful early years of parenthood. After a positive trial run, we hope for more opportunities to present this.

Looking back on the first two years, spiritual progress can seem slow.

However as we continue to serve and build relationships with families, we are encouraged to see signs of people moving forward in their journey to know God.

Rev Dr Brian Talbot

Next Generation ministries The Baptist Union of Scotland is looking for a new development coordinator with a strategic focus to encourage and develop a new generation of young leaders in our churches.

Working alongside individual churches and by networking others together, this person will seek to develop young adults who will be committed to serving Christ in the local church and who will be committed to living missionally in their communities and networks. The coordinator will also work with existing church leaders in areas such as welcoming, releasing and supporting young people in Christian service.

We would invite you to join us in prayer for the month of January as we begin to look for an inspirational leader who can bring people together, enthuse, train and see released a new generation. In order for the successful candidate to have the greatest opportunity to establish a fresh approach, we have decided to cancel Step Out and Sports Day for 2017. Existing Step Out team members will be invited to participate in a mission week in one of our churches alongside a volunteer team leader during this summer. This decision was made after consultation with many of our key youth workers who have each played a significant role in these activities over the years.

With the successful candidate expected to start in June, this will allow them to approach the new role from a fresh perspective.

Application packs for this ministry will be available online and by email from the 8th of January. director@scottishbaptist.org.uk

Abbeyhill Baptist Church

Praise: Give thanks for the recent events we have held to reach out to families in our area such as our Light Party at Halloween and our Stable Trail at Christmas. It has been great to see new faces.

Many of them have no other church connection.

Prayer: We would dearly love to see those who come along to these outreach events (and other church-run activities such as our Parents and Toddler groups) come to faith in Christ. Pray that we as a church would be wise in the way we act towards outsiders: making the most of every opportunity to share the Gospel (Col 4:5).

Alloa Baptist Church Give thanks for a recent baptism and the admission of two new members.

Give thanks for those who continue to serve the church faithfully in a number of capacities.

Praise God for the start of a fortnightly lunch club to encourage fellowship through the week.

Please pray for the Alpha Course starting in the latter part of January.

Pray too for an ageing congregation with the health problems that result. Remember the small number of young people and pray that others might join them.

Marylee Anderson (Chaplain, Aberdeen University) As a chaplaincy team we continue to praise God for the many university staff and students who we support and are encouraged in how we see God move in their lives.

However there are many more who never find their way to us. Please pray that God will create more opportunities for us to meet with those within the University of Aberdeen community who need our support. Please also pray for the upcoming ‘retreat in daily life’ which is an opportunity for staff and students to explore faith with a prayer guide.

Prayer Link January January 1st

• Abbeyhill Baptist Church • Aberdeen Christian Fellowship • Adelaide Place Baptist Church

January 8th

• Airdrie Baptist Church • Alexandria Baptist Church • Alloa Baptist Church

January 15th

• Marylee Anderson (Chaplain, Aberdeen University) • Alness Baptist Church • Alva Baptist Church • Ardbeg (Rothesay) Baptist Church

January 22th

• Graham Bell (Chaplain, HMP Glenochil) • Arran Baptist Church • Ayr Baptist Church

January 29th

• Nick Blair (Chaplain, Merchiston Castle School) • Bathgate Baptist Church • Bearsden Baptist Church • Bellshill Baptist Church

Aberdeen Christian Fellowship We are thanking the Lord for continued growth of the church. We are encouraged by the number of folk who are making first time decisions and others who are growing in Christian maturity. We also thank the Lord for the large number of those attending our church (75% of attendants) who are engaged in ministry at ACF. Please pray for the many events this Christmas that they will be opportunities for evangelism.

Please also pray for our ‘Lethen Outreach’.

There has been a stirring in our church to reach out to those in Portlethen and the surrounding villages. We are praying that this will be the beginnings of what will be a church plant in the area within the next 3 years.

Bearsden Baptist Church Give thanks for our enlarged staff team that has brought Mairi Nasr to join us as our Family and Children’s Worker and John Burns as our Youth Pastor, as well as Michael Yeoman being appointed as our Worship Coordinator. We are also grateful for the number of young families that have come to join us in the past year of so and our new Bearsden Barista cafe which is open to the community very Wednesday afternoon.

