12 For 12 | Eastern Baptist Association

12 for 12 Week 2: Laindon Baptist Church

In September two members, along with two of the congregation, at Laindon Baptist Church ran the Baptist Union Wellsprings course. Wellsprings is an eight week course for women which combines some ‘me time’ with an opportunity to look at issues which affect women today from a Christian perspective. It was written by Leisa Barton, one of the ministers at Chelmsford Baptist Church and is published by the Mission Department.

Laindon Baptist is a small church with limited finance so an application was made for a BU Mission Grant. The grant meant that we were able to buy covers for the sofas we had been given and sew cushions to make the room we were going to use more comfortable and less like a waiting room with chairs around the walls. We were also able to buy some equipment, including a simple coffee machine so we could serve proper coffee easily. People from the church were asked to make home made cakes to serve at Wellsprings.

We chose to run the course fortnightly, as it made practical arrangements with children and partners easier for those who attended. Each . . . → Read More: 12 for 12 Week 2: Laindon Baptist Church

Winter Gardens Baptist Church – Canvey Island

12 for 12

History

In 1926, Winter Gardens Mission was begun as a church plant from a local Baptist church, but for the first 83 years of its’ existence, the congregation had no stipendiary leadership. Through the years, several lay pastors and moderators gave time voluntarily to support the work of the mission.

However, by the commitment of the small but determined fellowship, and with the guidance and support of a moderator, a reserve was built up over several years. Together with a Home Mission grant, the church was able to call a Minister-in Training from Spurgeon’s college in 2009. At that time, the Sunday morning congregation numbered 12-17, and there had been one baptism in the previous twenty-five years.

We are thankful to God that two years on, our numbers have doubled and we have had the joy of three baptisms in 2011.

Schools

Strong links have been forged with the two primary schools immediately opposite the church. In October, all the children from one school attended harvest services in the church, together with about 100 adults. In December we held two carol services in the school at which 450 people were present. The school choir sang at our ‘Carols by Candlelight’ . . . → Read More: Winter Gardens Baptist Church – Canvey Island

Mission Project Grants awarded recently to EBA churches

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Mission Project grants give funding for mission initiatives in churches where the lack of funds would otherwise prevent these missional ideas from getting off the ground. The application has to come from the church meeting, via the Association. The Church accounts must accompany the application. Some will be projects that are directly evangelistic, others will be bridge building projects that will enable evangelism to develop in the church. Areas of social deprivation will take priority when there are insufficient funds to meet all the applications

Grants are not normally awarded for building work or for audio visual equipment

2012

Hawkwell Baptist Church have invited local schools to the church for 5 years now to experience the Christmas story through a “labrynth” during Advent. 2000 children have gone through their doors with as many parents and school staff.

They wanted to use this successful model to share more of the Easter story with the contacts they have built up over these 5 years. This telling of the Easter story will link in with the school Key Stage groups. The community will also be invited to this Easter Labrynth so that more people will engage with the meaning of Easter.

What is “12 for 12”?

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When the Regional Ministers go from church to church each week we tend to tell stories of what God is doing in the Association through some of our Home Mission grant aided churches. This seems to be the thing that congregations are always glad to hear. We like to tell the stories to emphasise that whether our church is large or small, growing or struggling, we are all partners in mission through our Home Mission giving. The Association is always looking for ways to make these stories more widely known and to help churches to connect with one another in a way that is healthy and encouraging.

For the first 12 weeks of 2012 we are inviting all our EBA churches to take up the challenge of “12 for 12”. From 1st January to 25th March 2012 we will have this “12 for 12” tab on the website. Each week we will try and have a new story of a church that is being helped in its mission for Jesus by Home Mission.

We will be sending out some postcard sized cards in January so that each church member can decide whether or not to take up the “12 for . . . → Read More: What is ’12 for 12′?

EBA churches receiving HM grants

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This is a list of EBA churches and projects which receive BUGB Home Mission grants. Those churches and projects shown without contact details can be contacted via the information shown in the EBA Directory.

Minister Amigos Jorge Damesceno jorge_hermelinda@yahoo.com.br Attleborough Malcolm Ryan Bacton Jonathan Squirrell Cambs Barnwell Stuart Wood Cambs Barton Elder: Brian West Cambs Chap to People at Work Chris Savage chris.savage@workplacechaplaincy.org.uk Canvey Winter Gdns Mark Davison Carleton Rode Mark Taylor Parsons Heath (was Wycliffe) Steve Rudge Costessey Simon Russell Dagenham Wood Lane David Horncastle Elm Park Colin Phillips Foulsham Neil Walker Gt. Sampford Mrs Susan Johnston Great Yarmouth, Park Derrick Hill Gunton June Love Haddenham Jim Mullin Hadleigh Paul Stow Halstead Clive Jones Hedingham Paul Corson (Lode) RE:NEW Simon Goddard Maldon Jo Stark Norfolk UEA To be confirmed Norfolk & Waveney Mission Barry Capon barrycapon@hotmail.co.uk Romford Harold Hill Rich Shorter Somersham Bruce Daniels Southend Church from Scratch Peter Dominey or Ivan King Thaxted Malcolm Linscott mandjlinscott@btinternet.com Thetford Fulmerston Rd Tim Lovejoy tim@fulmerston.co.uk Thetford King St David Champion Worsted Meeting Hill Patrick . . . → Read More: EBA churches receiving HM grants