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April 2015
Outlook
Miracles follow the Plough
Inside this issue:
Hosea 10: 12b Break up your fallow (unploughed) ground; for it is time to seek the
Lord, until He comes and showers righteousness on you. (NIV)
Family News
2
CAP Money Course
2 In this verse from Hosea there are two
Who Let The Dads
2
Cycle Ride
2
kinds of ground – fallow or ploughed;
undisturbed or cultivated and productive
ground.
Countdown to Change 3 We can so easily become apathetic, conSet-Up Teams
tent with large church attendances, gen-
Better Equipped
3 erating enough money to pay bills, satis4 fied with appearances and reputation.
Discoverers’ News
4 We thank God for our established minis-
Postcards
4
Greenwoods News
5
IHOPK News
5
Mission Purpose
Group
6
Pastoral Care and
Small Groups
7
Intense 2015
8
Treasurer’s
Report
8
Easter Sunday
Morning Worship
Discoverers & Crèche
10.30 am
in Dumfries High
School
~
Evening Celebration
with the Choir
at
6.30 pm
In the church
in Newall Terrace
tries which are good in their own right but
which involve little risk or outreach. God
exhorts us to break up our fallow ground.
He desires that we open up ourselves to
the plough. In
ploughing the
soil is upset,
turned
over,
broken up, but
the
reward
once new seed
is sown is new
life,
growth
and, in God’s
power, a harvest of souls.
A. W. Tozer
writes:
‘The
church
that
fears
the
plough writes its own epitaph but the
church that welcomes the plough walks
in the way of revival.’ He goes on to say
that the church has become a school,
not a barracks, its members are students
not soldiers. In fallow safety we study
the experiences of others instead of
seeking new adventures of our own.
God is calling us into new adventures.
The potential for the Gillbrae site in kingdom building terms are tremendous, but
it means being open to the plough.
A ploughed field looks unsettled. Opening up ourselves to interaction with those
who are currently unchurched will be
messy, the fallow will be upset, turned
over, broken up.
Jesus used farming metaphors: ploughing, planting, and reaping. Miracles followed the plough. In referring to himself,
he said: “I tell you the truth, unless a
grain of wheat falls to the ground and
dies, it remains only a single seed. But if
it dies, it will produce many seeds. The
man/woman who loves his life will lose it,
while the person who hates
his/her life in
this world will
keep it for
eternal life”.
As we celebrate
Easter
and as we witness the resurrection power
of God may we
be reminded
that there can
be no glory
without suffering, no fruitful life without
death, no victory without complete surrender to the will and purposes of God.
Someone once wrote that faith is spelt
RISK. When we live daringly, both individually and corporately, miracles of grace
will follow, if we are open to the plough.
Christ is risen! Happy Easter!
David White
Associate Pastor
Page 2
Dumfries Baptist Church
Family News
Congratulations to...
A Big Thank You to...
… Ian and Alison McKendrick, Thomas … Euan Leslie who was crowned...
and Murray, on the birth of Erin Elizabeth
on Tuesday 24th February.
… Rory Morford who was named as the
best overall instrumentalist at the Southern Scottish Counties Burns Association
competition at Lockerbie Academy. He
was awarded the Jane Brown Trophy and
the Dumfries
and District
Round Table
Trophy for
winning S1/2
instrumental.
He also won
the S1/2
bagpiping
competition,
performing a
Scots/Burns
medley and
collected The
...the UK’s Young Drummer of the Year at
David Baird
Leamington Spa.
Quaiche.
… everyone who came to the Drumlanrig
Challenge coffee morning or who donated
baking. In fact eating all the baking was
as big a challenge as the bike ride, but
some of us had a good go. With extra
donations from the craft stalls and others
£365 was raised.
The money raised from this event allows
us to pay the running costs of the 100
mile cycle challenge on May 2nd. Covering costs this way means every penny
paid by the 300 plus riders can go directly
to Tearfund. With the addition of gift aid
we are now heading towards £100,000
raised for Tearfund over the 10 years that
we have been running this popular event.
Help is required on the day to help the
riders safely round the course and to feed
them in the way that the event is famous
for. If you can help with cakes, traybakes
or filled rolls please contact Rosemary
Buwert or Catherine Masters; if you can
help with other tasks on the day, please
see Dave Moss.
