Rehoboth Baptist Church

April Alleluias (Monthly News April 2026)

Andrew — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 19:42:56 +0000

Baptism it is a joy to be able to announce the baptism taking place for Jacob Polson in the morning service on 12th April. Jacob will be briefly sharing of how the Lord brought him to salvation, and the desire to obediently follow the Lord Jesus in the waters of baptism.

May we be prayerful for that witness and invite others in to join us in hearing the Gospel afresh. And if you love the Lord Jesus, but have not yet taken that step of obedience to the Lord, do speak to Calix or one of the elders about it.

Fellowship Prayer Hour - it was good to have a number of folk in the Fellowship joining for the hour of prayer on the 1st of this month. If you haven’t managed to get along to one of these times on the first Wednesday of the month, do make it a point of importance to pray together and plan to join us next month on the 6th May. To quote an old hymn, it is a ‘sweet hour of prayer’!

Praying & caring for the Community – Clarence Road, St John Close, Moons Lane

Preaching out this month: 3rd & 5th D Ansell – Copthorne am;
19th C Furus – Dunstable am & pm; DA – Slinfold pm; 26th CF – Funchal am (Zoom); S Piggott -Redhill am; Wed 29th CF – Clevedon

We enjoyed a visit from Jonathan Parkinson, Erin & Steve Hudson from Caring for Life on March 8th. As a result from both church giving and in-dividual donations, they received from us £502 for the valuable work un-dertaken at Crag House Farm, Leeds. We have received this letter of thanks:
Dear Sandra, Steve, Karl and friends at Rehoboth Grace Baptist Church
On behalf of everyone at Caring For Life, I am writing to thank you so much for your re-cent generous donations at the presentation visit by Jonathan Erin and Steve. They were so encouraged and blessed by their time with you all and your gifts will be a huge help as we take practical care and the good news of Jesus’ love to some of the most isolated and ‘at risk’ men and women here in the city of Leeds.
Steve, our agriculture project leader, wrote in the latest bulletin
“Spring has sprung at Caring For Life… with the arrival of our first two calves. It always amazes me how cow and calf know what to do instinctively without any help or interfer-ence. After calving the cow is faced with a wet, slimy thing which they lick clean, encour-age to get up within minutes and then stand for it to feed. We are merely bystanders in this miracle of creation which God has designed… It is very special when the cows calve during the day and so we can observe the whole process. It’s especially exciting for some of our newer beneficiaries who have never seen anything like it before. “
We do thank the Lord for all the opportunities that we have to share the wonder of crea-tion with those we support and the way such special events can lift them out of their trou-bles for a while. Thank you for your support which is enabling this to happen.
Please pray with us for opportunities to point them to the Creator this spring and that many will entrust their lives to the Lord and cast their burdens on Him.
We look forward to staying connected and you will be in our prayers.
I am yours in Jesus’ love,
Pam Parkinson
CFL Support Coordinator

Christ our hope in life and death (thought for April 2026)

Andrew — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 17:38:47 +0000

Christ our hope in life and death As we approach Easter, our thoughts turn to the Cross where Jesus died. It is still such a powerful image even in our society today, displayed on many of the churches where Christians gather and for some, as a personal reminder in the form of a chain worn around the neck. As those who regularly read and listen to God’s word spoken from the pulpit, whatever the passage we are studying or listening to – it points to the cross. It points to the necessity of Jesus dying there, to take upon himself the multitude of our sins. From the very first chapters of Genesis through to the final verses in the book of Revelation we are directed to the one who would go to the cross to die a sinners death.

Yet in Jesus Christ we have one who was without sin and who was able to defeat death in glorious resurrection which we celebrate on Easter Sunday and every day thereafter!. Not only that, but also the promise that He will come again to judge the living and the dead. Our bibles end with that verse in Revelation 22:20b ‘Yes I am coming soon’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. It is always a time of great sadness when we hear of the death of someone in our family, our church fellowship or a close friend. It is we who remain here who are left to grieve and mourn their passing whilst we can say for those who have put their trust in Jesus they are now with Him. The bible expresses it beautifully in 1 Thessalonians 4:14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.

