Home Mission is the way churches in BUGB support one another financially and share in the task of Encouraging Missionary Disciples.

As you know, all churches are now encouraged to give at least 5% of their General Fund to Home Mission. It is clear that churches of all sizes up and down the country are in the main responding positively to this message. The evidence for this is a slight increase in giving nationally when compared with 2008. Very good news given the economic climate!

As for HEBA ... well, the increase is above the national average. Giving to the end of June was £158,735 - nearly 49% of our target for 2009 of £325,000. The news reports say that with the rapid increase in unemployment, the West Midlands has been hardest hit of all the UK regions. Against this very difficult economic background we have much to be thankful for. Praise the Lord!

Thank you so much for your partnership in the Gospel as we seek to bring the Good News of Jesus to this part of our nation!

God bless!

Keith Judson

(For more about Home Mission click here.)

On Friday May 29th, seven of us mad fools from Castle Hill Baptist Church (or 8 if we include Jess, the dog) set out at 6.40 am from Ingleton Youth Hostel in Yorkshire to attempt the 3 Peaks walk for Samaritan's Purse 'Turn on the Tap' campaign

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Reflections on the 2009 HEBA Leaders Quiet Day

Even though it’s now a few years since I read Eugene Peterson’s classic book The Contemplative Pastor, I still remember one phrase which keeps coming back to me: ‘Busyness is laziness.’

Though I’m not sure I agree entirely with the way he stretches his point to make it, I recognise the value of what he is saying.

AFTER operating a successful mother and toddler group for more than 20 years, a Baptist church in Worcestershire decided the next step would be to do something for dads.

And so early last month Bewdley Baptist Church launched a new project based on the national initiative ‘Who let the dads out?’

The group, which will meet on the second Saturday of every month, is for any dad or male carers with pre-school children.

Bewdley took its inspiration from Hoole Life Centre in Chester, which pioneered the initiative. The morning enables dads to spend time with their child, with toys and crafts, and a bacon buttie and cup of coffee thrown in.