John Sherbourne 
Keep up to date with everything that is and isn’t happening over summer with this calendar of events.
News just in about a Community picnic this coming Sunday, August 17th between 2pm and 4pm on the Alwoodley Village Green – that’s where King Lane meets The Avenue. Everybody welcome.
Also a reminder about Wednesday Worship, that’s on August 20th in church between 1.30pm and 2. Again all welcome.
The latest edition of the BMS World Mission’s magazine ENGAGE has just been published.
You may already subscribe, but if you don’t but would like to you can have it sent through the post (completely free of charge) to your home address.
Once again this edition covers news and features from and about mission workers serving across the globe, and is invaluable for keeping up to date with one of the projects that MBC ‘s tithe supports.
To find out more about ENGAGE or for that matter any other aspect of BMS Mission’s work you can speak with Roger Robson (our BMS Secretary) or go online to www.bmsworldmission.org and simply search for ENGAGE.
Events at the Apahida School
“Rediscover the Joy of Being a Teacher” was the title of the seminar we organized for 45 teachers in Apahida town, in the spring.
Starting from “Happy Teacher = Happy School”, we shared several ways to find joy in their personal and professional lives.
Also, at the Apahida school, we taught students in two classes, about topics like life values, the influence of technology, bullying. One student said: It was the best class I ever attended!
The “Lies Women Believe” Course
Dana taught this online course for 3 weeks and 25 teachers attended. The idea of the book is that women are attacked by the Evil One, who comes with untrue ideas and lies that we end up believing. We discussed that sometimes we believe that we are worthless or that the situations we find ourselves in will never change. We looked at the temptation that God is not good enough or that He doesn’t love us. One participant said at the end: Our discussions helped me answer questions that I did not dare to ask out loud. I think I began to understand myself better… both myself and others. I learned to have more confidence and to stop victimizing myself in difficult times.
Teaching the Prison staff
Dana and I were asked to lead a course for 11 employees of the Gherla Penitentiary. It is a personal development course that lasts 7 weeks. Every Wednesday, we drove for 40 minutes and met with the staff.
At first, some were skeptical- they told us they joined because their leaders sent them. Then, in the following meetings they became more open and told us about different trials they face, at home and at work.
One of the topics was about the relationship with God. The Lord worked in such a way that we had the lesson just a few days before Easter. It was easier to share the Gospel with them and they told us where they are in their spiritual journey.
The Book “Story in the Mirror”
My wife Dana recently published a book about a little girl who goes through many trials, but with God’s help, she overcomes them and discovers her calling to be a blessing to others.
Here are some excerpts from a review someone Dana doesn’t know wrote, after reading the book:
I identified with the main character of the story – Daiana. She captivated me from the beginning and transported me to the experiences of the mentioned biblical characters.
The author has a special way of captivating the reader through her writing, by choosing certain biblical themes, by the way she builds the biblical context. This book is equally interesting for both a teenager and a refined old man.
The painful experience that our character goes through encourages the reader to discover God’s love when she has to show forgiveness towards the one who hurt her and rejected her – her father. Towards the end of his life, she chooses to love and forgive him, thus being made free.
First European Conference for Christian Teachers – see the image at the top of this post.
At the beginning of this month, we attended a Teachers Conference in Poland. 15 Christian Teachers from Romania joined us. It was a good opportunity for them to learn from the experiences of teachers from other 10 countries. We all came back with a greater vision, with many ideas and a bigger desire to apply what we have learned.
As many of you will already know we are in the early stages of revamping our online outreach: our branding, our website, both its design and content, our weekly E-Newsletter, the posts we put out on social media and of course the images we show on screen at the beginning of our Sunday service.
As a first step we have decided that in order to make our online presence more eye catching we need to have at our disposal some fresh, up to date, high resolution pictures.
To this end John Sherbourne will be spending the next few weeks planning and then visiting many of our projects: from Beacon and Lunch Club to Stepping Stones, from House and Bible Study groups to Rock Solid and of course our regular Sunday morning services.
So, when you see John with a camera round his neck please don’t worry. However, bearing in mind that any pictures he takes could well end up online, if for any reason you or any member of your family would prefer not to be pictured just let him know and he’ll respect your wishes.
At a recent Church Meeting we were invited to spend some time considering where MBC’s tithe should go.
Having read through a list of Bible verses relating to tithing (the practice of giving one-tenth of one’s income or produce to God as an act of worship and gratitude) we then listened to representatives from eight of the different projects and missions that MBC supports as they each gave an update on precisely when, where and how the contribution the church makes to their work helps to keep them going.
You can see from the images in the picture gallery above just how varied these projects are: from part funding a one to one counselling service (Pathways) to (MAF) keeping aircraft in the sky as they give support, including much needed medical aid to people living in some of the world’s most inaccessible regions.
Here in a bit more detail are descriptions of them all.
