Wow! What a super day for our Family Fun Day. It could not have been any better – beautiful warm sunshine and no wind!

A lot of people dropped in – loads of new faces and some old friends.

Malcolm led three mini services 10.30, 12.00 noon and 2pm – to hear his short messages on our theme for the day – “Grace”, head to https://downsbaptistchurch.org/sermons/

We all enjoyed a BBQ ably cooked by Pete, Dann and Gareth and there was an abundance of homemade cakes and freshly made popcorn.

A bouncy castle, craft activities,  tie-dying and table tennis kept the children and not so young people amused.

It was a very happy time of just being together and getting to know people. Sometimes church can seem a bit remote or even scary for some and having opportunities like this to do things a bit differently and have a bit of fun can build friendships, relationships and trust.

We love reaching out into our community.  We want to be a witnessing church of people and greengrocers shop who share our faith in words and actions.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”  Ephesians 2 v 8 – 9 (NIV)

Take a moment this week to think about God’s undeserved favour and kindness to all – but especially to you!

God’s

Riches

At

Christ’s

Expense

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

https://downsbaptistchurch.org/resources/sermons/

The group is starting up again after the summer holidays on Tuesday 10th September.  Why not pop along to:

564 Falmer Road, Woodingdean. BN2 6NA

Tuesday mornings from 08-45am-11.30am

Chat, pray and find friendship and support.

Thursday Fellowship meets in the Parish Room of the Holy Cross Church, Woodingdean at 2.15pm.

We would love you to join us for fellowship and friendship.  For further information head to the following link:- Thursday Fellowship

Our motto for the year is –

“Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always.”

1 Chronicles 16 v 11 (NIV).

Speakers:

5th September – Pastor Malcolm Haines

12th September – Sue Cunningham

19th September – Win  Funnell

26th September – Dave & Maggie Perkins

Once again our harvest gifts will be given to Brighton & Hove City Mission’s Food Bank which helps to support some of the poorest people in Brighton and Hove. For a list of the items they are especially looking for please click on the link. Needs List

Do come and join us and stay for lunch.  We’d love to see you!

This group is continuing to meet at Wendy’s home at 2pm on the last Monday of each month and has decided to keep the name ‘Encountering God’ as it seemed appropriate to our expectations from studying His Word.

As from Monday 30^th September we will be delving into a new book entitled ‘Here I Am’ by Andy Hawthorne.  The book encourages us to join God’s adventurous call to love the world and we will be drawing on lessons from Isaiah.   We are all eagerly awaiting this study.

Please feel free to join us either regularly or when you’re able to drop in for a taster session. 

For further details, why not give Malcolm a call on 07505 118634

Family Fun – Sunday 11th August

Well we certainly had fun!

Malcolm took us through the story where Jesus calmed the storm (Mark 4 v 35-41).

To hear Malcolm read the passage with some thoughts to help us apply the story to our lives – head to our sermons page. https://downsbaptistchurch.org/sermons/

To help us we used a large parachute which we made into a boat. The children enjoyed sitting in the “boat” and singing songs and we all had fun in creating the storm with the parachute and on hearing those immortal words, “quiet! Be still!” the parachute came to a rest.

We thought about how scared the disciples must have been but then how amazed and excited they were to learn that Jesus had the power to rebuke the wind and calm the waves.

Check out the very short clip below:

We then moved the parachute over the chairs to cover all of the congregation to create a prayer tent and finished our session with the song – “with Jesus in the boat we can smile at the storm!”

Why not pop along to our Fun Day on Sunday, 15th September. We can assure you of a very warm welcome.

Family Fun Day

Update on the ministry of Daniel and Fennih Gitau following the visit of Paddy Taylor (Sheffield Fellowship) to Kenya in March 2019.  

Please continue to pray for the work in Kenya.  We have been supporting the project for many years and it is wonderful to see what God is doing and how the work is growing.

