“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize!“
1 Corinthians 9 v 24 (NIV)
At our Family Fun Day, the children had great fun in seeing how far their trains would go.
The verse of the week is inspired by the teaching the previous Sunday. If you would like to listen to a recording of the message then head to
We are delighted that Pete Millis has asked to be baptised and it is hoped that this will take place in the sea at Rottingdean on the 18th August, 2024. If anyone is interested in exploring the possibility of being baptised, either in the sea or alternatively in a local heated swimming pool/baptismal pool, please do speak to one of the Church leaders.
They would also like to hear from anyone who might be interested in participating in a Christianity
Explored course. Please be assured that there will not be any pressure or commitment made by making an enquiry.
You can also fill in our contact form by clicking on the link below should you wish to know more:
Thursday Fellowship takes a break from its weekly meetings over the summer but there is an opportunity to meet at a Coffee Morning on the following Thursdays in July and August:-
11th July – 37 The Ridgway 
25th July – 81 Downland Road
8th August – 32 Farm Hill
22nd August – TBC
From 10.30am to 12.30pm
Note for your diaries – The autumn session starts on Thursday, 5th September in the Parish Room of the Holy Cross Church at 2pm.
We met for our final session of the season on Thursday, 27th June.
We were delighted to welcome an old friend Linn Davies, who sang a medley of songs and explained why they were important to her. Particularly poignant was the last song, which she had written herself at a significantly life-changing time in her career.
We then enjoyed a traditional cream tea which was appreciated by us all. 
Thursday Fellowship takes a summer break until September, but we have the opportunity to get together during the summer months at various coffee mornings. Please do look out for upcoming dates on the News page and in the events calendar down the side.
See you in September! Usual time, usual place! https://downsbaptistchurch.org/community/thursday-fellowship/
Please continue in your prayers for Burundi.
June 2024 update: Richard has sent some photos through showing new believers and also the foundations for a new church building. God is good!
Richard Brunton from Living Hope Ministries has asked Downs Baptist Church to pray for Burundi which is served by Richard and one of his teams. The work of LHM is to teach pastors and leaders to build effective churches all over the world. This includes the discipling of new believers.
We have just heard from Richard and Elaine (May 2024) that a new church plant for ‘Pygmy’ people is being planted in the country. Prayer changes things and brings encouragement to the churches and also to the team at Living Hope Ministries. Thank you.
The key person to pray for in Burundi is Pastor Eddy Bukeyeneza who works with four other pastors there. In 2023 the pastors were responsible for the outreach ministry and preaching of the gospel in different communities and churches throughout Burundi. They sent back reports of the number of new believers, which totalled 1254. It was good to hear that some other believers were baptised roundabout Christmas time.
INFO ABOUT BURUNDI
The republic of Burundi is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley of Africa at the junction between the African Great Lakes region and East Africa. It borders in the north with Rwanda. The capital city is Gitega, and the official languages are Kirundi (national language), French and English. It is densely populated and one of the smallest countries in Africa. It is primarily a rural society, and the land is mostly used for subsistence agriculture and grazing. As of 2005 the country was almost completely deforested. It is probably the poorest country in the world with widespread poverty, corruption, instability, authoritarianism and illiteracy.
It gained independence from Belgium in 1962 and has been ruled in the past by Tutsi dictators. It experienced a genocide of Hutus in 1972. 55% of the population are of Hutu ethnic origin, 15% are Tutsis and less than 1% are Twa.
The Burundi constitution guarantees religious freedom, but several churches have been banned. 67% of the population are Christians, of which 62% are Roman Catholic and only 5% are Protestant. 32% of the people practise indigenous religions and 1% are Muslim.
If we look at the history of Richard’s team ministry in Burundi before it developed into the lively ministry of outreach and evangelism which we find today, we see that a door was first opened into Burundi, pioneered by Richard himself, in 2016. Richard later handed over the baton to a team or group of people, so that they could take care of the visits to Burundi. However, Richard continued to oversee them when they went out on mission. The job of the team or group was primarily to build friendships, to provide teaching for the pastors so that new believers could be discipled, and to encourage and support the churches, which they are continuing to do to the present day.
In particular, a telephone ministry has developed in the countries served by Richard and his teams. This takes place when people in Africa gather in crusades, seminars and Bible study groups. Gatherings of leaders pause as a live telephone message produced by Richard himself is translated into their language. One such group who use this telephone ministry to share the word of God operates in Burundi.
