 Baker's Blog ...
February 2008
Here’s the view from
my study this February. Please use the news to share & pray through
with friends, in your own personal devotions and amongst your Small
Groups throughout the month. We trust it’s helpful in oiling the
wheels of communication!
Here
are some encouragements from our various ministries over the past few
weeks:
Last Monday, 16 North Koreans turned up for the Internationals Evening
- one family all the way from Plymouth! There are roughly 250 North
Koreans in the UK, 50 of them in Cardiff. Gi Jung who has been
involved with Rowland and the Internationals team for several years,
excitedly emailed me with this news. Plans are in place for spiritual
and practical help for these people – many of whom have never properly
heard the gospel.
On the same night, Christianity Explored and Discipleship Explored
were well attended. Earlier in the day the usual crowd of pre school
music mums, dads and kids were making a noise in the Coffee Lounge.
The Lunch club takes place every Monday at Gladstone School and
attracts 30 or more children. We’d love more men to help with lunch
clubs, so if you’re free, why not speak to Tamar and find out if you
can help!
Sharon Price and the Women’s Bible Study organised a pancake morning
this past Tuesday, with the emphasis of the event being
bridge–building, reaching the mums and families who are not regular
church goers.
Over 200 pancakes were slavishly flipped by our own in-house
accomplished Chefs (John Morrison, Jonny Greatrex and Chris Street)
while the rest of us indulged in eating and chatting!
My first conversation was with Glanmor Griffiths and his wife Mair –
who regularly bring their granddaughter to our toddler music classes.
Glanmor is the former President of the Welsh Rugby Union, which meant
we not only talked about our recent glorious triumph Wales vs England
on Feb 2nd, but also answered their questions about
Highfields!
As I piled my plate with fresh pancakes, I then moved on to speak with
a French teacher, who had asked Celine and I if she could help us with
our language classes. I said she would have to be a committed
Christian first – she said: “I’d like to discuss that with you!”
Other brief conversations followed with people from Poland, Pakistan,
Slovakia and Belarus.
These
events are great opportunities for the gospel. So do look out for the
next one – come along and chat to new friends – it can be a great
encouragement to us all!
I
hope you were encouraged by
Vision
Sunday. I was aware, as many have said that it was a special day.
While the headlines may have read a list of needs;
-
½ million pounds needed
-
Kitchen Refurbishment on the way
-
full time Student Worker for September
the
real
story is the challenge to see that God’s resources always outnumber
our problems.
We’ll have a chance to unpack the
vision for 2008 further when we meet
on
Wednesday 13th February - Feedback on the Vision
Please encourage your groups to be there to contribute to the
discussion and prayer time. For those who weren’t around on Feb 3rd,
please see the Vision Powerpoint presentation with
commentary. Alternatively you can pick up a letter from
the information desk.
The elders continue to work on the vision for 2008 and beyond. Please
pray for clear thinking and wise decision-making as we consider how to
put the vision into practice.
While you’re praying for elders, some of you may be aware that Nick
Williams resigned from Eldership in January after five years on the
Leadership. We are grateful to him and Judith for their ministry
among us. I’m sure they’d value your prayers as a family, and we are
encouraged that Nick will stay involved with his interests in missions
and evangelism particularly.
Following
on with the challenge of mission,
it’s that time of the year when up and down the country University
Christian Unions hold major evangelism projects. It was good to hear
from Gemma and Ben in Church on Feb 3rd about the CU
mission in Cardiff.
Remember that Mission and others in your prayers – and if I might
indulge a little, remember Laura Gallagher (nee Baker!) as she
organises the OICCU mission, “Amazing Grace” with Paul Hinton, Lindsay
Brown and others.
Closer to home, it’s wonderful to hear that Alison Young has been
accepted by OMF for a two year term in Thailand. She is one of
several who have been conscious in recent months of God’s call on
their lives in that specific way.
We
are looking at options which would bring all the elements of Mission
(Home and Abroad) under one structure, so that we can more helpfully
identify, train, send and support current and future Mission
Partners.
A further meeting of the current UKAST and CCMC committees with Ted
Pilling, who has been helping us to review our policy and practice, is
planned for
28th February.
Please pray for a collective understanding and commitment to make the
transition in this area.
On
a pastoral note, we welcome Gill Stediford’s help with the visitation
programme for the Elderly members of Highfields.
It’s been good to see Lisa Parry and Ian McCann back in church. Pray
for Heather Dodge now out of hospital, Jean Catchpole in Holme Towers,
and Pete, Siaron and Catrin Rees. Pete’s case has had significant
media coverage recently. This month may well prove to be critical in
relation to his long term care. Pray for justice and perseverance.
Sadly, Wyatt and Vicky Gwyn and family leave us for the US this
month. (He has of course been the link for our partnership in mission
last year with Pinelake Church near Jacksonville, Mississippi.) As
Director of Emmanuel Associates, Wyatt will still be a regular visitor
to the UK.
Finally,
a group from Pinelake return this year for our MISSION (23rd
– 27th April) with the main speaker being Lindsay Brown.
Look out for the publicity starting this Sunday 10th and
start praying for opportunities to invite people along!
As always, In Christ
Peter Baker
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