Baptists blog on the EU referendum
It's not long before the UK votes either to remain in or leave the European Union. How have Baptists been contributing to the debate? Some links to blog posts and articles

An ordination in a…
Is this a first? A minister-in-training was ordained not in a church building, but an addiction recovery centre

Queen's Award for Baptist church-based drop-in
Those behind a drop-in for the vulnerable and homeless have been recognised with the highest award a voluntary group can receive

The Sanctuary
What happened when a Baptist church made the brave decision to sell its building

'Growing spiritual hunger' across Middle East and North Africa
The broadcaster SAT-7, founded by a Baptist church member, has celebrated its 20th anniversary. It reports that viewer responses to its Christian broadcasts have risen threefold in just five years

Global increase in modern slavery
Nearly 46 million people around the world are thought to be trapped in modern slavery, according to the latest global slavery index
 

Find the hymnbooks! Technology and church
The way we communicate our culture has altered completely, but key elements of communication haven't

Migrants are people, too
A minister ponders whether alternative language should be used in the reporting of people on the move

How passionate are you?
Being told I should be “passionate” about the Holy Spirit slightly jarred

Why I became a children’s author
Facts speak to our minds; a story speaks to our heart. I want to help people engage with God through fiction

The drug trafficker’s son and Jesus
Many desperate people cross the border from Burma to Thailand. BMS World Mission workers share how their work provides a safe haven

Latest book reviews
“A genuinely helpful and theologically literate resource from Baptist pioneers”; plus Alister McGrath, Rowan Williams, Baptists and war

Cemetery Road Baptist Church, Sheffield: Fatemah, Atena, Asal, Fatemeh, Mercy, Morteza, Jabbar, Heider   
Durham Road Baptist Church, Gateshead: 1
Earls Hall Baptist Church, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex: Liam Miles
Fleet Baptist Church, Hampshire: Anna Norton and Ben Morris
Lawrence Saunders Road Baptist Church, Coventry: Tony, Georgia, Sammy, Ben and Barbara
Limbrick Wood Baptist Church, Coventry:  Jazmine and Poppy Bovis-Coulter
London Network Church: John Oluwabi, Lanre Oluwabi, Nas Abraham, Rebecca Keates, Grace Lourie
Lyndhurst Baptist Church, Hampshire: Rachael Wyeth
Stockport Baptist Church, Cheshire: Saman, Reza, Mostafa,  Saeed, Milad, Mohammad & Majid
Teddington Baptist Church, Midlessex: Jessica Darvill, Helena King, Jack Crowther 
West Wickham & Shirley Baptist Church, London: Matt Prior
Weymouth Baptist Church, Dorset: Eli, Harriet, Hari and Lucy, Jamie Wrightson, John

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

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

Baptism stories
Bushey Baptist Church, Oxhey Herts is off-site due to a re-build and is currently using St. Matthews' Church in Eastbury Road. The Baptist service follows the Anglican one and on Sunday, 26 June there is to be a baptism, in a pop-up pool, on the Vicar's front lawn followed by a church picnic in the park opposite. Three candidates are preparing for baptism: Elizabeth Holland, Azeezat and Baba Ogonkanmi. (Hazel Durant, secretary)

Pastor Darren Bovis-Coulter, Limbrick Wood Baptist Church, was privileged to baptise his daughters, Jazmine and Poppy, on the morning of Sunday 8 May.  The church hall was packed to overflowing with members, friends and family, all of whom had been invited to stay for lunch together after the service.  Praise the Lord for the witness of these young ladies and His wonderful provision and encouragement to us all (Sue Best, secretary)

News from Fleet Baptist Church: We held what might be the last baptismal service at our current site in Clarence Road on 22 May. As from 5 June we have taken a step of faith and are holding our morning services in our local Church of England Primary school. There were two baptisms on the day - Anna Norton and Ben Morris. (Rosalyn Einchcomb, administrator)

Engagement
Congratulations to Naomi Adams and Jon Dickerson who recently got engaged. Nai is the minister of Ararat Baptist Church, Whitchurch, Cardiff; Jon is the minister at Griffithstown Baptist Church, Pontypool. They both met through their ministerial studies at South Wales Baptist College.

 

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Survey - Baptists and the Lord’s Supper
Ashley Lovett and Andy Goodliff are asking Baptist ministers (or those who may preside at the Lord’s Supper) to fill in a survey every time they celebrate the Lord’s Supper during June and July. It only takes about 5-10mins to complete.

They write: We are doing some research into what Baptists do when it comes to the Lord’s Supper. This follows on from an MA dissertation thesis that Ashley wrote looking at the various patterns for the Lord’s Supper in Gathering for Worship. We hope in the Autumn to share some of our findings.

You can find the survey here https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/KYQN9XY

Germinate Leadership programme
Applications are being taken for the fourth national Germinate Leadership programme starting on 5 October. Germinate is an exciting programme on leadership in the rural church to help lay and ordained leaders from all denominations to develop creative, entrepreneurial skills for effective rural church leadership.

The Arthur Rank Centre is especially encouraging Baptist participation, for whom a 50 per cent bursary is available. Details are at www.germinate.net

Free, official resources for Miracles from Heaven from Damaris are now available, including a downloadable Leader’s Guide with activities and discussion questions to start conversations and help enrich relationships in your community. The film (in UK cinemas 10 June) tells the moving true story of Christy Beam (Jennifer Garner), a devoted mother who finds hope in the midst of struggle when her daughter Anna (Kylie Rogers) is diagnosed with a rare, incurable disease. Visit http://miracles.damarismedia.com/
See also this review of Miracles from Heaven