The Apology, 10 years on
Baptists are being invited to reflect on our Union’s Apology for Slavery and its practical outworking as it nears its 10th anniversary

Book honour for Chris Ellis
A new collection of essays celebrates and takes inspiration from the work of Chris Ellis, ‘our key thinker’ on Baptist worship

'The time for compassion had come'
Fifty years ago Baptists in Manchester made the counter-cultural decision to build a hostel for marginalised foreign students

Baptist Steering Group
50 days of mission, Thy Kingdom Come, Ignite, the need for change, Home Mission and Baptist Assembly are all reflected on in the Key Communications from Baptist Steering Group

Exploring science and Christian faith
Two Baptist-led projects have been awarded grants as part of a scheme to foster better understanding between science and faith

Dukinfield Baptist Church
Finding that it's never too late to go through the waters of baptism

New campaign targets climate change
Tearfund is calling on UK Christians to join in prayer to help the world’s poorest people to flourish in the face of climate change

The day they drowned at sea
A heart-shattering story of a migrant mother who lost everything reminds us that we cannot let our hearts grow numb to these stories, and why our prayers and support are so important

South Sudan is starving and needs our prayers
Famine is the latest problem to beset one of the world’s most fragile states, and BMS World Mission is helping hundreds of people in desperate need

Maybe it isn’t disabled people who need healing
What if we all get to heaven and realise disabled people were healed all along? A powerful modern day parable

Plain sailing - or sinking?
Comparing our spiritual lives to a boat - where are you on the sea of life?

10 years on: The Journey continues
Increasing the number of Black and minority ethnic (BME) ministers and leaders remains a challenge for Baptists

Effective multicultural leadership teams
Understand the four areas where misunderstandings can occur when people of differing cultural backgrounds work together

Life’s hurts… and hopes   
Lizzie McNaught nearly died of anorexia when she was 14. Now a hospital doctor, she wants to help others in the grip of the disease

'Living the Sacrificial Life'
Dion White, on our Inspiring Leadership Programme, reflects on 'Living the Sacrificial Life'


Reviews:
The Pauline Church and the Corinthian Ekklesia By Richard Last
An examination of Paul's Corinthian church in relation to contemporary cult groups from Mediterranean antiquity challenges accepted thinking

Filthy Fishermen by Luke Holter
Promising elements of a number of themes in this book about redemption, but somehow not enough of any one of them

Martyrs Mirror: a social history by David L.Weaver-Zercher
This history of the 17th century Anabaptist martyr book raises significant issues for reflection   

Burwell Baptist Church, Cambridge: Marcos Gonzalez Norris
Camden Road Baptist Church, London: Elizabeth Hall
Dawley Baptist Church, Telford: Donna Asson, Amy Birtwhistle, Jodi Mirza, Carol Jarvis and her daughter Annalie Jarvis
Streatham Baptist Church, London: Richard Welch
Union Baptist Church, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire: Catalina Olaru, Mariana Nicolae and an Iranian lady M

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

Baptism stories
Ian Olliver, minister Dawley Baptist Church, Telford writes:
"Last Sunday (5 March) I had the privilege of baptising 8 people in a special celebration service held jointly with an Anglican Pioneer church who meet close by.  Many people were moved not just by the amazing testimonies, but also in seeing two expressions of church worshipping together in unity of purpose. Baptised from Dawley Baptist were Donna Asson, Amy Birtwhistle, Jodi Mirza, Carol Jarvis and her daughter Annalie Jarvis.  From the River Community church were Jemima Parker, Will Rudolph and Erin Buckley who are all also involved with a youth fellowship that encompasses young people from the various churches in the Central Telford area."

Chris Johnson, minister of Burwell Baptist Church, Cambridge writes:
"Marc (19) grew up in a Christian home but came to his own faith through a youth group trip to Zambia and an experience of God during worship.  He gave a clear testimony of his faith before his family and the congregation.  He has been serving in our youth work on Sunday nights for some time and will continue."


Death
HOBBS, the Revd Keith 1937-2017
The family of Keith Hobbs would like to announce the death of Keith on 16 February 2017. He died very peacefully in Ashgate Hospice Chesterfield with his family present. Keith’s ministry started at Union Church, Stretford followed by Sion Baptist Church, Burnley (1967-1979) and Grimsby Baptist church (1979-1986). In 1986 he became a half-time tutor at Northern Baptist College and a half-time association minister with the Lancs and Cheshire Association (now North West Baptist Association). In 1989 he became the North West Area Superintendent of the Baptist Union.

He retired in 2001, although, like many ministers of religion, he remained actively involved with the Baptist movement.

Keith’s eldest daughter Linda is currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer and funeral arrangements have therefore been planned to take account of her appointments, treatments, health status etc. There will be a close family only cremation service in March.

Family, friends and colleagues are invited to attend a Service of Celebration of Keith’s life at Chesterfield Baptist Church on 10 April at 2pm followed by light refreshments in the church hall afterwards.

To help protect Linda, who continues to have a significantly reduced ability to fight infection due to chemotherapy, you are asked not to attend if you have coughs, colds or any other infectious illnesses.   

For a longer obituary, visit www.baptist.org.uk/obituaries


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

Lent reflections
Each week through Lent we are offering an image, prayer and reflection for you to use personally and to share at church

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/

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