As has already been mentioned, Burundi is very poor and mostly rural. The pastors therefore have to go into remote areas to plant churches where people generally are unreached by the gospel. Pastor Eddy is assisted by Peter in the work who also serves the Lord in Kenya. Eddy’s job is to provide teaching seminars and to develop his friendship with the key country contact who stands with him in his ministry and in the ministry of the other pastors.
Please pray as follows:-
To know God and to make Him known
A WORSHIPPING CHURCH OF PEOPLE WHO PRAY AND FOLLOW THE TEACHING OF THE BIBLE.
Jesus said: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14 v 6
A WITNESSING CHURCH OF PEOPLE WHO SHARE OUR FAITH IN WORDS AND ACTIONS.
Jesus said: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself.” Luke 10 v 27
Gareth leads our monthly online prayer time this month focusing on Joshua 1 v 6-7 and Philippians 4 v 6.
A small group decamped to Rottingdean beach near to Molly’s café for a short Beach Service instead of our usual meeting place at Woodingdean CP School.
This year, it was felt better to conduct the service at the top of the beach rather than clambering down the pebbles to the waters edge!
It is always good to have Chris Roche from Union Church, Heathfield with us. What a lovely sunny day for it!
We welcomed back one of our regular speakers to our meeting on the beautiful and sunny, Summer Solstice day!
After Jane’s talk last week from Ephesians about ‘putting on’ certain things and ‘clothing ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience’, Ann led us nicely into Ephesians 6 v 10-18, putting on the full armour of God.
What a delightful afternoon! Ann reminded us that we are all on active service in God’s army! There is no time for retirement and this passage is a blue print for our training.
Ann requested a willing volunteer and Kath duly responded. Kath then with some help and much hilarity from all present, had to put on the various bits of the armour as Ann expounded some simple but profound thoughts about each piece and why each one is important and necessary for the battle we all face as soldiers of the Lord.
Belt of truth: The Word of God is our security and holds everything together.
Breastplate of righteousness: Protects our heart. We need to love God and love others.
Shoes – Gospel of peace: Are we ready to go where God wants us to go? God has the right to send you where you need to go! Are you in a comfortable rut? We need to be active! Will you obey?
Helmet of salvation: There is no room for doubt. Protect yourself particularly your mind from unhelpful things coming in – say no!
Sword of the Spirit: This is the only attacking piece of armour. Unlike Ann’s rusty, old poker, don’t be rusty in the Word of God – get reading! And while we are at it, let’s keep on praying in the Spirit with all kinds of prayers.
Ann reminded us that we are a forward moving army – there is no defence on our backs! 
Do we look like real soldiers? Did Kath? Maybe not, but we are! We must not forget that we are on active service. Team work is required and although we are all different, we need to love, respect, trust one another and work as a unit. For some, the battle can be too much and we need to care for the wounded by being loving and forgiving to come alongside the battle weary to help restore with no judgment because ‘but there for the grace of God, go I’!
We also need to know our enemy as he will attack us when we are weak. We must focus on the campaign of setting people free from the things that bind them and not get side-tracked. Our struggle is not against flesh and blood v 12! Jesus has already won the battle, death has been defeated, Satan conquered but we are His soldiers doing his work.
So, put on your armour every day. Keep it in good condition and see what God will do through you.
Margaret leads our online prayer for June and her focus is Psalm 46.
An in-house day today with Faith leading and Jane speaking.
Jane posed a few questions to get us thinking! “When was the last time you had a good clear out of your wardrobe?” “Do you have what you would call, ‘old friends’ lurking in there that you can’t bear to part with or have kept ‘just in case’?” “Is there anything that needs to go?”
Jane’s reading was Ephesians 4 v 17-32 (NIV) focusing on verses 22-24, where the instruction is to put off the old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires, and to be made new in the attitude of our minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
If we know Jesus, really know Jesus, we have been made new – we are new creations and have been born again of the spirit of God. We need to put off our old humanity like a rotten garment and put on, like clean and new clothing, our new humanity recreated in God’s image, and live a life worthy of our calling which is honourable to God in terms of our attitude, our speech and lifestyle.
We looked at some of the things in Ephesians 4 that Paul says we should put off, and were challenged to think about anything in our lives that had to go and not just what is in our wardrobes and drawers!
Jane concluded with some verses from Colossians 3 – Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Our closing song was the Marilyn Baker chorus, Jesus, you are changing me and we sang this as a prayer.
Jesus, You Are Changing Me
By Your Spirit, You’re Making Me Like You
Jesus, You’re Transforming Me
That Your Loveliness May Be Seen In All I Do
You Are The Potter And I Am The Clay
Help Me To Be Willing To Let You Have Your Way
Jesus, You Are Changing Me
As I Let You Reign Supreme Within My Heart