Faith and love in St Brides rural ministry
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n 1988, the small congregation of Broad Haven Baptist Church, St Brides Bay on the Pembrokeshire coastal path, were without a minister and in a difficult situation. They felt led to call a young student minister, but even with the help of a Baptist Union grant, it meant their offering would have to double. They accepted the challenge, put their hands in their pockets, and stepped out in faith. A further step of faith occurred when they followed the lead of their new minister and agreed to tithe and trust God to provide. God has honoured his promise that “those who sow generously will reap generously.” The young student minister, Ifor Williams, is a farmer’s son who had worked for 8 years as a herdsman before being called to the ministry. He fitted in well with the rural congregation, and focussed initially on building a good relationships. Slowly but surely the congregation grew from the mid 30s to over 100, with a good proportion of children and young people.
In the summer months there is an influx of holidaymakers and the chapel, which seats 140, was so full last year that a video relay had to be set up in an overflow room in the village hall next door. That room, called the Rafters, is part of an extension to the village hall, built and paid for by the church, in a venture which allows both users of the hall, and the chapel congregation, to have access to the new toilets in the extension. This partnership between church and village also extends to the local primary school.
At a time when many rural congregations are in decline, why is there such obvious growth in Broad Haven, a rural seaside village with a population of approx 900. Ifor points to an emphasis on faith and love. The need for individual faith in God leads to a clear focus on Jesus as Lord and Saviour, and regular teaching on the need to experience the help and
Agricultural
Christian Fellowship The Agricultural Christian Fellowship (ACF) is open to all
Christians from all branches of agriculture, horticulture and related activities. ACF seeks to enable its members to help, encourage and support one another and to promote evangelism in the countryside. ACF contributes to the Agriculture and Theology Project and was instrumental in the foundation of Farm Crisis Network an organisation which walks with farmers and farming families experiencing business and other problems. The ACF has local groups in some areas of the country and is seeking to develop more in other areas. Anyone wishing to know more about the ACF can obtain information from: ACF 38 De Montfort Street, Leicestershire, LE1 7GP. 0116 255 1700 or by email
acf@uccf.org.uk n
Baptism in the sea off St. Brides Bay
strength of the Holy Spirit in order to live effective and fruitful Christian lives. Baptisms in the sea have drawn large crowds in recent years, whilst changed lives and the occasional physical healing have not gone unnoticed.
The command to love one another led to a course called AGAPE, which helped the whole church to learn to appreciate and value all members young and old; both modern and traditional worship; locals and newcomers; with the recognition that in a village church everyone has to get on with everyone else. The command to love thy neighbour has led to a growing concern for the community, with a large number of the congregation now involved with the playgroup, shop, youth club, village hall, school, meals on wheels, and rural ministries such as Farm Crisis Network.
Building relationships and showing practical love has led many local people to attend the regular Alpha courses, resulting in more people coming to faith. The Christmas Eve Carol Service is held in the local pub. The growth of relationship with God, with each other, and with the community are encouraged through the seven Life Groups which meet midweek in members’ homes. The church is now preparing to call a second minister in order to reach out more effectively to a wider community.
St Paul often praised the New Testament churches for their faith and love. Ifor Williams considers the continued emphasis on these two Christian fundamentals to be a key reason for the growth and health of this rural village church. n
Ifor Williams Broad Haven Baptist Church, Pembrokeshire
www.arthurrankcentre.org.uk 15
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