News from around the Eastern region…
Ricky Rew Induction at Rayleigh as Minister – Children and Youth.
Emma Hunnable Ordination as a Nationally Recognised Minister at Woodham Ferrers.
Beth Powney Induction as Regional Minister Team Leader for the Eastern Baptist Association.
Mark Massey Induction at Frinton Free as Senior Minister.
Sally Sago Induction as Minister in Training at King Street, Thetford.
Peter Pilavachi Ordination and Induction as pastor at Theydon Bois.
Dave Ward Induction as Associate Minister at Dereham.
57 West jointly with Clarence Road Baptist Church is the Project 2017 church for the southern sector. The building works are going well as 57 West prepares to move into half of Clarence Road Baptist Church’s building in mid-October. We are especially thrilled about the new kitchen being installed, as this will enable us to serve many meals and warm drinks for rough sleepers in central Southend. Thanks to all those helping make this dream a reality!
Churches are reminded to make contributions to this year’s Home Mission appeal before 27th December. At the moment year-to date giving is running slightly behind the same time last year, so we hope there will be a surge in donations in the last quarter.
Home Mission grants for 2018 have been awarded to the following churches: Beacon Community Church; Barnwell Baptist Church, Bures Baptist Church; Winter Gardens Baptist Church, Christchurch Coggeshall; New Growth Ministries; Parson’s Heath Baptist Church; Park Baptist Church; Gunton Baptist Church; Nansen Road Baptist Church; Light of Life Baptist Church; Church 1v23; Church From Scratch; 57 West; Thaxted Baptist Church; Fulmerston Community Church; King Street Baptist Church.
At the September meeting of EBA Council there was ongoing concern over our long-term financial shortfall, but encouragement about the range of potential opportunities and initiatives that will help shape the development of an exciting new vision and way forward. Council will take some time to consider ways in which we can raise the profile of Home Mission within our churches. This will be the main topic for the next EBA Council meeting in November.
Council also heard from the Regional ministers and what they had been involved with over the last couple of months with a highlight from Simon who had been invited to take part in a Baptism service something that is rare for a Regional Minister.
We’ve launched an updated look for the EBA with a new logo and corporate housestyle first introduced in September. There is also a brand new EBA website at www.easternbaptist.org.uk (which you’re on). Please let us have any comments and thoughts.
Please pray for all affected by imprisonment during Prisons Week 8th-15th October 2017. Prison chaplains in the Eastern Region are Revd Peter Campbell, HMP Highpoint; Revd Alexander Love, HMP Highpoint; and Revd Bob Wilson Faith Advisor for Prison Chaplaincy.
Bob writes: In 1993 when an enthusiastic member of my church announced, “a door has opened for effective ministry in prison”, I couldn’t have been more encouraging – for them to go! Over twenty years later I have spent a considerable part of my life and ministry working in various establishments of incarceration in varied roles and have found, rather oddly that this is where I feel most at home!
Working in Prison Chaplaincy can be both an immensely rewarding and frustrating experience. It combines traditional church ministry as many would understand: leading worship; running bible studies; preaching and teaching; baptising new believers; offering pastoral care, along with the radical cross- cultural opportunity of ministering in a unique institutional environment. In the East of England we have Prison Chaplains from the Baptist Union working in Highpoint, Wayland and Peterborough prisons.
This year Prisons Week is focusing on the theme of #PressOn. In the challenging environment that is prison, Prison Chaplains offer hope that life can and does change. They offer unconditional care, support, and love wherever and with whoever they work. Please pray for them that they would indeed #PressOn.
The EBA is committed to offering the Baptists Together Excellence in Safeguarding training to its member churches and has run various sessions across the Association. We have a team of excellent volunteer trainers who are all knowledgeable and experienced in safeguarding issues. During 2017 we have been to 14 different locations and trained 888 individuals at Level 2 and 427 individuals at Level 3. The training has always been well received and appreciated by those who have attended, who leave with the desire to implement positive changes within their own local settings. More dates going forward into 2018 are currently being arranged and will be advertised on this, the EBA website when they are confirmed.
24th April 2020
17th October 2019
22nd January 2018
