News from the Networks 

 

East Kent network

The Baptist Church, St Peters (Broadstairs)

We continue to ask God to "Grow us, not to what was, but instead towards what we can become".  There is much to thank God for.  The church family continues to be faith-filled & courageous, seeking 1st the Kingdom of God, knowing that Jesus will build His church as He sees fit.  Prayer is the foundation (we've been praying together weekly with the other churches in St Peters for the past 9 years), & we don't do anything without linking up with another expression of the Kingdom.  A month ago we baptised three young men and are excited about the continued turning of people to Jesus.  We've just welcomed a bunch of new members, mostly from our 'organic gathering' & we are continuing to explore transitioning into a network of missional communities. We are just about to begin TeaClub+ (a bit like Messy Church for the over 60s) alongside the other churches in St Peters & are excited about seeing this demographic being reached for Jesus.

Give thanks for:

  • the God-given courage of a faith-filled congregation;
  • the continued and increasing willingness of church-congregations to work together;
  • those who have come to faith and those who are exploring faith.

Pray for:

  • ACTS (Active Christianity in Thanet Schools) - our schools-worker retired recently and we are exploring our next steps, which involves launching out into Secondary Schools.  Wisdom is needed as to what workers and ventures are needed to see God's Kingdom impact the lives of the young people in Thanet.
  • Wisdom & creativity for our leadership team. We've generously used-up our 'kitty' over the past seven years and may need to reimagine how we use the resources God has given us. 
  • God to transform our thinking about what 'church' looks like, so that we can be shaped as God wants us, for the sake of His Kingdom growing here in St Peters and beyond. 

East Sussex network

Beulah Baptist Church (Bexhill)

Beulah has a history of work with children and young people, and we are delighted that this continues. The following report was written by our family worker, Karline, for our most recent church members meeting which gives a good flavour of our weekly activities.

Beulah BC Zone
Photo: Zone group

Youth 
Firstly, we welcomed a brand-new Youth group for older young people (OYP’s group) to the Family Ministry with one of our elders as the facilitator. They meet during Sunday morning services. 
Our Zone group for Secondary school age children meet in the hall during the service and are also responsible for making sure the tables and chairs are put out for coffee time. 
The faith-based youth group, Ethos, meets every 1st and 3rd Sunday evening. 
We are excited to start a Youth Alpha group this year on the 2nd and 4th Sunday evening. This group will be for older young people, so College and above. (Update seven young people have attended over the weeks with 5 coming to the Holy Spirit Day last Saturday). 
Limitless Youth group on a Tuesday night continues to be a safe and relaxed space for the youngsters in our community. 

Beulah BC Sunday Club
Photo: Sunday club

Children
Sunday club and creche now meet as one group on a Sunday morning! This will be a trial period until Easter, but we pray that it will be an inclusive, welcoming space for all our Beulah children to learn more about their faith. 
Space club:  Space club continues to be a popular club for the children of our local Primary school. We currently have a waiting list of 6 children waiting for a place at Space.
Thank you for your continued support and prayer for the Family ministry of Beulah. Continue to pray for our teams please. 
Beulah Toddlers: This continues to flourish with over 40 parents / carers coming with their babies and toddlers each week.
Since the report was written our young people have enjoyed the first of a monthly get- together with the youth from nearby Battle Baptist. There were 45 altogether. This was hosted by Beulah, and they are looking forward to next month’s hosted by Battle. 
Three of our young people are to be baptised alongside two other members of the congregation during our Easter Sunday Service. 

Beulah BC Space (after school
Photo: Space (after-school club)

Prayer points

  • For our Pastor David as he prepares for his three-month Sabbatical beginning on Easter Monday. That he will be refreshed and envisioned and return with much to share with us all.  
  • For our family worker Karline – that she will continue to be supported in all she does and that others from the church will be willing to join the teams that work alongside her.
  • For the right person to be called to the currently vacant role of Assistant pastor.
  • That there will be an increase in convert growth across all age groups this year. 

