SIGNPOSTSeptember & October 2014

ORPINGTON BAPTIST CHURCH

OBC

conquers all

contents Page

From our Minister 1From Danny 2From David 3 Day of Prayer 4From our Treasurer 5From Helen 6From Jon: Worship Jam 7Church Meeting 7Sundays 8Flower Ministry 9Project Cyrus 10Harvest 10Women's Friendship Group 10Our Twin Church 11Mum’s the Word 12Racial Justice Sunday 12Thank You Day 13Baptists Together 14-15Holiday At Home 15Mission Executive 16Theology Cafe 17 Baptism 17Thank You note 17Prayer Ministry Team 17BMS Birthdays 18 Bereavement Service 18 BMS Link News 19-20 Women's Quiet Day 2015 20 Sahaara Update 21 Girls Brigade 22-23 Bake-Off Challenge 23 Fruitfulness on the Frontline 24

From our Minister

SIGNPOST1

Dear friends,

I’m often asked “What’s the difference between a Baptist Church andother Churches?”. Thankfully the answer is less and less as old wallsof disunity are replaced with sharing and working together. InOrpington we make this a reality through Churches Together inOrpington (CTiO) and it’s great that some of the most exciting Kingdominitiatives have CTiO stamped through them including, Foodbank,Street Pastors, College Pastors, youth Fusion and childrens projects,Kairos Christian compassion for the elderly, local and national governmentengagement, police liaison and much more as well.I hope that all of us would want to emphasise that we are Christians first andforemost, rather than members of any particular denomination. However,belonging to OBC means that we have a vision to fulfil within the context of ourinternational Baptist family. Three things that have always marked out BaptistChurches are:BELIEVERS BAPTISM : at OBC we want to encourage people to believe in the LordJesus Christ and then to be Baptised by immersion. This Autumn I pray specificallythat there will be those who want to commit themselves to following in thefootsteps of Jesus in this way.CHURCH MEMBERSHIP : at OBC we practise what is called congregationalgovernment. This means that the church is not ruled by a hierarchy but that allwho want to belong have a voice. Baptist churches believe that the best way ofencouraging this is to welcome friends who are committed Christians to becommitted Church Members as well. Again, it will be great to see more becomingChurch Members this Autumn.MISSION : From the beginning, in the 17�� Century, of the Baptist movement inthis country Baptists have been leaders in pioneering mission. In Fulfilment of theGreat Commission that Jesus gave in Matthew 28:19 we want to see people of allages and cultures becoming Christian disciples. In Orpington, in our nation and inthe world my prayer is that OBC will make a transforming difference this Autumn.Christians first and foremost, part of the Body of Christ made up of manycongregations, but belonging to a Church at OBC with a vision.

With love in Christ,Martyn

From Danny, our Youth Pastor

SIGNPOST2

We all love a good campfire, it's not the smokestung eyes or the clothes and hair that smell fordays after but the warmth, sense ofcommunity and marshmallows that bring us back to them.I've just come back from Momentum with a few of the studentsfrom OBC where we were worshiping alongside 8000 other18-30's. I've been going to this festival for a few years and since

my first time it has doubled in size, which is odd because as you look inchurches around the country this is the age group that's missing. Sospending the evening around a campfire, dancing to The Rend Collectiveand worshiping God with 8000 other 18-30's felt a little surreal.Despite this the sense of community was overpowering, not just that nightbut throughout the festival. It's this sense of community that comes witheating, worshiping and being slightly smelly together that's attractive, It'swhy their festivals have so many young people and young adults attendthought the summer. It's that sense of community that were seeking inthe groups and events that we run for our students and young people. Thatour relationship with God is about more that the sessions or the time wespend together but how we're living our lives.

Our love, prayersand best wishesgo with Danny &

Emma as theymarry in

Worcester on27�� September

SIGNPOST3

From David, our Children & Family WorkerNEW TERM

OK Bible Group re-opens again in September and it’sgreat that this small group of children are really keento learn more about the Bible. This term we will belooking at a series I have created called “The Jesusseries”. Please continue to pray for the children as they learnto grasp hold of the gospel for themselves. Hopefully new

children will joining us including some from our recent holiday club. TermDates: Wednesday 10�� Sept, 1�� and 8�� Oct, 5�� and 12�� Nov.

