Well, that depends what you mean!

Gorsley Baptist Church welcomed nearly 300 people from the Heart of England Baptist Association for the annual Family Day & AGM on Saturday 7th June. The theme `Beyond Hope?’ was a play on words referring to Hope ’08. Keynote speaker Alistair Brown spoke with customary passion and humour, urging everyone to go on living as people with hope in a world that can often seem hope-less.

Worship was led by the Revd Mark Simmonds (Selly Park, Birmingham) supported by musicians from Gorsley. The day was hosted by Regional Minister for the area, the Revd Adrian Argile. During the AGM appreciation was shown to the Revd Keith Osmund-Smith (Madeley, Telford), Moderator of the Association for the past five years and the Revd Alan Pike (George Road, Erdington) was elected to serve in his place.

A packed programme included activities for children and young people, a play bus, indoor games, five-a-side football and a barbeque. Seminars covered topics such as small churches, inter-faith dialogue, future church, safeguarding children and world mission. Thirty-six people crammed into a room to discuss the BUGB Apology for the Slave Trade. The Revd John Lewis, Minister of Gorsley, was clearly delighted to see so many folk from different ethnic backgrounds in his church. People from places like Handsworth, Wolverhampton and West Bromwich (who booked a coach and made the day their annual church outing) enjoyed being together in rural Herefordshire on a glorious, sunny day.

Commenting on the sight of white, black and Asian people seated together, one person said: “This is what heaven will be like!”.