End of an era at Newbridge……and new chapter begins
More than 200 people attended a special Thanksgiving service at Newbridge on Saturday,30 January to mark the closure of Beulah Baptist Church after 206 years of faithful witness to the Lord.
Sadly, major problems have developed with the structure of the chapel building in the last few years, particularly the wall facing on to North Road which is a main bus route linking the town with Crumlin, Pontypool, Abertillery and Ebbw Vale.
Despite considerable efforts to find a viable solution to the problems, the members reluctantly decided – after much prayer – to close the church with the majority of them planning to transfer their membership to Tabernacle Baptist Church, a daughter church of Beulah. A trust has been established to ensure that the Beulah graveyard is maintained in future years. Ownership of the building has been transferred to a local building company.
The Rev Peter Cho, who has been joint pastor of Beulah and Tabernacle for the last five years, said: “Obviously, we are all very sad to see Beulah closed and we thank God for its faithful witness and service over more than two centuries. We are grateful to Tabernacle who have fully co-operated in sharing their building in the last year and we are really looking forward to a new chapter of united Baptist fellowship in the town.
“We are also indebted to the huge amount of help and advice we have received from the Baptist Union of Wales in dealing with the building problems and their ongoing support, along with the Gwent Baptist Association, for the ministry.”
BUW general secretary the Rev. Judith Morris was the guest speaker at the Thanksgiving service at Tabernacle in which the Soma Choir and international evangelist and pianist Professor Aija Kim were among others taking part. Former Beulah minister the Rev. Jim Webber gave the final blessing.
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LOVE ONE ANOTHER
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. (1 John 4:7 English Standard Version)
Brecon-born Thomas Coke, known as the first Methodist bishop, casts light on this familiar verse in his Commentary on the Holy Bible (1801-1803). He refers to the account of St Jerome who charted the journey of John the Evangelist to Ephesus when he was very old.
John was unable to walk to the church unaided and he had nearly lost the power of speech. Yet, each time he had fellowship with the believers he managed to say: “Little children, love one another”. The apostle gives us a strong reason why we should love one another – for love is of God.
Christians are born again because God so loved us that He gave His only Son, Jesus Christ, to be our Saviour and the promise of eternal life if we confess our sins and believe on Him. Just as God loves us we must love one another. In fact, that is the only way that we can show ourselves to be true children of God seeking always – but, yes, often failing – to do the will of our Heavenly Father.
Other ‘religious’ people may pretend to possess great knowledge and have sound faith but if they do not love their Christian brethren they are being disobedient to Jesus’ command.
36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22: 36-40 English Standard Version)
Loving one another is not an option – it is a must!!
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Back in Wales for a Christmas and New Year holiday was the Rev. Flavio Azambuja, former minister of Tabernacle Baptist Church, Newbridge, his wife Arlene and children Samella Betsan and Daniel Rhys. The family left Wales to go back home to Brazil eight years ago although Flavio returned for a short time five years ago as part of his programme of theological studies.
Flavio accepted invitations to preach at Tabernacle, Bethel Baptist Church, Crumlin, Hebron Baptist Church, Saundersfoot and Ararat Baptist Church, Cardiff. “It was great to renew fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ” Flavio said. “Wales has a special place in our hearts and we even enjoyed the rain!”
Flavio is minister of Belo Horizonte Baptist Church, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul in the centre-west region of Brazil. The family arrived on 22 December and stayed with friends at Newbridge and in Cardiff before returning home on 12 January.
