Grace Assembly 2024

Ebenezer, Campbell, Relf, Whitton

Jonathan Gulliford, Mark Richards, Matt Benton, David Last

I have spent the time since Tuesday lunch here in Swanwick at The Grace Baptist Assembly. The assembly used to meet in Childs Hill once upon a time and I was on the committee that arranged the assembly. For the last 20 years, however, we have met for a residential conference. For various reasons I have been unable to attend for a few years but it was good to be there this time. The format is largely unchanged and it was good to meet old friends and new.

Paul and Bridget Relf acted as hosts and so Paul preached at the beginning of our time together, looking at some words of encouragement from 1 Thessalonians. On both evenings David Campbell preached to us from that wonderful verse, Romans 8:28. We had two news sessions - one on Reformed Baptist work in Italy (presented by a gentlman from Rome called Davide Ibrahim) and one on the British scene, including reports on Chorlton and irmston; teaching English to internationals in Leytonstone; College Park, Lewisham; Pidley, N C|ambridgeshire, etc.

The conference theme otherwise was The nurturing church and particualrly the perennial subject of eudcation. So on the Wednesday morning we had an excellent survey of the last 50 years of state education in this country by Alun Ebenezer, former headmaster of Fulham Boys School. He helpfully pinpointed 11 things that have changed over this time with good humour - the culture, the view of children, authority, mental health, technology, the view of the body, the matter of the environment, sex and relationships, equality, religion/beliefs and family. This was followed by a discussion panel featuring men who had (respectively) sent their children to a Christian School (Jonathan Gulliford, Yate) home schooled (Mark Richards, Chesham) and state school (Matt Benton, Aylesbury). This was followed up on the final morning with a discussion session, chaired by David Last.

There was  also a necessary business session on Tuesday afternoon. The biggest decision was to move to Northampton next year, due to rising costs at Swanwick (the same change has had to be made by the Carey Conference).

In the final session, Steve Whitton from Lewisham preached from Genesis 19 on The cost of compromise.

Westminster Fellowship May 2024

More or less every month it is my privilege to be down in Westminster Baptist for the Westminster Fellowhip. I was there last Monday for the fellowship when Dr Ian Shaw spole on the subject of slavery and the case for reparations. Sadly, numbers were down rather and we were only about twelve or so. The two talks were very belpful, hopwever - the forst looking at oast responses from Wilberforce, Newton, etcl and casting light on Dabney, Thornwell and others who were quite controversial in their views. You can get a taste of what was said here

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Lord's Day May 12 2024

A good day in Childs Hill once again. We carried on with the S4mon on the Mount in the morning (Matthew 6:1-4) and then our famous text in the evening was Matthew 2:18-20, the Great Commission. Good number n the morning, ess so in the evening. We had a former assistnt minister ad his wife with us for the weekend and on Sunday morning the curate from our nearest evangelical Anglican church was visiting (it is reqired of him to attend a church of another demonination).

Speaking on Benjamin Beddome in Borehamwood

It was good to be speaking once eagain at Borehamwood, giving their annual historical lecture, on Benjamin Beddome. They provided a very nice brochure from which we sang some Beddome hymns and this year there was also a little booklet, attractively produced, covering his life story and adding a sermon and some hymns. My wife and I enjoyed the lovely tea afterwards. Great afternoon.

Midweek Meeting May 8 2024

It was back to Romans last Wednesday with a decent turn out plus one online. We looked at Romans 3:21-24 in interactive style and then prayed together.

Day Off Week 19 2024

Getting back into routines after the trip to Kenya, including my day off last Tuesday (May 7). Basically, a bit of reading and a walk round West Hampstead. Eleri was out for the evening so no TV. The Tom Holland book is relatively new but the book about george Hicks is an old one. Day One were selling old stock off cheaply recently. Enjoying them both. Some useful sidelights on the New Testament from Pax.

Lord's Day May 5 2024

Last week we began with a well attended communion and then I preached on the closing verses of Matthew 5 on loving our enemies. In the evening we took another well known text - John 10:10. We had typical congregations morning and evening (c 45 am and c 14 pm). Good to know that nearly all of our refugees now have asylum. Two more to go.

Midweek Meeting May 1 2024

Lake Victoria from Kisumu

Nearly missed recording this but on my first full day back from Kenya I reported to the midweek meeting adn we spent some tie in prayer. Six of us were there. Good to be back.

Evangelical Library Annual Lecture 2024

We remind readers that there will be an in person lecture at the Library on Monday, June 3 at 6.30 pm. This is our Annual Lecture. The lecturer will be David Campbell (Preston) and he will be speaking on Alexander Stewart of Moulin 1764-1821. The lecture title is From darkness to light. (We may have caused confusion by previously giving the dates of his father who had the same name and outlived his son, Alexander Stewart of Cromarty). Note - there is unlikely to be a live zoom service.

(This is from the EL website)

Elephant and Mountain

There was almost no time for sightseeing while in Kenya but the above picture in Amboseli National Park of an elephant with Mount Kilimanjaro in the distance is the sort of thing to be seen there.