JANUARY 2014

headlines:
The Future of Scotland Alans New Year Message Meet Campbeltown Baptist Church The new kids on the block! Ministry and Mission Whats going on in the Baptist family


The Future of Scotland
On 18 September 2014, you will be asked to vote in a referendum on the question: Should Scotland be an independent country? There will be many factors that will inuence your decision, as to whether you vote 'yes' or 'no' in answer to this question. The White Paper, Scotlands Future, looks to express the Scottish Governments view on this issue; and seeks to answer many questions on the topic of independence. The Church is mentioned only a few times in the Paper, mostly with reference to our signicant place in Society and the historic place of the Church of Scotland. Question 590 asks, What will be the position of churches and religion in an independent Scotland?. The answer given is, We propose no change to the legal status of any religion or of Scotlands churches. An issue of particular importance to Baptists is that of religious freedom for all. The answer to question 608 speaks of, freedom of speech, association, conscience and religion, as being protected through the European Convention on Human Rights in an independent Scotland. There are, in addition, a number of issues spoken of in this White Paper that are of great importance to us, as members of Christ's church. As a people who pray, Your Kingdom come, we look to be as 'salt and light' within our culture, introducing and supporting Jesus-centred, Biblical themes to the society in which we live. Our partners at Jubilee Scotland have already welcomed the commitment that debt relief has been highlighted as the second priority in the international section. This is just one example of how, as Christians, the wider report is important to us all. The White Paper shares vision, hopes and aspirations in many areas, including those of economy, environment, education, justice and health. At the beginning of this New Year, I want to encourage all within our churches to prayerfully engage with this signicant debate in our Nation. As we do so, let us bring something of Christs willingness to serve and to consider the needs of others. I would want us to heed the words of our First Minister in this report; but probably not in a way imagined by him. Alex Salmond wrote, The year ahead should be a national celebration of who we are and what we could be. It would be good for our churches to remember who we are, as Jesus Christ's disciples, at the beginning of this year; and not to lose track of it as the year unfolds. In God's Word, the letter of 1st Peter reminds us that, although at times we may feel like aliens and strangers, we are the living stones built together by Christ and on Christ, our cornerstone. We also need to be reminded of what we could be. Jesus said, I will build my church. In the last couple of years, we have begun to see small signs of growth in our churches, across the nation. We believe that this is simply the beginning of a growing fruitfulness that stems from faithful witness. I pray that we will all grow in a vision, not just of what Church can look like in the coming years, but also what it will mean to see Christs Kingdom come in increasing measure in our nation of Scotland in the years to come.

@scottishbaptist

'Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.' Jeremiah 29

Published by The Baptist Union of Scotland, (Charity Registration SC004960) 48 Speirs Wharf, Glasgow, G4 9TH, t: 0141 423 6169 f: 0141 424 1422 admin@scottishbaptist.org.uk www.scottishbaptist.org.uk

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Meet the Relatives ...

in this beautiful coastal area. We trust that many more of our new family will visit in the months to come and know that blessing. We look forward then to mutually serving one another. Thank you again for the welcome.
Pastor Chris Holden

Another Hillhead Baptism!

Campbeltown Community Church, the newest member of our Scottish Baptist family, was started in June 2011 by a group of Christians from various backgrounds and denominations. The church certainly has a multinational feel to it, with members from different parts of the world, from South Africa to the Netherlands, from Hong Kong to Germany, as well as from England and, of course, locally. Campbeltown by road is a destination, not a place to pass through. It is known as the countrys most isolated mainland town; famed in recent times by the song Mull of Kintyre and, in ancient history, by St Columba - who landed on these shores as his rst stop from Northern Ireland, which is just 12 miles across the water. From here he spread the gospel up the West Coast. Campbeltown has recently seen some economic regeneration and we pray that, as a church, we might be used strategically for spiritual regeneration. We humbly sense our part in Gods strategy for the West Coast of Scotland. It was a profound moment in November at this years Assembly to be welcomed as the 168th Church into the Union, especially when we discovered that Campbeltown was named as one of the 38 churches of the rst Scottish Baptist Union in 1843. The original Baptist fellowship was founded here in 1811. 200 years on, God led us to be intentionally relational, and we are so grateful for the welcome we have received from the Baptist family. Those who have already made the journey have experienced the refreshment of the church and the refreshment that comes from relaxing

