SIGNPOSTJuly and August 2014

ORPINGTON BAPTIST CHURCH

OBC

contents Page number

From our Minister 1

From Danny 2-3

From David 3-4

From our Treasurer 5

From Helen 6-7

Church Meeting 7

Sundays 8

Flower Ministry 9-10

Women's Friendship Group 10

Theology Café 11

Parking 11

Spiritual Pamper Day 2015 11

Wycliffe News 12-13

Blessed are the Peacemakers 14

Out of Afghanistan 15-16

In Chains for Christ 16-17

BMS Birthdays 18

Mum’s The Word! 18

Boys’ Brigade 19

Holiday at Home 20

MegaMakers 20

Sahaara update 21-22

Girls’ Brigade 22

Prayer Ministry Team 23

Christian Aid collection 23

Thank You 23

Thinking about Baptism? 24

Update from Katie 24

From our Minister

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Dear friends,

Whatever this summer holds for you I’d like to give youthose famous words from Psalm 23 to think about:

‘He makes me lie down in green pasturesHe leads me beside quiet waters,He refreshes my soul’

So much of life seems to be taken up with rush, business and commitments butGod invites us to find a place of restoration and renewal in him. If you’re able toget away this summer send us a postcard, but whether or not a holiday away ispossible for you make sure you find time and space to refresh your soul. Godhas green pastures and quiet waters for us all. Sometimes they have a physicalplace associated with them, but always they must about God helping us withinourselves. St Augustine put it

‘Our souls are restless until they find their rest in him’.

I know of some churches that almost close down over these summer months, butI’m glad that the work of God within and through OBC continues in many ways.Every Sunday there are worship services to come to morning and evening, there’sMegaMakers the childrens’ Holiday Club, the Holiday At Home for older friends,the BB Camp and the young adults’ Momentum festival. And, our work of caring,worshipping, praying and reaching-out continues. As I write Helena Brady has leftfor short-term work in the Philippines with OM and Olivia Groom is going to Kosovowith Smile International. May God richly bless all these opportunities and morebesides.

Marg and I are heading up to the east coast of Scotland for two weeks in August.We love to see the wonderful wildlife and particularly birdlife in that area of theUK. God can so speak to us through the incredible beauty of his creation.Take time, as they say, to smell the roses, and allow Godto lead you to a place of rest and trust in him.

With love in Jesus,

Martyn

From Danny, our Youth Pastor

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Summer is comingThe Summer term is an unusual time for youth work, we say goodbye tothe familiar and regular youth groups and make way for day trips,residentials and outdoorsy stuff. This different program comes with itsown challenges and opportunities. In school term we have set times formeeting, we know when young people are going to be to be around andwe have a regular pattern for the volunteers that help with the groups.These disappear along with school over July and August and events arejuggled between family holidays, leaders being available and thedifferent camps that run throughout these months.However there is a benefit to these sporadic day trips and activities, weare able to spend longer doing activities and talking with the youngpeople. These conversations aren't structured around bible studies andchallenges like they are in school term, they come naturally throughconversations and the relationship we have built with the youth over thelast year. It is these organic conversations, despite the lack of planning,that often effect young people the most because they are about thingsthe young people are thinking about then and there.I was recently away with some ofthe young adults from the churchwhere one of these organicconversations happened. We weremountain biking in Wales and oneevening whilst sheltering in ourtent from the mosquitos one ofthem initiated a conversation. Wechatted as a group for a couple ofhouse about it, everyone sharedtheir opinions and experienceswithout any help from a questionsheet or leaders guide. They weretalking about what was on their heart and how it influenced their faith.We try and encourage these conversations through informal youthworklike the Youth Cafe or within social times in the other youth groups but

Young adults: Mountain Biking weekend

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From David, our Children & Family Worker

I’m currently reading the latest issue of Children’s work (Issue11) a bi-monthly magazine and came across an article aboutthe importance of looking after yourself. The writer remindedme of the necessity to find time to reflect, refresh and prayaway from other distractions and as many of our volunteerswill be taking a summer break from our weekly churchschedules – my prayer is that we all find time to spend withour God to reflect, refresh andrecharge our batteries! Psalm 29

verse 11 comes to mind “The Lord gives strength tohis people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.”May we feel His strength and peace as we relax alittle of the forthcoming holidays.

Children’s Fun Bible Group (OK Group):This term we are looking the Old

Testament and attempting to get an overview in just five weeks. We started with the account ofGod creating Adam and got our hands messy creating bread. The dough stucklike glue but got us talking about God’s love for us and how He sticks to uslike glue if we allow Him.

there are far more of them in the summer program, its probably due to beingaway from the expectation of lead activities within the church building. Formany young people it is these conversations and the opportunity to reflecton them through the freedom of time that comes with the summer holidaysthat influence their faith the most.Please pray for these conversations, that our youth leaders will be guided tosay that right things, encourage young people to engage with them and thatthey will impact the faith of our youth.Keep an eye out on the OBC youth page for more information on thesummer program.