OBC Kidzone Group formally restarts on Sunday 7��September. After the promotion in the first part of theservice the children will go to their new groups.The team would be grateful if you can ensureregistration forms are completed for your child, so couldwe please encourage you to check with the Kidzone team.Older children in Kidzone 1 and 2 are encouraged to complete the take homesheets which will indicate to parents what they have been learning andhopefully continue the learning process in the home, so please do encourageyour children to pick one up.

Dates are already in place to return to Blenheim andTubbenden Primary schools for my fortnightly assembliesstarting on Wednesday 10�� September.

Just to remind parents, grandparents and carers or any new parents of schoolaged children we have a couple of prayer groups running in the locality forTubbenden and Warren Road and if you wish to find out more then please dospeak to me, it would be lovely to see more folk gathering to pray for our localschools

Just another reminder our last level 2 training afternoon hereat OBC will be on Sunday19�� October from 4pm. Please confirmwith Chris Reveley that you intend on coming. Thank You.

safeguarding

SIGNPOST4

From 5.00pm Friday 31 Octoberto

5.00pm Saturday 1 November

Through Hallowe’enand into All Saints Day

we’re planning anAll-age Day of Prayer

Sign-up soon for a time to visiton the Prayer Clockin the Welcome Area

Discover the roomsand labyrinth

with child-friendly activities

Pray - Praiseand call on the Presence of God

‘Th

e lig

ht s

hin

es in

the

dar

knes

s, a

nd

the

dar

knes

s h

as n

ot o

verc

om

e it

’ Jo

hn

1:5

‘Lord, teach us to pray’ Luke 11:1 ‘Pray without ceasing’ 1 Thess 5:17‘Be jo

yful in

ho

pe, p

atient in

affliction

, faithfu

l in p

rayer. ‘Rom

ans 12:12

‘Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.’ Colossians 4:2

SIGNPOST5

From our Treasurer

The “Thank You Day” on October 5th is fastapproaching when we are going to be askingmembers of the OBC community to think abouttheir contribution to our new buildings. (See page13) We hope that some will join us in giving by standing order;

others will confirm their current giving for future years while yet otherswould consider a final “one off” gift. The new buildings were buzzing with“Holiday at Home” today and Jon Newman was tinkling the ivories in thebackground. Both of these remind us how God has been so good to us atOBC over the past couple of years.As we approach the new school year, our Christian time of Harvest and the“Thank You Day”, could we also consider our giving to the church as partof our natural financial review. Many people have undertaken this already,with some moving down and some increasing over the past months. Manyhaven’t though; so if you haven’t looked recently (or maybe for a longwhile), then you could be in a position to give an uplift to your regular givingand help to keep our work for the Lord going.Thank you to our envelope and cash givers for considering their giving in avery tangible way, by actually giving cash and writing cheques. Seems oldfashioned but is very biblical. We are asked to consider our giving to theLord’s work first, and then plan our other spending. Standing orders do thistoo, but can be hidden and forgotten about! You may get a shock whenyou take a look!We have also seen some fantastic responses to projects as they come up.We have helped support global needs as well as local funding in the UK. Allin all, we have continued to be a “giving church”, aiming to share God’slove with those close to us and further away. Playing our part is a keyresponsibility for us as Christians as we follow the one who gave His all, theLord Jesus.Thank you for every penny givenIvor ReveleyChurch Treasurer

SIGNPOST6

From Helen, our Parish Nurse

Hey Big September Saver!Being food smart isn’t just healthier, it can be cheaper too.Here’s how:●Swapping takeaways for home cooking can save a staggering£800 a year.

● Always write a shopping list. Only buying what you really need canhelp bring your shopping bills right down. To help you out why notdownload the free Change 4 Life recipe app for a shopping list that youcan tick off as you go!

