Recent Events
Christmas Celebration
What a great evening!
There was plenty of singing from Graham (P) and Aileen, the Children's Choir, a solo from Carole, a duet from Chrissie and Graham (N), the 'Non Singers' Choir, and everyone joining in for 'The Twelve Days of Christmas' and more.
We also had a Christmas crossword with some very dodgy spelling!
There was tea/coffee and nibbles galore!
A wonderful way to start the Christmas festivities. Thank you to all who were involved in making it a special event and especially Graham, Aileen, John and Sue!
Bonfire Night
It was fantastic to see so many turn out for our firework display. The evening began with a warming bite to eat – jacket potatoes and fabulous fillings!
No sooner had we put our forks down than we were putting our hats and gloves on. The children all trooped outside to enjoy their sparklers and thankfully, returned with all their fingers intact. It was then time for the big ones. The fantastic firework display was met with many ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ and a few scampering feet when the bangers went off!
The display was finished off with a welcome hot chocolate and an even more welcoming socialising.
It was so encouraging to see so many new faces and I pray that some lasting links have been formed.
Many thanks to all who brought food and worked so hard in the kitchen. Also many thanks to the fire starters – I mean responsible adults – who lit the fireworks and kept us all safe.
All in all I’d say the evening went with a bang!
Shall we say, the same time next year?
Kelly Shaw
Ten-Pin Bowling - Hartlepool
On the 1st Nov a crowd of us from the church met at Hartlepool Bowling Alley.
We started off with a simple basket meal, which was very tasty. We are told to exercise our gifts - so we did - 'the gift of the gab'. Then we split into teams. Everyone's competitiveness came out, and those of us who usually come last, accepted our fate.
The evening was well organised and very enjoyable. Thanks for a great evening!
Sue and Steve Dawson
See Gallery for some action shots!!
Jon and Lisa Bruce - Baptismal Service
We were baptised on 25 September 2011and it was the most amazing experience and one we always treasure. It was also a privilege to share the experience with Richard.The day before our baptism many of the church members met at Hardwick Hall Park for a game of rounders. At this point it really hit home the enormity of the occasion and the nerves kicked in, especially in respect of the personal testimonies.
On the day the entire fellowship blew us away with the sheer abundance of warmth, kindness and love. Our friends and family were amazed at the friendliness, closeness and openness, which everyone in the church congregation expressed.
Totally unexpected by us, we received cards and gifts, many of which contained special verses from the Bible, all of which contributed to the experience of the day and after.
We feel God was truly at work and the warmth in the church was a true testament to God's love, as the entire congregation shared a hug with us.
Many thanks go to the people behind the scenes, who organised everything including towels, music, water (almost warm) and not least for making endless cups of tea for all.
The service and hymns all served to make the day special and we felt truly blessed to be the first baptisms conducted by our new minister, Rev Ali.
We felt each and every member of the congregation contributed in some way to making the day a true expression of what it means to be a Christian and how God works in our lives.
A heartfelt thank you to all,
With Love,
Jon and Lisa Bruce
Jon's testimony
When my wife became a Christian it came as a bit of a surprise to me.I spent many evenings dropping Lisa and her friend Lesley at a ladies home for a funny Alpha course thing. They came out chatting about God, I thought it strange but she seems happy enough.
Next came Just 10 and more lifts, hundreds of Christians in a tent at Preston Park, I couldn’t understand what it was all about. After a number of weeks I felt I was missing so I popped in for one of the talks, WOW! I had never realised you could be happy and talk about religion; it had all been a bit boring to me and irrelevant before. The talk in the tent made me look at my life and I realised how self interested I was and wanted to find out more.
For a long time it felt like a nice theory and boy could I come up with questions, just ask poor Dave Dale.
Then the Baptism of Fire, clearly God became fed up with me messing about and chose the direct approach, bit like Jonah. I have found God to be very much like that, miss the hints at your peril!
My whale came in the form of losing my business, my financial security and professional standing all in a day. I found myself standing on a beach, well Seaton Carew, with no job, money or career wondering how on earth I would survive. Every time I walked my dog in despair God was with me, it was that real for me.
Through all of the problems in my life our faithful and loving God sustained, provided and loved me.
I realise my life until I accepted Christ was direction less and fruitless. I had acquired many things and had always loved my family but this new found love was deeper and for everything, not just the bits that were for my benefit.
To shine a light for Christ is my sole focus I know the rest will fall into place and I apologise to God for being a fool for such a long time and ignoring him.