Gatwick network

Redhill Baptist Church

Redhill BC paintingThe last few years have not been the easiest for the church. But having said that, there are many things for which we are very grateful to God.

When we lost our minister fifteen months ago, there was some hurt and unhappiness in the church, but we were grateful to SEBA for finding us an interim minister, Rev. Rob Stevens, who was ideally qualified to work with us at that time. He served us until February this year, when he moved to a permanent position in Dorking. Since then we have had Rev Jonathan Hardwick of Earlswood as our moderator and again we are grateful to God for him. We have recently registered with the Settlement process and look forward to seeing what the response will be.

Although we’ve lost a number of members during the last year, we’re encouraged to see new people coming in and a new sense of togetherness in the church. We have started some new things. Because we had lost some of our Sunday School leaders, we started to run café church for all ages once a month and the first one of these was very successful. We have our second on Easter Sunday. Eating together helps us to get to know one another so we have started sharing monthly meals, sometimes bring and share, baked potatoes with fillings, and Easter Sunday will be breakfast. Sunday evenings we have a monthly worship and waiting on God service called the Well, which is open for anyone to bring a word, tongue, prayer, Scripture or song.

Redhill BC Eco Church certific

We are an eco church and just recently received our Silver Award from A Rocha. We received our Bronze award some time ago and will now be working for our Gold award. The whole congregation gets involved in creation care and we have two creation care services, led by an enthusiastic team, each year. 

Redhill BC food club 1Redhill BC food club 2

Each week, except the week following Christmas, in partnership with our local council, we run a food club, providing fresh groceries for a minimal cost. This and a holiday lunch club for children who would have free school dinners in term time help us to look out and serve our local community.

While we praise God for signs of life as we go forward, we’d be grateful for your prayers for us as we seek God’s choice of minister to lead us through the next season of the life of our church. Thank you SEBA churches. God bless you all!


Mid Sussex network

Portslade Baptist Church

2024 will mark the 63rd  Anniversary of the present Chapel in South Street. However, the Church has existed in one form or another since 1870!  The Church originally met in the back room of a public house, The Clarence Assembly Room, in North Street, after being rented out by Rev. Charles Spurgeon. Spurgeon sent one of his students, Mr. E.A.Tydeman to preach at the very first meeting on 18th December, 1870. Since then, there have been 3 chapels, the first built in 1873 in Chapel Place, off North Street.  The Church quickly grew out of it's original chapel, and a new one was opened in 1892. This chapel was the home of Portslade Baptist until 1957. In 1957, the Church purchased the land to construct a new chapel in South Street Upper Portslade. This present chapel was opened on 25th March 1961. Over the 141 years since that very first meeting, the Church has changed a lot! Below is a list of Ministers of our Church

1870-1875: Mr. E.A.Tydeman & Rev. W. Townsend        
1875-1877: Rev. F. Harvey                                                 
1878-1888: Rev. S.G. Gamble                                           
1889-1893: Rev. J.O'Neill Campbell                                  
1839-1919: Rev. H.J. Dyer                                                    
1920-1929: Rev. George Burrett
1929-1934: Rev. A.E Johnson                                              
1934-1949: Rev. A.J. Phillips                                                
1950-1974: Rev. E.C.Hearsley Starling                               
1974-1979: Rev. Raymond J. Webber                                 
1980-1986: Rev. Gordon Steer                                             
1988-1994: Rev. Colin R.W Weller (Moderator)                 
1994- 2018: Rev. Phillip O. Cook     
2019 -           Rev. David M Meikle        

Portslade BC David & Cill

Since becoming the minister the church most are aware we were an older age group congregation like all churches Covid Restrictions affected our ministry for growth however we have now seen an increase of younger new members attending the church.