So as we look towards Easter, it is a powerful reminder that we mark not only the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus, we also can look forward to that seal of eternal life with Him that he graciously grants to those who have fallen asleep in Him. There is an old hymn that opens with this verse; What joys will crown that happy hour When in the air the Lord we meet And triumph o’er infernal power With Satan bruised beneath our feet. (J Swain) I pray that as you come to worship this Eastertime, you will be able to give thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ not only for sins forgiven but for death defeated and the promise of eternal life.

Stuart
Elder

May 2026

News from the Bible Society, received 27/02/26

Andrew — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 12:07:15 +0000

This week we’ve reached four years of full-scale war in Ukraine. It’s a heartbreaking anniversary, but we can say confidently that God has moved in power during these years. As they’ve lost everything, many Ukrainians have turned to Christ and experienced spiritual transformation. The Bible Society team there, led by Revd Anatoliy Raychynets, has covered the coun-try sharing God’s love. They’ve given food, medicine and blankets, but often found people wanting the Bible most of all.

Since the full-scale invasion began on February 24, 2022, the Ukrainian Bible Society has distributed approximately 1.6 million Bibles, nearly 1,000 copies per day. As the war enters its fourth year, the demand for Scripture remains exceptionally high. Official figures announced by the President of Ukraine cited 55,000 military deaths as of the end of 2025, though the real number is believed to be significantly higher. This figure does not include the wounded, missing, or those held in captivity, each of whom represents a family deeply affected by loss and uncertainty. With approximately 1 million people currently serving in the armed forces, and a 70 per cent increase in civilian casualties in 2025 compared to 2024, the moral, emotional, and spiritual strain across the popu-lation is immense. Each casualty represents not just an individual, but an entire family impacted by grief, uncertainty, and emotional strain. ‘All of this affects people’s moral, mental, and even physical well-being,’ Anatoliy said. ‘They are in need of support and comfort. As a result, the population of Ukraine is increasingly turning to churches of various denominations for help.’

Based on capacity and analysis of previous years, in 2026 Bible Society aims to distribute 300,000–400,000 Bibles, which is approximately 1,000 copies per day. While Ukraine needs millions of copies of Scripture and related literature, the team in Kyiv is setting realistic yet ambitious goals aligned with its logistical and financial capacity. Demand is strong across both adults and children, though in different ways.

Great Name; Glorious Name (Thought for March 2026)

Andrew — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 11:56:53 +0000

“For from the rising of the sun even to its setting, My name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense is going to be offered to My name, and a grain of-fering that is pure; for My name will be great among the nations,” says the LORD of hosts.” — Malachi 1:11

When writing an email, a note, a letter, or a WhatsApp message, I tend to sign off what I have written with “blessings”, or “in Christ”. I have been thinking of adding another one to this: “May the earth be filled with His glory”. I had in mind the phrase we find in Habakkuk 2:14 (cf. Isaiah 11:9):

“For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea.”

Yet as I am writing this piece, I discover that I am beaten by the Psalmist (72:19) — he used my phrase long before I did: “And blessed be His glorious name forever; And may the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen, and Amen.”

In our passage from Malachi 1:11 a similar thought is expressed. It is part of a corrective passage; sadly, God’s people at the time of Malachi forgot the glory of the Lord. This was obvious by their worship; read about this in verses 5–14. As part of the corrective, the Lord reminds His people that the day is coming when the nations who worshipped other gods than the One True God will repent of their sins, and worship the Living God truthfully, fittingly to His glory.

