News items for public viewing
Sunday 24th January finds us continuing to unpack the start of the Gospel According to Mark. To join us for our live welcome stream at 10.45am you need to go to facebook.com/moortownbaptistchurch or you can click HERE
Following that, or indeed at any time after you can then switch over to our prerecorded YouTube programme by either following this link https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZIQtirtwcWisN25zqEJpzywj1a0TZrjh or clicking HERE
“…but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4.6-7
Paul writes to the church in Philippi from his own lock down, urging his brothers and sisters to bring everything to God in prayer. For some of us in this third lockdown we may feel that all we can do is pray. Paul reminds us that praying is one of the best things we can offer to God in serving Him.
During this lockdown we encourage you to continue praying and to share prayer with us as a church. We offer you some different ways you may like to join us, shape our prayers and also share your requests for prayer. We recognise that during lockdown, sharing prayer requests has been difficult and we are learning how to do this in a way that is respectful and keeps us connected as family. These ways to pray are starting points for us to build a rhythm of gathered prayer into our lockdown life together. Look out for how you can take part and help us to shape them.
Shona and Graham
Daily prayer:
When: Starting on Monday the 25th of January you are invited to join with us at 12noon and 8pm each Monday to Friday.
What: led prayers based on scripture that marks midday and evening prayer. It helps us pause and reflect, reminding us of God’s presence and affirming our faith.
Where: click on the links on Facebook and on the MBC website
Get involved: would you like to write your own daily prayer and share it with the church? Get in touch with Kate at the church office or email: admin@moortownbaptistchurch.onmicrosoft.com
Thanksgiving and Intercessions:
When: Church at Home on Sundays
What: led prayers for the wider world and our communities asking for God’s help.
Where: click on the links for our Church at Home service on our website. These will take you to our YouTube channel.
Get involved: would you like the church to pray for a particular situation that you support in mission or would you like to lead prayers of intercession in our service? Get in touch.
Prayers of thanksgiving, intercession and healing:
When: monthly Zoom on third Sundays
What: interactive prayers as part of a short communion service.
Where: the zoom link will be emailed to members on the Friday before third Sunday of the month.
Get involved: would you like the church to pray for a someone known to you. Please check the person is happy to be prayed for, and get in touch with Kate, Graham or Shona.
Sharing updates & requests for prayer with the wider church:
Get in touch with Graham and Shona if you have a request for prayer and updates on prayers answered.
Please check you have the person’s permission for what is shared: God does not need to know all the details. Where it is shared: requests and updates will be shared on our Facebook Live on Sundays and stay on our account. And with whom: Facebook is a public site so others beyond the church can and do see our content.
At 10am on Sunday 17th January we are introducing something new; a live Communion Service which via Zoom will include a time when we can come together in prayer. Invitations to this Service have been sent out by email just as they were for other services and meetings we have held on Zoom.
This will be followed at 10.45am by our usual live stream welcome for which you will need to click HERE or go to facebook.com/moortownbaptistchurch
Then to share in our pre-recorded Church at Home/Family at Moortown programme, which today begins a series on the gospel of Mark you’ll have to retune again, this time to HERE or to https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZIQtirtwcWjGsAWRziAK5vTbiEBXrwXi
Support for BMS in 2020 and forward into 2021.
This item starts with a BIG THANK YOU to MBC. Despite the impossibility, during most of 2020, of collecting donations to BMS Birthday Scheme and Monthly Donations via envelopes in the collection bags people have adapted their giving methods. As a result, the total given to BMS in 2020 increased by £771 over 2019.
Here are the comparative figures:-
The Monthly Giving and Birthday Scheme include donations sent direct to the BMS website, but only those gifts notified to me, Other MBC members may have sent donations. So again – Thank You.
How is this money used?
BMS supports around 100 mission workers in 17 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe – many of them marginalised and least evangelised. Among them we particularly support:- John and Sue Wilson – Pastoral Leaders in Paris and Mark and Andrea Hotchkin – Doctors in Bardai, northern Chad
We have posted their regular news and videos in this newsletter and website throughout 2020 and you can also learn about their vital work on www.bmsworldmission.org searching Personnel. As the Covid pandemic continues worldwide the demand on BMS resources is growing. The numbers of people in MBC giving through the Birthday Scheme and monthly gifts are declining. As well as your prayers for this work, we need more people to support these schemes financially and, as we are no longer able to collect envelopes etc through offerings in Church, here are Ways You can help:-
Monthly Giving
The best way to do this is by setting up a monthly Standing Order with your bank to
Moortown Baptist Church BMS account Sort Code 05-01-06 Account no 10225334
(it would be helpful to let Roger Robson know the date of the month the order will be paid)
If you are unable to do this, or prefer to use monthly envelopes, please let Roger know on 07929100598.
Birthday Scheme
You can join this as a way of making an Annual Donation to BMS. Please contact Roger on 07929100598 or email roger.robson1@ntlworld.com giving your Birthday (not age!!) and Address. You will then receive a Card on your Birthday and details of how to donate by bank transfer or cheque.
Please consider these schemes seriously and help BMS to continue its vital work of supporting and growing the Worldwide Church.
One Further Request
Following mission service with BMS in Congo in the 1970’s I have acted as Moortown’s BMS Representative for around 45 years. We badly need younger people on the Church Overseas Mission Group and to take over some of the roles in supporting Worldwide Mission. If you are interested in finding out more to see if God may be calling you, please get in touch with me on
0113 2941759 or roger.robson1@ntlworld.com
Thank you. Roger Robson
The images above are simply scans of Andrea and Mark’s newsletter. If you would like to read a much clearer version just follow this link
In our seventy-five years of serving remote communities in the far corners of the world, we have never seen anything that has so deeply affected the entire world economically and socially as COVID-19. Our work has been limited due to lockdowns in many countries. In some countries we have served almost as normal, in others we have been limited to providing a few flights to aid the government in their fight against COVID-19.