We have appointed six new deacons also a life time deacon and a new Elder for which we give thanks to God for their ministry and service. Our church activities are ongoing and the church is now in use daily, we have seen growth within our choir and have had many excellent special services on a Saturday filling our church for Mothers Day, Valentine Day and other special events. 

We are in partnership with Pr Gadalla and the Arabic church who meet here on Sunday Evening, our outreach to the community involves a new slimming world class on a Tuesday Evening, also once a month in the evening a Take a Break service for crafts for older ladies. Wednesday we have House Group Bible Study and Thursday Mother/Toddler group in the morning and Open Fellowship for our older congregation in the afternoon; Friday we have a free full English breakfast in the morning which is very popular. Once a month we have communion service in Romans Nursing home where some of our members are staying.

Points for prayer looking to appoint an associate pastor for our children/youth ministry. For our outreach in evangelism to our community and prayer for our house bound and those in nursing homes.

 


North Downs network

Fleet Baptist Church

Rise up in splendour and be radiant, for your light has dawned, and Yahweh's glory now streams from you!  - Isaiah 60 TPT

 

Fleet BC

A recent church teaching theme gave us the opportunity to identify and prophetically call into being who we are and who we are becoming. This series, entitled ‘This House’, looked at our core characteristics, the already emerged and the emerging culture and climate of Fleet Baptist Church. It was exciting, humbling, and inspiring. Our first focus was ‘This House…is a house of welcome!’ 

Time and again over the last few years, many have remarked upon our gift of welcoming people into our church community. It has been so encouraging! Whether in ToddleAlong or Alpha, at Sunday meetings or other events, the sense of welcome has been beautifully tangible. As a church we give thanks for the love, warmth and acceptance that has not only grown within our church family but is spilling out into the community and beyond.

Because of this, we are seeing our church family grow and diversify. We are seeing salvations, baptisms, and greater relational connections alongside of course, the many challenges that go along with all of this! Right now, we are about to embark upon a season of Alpha, and alongside our usual evening course we are debuting a daytime course. We would really appreciate prayer for both adventures. For the teams that are running them and for those that attend. We would also appreciate prayer for wisdom and consistency as we learn how to effectively disciple those who have been added to us.

May our welcome be the grace-filled, hope-packed, love-eternal welcome that only Christ can bring.

 


North Kent network

South Street Baptist Church (Meopham)

The South Street Baptist Church Motto is; “Sharing God’s Love in the Community”.

Visiting speakers from other churches come to preach and celebrate communion with our very small fellowship, as we don't have a pastor. We use music videos to accompany praise songs, as currently we don't have any live musical support. The Bible text for 2024 from Hebrews 12:2. is: “Let us fix our eyes upon Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.” 

There are three outreach activities which are run by our Church Members and friends.

Song Time celebrates its twenty-fifth anniversary this year. It meets every Monday morning for families with babies, toddlers and children under five. There are lots of different toys, including a slide and ball pool, soft shapes, construction toys, musical instruments and singing. 
About sixteen families with about twenty children join us each week, travelling from a wide area around Meopham and about thirty-five families altogether attend during the term.

The 1st South Street Boys Brigade and Girls Association Company meets every Friday evening and there are now six children aged 6-12 years old. There are two fully trained leaders and a registered parent helper. A full and varied programme is planned for each term and activities include, craft, games, cooking and outdoor pursuits. All the older boys and girls went to the Junior Battalion camp last year and everyone has been to the Water Activities Centre in Tonbridge, where there is canoeing, kayaking and stand up paddle boards. Boys Brigade Southeast Battalion meetings and Leaders Training Days are sometimes held at the church.

Family Games Afternoons are held once a month for all ages and there are board games, table tennis, pool, indoor archery, indoor curling and refreshments. Song Time and BBGA families join us, as well as friends and people in the local community. Up to eighteen people come each month  to enjoy the activities and it is a friendly, enjoyable afternoon, but they don't always want to go home!  