CAP Money is a money management course that teaches you
budgeting skills and a simple,
cash-based money manage- On the 4th - 7th May, Cliff Walker will be
ment system that really works. cycling approximately 200 miles in
north-west France, from Pegasus Bridge
The first course is arranged for 3 Monday evenings in May: 11th,
at Caen to Cherbourg.
18th and 25th. The sign up sheet is on the Welcome Desk.
200 mile cycle ride
Spaces are filling fast for the May course! If it fills up, please still He will be cycling via the D Day landings beaches and also
let us know you are interested and we can offer another course if visiting The Airbourne Museum at Sainte-Mère Église.
there is a demand.
Two Extra
events:
On Saturday 25th April there
will be new activities for the
older ages which may include
the options of playing the on the pool table and table football.
On Saturday 6th June there is the possibility of having a picnic outside if the weather is good, otherwise indoors!
Do you have any unused Lego
lurking unloved in a cupboard
at home?
Who Let The Dads Out? would
love to take it off your hands
and offer it for the children to
play with. Please contact Rosemary Buwert: 01387 268936
Cliff is doing this cycle ride as a
fundraising event for the new
building project. A donation
website has been set up for
anyone willing to sponsor Cliff.
http://www.everyclick.com/ddaybikeride
Dumfries Baptist Church
Page 3
Countdown to Change
As I begin to write this article, I realise that in 6 months time we will be at
IMC, ready to begin our time of study and preparation. We have just
passed the 1st anniversary date of our official BMS acceptance, and have
been able to reflect on some of the changes we have been through since
then. We are continually in awe of the way in which God is moving our
lives, and our situations and making our journey far more smooth than we
could have anticipated – and pray that this may last! We are regularly
receiving news, and things are constantly changing, so we would really
appreciate prayers for wisdom in moving things forward in the best ways.
Our lives are made up of numerous ‘lists’ at the moment, things that need
to be addressed before September. Things seem to be being added to the
lists at a quicker rate than they are being crossed off!
In April, we will both travel down to Didcot for an official ‘Welcome Day’.
This will be a repeat for Phil, but a new experience for Louise. There will
be the opportunity to meet 3 other people who will be starting at IMC at
the same time as us. We are also taking the opportunity to spend some time with Louise’s sister and her family in London –
knowing that these times will be very precious. Please pray that we have safe travel, that we are able to absorb the information
we are given and we are able to form good relationships with new people in our lives.
Our prayer focus for May will be on a more practical level, as we battle with our belongings. We would like to pray for solutions
about our properties, cars, caravan and ridiculous levels of ‘stuff’. We will need to be packing things up a) to take to Birmingham with us, b) that we will want to take to Bangladesh and c) that we want to leave behind – as well as combinations of the
above! We will be praying for clear, sensible heads and ever expanding, Tardis like suitcases! Please join us in these prayers.
We have started writing a Blog...
...so if you are interested in keeping up to date with what is happening, join us at http://proctorsjourney.blogspot.co.uk
Phil and Louise Proctor
School Set-Up Teams
It was nearly nine years ago that we started using Dumfries High School for our morning services because we did not have
enough space at Newall Terrace, particularly for the children’s activities. At the time we thought we would be using the school
for a relatively short period while we either developed the Newall Terrace site or found a new site and built a new church building. In order to effectively run the morning services at the school we purchased a fair amount of new equipment and established four “set up teams” who would be responsible for ensuring the school hall is ready for the worship and sound teams to
prepare before the service begins at 10.30, and to make sure the rooms are ready for the children’s activities.
Each team consisted of a leader and four or five people who would collect equipment from the church at 8.45, take it to the
school to set up the hall and various rooms. After the service was finished the equipment would be taken back to the church
either to be stored or used during the week. Initially Alan Donaldson and I would be there each week to ensure everything was
set up as required and I have continued to do this since Alan departed. There have been a few changes in the team members
over the years although three of the four original team leaders are still there; however we are all getting a little older and stiffer
and it would be good to have some younger people to join us.
