Sword & Trowel 2020: Issue 1
YEAR’S END TABERNACLE
I
TIDINGS BAPTISMS AND NEW MEMBERS
N this the 369th year in the life of the Tabernacle congregation, we praise God for his great goodness and power in maintaining the minis- try of the Gospel and the teaching of the doctrines of grace for so long. Over the course of 2019 we have
heard many professions of faith in Christ and witnessed many baptisms and admissions to the church. The ages-old practice of preaching the Gospel every Lord’s Day evening ser- vice continues to be used by the Holy Spirit as a lamp of salvation. Over 1,000 adults regularly fill our sanctuary and overflow areas each Sunday, and many people worldwide follow the services on live webcast. In addition, thousands of sermons and whole services are downloaded each week (180,000 sermon downloads registered for the last full year). The recent Sunday School Prizegiv-
ing saw 710 children, 225 being of secondary school age. 620 attendance prizes and 350 memory-work prizes were distributed. Post-Sunday-School college classes for ‘sixth formers’ con- tinue to thrive, and the young adults’ doctrine class has seen 80 in attend- ance.
Seniors’ fellowships through the
year exceeded 70 in attendance, and the very large number of young fami- lies in the fellowship was indicated by infant presentation services for par- ents with babies (26 infants this year).
INTERPRETING Tabernacle services are interpreted into British Sign Language for the Deaf, and (via radio headsets) into Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, French, Portuguese and Spanish. Up to 80 people make use of these headsets.
ONLINE SEMINARY
The online course of the London Re- formed Baptist Seminary gained 42 men during 2019; the total enrolment being 484, drawn from almost 60 dif- ferent countries, 70% being serving pastors.
BROADCASTING TV broadcasting (commenced in 2004) has continued with a weekly programme aired at 8pm every Sat- urday (Sky channel 581, Freesat 692, Freeview HD 241). Programmes are broadcast throughout the UK, Europe and in the USA. Each one includes an evangelistic or teach- ing sermon of Dr Masters, and also carries an illustrated Christian biog- raphy or an apologetics feature.
OVERSEAS PASTORS The Tabernacle has supported 20 overseas pastors and their causes over this year, including the new (and first) reformed Baptist church in Chile, in Temuco.
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We pray for the ministry of the Word, for the salvation of souls and the strengthening of believers in the new year. May souls be saved in even greater numbers, and every witness to Christ in this city be preserved and blessed.
Year’s End Tabernacle Tidings page 35
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