Please pray for:

  • The small Leadership Team who also lead the church services. 
  • Spiritual and numerical growth in our Church Fellowship. 
  • We need to find different ways of welcoming people into our church services.
  • Guidance as we continue to look for new visiting preachers, who might also be able to lead a Family Service which includes children and young people.
  • Our outreach work with the families at Song Time, BBGA and Family Games Afternoons.
  • We need to encourage more children to join BBGA and also recruit an extra leader and parent helper to help with the activities.

South Kent network

Sandhurst Baptist Church

At present we are led by our elder  Chris Knott and we have the joy of working together as a fellowship in knowing Christ and making Him known.

On Sunday morning and evening and at several times in the week we gather round the Word of God seeking to learn from Him and know Him more. This has resulted in us being blessed as a fellowship.

For younger ones, we hold Sunday School, mother and toddler, youth club, teens group and football and netball activities.

Sport is a great vehicle for sharing the Gospel and is widely used here for those aged 7-17.
As well as our weekly sports we hold a 4 day soccer and netball school in the summer,led by the organisation  SportsReach, getting over 100 participants.The good news  of Jesus is clearly presented and we have been blessed to see responses to the invitation to come to the Saviour.

Praying is vital and at  all our meetings we seek to pray the Word in as well as covering  the various needs coming to or attention.We also have a weekly corporate prayer meeting via Zoom.

We seek to exercise hospitality , pastoral care and in all aspects , building each other up.
As  in Jude 20-21 …..But you dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring  you to eternal life.

Outreach is a priority as seen in our youth activities and the course Hope Explored is used  . We  encourage one to one personal witness.

As in Ephesians 1:7…In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins , in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.

 


West Kent network

We are waiting on a reply to our request for news and prayer items - they will be updated as soon as we hear back. In the meantime please pray for the churches of the West Kent network: Bessels Green Baptist Church, Dormansland Baptist Church, Eden Church, Eynsford Baptist Church, Paddock Wood Baptist Church, Pembury Baptist Church, Tonbridge Baptist Church, Tunbridge Wells Baptist Church, Vine Baptist Church, Westerham Evangelical Congregational Church & Westerham Hill Baptist Church.


West Sussex network

Aldwick Baptist Church

 

Reaching up and reaching out

Aldwick BC cream tea
Photo: Pop Up and Cream Tea Café - June 2022

The photo above demonstrates the underlying thrust of the Lord’s work in Aldwick Baptist Church – where we worship and serve the Lord in dependence on the power of the Holy Spirit and outreach to our community through the open door of the church. 

Rev Simon Downing with his Leadership Team continue to encourage all church members to recognize how important personal evangelism is within the community. We continue to organize regular activities such as Toddler Time, Craft, Community Cafes, Table Tennis, Luncheon Club, Messy Church and Peace Together Puzzlers which all see people of all ages with different interests engaging with church members. 

In addition we run regular quarterly all-age events such as the “Pop-Up and Cream Tea Café” which we organized last year (see photo above) followed by a “Harvest Hot Pot and Quiz Night” in September and “Carols in the Car Park” in December led by the local Salvation Army brass band. In 2024 we are beginning the year with a “Craft and Hot cross Bun Extravaganza”. 

These events are very popular with the community and provide an “open door” into the church through which we pray more and more will come to our regular services and find the Lord as a personal Saviour. 

In the past year we have also joined forces with five other churches in Bognor Regis to provide finances and resource to offer a Christians Against Poverty (CAP) Debt service to the area. In addition ABC has spearheaded a Bognor CAP Life Skills Course providing a supportive and encouraging group to individuals who are struggling with a  variety of Life pressures. 

ABC’s Vision is to LOVE GOD - LOVE EACH OTHER and LOVE OUR COMMUNITY and that is the thrust of all that we do. 

Clive Bennett
Church Secretary and Bognor CAP Life Skills Manager