‘Intensive’ grace

Grace Baptist leaders have held an ‘intensive’ 24-hour fellowship getaway as in-person conferences continued to resume after the lockdowns of the last two years.

Jim Sayers writes: ‘Recently 72 leaders from 54 churches gathered for an ‘overnighter’ at High Leigh for an intensive 24 hours of fellowship. Representing nearly all the member churches of the AGBC(SE), they enjoyed ministry from Wale Akinrogunde (see photo below), John Benton and David Skull. Several others had contributed papers beforehand for discussion in small groups, on themes as diverse as Flourishing as multi-tasking pastors, How our polity can help us, and how we handle the current issues around sexuality and gender. These produced some lively discussions that continued over the dinner table.’

Many pastors of association churches are young, some still completing their training. This conference was a new format event, and there was an enthusiastic response. Glen Hanna from Downe Baptist said: ‘To come away for a while with men who know and understand pastoral responsibility and just chat over a coffee or at the dinner table is a simple but valuable thing. To hear men pray with passion and have our voices all singing God’s praises did my soul good.’

David Wilson from High Road Baptist in Finchley said: ‘Well done to the organisers for this overnighter. The facilities, discussions, fellowship and topics were all excellent. For me, having the extended time to meet up with people, chat with friends I hadn’t seen in a while, and meet new people was the highlight.’

Pete Fuggle from Gadebridge Baptist in Hemel Hempstead said: ‘I could say the overnighter was just another conference, but for me it was more than that. It was a group of churches working out how we can grow better in fellowship together, supporting each other, and wrestling with the challenges that we all face. I was able meet new faces whose churches I had known on paper but now know in person. I look forward to doing this again.’