News Archive

Danger of ‘getting back to normal’

Churches today have the best opportunity since the Second World War to bring hope to people shaken by the Coronavirus pandemic by telling them about the love of Jesus.

That was one of the key messages of the Revd. Gavin Calver, CEO of the Evangelical Alliance, who was the guest speaker at the Gwent Baptist Association’s online Autumn Council meeting on 30th September.

Gavin said that church attendances in the UK immediately after the war were huge but then fell back to pre-war levels. Why? The world was looking for hope but the Church wanted to get back to normal. It spent too much time and energy looking after itself and getting back to normal. By the time it was ready to reach out to the lost, who had been desperately looking for hope, the lost had got over the moment and moved on.

“I think the season we are now in is the closest since the end of the Second World War. I am not comparing Covid to a world war but people are still desperately looking for hope in their lives. They will probably not come to our buildings so we must go out into our communities and demonstrate the love of Jesus with acts of kindness and compassion.”, Gavin continued.   “In my view, we will never, ever get this great opportunity again.”

Go to link for meeting interview with Gavin and his full talk.

A ‘WAVE OF PRAYER’

Thursday, 10th June is the day the Gwent Baptist Association has arranged for individuals and Baptist churches to join in an online ‘Wave of Prayer for our nation‘ initiative currently underway throughout Wales .

The Baptist Union of Wales Momentum 2021: Change the atmosphere with a wave of prayer began this month and will continue until 26th June, passing from region to region and thus covering the whole of Wales in prayer.

Two online prayer meetings will be held on June 10 (see details below).

GBA president Tim Moody, who is assistant pastor at Moriah Baptist Church, Risca, said: “I have felt God call me to pray in a powerful way this year.  The idea of hundreds of God’s people joining together online in prayer throughout Gwent on 10th June is one that excites me hugely. Whether or not you are able to join us, I would love to encourage you to be praying on that day for your church, your community, our region and the nation of Wales.”

Thursday 10th June – 9:30am – 10:30am

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87611465208?pwd=UE9xc2U0eVRPdUhldXdlTGhsUWdsUT09

Meeting ID: 876 1146 5208

Passcode: 938845

Thursday 10th June – 1:30pm – 2:30pm

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89218528496?pwd=ZjRoc0haN1c3Y0c1aFY2Wm1zaW9QQT09

Meeting ID: 892 1852 8496

Passcode: 673632

To join our meetings by phone please follow the instructions below –

To call in dial 0330 088 5830 and then, when prompted, enter the meeting ID: *** **** ****

followed by #

You will then need to press # again before entering the Password which is: ******

followed by #.

This will allow you to call in to the meeting and join everyone ‘live’.