Kidzone Summer Programme:We will continue Kidzone classes throughout the summer holidays be it alittle different to normal. A big thank you to our regular volunteers for alltheir input throughout the school term and we wish them a well-earnedbreak.Thank you to for those who will be leading our summer programme in theupper hall for our 3’s to 11’s and we pray that the children will continue toenjoy their time altogether. If there are families joining you for the summerthen please show them where to go.

Spinnaker Schools Work:A big thank you to everyone who has being praying forthe Spinnaker assemblies during the course of thisschool year. It has been a challenging one, with newhead teachers in place but also been a rewarding onewith many familiar faces expressing their gratitude insupporting these schools in their collective worship andRE lessons. Please continue to pray for this work in ourlocal area as we return in the Autumn

Spinnaker Prayer fortnight:We were warmly welcomed to Christ Church Orpington

on Wednesday 14�� May to give thanks, worship andthink about ourselves being “Rooted Deeper in Christ”from Ephesians 3. This alongside the latest edition ofSpinnaker News encouraged us to think about reachingall of the fruit treeencouraging us schoolsworkers to be firm in our

knowledge of Christ and ensure our gospelmessage reaches the ears of the children andstaff of our schools. To conclude our prayerevent we lit candles and placed them onpictures of our schools, -

“let the flame burn brighter”

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From our Treasurer I was talking to some relatively new members of thecongregation recently and they were unaware that ourlovely cafe area and other new developments had onlyrecently been completed. This caused me to wonder howmany others are blissfully unaware of the way the churchused to be and the fabulous changes we have seen over thepast two years.It also occurred to me that they, and others, may also be unaware that weare still paying for the work done to our buildings. These were not justupgrades to some of the key areas of the church like toilets and kitchen,but also new additions that have changed the way we are as a church.These include the new cafe area where so much takes place on Sunday andduring the week. We have a new, light, balcony extension, new offices andseveral meeting rooms that are more flexible and up to date.One of our stated aims is to be an outward looking church, and thesechanges help facilitate that. Even the buildings are now more “welcoming”,drawing people in to a modern and relaxed environment.To assist us in paying off the loan that we took out, we are going to hold a“Thank You Day” on October 5th for these amazing building works. This willbe around the time of Harvest and will be almost two years on from thecompletion of the project. It will be an opportunity (maybe a final one) toupdate your standing orders, to give a one off gift towards the work andfor newer people, a chance to get involved in a project that has changedOBC. More details will be coming soon.While the main focus of this day will be to raise money, it will also be atime of reflection and an opportunity to look back over the journey that wehave taken; a time to give some of our newer friends an insight into thechanges so they can share in the vision for the future.Ivor ReveleyChurch Treasurer

Then

Now

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From Helen, our Parish Nurse

The first 6 months of Parish Nursing at OBC have been exciting! A fewfacts and figures to give you an idea of what I’ve been up to eachWednesday between December and May:

■ I’ve had a total of 113 consultations, involving 69 individuals

■ I’ve prayed with 17 people

■ I’ve made 2 home visits

■ I’ve taken part in 5 Healing and Communion services

■ I’ve created 2 display boards in the foyer, on Easy Ways to 5 aDay and Carers Week

■ I’ve attended 2 Parish Nursing Cluster Groups

■ I’ve had one session of professional supervision/mentoring

■ I’ve completed the final day of the course and produced aportfolio, and have now received a badge and certificate fromthe International Parish Nurse Resource Centre in USA

■ And this is my 4�� Signpost article!

Every week has been different, some busier than others, but alwaysworthwhile. I’ve had queries about changing GPs, interpreting hospitalletters, managing blood pressure, issues relating to caring for elderlyrelatives, managing anxiety, swollen ankles….the list is endless! And it’sgreat being able to just chat to people at the café, especially when thecafé staff are really busy, and also in Leisure Group.

I have lots of ideas for continuing to develop the project, probably toomany to realistically achieve in one day per week! A walking group for

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the less mobile, Dementia Friends Champion training, creating prayercards to give to people, joining the Christian Medical Fellowship….I also need to develop a Health Support Group/Steering Group, the aimbeing to ensure that the wider church are involved in the Parish Nurseministry, and to have prayer support and guidance, especially in makingdecisions about the direction of the project. It wouldn’t be a heavycommitment, probably about 3 meetings per year, and you don’t need tohave a background in healthcare. If this is something you might feel ledto get involved with, please have a chat with me.And a huge thank you to everyone for being so supportive and interested!

