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700 young people gather in Stirling for Powerpoint+
July 2018
Gathering Together in St Andrews About 80 people gathered in St Andrews last month for our annual ministers’ conference. I’m delighted that so many churches encourage and support their ministers to attend this event. It is extremely valuable in at least three ways: Firstly, it is an opportunity for inspiring Bibleteaching. To be on the receiving end of this is a great gift to those who spend most weeks of the year preparing and presenting teaching for others. This year as Ian Coffey explored Philippians with a focus on leadership, the Holy Spirit made many connections into our daily experience of following Jesus and serving his church. Secondly, it is a place for learning from one another. A great store of knowledge and wisdom is embedded in the community of ministers, who together represent literally hundreds of years of experience. So exploring together issues such as communal discernment, conflict resolution and developing young leaders, enabled the sharing of significant wisdom from this communal well of practice. Ian Coffey, Vice-Principal
Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, the (strategy), Moorlands Bible conference is simply a space to be together – College connecting with colleagues, worshipping together and praying for one another. Although ministers are all rooted in local churches and many serve in leadership teams, there is a unique value in brothers and sisters who share this pastoral calling in our churches gathering together en masse from time to time. For us it is part of what it means to devote ourselves to the fellowship (Acts 2.42).
Gathering to serve the community and share Jesus Pollok Baptist Church are in exciting days… integrating into their local community. What does that look like? It’s busy… Getting to know local community leaders led to an invite to a meeting of residents forming to care for their local environment. We offered our building as a hub to gather in, set off from, return to and eat and barbecue together as a community during a litter-pick event. Church and local folks litter-picking together and hearing each other’s stories. All this additional to our weekly relational events. It’s messy… on two fronts… Firstly, a community of all faiths, ages, shapes, sizes and cultural backgrounds. Some gathered know Jesus only as a prophet, others as a swear word, some are curious and some definitely know Him as Saviour. Faith is shared - with a local councillor whose dad-in-law is dying in Pakistan. Prayer is offered - to a guy with a dodgy knee who now comes to our Sunday evening Christianity Explored cafe church. Secondly, relational mission in moments of vulnerability often cuts across how we usually do church: that can be very challenging indeed!!!! But, it’s fabby… For God is also sending other people we don’t even expect - and opening yet other doors. A food bank, community fridge, community cafe and throwing the odd summer BBQ! But it’s all relational as we minister to ‘whole’ people - with entry points to explore faith leaving room for God to work. It may cut across norms, but it’s worth it! Mark Bentham Dave Murray
700 young people gather in Stirling for Powerpoint+ On the 2nd of June 700 young people gathered in Stirling at the university sports fields for Powerpoint+. A year ago we had the idea of transitioning our sports day into more of a youth festival which included creative arts, music, worship and, of course, sports. It turned out that Powerpoint had the similar idea and indeed were looking to do something in Stirling around the same time. So we both felt the Lord was in this and joined forces to put on this event. Many young people from within our churches, including those from as far away as Selkirk and Peterhead, gathered on what was a stunningly sunny day! The predicted weather was not great, with thunder and lightning predicted but thankfully we had nothing but sunshine all day. The day began with everyone gathered for the first Powerpoint main stage event. We even had the ‘keepy uppy’ world record holder Daniel Cutler stop off to give his testimony stopping on his way to Russia where he will be doing demonstrations throughout the World Cup. Then it was an afternoon of creative arts sessions, sports run by Christians in Sport, seminars around worship, mission and justice and of course, the inflatables and cage football for those who just wanted to have a bit of fun. Then disaster struck, there were a number of rolls of thunder and the potential for lightning strikes meant we had to shut down all the technical equipment. Not to be defeated we went for a final session in the open air with acoustic guitars and unaccompanied singing.
It was a deeply significant time for many of the young people who seemed to enjoy the novelty of a stripped back approach to worship. Many young people found the open-air session to be the highlight of the whole event. If you would like to find out more from a young person’s perspective then check out our Instagram account to watch our story of the day. https:// www.instagram.com/busyounger/ There are literally hundreds of people to thank for the day, but I’d especially like to thank our amazing team of young leaders made up of young folk from many of our churches who served the whole event brilliantly. Here are a few more photos to give you a flavour of the day.
Karl Martin stretching his vocal chords
Christians In Sport getting the games going.
Prayer Link July Hillhead BC - For praise: the baptisms of five friends (four Iranian and one Cuban) in May, and gratitude to Adelaide Place who hosted us; the flourishing of our increasingly international congregation and Sunday School/Bible Class; typically on a Sunday, a dozen or more ‘heart languages’ are spoken alongside English. For prayer: for our Trustees who work tirelessly to fulfil the spiritual, legal and charitable needs of the church; for wisdom and discernment as we respond to exciting opportunities for ministry and mission in the Hillhead area.
Jousting action on the inflatables.