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Speakers for Sunday Services in February:
7th: a.m. Pastor Peter Cho
p.m. Mr John Thomas
14th: a.m. Mr Eric Palethorpe
p.m. Student
21st: a.m. Pastor Peter Cho
p.m. Pastor Peter Palmer
28th: a.m. Pastor Peter Cho
p.m. Mr Robert Richards
Special Services in February:
Monday 1st: ICE Thanksgiving Service at Bethesda & Cefn Wood
Thursday 4th: Gwent Baptist Association meeting at Mount Pleasant,
Saturday 6th: Churches together meet at Catholic Church 10am
Monday 15th: Men’s Fellowship
Wednesday 24th: Deacons’ Meeting
Thursday 25th: Asia Link
Weekly Activities:
Sundays: 10.45 a.m. Sunday School
11.00 a.m. Morning Worship
6.00 p.m. Evening Worship
Mondays: 9.15 a.m. Mothers & Toddlers
Tuesdays: 7.00 p.m. Prayer Meeting
Wednesdays: 4.30 p.m. Youth Football Club (aged 8+)
Thursdays: 9.15 a.m. Mothers & Toddlers
9.30 a.m. – 12.00p.m. Citizen’s Advice Bureau
10.00 a.m. – 12.00pm Coffee Morning
12.30 p.m. Luncheon Club (check dates)
7.00 p.m. Bible Study
Fridays: 9.30 a.m. Nurture Group Bible Study
6.00 p.m. – 7.30p.m. High Five Youth Club
Saturdays: 4.00 p.m. – 6.00p.m. Discipleship Class
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WELCOME
We are delighted to welcome 14 Christian brothers and sisters who have transferred their membership to Tabernacle following the closure of Beulah Baptist Church. We extend the hand of fellowship to them and trust that together we will help to extend God’s kingdom here at Newbridge through a strong united Baptist witness.
“Please thank God for the faithful witness of Beulah over the last two centuries and ask for His help and guidance as we begin a new chapter in the life of the church”, said Pastor Peter.
OPERATION WINDOWS!
Work will start on 22 Februarys on replacing more than 20 windows in our rear building as part of the bigger scheme to renovate and redevelop it for church and wider community use.
The windows project will cost in excess of £30,000 and is being partly funded by grants from Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Community Regeneration Fund and the Allchurches Trust. Local building company Parfitt Construction Ltd will carry out the work.
Furniture, equipment and other items will need to be cleared from the lower Sunday School room. The Mothers and Toddlers group will be holding its sessions in the main schoolroom while the renovation project is being undertaken.
Health and Safety measures will be a priority to ensure that all necessary precautions are followed and to minimize the risk of accidents.
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WE CAN DO IT!
Churches in Gwent have been encouraged to adopt a “can do” approach in seeking to win more children and young people for Christ.
That was one of the main messages of Phil Knox, Director of Resources, Youth for Christ, who was the guest speaker at the Association’s Council meeting at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, Blackwood, in February.
With few if any children and teenagers regularly attending services and activities in many of our churches these days, the Association wants to encourage more outreach to young people. The Council meeting was open to everyone but particularly targeted at those interested in or actively involved in Sunday School and youth work.
Phil shared three “big ideas”. First, children’s and youth work was the most fruitful mission field because they were particularly responsive to the Gospel. Secondly, anyone could be involved. We needed to shelve the stereotype of what we think a youth worker looks like. In a survey of the attributes young people were looking for in a youth worker, some 85 per cent were seeking a parent or grandparent-type figure. Thirdly, we always needed to remember that the aim was to see lives transformed by Jesus.
“Quite simply, it is a great place to start evangelism because youngsters provide the springboard for us to reach the family and anyone can do it – regardless of age”, Phil said. “We need to be like Caleb and Joshua– not like the 10 spies”, he added drawing attention to the account in the Book of Numbers when Israel was poised to move on into the Promised Land. Phil particularly drew attention to Numbers 13: 30 “Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”
Caleb could adopt such a stance because he had a big view of God. He knew that a) God was with him; b) God was for him and c) God could use him.
“Things may look black for many of our churches in today’s secular society but never underestimate what God can and will do. As the canny chess player, whose opponent thought he had beaten him, said: ‘Wait, the king still has one more move to make’. Surely, that is also true of the King of kings!”, he added.
Accompanying Phil at the meeting was Nathan Iles, YFC’s Director of Mission.
Youth for Christ is a national Christian charity that was founded by Dr. Billy Graham in 1946. Working with over 250,000 young people each month, YFC draws alongside children, teenagers and young adults from every background and culture in Britain. The charity has more than 400 full-time staff and many local volunteers who specialise in working with unchurched youth: communicating and demonstrating the Christian faith. The YFC website is www.yfc.co.uk