OBC CHURCH FAMILY MEETINGWednesday 16th July 2014

OPEN TO ALL (not just Church Members!) 7.45pm for 8.00 start

WORSHIP - DISCUSSION - INFORMATION - DECISIONS - SHARINGNot yet a Member?Everyone who comes to OBC is an important part of our Church Family.But if you’d like to take your commitment to God’s work at OBC a stepfurther and be involved in decision-making by becoming a Church Member(which will give you a vote at our Church Family Meetings) please askMartyn for more details about hooking-up with OBC.

Belonging to OBC Don’t wait to be asked!

Do you sometimes feel you’re out of touch with what’s

happening at OBC?Then you should come to the next

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JULY 6 10.30 Worship led by our Ministry Team with Rev Penny Marsh giving usan update about the Thames Gateway church planting project andpreaching in our Alive in Christ series

6.30 Cafe service: Mission to the Army - Skype from Germany withPadre Carl Stokes, recently returned from Afghanistan

13 10.30 All-Age Worship with Parade

6.30 Evening Worship led by our young adults

20 10.30 Worship with Communion led by our Minister with Martin Sweetpreaching in our Alive in Christ series

6.30 Prayer & Praise Service

27 10.30 Worship led by our Ministry Team: Alive in Christ series

3.00 MegaMakers Holiday Club launch

AUGUST 3 10.30 Worship led by our Ministry Team: concluding Alive in Christseries

6.30 Healing & Communion Worship

10 10.30& 6.30

Worship led by our friend Rev Dawn Savidge, CommunityEngagement Minister at Bloomsbury Baptist Church, London

17 10.30& 6.30

Worship led by our member Rev Tony Cross

24 10.30 Worship led by our Ministry Team

6.30 Songs Of Praise

31 10.30 Worship led by our Ministry Team

6.30 Youth-led worship for us all

Sunday Worship is a high point of all that we do at OBC. Through the teaching ofGod’s word and worship that is inspiring we want everyone to come closer to God.Over these summer months this is what we’re planning:

Let the Son shine in your life!

Date Donated by Remembering Arranged by

Jul 6 Maggy Bater Her son, daughter & husband Linda Timmins

13 Joyce Lowes Her father, Christopher Alison McLellan

John, Alison & Mark Hales Pam Hales

20 Ken Wooster His wife, Brenda Penny Toghill

27 Marilyn Crisp Happy family memories Marilyn Crisp

Viv Cox Her father

Aug 3 Dave & Jenny Golding Their parents Karen Sumner

Mollie & Peter Lavers

10 AVAILABLE Linda Timmins

17 Penny Toghill Her brother Penny Toghill

24 AVAILABLE Fran Morris

31 Keith & Pauline Hollands Their parents, Alf & Ruth Bristow Karen Symner

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The following friends are providing andarranging flowers for the months of July & August

If you would like to donate to the flower ministry for any special occasion youwish to remember please contact Penny on 01689 871102 or 07738 514694

or by email to penny.toghill@ntlworld.com

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All ladies are invited to come to

JULY 7th Release International - Margaret Evans14th Bible Study - David Jermyn21st Annual Garden Party

28th School holidays - No meeting

We look forward to sharing fellowship again with you all in the Autumn

and we resume on 8th September. Enjoy the summer.Yours in Christ, Brenda C

We offer a warm welcome to all ladies to share atime of friendship and fellowship. We meet eachMonday afternoon from 2pm with tea at 3pm.More details from the Welcome Desk or fromPauline Hollands, Helen Stockman and Brenda Cross

Our Flower Ministry Team, led byPenny Toghill, produce beautifuldisplays each week. They help us

worship our Creator God andbless so many visitors.

Following our Sunday Servicesmost of the flowers are deliveredto those who are in need of our

thoughts and prayers.Would you like to donate to the

flower ministry for a specialoccasion or person you wish to

remember?Please contact Penny on

01689 871102 / 07738 514694penny.toghill.ntlworld.comor speak to her at church.

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Theology Cafewill be running again in September.

Starting at 6.00pm in the Welcome Area wesimply open with prayer, watch the DVD lecture and thendiscuss or raise our own questions in groups.We usually end between 7.30 and 8.00pm.

We’ll be running a new series called ‘Bible Track’ to digdeeper into God’s Word together.

theology

café

A POLITE REMINDER from our very patient neighbours…We have received comments from residents near the churchabout parking on Sunday mornings. Please try to rememberto take particular care you are not blocking any driveway when

parking on the road - even when you’re late for church!

If you are blocking others from leaving our car park please leavea note of your name on the dashboard so you can be identifiedand asked to move if necessary. On Sundays it may be helpfulif you could move your car having your coffee.