High Blantyre BC – Give thanks for the good relationships we have with other congregations in Blantyre and the joint services we take part in - the joint and united witness to Christ matters here. We give thanks that our church is part of the community here and for the open door into local schools and our warm relationships with many local groups. Pray for our Scripture Union and School involvement, our Ladies’ meeting, our Men’s breakfasts, our mid-week and Sunday meetings. Pray for God’s provision: we are unable to maintain a full stipend and sometimes struggle for resources. Pray for our Pastor: partnering once a week with ‘Christian Values in Education’ to lead a National Initiative on School Chaplaincy.
Prayer Link July July 1st
• Frances Bloomfield (Convenor, BUS) • Gerrard Street Baptist Church • Glenrothes Baptist Church • Gourock Baptist Church
July 8th
• Peter Dick (Finance Director) • Granton Baptist Church • Grantown-on-Spey Baptist Church • Greenock Baptist Church
July 15th
• Alan Donaldson (General Director) • Hamilton Baptist Church • Harestanes Baptist Church
July 22nd
• Martin Hodson (Ministry Development • Coordinator) • Hawick Baptist Church • Helensburgh Baptist Church
July 29th
• Ali Laing (Next Generation Development • Coordinator) • High Blantyre Baptist Church • Hillhead Baptist Church • Hillview Community Church Martin Hodson (Ministry Development Coordinator) – Please pray for wisdom to help fellow ministers grow in devotion, joy and skill as they fulfill their calling in our churches. For the learning communities, the pre-accredited ministers’ retreat day and the CMD workshops taking place in the autumn. For the Board of Ministry as we prepare to meet three candidates in August.
Frances Bloomfield (Convenor, BUS) – Please pray for further understanding of the law and good practice concerning Data Protection; insight into how BUS can smoothly transition into incorporation and wisdom in carrying out my duties around convening meetings for BUS. Gerrard Street BC - Give thanks to God for the nearly completed “East Phase” of our building project. Please pray that it will be a place of salvation. Give thanks to God for the gentle touch of his Holy Spirit among us. Please pray for more and that we would experience God’s powerfully supernatural working among us. Give thanks to God for the effectiveness of our local outreach especially our new congregation: “Cafe Church”. Please pray for salvation and baptisms from the area around our church building and from the wider community of Aberdeen. Gourock BC - Please pray that our work in the community continues to extend; for major works on our building soon to commence (disabled access and facilities); that our slow but relatively steady growth continues; for those seriously ill in our congregation, that the Lord will grant healing, grace, and wisdom. Please give thanks for the financial generosity of the churches in our Union, other organisations, and individuals who have given so selflessly to our disabled access fund. We have been overwhelmed and undoubtedly humbled by the way our Lord has motivated His people to express their love and support in such a practical way. For the many blessings received in our work with Gourock’s churches and schools both denominational and non-denominational.
Granton BC - We have been encouraged in recent days by new people coming and being part of the family here at Granton. We are truly international these days with people from lots of different parts of the world worshipping with us. We would value your prayers as we have many people in the fellowship unwell at this time and we pray for God’s hand of healing into their lives and particular situations. Harestanes BC – Give thanks for our new “Parent & Toddlers” group attended almost exclusively by “unchurched” parents, children & indeed grandparents. Interesting contacts being made. We praise God for new members welcomed into fellowship in recent months. We praise God for a thriving weekly “After school kid’s club”. We have 30 kids on our register. I would want to thank God for the faithful team who run the club. Thank God for the loyalty and commitment of our humble church family at Harestanes Baptist Church. Please pray for God’s continuing strengthening upon our very hard working congregation. Alan Donaldson (General Director) – Ruth and I are encouraged by the opportunities we have had to travel together over the last year to a variety of Baptist Churches and to see for ourselves the work God is doing in the nation. Please continue to pray for safety as we travel. Pray also that we may be a challenge and encouragement to the churches, ministers and their spouses who we engage with in conversation and prayer. Pray for my engagement beyond our own family of churches that it will have the prophetic edge many of our baptist forefathers displayed in times of challenge.
Hamilton BC - At Hamilton we would like to give thanks for the way our youth pastor Jonathan Davie and his wife have settled in to the life of the church. It has been so encouraging to see the way that our youth work has already grown and developed. We have also been blessed with new people attending the church, with a number of them coming from different ethnic backgrounds. This has greatly enriched our church life. Pray that we will grow increasingly effective in reaching our local community through acts of service inspired by Christ’s love. Peter Dick (Finance Director) - Please pray for continued wisdom and grace to oversee the BUS finances, prepare the transition to a charitable company, and support churches through grants, loans, and appropriate advice.
Ali Laing (Next Generation Development Coordinator) – Please pray for Soul Survivor - 1500 teenagers gathering at Lendrick Muir for 5 days of worship, fun, teaching and for many coming to know Jesus for the first time! Preparations for the Onelife young leaders’ conference at Queens Park in September. Preparations for our first interns arriving in late August. Practical changes to the office to make space for younger leaders being around. Prayer for all those leading missions and clubs through the summer holidays. Give thanks for the 700 young people who gathered in Stirling in June at PPT+. Give thanks for the 10 churches participating in the Youth Learning Community.
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