News from the Networks

 

East Kent network

Queens Road Baptist Church

Queens Road, BROADSTAIRS, CT10 1NU
01843-861055
www.broadstairsbaptist.org.uk    Email 
Ministers: Revd Stephen Cave, Revd Samuel Hearle & Revd Rhodri Walters

News:

• Not just one building project but two! - We are all getting very excited as we begin to see the re-development taking shape and are looking forward to the day when we can return to Queens Road and continue to share life and faith with the wider community. However we are becoming increasingly aware that two parallel building projects are taking place side by side. The one costing £1.7m, challenging enough, and taking place on the old site: the other costing everything, even more challenging, and taking place in our lives. God is re-shaping us as His people so that when the day comes to return to Queens Road we will be ready to serve His Kingdom purposes. That’s why this year of transition and change continues to be so important for us.  
• Holiday Club – 2010 - A recycled holiday club will be running from Tuesday 27th to Friday 30th July. Already well over 50 children have signed up, many of them from Messy church families. On the Thursday we will be hosting a family banquet at the manse. Marques will be erected and families will eat together. Alongside this people from the church are involved with the newly launched Thanet Kids Klub at the Marlow Academy, Ramsgate so lots of exciting things happening with families.

Please pray for:

• For the building project that everything with run smoothly for our neighbours who are being very patient with us
• For us as a community that we will be re-shaped by the presence of God’s Spirit among and within us
• For the banquet that it might reflect something of the great Kingdom banquet Jesus so often talked about

 

East Sussex network

Rye Baptist Church

28 Cinque Port Street, RYE, TN31 7AN
01424-883194
www.ryebaptistchurch.co.uk    Email 
Minister: Revd Andrew Flack

News:

•  This year we are giving God thanks as we celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the opening of our present building.  The fellowship itself has been in existence since 1750, and from the 1760s to 1910 met in premises bought from the Quakers in historic Mermaid Street.   On the Saturday of the Anniversary weekend we had a family craft day & exhibition and on the Sunday, a thanksgiving service led by Geoff Colmer, a former minister and attended by the Mayor.  Local press coverage was good.  On Sunday, August 1st, the present owner of the original Mermaid Street premises (now a high-class hotel) has invited us to an afternoon tea – keeping up the “foodie” tradition of Rye Baptists!
• We also give thanks for recently receiving three people into membership and currently looking forward to baptising and receiving three more at the end of August.

Please pray for:

•  For the various “crossing places” we have (e.g. The Toddler group, Market Day Coffee Morning, “Wise-up” girls group).  They are prospering – pray that we can see some “cross-overs”.
• For the vision and plans to remodel and refurbish the downstairs halls (kitchen already done) particularly with regard to access for the disabled.  God has given us initial encouragement – pray for progress.
• For the leadership that they will be able to discern God's leading in many areas in what we believe will be a significant time in the church's life.
  

Gatwick network

more information next month!

 

Guildford network

Addlestone Baptist Church

5 Crouch Oak Lane, ADDLESTONE, Surrey, KT15 2AN
01932 855852
www.addlestonebaptist.org.uk
Minister: Revd Ben Fortescue

News:

• Our minister, Ben Fortescue, has now been with us for six months following a year long interegnum. And while some aspects of church life have continued as before, other areas have seen significant changes. Throughout all these developments God has been calling us together and uniting us in common purpose and common life.
• As part of our outward focus we continue to provide Saturday lunches to around 30 elderley folk in the local community; and have recently launched the Addlestone Community Gospel Choir, aimed at reaching out to people of all generations and backgrounds.
  

Please pray for:

• Unity and humility. As we begin to step out in faith into different areas of church and community life please pray that both the leadership and the fellowship as a whole remain united and empassioned.
• Our finances, as we seek to come off our Home Mission grant and begin to support other churches through Home Mission giving.
• Addlestone town. While we recognise God blessing our fellowship in many ways, we are still conscious that there are 16,000 people in Addlestone; most of whom do not know Jesus yet.
   

Mid Sussex network

Oasis Christian Fellowship

Hangleton Way, HOVE, BN3 8EQ
01273-411116
www.oasischristianfellowship.org.uk   Email  
Minister: Revd Andrew Edwards

News:

• "For the third year running, (20-23 July) we have worked in partnership with Holland Road Baptist Church as part of our Hope 2010 Community Action project.This has included a range of  gardening and painting & decorating work for people needing some practical help. It has been a great opportunity to put the gospel into action and to share the hope we have in word and action. Later this week, we begin a children's club spread over three mornings, in partnership with Kidz Klub, Brighton & Hove. We are also excited by the fact that we have a number of young people from our youth club coming on a Christian camp at the end of August. These are not 'church children' so this represents a significant step forward in our youth work."

Please pray for:

• Pray for lives to be touched and changed as a result of our summer mission.
• Pray for the gospel to transform the lives of the young people attending the Christian camp in August.
• Pray as we re-organise our youth work from September, to include Youth Alpha for the very first time.
   

North Kent network

Frindsbury Baptist Church

Cooling Road, STROOD, ME2 4RG
01634-712172
www.fbc.eu.com
Minister: Revd Barry Dobell

News:

• We are hosting a joint service with the local Methodist Church on the evening of the 22nd July. This is part of an on-going programme of shared services between our two congregations, they host us on 29th August.
• There are a number of new building developments beginning in the area, including one next door to the church. Although these will cause some disruption we look at them as evangelism opportunities.
  

Please pray for:

• For all the young people who attend our activities each week and for all the older church folk who support them.
• For our Holiday Club 25th-29th July and the family service that follows 1st August.
• For our church finances as we, and many others, struggle in the financial squeeze.
  

 

South Kent network

Cheriton Baptist Church

Quested Road, FOLKESTONE, CT19 4BY
01303-278717
www.cheritonbaptist.co.uk   Email 
Minister: Revd Dave Baxter

News:

• We have been out of our building for a number of months due to major refurbishment work.  We return to the main part at the end of July and the hall/offices in October.

• We thank God for His provision in so many ways at this time, especially financially and in being blessed with temporary accommodation.
  

Please pray for:

• That CBC continues to be salt in our community.

• For wisdom and boldness as we continue to connect with our community.

• That links/relationships with the Nepali community in the area will continue to grow and strengthen.

 

Tonbridge network

more information next month!

 

West Sussex network

Bognor Regis Baptist Church

73 Victoria Drive, BOGNOR REGIS, PO21 2TD
01243-821891
www.opengate.org.uk    Email 
Minister: Revd Graham Banks

News:

• 11 people have recently been baptised. Two of these were baptised last week in the sea at an outreach event entitled "Where's the Party?" About 150 of our church members and their friends and family took over a local cafe sited on the pebbles on the beach for a time of fellowship with live music and baptisms
• We thank God for the way in which he is enabling further links into our local community. Recent links have been made via the establishment of Arun Angels (a joint church Street pastors initiative) started after a request for help from the local police, an invitation to lead regular services in a local nursing home and an invitation for our minister to help establish a local Neighbourhood Agreement
  

Please pray for:

• Our Church Holiday club Bill and Bodge the builders takes (took) place from 27th - 30th July. Over 100 children, many from non Christian families, took part. The church has a pre school and 3 Toddler groups that are mainly attended by families who do not come to church regularly. Pray that our outreach to these families is effective.
• In September we will be starting a period of teaching called Church:Rebooted that has been written by members of our leadership team and will be delivered by Sunday talks and home group discussions. Pray that people will catch the vision and be refreshed
• For our leadership team as they seek God's wisdom about God's vision and future plans for the Church