Come and pamper your soulinstead of your body

Saturday 18 April 2015in The Terrace Lounge

Oak Hall Manor, Otford

Keep the date free if you want to come!Details later this year.

‘Bible Track’ is another DVD resource from St Paul’s Theological Centre, at Holy Trinity Brompton, home of The Alpha Course.

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Translating Through Tough Times:The TemboGenocide has a long tail. Ever since Rwandan refugees fleeing the genocide pouredover the border into the Congolese city of Goma in 1994, the town has known littlepeace.  In villages surrounding Goma, despite a UN peace keeping force, atrocitiescontinue to be carried out against a vulnerable and exhausted population. Aconfusing array of different armed groups abound, all of whom prey on local people.

The homeland of the Tembo people is right at the heart of this troubled Kivu region.Bible translation work began in their language around sixteen years ago. Becauseof the insecurity, since 1999 the translation team has worked on a displaced basisin Goma city rather than in the centre of their language community. Their homearea has seen more than its fair share of insecurity.  The troubles reached a newpeak in May 2012 when 32 villagers were burned to death in their houses by rebels.

The five members of the translationteam are fiercely committed to seeingthe New Testament completed in theirlanguage. Genesis, Luke and Acts haveall been published in the language, andaround 85% of the New Testament hasalready been drafted. In the midst ofrelentless hardships, the team hasamazing resilience. They need it.Goma may provide a greater measureof security than their home villages,but the cost of living in the city is skyhigh. In a town where prices arepushed up by the presence of aidorganisations who can afford to payover the odds for rent and food, the

translators struggle to make ends meet. Moreover, each time there is a fresh rebeladvance in the surrounding region, the town is flooded by a new wave of refugeesand the translation team can find themselves housing displaced relatives in theiralready crowded homes.

The ongoing conflict takes its toll in other ways, too. Bible translation involves muchmore than translators sitting in a room, translating from the Greek. It’s a complex

The Tembo team with wives and babies

community process involving many players: church leaders, a language committeewho helps to guide the work and mobilise the community, revisers, who givefeedback about the naturalness and clarity of the translation and speakers of thelanguages of all ages and backgrounds with whom the translation drafts are testedto see how they are understood. Carrying out these activities in a war zone witha displaced and often traumatised population poses huge challenges. Often theteam cannot easily access people at the centre of the language community. Butwhenever there is an opportunity, despite the risks, members of the team try totravel to their home area to encourage people with God’s Word in Tembo, andencourage them to be involved in the Bible translation process.

Recently I received an email from the translation team. They had spent a terrifyingnight listening to the sound of bombing on the outskirts of Goma. In the morningthey had gathered at the translation office, not knowing what the day held. Butwhen they opened up their email, they found a message encouraging them toread Psalm 46. They based their morning prayers on the psalm, and drew comfortfrom God’s Word for the day ahead by reading the passage in as many differentBible translations in different languages as they could find:

“God is our refuge and strength,always ready to help in times of trouble....The LORD of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;the God of Israel is our fortress...He causes war to end throughout the earth.He breaks the bow and shatters the spear...

God’s Spirit speaking through his Word lifted their hearts and gave them freshstrength for a tough day’s work in a precarious situation. It’s because of their ownexperience of the unfailing power of God’s Word to bring hope that thesetranslators are single-minded, no matter what the circumstances. It’s their visionand prayer that all the Tembo people will soon hear God’s Word in the languageof their heart, and know the reality that God is their refuge and strength in timesof trouble.

Written by Sarah Casson, a translationconsultant and colleague of Andrew andJanet Sweet, working with SIL EasternCongo Group, a partner organization ofWycliffe Bible Translators UK.Reprinted with permission.

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Blessed are the peacemakers After war, we can bring hope

This article appeared in Engage magazine,summer 2014

www.bmsworldmission.org/engagecatalyst

The first time I visited a war zone wasAfghanistan in 1997. The Taliban hadbeen in power a year. The journeyoverland from Pakistan, though theKhyber Pass and across the searingheat of the desert to Kabul was hardgoing. Burnt-out Russian tanks litteredthe roadside.Photographs were banned in thosedays, as were all images of livingcreatures. Books on sale in ChickenStreet had pieces of cardboard gluedto the cover to obliterate any faces.Kite flying, dancing and music werebanned too, cassettes confiscated, thetape ripped out of, and tied to postsand left fluttering in the wind. At thecentre of the city was a gallows wherecriminals were hanged in public. Therewas very little crime in the city.I visited the office of a Taliban official,a belt of bullets across his chest, anda Kalashnikov leaning in the corner.

