News items for public viewing
Once again the Romania Group’s annual cream tea fundraiser is taking place here at MBC rather than at Howard Dews’ home.
3pm till 5pm this coming Sunday and all proceeds will be going as they do every year to help pay for Romanian youngsters enjoy a summer camp.
1. To contribute to the humanitarian relief efforts supporting the refugees fleeing the war
2. To cooperate with, help schools and encourage the teachers in Ukraine
3. To deepen our cooperation and relationships with Romanian evangelical churches in Ukraine
We praise the Lord for His protection over our trip. We had some challenges, but He was faithful in guiding and using us, according to His purposes.
First, we delivered about 1.5 tons of food, medicines, Christian books and hygiene products in Chernivtsi. They will be distributed in packages to families of refugees. Some of them will also be transported to cities near the war areas, where needs are greater. While we were unpacking, we heard the air raid sirens in the city. The Ukrainians told us a rocket was launched by the Russians. Because they do not know where the rocket will hit, sirens in several cities are ringing. That rocket did not hit Chernivtsi while we were there, but I realized how frightening it can be to live under a continuous threat like this.
Then we drove to the north of Ukraine, near Ternopil. The teachers had asked us to bring printing paper, coloured cardboards, crayons, pens, whiteboards, but also food, vitamins, paracetamol or sanitizers.
We met with Svitlana (the School Principal) and the English teacher. They shared with us how the war affected their lives and school. They received almost 80 new refugee students since the war started. At the entrance of the school, they placed a board with the names of all the cities the refugees came from.
Then they showed us a basement which is going to be transformed into a bomb shelter (we offered them mattresses, pillows, blankets). Also, the kitchen was used for sewing clothing material for the army.
Svitlana is a devoted Christian. We were able to give them Bibles for kids and other Christian materials.
While driving through the country, we encountered several military checkpoints. I did not know until recently that most of Ukraine is a flat area. This is why Ukraine is a very important global exporter of wheat. The price of food is increasing globally, one reason being the war (Russians are burning the fields and have also occupied the Ukrainian sea ports).
While in Ukraine, we cooperated closely with representatives of the ethnic Romanian local churches. On Sunday, we visited a Baptist church, where I preached a message from the Word of God.
Overall, it was a fruitful time. We were able to help many people who are currently in need, we extended our involvement with several schools and we showed God’s love to people facing life and death circumstances.
Thank you very much for your prayers and support. We plan to go again to Ukraine in September or October, depending on the funds that will be available. A project like this involving two minibuses (products, gasoline, housing, food) costs around $10,000.
Grateful for your love.
Florin and Dana
Dear Friends
“I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys. I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water” (Isaiah 41:18)
There is such a thing in relation to rivers called ‘daylighting’… a term for the process of removing obstructions (such as concrete or pavement) which cover rivers. Often, particularly in cities, waterways are covered or buried to create more building space or protect properties from flooding. Unfortunately, it can increase pollution, degrade habitats and actual increase floods downstream. By uncovering the river the waterway can be re-established and there are many benefits, including how it looks and environmental advantages.
Last Sunday we came together on the theme of ‘I am the Resurrection and the Life’ and considered the river of life running through our lives. It seems that not only is God reminding us of that river that flows from Him, but encouraging us to recognise that God wants to uncover rivers and streams that have been long buried or covered.
Where are there streams of life in your world that have been covered or buried?Where are there streams of life in your church that have been blocked? Where are there streams of life in your community that have been hidden?
Also last week one of our deacons discovered a book in a cupboard in the church with no names on but including prayers and ‘words’ about what God might be saying to MBC from about 2012 to 2015. I have another book like this from two prayer days that took place in 2020. Are there words that God has given and prayers prayed over years that God is reminding us of?
But it takes courage, bravery, seeing in a new way. Lots of theories of change begin with a problem or a need. The environment around the river has probably changed since the stream was first buried.
