'Anointed to do good'
New President Rupert Lazar explains his presidential theme

Baptists Together - Inspiring One Another
Key messages from our Union were shared at the AGM

‘One Million Lives Transformed’
The recently-published BMS mission strategy formed the framework for its keynote session at this year’s Baptist Assembly

'I will shake all nations' 
How Baptists are responding to the refugee crisis

Prospects becomes part of Livability
The national Christian disability and community charities Livability and Prospects have joined forces

Palace party for Night Shift pioneers
Two Hereford Baptists were honoured by the Queen for their services to local revellers and partygoers

Tunisia: life after Sousse
BMS World Mission is helping to develop health services for the dying and disabled in post Arab Spring, post terror attacks Tunisia

Baptist Assembly 2016
Reports, photos and resources from the 2016 Baptist Assembly in Oxford

What would our Baptist community song look like?
There is power in communally creating a song, our song - and it's something we might consider giving more time to

From Torquay to Cambodia
Barton Baptist Church recently undertook a mission trip to Cambodia, involving the whole church. Its minister reflects

Tell your testimony in 3 minutes
Learn how to share your personal faith story from BMS World Mission church planter Ben Francis

Latest book reviews
'It's like coming home, but realizing home is even more spacious than you had imagined'
 

Albany Park Baptist Church, Bexley, London: Abigail Clare May
Ampthill Baptist Church, Bedfordshire: Patrick Dear and Amber Watts
Bognor Regis Baptist Church (Opengate), Sussex: Sam Sargent & Emily Martin
Burton Baptist Latimer Baptist Church, Northants: Daisy Weller, Dale Smith, Joel Picket
Emmanuel Baptist Church, Gravesend: Hilary and Philip Tucker, John Smith, Joy Ogunlola
Hertford Baptist Church, Hertfordshire: x2
High Street Baptist Church, Tring: Ruban Nelson
London Road Baptist Church, Lowestoft, Suffolk: Josh Sturman, Jack Langer, Abbie Struman
New Milton Baptist Church, Hampshire: Jack Austin and Elaine Rowe
Newcastle Baptist Church, Staffordshire: Nicola Stevens
Rosehill Baptist Church, Burnley: Eric Heywood
Saltash Baptist Church, Cornwall: Paul Gerry
Somersham Baptist Church, Cambridgeshire: Morgan and Mette Volis, Rachael Daniels
Swaffham Baptist Church, Norfolk: Roy Stevens
Sudbury Baptist Church, Suffolk: Mel Taylor
Tabernacle Baptist Church, Penarth: Caleb  Douglas
Wallington Baptist Church, Greater London: Julia Turek-Osagie

Know anyone preparing for baptism? Check out our range of cards

Send your baptism notifications and stories to phobson@baptist.org.uk

Baptism stories
We enjoyed a great time of celebration, when Julia Turek-Osagie was baptised on Pentecost Sunday, May 15th, writes church secretary Fran Poole. Julia is from Austria and, joined by her friend Martina, she sang the Lord's Prayer in German. Her testimony told how she grew up in a lively Catholic Church. She joined Wallington Baptist Church Fellowship several years ago and has grown closer to her Lord, gradually accepting the call to witness to her faith in baptism. She is active in the children's work and, along with her lovely family, is a valued and greatly loved member of the Church.

Somersham Baptist Church minister Bruce Daniels writes: It was wonderful to baptise Morgan and Mette Volis, a Danish couple who have come to faith in the six months they have lived in the community and worshipped at our church. I also had the great privilege of baptising my daughter, Rachael Daniels. A very special Easter for all of us.

Ordination
Chester Road Baptist Church held an ordination service for Mark Francis-Green on 7 May, writes Peter Vincent, Deacon. Mark felt a call to ministry in 2011, and with the support of Chester Road and the Heart of England Baptist Association he became our Minister in Training and attended Bristol Baptist College. The culmination of his studies took place on Saturday when he was ordained by the Revd David Ellis our Regional Minister. Not only is Mark now an ordained minister but he is leading a successful church plant in Castle Vale. Chester Road Baptist Church wishes Mark every success in his new ministry.

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Sailors’ Society, a Christian maritime welfare charity, has launched a brand new service resource pack for churches wishing to celebrate Sea Sunday 10 July and give thanks for seafarers, the ‘heroes of the sea’. The pack includes a sermon by John Risbridger, minister and team leader at Above Bar Church, Southampton, and resources by Lisa Edwards, children and families pastor at Guildford Baptist Church.

Free UK Genealogy (www.freereg.org.uk) is a registered charity committed to supporting the transcription of public records and making these available as free access public databases.
It is willing to consider transcribing records from Baptist churches, and would also like to hear from anyone wishing to volunteer as a transcriber or photographer. For more details or to discuss individual requests, please contact Dr Pat Reynolds, Executive Director, on pat.reynolds@freeukgen.org.uk or 01904 541411 / 07943 145 387.

Immersive Experience 21-24 November 2016
This 4 day residential will help you to experience and reflect on the theology and practice of highly contextualised expressions of church and mission. Includes time with Church from Scratch (an incarnational church which is a network of gatherings without a central premises or Sunday services), Shared Space (a Christian social enterprise) and 57 West.
Visit bit.ly/1Tu9z8N for more details.

Missing friend
I wondered if anyone in the church could help me find a friend who I have lost touch with? Her name is Cathy Richards, she married and became Cathy Ndlovu. We trained as nurses in St Albans in 1983-6 and we were in touch until the late 80s, possibly longer, so she will be in her 50s now. She was a committed Christian, I think Baptist and attended church in the St Albans area. I am afraid I cannot remember which one. She moved to the USA with her husband and child who I think was an academic and moved to work in the university, I think in the Boston area initially. Somehow I lost her address and lost touch. Can anyone help me find her again or provide any information at all? We recently had a reunion and would have loved to have heard from Cathy. Thank you in advance if anyone can help regards Jan Carruthers: carruthersjac@gmail.com