My presence needed to be registered,my visa extended and I explained thatthe visit was to enable my organisationto work here.One day I was taken to the BritishCemetery. It’s still famous today, notleast because a Muslim man lookedafter it for years when there was nodiplomatic presence in the country.Here a number of Christian workerslay buried, their lives given in serviceto the Afghan people.All around were the signs of war.Buildings destroyed by shells. Peoplewalking on crutches with one or bothlegs missing – the legacy of land mines.It wasn’t hard to wonder how acountry like this could ever improve.Would school ever be an option forchildren? Jobs for adults? Signs ofliving faith?Our team is still there today and in thisyear of transition I ask you to prayearnestly that they will be God’speacemakers in a land that needspeace desperately.David Kerrigan

By our friend David Kerrigan.David is General Director of

BMS World Mission.

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Out of AfghanistanWhat will happen when the troops leave, asks Roshan Mendis.Every family in Afghanistan has tasted the bitterness of war in some way The photoof the Afghan girl on the cover of the National Geographic way back in 1985 wasone that grabbed my attention and also that of so many readers worldwide. Seeingher again on the 2002 edition entitled “Found” was equally intriguing. Her eyes tella story of a land amazingly and hauntingly beautiful and of a people who havewitnessed and experienced time and again the trauma of war and the repeatedbetrayal of leadership and governments with each change of rule.

That every family in Afghanistan hastasted the bitterness of war in someway or other is not surprising. As Ihave come to realise, her story is notuncommon as one looks at the figures:30 or more years of war, over 1.5million killed, over 3.5 millionrefugees. This is the story ofAfghanistan over the past fewdecades.The question today most asked ofAfghanistan, from government to civilsociety, business to development,military to religion, is about what willhappen when the InternationalSecurity Assistance Force (ISAF) pullout this year? The ISAF has thus farbeen the primary source of help to thegovernment in maintaining peace andrebuilding the country, a role nowbeing handed over to the AfghanNational Security Forces (ANSF). In anation that largely comprises ofseveral people groups of at least 34tribes, including four major and 30

minor tribes, scattered throughoutthis vast expanse of land, this will beno mean feat to achieve.In our society, where risk and riskmanagement are analysed and soughtto be mitigated to the last detail, thiskind of uncertainty is perhaps themost disturbing and we may prefer toleave rather than stay amidst suchcircumstances. Life in these villages –built of mud and earth, the path amere thread on the mountain, wherea thin stream flows from the snow onthe mountains (except at times ofdrought), no schools, no clinics, notarred roads, poor sanitation, nowater on tap; a few terraces withwalnut trees, some corn and perhapsone or two vegetables – is close tosurvival or mere existence, nothingmore. In contrast to the comforts inour homes, to me the resilienceevident in the people is as rugged asthe mountain ranges and thetopography of Afghanistan.

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Roshan Mendis has visited us at OBC.Roshan is BMS Regional Team Leader for Central and South Asia

This article appeared in Engage magazine, summer 2014www.bmsworldmission.org/engagecatalyst

To the majority of Britons used topredictable life situations, dependabletrain, tube and bus times, fairlyaccurate weather forecasts and wherethe axiom ‘if anything is certain it isthat things will change’, is more theexception than the rule, faith in God

is perhaps simply a quiet innerconviction. But to Sharbat Gula, theAfghan girl, when she was asked howshe had survived all these years, theanswer came wrapped in unshakablecertitude. “It was,” she said, “the willof God.”

In Chains For Christ“He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. On him we haveset our hope that He will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Thenmany will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favour granted us in answer tothe prayers of many.” 2 Cor 1 10-11Many of our brothers and sisters face dangers little different from Peterand Paul and the church of 2000 years ago and well described in Acts, theLetters and Revelation. The Christian church did become the official faithof the Roman Empire in the 4th century AD but not before that empire hadat times tried to wipe it out.The persecuted church today is greatly encouraged by the prayers, petitionand support of the worldwide family of God. It shows they are cared forand not abandoned. Christ calls us to encourage and strengthen the leastand the last and we honour him by so doing. No task is too small becauseGod will multiply it like the mustard seed. Many need our prayers andsupport.In the Sudan Dr. Meriam Yahia Ibrahim was literally in chains for Christ.Meriam was convicted of ‘apostacy’ (changing her faith from Islam) whichis a capital offence there. She was sentenced to death by hanging. Shewas also sentenced to 100 lashes for ‘adultery’ – she is married to Daniel,a South Sudanese Christian. Marriage to a Christian man is prohibited fora Muslim woman in Sudan. Sudan applies strict sharia law and routinelypersecutes Christians. Meriam had resolutely refused to give up herChristian faith despite barbaric threats to her. Her toddler son was inprison with her where she gave birth to her daughter, Maya, with her

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feet in chains. Meriam was released by the courts but the whole familywere detained at the airport when they tried to leave and at the time ofwriting (30 Jun) are at the US Embassy. We wait to hear news.Unsurprisingly, this case (like the Chibok girls) caused worldwide outrage.

