'Dismay' at suspension of Dubs policy
Lynn Green joined church leaders to express concern at the intention to suspend the Dubs scheme for unaccompanied children

Injustice, Luther and Luther King
Want to challenge injustice? There is much to learn from Martin Luther and Martin Luther King, say the organisers of a new event exploring the theologies and prophetic contributions of the two revolutionaries

Anti-poverty charities team up
The UK’s largest provider of foodbanks the Trussell Trust has formally joined forces with debt charity Christians Against Poverty

Showing God's love to new mums
How a Yorkshire church is meeting a need among new mothers in its community

The impact of being there for the long term
'We are no longer looked at with suspicion as another group of do-gooders who will leave after a few months, but we are welcomed as friends and members of this community. People who can be trusted and will try and help' - latest Baptists Together Home Mission story

100,000+ take the 40acts challenge
More than 104,000 people have already signed up to 40acts, a Lent generosity campaign now in its seventh year. Plus links to more Lent resources

A reflection on prayerfulness
Is prayer the same as prayerfulness?

Baptist leadership - 'creative tension'
Baptists have always insisted there is a vital role for the whole church together – and a significant place for some who have particular responsibilities

Sage on the stage, or guide on the side?
The enabling leader: giving people the tools to face their problems is a leadership that encourages congregations to develop their giftings

An urgent call for the confessing church
Amid rising racism and hate mongering in a turbulent world, the Church needs to rise up and confess Christ

'Always been interested by the spooky'
An interview with Peter Laws, writer, speaker and Baptist minister whose newly released debut crime thriller specifically explores baptism



Reviews:
Mission in Marginal Places: The Theory, and Mission in Marginal Places: The Practice
Encouraging start to a series looking at mission in marginal places, with some questions for what's to follow

Heresy Unlocked, Faith Rebounds By Roger Wilson
One time BBC journalist and co-founder of a cancer charity Roger Wilson is right in stating that Christians will find his views heretical

God Has Spoken by J.I. Packer
A re-issue of the bestselling sequel to Knowing God
 

Bishop's Stortford Baptist Church, Herts: Sarah Barrington, Sarah McCulloch
Bromham Baptist Church, Bedford: Annabel Hale, and Amelia Davidson-Smith
Castleton Baptist Church, Gwent: Anne Child, Lynne Adams, Christine Symonds, David Morgan, Phillip Whitwell
Lockwood Baptist Church, Huddersfield: Ahmad (Adam), Jasem (John), Ebrahim (Ebi), and Ali (Jason)
Park Baptist Church, Great Yarmouth: Kevin Ward

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

Baptism stories
Lockwood Baptist and Elam Ministries celebrate four baptisms
Minister Brian Davison shares news of baptisms at the Huddersfield church

In June 2016 six Iranian Christians arrived in Lockwood in two houses just around the corner from us, and became regular worshippers with us. Two had been baptised elsewhere, and four asked in September 2016 to be prepared for baptism. They were prepared for Baptism by the Revd Brian Walters and John Lewis, assisted by Peter Bell of Elam ministries and an interpreter, while the Revd Brian Davison focused on supporting them in their asylum applications.

Since then there have been a number of comings and goings but in January those four, along with another who joined us later on, were all accepted for baptism and membership. Sadly one of the four, Abbas, was detained for removal to Germany, to pursue his asylum claim there, before he could be baptised with us.

However the remaining four were baptised on 5 February in a joint service with Elam ministries.

The service was jointly led by Brian Sadegh Dabiri from Elam. We worshipped in our own languages using songs that were written in English, with equivalent Farsi words written to fit the tune (not just word for word translation). We prayed the Lord’s prayer in our own languages, Bible passages were displayed in both languages, and Brian and Sadegh preached together and carried out the baptism together. They were welcomed into membership, and we celebrated communion together, with members of LBC and Elam serving.
 
As part of the celebration of the new life expressed in 2 Cor 5:17, the candidates expressed a wish to relinquish their old Islamic names and choose new Christian names, (For now this is informal, but once their residence is established they can follow it up by deed poll). Ahmad became “Adam”, Jasem, “John”, Ebrahim,  “Ebi” and Ali chose “Jason”. Not all are biblical, but all are new and have no direct connection with Islam.
 
Abbas is now pursuing his asylum claim in Germany, (under the Dublin convention) and our prayers are with him.


Death
PLUMMER (nee Turner), Mary
Wife of Ex-Baptist Minister Philip J Plummer died aged 82 on Valentine’s Day 2017. "At ease" after many years of fighting through operations and various treatments, courageously borne.
Any tributes to Guide Dogs for the Blind




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

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Baptist Assembly – 13 May 
Bookings have now opened for this year’s Baptist Assembly, which will take place at the Harrogate International Centre Saturday 13 May 2017. Through the generosity of HIC, there will also be a communion service on Sunday morning which will be open to all.
Visit http://www.baptistassembly.org.uk

A place to call home? New resource from the Joint Public Issues Team
A place to call home? is the latest JPIT resource on housing; a set of six bible studies for small group discussion focusing on a range of issues around housing. It is produced by our four churches in collaboration with Housing Justice and Scottish Churches Housing Action.
Visit: http://www.jointpublicissues.org.uk/aplacetocallhome/

Signs Of Hope – An Eco weekend  7-9 April, Launde Abbey, Leicestershire
As we face possible environmental & ecological disaster we need to find reasons for hope, and spiritual resources for an earth-honouring life. Led by the Revd Kevin Durrant Baptist minister, and author of The Earth Will Teach You, and Canon Brian Davis, who chairs Eco Church Harborough

For more information about the week-end : http://www.laundeabbey.org.uk/retreats/2017-retreats-launde/

Who Do You Say I Am? – New Easter resources from Hope
Includes a book, a 4-minute film and an explorers’ course to use as we make Jesus known. The Talking Jesus research (talkingjesus.org) shows that four in ten people in the UK don’t know if Jesus was a real person. Use Who Do You Say I Am? and make your Easter services great guest services this year, helping people to discover who Jesus is, why he died and what his resurrection means for us today.
http://www.hopetogether.org.uk/Groups/256559/Easter.aspx

Lest we Forget
Studies prepared to equip Baptists to reflect on the 2007 Baptist Union Apology and explore ways to address the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade, ten years on.
http://www.baptist.org.uk/Articles/488872/Lest_we_Forget.aspx

Chairs
Long Crendon Baptist Church, Aylesbury has around 150 chairs surplus to requirements which are available to a fellowship provided can be collected in early March. The chairs have been in use for around 15 years but are in moderately good condition. 
Please contact Andrew Lockton on 01865 891688 or by email at locktonas@gmail.com.