The Baptist Union of Great Britain : The Baptist Times

A reflection on our rich, muddled history of carol singing, by Andrew Gant

Review of the year 2024

Highlighting the 30 most clicked pieces in The Baptist Times over the last 12 months

A reflection on the peace offered by Christ - and how we may cultivate it in our hearts amid the busyness of the season. By Simon Mattholie

Books of the Year 2024

What book has stood out for you this year? As in 2023, Baptist minister and Regent's Park College lecturer Andy Goodliff presents his own selection - and has invited friends to do the same

'More than confessions... useful lessons'

Jon Magee has been a Baptist minister for 41 years. His new book Confessions of a Baptist minister reflects lessons learned in those years - and the call of God that underpins them

'A plan made from all the pent-up views of everyone I talk to'

Baptist church member David Nelson had hoped to travel to Israel, but with few flights available, he embarked on an alternative - cycling from Yorkshire to Downing Street to deliver a message to the Prime Minister about Israel/Palestine

Should we have new blasphemy laws?

The suggestion was recently raised in Parliament. Adrian Gray explains why Baptists should express their clear opposition to any proposal to re-introduce blasphemy onto the statute book

The Future of Arms: blockbuster films or the new reality of war?

New technologies are changing the way war is fought. A new project from the Joint Public Issues Team aims to equip our churches to engage in discussion and advocacy about the ethics they raise as we seek to fulfill the Christian vocation to be peacemakers

How can you make your church open to ALL this Christmas?

Rani Joshi shares five thoughtful ways you can make South Asians – and others from diverse cultural backgrounds – feel welcome this December

The inspiring faith of Harriet Tubman (1822-1913)

Mark Roques shares the story of Harriet Tubman, who after escaping slavery dedicated her life to rescuing many enslaved people. It is 'vital to understand the deeply Christian motivations that nurtured this tough, courageous, prayerful woman,' he writes

November 2024

COP 29; discipleship on an estate

What did COP29 achieve?

The leaders of the Joint Public Issues Team (JPIT) partner churches had called for action in climate finance, the Loss and Damage Fund, and UK leadership on climate action. JPIT's Steve Hucklesby assesses these three areas and more

Do you have any church wanderers?

Do you have any issues with people who wander from church to church?

The challenge and opportunity of microchurch planting

'Resources (of people, finance and goodwill) are often hard to come by, metrics are not kind... but these experimental groups contain the seeds to our survival' Dave Criddle reports from a recent gathering focused on microchurch

The Revd Ronald (Ron) P.M.Marr: 1932–2024

Former Baptist minister, production editor and secretary of the Publications Committee at The Baptist Times

The urgency of reconciliation

A reflection by Dr Rula Khoury Mansour, founder of the Nazareth Center for Peace Studies, following her presentation at the recent Lausanne Congress

The Boy at the Back of the Bus

Interview with Antoinette Brooks, Baptist church member and author of a new book documenting the childhood of Martin Luther King

Rediscovering the magic of Christmas

We can find a fresh perspective on the nativity story by considering some of the less familiar texts that point to and talk about the birth of the Saviour, writes John Hayward

COP29 - climate loss and damage, and historical injustice

We cannot talk about climate loss and damage without reflecting the damage of the past - and that means acknowledging the impact of slavery, the industrial revolution and colonialism, writes Israel Olofinjana

The Revd Rodney Sawtell: 1942-2024

Long-time pastor of Eld Lane Baptist Church in Colchester (now known as Colchester Baptist Church), who loved, honoured and served God

Prayers and a reflection for COP29

Dave Gregory, convenor of the Baptist Union Environment Network (BUEN), offers a reflection and prayers points for COP29, which runs from 11-21 November in Baku, Azerbaijan

Key themes around church planting

Alex Harris shares observations on church planting nationally in the UK. All speak to a growing flexibility and agility amongst churches, leaders and Christians to reach people, grow disciples and start new churches in the ways they are needed, he writes

October 2024

Israel-Palestine; responding to the Far Right

Sharing the Christian story with your local schools

A presentation that has seen hundreds of thousands of pupils learn more about the Christian faith at Christmas and Easter marks its 30th anniversary next year – and it is hoped even more churches and schools could be involved

‘It will help you encounter Jesus in new and deeper ways’

Mosaic Creative has announced the release of a new book and audiobook of biblical monologues for churches called Following the Son by Jackie Mouradian

Collaboration, and our worship of Jesus

Notes from the two keynote addresses from Dave Ferguson and Alex Harris at the first Everyone Everywhere national conference on 8 October

Different types of small church

The Small Church Connexion team is testing out different categories of small church, from a new plant to one that is choosing to close. These are imprecise categories which need to be fleshed out, but can help us strengthen the resource we offer

Israel-Palestine: I can’t keep up

Baptist church member David Nelson has travelled to Israel and the West Bank on three occasions in the past 24 months. He offers this reflection on events in the region

Dwelling in scripture

Anne Le Tissier outlines the practice of remaining in just one or a few Bible verses for an entire week or more, which is explored more fully in her new book 'Dwell – Inviting God’s Word to make a home in our lives, one day at a time'

My journey to becoming a national hockey umpire

Interview with Annette Golding, a Baptist church member who became a Level 3 hockey umpire in 2022

The Revd David Baker: 1938-2024

Baptist minister with 'unquenchable love for people... and an ability to connect with them'

Protests or race riots?

Justice enabler Wale Hudson Roberts reflects on this summer's race riots. In doing so, he asks: what role can Baptists Together play in addressing the voice of the far right, Islamophobia, and racism in church and society?

‘Enabling people to be deeply human in safety’

Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries equips the church to support mental health and wellbeing. Baptist minister Shaun Lambert spoke with its UK Director Corin Pilling

September 2024

Discipleship; the Bible; inadequate incomes

Is generosity the new evangelism?

A generous life has the power to change lives today, writes Wendy Pawsey, head of giving for the Evangelical Alliance, and author of Generous with a Capital G, part of the 2024 Big Church Read

The Revd John Trevor Perry: 1930-2024

Baptist minister who led Partnership Missions in the UK

Should your faith rely solely on the Bible?

For many of us, the Bible is by far and away the book that has most influenced our lives. But as Baptists, Jesus is our number one authority, writes Chris Goswami

‘Christ is Lord’ is new EP from worship leader Luke

UK worship leader and songwriter Luke Wareham has released his latest collection of songs - and the overall theme is about how having Jesus as the centre of our life changes everything

The Church, the far right, and the claim to Christianity

The far right has grown in prominence in recent years - with some cynically employing Christian-sounding language. Helen Paynter highlights the current context - and how the Church can respond

Supporting socially isolated older people

What can the church (and wider society) do to reach and support people for whom social isolation and loneliness are part of a daily reality? A reflection by Linking Lives' founder and outgoing national director Jeremy Sharpe

Baptist Times

Obituaries

Landing2019

Job vacancies

Landing2019

Banner Image:	Baptist-Times-banner-2000x370-
Template Mode:	Baptist Times
Article Cards Mode:	Image + Title Only
Resource Article Sort Mode:	Date Descending