THE MESSENGER SUMMER 2016 EDITION 3

A DATE FOR YOUR DIARY BUW 150th Anniversary

Celebration

A Joint Event for Welsh Baptists will be held at the

Halliwell Theatre, Carmarthen on 17th June, 2017

Y Llwyfan Baptist Union of Wales

Christian Aid Appeal 2016:

Here is your mother!

Baptist Union of Wales

Annual Meetings THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ASSEMBLY: “WORTH SAVING”

The BMS Team played a leading role in the Momentum meetings held at

The Halliwell Theatre, Carmarthen on June 10th, 11th.

THE WELSH LANGUAGE ASSEMBLY: Y FFIN A’R FFLAM

Welcoming representatives from the other denominations and

Ecumenical bodies. THE REPORTS AND MORE PICTURES INSIDE

The Baptist Union of Wales Christian Aid Appeal 2016 is an excellent oppor-tunity for us to show our care and con-cern towards others as we support the people of northern Ghana to ensure that they have the resources they need for essential maternal health services. During my visit to Ghana earlier this year in April I was greatly encouraged to see the way in which citizens were being equipped to articulate their needs and to hold government officials to account in providing services. At a regional meeting, there were repre-sentatives from a wide range of organisa-tions: local health and government author-ities, voluntary agencies, chiefs from vil-lages, and churches. In addition, there was also a representative from a local radio station who had given some free air time to be used to encourage the citizens to adopt safe maternal health practices.

Through the radio appeal they were able to reach people living in traditional villages

by raising awareness of the importance of receiving good ante natal care and attend-ing a clinic or hospital to deliver their ba-

bies. I saw with my own eyes the differ-ence that the project ‘Here is your mother’ is making to the families in Ghana. Please give generously to this important appeal!

J.M.

Y Ffin We give thanks to all who shared in our Annual Meetings of the Welsh Language Wing held at the invitation of the East Gla-morgan Association. We enjoyed four inter-esting and stimulating days enriched with good fellowship. Our new President, the Reverend Peter Dewi Richards set the scene for the meetings and for his presidency when he challenged us to break down barri-ers and to re-ignite a missonal spirit in our communities.

Opening services were held at Caerphilly with the guest preacher, the Reverend Owain Llyr Evans and at Merthyr where the Reverends Dr Rosa Hunt, Kath Miller and Eryl Williams led reflections at the service.

In the opening session on the Monday morning, warm appreciation was expressed to Professor Howard Evans for his term as the Honorary Treasurer and Mr Glyndwr Prideaux was welcomed as his successor. A welcome was also extended to Mr Bill Da-vies as a new trustee. Following the busi-ness meeting, the Women’s Movement pre-sented a report on their work during the year. Many had been busy making dresses for young girls at risk in underdeveloped countries and had been inspired to do so by the organisation: Dressing a Girl Around the World. Further information on this excel-lent project can be found at http://www.dressagirlaroundtheworld.com/.

Along with the Reverend Peter Dewi Rich-ards’ challenging address on the Monday evening and the Reverend Olaf Davies’ in-spiring sermon on the Tuesday evening, the Reverend Eryl Williams presented the morning bible studies on both days with a clarity of purpose enabling us to actively engage with Scripture.

The Reverend Simeon Baker and Dr Menna Machreth challenged us on the Tuesday morning with examples of how to break down barriers and reach out to those who have become disconnected with church life. Following this there was an opportunity to break into groups to learn about situations in East Glamorgan: Mr Geraint Davies and the Reverend Phil Vickery shared the story of adaptations made at Blaenycwm, Rhondda; the Reverend Dr Rosa Hunt related how Salem Tonteg had reached out to Welsh learners and young people and Mrs Sarah Morris led a session on the Bible Society’s worthwhile initiative, Open the Book.

On Tuesday afternoon we were challenged to break down poverty barriers within inter-national and local contexts. Huw Thomas, the head of the Wales Office of Christian Aid shared his experience of visiting Ghana and how the BUW appeal would help im-prove the maternal health facilities. We hope that BUW churches will respond gen-erously to this life giving appeal. The sec-ond speaker, Mr Alun Treharne, spoke about his work in supporting the Food Bank in Cardiff and demonstrated how every church could reach out to help.