photo courtesy of K Fisher

Pentecost Sunday 2013 was a very special day at Hillhead, as we baptised a young man who had arrived in Glasgow three years ago as an asylum seeker. After the service, a woman who has been attending the church for around thirty years felt moved to enquire about being baptised herself. The date was xed for the start of October, the portable baptistry hired, and we had a wonderful weekend as Morag was baptised and received into membership. With three baptisms in just over a year, and several other people coming into membership on profession of faith, these are exciting times at Hillhead! Rev Catriona Gorton

BMS World Mission West of Scotland Womens Link

Ladies! A warm welcome awaits you at our meetings in Adelaide Place Baptist Church, Bath Street, Glasgow. The next is at 10.15am on Wednesday, Feb 5th, 2014, when we will hear Rev Grant Hamilton, of Carbrain Baptist Church, speak about a visit to Tunisia,

Find us at www.scottishbaptist.org.uk

Our Place among the Churches. a new book from Watson Moyes.
An important new book has just been published by the Scottish Baptist History Project. Rev. T. Watson Moyes has written Our Place Among the Churches: Scottish Baptist Ecumenical Relations in the Twentieth Century: From Principled Denominationalism to Evangelical Separateness. This is based on extensive research as well as personal involvement and is a most revealing account of relations between Baptists and other denominations throughout the twentieth century. The book has 162 pages and is illustrated by 41 portraits. It is available in the FM (Faith Mission) Bookshop (successor to Wesley Owen), 24-28 Bothwell Street, Glasgow for 10.00. It is also available from Rev Dr Edward Burrows. Please send a request to him at 91 Balmuildy Road, Bishopbriggs, Glasgow G64 3AP, enclosing a cheque for 12 to be paid to Edward Burrows. This includes postage and packing.

Kolkata Connection
January 24th to February 26th, 2014
A team of 9 women from our Scottish Baptist family are about to embark on an insight trip to Kolkata, West Bengal, hosted by Ben and Gill Francis, of Big Life Ministries, and Kerry Hilton, of Freeset. Judy White, Mary Anne Burgoyne, Christine Kling, Tina Cameron, Margo McKay, Amanda Quick, Jill McLeod, Sue Swift and Jacqueline Primrose will mostly be based in Kolkata, travelling to the Business Incubation Unit in Murshidabad for a few days, before returning home. During this joint BMS World Mission / Baptist Union of Scotland venture, the women will prayer walk in Sonagachi, one of three red light districts in Kolkata, to build relationships with the womens ministries there, to church plant, but mostly, as with all short term trips, they want to learn. They hope to gain an understanding of the issues of poverty (both urban and rural) in West Bengal. They seek a deeper understanding of the issues surrounding people trafcking. They want to raise awareness in Scotland of the global justice issue that people trafcking has become and encourage churches to engage with this, locally, nationally and globally, through Freeset and Big Life Ministries. Big Life Ministries has been a part of an incredible movement of God around the globe which is literally transforming some of the spiritually darkest places and people groups on the face of the earth. Very much a grassroots organisation, it is a story of changed lives Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, murderers, bank robbers, prostitutes, alcoholics and even radical jihadists who are now sold out followers of Jesus Christ! See more on www.biglifeonline.org A fair trade business, Freeset employs women trapped in Kolkatas sex trade to make quality jute bags and organic cotton t-shirts - but their business is freedom! Based in Sonagachi, they want to see the 10,000 sex workers in their neighbourhood, 80% of whom are being trafcked to the USA and Europe, empowered with the chance to leave a profession they never chose in the rst place! See http://freesetglobal.com for more info. Please remember Kolkata Connection and pray for the womens safety and wellbeing. Watch out for more information when they return!

Table Talk for Scotland...

Looking for a way to engage the church, house groups, or community groups in the future of Scotland debate? Try Table Talk Scotland, a resource to help us consider many aspects of our nations future. It costs 25 + 2.00 p&p and you can order online. See www.table-talk.org for more info.