The Baptist Union of Great Britain : Baptists Together magazine articles

A selection of prayers from Slow Down, Show Up and Pray, and Prayers of the People - along with two poems written in response to the articles in this edition by Mike Sherburn

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Resources

A selection of helpful resources

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What does it mean to gather in a digital space?

Gathering digitally represents a reality for many, while others are reflecting on the mission possibilities of sharing God’s love online. Here are snippets from some of the articles we have carried, alongside links to the full pieces.

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Gathering amid the arrivals and departures of an international airport

‘Gathering’ might seem a strange theme to reflect on for a place that daily facilitates up to 250,000 people journeying to and from some 220 destinations worldwide, writes Ruth Bottoms

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Connecting young adults through faith, fellowship and purpose

“The intention wasn’t really to create a young adults ministry,” notes Grace Savage of Hill Cliffe Baptist Church in Warrington. “We fell into it accidentally – but it shows there is a need.”

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Gathering is life together

What does it look like to gather as the church, when you don’t have a building, a stage, or even a Sunday service? That’s the context for Ocean Church in Poole, one of the newest members of our Union. Minister John Good explains more.

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Following Jesus is about the whole of life, not just Sunday

The ‘sustainable’ rhythm of gathering for Light of Life Baptist Church, near Great Yarmouth. Interview with Elizabeth Stoner.

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In a place such as ours, it becomes incredibly important you retain a Christian witness

Interview with Tim Lovejoy, who works part-time for Fulmerston Christian Fellowship, a Baptist church in Thetford.

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‘Alternative Gatherings’ at Chichester Baptist Church

How members are encouraged to spend one of their Sunday mornings each month in the community. Interview with minister and team leader, Ellen Wild.

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The power of gathering: A church rooted in mission

Gathering as an intentional space for encounter with God and with one another – and a church that gathers is a church that goes. By Henry C Ohaka

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Why are Gen Z turning up at churches?

And what are they looking for? A conversation and reflections with Isabella Senior, Kira Williams-Geohaghan and Joel Hawksworth

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A growing interest in Christianity?

Several recent studies have pointed to an increased interest in faith generally and Christianity specifically, even charting a surprising rise in regular churchgoing. Here’s a summary of what they’re saying by Paul Hobson

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The Book of Heaven

Any church that lives up to its mandate to love is already quietly but measurably changing the world around it, writes Roger Bretherton

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Our Baptist roots of gathering

Is it enough to say the church is the people, not the building? Not for the earliest Baptists, writes Ruth Gouldbourne

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We need each other

When thinking about growing and maturing in the faith there is often a tendency to think merely in terms of personal spiritual development, writes Karen E Smith.

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Autumn 2025 edition

Articles from 'Gathering, growing, going'

BTTogether

Resources

A selection of helpful resources

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Additional prayer poems

Baptist minister and spoken word poet Mike Sherburn has created new pieces on baptism to go alongside this edition

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Prayers

A selection of prayers around the subject of baptism

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Young people, baptisms and festivals

The importance of Christian camps and festivals has been a recurring theme of young people’s baptisms as reported to The Baptist Times News Round-up Meghan, Max, Dan, Sophie and Ellie highlight factors that led to their baptisms in 2024.

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Sharing my faith

How would you respond if a non-church member asks about baptism? Together Magazine put some commonly asked questions to Seidel Abel Boanerges, whose varied role at Spurgeon’s College involves teaching apologetics.

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Still making a splash

The baptism preparation booklet has been the best-selling item on the Baptists Together online shop over the last decade. Author Nick Lear shares the thinking behind it

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Preparing young people for the church meeting

Our story from Wokingham Baptist Church, by Clare Hooper

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A baptism in a JCB – A further reflection

In 2018 army chaplain Gary Birch conducted a baptism that went viral, with the short video clocking up more than one million views on social media. He explains what happened, and offers further reflections

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Baptisms in my local prison

By volunteer Prison Chaplain and retired Baptist minister Pam Bryan

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A baptism that provoked many questions

Bread of Life, a micro-bakery, coffee shop and community hub led by Baptist minister John Western, conducted its first baptism this year

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In difficult times, people began to turn to God

Igor Bandura, Vice President of the All-Ukrainian Union of Evangelical Christian-Baptists, reports on an increase in baptisms following the Russian invasion of 2022

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A baptism in the sea

Baptisms are always a time of rejoicing, and this was such a joyous occasion: being baptised in a beautiful calm sea, with glorious morning sunshine and Nina’s family and friends celebrating with her. By Ann Marie Fradgley

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Not owning our building means we’ve had to be inventive

Castle Donington Community Church has baptised people in a variety of unusual places. It has led to miracles of salvation, says Roy Monks

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On a leap of faith, we opened up our baptistry

Chenies Baptist Church hadn’t conducted a baptism in almost a decade - but without a candidate in sight, decided to open its baptistry on Easter Sunday. Minister Jon Bishop explains more

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There’s a preparation and an expectation

After several years of no baptisms, Pollards Hill Baptist Church in south London now intentionally hosts four baptism services a year. Minister Deji Ayorinde shares how, and why

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Baptism and Body

Reflecting on the baptism of her daughter, who has severe and complex special needs, Sally Nelson explores how we understand the concept of the church as the body of Christ

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Why baptism and why Baptist?

Amutha Devaraj was born into a Hindu family in India. Highlighting the significance of baptism, she explains why she became a Baptist minister

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Baptists and Baptism

Baptism is both a simple act… and a profound one. Andy Goodliff traces how Baptists have understood baptism

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Baptism - our hearts cry out, 'More Lord'

Believers’ baptism is foundational to our movement, writes Lynn Green. Wouldn’t it be amazing if in 2025 every single one of our baptistries is used right across our Union?

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Summer 2025 edition

Articles from 'Baptism - Are you ready?'

BTTogether

Prayers

These prayers are taken from the Vital Signs resource of The London Institute for Contemporary Christianity, and are republished with permission

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Children, young people and families

Every child is important to God, and we need to find ways for churches to be welcoming, safe and inclusive in all ways.

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Resources

A selection of books exploring discipleship

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Discipleship in a digital community

Simon Werrett is part of two church communities - his local, onsite congregation is Burnham on Crouch Baptist Church in Essex, where he is the community digital pastor, and an online community principally through Facebook and Zoom

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