Fflam a’r

The afternoon ended with a presentation by Mrs Jane Harris from the Fellowship of Rec-onciliation who spoke about the work that was being undertaken by the Wales for Peace project to inspire a new generation of interna-tionalists through learning from Wales’ peace heritage. The Welsh Language Wing had earlier pledged their support to ask the UK Government not to renew Trident.

On the final morning, the Reverend Aled Davies led a varied session on the Year of the Living Word and welcomed a number of speakers. They included Arfon Jones, Cardiff

who spoke about his experience of translat-ing the Bible into colloquial Welsh and Mrs Janet Evans, Lampeter who shared her expe-rience of facilitating Sunday School sessions during the week in Lampeter.

In the closing session we were reminded of how the joy of creation renews us along with our need for a Saviour who is the source of that renewal. We departed from Cardiff greatly refreshed having been inspired to break down barriers and to re-ignite the flame of mission in our hearts.

D.J.

The Revds Rosa Hunt, Eryl Williams, and Kath Miller at the Singing Festival at Merthyr Tudful

The Korean Choir with the new President, the Revd Peter Richards, in the President’s Service

Individuals who took part in “The Year of the Living Word” Session

‘Worth Saving’ was the theme for this year’s Baptist Assembly in Wales and in so many ways proved itself to be an event worth at-tending. Gathering Baptists from across Wales, the fellowship and sense of sharing with one another felt as important as the key-note addresses. For many delegates it’s those in between spaces that allow people to have the important conversations as well as the general catching up over a coffee on the bal-cony or across the meal table at the excellent Merlin Restaurant.

As a theme, ‘Worth Saving’, provided a rich opportunity to explore four key aspects of our mission together in Christ. Worth Saving People, our Communities, the Planet and our churches. Our main speakers this year each brought their own unique style of preaching that inspired and challenged us to prayer and action.

Friday morning started with high energy as Gavin Calver, who is the Director of Mission for the Evangelical Alliance brought a pas-

sionate reminder to us of ‘People Worth Sav-ing’. With humour and pulling no punches Gavin challenged us to greater confidence and a bolder proclamation of the good news of the Gospel to all people. With input from the Kolkata BMS Action Team it was great to hear that younger voice, so often missing from our gatherings.

In the evening, Elfed Godding who is a Bap-tist Minister and General Secretary of the Evangelical Alliance in Wales, spoke really helpfully about the way in which the Apostle Paul engaged different communities, chang-ing his approach according to the communi-ties he was addressing.

Saturday, began with Dr Hefin Jones, a lec-turer at Cardiff University with a strong aca-demic interest in climate change presented a stimulating address on a Christian response to ecology and our environment with time for some questions and a follow up seminar for those wishing to explore his expertise further.

Pictured above are the Friday Guest

Speakers: Elfed Godding and Gavin

Calver. Pictured below is Dr Hefin Jones.

Our final session closed with a time of Com-munion and Lynn Green, General Secretary of BUGB graciously and prophetically re-minding us of our call to be the church God calls us to be in changing times. We were grateful to have Lynn with us for the dura-tion of the Assembly and this provided a unique opportunity for both General Secre-taries to share an interview with Roy Jen-kins, taking questions and discussing some of the big issuers facing Baptist life today.

With a full seminar program there was plen-ty to choose from beyond the main sessions. Arfon Jones from ‘Gobaith i Gymru’ and beibl.net conducted a powerful session on ‘Language Worth Saving’ and as always BMS World Mission brought a global mis-sion perspective with a moving reminder of the Syrian Refugee crisis and the Harvest resource now available. This was wonderful-ly complemented by Rev Aled Edwards (Cytun) sharing his own experience of the refugee situation.

All in all, this year’s Momentum certainly inspired and challenged those who came along. We were grateful for the excellent musicians from different churches who helped lead our worship and all the speakers for their contributions. Attending for the first time, Jonathan Langley, Head of Content for BMS, commented: ‘These people actually like each other’

Worth Saving was definitely an event worth coming to! S.B.

One very popular session was “In Conversation with the General Secretaries” where

the Revd Roy Jenkins talked with Judith Morris and Lynn Green.

