In Depth:  Wales

Emily Pollok

Through the faithful preaching of God’s word, prayer, and community outreach, several churches in Wales are seeing God “doing more… than He ever has before” and lives being transformed by the gospel.

Mount Elim Church in Pontardawe was founded in the 1980s and underwent a revitalisation project 13 years ago. Since then, the church has outgrown its current building and is now in the process of constructing a new home to accommodate their thriving ministry.

Emily Pollok

You almost couldn’t get two more different places than the bustling metropolis of Moscow and what Ricky Wilhelm describes as the ‘sleepy seaside town’ of Penarth, Wales. Yet, married missionaries Ricky and Brandy have seen the gospel powerfully at work in both.

Ricky and Brandy grew up in Oklahoma and were married at age 19. Inspired by a visit to their campus from missionaries in Russia, the couple decided to enter the mission field and spent the next eight years of their life working with the Udmurt people in the Volga region of Russia. ‘Love for the people came quite slowly,’ Ricky explained. ‘It was hard … Americans are admired in many ways but not necessarily loved by other cultures.’

Milla Ling-Davies

After months of prayer, a small group has boldly begun a new monthly service in Haverfordwest – delivered entirely in the Welsh language.

Described as a missional project rather than a church, the initiative (called ‘Rhywd y Brenin’ meaning the ‘net of the King’), was begun by seven people with a desire to better share the gospel with Welsh speakers across Pembrokeshire. They launched the first service on 6 October in Emmanuel Christian Centre in Merlins Bridge, and were delighted to welcome in 22 adults and eight children.

Nicola Laver

Truancy has dropped by a staggering 96% after a Welsh evangelical church launched a new ‘learning hub’ with a nearby school.

The hub was opened in June by Noddfa Evangelical Church and Abersychan Comprehensive School and combines academic teaching and broader ‘Life Skills’. So far, 20 school pupils have registered with the hub.

‘A lift for Narberth’ is more than a building project. It sums up the church’s vision, says Phil Prosser, senior leader of Grace Church.

Narberth is a small but growing market town in south-west Wales with a lively shopping centre, arts and cultural scene, a very active community life, and a charismatic evangelical church with ‘high hopes’ for its future mission in the community.

Guests from across the world have gathered in Cardiff to take part in the St David’s Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast at the Senedd, hosted by Clwyd West MS Darren Millar, Chair of the Organising Committee since it was established in 2018.

‘This annual gathering serves as a powerful intersection of faith and governance, shedding light on the pivotal role of faith in shaping Wales’ political landscape,’ said Nathan Sadler, Public Policy Officer, Evangelical Alliance Wales.

Luke Randall

Ben Midgley has been appointed as the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC) Director for North Wales (Gogledd Cymru).

He has worked as a pastor since 2005, and specifically at Ebenezer Baptist Church since 2019, and will work to support the 12 FIEC churches across the area. 

Hopes are clearly running high for an exciting new youth initiative designed by the Baptist Union of Wales (BUW) which plans to host its first event in early February.

‘Esgyn’ (English ‘Ascend’) is the result of a period of discussion, prayer and dialogue between a variety of individuals within the BUW who share a concern for young people and want to see more provision for them across Wales.

Bishop Stuart Bell of the GAFCON-affiliated Anglican Convocation in Europe (ACE) writes: Archbishop Ben Kwashi, General Secretary of GAFCON, the global Anglican movement, was the guest of the Evangelical Fellowship of the Church in Wales meeting with Anglican leaders for 24 hours (28-29 September) at the Hookses, the retreat of the late John Stott in Dale, Pembrokeshire.

In one session he spoke of what God is doing more widely in the Anglican communion and in another he gave encouragement from the Scriptures and from his own experience that we should stand firm. ‘We have nothing in Nigeria’, he said, ‘so if we give up Christ then we would have less than nothing; whereas if you in the West were to give up Christ you still would have your comfortable lifestyle.’

Milla Ling-Davies

A new initiative called Cant i Gymru has the ambitious aim of seeing 100 healthy churches planted in Wales within the next decade.

Cant i Gymru (meaning ‘100 for Wales’ in English) is ‘a collective of gospel friends’ from across the world and Wales. According to their website, they are ‘believing God for a fresh wave of missional planting in Cymru’, and aim to do this by providing pastoral support, uniting in prayer, and equipping and sending out church planters.

Milla Ling-Davies

A Christian-led charity faces eviction after clashing with the Church in Wales (CiW) over the use of their building.

In 2020, The Parish Trust charity started using the St Thomas Church building in Caerphilly as a base, for free rental, with the full knowledge and blessing of the CiW and local bishop. The Trust claims that for the next three years they were led to believe the CiW would sell the building to them. However, in May 2023 lawyers for the CiW requested they either accept a tenancy agreement or vacate the premises.