Friends, we are living these days. If you turned to Christ from your sins, and worship God, you are living proof of this. And there is more to come — many are yet the people who live for anything or anyone than their Creator; they do not know or love or worship Him. There is work to do for us, then; we are called to be truthful witnesses to the One Who made and saved us. Let us, there-fore, worship Him in Spirit and in truth, and make Him known in this nation and others. “Come, house of Jacob, and let us walk in the light of the LORD.” (Isaiah 2:5)

May His glory fill the earth.

Calix

Pastoral Elder

March 2026

Fellowship News (March 2026)

Andrew — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 11:46:12 +0000

Praise & Prayer items shared at the Church Members’ AGM in January - a few more highlights:

Afternoon Fellowship. We are thankful for the range of speakers and the support we were able to give to Turning Tides, Leprosy mission, FEBA, Outreach UK, and Caring for Life. We especially enjoyed a presentation from Sue Fermor-Bradstock concerning her visit to Nkuringo in Uganda. We are now able to provide financial support to 6yr old Justine so that she can attend school. We pray for the continued health and well-being of those who regularly attend.

Connections & GBWA Continuing faithful commitment to our Connections Group. Care and concern for one another. A welcoming attitude. Loving kindness and thoughtfulness from every woman! Meeting the challenges from our book study Liberated by Karen Soole. Learning and sharing our thoughts, hopes and fears as we looked deeply into challenging questions. Prayer needed for the GBWA(SW) Fellowship Day in March with Nicola Edkins and Mary Mortimer at Guildford this time looking at Seasons in women’s lives and our callings in the church. GBWA Conference in October. For those who can attend.

More next month. Keep praying and praising!
Praying & caring for the Community – Park Terrace East, Livingstone Road, Turpitt Court
Preaching out this month:

1st D Ansell – Slinfold pm; S Beadle – Copthorne am
8th DA – Knaphill am; C Furus – Funchal, Madeira am
15th DA – Smallfield am; S Piggott – Rudgwick am

22nd SB – Slinfold pm; SP – Copthorne am

29th DA – Wivelsfield am
We look forward to a visit of friends from Caring for Life, based at Crag House Farm, Leeds.
In the morning service of Sunday 8th, Jonathan Parkinson will preach & give a CFL update, with Erin & Steve Hodson sharing a little about their areas of work at CFL.

William Wilberforce 24th August 1759 – 29th July 1833

Andrew — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 18:31:42 +0000

William Wilberforce was a British politician, philanthropist, and a leader of the movement to abolish the Atlantic slave trade. He was a native of Kingston on Hull, Yorkshire beginning his political career in 1780 and becoming an independent MP for York-shire in 1784-1812.

He was converted in 1785 and became an evangelical Anglican which meant huge changes to his lifestyle and a lifelong concern for reform.

In 1787 he came into contact with a group of activists against the slave trade. These included amongst others Granville Sharp, Hannah More & Charles Middleton.

Wilberforce championed missionary work in India and saw the foundation of the Church Missionary Society (now Church Mission Society) . And the establishment of a free colony in Sierra Leone.

In his later years he supported the campaign for the complete abolition of slavery. That led to the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833. Wilberforce died just 3 days after hearing that the passage of the act through Parliament had been assured. He is buried in Westminster Abbey close to his friend William Pitt the younger.

Wilberforce also sought out John Newton the converted slave trader. And throughout their friendship and correspondence Newton encouraged Wilberforce to stay the course, to continue the fight against the evils of the slave trade. He considered that God had raised up Wilberforce to serve God and the church. He viewed Wilberforce as a rare combination of “Christian and statesman.”!

Newton referenced him as a Daniel who in dire and critical circumstances trusted God and was faithful. He went further to reassure him that God’s grace would be sufficient, but that Wilberforce could do nothing without Him. In these words “May the Lord bless you, my dear Sir. May He be your Sun and Shield and fill you with all joy and peace.”

Those encouragements allowed Wilberforce to stay the course, to win the prize – abolition of slavery and to receive the crown of Life!