The commitment is essentially to be available once a month (we do allow the occasional week off !), to be able to come to the
church for 8.45 on a Sunday to load and transport the equipment to the school where it is unloaded and taken to wherever it is
needed, together with a fair amount of equipment which is stored from week to week at the school. After the service the reverse process takes place and we are usually finished by 12.30. Some members of the team may only be required at the
school from about 9.00 until 12.15. No technical knowledge is needed although some team members do get involved with
setting up sound/visual equipment if they want to.
If you feel you might be able to help or wish to know a little more of what is involved speak to me or one of the team members
(they are the ones moving boxes and equipment after the service !). You could always come along and see what we do!
A big thank-you to all those who have been involved in this ministry over the past nine years, your work has been much
appreciated.
Ian Penn - Set-Up Teams Coordinator
Page 4
Dumfries Baptist Church
Better Equipped
Discoverers’ News
A few nights ago I received a call for help from a friend in
need. Front tyre punctured and unable to remove the wheel
nuts. We soon agreed the problem was due to the wheel nuts
being over tightened and the toolkit spanner was the wrong
size. No problem thought I, a socket set should sort this out,
but I was wrong. Even with the correct spanner size the nuts
stayed firmly stuck! We were partly equipped with plenty of
spanners but none to get us out of a tight spot. How many of
us are like this when it comes to our Christian lives? We sail
along assuming we are fully equipped then find we are lacking
in a crisis. Being in the comfort zone is great but do we need
to be more alert about our spiritual toolbox? Spare wheel and
the tools to change it are normally out of sight in the boot.
How many check before buying? How many who were once
seekers assume their spiritual toolkit is still fit for purpose?
Our church group has been thinking lately about spiritual
thirst and examining what longing for God really means. Jesus
says in John 7:37 "If anyone is thirsty let him come to me and
drink." This means anyone can drink of the Spirit but they
have to come to Him with a thirst. Commentary on this verse
suggests ‘If anyone wants spiritual living, he can obtain it. If
anyone seeks God he can find Him. Notice that this is specifically addressed to those who are thirsty. The problem with
many people is they are just not thirsty for God and spiritual
living.’ How thirsty are you? Fortunately in times of need we
can call on the One who is always by our side and He will help
us through our trial. ‘The LORD will rescue his servants; no
one who takes refuge in him will be condemned’ Psalm 34 . In
a similar vein my friend, because he had a Direct Line for assistance, finally called on the only one who could help get him
home, a big man with the right spanner and plenty of leverage. No one has more leverage than the Lord and none can
satisfy a spiritual need like He can.
Gilbert J McGill
We have a new child to sponsor through Compassion. Our previous child, Mayelin in the Dominican Republic, now 16 years
old will continue to be sponsored by the young people in
Inłense until she is 20 years old.
Habumugisha is 4 years old. He lives with
his parents in the hillside community of
Budaha in Rwanda. Typical houses are
made of mud walls and corrugated tin
roofs with dirt floors. The diet consists
mainly of maize, beans, bananas and potatoes. Common health problems in the
area include malaria and malnutrition.
Most adults in Budaha work as subsistence farmers and earn about £7 a month.
Our sponsorship will provide Habumugisha with support
through the Budaha Student Centre. This includes food,
schooling, medical screening and Bible teaching.
Please pray for Habumugisha and we will continue to collect
money in the Discoverers groups for his sponsorship and keep
in touch with him through letters.
On Easter Sunday we will have an all age Discoverers session
in the Drama Studio with short DVDs of the Easter story and
activities. The children currently in P7 will move up to Inłense
after the Easter holidays, on 26th April. If you have any suggestions or ideas for Discoverers please contact me on [email protected] You can find out more about sponsoring a
child through Compassion at www.compassionuk.org
P.S. On 19th April, if any Discoverers can tell me our new
sponsor child’s name, age and home country, there will be a
small reward!
Jane Rafferty
Postcards from the Middle East:
How our family fell in love with the Arab world
Between 1995 and 2009, Chris and Susanna Naylor raised three children in the Bekaa
Valley and Beirut. They also gave birth to A Rocha Lebanon. Through their efforts to
make a family home − and at the same time, save the Aammiq Wetland from destruction − they grappled with many of the Middle Eastern issues which Westerners tend to
find bewildering.
