I didn’t become a Christian through a tract. I did become a Grace Baptist through one. My family and I were seeking to plant an independent evangelical church in Haringey, London. One day as we were walking down Wood Green High Street a tract was placed in my hand. That was my first encounter with a Grace Baptist and my first experience with Evangelical Tract Society tracts. It would not be the last.
When Paul wrote 2 Corinthians he made mention of his desire not to attract criticism in the administration of financial gifts from the churches. He said measures had been taken to handle finances wisely because of a desire to do what was honourable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man. It is for this reason – among others – that Grace Baptist Partnership seeks to honour the Lord in this area.
In June 2015, the first Real Life Week of Evangelism was held in Edlesborough. Through door to door evangelism and special evangelistic events the gospel was made known in four different villages. The work in Edlesborough – to say nothing of the benefit to the workers who came from throughout the country and beyond – was greatly strengthened.
Let me begin by saying that Grace Baptist Partnership doesn’t have churches – not any. We are simply a means through which various autonomous local churches as well as other likeminded individuals partner together to – as our strapline says – grow leaders, plant churches and reach nations. We simply don’t ‘have’ churches.
I tend to take part of my holiday entitlement to travel outside my normal areas of ministry to assist friends in their ministry endeavours. So, in November 2015 I found myself preaching at Proclamation Institute Zambia in Garneton – near Kitwe – in Central Zambia. While there I also had the opportunity to meet up with my friend and GBP treasurer, Chola Mukanga. Foremost on my agenda was a desire to encourage him to pursue full-time ministry.
I was speaking at the West Lancashire Reformed Baptist Fellowship at North Preston Evangelical Church six years ago tonight. I was telling them about a new training initiative we hoped to launch at Radcliffe Road Baptist Church in Bury. Given the dearth of men stepping forward for vocational ministry, someone asked – quite appropriately – if I thought there were men in the churches interested in such training.
When the number of Poles in the United Kingdom is greater than that of any foreign-born group, we need to talk. When fewer than half of 1% of Poland’s population are evangelical, we need to talk. When 100 cities of 25,000 or more in Poland have no evangelical witness, we need to talk.
The day begins like most others in the McLachlan household. There’s breakfast and a brief time of family worship. Then it’s time to go to worship at Grace Baptist Church, West Edinburgh. The church is growing in membership – seven new members were added last month – and the leadership is being strengthened as well.
If you’ve ever wondered about the propriety of making bold plans for the spread of the gospel; if you’ve ever questioned the wisdom of talking about church planting rather than simply evangelism; if you’ve ever wondered about whether or not it is right to seek to plant churches with those with whom you have theological or ecclesiological disagreements, Light in Dark Corners is for you.
Grace Baptist Partnership is thankful for our fellowship in the gospel with the Association of Grace Baptist Churches (South East) Home Mission and Grace Baptist Mission. This fellowship is expressed through Grace Baptist Network. Here’s how it works.
