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!
20 years ago, someone was baptised at Linslade Baptist Church. The water was drained. The baptistery was covered. The baptistery stayed dry and covered, and over the following two decades of neglect fell into a state of disrepair. Indeed, the material disrepair of the baptistery was indicative of the spiritual disrepair of Linslade Baptist Church itself. But things began to change. Leadership was appointed, important governance and administration matters were addressed. Attendance grew. Things were progressing slowly but surely.
Then COVID-19 arrived. In March 2020, a national lockdown was announced and the church - still in the infancy of revitalisation - made the difficult decision to voluntarily suspend in-person gatherings. Would their new life be snuffed out before it had even a chance to thrive?
“From the start of the pandemic, I have always sensed the Lord's hand in it, sending it for His purposes”, Cliff Wade, trainee pastor, says. “I often remind the people that God is sovereign over all. He knew about the Corona Virus pandemic ever before this world was created.”
Cliff kept preaching, and qualified, capable men from Dunstable Baptist Church helped share the load. After the church began regathering at the earliest opportunity in the summer, a local woman began attending. She had wandered away from the Lord for many years, but against the backdrop of the pandemic, returned and has been an encouragement to the church ever since.
The church distributed 5000 leaflets to every property in Linslade. An elderly gentleman responded to the leaflet’s invitation at Christmas, and continues to attend. He has found the friendship he desperately seeks at the church, but they are praying he will find a still better and greater friend in Jesus Christ.
The church desires to proclaim Christ in their town even more, and recognise their own needs and limitations. They also admit their weaknesses: it can be tempting to dilute the gospel message for their secular, atheist context. But they believe God has already gone before them, is with them, and will save his people through their witness.
And about that baptistery… Its disrepair was discovered while it was being prepared for the church’s first baptism in 20 years: Elizabeth, Cliff’s wife. Fortunately, in the event, Dunstable Baptist Church was only too happy to share their pool!
Praise God for sustaining the church through the second year of their revitalisation.
Pray for Cliff Wade, that God would help him in his seminary studies and ministry in the church.
Pray for biblical conversion and church growth. Pray that the church would be equipped to serve one another and to faithfully proclaim Christ to their community.
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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