May we be like Newton and encourage one another every opportunity we have. And take heart from William Wilberforce’s trust and Godly commitment to a cause that changed the face of British history. Great and small victories are achieved and we are blessed by knowing that with God nothing is impossible!

Praying for Prisoners

Andrew — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 18:25:33 +0000

For some years I have been very mindful of the Christian work that goes on in our prisons. Back in my time living in Milton Keynes I had the privilege of visiting HMP in MK.

This is a top security Prison housing some of our worst offenders. Men on life sentences.

I joined the Sycamore Tree Trust, a restitutional justice scheme that went into the prisons to share Scripture & to underline that there was a way back to God from the dark paths of sin. I saw in our meetings men who were seeking to make amends for their crimes & admitting their need of a Saviour.

When I moved to Reading I joined Philippa and Gerard Crispin in the Prison Resources Charity. Visiting Reading YOI Prison I heard many heart breaking stories from young men whose lives were often marred by neglect, family break ups and being in the wrong place at the wrong time. But the opportunity to hear the saving message of the gospel and for them to hear that Christ died for sin-ners was an experience so new to them and several accepted Christ as their Saviour!

Moving on then into Horsham, although not being able to visit prisons, Steve and I encountered Daylight Prison Ministry. Whilst not visiting actual prisons we joined their prayer group and so daily we are directed to pray for various HMPs. It is so really encouraging to hear the various ac-counts of the work of chaplains and the burgeoning longing of those in Prison for “freedom”. The freedom that comes from knowing that there is redemption in Christ. We are thrilled that Bibles are being distributed in those prisons and even baptisms are taking place!

For me, a further opportunity to support the work of the gospel in Prison is the letter writing facility. So I now write to one prisoner and while it takes time to get a reply, this man, spiritually is close to my heart. And we pray for him daily. He has become a Christian while in prison and hopes to be released in the summer. So he needs our prayer.

These words of the Lord from Isaiah 42:7…”to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from pris-on and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.”, are surely so apposite.

So we continue to pray for those in darkness that the light of the gospel will break into their lives and they will be saved!

Sandra

Fellowship News (February 2026)

Andrew — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 18:16:55 +0000

Praise & Prayer items were shared at the Church Members’ AGM last month – a few highlights:

Sunday School Prayer: Wisdom and help to find the appropriate resources to use with the children.
Additional numbers – families and helpers.
Little Verse Prayer: We pray for enough helpers each week and for the strength of the current leaders. That the gospel may be heard by those who attend.
Christian Compassion Ministries Praise: Give thanks for Cubao Reformed Baptist Church continued work of the sponsorship programme and the children’s homes.
Nathan & Urpha Javed, GBM Bradford: The year began with much encouragement and God’s help. Please thank God with me as we have seen more people begin to join and recently dedicated another child of sheikh convert parents. Another person is coming closer to God as I preach each Sunday and is beginning to talk of baptism.

More next month. Keep praying and praising!

Praying & caring for the Community –New Street, Station Road, Gardeners’ Court

Preaching out this month:

8th S Piggott – Redhill am; A Smith – Send am

22nd D Ansell – Copthorne am; S Beadle – Redhill am; SP – Canford Heath am

Opportunity Knocks (Thought for February 2026)

Andrew — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 18:09:52 +0000

Have you had an opportune moment crop up lately? What do I mean? Well, the dictionary definition for ‘opportune’ is ‘a moment especially convenient or appropriate for a particular action or event’. Thus, a positive opportunity, a useful, helpful moment to do or say something worth-while. And surely, it’s not wrong to be looking for opportunities.

I think the apostle Paul was always doing that—and he often urged the believers in the churches he wrote to, to do the same, e.g.

To the church in Galatia – Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Gal 6:10) – a focus to look for opportunities to help other believers in the church, but not just them -’to all people’, that’s outsiders/un- believers too. A bit of a challenge, perhaps to us?