The Aber Conference, run by the Evangelical Movement of Wales, is held every August in the Mid Wales seaside town of Aberystwyth. Gareth Davies was there and writes:

‘The highlight of my summer was attending the Aber Conference. Over the last few years, Aber has developed a more family feel but at the same time has not lost its preaching ethos.

Nicola Laver

A new theology school for Christian ministers at the ‘coalface’ has been launched in the Welsh valleys.

‘You may be able to exegete Scripture, you might even be a Hebrew Scholar, you could even be the most charismatic preacher on the planet, but if you can’t handle 2.00am phone calls from social services or late-night knocks on the door from the police… you are no good in the Valleys!’ says the Valleys School of Theology website.

Nearly 400 church leaders and teams from across the denominations and networks in Wales recently gathered at Venue2 Swansea for the annual New Wine Cymru leaders conference.

In the light of the statistical and empirical evidence pointing to a significant spiritual openness in Wales and the UK, the conference theme was creating a Culture of Mission in the Local Church. Conference guest speakers were Paul Williams who is the Bible Societies CEO and research Professor of Marketplace Theology at Regents university Vancouver.

Nicola Laver

Plans are underway to provide theological training and support in the Welsh language. The Daniel Rowland Network is a new partnership between Union School of Theology (UST) and Welsh-speaking pastors and churches, to help provide training and resources in the Welsh language.

A new Daniel Rowland Centre, to be housed within the UST Library, will include an extensive collection of theological works in Welsh.

Welsh evangelicals are getting ready to ask passers-by for ‘three words to describe their life’ as they seek to share the gospel at some of the country’s most popular festivals.

Believers are due to be reaching out at the Hay Festival (25–29 May), the Royal Agricultural Show in Builth Wells (24–27 July) and the National Eisteddfod of Wales, Boduan (5–12 August).

Mae’r Gynghrair Efengylaidd yn llawn gwefr o gyhoeddi y bydd Tim Rowlands yn ymuno â thîm y staff fel pennaeth y Gynghrair Efengylaidd yng Nghymru o’r 1af o Ebrill, i gynorthwyo’r eglwys yng Nghymru yn ei chenhadaeth leol ac i fynd â’i llais i’r gymdeithas ehangach ac i’r llywodraeth.

Cymeradwyodd Gavin Calver, Prif Swyddog Gweithredol y Gynghrair Efengylaidd, y penodiad gan ddweud: ‘Rwyf wrth fy modd bod Tim am ymuno â ni i wasanaethu a chynorthwyo’r eglwys yng Nghymru. Mae’n arweinydd eglwys profiadol sy’n gwybod drosto’i hun sut y gall yr eglwys ymgysylltu’n wleidyddol ac yn ddiwylliannol yng Nghymru. Edrychaf ymlaen at wasanaethu gydag ef ac at weld Duw yn symud yn nerthol ledled cenedl Cymru.’

Nicola Laver

A legal challenge by Welsh parents concerning planned mandatory relationships and sex education (RSE) that includes LGBT+ teaching and gender ideology has failed – but an appeal is now underway.

Plans for compulsory RSE in Wales also removes parents’ legal rights to withdraw their children from explicit sex education classes – despite significant parental opposition.

Nicola Laver

Korean Christians are preparing to descend on Wales this summer – with Welsh churches urged to prepare for a week-long Korean Prayer Mission and pray for a fresh revival.

Organised by the Director of the Europe Prayer Mission, Namjin Kim, the mission is due to take place on 3–10 July. Kim, who recently returned to the UK after a three-week visit to South Korea, had been invited by 11 Korean churches to share with them the spiritual state of Wales and to pray together for the country.

Nicola Laver

A multimedia campaign to spread the gospel across Wales has begun, with the release of a seven-episode film series, blog, podcast and a daily devotional.

Hope Cymru is a ten-season film project marking the start of a decade-long multimedia project bringing the hope of Jesus and the gospel across the province. Organisers said they believe ‘the good news about Jesus will bring transformation, renewal and hope to Wales in challenging times’.

Evangelicals from across Wales have been gathering in Aberystwyth.

They were meeting for this year’s Aber Conference organised by the Evangelical Movement of Wales (EMW).

Welsh Baptist ministers spent some time recently focusing on the pressing issue of ‘Abuse of power in the local church’.

Phil Swann (see photo) of Llanelli Evangelical Church opened up a topic which the Baptist Union of Wales admits is not often talked about but ‘can do great harm’ to both ministers and members. ‘Recent public cases have drawn attention to how church leaders need be more aware of the potential abuses of power within the local church and the damaging effect this can have on those caught up in such situations,’ it said.

Darren Moore

It is with great joy that Ely Presbyterian Church, Cardiff has joined EPCEW (the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of England and Wales).

Of course, such events are always encouraging; it is encouraging that a couple of churches are looking into joining EPCEW. But church history tends to be punctuated by splits and division. Especially Presbyterian churches. In fact, this has been Ely’s history and so this event was a cause of celebration.

