Latest Partnership Update
27th April 2011
GROWING LEADERS
Manchester
Men from various towns and cities throughout the North of England are expected to participate in our new training group in Manchester beginning 7 May 2011. Stephen Rees, Geoff King, Mick Lockwood, and Stuart Olyott will join me in leading sessions on Biblical exegesis, Biblical exposition and Biblical evangelism and church planting. Reading assignments in church history and Christian apologetics will be given as well. You are encouraged to pray for us as we meet the first Saturday of each month at Radcliffe Road Baptist Church in Bury over the next year.
London
We are ever encouraged by the good numbers of men coming forward to participate in our training groups in London. On 14 May 2011 two groups will begin. New men will begin our regular course of study focusing on Biblical exegesis, Biblical exposition and Biblical evangelism and church planting. A group composed of men who have completed the first course and are presently involved in various church planting works will begin a study that will focus on developing our thinking in the areas of soteriology, ecclesiology, and pneumatology.
Please pray for Nathan Xiques and me as we teach on that day. We hope these sessions will be recorded and made available on our website at www.gracebaptistpartnership.org.uk.
Gloucester
The process of enlisting men to attend the sessions in Gloucester beginning in September continues. Please pray for me as I meet with various churches and individuals over the next few months in the West Country.
PLANTING CHURCHES
Angel
With various members of the congregation away during much of April the attendance at Angel has been lower over the past few weeks. A new couple, though, has begun attending and is proving to be a great encouragement to the work there.
Chatteris
Encouraging reports concerning the ministry of Robert Read at Chatteris are regularly received. Thank the Lord for the men who are doing the demanding work of church planting in
these difficult days.
Chelmondiston
The congregation at Chelmondiston is looking forward to a special tea and talk on Easter afternoon. Please pray for Dave Kelland as he gives the talk.
Crowfield and Great Blakenham
Visiting these two villages with a prospective worker last week was a reminder of the need to pray that the Lord of the harvest will thrust out labourers into His harvest.
Edlesborough
It was good to meet up with the leaders of the work at Edlesborough week before last. They are pressing on with the work of evangelism in the village and are looking to the Lord for increase. They will host a village barbecue on 7 May 2011.
Grays
I look forward to baptising Beverley Ponder at Grays tomorrow. Please pray that many of her family and friends will come to hear the gospel. Please pray for Bruce Massop as he preaches.
Halstead
Please pray for two needy men who have attended the morning service the last two Sunday mornings in Halstead. Please pray for much wisdom in dealing with these men and that the Lord would be pleased to save them.
North Watford
Please pray for a man (Roman Catholic background) that Daniel Shwe meets with every Thursday evening. The man may very well have come to faith in Christ recently. Please pray for Daniel as he continues to teach this man the gospel of grace.
Richings Park
Please pray for a special outreach event planned for 30 April 2011. Also, Bible studies in Gerrards Cross will resume next month.
Southall
Various encouragements from Southall (including the first request for baptism!) make us hopeful for the future of this work. Please pray for the light of the gospel to penetrate this dark place.
Wood Green
We continue to be encouraged by the growth of our Friday evening prayer meeting. I wish you could have been with us last night as we read Acts 13:13-52 and prayed that such God-centred, Christ-focused, Spirit-empowered preaching would be the order of the day in our various church plants. It was a real blessing.
REACHING NATIONS
Poland
We were encouraged by the following report from the friends in Poland this week:
“On the 18th March we had a day seminar with Barry King held in Warsaw in the 2nd Baptist Church. The seminar was titled: “Returning to the foundation of the gospel and its power”. It was directed to Baptist pastors and church planters. There were about 25 people in total from all over Poland. The seminar was very good and all the participants were moved and encouraged. We got very good feedback and now pray that these pastors will start implementing what they have heard in their day by day work for God and His people.
Barry together with Graham and Nathan had also a chance to spend some time with us in Legionowo and participate in one of our Gospel Evenings. Nathan was preaching then and Graham preached on our Sunday service whereas Barry preached on Sunday morning in the 2nd Baptist Church in Warsaw and Nathan preached in Baptist Church in Otwock. We were really blessed by them and hope that this was not the last visit they have paid us. Thank you for praying for this time!”
CLOSING WORD
I trust our friends will not mind being asked to pray for the Lord’s continued provision for Grace Baptist Partnership. We have a number of needs at the moment (ongoing as well as special) which keep me before the Lord in daily prayer. If you would like to help us bear this burden in prayer or indeed to assist us financially I would be pleased to hear from you.