Nominations sought for Baptist Union President
The nomination process for the President of the Baptist Union 2018-19 is now open

Baptist Steering Group - September
Strategic church planting and pioneering in Yorkshire; local justice hubs, Baptist Assembly, Home Mission - and a BBC programme featuring the ordination of a Baptist minister. Read the key messages from the September gathering of the Baptist Steering Group

Affordable first aid training for churches
A Baptist minister has created a company to provide first aid and health and safety training for churches and others at cost price

UK refugee proposal criticised
First ‘safe country’ they arrive in approach puts the interests of rich countries first and ignores the needs of people displaced

New approach for Get in the Picture
Get in the Picture, the ecumenical, evangelistic project which seeks to involve all kinds of people in the Christmas story, has been relaunched with a new approach in 2016

'Incredible story about ruin and redemption'
A new film documenting the untold story of Christian missionaries saving lives amid tribal genocide in Nigeria 50 years ago is released

Big bake to beat hunger
Star baker Martha Collison is getting behind a nationwide baking event to fundraise for people living in extreme hunger worldwide

The changing face of family ministry
Baptist assessment of significant research exploring current family life in the UK

The Day God Saved My Life
In April this year Baptist minister Ross Dilnot was involved in an accident that would shatter part of his body. He describes its impact

'Living on the estate continues to teach us'
Mike Pears, director of Urban Life, reflects on being a faithful presence on the Knowle West Estate in Bristol with others

The growth of online church
How a Baptist church in Australia created an online congregation around the world

“You just don’t know how weird church is”
We really shouldn’t underestimate the pressures the children and young people in our churches face

 

Gilgal Baptist Church, Porthcawl: Rosie Perkins, Nicola Evans, Sammi Ford, Karen Henderson, Owen Griffiths and David Parfitt
Nailsea Baptist Church, Somerset: Jacob Parsons
Shipley Baptist Church, Yorkshire: Abigail Baylis
Stockport Baptist Church, Greater Manchester: Maryam, Negar, Delsa, Samira, Parisa, Elham, Foad, Ali Reza & Shahram
Tunbridge Wells Baptist Church, Kent: Merlin Sheppard, Ruth Deacon and Mo Akioye
The Baptist Church, Kilmington, Devon: Jed Holmes, Edith Turner
West Wickham & Shirley Baptist Church, Croydon: Elizabeth Fung
Know anyone preparing for baptism? Check out our range of cards

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


Death
ISAACS, The Revd Dr Marie, 1936-2016
Lecturer, scholar, author and for many years Associate Minister and then Minister at Heath Street Baptist Church, Hampstead, was ordained on 8 December 1962. Marie died after a long illness, bravely borne, at University College Hospital, London, on 9 August 2016. She will be sorely missed by her family and her many friends.

Funeral took place 2 September, 2 pm at Heath Street Baptist Church. Donations may be given to Marie Curie (www.mariecurie.org.uk).

Prisons Week
This year's Prisons Week is 9-16 October - Churches Together in Westminster have published resources featuring prayers, reflections, hymns (and much more): http://ctiw.london/resource-booklet-for-prisons-week/
See also the new Prisons Week website: http://prisonsweek.org/

Social Media & Church Online
A one day conference at The Riverside Centre, Derby with Steve Fogg (the Communications Pastor of Crossway Baptist Church, Melbourne) aimed at equipping church leaders in how to engage in Social Media and Church Online. Thursday, 13 October 2016. More information and book tickets here

Thy Kingdom Come
Baptist churches are being invited to take part in a global wave of prayer in the period between Ascension and Pentecost.
Thy Kingdom Come is an initiative of Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, and seeks to unite Christians in praying together for people to know Jesus Christ. For more visit: http://www.thykingdom.co.uk/

Books for Life 
An alternative Christian literary festival in the middle of the Cheltenham Literary festival is taking place next month. Organisers of Books for Life Live say the day is "a brilliant opportunity to invite friends to explore the interaction between Christianity, justice and hope." http://www.booksforlife.uk/live
There's free entry for church leaders: http://www.booksforlife.uk/leader

Fresh Streams 2017 Conference 9-11 January
Booking for the Fresh Streams 2017 Conference (9-11 January) is now open. The Fresh Streams Conference offers spiritual refreshment through ministry, teaching, prayer and worship. The event will explore the phrase "Deeper in; Further Out" which is the strapline for the Fresh Streams Network
https://freshstreams.net/conferences/conference-2017/