● Want to save on fruit and veg? Try buying it frozen or choosing what’sin season, as it’s usually cheaper.

● Make vegetables the main event! They tend to cost less than meat,so adding more veg to your meals can cut your food bills, as well ascutting back on fat.

Perk up a packed lunch with these food smart tips:● Lower-fat yoghurts always go down well; they’re a good source of

calcium too.

● It’s fun to dunk! Cucumber, pepper and carrot sticks are delicious witha lower-fat dip.

● Use your loaf and make sandwiches with 50/50 bread (half white, halfwholemeal or wholegrain). It’s healthier than white and tastier too.

● Tomatoes are tasty! Pop in a handful of the baby ones-kids love them.

From Jon, our Worship Co-ordinator

SIGNPOST7

OBC CHURCH FAMILY MEETINGWednesday 17 September 2014

OPEN TO ALL (not just Church Members!) 7.45pm for 8.00 start

WORSHIP - DISCUSSION - INFORMATION - DECISIONS - SHARINGNot yet a Member?Everyone who comes to OBC is an important part of our Church Family.But if you’d like to take your commitment to God’s work at OBC a stepfurther and be involved in decision-making by becoming a Church Member(which will give you a vote at our Church Family Meetings) please askMartyn for more details about hooking-up with OBC.

Belonging to OBC Don’t wait to be asked!

Do you sometimes feel you’re out of touch with what’s

happening at OBC? Then you should come to the next

We need new musicians, singers,worshippers.The Worship Jam is a safe place toexplore and expand your musicalabilities, to learn new songs, andpractice being spirit led in worship.

Even if you are a beginner but have a vision forworship, please come along, and bring yourinstrument/voice. These will be held monthly.First jam session: Thursday 2ⁿ� October, 8pm at the Church.Refreshments provided. Please contact Jon at gsgmusic@hotmail.com and tellhim what you will bring.

SIGNPOST8

Sunday Worship is a high point of all that we do at OBC. Through the teaching ofGod’s word and worship that is inspiring we want everyone to come closer to God.

SEPT 7 10.30 Worship: Fruitfulness on the Frontline

6.30 Communion & Healing Service

14 10.30 Racial Justice Sunday

6.00 Theology Café

21 10.30 Worship with Communion

6.30 Café-style Service: Anger

28Harvest

10.30 Harvest Thanksgiving

6.30 Harvest Celebration

OCT 5 10.30 Thank You Day

6.30 Communion & Healing Service

12 10.30 All-age & Parade

6.00 Theology Café

19 10.30 Worship led by Ivor Reveley

4.00 Child Protection Training (Level 2)

26 10.30 Worship

NOV 2 10.30 Church Anniversary with Rev Les Isaacs(Founder of the Street Pastors initiative)

6.30 Communion & Healing Service

Date Donated by Remembering Arranged by

SEPT7

Sue Davis Her father Marilyn Crisp

14 Christopher Meade His parents, Patrick & Pat Wendy Collins

21 Viv Cox Her husband Richard Karen Sumner

Emily Wilson Her parents Christopher & Chrissie

28Harvest

Hazel Williams Her husband John and theirWedding Anniversary

TEAM

Viv Cox Her friend Maude Marshall

OCT 5

David & Joyce Wright Her mum Penny Toghill

Chris & Brian Kuhrt Their mum Ivy Miller

12 Ann Uden Philip on his birthday Fran Morris

Sheila Cooke Her mum

19 Jo Lewis Family members Penny Toghill

26 Marguerite Redsell andPaul & Sonia Mulley

Lisa, her daughter and Sonia’ssister

Karen Sumner

SIGNPOST9

The following friends are providing andarranging flowers for the months of September & October

SIGNPOST10

All ladies are invited to come to

Sept 8th Spinnaker - David Jones15th PAT Dog - Rosemary Hills with her dog22nd Bible Study - David Jermyn29th Mountains - Tony & Brenda Cross

Oct 6th Mission to Fishermen - Peter Shaw13th Create - Alison Dennis20th Bible Study - David Jermyn27th No meeting - Half Term

Welcome to our Autumn Session of Women’s Friendship.We aim to have interesting and varied speakers eachMonday afternoon between 2 and 3pm followed by teaand fellowship. We meet in the lower small hall. We alsohave a regular Bible Study slot with our friend David Jermyn.We look forward to seeing you there.More information from the Welcome Desk or Pauline Hollands,Helen Stockman and Brenda Cross.