Pray for Nigeria, for ‘No More Sorrow’ in that land and especially for thesafe return of the 200 schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram Islamists from their school in Chibok on April 14�� and others since.

Pray for China. There is still persecution from the authorities; loved onesare wrenched from their families to spend time in distant prisons. Christianconverts can face fierce opposition from other family members. Yet theChinese government is keen to partner the Christian church to care for theelderly and the vulnerable, as well as in the fields of drug prevention andrehabilitation and working with those living with HIV. At a recent conferencea government official praised the ‘beliefs’ and ‘love’ of the Christian churchas an ‘advantage’ to society and noted that the church was a ‘less corrupt’partner to the government – statements that are nothing short of amazingin a country that only 40 years ago was boasting that it had eradicatedChristianity!

Pray for Egypt, a country capable of such influence in its region and throughits large Christian community, one of the oldest in the world. Bishop Thomasof Quosia and Mair, where Christian communities were attacked after theoverthrow of the Muslim brotherhood last year has said:“I see this transformation…..of Egyptian society….from a hierarchical to ademocratic society……from a male-orientated society to a gender equalsociety……from a religious society to an open democratic, free society.Our fight is not with flesh and blood but with evil spirits and evil principalities……itis important to differentiate between human beings who are in the circle of love inour hearts….even those attackers…and the evil philosophies taught to them.Do not be afraid…..because when human beings fear they lose wisdom, they givemore chances to evil…..we trust that everything works for good for those who loveGod…..we need to meet aggression and violence with intelligence and love.”

Remember Syrian and Iraqi Christians, especially Canon Andrew Whiteministering at St.George’s Church in Baghdad.

Peter Johnson

Mavis Tanner Jean BraytonMonica King Emily Wilson Bill BrownKatie Travers Christopher Benjamin Chris Little

AUGUST:

Happy Birthday to those who celebrate in

Share a smile…

www.bmsworldmission.org/birthday

MAKE YOUR BIRTHDAY COUNT!If you would like to give the gift of life on your birthday, talk to Fran Morris.Anyone can join, including children. On their birthday, members receive a

BMS birthday card with a gift envelope which they use to make a donation.They then hand the gift envelope back to Fran (or Vera Brewer if Fran isn’t

available) who’ll see that it reaches the BMS.

Maggie Bater Don BenjaminJanice Cotton Daniel Cooke Karen Cheeseman

Helen Stockman Hazel Williams Joan SmithLinda Timmins Wendy Lovell Marilyn CrispDavid Wright Jenny Cooke Mark TwydellMay Knock John Hales Madeleine Twydell

Henry Knock Joyce Lowes Ruth Dyal

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JULY:

Give yourself the night offJoin Diane Louise Jordan andCathy Madavan for a fun andinsightful evening designed

especially for mums.

We’re hosting this national tour from Care for the Family at OBC onThurs 16 October 7.30-10.00pm (coffee served 6.45-7.15)

Tickets £6.00 : shop@cff.org.uk

The Summer programme is nowwell underway. Thank you to all ofyou who supported the Company at

the Display in May. We presented 4 Queen’s Badges – the Brigades topaward. Our collection to offset the cost of the evening totalled £ 450 .Over the summer weeks the boys are engaged in a range of activities;The Anchor Boys have had a film evening and been to Poverest park. TheJunior’s have had a successful weekend camp and been to Crazy Golf. TheCompany have been swimming, played squash and crazy golf and the Seniorshave watched a World Cup game with international food, been to DrivingRange and cooked muffins!!!We have a few weeks to go before we break for the summer, camp is rushingtowards me and the plans are coming together. Our Chaplain, this year, isRev. Alex Terrett from Bromley Common Methodist, Alex is a former BBCaptain. Danny is coming to camp to do some devotions for the Senior Boys.The usual team of staff will keep the boys entertained and fed for the week.Please pray for good weather and a good spirit among those at WhitecliffBay.Before camp we have the 5-a-side football competitions, some expeditionwalks, and the Company / Senior BBQ.My thanks go to the fellowship for their support throughout the year and tothe staff of all the sections for their continued hard work week by week andto Pauline Hollands for her work as treasurer.As always we look for extra help, if you think you can do grant applicationsfor the company please speak to me and if you want to go on the Friday tuckshop rota please speak to Santa Beal.Also, as we plan for September we look to attract new members, the AnchorBoys and Juniors always welcome new boys. Please speak to Christine orGarrick if you know anyone who is interested or are a new family to theChurch.

