Logo

 

Banner Image:   National-News-banner-Purple
Template Mode:   Baptist Times
Icon
    Post     Tweet

Big Hearts in the Southern Counties - Latest leg of Chris Duffett's Presidential tour 


A new resolve for evangelism - that was the response from the Southern Counties Baptist Association following the visit of Union president Chris Duffett at the weekend

 
Chris, on the third leg of his Big Hearted presidential tour, was involved in nine different events across the vast Association, from Bicester in Oxfordshire to the Isle of Wight. It took in an Olympic Torch, the giving away of free fruit, flowers and sweets, speaking at a café church and other training and youth events. 

'It's not just about having a nice time with Chris,' said regional minister team leader the Revd Grenville Overton. 'It's the sense that God is on the move and commissioning us to take seriously again evangelism as a duty and a joy. I think through Chris' presidency we are re-discovering our heart for evangelism. It's come at exactly the right time.'

Grenville said members of Rosebery Park Baptist Church were particularly buoyant when the church found itself directly on the Olympic Torch route as it crossed from Bournemouth to Boscombe.

Big Hearts in the Southern Cou

It opened its doors to the community, serving teas and coffees. Chris, who was dressed in a clown's wig and making balloons for people, was able to have a number of significant conversations with those on the fringes of church life, yet or just about to make a commitment to Christ.
 
'It really was a fantastic opportunity for evangelism, and it was marvellous the way the Lord led people there, who showed an interest in the wider community of the church,' said Grenville. 'It seemed to show if we reach out, God is already there, doing things to fulfil his promises. If we are doing the right thing, God keeps his side of the bargain.'

Chris said he realised one of his roles was to affirm what churches are already doing. Writing in his blog he said, 'The Southern Counties Tour revealed to me what an amazing good work Baptists Christians are doing to engage with people in their communities: my role over these past four days has been to affirm much of what is already happening and to add to that.

He added, 'You see, people need Jesus and no-one other than the Church will bring that hope to those who aren't in the know- what an encouragement to say "Keep going!"
 

    Post     Tweet
'Come Holy Spirit' is our desire as we walk forward, with God leading us
Chris Duffett’s Baptist Assembly paintings have raised donations to support Home Mission and are now in local Baptist churches providing inspiration and reflection
Nationwide Christmas campaign ‘Shine Your Light' seeks 1,000 churches this year
UK churches are being invited to reach 1-million people this December – by taking the Christmas story of ‘comfort and joy’ outside of church walls
Baptist Union Council: October 2024
Baptist Union Council took place 23-24 October at the Hayes Conference Centre in Swanwick, Derbyshire
Project Violet: Council affirms commitments to action
Baptist Union Council receives and affirms the commitments to action on women’s experience of ministry made from across Baptists Together in response to the findings of Project Violet
Collaboration; contextual approaches - first Everyone Everywhere national conference
Collaboration in sharing the gospel and a recognition that contrasting, contextual approaches are all needed to help people encounter Jesus were key themes at the first Everyone Everywhere national conference
Prayer bulletin for very small Baptist churches
A number of small, often rural, Baptist churches are being strengthened in their ministry by an initiative which sees them praying for each other on a regular basis
     Latest News 
    Posted: 26/02/2024