BMS World Mission – MBC has supported the Baptist Missionary Society from the very start; not only financially but also by seeing a number of its members serve overseas. In addition, it’s been a long tradition here at Moortown to partner with individual missionaries; currently we are linked with Mark and Andrea Hotchkin, doctors based in Chad. BMS runs a wide range of support schemes, each one of benefit to over 300 mission workers – details of which are available via their website bmsworldmission.org
The Leeds and Moortown Furniture Store – L&MFS was formed at MBC in 1986. Today, with its fortieth anniversary less than a year off it continues exactly where it began; collecting and then giving away unwanted furniture to people in need. As with BMS, the link between L&MFS and MBC has never been broken. In fact as I write the Store’s entire board of trustees is made up of five Moortown members.
Grace Gospel Church – Co led by one of our members, this direct quote from the churches website says it all… “We are evangelical Pentecostal by teaching and preaching the word of God. We follow the true doctrine of the Bible on bases of the Bible authority by the power and work of the Holy Spirit. We have Christ centered worship service including practical biblical teaching and fellowshipping one another. We go, we preach, we care for the soul for whom Christ Jesus died.”
Pathways Counselling – Pathways is a Christian Counselling Service that by listening and providing support helps its clients navigate life’s challenges, whether they be short-term or long-term. Once again Pathways has long standing links to MBC.
WEC – Radio Worldwide – Radio Worldwide uses digital media to spread the gospel. Besides a whole raft of outreach initiatives, simple daily posts on Facebook and the like ensure that even though many of its listeners live in isolated regions they still have access to the word of God.
MBC Romania Fund – Another long standing partnership. MBC first made contact with the Romanian church in 1972 when two of our young students “smuggled” some books into the country for a local pastor who had recently studied at an Oxford college. Since then the link between MBC and what we simply refer to as “Romania” has grown into a close friendship with regular home and away visits being made by both individuals and groups. The support we give to “Romania” however, isn’t limited to social exchanges and funding an annual teenage Summer Camp. No over the years a number of our members have actually set about designing, funding and even installing some quite major infrastructure projects.
MAF. Mission Aviation Fellowship – Imagine living in the sweltering heat of a desert, a two day walk away from the nearest doctor. If you did, then thankfully MAF may just be the answer to your prayer. Flying 115 aircraft across 25 different countries Mission Aviation Fellowship is often the only lifeline an individual, a family or an entire community has when an emergency strikes. For more years than I care to remember MBC has supported MAF, and long may that commitment continue.
And finally the YBA Home Mission Fund. Like but a few Baptist churches MBC may not be the lively, thriving church it is today without the help provided way back when by the Yorkshire Baptist Association’s Home Mission Fund. For us, as for many other fellowships the seed money provided to help buy land, the funds given to assist with building costs and even to help pay a minister’s stipend demonstrate only too well how in reality the YBA Home Mission Fund really is a “Godsend.”
So there you have it, the eight very different projects that as a church MBC currently supports. But you know whether or not that number remains the same or changes isn’t a decision our minister and our leadership team make on their own. No, it’s ultimately down to you and I. And that’s because in the not too distant future, we, as members, will all be invited to reconvene and prayerfully discuss, pray and then vote on the recommendations and suggestions our leaders make.
In other words it’s us – the whole of our membership – that decides who and/or what God wants us as a church community to help.
Dear friends
A shorter email today as I am clarifying a few of the Summer activities and themes but there will be more news on this in the morning and early next week.
We look forward to seeing you at 11am tomorrow where we continue to explore the person of the Holy Spirit. Tomorrow’s message includes both Old Testament and New again, as we look at ‘anointing oil’ as a picture of Gods power, consecration, and healing and what that might mean to us and the world today. It will also link us into a creative series over the Summer looking at the fruit of the spirit, how do we see the Spirit moving in the early church, us and the world? There will be creative ways we would like to encourage you to explore as part of this over the Summer either individually or with others.
After church, it’s the next ‘Unanswered prayer’ session with Krys G in the music room. Feel free to bring your lunch. Everyone welcome even if you haven’t been to a group before, just come along. There will be a video to watch and opportunity to share.
At 7pm Rock Solid takes place in the building. It’s a social night with pizza and curling so do come along, even if you haven’t been for a while! Feel free to bring a friend.
Thanks to all those who shared with the church last week about the charities we support in our tithe. It was good to have so many get together to share and pray both in café church and afterwards at the church meeting. Do keep praying for the charities and if you have any questions, thoughts or ideas do send them to myself or the deacons. Lesley can pass any thoughts on at admin@moortownbaptistchurch.org.uk
Next week we have Beacon café and warm welcome craft group as usual and all the housegroups are meeting as well as lunch club. It’s the last Stepping Stones Session next Tuesday, with a tidy up session the week after. Wednesday worship takes place at 1.30-2pm in the music room. Everyone invited!
In Christ
Shelley
Shelley Dring
Minister
Moortown Baptist Church
With many places in the UK pushing temperatures near to 30 degrees C you could be forgiven for thinking that yesterday of all days those of us old enough to know better would have stayed home.
Such, however, was not the case for some of our lovely seniors who as they do during a usually topsy turvy English summer took the opportunity to jump in Rod Russell’s mini-bus and head to the coast.
