“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord…….”
Colossians 3 v 23 (NIV)
Think: If you don’t work at things, things can easily fall apart! Hard work leads to good results!
The verse of the week is inspired by the teaching the previous Sunday. If you would like to listen to a recording of the service then head to:- https://downsbaptistchurch.org/sermons/
The donations for the next few weeks will be sent to Yemen in the Middle East through Tearfund, a Christian emergency relief and development charity which is also a member of DEC (Disasters’ Emergency Committee).
There have been 6 years of conflict in Yemen that have left 20 million people without enough food or safe water. Millions of children are facing starvation and over 85,000 children have already died from hunger or disease since 2015. The health system has collapsed and coronavirus is thought to be aggressively spreading across the country. Yemen, therefore, is on the brink of the worst famine the world has seen in decades, and in the absence of immediate action millions of lives may be lost.
In spite of the unimaginable suffering of the people of Yemen, the UK government is cutting its aid to Yemen by more than half, a decision that the UN is calling a ‘death sentence’ for Yemen that will have catastrophic effects on the people. The government is also still selling weapons to parties involved in the Yemen conflict.
As well as donations we ask for prayer for the people of Yemen, for their protection from illness, disease and conflict, that there will soon be peace, and that the UK government will show compassion on these very poor people and restore spending on foreign aid to previous levels.
BMS works among some of the most marginalised and least evangelised people, in some of the most fragile places on earth. It aims to bring life in all its fullness through seven key ministries: church, development, education, health, justice, leadership and relief.
As a church we support their work and have signed up to their Birthday Scheme which is administered by Maria, one of our members. To find out more, head to https://downsbaptistchurch.org/community/mission-works/
Financial donations for 2020:- £225 + £15 extra gift aid = £240
Our gifts through the Birthday Scheme provide life-saving medical treatment and care to some of the poorest and most marginalised people around the world, for example, at Guinebor II hospital in Chad. Any additional funds are used in other areas of urgent need, such as development projects that are promoting positive health by providing clean drinking water or alleviating hunger.
G2 is a shining Christian light in the Chadian desert. Our donations enable staff at the hospital to keep providing quality healthcare to the local community and to keep praying for the patients as they introduce people to Christ. The staff includes an amazing team of midwives who are battling the fifth highest infant mortality rate in the world. For example, our money enables the hospital to provide life-saving Caesarean surgery for mothers during childbirth. Our gifts also help to upgrade wards at the hospital so even more people can receive the healthcare they need.
Our BS donations are also helping those who are suffering during the Coronavirus pandemic. They help to provide medical equipment and supplies. For example, they have enabled temperature screening in Chad and provided PPE in Nepal. They also help with the distribution of food to those who cannot find work and so cannot afford to buy food.
NOTE: Please pray concerning the instability in Chad at the moment, where the president, Idriss Deby, has just been killed in battle with rebel fighters. This Central African State has been a vital ally in international efforts to combat Islamist militants in the region.
Thank you to all those who gave via this wonderful scheme during the past year.
On Maundy Thursday, Daniel and two other pastors took a food distribution to Naisuite. You might remember that’s the area that had serious tribal clashes just over a year ago, with some of the people being seriously injured or rendered disabled in the disturbances.
They had about 30 parcels of food, and the distribution was mainly for those who had suffered greatly in the violence, especially those who have been rendered disabled, and were now in great need.
Please continue to pray for our brothers and sisters in Kenya.
Longing to meet together?
We are now able to meet in the school hall for our Sunday morning worship.
There are restrictions of course and strict guidelines have been put in place by the school.
Guidelines for Attending
Should you choose to attend the service you will of course be very welcome. Please do consider your choice carefully as the service will also be live on our FaceBook page and will be added to the website after the service.
We ask that in order to keep everybody safe, you:
Read all about it! Click on the link below for the latest news:
For some reason we are unable to upload Malcolm’s prayer video this evening – our sincere apologies.
If you are able, please head to our Facebook page Downs Baptist Church – Woodingdean | Facebook
to view the video in its entirety.
Malcolm’s video included a short film addressing the grief and challenges caused by the pandemic, and in sharing the message of hope found in Jesus Christ. The film was produced by the Evangelical Alliance and can be reached by clicking the link below:
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1 v 18 NIV