Have a good Summer. September will soon be here and we all start again!

Steve HumphreyCaptain

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This year the “You Are Special” Team are running our second “Holiday @Home”. We are looking forward to seeing our friends from last year again andsome new friends too; so please be thinking & praying about people you know,friends, family, neighbours that may appreciate a “Holiday” with us and let usknow their details to invite them. There is a daily charge, but we are able tohelp anyone who needs it with this.Last year we were so encouraged by the support we received from the wholechurch, including the young people to older friends. We will need your supportagain and would love to hear from anyone who would like to help.

We need Cake bakers and pudding makersto donate their sweet treats

We need Lavender stemsfrom your garden please, to make giftsSo, please let Soo Chu Clift, Jo Lewis or

Catherine Knowles know if you can help with these.

Most of all we need you to pray for us, praying that: -☺ The team would be built up in love and God’s grace☺ We would be a real blessing to those that come☺ We would be able to share the love of Jesus with some new friends☺ God would provide the team with energy & inspiration.

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Holiday at Home 2014Wednesday 27th & Thursday 28th August

ORPINGTON BAPTIST CHURCH

HOLIDAY CLUB 2014

3-5pm SUN 27 - WED 30 JULY

Details/booking form:www.orpingtonbaptist.org.uk/children

01689 877265

For5-11yr

olds

Booking forms

also available

on the

Welcome Desk

THANK YOU!

“

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Sahaara updateThank you for all your support andprayers for our Connected Churchproject among sex workers andtheir children in Mumbai. Ourpartners on the front line,Sahaara have passed on some ofthe encouragements andchallenges over the last 6 months.We were able to host a picnic for21 sex workers at Gorai beach on

the 7th Feb which went well and all enjoyed their time. Also 44 children weretaken for a picnic to Wonder Park Garden in Navi Mumbai. They enjoyed theride on the toy train and playing in the garden. Being in a different and beautifullocation away from the homes was a great experience for them.One of the girls from our Children’s Home won the first prize in Long Jump at alocal athletics competition. This is a great achievement as we strive to encouragechildren to remain active physically and take interest in sports & extra-curricularactivities.During the field visits, the clients of the women we spend time with sometimesfrighten our field staff by using abusive language and threatening them. Weface further challenges from pimps who force us away from interacting withthe sex workers.To read more about the work, and especially the story of Taslima, a young girl marriedoff at 11 years old and eventually trafficked into the sex trade in Mumbai, by joiningthe Facebook page Tearfund CC Sahaara India or ask Alison Dennis (Tel 815809) for aprinted copy.

The workers at Sahaara ask us to pray for the following▪ Thank God that we have been able to meet Taslima and that she is on the

right road to escape the sex trade. Pray that we will be able to continue tosupport her.

▪ Please pray for a real and lasting breakthrough in Turbhe, Ghatkopar andBhiwandi red light districts.

▪ We continue to ask God for good health for all our beneficiaries.

“

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▪ Pray for the provision of a doctor to start a medical programme at theBhiwandi red light district.

▪ We pray for the spiritual growth of children attending the Sunday Schoolat Turbhe and Ghatkopar Balwadi.

▪ Some of churches we work with are planning on planting a church inGhatkopar red light district.

Over the next 3 months we hope to continue building strong relationships with15 women in the Bhiwandi red light area and we will be visiting the area morefrequently. We hope that we can start counselling at least five women in thearea.We thank God for you and the invaluable support you extend to us and ourwork. Your prayers are an incredible encouragement, assuring us that wehave a spiritual army marching before us as we seek to share the Light ofLife in some of the darkest areas of our city.“ “

Thank you for those that came to support our girls' at our GB Displayin May. It was a great evening where our very talented girls'

produced an array entertainment...from our awardwinning band to showing their cooking, dancing andacting skills! Maybe next year you could show yoursupport and join us for our very special evening?

Our company continues to flourish. Our very committed staff and girlsmake Tuesday evenings very enjoyable for all those involved. We are

blessed.

We entered the Meridian District Sports Day last Saturday, winning 1st place. Thankyou to all the girls that took part and for the supporters!

All sections are now into their summer programme...there's been rounders at thepark, film nights, McDonalds trip, High Wire and Zip Wire at Downe Scout Camp andmore. It's lovely to see the girls having fun and relaxing after weeks in school ofexams and tests!