▪ Pray for all those who have become addictedto drugs, especially crystal meth in North Korea

▪ Pray for adequate support and rehabilitationprogrammes for those that need it

▪ Pray for an improvement in the North Koreaneconomy to make the production of crystalmeth and other drugs less attractive

SIGNPOST11

Our Twin ChurchProvidence Baptist Church in Bucharest, Romania is our twin church inEastern Europe. Those of you who have already visited will know what aninspiration it is to worship and have fellowship with our brothers and sistersthere.We hope that next year there will be an opportunity for a team of youngpeople and adult helpers to visit them once again. Martyn & Marg arevisiting from 18 October for a few days, when Martyn will preach twice atservices (by translation!).For those at OBC who don’t know Providence Baptist Church is around thesame size as OBC, made up of a wide age-range, like ourselves. However,it’s situated in Ferentari, the poorest part of Bucharest; very much a no-goarea for many Romanians as it’s largely populated by Roma gypsy families.Please pray for them this Autumn and for our visit there as we begin tomake plans together.Please pray for the many ways they reach out to their community and showthem Christ’s love.Please pray for Oti Bunaciu and Sorin Badragan, who’ve both preached atOBC, as they lead the church in that place.

Worship - Bible study - education - food - warm clothing - health checks…and much more

Sorin

Oti

SIGNPOST12

Give yourself the night offJoin Diane Louise Jordan and Cathy Madavan

for a fun and insightful evening designedespecially for mums.

We’re hosting this national tour fromCare for the Family at OBC

Thursday 16 October7.30-10.00pm

(coffee served 6.45-7.15)Tickets £6.00 : shop@cff.org.uk

●One of the joys of OBC is that we are a multicultural church

●14 Septembers marks Racial Justice Sunday and at OBCwe are celebrating it together

●Sign up at the Welcome Desk for ourInternational Church Fellowship Lunch

●Come in your national dress

●Celebrate that though we are many we are one in Christ

Racial Justice Sunday 14 September

SIGNPOST13

THANK YOU DAY5�� OctoberThose of you who were here at the timeof the building works will testify to howsignificant the changes we made are forthe church. From the vastly improvedwelcome area to the professional kitchenand not to mention the toilets! While wehad a vision for what we might achievewith the project we have seen so manymore opportunities and blessings. Wecertainly could not have opened theSanctuary Café or held services in thewelcome area without the redesign andthe additional accommodation, includingthe roof terrace for the Pre-School, hasmade church life in many areas so muchbetter.

For those of you that have joined us sincethe building works were finished, youmay not realise what we had to work within the past. It difficult now to think howwe coped with the old dark entrancefoyer, very tired décor throughout andput up with the congested corridors, sowe hope those of you who are new toOBC can appreciate what we now haveeven if you did not see the buildingbefore the improvements.

At all stages we had a desire to enhanceour outreach to the community and bringmany more unchurched people into thebuilding, even if not into the sanctuary.We have seen this vision develop over thelast 2 years and expect even greaterthings in the future.

In order to complete the project we hadto borrow £250,000 which we committedto repay over 10 years – we are almost atthe end of year 2. This was a big ask butthrough peoples’ generosity we have agood number of monthly pledges tocover the loan repayments. However, wedo have something like a £50,000 gap inthe funding and with interest rates likelyto rise next year, now is a good time tobridge that gap. So on 5�� October wegoing to hold a “Thank You Day” to givethanks to God for what he has providedand celebrate the way everyonecontributed in some way to make theproject work so well.

It is about thanksgiving but on thepractical side we will be looking to raiseas much money as we can and increasethe number of pledges for the loanrepayments. There will be more detailprior to the day but we wanted to getpeople thinking about how they might beable to respond.

