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A Grand Object

I have recently been reading ‘Bibles in Barrels’ a book written by Doris Witard telling the early days of the Baptist story in Essex. One chapter recounts the formation of what would become the Essex Baptist Association…

“On the 20th September, 1796, the ministers and messengers of eight Essex churches gathered at Braintree, where the Rev. John Hornblow had been pastor for seventeen years. They came from Colchester, Coggeshall, Earls Colne, Langham, Ridgewell, Potter Street and Waltham Abbey. Promises of support were received from churches at Harlow, Saffron Walden and Burnham; and Haverhill, just over the Suffolk border, also expressed its interest. The meeting was convened by the Rev. Thomas Steevens, of Colchester, for the purpose of forming an Association of Essex churches. Dr. Whitley has pointed out that “This was the first Association organised expressly for Home Mission work. Its grand object was not to tabulate figures nor have a summer picnic in the intervals of sermons, but to spread the gospel in the different towns and villages of the county…”” [1]

The first action of the Association was to appoint a young itinerant preacher by the name of James Pilkingon.  Pilkington responded to God’s call to start a work at Rayleigh “as the place was in a wretched state of ungodliness”. In May 1800, the Essex Association welcomed Rayleigh Baptist Church as the first church to be formed as a result of its ‘Home Mission Enterprise’.

Now you may call me a boring geek (and I am sure that some do!) but I find these kinds of stories inspirational. Stories of ordinary men and women, inspired and equipped by God, encouraging and supporting one another to share the Good News of Jesus Christ in the places that he led them to.

Of course, alongside the success stories, our church family history has its share of challenges, disappointments, and disagreements. Just as today we still face challenges, disappointments, and disagreements.

But still our Gracious God continues to inspire and equip us to share the Good News of Jesus Christ in the places that he leads us to. Perhaps you would join me in praying that, across the four counties of our Eastern Baptist Association and wider church family, our story may continue to be one of encouraging and supporting one another in that unchanging ‘grand object’.

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.  Hebrews 10:24-25

This weeks thought was written by Adrian Ward, Minister at South Woodham Evangelical Church and EBA Trustee.

[1] Doris Witard, Bibles in Barrels, The Essex Baptist Association, 1962, p52-53

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