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!
Langford Chapel has never been home to large congregations. Then again, the village of Lower Langford in North Somerset is not a large place. Today, the chapel is home to Langford Evangelical Church, led by Pastor George Beacham.
In 2009 the church recognised George, who had served the church unofficially for six years and was just entering early retirement, as their pastor. George is now 75, and Christine - his wife of almost 21 years - is disabled: having served the church unofficially and officially for 17 years, George is keen to hand the pastorate over to someone else. Indeed, he almost did last year, but it didn’t work out.
GBP has been a source of great encouragement to George and the church in recent years. When he considers Barry King, GBP supported evangelist Mark Hope, and other brothers connected to Grace Baptist Partnership, he observes a commitment to faithfulness and an attitude of perseverance that gives him courage. As a result, this elderly pastor of a small church has been on the leading edge of doing things that can be done despite the difficulties of the past year.
“I had to feed the church”, George says. He prioritised preaching and teaching, using what online outlets were available to him: Zoom, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter. “We had used the internet before, but this part of our ministry really took off…It has expanded our horizons and widened our reach!”
George also led in reopening the chapel doors for gathered worship. There was some opposition to this, which troubled George, who was doing all he could to ensure that things were done wisely and safely. “I have no difficulty if people don’t want to come, so long as they don’t stand in the way of others who do.” So George presses on, and he does so with hope:
“We have to be reaching out with the gospel. But there is also the discipleship side of things. We need mission and maintenance. I’m not really discouraged, since I’ve been here 25 or so years. I’ve seen the church go down, and go up again. God can build us up and mature people.”
Praise God for the vital role small, rural, elderly churches play in the kingdom of God. Confess any sinful attitude that may look down on such churches and commit to support them in prayer, and practically as able.
Pray for the provision of a new pastor for Langmore Evangelical Church, and for more people to commit to the fellowship there. Pray that the church will have unity of purpose and clarity as to the right way forward.
Pray that the Lord would bless the church’s evangelism with success, whether relationally, from door-to-door, online, or through events and ministries. Pray especially for the mission day with Barry King, planned for June.
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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