Then

Now

SIGNPOST14

for MissionThe Baptist Union of Great Britain (BUGB)is the Baptist family in England and Wales(there is also the Baptist Union of Wales).It is made up of churches, regionalassociations and Baptist colleges. TheUnion works with others in mission locally,regionally and internationally. ThreeSpecialist Teams based at Baptist Housein Didcot offer help, advice and resources.

We are a diverse union with small andlarge congregations, differentnationalities and differing styles ofworship yet united by core values and acommon purpose of changing lives andtransforming communities with themessage and love of Jesus Christ.

Churches form the front-line of Baptistmission. Over 2,100 churches belong tothe Union, each of them autonomous,self-funding and the majority of themfinancially independent, as we are at OBC.

Most churches have their own building,but others meet in homes, schools,community centres and other publicplaces. Some follow a traditional style ofworship, whilst others are trying newways of doing church to attract people that can find church alien to their cultureand way of life. Churches will normally

meet for worship on Sunday but will alsohave meetings during the week like biblestudy groups, parents and toddlers, youthclubs, lunch clubs, etc.

Some churches in the Union are not solelyBaptist but a combination of two or moredenominations known as a LocalEcumenical Partnership (LEP). Baptistchurches in some areas have formed a'cluster' and many work with otherdenominations on joint mission eventsand projects for their communities.

There are Baptist churches with a team ofministers, whilst others may have a part-time minister or no minister at all. Anational fund, Home Mission, providesgrants to those churches who wouldstruggle to finance a minister's wages oran evangelism project on their own. HomeMission also financially supports the workof Associations, ours being the LondonBaptist Association, and the three nationalspecialist teams based in Didcot.

For many years OBC has supported HomeMission prayerfully and financially.Currently, 5% of our previous year'sgeneral church income is allocated to thework of Home Mission. In 2014 we haveagreed to provide a grant of just over£11,000 (see page 16).

You’ve chosen to come to a BaptistChurch. If you’ve never thought abouthow the Baptist community ‘works’read on…

You Are Special

SIGNPOST15

The Baptists Together website(www.baptist.org.uk) provides severalstories of how Our Lord is using andenabling Home Mission to reach out intolocal communities.For a great example of Home Mission inaction go to:http://www.baptist.org.uk/Articles/404501/Living_on_the.aspx

For updated information about our ownHome Mission link with Penny Marsh goto: http://ktcp.co.uk/

HOLIDAY AT HOME HOTEL

Luxury surroundings, good company, nothing toomuch trouble for caring volunteers, excellent choice of food,lots of tea and cake, live music as we ate and chatted.There was plenty to do - or even do nothing - but who could resist what wason offer: Lavender bag making, card making, fridge magnets to decorate,painting, sailors valentines (everything provided except sailors!).

It was a chance to meet and get to know new peopleand to spend time with friends.However it wasn’t all ‘doing’. It was listening to ourParish Nurse who told us about important health issuesto keep us fit and well. We had a talk about earlyschool days, some poetry, a quiz and a talk about acracked pot!It was a time of fun and fellowship. So THANK YOU tothose who caught a vision to make each one of usfeel special and loved.

SIGNPOST16

The Mission Executive acts on behalf

of the church to promote interest, prayer, giving and action in worldwidemission. We have the responsibility of deciding how your money shouldbe distributed to the various missions we support as a whole church. Our2014 giving is shown below:

Giving from the budget

In addition we have given £1,000 to Project Ruth in Romania, £500 to thework of the Thameside Church Planting project and given financialsupport to two of our fellowship that have undertaken mission work inKosovo and The Philippines this summer.Your generosity in additional giving allowed us to contribute £800 to helpSyrian refugees, £1,700 to those affected by the typhoon in ThePhilippines, £900 to development work in Nepal, £530 to help thoseaffected by war in Gaza and £633 to help provide for those fleeingpersecution in Iraq.