Then to the church in Ephesus, after exhorting them to Live as children of light … and find out what pleases the Lord., Paul adds – Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.(Eph 5:8-10, 15-17) – surely here is expressed the urgency to make the most of every opportunity to live closely to and for the Lord, because we live in evil days, and if they were evil then, how much more is that true for us today! Remember opportunities can be lost if we forget how the Lord wants His children to live – carefully and with an understanding of His will.

Thirdly, Paul urges the Christians in Colosse to -Be wise in the way you act towards outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone (Col 4:5-6). This challenges me as to how ready, willing and desirous am I to reach outsiders, i.e. unbelievers, for Jesus Christ? Some Bible translations use the term ‘redeeming the time’ where the NIV and others use that expression of making the most of opportunities. Re-deeming the time means to buy back, or to buy up the time, because time is short both for us, and even more so for those ‘outsiders’ – thus the need to seek to use every opportunity to reach them before it’s too late.

I’m reading at the moment a helpful book by Paul Williams, who ministers at St Helen’s Bishopsgate, entitled ‘Intentional’ ‘Evangelism that takes people to Jesus’. It’s very honest in facing the fact that many of us are fearful of talking to others about Jesus, and seeks to help us to work through overcoming such fears. He goes on to suggest how we can be prepared to take the opportunities God gives us – obviously prayer being vital in the first place. It’s a book worth reading.

I would say that, along with prayer, we first need to be taking those opportunities that Apostle Paul spoke of to the Galatians – looking for ways to do good to other believers alongside outsiders (Sandra & I are finding opportunity for that with our needy next door neighbour); That encourages us to live lives that are godly, as the Ephesians were encouraged to do (ask yourself, would others be encouraged to live for the Lord through my life?). And from the words given to the Colossians, we too can be wise and have courage to take the opportunities the Lord gives us to take people to Jesus.

Steve

Elder

February 2026

Happy New Year ! Thought for January 2026

Andrew — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 21:17:58 +0000

Here we are then in January 2026. It has been a time when many celebrations have been held to welcome in the New Year, fire works, parties, musical performances
and some thing almost hallowed about counting down the seconds from 11:59 & 50 seconds on the 31st December 2025 to midnight and the start of 1st January 2026.

It can be hailed as a time of new opportunities and certainly is a time when many will look forward in anticipation to what will happen during the New Year. Sadly, the turning of the year is often a time when great tragedy strikes, and following the massacre at Bondi Beach in Sydney, there followed this tragic fire in the Swiss resort of Crans -Montana. We mourn this brutal loss of lives yet can’t help but wonder how many of these victims were unsaved and heading prematurely into a lost eternity.

For the Christian believer we are reminded from God’s word in Lamentations 3:22-23 that; the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases: his mercies never come to an end: they are new every morning ; great is your faithfulness (ESV)

Every new day of the year ahead that we are given is a gift from God, and his mercies to us are renewed afresh each day of our lives. We can look forward to each new day knowing that we are fully reliant on Him throughout all our circumstances. So, as we look ahead to this New Year, let’s always be looking to Him to see what He has in store for us. Of course, we make our plans and hope for many things in our lives and for those of our family and friends, we seek the best for them – which
of course is that they may live with that same hope, knowing the Lord Jesus and sharing in His mercies afresh each day.

As a church we trust that in the providence of the Lord, Calix and Bea and the family will be enabled to move to Madeira during 2026 to serve Him there. Significant preparations will be required in advance of that move and this will have an equally significant impact on the life of the church as we consider a plan for succession. This will be a time of change for us all and calls for much prayer from every church member. Perhaps, in the spirit of a New Years resolution I could urge each church member to spend more time in congregational prayer as we look to the Lord for his guidance throughout the coming year. We know he hears our prayers and delights in answering them so let’s ensure we do not be come weary in gathering together as the writer to the Hebrews wrote in 10:25 25 (let us) not giving (give) up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging (encourage) one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Stuart
Elder

January 2026