I leave these things with you to ponder and pray…and hopefully do…
News…
This Sunday we welcome Andy Hobbs to share with us on the topic of Jesus asking the question “What do you want me to do for you?” We start at 11am in church and on the Moortown Baptist YouTube channel. There will be a group during the talk for our younger members or those who want to explore it in a more hands on way. There will be prayer for the church and opportunity for individual prayer after the service.
Beacon café is back on Monday from 10-12midday. We need some help to set up the church for Beacon after the service this Sunday as Edward is away.
There will be craft group in church on Thursday at 2pm.
Some of our house groups are having a break so do get in touch if you want to connect with a group.
Next Sunday (August 6th) it’s café church 10-12midday including breakfast pastries, coffee and an art area. Then 3-5pm we have a cream tea to raise money for our friends in Romania who are supporting those in Ukraine. All invited, bring friends, outside in the garden and carpark around tables and chairs. We also welcome Florin and Dana from the church in Romania on that day. They have written an update for us on what they are doing in supporting those fleeing Ukraine. Please go to the website to find out more at www.moortownbaptistchurch.org.uk or follow the link here Ahead of their visit to Leeds here’s a prayer request from our friends in Romania as they make yet another journey into Ukraine – Moortown Baptist Church
Pray for some of our young people returning from a Christian holiday week, for life changing encounters with Jesus.
Thanks to those who came to support Andrea and Mark, BMS missionaries from Chad at Beacon café last week. We have a lot of new people from our local community coming to Beacon each week. If you have never been, or it’s been a while, can you consider popping along sometime to chat to people or gather cups and welcome people into the space?
In Christ
Shelley
Under the heading Wider Involvement Roger Robson, who although reluctant to claim any credit put together two fascinating hisory books (MBC The First 25 years and then Moortown Baptist Church – the first 50 years) writes “Gladys Shaw (a founder member of MBC) as Missionary Secretary produced numerous information articles in the bi-monthly Church Newsletter.” I guess in many ways and more than 60 year on this is another of those “information articles.”
And that is a proud boast. In this day and age, to retain an unbroken partnership for that length of time is a credit not only to all the members and friends of MBC who down the years have served overseas but also to those of us who stayed home and supported them.
That’s why, somewhat ironically, it was Roger and his wife Christine, who also served as BMS missionaries who were there to meet our latest mission partners – Mark and Andrea Hotchkin who visited us this week from the hospital they work at in Chad.
As part of what the tabloid press would describe as a whistle stop tour of the UK MBC was number 7 on a list of 14 supporting churches that Andrea and Mark would visit – as far flung as Penzance and Perth.
It really was a joy to welcome them and not only to listen to just a brief snippet of what life is like for two medics living and working in the Sahara desert but to hear first hand what an incredible difference our contribution to BMS World Mission makes.
If you would like to keep this chain going there are numerous ways you can help: sign up to receive personal prayer letters from your selected mission partner, join the BMS Birthday Scheme, become a Prayer Partner, subscribe to the free BMS Engage magazine and Prayer Diary or simply make a donation.
If any of that strikes a chord then Roger is the man to speak with.
News just in from BMS World Mission… they have asked if they can use some of these pictures in their own publications. Not surprisingly we said yes!
Dear friends and supporters, we would appreciate your prayers.On Friday I will be going again to Ukraine, with a team of three more people. We will be driving first to Chernivtsi, where we will distribute food, medicines and other products to the humanitarian relief efforts to support the refugees fleeing the war.Then, on Saturday, we will be driving 180 km north to the city of Ternopil, to help several schools in the area. As many families moved from the east to the west of Ukraine due to the war, in the fall their children will be attending schools in their new cities. Classes will be larger, resulting in an additional stress for the local communities.We are very thankful to God for one of our partners in the US who donated a big amount of money for these schools. Therefore, we will buy and offer stationeries, medicines, food, hygiene products, etc. Most teachers asked for printing paper, coloured cardboards, crayons, pens, but also vitamins, paracetamol or sanitizers.We will also have with us Christian literature in Ukrainian, such as More than a Carpenter by Josh McDowell, Bible for kids or Gospel of John tracts.Please pray for us, as this project is larger in scope than last time. More money involved, more people reached out to, more km into the territory of Ukraine.Thank you!!Florin and Dana
Dear Friends
Tomorrow we meet again at 11am in the church building and back on YouTube with the last ‘I am statement’ of Jesus. Tomorrow we look at ‘I am the Resurrection and the Life’ together and there will be a creative session planned too for those that are younger or want to focus on the theme in a different way.