Thank youon behalf of all those you have helped but will probably never meet.Matt 25:40 Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of

these brothers of mine, you did for me.We would love to hear about any ways that we can help you and yourchurch group bring mission even closer to the heart of OBC. Please speakto Alison Dennis, Bernard Rougêt, Peter Johnson, Marg Travers, DannyBrown or Martyn Travers and share your ideas or ask any questions.

*As a Baptistchurch wegive a tithe

of ourincome to

BaptistMissions.

SIGNPOST17

Sundays14 September12 October16 November

6.00pm

● All are welcome to our new series called ‘Bible Track’’,helping us to get to grips with the Bible’s teaching in adeeper way.

● Presented on DVD by tutors from the TheologicalCentre at Holy Trinity, Brompton

● With opportunity for small group discussion followingthe one hour presentation.

THEOLOGY

Café

BIB

LE

TR

AC

K

“Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path”Psalm 119:105

If you'd like to explore the meaning of Baptism speak to Martyn or Danny

THINKING ABOUT

Vera Brewer is verygrateful to her Church

friends for theircards, flowers and visits

during her recentillness.

Our Prayer MinistryTeam are around everySunday morning to praywith you. Respond toGod’s call - share yourpersonal joys and concerns! Have youused the blue OBC Prayer Box on theWelcome Desk yet? Ask for prayer forour world. Share news of your OBCgroup…

PrayerMinistry

Team

David Waterhouse OCTOBER John CheesemanMartyn Travers Joyce Mudd Helena Brady

Cynthia Thurgood Genevieve Donald Peter Johnson

Happy Birthday to those who celebrate in

Share a smile…

www.bmsworldmission.org/birthdayMAKE YOUR BIRTHDAY COUNT!

If you would like to give the gift of life on your birthday, talk to Fran Morris.Anyone can join, including children. On their birthday, members receive a

BMS birthday card with a gift envelope which they use to make a donation.They then hand the gift envelope back to Fran (or Vera Brewer if Fran isn’t

available) who’ll see that it reaches the BMS.

SEPTEMBERBetty Carter Anita Uden Alan Moss

Jane North Bernard Rouget Brenda Rouget

Samantha Hicks Pauline Hollands Roger Tanner

Peter Hollingsworth Ade Sodipe Beverley DonaldSylvester Biyibi Simon Lees Luke Reveley

SIGNPOST18

St Christopher’s HospiceBereavement Service

Orpington Baptist Church

Sunday 26 October 2014 3.00pmIf you are feeling the loss of a loved-one

this service is especially for you

“

SIGNPOST19

BradBefore we left the UK, the college sent Brad a language test so they could assess hislevel. He managed 12/70, which,the college told us made him a beginner!! Sevenweeks in he scored much better on all of his end-of-term tests. More importantlythough, he can now hold a conversation (albeit a fairly slow one!) about wherehe is from, what he does, what he likes and doesn’t like, what he did yesterday andwhat he’s going to do tomorrow. There are days when he gets very frustrated andfeels like he’s banging his head against a brick wall. However, yesterday I actuallyheard him say that he ‘enjoys’ his lessons… something he was very confident wouldnever happen before we came!!RuthWhilst Brad has been busy in the classroom, I’ve been keeping myself occupied withvarious administrative bits and pieces: opening a bank account, getting French SIMcards for our phones, registering with the social security office, finding a hospital togive birth at, and, most recently, finding a new apartment and sourcing furniture forit! It’s been a challenge dealing with French officialdom and has certainly helpedrevive my French language skills! I’ve struggled to make sense of some of theconvoluted French processes and very different medical practices, as well as thecomplete lack of mother and baby groups, which are ten-a-penny in England. Here,women tend to go back to the workplace just three months after having a baby, sochildren are with nannies or in a crèche and there are just no groups.EthanTrue to form, it didn’t take Ethan long at all to adjust to a new environment. He hasbeen sleeping well, and playing hard. It’s amazing to look back and see just howmuch he has changed since we’ve been here. Among many other things, he hasacquired several new teeth, learnt what noise an aeroplane makes, figured out howto climb up a little slide by himself, learnt to feed himself, discovered the joys of a

Here at OBC we have a link with Brad, Ruth,and Ethan Biddulph who are training inFrance before they travel to work for BMSWorld Mission in Guinea, West Africa. Theyare expecting a baby in November.

