NBA Prayers for 16th August - Glendale Crossing Places (Wooler)

More items for praise than prayer this time!

 

·                     In June, we brought year 3 of our local First School (Primary) to Scripture Union's "Life Path" event; it was greatly enjoyed by everyone. It looks likely that they'll now be thinking about bringing the next year 3 back there to hear a clear Christian story well told and entered into by the children. Highly recommended!

 

·                     We recently had the new Baptist Union President, Jenni Entrican, meet with us and other local rural pioneers. Her theme "Daring Greatly" has been set to encourage pioneer ministries to be a model of good practice for other mission-centred churches.

 

·                     Our community minister, Bill, has hosted the "Paintathon" event at the recent Wooler Festival. Around 100 children and adults were asked to look at themselves in a mirror, think about who they really are, and paint their own portrait. The results were displayed in the High Street for the following two weeks - a way of encouraging people to think about who made them.

 

·                     Café Church continues to ask similar questions of those who help fill the back room of the local pub. We seek a way of encouraging people to think more deeply about faith and life. This year has brought in 3 new people from Café Church to our Core Group.

 

·                     Local churches have got together to hold a quarterly Taizé worship time. This is another small way to help different denominations to meet and worship together.

 

·                     Thanks for our medium-term future now appearing more secure. Your prayers are valued!

 

And some matters for prayer, too.

 

·                     Bill as he heads up the Glendale "Intergenerational Opportunities" panel which seeks better employment opportunities, skill-sharing and communication between old and young in Glendale, and for finding ways of stopping the haemorrhage of young talent away from the countryside.

 

·                     September sees the completion of the move for the First School as they begin to share the same site as the Middle School. Crossing Places hopes to encourage greater community participation in the school garden and craft sessions. Pray for Bill's continuing work with them.

 

·                     Volunteering at the Royal Voluntary Service's weekly "Gathering" offers chances of making friends. Please pray that we can be supportive and offer spiritual comfort, when asked, to the participants.

Minister: Rev Bill Eugster

Website: www.glendalecrossingplaces.org

NBA Prayers for 9th August - Simonside Baptist Church @ The Scotch Estate

We are plodding along at Simonside. One of the problems we had was our name. We are not at Simonside but are based on the Scotch Estate; so we have changed the name to Simonside Baptist Church @ the Scotch Estate.

 

The Fun Club is also plodding along, with 3 boys and their father who were on our original membership roll and two newer members, a girl and a boy. In our small hall, five is enough but we could accommodate one or two more.

 

We are holding a special church meeting on Sunday 16th August. We see it as a make or break time. Having prayed long and hard, asking God for guidance, we believe He has answered our prayers. We need to get out again and this time attempt to cover more of the estate. This time we are not looking for children, but for adults to come along and join us.

 

People will tell you that, although the church is unattractive outside, inside it is warm and comfortable. It is what lies beneath the surface that matters!

 

Please pray for us and for Reuben, our Minister, recovering from a cataract operation (his second) earlier this week.

Minister: Rev Reuben Horsley

NBA Prayers for 2nd August - TEBA (Tryon Evergreen Baptist Association, in Texas)

Three things you can thank God for in the life of the Association:

1] Grateful for the number of people who have come to saving faith in Christ this year.

2] Grateful for the strong fellowship and support among the TEBA churches and missions.

3] Grateful for the opportunity to partner in the planting of new congregations in the Association.

 

Three items/issues you can share with us in praying about:

1] We pray we would stay passionately faithful to our Vision and Mission:

Our VISION: To be a partnership of healthy reproducing congregations cooperating together to transform our community and our world.

Our PURPOSE: The purpose of this Association is to relate to and assist the member churches individually and cooperatively in carrying out the fulfilment of the Great Commission through the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

2] We pray that God would continue to raise up or send us qualified Church Planters.

3] We pray that God would guide us as we seek to determine and implement our future Associational Strategy.

Executive Director: Rev Roger A Yancey

Website: www.teba.org

NBA Prayers for 26th July - Stocksfield BC (Tyne Valley)

We give thanks for the appointment of our new Minister, Pete Jorysz, who will be joining us in September, after a lengthy but smooth appointments process which saw the church come together in a really united and prayerful way. During this period we were all encouraged as different people stepped up to fill the roles normally undertaken by a minister.

 

We praise God for the renovation work which has taken place in the church building during this period and we are now enjoying the benefits of a lovely refurbished hall, new boiler and heating system and splendid new toilets!

 

We pray for Pete and his wife Steph as they move to a new part of the country and pray that they will quickly settle into their new home and God will richly bless them in their new jobs.

 

We ask prayer for healing for the daughter of our Church Secretary, recently diagnosed with breast cancer.

Website: www.stocksfieldbaptistchurch.net

NBA Prayers for 19th July - Darlington Baptist Tabernacle

Praise God for:

• The continuing faithfulness of many members as they look to serve the community in which God has placed us.
• Good numbers of toddlers and carers who attend the weekly Toddler group meeting.
• Good links with a small number from the neighbourhood through T @ the Tab (a drop in opportunity for fellowship, refreshments, credit union etc.), "Not the Youth Club" (a monthly opportunity for adults to meet and relax, playing games or just chatting) and the Community Choir.
• God's goodness to Robyn Shepherd and her husband Gareth, as they expect the arrival of their first child in November.
• Increased links with Grange Road Baptist Church.
• The support of the NBA, as we are looking to God for the future, through the Springboard initiative.

Pray for:

• God's blessing on all those who serve in the church at the present time.
• Wisdom as we look to implement appropriate recommendations resulting from the Springboard report.
• Opportunities to introduce those on the fringe of the churches' activities to Jesus.
• Guidance as we consider how the current links with Grange Road might develop.

Minister in Training: Robyn Shepherd

Website: www.darlingtonbaptist.com

NBA Prayers for 12th July - South Bank BC, Middlesbrough

A few things to say 'thanks' for:

·         People coming to faith, and recent baptisms.

·         A growing hunger for more of God throughout our congregation.

·         A genuine sense of God at work in our community.

 

A few things to pray for:

·         'The Lunch Box' which will run every Monday, Wednesday and Friday throughout August, offering packed lunches and family friendly activities to local families.

·         We believe God is telling us to 'Get Ready ...'

·         The discipleship of new Christians, especially those who find it difficult to attend church on a Sunday because of work commitments.

Minister: Rev Jon Edwards

Website: www. southbankbaptist.org (and on Facebook)

NBA Prayers for 298th June - Blackhill BC (near Consett)

Give thanks

·         for the 31 young people who recently went on the 'weekend away' with the Youth Café leaders, Gary, our minister, and his wile Val.

·         for the families who come along to our monthly 'Messy Church'

·         for the youngsters who come to our weekly children's outreach 'Trailblazers'

 

Pray for

·         The leaders and workers in the 'Youth Café', Messy Church and Trailblazers.

·         For many of our members who have health problems at present

·         Those who have recently joined our morning congregation, especially those who are wanting to become more involved and the gentleman who has requested to be baptised.

Pastor: Rev Gary Collier

Website: www.blackhillbaptist.org.uk