To care for the safety of our staff, partners and the isolated communities we serve, we have modified our aircraft, trained ground staff on aircraft cleaning techniques and established new passenger procedures.
Our hearts and minds are constantly focused on the isolated people who live in the most remote locations where we serve. Literally tens of thousands have not been served with the basics to address their physical and spiritual needs. As we prepare to once again serve their villages, we anticipate encountering food shortages, unattended medical needs, exacerbated educational challenges and spiritual hunger.
We are positioned, ready to address these increased needs once restrictions of movement are lifted in the countries where we serve. We invite you to partner with us, through your prayer and financial support, so that isolated communities are not forgotten.
MAF’s website which you can access HERE is full of information about how this wonderful organisation operates and also of course how you can support them. However, a bit nearer home if you are at all interested MBC’s David Casson is the man to speak to.
The old and the new
Inspired by news of a project that Phil Commons is heavily involved in a small number of MBC members have recently helped an extremely poor family to move to a new purpose built house in the village of Jhum Para, Bangladesh. This development which cost £3,000 and with the help of villagers was completed in eight weeks has been very happily received and endorsed by the whole community. The idea was for the house to be made somewhat larger than their old “property” in order that the family’s adult son could live with and support them.
There’s more about Jhum Para, about how MBC originally became involved with the desperately poor people who live in this remote village and how your support can help them today HERE
As one of those who donated to the appeal says: “To be able to directly transform people’s lives in needy parts of the world is so satisfying, so scriptural and above all so humbling.”
Amen to that.
MBC members Chris and Bela Singh who work with Radio Worldwide – part of WEC (World Evangelism for Christ) tell us how the Coronavirus pandemic has resulted in more people than ever engaging with their online ministry.
The images below are scans of Chris and Bela’s newsletter, to see an original and clearer copy click HERE
“Last year” says Howard Dews “we sent £500 for each of the following needs – the salary of Josef Hoca pastor of the gypsy church in the village of Floresti, Nicu Reparuc’s work with a number of children he and his wife have adopted, support for poor families, support for students attending the church, the church’s work with young people (£2,500 in total). The church in Cluj has added to this from their own resources in the overall amounts quoted in the letter.”
To the Romania initiative group from Moortown – Leeds,
Dear brothers in Christ,
Greetings and may you have blessed holidays!
We thank you for your prayers and for your financial support that you sent us in 2020. God bless you! Together with your financial participation, 6 young students received scholarships and 22 families needy were helped. Also we made 394 food packages that were distributed to people in need both in the church and in the branch churches. We continue our collaboration with the Gypsies church in Floresti, we offer to brother Hoca Joseph every month, a financial aid worth 500 lei equivalent of £ 100 and the support for our brother Nicu Reperuc and his work with the children. Below, you will see the appreciation thoughts from the young members of our church that benefited from the scholarship we have provided with your help.
God bless you all! Lord of peace be with you in everything you do!
Hello, my friends. I was very surprised when I heard that I will recieve this present from your church. This year, because of your kindness, I experienced the Bible verse that says in Maleachi 3:10 “see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it”. I was so blessed to see that God is faithful in His promises. I’m thankful because you put yourself in God’s path and accomplish His laws. You inspired me in this field, and now I decided for myself to be a blessing for others also. Thank you once more and God bless your entire community. Criss.
Hi, my name is Hornai Dan and I am an electrical engineering student. I want to thank you very much for your support. It is great to get a little financial support especially in these times when we need to invest a lot in the hardware to keep up with the online classes. It is amazing knowing that we have people so far away from us yet so close because of their will to help us. Once again, thank you very much and I hope God will help you get over this whole pandemic and keep you and your families in His hands. Dan Hornai.
Dear brothers from Leeds, My name is Daniel , I am a student at technical University from Cluj-Napoca, I wrote this letter because I want to thank you again for all the help that you gave me. I wish you all of God blessings ani I pray that His Holy Spirit will fill your heart with joy. Sincerely, Your little brother Daniel.
Hello, My name is Ban Paul Cristian, I am 18 years old and I’m in the 12thgrade at a Christian high school. Some of my passions are reading, music and interacting with people. I am very grateful for the money you offered me and I pray to God to reward this deed! God bless you, Cristian
Dear brothers from Leeds, Thank you so much for the support that you sent to us. My name is Carla, I’m 19 years old, I study at the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca to be a telecommunications engineer. I am a member of the no. 1 Manastur church and I am involved in the great chorus and the youth one too. Also I am part of a worship team and the children ministry team. Thank you personally for your generosity, may God bless you all. Merry Christmas!
Hello! My name is Moldovan Flaviu, I am 17 years old and I am in my last year at the Emanuel Baptist Theological High School in Cluj-Napoca. I attend the Eclessia Pentecostal Church in a commune near Cluj County, where in fact it is my home. Coming to school in Cluj, I go to the Baptist Church no. 1 Manastur at a youth group where we learn how to get to know God better and how to live life as Christians. Thank you very much for the money sent! May the Lord bless you and reward you. Sincerely, Flaviu Moldovan.
Although somewhat different to those that had gone before, as in previous years our Christmas Gift Service saw literally hundreds of items being passed on to HomeStart Leeds. Below there is a letter of thanks from the projects Volunteer Development/Admin lead in appreciation of our efforts.
