The Grace Baptist Partnership, a network dedicated to planting, training and revitalisation, is celebrating 15 years of mission and outreach.
Representatives from more than 20 churches gathered at Dunstable Baptist Church for the annual Grace Baptist Partnership (GBP) Prayer and Praise gathering. The structure of the event flowed with the ministry emphases of GBP, namely growing leaders, planting and revitalising churches, and reaching nations.
Ryan King writes: “Kevin Felix-Hollington, pastor of Halling Baptist Church, spoke first about starting a new Growing Leaders training programme that he is leading, alongside Chola Mukanga of Grace Baptist Church Bexleyheath, and Bernard Roberts of Borough Green Baptist Church.
“The second testimony was brought by former Premier League footballer and TV pundit, Gavin Peacock, who has returned from years of ministry in Canada. He has been working via GBP as a locum pastor to revitalise Bethersden Baptist Church, which – suffering from a severely damaged reputation, decreasing membership, and diminished and discouraged leadership – was in danger of closing. There are already encouraging signs of a reversed trajectory.
“The third testimony looked beyond our isles and even continent, as a church planter shared about his and his family’s forthcoming move to the MENA part of the world. Security concerns mean that more cannot be shared, which is a story in itself. Prayers are greatly appreciated.
“Ali McLachlan of Grace Baptist Church Edinburgh opened up Luke 4:31-44. Steve Burton of Dunstable Baptist Church shared his own testimony of being someone who thought he would leave his church and town, only to stay and serve as pastor.”
The GBP is different from the Grace Baptist Association, though some churches are in both. The Partnership has “a very specific focus on leadership training and development and church planting and revitalisation in the UK and Europe,” Ryan King told en.