Ruth wrote news from the family in their summer letter:

SIGNPOST20

sandpit and a paddling pool and dropped from two naps a day to one. He isbeginning to communicate more and more, with noises, gestures and thebeginnings of a couple of words. He enjoys playing with the other children atthe college as well as keeping his mummy company. He is a delight...most of thetime!!Prayer pointsThank you all for your encouragement and support. We know that many of youare praying for us, and we are really grateful. Here are some prayer points forthe coming weeks and months:• Thank God for answering our prayers in helping Brad to adapt to being in aclassroom, and the progress he is making with his French. Please pray for more ofthe same!• Please pray for Ruth and the baby, for good health and for Ruth to adjust tothe French way of handling pregnancy and childbirth – much more medicalised!• Pray for Ruth to find one or two people to meet up with outside of thecollege community.

Thank you again, and please do keep in touch. We love hearing from you!

À bientôtRuth, Brad and Ethan

For more about the Biddulphs go to:http://www.bmsworldmission.org/brbiddulphYou can even make friends with them on Facebookand keep right-up-to-date with their lives.

“in The Terrace Lounge

Led by Rev Heather Marsden,Rushmere Baptist Church, Suffolk

Details to followBook the date!

SIGNPOST21

Banu has exitedthe trade and isreturning to her

home

Family planning,health checks, AIDSchecks and Hepatitisawareness training

were given toworkers

Girls from thechildren’s homeattended a 6 day

summer camp

3 women arenow regularly

attending alocal church

A new weeklyworship service is

now beingattended by 12women and 7

children

Praise and prayer from SahaaraChildren ofsex workerswere taken

on a day trip

Sahaara say: We thank God for you and the invaluable support youextend to us and our work through your prayers. Your prayers arean incredible encouragement, assuring us that we have a spiritualarmy marching before us as we seek to share the Light of Life insome of the darkest areas of our citySahaara are our Tearfund Connected Church, serving those trapped in the sex tradein Mumbai.Find out more on our Mission Board,on Facebook at Tearfund CC Sahaara India,or speak to Alison Dennis

SIGNPOST22

We start back with a spring in our step! Lots of new excitingadventures await the 1�� Orpington GB. We are fullyrecharged and raring to go. From September wewill have the biggest Senior and Brigader sectionwe have ever had in our company!

During the last term in GB the Juniors had a great camp at FrylandsScout Camp complete with our newest and cutest GB member

Jessica Rickard, joining Auntie Helen and the crew at GB Camp.Over the Summer Programme the girls had BBQs, Downe High Ropes, bowling,MacDonalds to name just a few adventures.The Seniors & Brigaders went up to Londonon the Big Bus Experience followed by acruise down the Thames. Then ate 10 largeDomino pizzas at the Church and had asleepover. They were all asleep by 1.30 amwhich I was quite surprised at! We musthave worn them out in London. See morephotos on our GB Facebook page .

The band played at Beckys’school Blenheim Junior Schoolfor their Music Fest. We havealso been able to purchase newleather drum straps in memoryof lovely Ena Stewart who sadlypassed away recently and we

hope her memory will still live on in our GB Company. Our band has 6 newmembers waiting to start in September and is getting bigger by the minutewith over 30 members! We will be practicing for the Lord Mayors Show whenwe get back.We sadly said goodbye to two of our long serving Trainee Leaders Anna andKirsty as they start University in September. We wish you both all the best.

SIGNPOST23

And we sadly said goodbye to Emily who is up ‘north’ to Scotland as she leftthe band too after many years of service.We are recruiting more Explorers – see our new banner! If you know of anygirls aged 5 – 8 we would love to see them on a Tuesday.As from September we want to improve our carbon footprint and we willbe going paperless. So if you have a daughter in GB please make sure youkeep us up to date on any email changes.Please continue to pray for our thriving company as we start a new session.