1. The Great Commission Medical Centre Dundori

• As previously stated there has been a big improvement in facilities. The outhouse building is now used for physiotherapy and for housing the C.O. (doctor) who lives on site.
• There is still need for equipment in all areas, including maternity equipment, dental and laboratory equipment.
• Kenya has introduced national health insurance, an affordable insurance with which people can pay for health services.
• A blood analyser has been bought for the clinic, and the clinic is in the process of raising funds for an incinerator.

2. The work in Molo

The street feeding programme has successfully come to an end, with all the street children being found homes, and many coming to faith.  This left the children needing sponsorship to obtain secondary education – so the street feeding programme has become sponsorship through education.  The cost of sponsorship for one child through secondary school is £25 per month for 4 years.

The long-term vision is to build a secondary school on land Leonard Mbae has acquired in Molo.

3. The Dolphin Academy School

There have been big changes in the teaching staff over the past few years.  The current teaching staff are very young and enthusiastic, but their salaries are not enough to live on.  Sponsorship is a new development and there is a growing need for a sponsorship scheme for bright pupils whose parents cannot afford the school fees.

In 2018 Dolphin Academy students were very successful in the national school exam (the KCPE exam).

New facilities have been developed in the last 6 years including new toilets for staff and pupils, a new classroom, and concrete flooring to several of the classrooms.  There is still a need for desks to accommodate the increase in numbers in the school.

The school has also acquired a new school bus which does 2 school runs each morning and evening.  However, not all pupils can afford bus fees.

4. An update on the churches in the area under the presbytership of Rev Daniel Gitau

They are vibrant, growing churches where the Lord is obviously at work, including:-

• Dundori: a healthy church of about 250 people in a poor area, led by Joseph and Florence and Gideon and Beatrice. The new church building which they have been working on for years is now taking shape nicely (called their “cathedral”).
• Nakuru Worship Centre (NWC): The only church which is self-supporting financially as many members have good employment in Nakuru. About 150 members.
• Molo: a church of around 150 people pastored by Leonard Mbae and Mary.

5. Daniel’s work with other churches and in the political sphere

• The God Bless Kenya (Prayer Movement): the church in Nakuru has been the prime mover behind this movement, especially the Nakuru Elders Council. This led to peaceful elections in 2013.  Daniel was instrumental in its formation and it works for peace in Kenya.
• Prayer Breakfasts: Because of the high standing of the church in Kenya Government officials feel obliged to attend such breakfasts and subject themselves to prayer and messages of a Christian nature.
• Prayer rallies: Daniel and the Nakuru Elders Council were also involved in organising prayer rallies. For example, following the problems around the elections in 2017, when it looked as though the country could descend into civil war, a prayer rally was organised of 250 thousand people who prayed for peace and reconciliation within the country.

6. The country of Kenya – challenges and developments

• There is a distinct improvement in the roads, but they have been largely constructed by the Chinese who do not aid the local economy. Chinese industries in Kenya are very strong and this leads to Kenyan businesses losing out.
• Corruption: the number one evil in Kenyan society. It is extensive and seems to infuse all levels of government.
• Even in the church: William Ruto, the deputy president of Kenya who is a well-known Christian and preacher in his church, is currently being investigated for corruption. Lure of corruption is hard to resist in a country with great levels of poverty.

7. The Great Mission for Kenya (GMK)

This is a new charity being set up to take over the work of coordinating funds to channel to the ministry in Kenya.

Well the weather wasn’t good enough for our beach service this year so we had a short service in the school hall before making our way down to Rottingdean beach for Rob Brand’s baptism.

It was a cool day and there weren’t many people about but it was a very happy and memorable occasion particularly for Rob and his family.

To hear Rob’s testimony please click on the audio link below:-

It was great to be part of Woodingdean Carnival and once again all of the churches were represented under the banner of “Churches Together in Woodingdean”. It was a hot day but a very happy one. It seems that the Woodingdean Carnival just gets better and better.