Nicola Laver

Evangelicals in Scotland and Wales are facing difficult decisions after major denominations in each country liberalised their stance on same-sex marriage.

They have expressed dismay at the Church of Scotland’s decision to allow its clergy to conduct same-sex marriages, following a vote of the Members of the General Assembly. Commissioners voted 274–136 in favour, but ministers and deacons will not be forced to compelled to take the ceremonies if they do not want to.

Nicola Laver

More than 5,000 parents and grandparents in Wales are suing the Welsh government after it announced that new compulsory sex education from the age of three will start in September. They also say the government misled them about a potential parental opt-out.

The Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021 prescribes mandatory elements in education which includes relationship and sex education (RSE). The parent-led group is concerned that under the Act, children as young as three will be taught about sensitive and arguably inappropriate topics, such as gender ideology.

Nicola Laver

Temporary ‘DIY’ abortion rules introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic will be made permanent in Wales, the devolved government has announced.

Health Minister Eluned Morgan said it was a ‘progressive step’ and added that she had carefully considered the responses to a public consultation in Wales and decided the arrangements were safe.

Wales is less Christian than England, new figures indicate.

According to data by the Office of National Statistics, just 51% of the population in England and Wales combined now consider themselves to be Christians.

Shortly after en was going to press, Welsh evangelicals were due to have a crucial meeting with church leaders which could determine their future.

All members of the Evangelical Fellowship of the Church in Wales (EFCW) were being invited to meet the bishops of the Church in Wales on Zoom following a recent decision to bless same-sex relationships in church.

A former minister in the Church of Wales is planning to set up a new congregation after the denomination liberalised its views on same-sex blessings.

The venture is being spearheaded on the Angle Peninsula, Pembrokeshire, by the Revd Josh Maynard (see photo) and his wife Rachel Maynard, along with others.

James Scott has begun work as the new pastor at Bethany Baptist Church in Swansea.

Scott, along with his wife and three children have moved from Rochester Baptist Church in Kent, where he was an elder. The photo shows the family standing by the garden wall of the church after Scott’s first sermon as pastor. The prayer of the church is that many will come to know Christ as the Cornerstone in coming days.

Nicola Laver

The Church in Wales’s decision to allow blessings of same-sex couples has been met with deep sadness among evangelicals – and fears of an impending split within the denomination.

The Evangelical Fellowship in the Church in Wales (EFCW) said: ‘For many in EFCW, this decision will come with a sense of sadness that the Church in Wales has decided to depart from a traditional understanding of marriage, and with great uncertainty about how to move forward in good conscience.’ The EFCW executive was due to meet as en went to print.

Taking as its 2021 theme ‘The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad’, Bangor (NI) Worldwide Missionary Convention celebrated its 85th anniversary this summer. Events were held at Hamilton Road Presbyterian Church; Bangor Baptist Church and further afield at Belfast, Dublin, Drumreagh, Lurgan and Magherafelt.

To mark the anniversary, Bangor Worldwide Chairman Tom Clarke walked 850 miles, his daughter Joy ran 850 miles and grandson Jed completed 850 laps of their garden to raise support for the Convention.

Nicola Laver

Nestled in the South Wales valleys sits Noddfa Baptist Church, a beacon of gospel light where more than 60 people have been baptised in the last five years.

Noddfa is an area of high social deprivation and unemployment. But the gospel is being preached without gimmick, people are being saved – and on Sunday 15 August 15 people were baptised.

The Evangelical Movement of Wales (EMW) says it has been humbled by the opportunities for gospel work thrown up by the pandemic.

General Secretary Mark Thomas says: ‘The limitations on meeting together have made us go back to basics and reassess what really matters – prayer, God’s word, fellowship and evangelism’.

An evangelical minister in the Church in Wales (CiW) has told en he ‘won’t cave’ if same-sex marriage is ever imposed upon the denomination.

The CiW is considering introducing same-sex marriage blessings in its services, after bishops proposed radical changes to the Book of Common Prayer. Whilst proposing the change, the bishops of the CiW recognised that the Bible expresses all sexual activity outside of marriage as ‘unbridled lust’, and that the change is proposed due to ‘new understandings’ outside of the Bible. The Bible is to be ‘re-interrogated’. Those in ministry critical of the move noted that this path was laid from 2004 in a course which included a biased presentation of same-sex attraction. The Evangelical Fellowship of the Church in Wales (EFCW) made a statement upholding marriage, and lost many members (en contacted them for comment, and as yet, none has been forthcoming).

The Evangelical Movement of Wales (EMW) is rejoicing after new lockdown opportunities for Welsh language outreach.

EMW’s ministries coordinator Steffan Job writes: ‘This has come about despite the bleak outlook when the plug was pulled on camps and conferences. A bilingual website and other online forums have encouraged participants and leaders alike.