“So when each separate part works as it should, the whole body grows and builds itself up through love.” Ephesians 4:16b

When Peter became our Pastor in October 2022, he started to put in place a plan which would ensure a smooth transition towards the future. This involved calling an Associate Minister with potential to be the Pastoral Leader. We are so encouraged that Jack and his family arrived in February this year and the associate relationship is working extremely well.

We give thanks that our congregation is growing, and we benefit from having those from other nationalities worshipping with us. We are seeing gradual growth in numbers with our children and ask for prayer for more leaders. Our Shining Lights Group of up to 12 adults with additional needs, are a delight and continue to be fully involved in the life of the church. At our AGM in November, we are going to share together in a substantial and honest review of all that happens on a Sunday morning. Please pray for harmonious and productive discussions.

As members and friends, we have been discovering our gifts and how to use them within and outside the church. Our present focus is on reaching out into the community. A Community Profile has been undertaken, and this has also been shared with other churches in the town. We are presently looking at ways we can share our faith in ways that suit our individual personality. We would value prayer for the developing of good relationships, for relevant outreach events and for the Christianity Explored Course in the New Year.

On Friday October 24th we were shocked and saddened by the unexpected death of our Church Secretary, Catherine. Please pray for us as we grieve, begin to adjust, and start to pick up all the responsibilities that Catherine fulfilled.

East Kent Network

Herne Bay Baptist Church

Police Youth Hub
We are thrilled to announce that HBBC has partnered with the Police force to launch the ‘Police Youth Hub’ at our church! The grand opening took place on July 24th, marking a significant step forward in our commitment to the youth of Herne Bay. The purpose of the Police Youth Hub is to create a positive environment for the young people in our town. This initiative aims to uplift and empower them, fostering growth, development, and the chance to flourish. Participation will be by invitation only; the Police will select youngsters who can benefit most from the supportive influence of our local officers.
 
Glorious Celebration: Two Baptisms; Becomes Five Baptisms & a Dedication!
What an incredible day it was as we rejoiced in a deeply moving celebration featuring five baptisms and a beautiful dedication! Initially planned for two baptisms, Warona and Tebo. However, that number grew as the Holy Spirit called more in to the waters of baptism. We were thrilled to see three more baptisms with Suzy joining, followed by her son Sam and, finally Gloria, all of who were delighted to bring their testimonies.
 
The day began with the dedication of Moruo, where parents Mothusi and Queen made a heartfelt lifelong commitment to raise their child in the way of Christ. It was both pleasing and amusing to see little Moruo attentively engaging with Pastor Steve as he spoke about the significance of dedication, reminding us all of the purity and joy of this moment.
 
Every moment of this day was a testament to God’s goodness and faithfulness. We are grateful to all who participated and look forward to seeing how these new commitments will inspire others in our church family. In faith, we have set another date for further Baptisms in October. Praise the Lord!
 
Shared Space
On September 7th 2025, the Beacon Church, led by Pastor Steve Dunn, held its very first service at our church, and we celebrate opening our doors to these fellow believers. Although we will remain two separate congregations, we cherish the opportunity to enable our church building to be used by the delightful Beacon church congregation, as it will be on Sunday afternoons.
 
As we reflect on Ephesians 4:1-16, we are reminded of the profound truth that there is one body and one Spirit, just as we are called to one hope in Christ. We are all God’s children, created to live in harmony and to share the message of His love. This new partnership is a testament to how God is at work among us, creating unity in community. 

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Gatwick Network

Horley Baptist Church

2025 has been an amazing year so far at Horley Baptist Church. We’ve seen signs of what some have called “the Quiet Revival” with several people, particularly men, arriving at church already having encountered Jesus and made a commitment to follow Him. Many of these stories have begun through Alcoholics Anonymous and other recovery groups.

One man, Jack, approached us asking to be baptised after coming to faith through his own research. His request had been turned down by several churches, but we gladly agreed, on the condition that he became part of our church community - which he did wholeheartedly. Jack was baptised at Easter and is now fully involved in church life. In total, we’ve had the privilege of baptising 16 people so far this year.

We continue to work closely with a group of Iranian refugees, though this has been at odds with the protests and flags we have seen in our town. Please pray for us as we seek to welcome and disciple these men through Alpha and regular Bible studies. A real answer to prayer has been the introduction of Breeze, a piece of software that provides real-time translation of our services into multiple languages, making worship much more accessible for our Iranian brothers and sisters.

Our midweek youth group continues to grow, now attracting between 30 and 40 young people each week. The challenge ahead is to disciple these young people and help them find their place within the wider church family.

In February, after much prayer and planning, we moved to two identical morning services, each with full children’s provision. The change has been a huge success - attendance increased almost immediately to levels that make a single service impossible. We’re deeply grateful to all our volunteers and to the Further Faster Network, whose guidance helped ensure a smooth transition. We’re now reaching capacity again and are prayerfully considering how best to manage this growth - though it’s a wonderful problem to have!

This summer we also launched The Beacon Project. This project involves building a new 300-plus seater auditorium that will accommodate our growing congregation and serve as a hub for mission and community. This step is about far more than bricks and mortar; it’s about faith, legacy, and creating space for the Kingdom of God to be made visible in Horley and beyond. The costs are significant, but we are stepping out in faith, trusting that God will bring this long-held vision to completion.

We are hugely excited by what God is doing - both within our fellowship and in the community beyond our doors. Our desire is to remain an outward-facing church while discipling new believers through home groups and one-to-one relationships. As with all growth, we’ve experienced some spiritual resistance and pastoral challenges that require prayer and wisdom, and we’re seeking to strengthen the prayer life of the church as we move forward together.
 
Please Pray For:

• Continued fruit from the Quiet Revival – that those finding faith in unexpected ways will grow deep roots in Christ.
• Our ministry among Iranian refugees – for peace in the town, effective discipleship through Alpha, and unity across cultures.
• Young people and new believers – for creative ways to disciple and integrate them into church life.
• The Beacon Project – for God’s provision, wisdom for leaders, and faith that shines brightly into Horley and beyond.

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West Kent Network

Westerham Hill Baptist Church

The Lord our God is forever faithful to his promises given to his covenant people. We at Westerham Hill are constantly reminded, though many of us are aging rapidly, that our God is unchanging and his faithfulness is beyond measure. Praise His Name!

What is absolutely true of God is also reflected in the fellowship as well as the people of God support the work of the church faithfully in prayer, giving, practical efforts and witness. We have seen God answering our prayers in the installation of new effective heaters in our otherwise cold chapel at modest cost. We have enjoyed meeting visitors and newcomers to our congregation. One or two have joined us for a short time, been encouraged in the faith and 'sent on their way rejoicing to pastures new.'

Our Harvest Thanksgiving weekend was a great delight with a number of old friends visiting and enjoying warm fellowship with us. David Hircock, now a good friend of the fellowship, brought God's word in a truly powerful way and as usual our harvest display reflected something of the rural and farming origins of the church.

My fellow elder has just returned from a ministry trip to three southern African countries where his messages were well received. We long and pray that the weekly ministry here in our own land will reach the hearts as well as the ears of many today. As the country seemingly slides further into chaos and lawlessness, we pray that Almighty God will revive his people and restore the honour of the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ in our land once again and that He will be pleased to use us to that end.