On Monday we welcome BMS Missionaries Andrea and Mark Hotchkin at Beacon café. Do come along, bring friends and grab a drink and a pastry, chat or be still with others and hear some of the stories from Andrea and Mark’s time working in medicine in Chad. Children welcome.
Next Sunday we welcome Andy Hobbs who will be sharing with us about when Jesus met Bartimaeus and what God might have to say to us through this.
Some dates to let you know about from our friends at the Jewish Housing Association (the new flats behind the church)
Sunday 31st July 10.30-1pm You are invited to Sheltered Housing Open Day from Leeds Jewish Housing Association (see attachment on this email)…timing may not be great for you but do check it out if you are interested.
Wednesday 27th July, the police van is parking at the Sheltered Housing so do stop by if you want to talk to the neighbourhood policing team.
If you run a house group can you let me know if you plan to keep going in the summer?
Craft group is back on at 2pm in church this week.
And finally just a heads up that there will be an afternoon tea on 7th August after café church, outdoors hopefully, to support the work of the churches in Romania with whom we have links. Do pop it in the diary.
As always, stay in touch.
In Christ
Shelley
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
1 Peter 1:3
A couple of weeks ago Nathan Dring spoke about highlighting the work of our midweek House Groups and he suggested that HG Leaders might like to take advantage of the summer “break” to advertise their particular group and invite new members.
On Sunday July 24th John Sherbourne will be at church, complete with camera to take a picture of anyone who would like to partake.
The idea is for a all the photographs to be displayed on the MBC website and a wall in church together with a contact number and a very rough outline of what your groups focusses on.
With just a couple of days to go until Andrea and Mark Hotchkin join us at next Monday’s Beacon Cafe here is their latest newsletter. You can read or indeed download the whole thing by clicking on the link below.
PLEASE DON’T FORGET TO POP ALONG TO BEACON NEXT MONDAY MORNING BETWEEN 10AM AND 12NOON TO MEET ANDREA AND MARK AND OF COURSE TO FIND OUT HOW THE CONTRIBUTION WE MAKE TO BMS WORLD MISSION HELPS TO FUND THEIR WORK IN CHAD.
On 14 May 2022, Fanfina – the wife of gynaecologist Dr Mbaigoto – suffered a heart attack in Moundou, Chad’s second largest city After receiving treatment for two days at a hospital in Moundou, Fanfina’s condition became critical, and she needed urgent medical attention in N’Djamena, to save her life. The 372-mile journey overland along pothole-ridden roads would have taken 12 hours – so Dr Mbaigoto called MAF. Pilot Becki Dillingham prepared our aircraft for the 90-minute medevac flight to collect Fanfina, taking off early on 17 May, accompanied by MAF’s acting Operations Manager John Feil. The plane followed the Logone River which forms the border with Cameroon – Becki noting the dire state of the roads below and commenting that she could ‘see some of the potholes from the air, they’re that big!’ When they landed to collect the patient, Becki offered Dr Mbaigoto a seat on the aircraft, though he refused due to the pressing needs of local patients. Instead, he waved the flight off, asking Becki, ‘Please take good care of her.’The journey from Moundou in MAF’s Cessna 208 aircraft saved Fanfina’s life. Three weeks later, Fanfina – who’d recovered from her treatment – was discharged from the hospital in Chad’s capital. Doctors confirmed that she wouldn’t have survived the journey overland. Dr Mbaigoto is really grateful for MAF’s life-saving assistance. He says, ‘Fanfina is alive today thanks to this rapid evacuation and effective care. We are very grateful to the staff of MAF and the partners for this ideal flight. God bless you richly.’ Please pray
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