Fortunately, however, for them their chosen destination was Filey, which although still very, very warm was nearer the lower end of the Celsius scale than the higher.
As for lunch, well no fancy fajitas and certainly no chilled white wine – instead pots of tea, the odd Coke and good old fish and chips.
Refined and made precious by God
Psalm 12:6 “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.“
Malachai 3:3 “And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.”
This image of God as a refiner is a powerful one. My brother, who is not a Christian, sent me a YouTube video that contained a story about Malachai 3:3 of which the “punchline”really surprised him. So here’s the story…
A small group were studying the Bible together and came across Malachi 3:3, which says, “He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver”. They were curious about why God is described as sitting while refining silver. Unable to agree on the meaning, they decided that one member should visit a silversmith to learn more.
The chosen person went to watch a silversmith at work. The silversmith explained that he had to hold the silver in the hottest part of the fire to burn away all the impurities. The process was delicate; if he left the silver in the fire for too long, it would be damaged. It required skill and patient observation.
The Bible student then asked, “How do you know when the silver is fully refined?” The silversmith smiled and said, “That’s easy; when I can see my own reflection in it, I know it’s pure.”
This story uses the process of refining silver as a picture of how God works in our lives. Just as a silversmith carefully watches the silver and removes it from the fire at just the right moment, God refines us as we go through life’s challenges to remove our faults and make us better people. God knows we are ready when He can see His own character reflected in us.
Gareth Gadd
Dear friends
As we move into July, here’s what is in the diary so far..
6th July Sunday 11am café church with breakfast pastries, fruit and drinks – ‘The Holy Spirit’s presence like fire’ Exodus 3. All ages together
6th July Sunday 12.45-1.45 church meeting where we look forward to meeting those who’s charities the church support.
6th July Sunday 7-8pm Rock Solid Youth (younger and older group meet at the same time) in the building
7th July Monday Warm welcome café 10-12 midday
8th July Tuesday Stepping Stones under 5’s and their parents and carers 10-11.30am
8th July Tuesday Bible group – see Howard Dews
8th July Tuesday 7.30pm Deacons meeting in church
9th July Wednesday Lunch club for those who attend and volunteers
9th July Wednesday 7.30pm Bible study group in church See Ruth or Andy B
10th July Thursday 2-4pm Warm welcome craft group
10th July Thursday 7pm- 9pm bible study in church building see Gareth G
11th July 10-11 Friday Bible study in church building. Do ask me if you want more information.
11th July 8pm house group in Adel. See Jonathan or Hilary D or Steve or Helen O
13th July 11am Sunday Service for all with a group for children exploring the theme. “The Holy Spirit as oil”
13th July Sunday after church ‘Discovering prayer’. All welcome whether you have been before or want to drop in for the first time! The sessions are following Pete Grieg’s second prayer course exploring why some prayers seem to be unanswered. It is a safe place to share although you do not have to share anything. The course is being led by Krys G. The course continues after this at the same time on August 10th, September 14th and October 12th.
15th July Tuesday is the last Stepping Stones group before the Summer holidays. The volunteers will meet in the morning of the 22nd July for a tidy and a clean. If you would like to help them please see Diane S or myself.
16th July Wednesday 1.30-2pm Wednesday worship in church for all. See Rachel B or myself for details.
Please note that Lesley will not be in the office this week and will return on Monday 14th July. Any enquiries should go to the group leaders or myself or a deacon to pass onto the relevant person.
Two opportunities to find out more about the ‘Quiet revival’ research from the Bible Society including the rise in church attendance amongst young adults, on Wednesday 9th July
1.30-pm online Please book a free place here. Presented by the Church of England
The Quiet Revival – opportunities for church growth – Church Support Hub
8-9.15pm Follow this link to book a free online space Webinar: Exploring the Quiet Revival – Church Mission Society (CMS) Hosted by the Church Missionary Society
We are currently finalising plans for the Summer so watch this space. Lesley is compiling a list of everything that is happening including new ways to connect as well as noting what is pausing over August. If you have any ideas of things you would like to do, then do come and chat to me. Do keep praying for guidance, wisdom and creativity on how God is building His church here in Moortown and further afield.
On the last week of June, the National Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast took place in parliament and is an annual recognition of what Christianity brings to the life of the UK. This year John Lennox gave the address and the worship was led by Keith and Kristyn Getty and you can watch again here at this link National Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast 2025. It may help inform us as we pray for our government and all those in leadership.
Today I joined with others at Cragg House Farm to celebrate and thank God for the work of Caring for life, a local Christian charity that we have supported over the years. There was such a warm atmosphere around the farm and during the service Jonathan Parkinson the CEO of Caring for life reminded us that amongst all the projects and plans and social action, at the heart of it all is a call to bring people to Jesus, Lord and Saviour who stands with the broken and hurting. A song that was written at Caring for life used in the worship services includes the chorus
“We bring our loaves and fishes
To you, the Lord of all
We’ll follow in Your footsteps,
And answer to your call.
Lord take our small resources,
Take every loving deed
Turn drops into an ocean
To meet a world of need”
Blessings
Shelley
Minister
Moortown Baptist Church
