Through your prayers and giving, you are our partners in proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. Pray that we would continue to do so with all boldness and without hindrance!
“As a pastor, you learn to be patient.” Now in his fifth year as pastor of Grace Baptist Church Bexleyheath, Chola Mukanga - also Chairman of GBP - is learning this. The church has come a long way since almost closing prior to Chola’s appointment. Chola knows there is more to be done, but is patiently committed to the necessary work of revitalisation.
There are national challenges. The response to COVID-19 has exposed a thoroughly materialistic culture, with no thought of or hope for eternity, but only the preservation of the temporal, at all costs. The church responded by prioritising the eternal. They continued to physically gather, through the difficulties of the past year. During the November lockdown, they opened their doors for corporate prayer, and the Lord strengthened the church in this important area of congregational life.. They resumed the children’s Sunday School. Evangelism continued with one-to-one sessions through the Gospel of John ( using The Word 1-2-1), open-air evangelism when possible, and a Christian literature table in front of the church which has seen around 400 books taken.
There are local challenges. Bexleyheath is changing. 515 homes are being built directly opposite the church building, creating a new mission field on the church doorstep. More worryingly, many businesses are closing, unemployment is rising, and there is much fear about the future.. After consultation with other churches, the church has recently launched a food bank to assist people in need.
There are congregational challenges. Chola is frank: as a black man, when he became pastor, the church’s demographics changed. There was a noticeable decrease in white people visiting and committing to the church. But over time, the church’s membership has increased in diversity across race and age, and the church is enjoying remarkable unity and diversity.
The burdens of ministry are many, but the church has identified a candidate for eldership and appointed a coordinator for women’s ministry. They have not seen any baptisms over the past year, but members continue to be added and there are people close to professing faith. There are other concerns: a weak financial position, church hopping, few people attending church from within walking distance... And those are just the things Chola can talk about. “Never in a million years, did I think that when I become a pastor, I was going to deal with some of the complex issues I have dealt with over the last year or so.” But God who is restoring the church at Bexleyheath to life will continue to help and sustain them.
Pray that as the church looks forward, they would gladly take on more Christ-honouring risks than they presently allow themselves to take.
Pray for increased financial stewardship and greater financial independency from grants etc.
Pray for Chola, and for Ola Sanni, who will hopefully be joining him as an elder soon. Pray that their ministries would be characterised by faithfulness and fruitfulness.
You can make a gift to Grace Baptist Partnership and the ongoing work of leadership training, church planting and revitalisation, using this link: Donate | Grace Baptist Partnership
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