What is in your hand? 

Our latest Baptist Insurance grant feature highlights its role in supporting a salary for returning congregation member Kathryn Alvis to renew Glebe Farm Baptist Church

 
In 2019, Baptist Insurance was pleased to provide a grant to Glebe Farm Baptist Church in Birmingham, contributing to salary costs for a Team Leader, Kathryn Alvis.
 
In 2001, Glebe Farm Baptist Church had to sell its building. By 2018, membership had dwindled to five. As a teenager, Kathryn had been a strong part of this congregation and continued to love it after leaving the area.
 
Years later, after a mission trip to Gambia, Kathryn felt a calling to return to Glebe Farm and support what remained of her old Baptist congregation - reigniting its mission and community purpose.
 
Having a Team Leader brought hope to the church and Kathryn, challenged by God’s words to Moses, ‘What is in your hand?’ began building connections through regular use of a church gazebo on local streets. Soon, the local library, previously under threat of closure, became a home for Sunday services and Messy Church. And Kathryn has since developed strong ministry partnerships with other Baptist churches, networks, and other denominations and neighbourhood associations.
 
Reflecting on how far this small church has come since 2018, Kathryn said, 'We’ve spent three years exploring ourselves as a church - more deeply than we might have, due to Covid-19. Now it’s about firming up our beginnings, consolidating our foundation, and pursuing our mission as an evangelising church with purpose and faith.
 
'Someone asked how we could replicate what we do here. I thought that’s simple - You pray! Pray every day for your church members, pray every day for your neighbourhood, pray every day for God’s kingdom come … and then go out and take your part in the life of your neighbourhood.'


Image | Members of Glebe Farm involved in a community litter pick
 

To read more about the inspiring ways that Baptist churches are benefiting from Baptist Insurance grants, or to submit an application, visit: baptist-insurance.co.uk/grants 

Listen to Kathryn speak about Glebe Farm in this Missional Adventure podcast