Jon Bruce
Richard's testimony - September 2011
After my wife Linda died the Butterwick Hospice invited me to a series of bereavement counselling sessions for those who had lost loved ones. That's where I met Dorothy, grieving over the sad loss of Vic. As the weeks went by she invited me along to church, where I found a warm and welcoming fellowship and in the months that followed, a feeling of inner peace and an awakening of the spiritual belief I once had had returned for I'd been living in a world where my sinning was an everyday habit and in asking the Lord for forgiveness I felt a great weight had been lifted off my shoulders.
Looking back over my life I realised He had watched over our family throughout Linda's illness, prolonging her life. Long enough to see Louise and Helen get married and the births of our 4 grandchildren. She had, with God's grace, survived for over 23 years from being diagnosed with cancer. These thoughts strengthened my belief in our Saviour Jesus Christ and in the months that followed I found a growing contentment within me and a sense of belonging in the fellowship.
With the introduction of the Alpha courses, wonderfully run by Graham, that have led me to where I am today, feeling truly blessed to be called to Baptism by our Lord and Saviour and as I take this first step, one of many, and look forward as a Christian to an enduring fellowship with our Lord and Father.
Can I thank you all for the prayers, love and friendship you've bestowed on me.
Matthew 3 v 13-end
Rounders at Hardwick Country Park
At 3pm on Saturday 24th September over 50 people, ages ranging from 3 months to spritely over 70's gathered at Hardwick Country Park to play rounders.
Lee captained the under 40's ..... most of whom were the youngsters and young at heart aunties!
Tim captained the over 40's!!!
Val kept the score, although not by whole rounders but by counting every time a person crossed bay 4 ....fairer scoring for the difference in ages!
Great fun was had by all and we were blessed by good weather, Ali's shorts and Alan doing a wonderful pirouette! We stopped for refreshments at half time and these were in plentiful supply thanks to Jean, enough to feed the 5,000! Julia was also there with her camera to record the afternoon's events....more photos for the BBC archives. See Gallery.
We also had many spectators watching as well as those visiting the park. It's not often you see such a large age range enjoying games and fellowship at the park - a rare sight these days! Needless to say the oldies won the match, although it has to be said that the youngsters played exceptionally well and were only just pipped at the post. The enjoyment was enhanced by the excellent catching from both teams; the oldies slipping and sliding all over the place; and the boundless energy of the youngsters who simply outran most of the seniors!
Great fun and fellowship was had by all. The youngsters and a few of the older stalwarts even had a game of football to finish off the day.
Many thanks to Tim and Lee for arranging this event.....when is the next one?
Sue Sands
Alistair's Induction
The Induction Service took place, as said above, on Saturday 17 September, followed by a magnificent buffet, many thanks to Jean and her team. There were lots of visitors present, as well as our own fellowship. Many people gave greetings from their home churches. Below are some pictures and comments from members of the church.
Rev John Claydon and Rev Graham Prest Ali and John C
Graham, Ali, Howard Cooke (Maidstone Graham, Ali and John C
Baptist Church) and John C
"The day dawned wet, but soon cleared and turned out to be a beautiful sunny day for the induction. It was lovely to see so many people from Tunbridge Wells and Maidstone in Kent as well as people from other churches in Billingham, along with our own congregation. Rev Graham Prest, our moderator, welcomed everyone and the induction was performed by Rev John Claydon from the Northern Baptist Association and the message was brought by Rev Graham Watts, one of Ali's lecturers from Spurgeon's College. The afternoon turned out to be very special and I am sure everyone felt the presence of the Holy Spirit. We ended the afternoon with a very appetising buffet, enjoyed by all." Margaret Cobb
"After eighteen months of prayer we are thankful that God lead Alistair and Gillian into our fellowship. His induction service was happy, relaxing and a good opportunity to meet with the family and friends." Eileen and Jonathan Wigham
"It was like a wedding really. We had the newly ordained minister and his wife, the 'nervous couple' being 'married' together with Billingham Baptist Church, the 'BBC'! We had the family and close friends of the couple, mates making speeches, movingly telling how much the couple is going to be missed, with their loss being our gain and we had the 'passer by onlookers', who were just curious for a look at this union, but wished all the best anyway.
It turned out to be a perfect day. The hymns were so uplifting and sung so enthusiastically, by a packed church, that it made the hairs tingle on the back of your neck.
There's a great feeling of anticipation in our church at the moment. People are bound together in love and welcoming a new beginning. In the coming months, with Rev Ali at the helm, God bless that ship, the 'BBC' and all who sail in her." Linda Stephenson
Alistair's Ordination
Alistair was ordained as a minister in his home church, Tunbridge Wells Baptist Church on Saturday 16th July 2011. A few Billingham Baptist members joined in the celebrations.
| Victoria did a great job with the cake |
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