We are in the process of making the final arrangements for Junior Camp (4th -6thJuly) and the Senior/Brigader Sleepover (19th-20th July). Please keep these twoevents and all the girls in our company in your prayers...that each of the girls thatwe witness to weekly, will, over the time in our care, seek, serve and follow Christ.Becky HaguesBrigader Section Leader

Janice and I would like to thank all our church family at O.B.C. The wordsthank you seem insufficient for all your care, your visits, your numerousmessages of encouragement but most of all for your prayers throughout thislong period in which I have been so unwell. We know God has been with us,helping us through this time. Especially the last few months with all the veryexcellent care of the medical staff at King's College Hospital making the brainsurgery of Deep Brain Stimulation possible and thus so far has been a greatsuccess.

When we think of our church family we remember the passage fromPhilippians Chapter 2 verses 1-5.

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, ifany comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if anytenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Donothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humilityvalue others above yourselves, not looking to your own interestsbut each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindsetas Christ Jesus.

God Bless, love from Peter and Janice Cotton.

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Thank you to everyone who supportedChristian Aid week back in May, whether yougave money, got involved in delivering and/orcollecting money or just prayed, it was verymuch appreciated and your giving has helped

many people who can’t help themselves. At OBC we raised including CAFvouchers and gift aid a total of £1,219.52.

PrayerMinistry

Team

Our Prayer Ministry Team are around every Sunday to pray with you.Respond to God’s call - share your personal joys and concerns!Have you used the blue OBC Prayer Box on the Welcome Desk yet?Ask for prayer for our world. Share news of your OBC group.

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Dear OBC FamilyJust wanted to say thank you so much for all your prayersand support in the past year, as I have been studying adegree with Oasis College in Children and Family Work &Ministry.I have had the most incredible year, can’t quite believe I’vefinished the first year already! My placement at ChristChurch Orpington has just been amazing; I’ve been madeso welcome and I’ve enjoyed every minute of my work there! I’ve been apart of the weekly groups and I go into schools to help my supervisor withassemblies and lessons as part of the Spinnaker work she is involved in. Ihave started teaching and leading groups in Sunday school which I wasterrified about at first, but it’s been brilliant! My confidence has grownmassively! As I’m writing this, we’re planning our Holiday Club which I havea great role in and I’m really looking forward to being involved in this as Icomplete my first year!I’ve also loved my college life, made some great friends and I’ve been reallyenjoying lectures at the college in Waterloo, and weirdly enough…I’veenjoyed writing my essays - even the theological ones!! I’ve reached mostof the targets that I set myself at the beginning of the year which I’m superpleased with! Some modules that I’ve studied are; Bible in ChristianMinistry, Understanding and Working with Children, Social Diversity &Inclusion, and some others which I’ve also loved!Through God’s Grace, a huge amount of prayers and support I’m throughmy first year - words can’t explain how much I have learnt this year and Icannot wait to see what God has got in store for me in the next 2 years!Looking forward to seeing everyone again in my summer break!God BlessKatie Travers

If you'd like to explore the meaning of Baptism speak to Martyn or Danny

THINKING ABOUT

Orpington Baptist ChurchStation Road, Orpington, Kent BR6 0RZ

Orpington Baptist Church

@OrpingtonBC

Church Office: 01689 877265 (Mrs Jo Lewis & Mrs Pam Reynolds)Email: office@orpingtonbaptist.org.ukWebsite: www.orpingtonbaptist.org.uk

MinisterRev Martyn Travers

01689 873092mptravers@aol.com

Worship Co-ordinatorJon Newman

07838 177 649

Children & Families WorkerDavid Jones

07946 345717daviddjones@aol.com

Church Treasurer: Mr Ivor ReveleyTel: 01689 815344 Email: revivor@aol.com

TEXT-A-PRAYER 07891 259 195 and someone will pray for you

Parish Nurse(Wednesdays)Helen Evans

07763 830 112parishnurse@orpingtonbaptist.org.uk

Youth PastorDanny Brown

07888 399 714dannywbrown@me.com

� OBC meets together for worship on Sundays at 10.30am and 6.30pm.During the morning service there are groups for babies through toyoung people.� We usually celebrate Holy Communion on the first Sunday evening

and 3rd Sunday morning of each month.� For more information about our weekly programme please look at our

Sunday bulletin or the OBC website:www.orpingtonbaptist.org.uk

Sept/Oct 2014 deadline: Wednesday 27 AugustI’d be grateful if all items are emailed to me on or before that date please*

(eSignpost sent out Tuesday 2 September / Paper copies available Sunday 7 September)

marg15456@aol.com*To ensure your article is read by all with eager anticipation please

try to keep it to a maximum of 700 words. Thanks!Marg Travers 01689 873092

If you don’t have a computer Ekua Stephen has kindly offered to type your article foryou. Please give it to Ekua (not the Church Office)at least two days before deadline.

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SIGNPOST is the bi-monthly newsletter for people whocome to OBC. Its aim is to keep everyone informed aboutour Church life and the needs of the world around us,near and far.