The Baptist Union (Baptists Together) is looking to recruit a new team leader for the Ministries team based in Didcot. Someone who will be one of the new specialist team leaders involved in leading the Union. Details of the post are here Noteworthy in the details is that the person is likely to be someone... Continue Reading →
Nauta training week
I’ve just returned from my latest trip to Peru: teaching at the BMS supported training centre in Nauta. As usual it was a great time. The main aim of the first week was teaching at one of the regular training weeks. The idea is that the centre provides basic training for pastors and church leaders... Continue Reading →
Calais, Chaos and the challenge of migration
The news story of the summer is undoubtedly the disruption of the Dover Calais crossing and the reporting of migrants seeking to get into the UK illegally. As a news junkie I’m often a bit cynical about news management but the reporting of this story has been lazy in the extreme. Travel chaos is the... Continue Reading →
Sabbatical reflections
As I return to my role in Poynton after a six week sabbatical I do so with an interesting mix of feelings. I’ve blogged about my trip to New Zealand before so readers already know that I had a fantastic time, enjoying learning about church life there and having the chance to visit lake Tekapo... Continue Reading →
Flying long haul
OK, so I'm a bit of an aviation geek, and I like flying. And having flown to the other side of the world and back I thought I’d share a few thoughts on the journey and flying in general. General From my previous long haul flying experience I've learned: 1. Aircraft are dry; so drink... Continue Reading →
Lessons from UK / NZ baptist life
As I’ve pondered my trip to NZ there are a number of things about Baptist life in our two countries that we might learn from each other. So as a final post on NZ let me draw some threads together. Ministry led or congregational There is much in the healthy church / ministry led model... Continue Reading →
Observing Baptist life in New Zealand
In the last blog I looked at three elements which define Baptist life in Christchurch: activist / community orientated, minister led church structures and in the influence of Pentecostalism. These then flow into some other aspects of life there. Independence After the earthquakes churches, like the rest of the community, pulled together to get life... Continue Reading →
Learning about New Zealand Baptists
One reason for visiting New Zealand was to learn about Baptist life in Christchurch. Rob, my host, is Senior Minister of Opawa Baptist and he organised lots of opportunities for me to interact with other local pastors and people involved in Baptist life. Christchurch is, of course, a particular place with its own history and... Continue Reading →
BUGB / BMS Baptist Assembly 2015
Back in the UK I attended the annual BUGB/BMS Baptist Assembly on Saturday. This year it was a one day event, which worked better than I thought it might. Obviously reducing the events length means that there are lots of things there isn’t space for, such as opportunities for other Baptist Organisations, plenary sessions with... Continue Reading →
New Zealand trip
I’ve just returned from an amazing couple of weeks in New Zealand; most of the time being spent in Christchurch; the largest (only) city on the South Island. I went as part of a sabbatical to see what Baptist Church life looks like in New Zealand; but also because we have built a link with... Continue Reading →
Distinct Reflections 