Please pray for us as we explore how we can develop our site and building in ways that will benefit the church and the community, and as we consider re-energising our small group structure in the coming year as an aid to discipleship. Please pray also for our small leadership team and our staff team for ongoing vision, unity and energy. Pray that God will help us to keep Jesus at the heart of all we do.

Ayr Baptist Church We give thanks for continued ministries both internal & external, reaching out & reaching in. Please join us in prayer as we seek to build on ministry over the recent Christmas period. We are very blessed with so many community people of all ages continuing to use our facilities through the week. Some of these are through ministries we run whilst others are using the facilities for their own purposes. Please pray that they will sense something of Jesus love but also that we will be guided and enabled to reach them directly with ‘Good News’ as appropriate. We also give thanks for a renewed burden for prayer amongst some in our congregation with our weekly midweek prayer and bible study gathering being particularly appreciated.

Our links with a health organization called ‘ABC Albania’ continue to grow and we look forward to rolling out more support opportunities in 2017 that will help them share Jesus’ love practically. Overall, may God be glorified thro the praising of His people here and the preaching of His word.

Ardbeg (Rothesay) Baptist Church We are grateful to God for the students from the College, the SBLPA and to local ministers who have faithfully preached God’s word during this time of vacancy.

We have been greatly blessed and they have been a wonderful support to the fellowship.

Please pray that God will grant us wisdom and patience as we seek a new pastor.

Please also pray that the warmth and unity of the fellowship will be strengthened and will encourage folks who attend various events in the Church to want to know our Lord and Saviour.

Bathgate Baptist Church While we praise God for the safe arrival of 4 babies in Spring 2016, this has meant adjustments and experiments in our times and styles of meetings. We need to balance provision for young families, the needs and opportunities of the rapidly expanding towns of both Bathgate and Armadale, our youth work, input into 3 local High Schools as well as our youth club! To be effective this can no longer be sustained by a part-time ministry.

While we rejoice in a baptism and two new members, we regret the loss of 3 members who have moved out of the district, and pastor Harry remains the only member over the age of 40! Please pray that the Lord would add to us mature Christians as well as new converts.

Bellshill Baptist Church Give thanks for: Our newly renovated roof, and the generosity that meant 75% of costs came as gifts. For the encouragement of seeing God speaking his grace into lives, and bringing change Please pray for: Family services over Christmas and the New Year, and our holiday club - that God will bring in the children, and their parents. The new year 7-week ‘Empowered Course’ after Morning Worship, to help equip us better for personal witness. That God’s voice will continue to be heard address us in Worship, and the ministry. and bring life to us, and glory to him.

Airdrie Baptist Church Please give thanks for those who have been baptised recently and those preparing for baptism and membership early in the new year. Give thanks for Ross’s improving health and for the sense of expectation and anticipation as we prepare for a new year.

Please pray for clear leading from the Lord as we look to appoint a part-time youth pastor. Please ask that we would grow in our love for the Lord and our desire to live consistent Christian lives to his glory.

Alness Baptist Church Give thanks for our new Pastor Rev. Robert Adair and his wife Gemma pray as they continue to settle here in Alness, and Give thanks for the sense that God is moving to do something within this community and town for His Glory.

Please pray as we seek to know God more and as we seek to serve the Community in His Name within the coming year.

Pray for our fellowship as we build meaningful relationships within the town, and as we seek Gods discernment for the year ahead, that in all we do, we would do it to advance His kingdom here on earth.

Alexandria Baptist Church Pray that more individuals will be drawn towards helping us to do God’s work here.

We have seen God provide help before and we pray in faith that He will do so again.

Please uphold our midweek Bible Study and discussion times. Please remember those spiritually needy folks that we are in contact with locally.

Arran Baptist Church Give thanks for the increased numbers attending our Sunday service and for Lunchbox our fortnightly outreach into the community. We are grateful to God as we see a growing ministry to visitors to the island.

Please pray that our fellowship continues to be a place where they feel welcomed and encouraged.

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