Lt Mrs Karen HicksSenior Section

Love food and love people? So does TearfundThey’re putting the two together in the B�� B��� where we can raise funds to

protect 50,000 vulnerable children.Now is your chance to demonstrate that all the advice you offered the

contestants during TV Bake Off really does work.Get together with your friends and organise a two or three round bake-off

challenge in your own home.Ask a £5 donation to the ‘No Child Taken’ appeal for each entry.

Bring your best Showstopper to church on Sunday 2ⁿ� November for the Final.Sell slices and give the money to ‘No Child Taken’.

Mary Berry and Paul Hollywoodwill not be attending on this occasion but we will have our own superstar

judges so bake a cake and save a child from a life of slavery.Let the baking begin!

More at OBC on Sunday 7 September…

http://www.tearfund.org/en/nochildtaken/

SIGNPOST24

Fruitfulness on the Frontline

Our new Lifegroup and Sunday morning teaching series is anexciting DVD based course produced by the London Institute ofContemporary Christianity.

Our frontline is where we find ourselves day by day - at the shops, with family or friends, work, gym, schoolgate - and this series is all about how God might work in and through us right where we are.

If you don’t yet belong to one of our 11Lifegroups please see Martyn, Danny or contactthe Church Office to be linked up.

01689 877265

office@orpingtonbaptist.org.k

Let s be fruity Christians for God in Orpington!

One of the best ways to get to know people in a growing church like OBC isto join one of our Lifegroups. They meet all over town or at the church atdifferent days and times. Most groups have a mixed programme of study,prayer and socials. Your Lifegroup is always ‘there’ for you when you ask forhelp as an important part of our pastoral care.

Orpington Baptist ChurchStation Road, Orpington, Kent BR6 0RZ

Orpington Baptist Church

@OrpingtonBC

Church Office: 01689 877265 (Mrs Jo Lewis & Mrs Pam Reynolds)Email: office@orpingtonbaptist.org.ukWebsite: www.orpingtonbaptist.org.uk

MinisterRev Martyn Travers

01689 873092mptravers@aol.com

Worship Co-ordinatorJon Newman

07838 177 649

Children & Families WorkerDavid Jones

07946 345717daviddjones@aol.com

Church Treasurer: Mr Ivor ReveleyTel: 01689 815344 Email: revivor@aol.com

TEXT-A-PRAYER 07891 259 195 and someone will pray for you

Parish Nurse(Wednesdays)Helen Evans

07763 830 112parishnurse@orpingtonbaptist.org.uk

Youth PastorRev Danny Brown

07888 399 714dannywbrown@me.com

� OBC meets together for worship on Sundays at 10.30am and 6.30pm.During the morning service there are groups for babies through toyoung people.� We usually celebrate Holy Communion on the first Sunday evening

and 3rd Sunday morning of each month.� For more information about our weekly programme please look at our

Sunday bulletin or the OBC website:www.orpingtonbaptist.org.uk

Nov/Dec 2014 deadline: Wednesday 22 OctoberI’d be grateful if all items are emailed to me on or before that date please*

(eSignpost sent out Tuesday 28 November / Paper copies available Sunday 2 November)

marg15456@aol.com*To ensure your article is read by all with eager anticipation please

try to keep it to a maximum of 700 words. Thanks!Marg Travers 01689 873092

If you don’t have a computer Ekua Stephen has kindly offered to type your article foryou. Please give it to Ekua (not the Church Office)at least two days before deadline.

SIGNPOST is also available as eSignpostSAVES PAPER SAVES ADMIN TIME SAVES MONEY

AND e-Signpost is sent out before the paper copies are printed,so you get it early!If you’d like to receive e-Signpost via your computer (so you can

just print out relevant pages if required) please send your email address to Joand Pam at the office: office@orpingtonbaptist.org.uk

SIGNPOST is the bi-monthly newsletter for people whocome to OBC. Its aim is to keep everyone informed aboutour Church life and the needs of the world around us,near and far.