It was a joy to hear from the BMS Action Team—Joseph, Sophie and Nathan—on their

return from Kalkota.

Introducing ... ‘Action Wales’ Team 2016 Launching this September will be the first ‘Action Wales’ team in partnership with BMS World mission.

The team will receive training with all the other BMS Action teams in Birmingham before starting their mission placement in Llanelli. After this they’ll be going with BMS to Kolkata, India and then will visit churches to share their experiences.

Finally, there will be an opportunity for us all to hear from them at the end of the year in the BUW 150th Celebration for Baptists in Wales on 17th June 2017. All three are Welsh speaking and are current-ly raising funds to support them through the gap year.

If you would like to support them during this year they would really appreciate any-thing you can give towards the £2,500 that they each need to raise by 31st August 2016.

You can give to them individually through their own fund raising pages online or you can send a cheque to the office at BUW marked clearly as a gift for the Action Wales team. On behalf of the team, thank you so much. Above all we value your prayers for them as they prepare for the year ahead.

Aled Griffith is 20 years old and lives in Mold. He heard about the Action Wales team at a Souled Out course in Coleg y Bala year and decid-ed this was what God wanted him to do. He is an enthusias-tic footballer which he coach-es and can play guitar and drums. As a Christian he wants to grow in his faith and believes this gap year will really help.

Cameron Jones is 18 years old and comes from Caer-narfon, North Wales. His home church is Caersalem and he says the main reason he wants to do this gap year is because of his passion to do mission in Wales. He loves playing and coaching basketball and is full of en-ergy. He became a Christian about 3 years ago and is growing fast in his faith.

Brandon Smith is 18 years old and lives in Rhyl. He has just finished his A levels and is seeking God’s plan for his life. When Brandon heard about the gap year program in Wales he knew it was right for him. He enjoys Badminton and has helped run the Christian Union in school and has helped with the youth work at Urban Saints.

To contribute to Aled’s fund raising please go to: https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/aled-griffith To contribute to Cameron’s fund raising please go to: https://www.gofundme.com/cameron-jones To contribute to Brandon’s fund raising please go to: https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/brandon-smith

Farewell and Welcome

The President of the English Wing, the Revd

Peter Thomas wishing Professor Howard Evans

well on his retirement from the role of Honorary

treasurer; and the Revd Elfryn Jones., President

of the Welsh wing welcomes the new Treasurer,

Mr Glyndwr Prideaux, to the role.

A warm welcome is extended to the BUW new

Finance Officer, Mr Nigel Vaughan from Pem-

brokeshire. (E-mail: nigel@ubc.cymru)

EUROPE REFERENDUM

REGISTERING WITH RENT SMART

At the Welsh Language Assembly Meeting, a request was received from the General Secretary of the Union of Welsh Independents, the Reverend Dr Geraint Tudur, to join with them in calling for a Church Commission to be established that would seek to develop appropriate policies and structures following the recent vote to leave the European Union. The matter was presented before the meeting of the Welsh Language Assembly on Wednesday, 6th July and it was resolved to request that Cytûn should convene a Commission of all the churches of Wales, as well as Christian Organisations to consider and respond to the consequences that will be seen in Welsh communities. We very much look forward to working with the other churches in Wales in relation to this important matter as the Government of the United Kingdom prepares to implement this decision.

A GENTLE REMINDER

Please be aware of the following message and if it is relevant to your circumstances, appropriate action needs to be taken.

The Communities and Children’s Secretary has reminded landlords of the requirement to register with Rent Smart Wales. As a result of the Housing Act (Wales) 2014 all private landlords must register themselves and their properties with Rent Smart Wales by 23 No-vember. Those landlords who are involved in letting and management activities will also

have to undertake training. There is a Rent Smart Wales call centre, run by the City of Cardiff Council, to deal with queries from landlords and agents.

Member Churches in Wales need to think carefully about this. For example, do you have a Manse or caretaker’s house that is currently let to a private tenant? If so, you should check whether or not you need to register. If you have any further enquiries, please contact Helen Wyn at Y Llwyfan.

(E-mail: helen@ubc.cymru)