Now Executive Director of A Rocha International, Chris has written the story of the family’s adventures in a book which will be read with joy, laughter and perhaps tears, for it
is a compelling account of tumultuous years. It also offers empathetic and hard-won
insights into the tensions of the region, told from a wise and moderate perspective. I
had the challenge of choosing extracts − which you can read, one each month from
March to August − at blog.arocha.org but it was difficult to limit myself to six. I really
enjoyed the whole book! This won’t surprise you if you remember Chris’s visit here a
few years ago, when he spoke at both services.
About Postcards from the Middle East:
‘This warm-hearted and honest book is a must-read for anyone who wants to better
understand the cultural, political and religious complexities of the Middle East.’
Dr Hilary Marlow, Faraday Institute for Science and Religion
Barbara Mearns, Editor, A Rocha International
Dumfries Baptist Church
Page 5
News from Mark & Suzana Greenwood
After almost six weeks of the four of us being together as a family, enjoying each other's company and the English countryside, Edward flew back to Brazil, to take his place at Rio de Janeiro Federal University. We are sad that we will not see
him often, yet happy for his achievements and for the confidence with which he is
facing all this. We are really grateful for the good schooling he has had all the way
through to secondary education, which has enabled him to secure a place at the
Engineering course at this very good state university.
The other three Greenwoods are settling in in Didcot. Ana thrived in the school play
in which she took part recently. Mark is in a steep learning curve for his new post
at BMS headquarters, as he becomes Coordinator for Sub-Saharan Africa as well as
Latin America. Suzana is looking forward to joining Mark on church visits, but also
hopes to soon be able to have a job, as she is officially finishing with BMS. In all
these big changes we see God guiding us, and we know each day that only by his
grace we live.
Blog posted 26 Feb 2015 You can read a wonderful summary of the last 20 years
on the BMS website.
IHOPK News from Claire Finnie
I've been at the International House of Prayer in Kansas City as a ‘OneThing’
intern for about 10 weeks now, and am really enjoying it.
IHOPKC has a lot of different ministries attached to it, but all of them are centred around the idea of 24/7 prayer and worship. There are around 2000 people on site scheduled to keep the prayer room going around the clock, and
they've been going for 15 years now! As an intern, my primary role is to work
as an 'intercessory missionary', which means I spend 36+ hours a week in the
main prayer room for both worship and intercession times, as well as another
16ish hours of class, on topics ranging from ‘an overview of the bible’ to ‘indepth studies’ to ‘Foundations of Grace’ to ‘Prayer’ to ‘Relational Wholeness’.
You can watch the main prayer room (GPR) live or archived online at
www.ihopkc.org
We live in apartments with our core group - I'm sharing with 3 roommates, altogether there are 10 of us living across two adjoining flats - and almost everything is provided for us so that we can really just have a season of serious focus on seeking God.
Sitting before the Lord for over 6 hours a day is incredibly transforming. Coupled with the classes, my intellectual and experiential knowledge of God is increasing amazingly - yet I'm still aware of how much more there is to find out! I really feel that God is
rooting and grounding me in His love, a process that is both exhilarating and challenging as He draws me nearer to Himself,
showing me more of who He is and what the hindrances are in my own heart. I feel like I'm discovering so much more than I
can even begin to explain here, but in short: the kindness and gentleness of the Father towards me in my weakness and failure; the depth of the sacrifice Jesus made for me; the power of the Holy Spirit to really shift things; and the privilege and pleasure that there is in being able to partner with Jesus in intercession. I am more thankful than I can express that I get to spend
such extended times in His presence and am growing in intimacy with Him. A final challenge for me has been for my future - I
have known for a while that I want to go into ministry at some point, and now that I've taken the step to come here, I feel God is
both affirming that He will make a way for that to happen, and challenging that I have to be willing to take steps of faith into it!
Prayer points:

Give thanks that I was healed of gluten intolerance on the third day, so I can now eat with
everyone else and don't have to worry constantly about getting really sick.

For strength & energy to give my all to every moment despite the challenges - fix my eyes on
Him at all times.

For relationships within my core group & other interns.

That God would continue to work in my heart and begin to give direction for my future.

That I would find a new cheap flight home so I can extend my stay to attend my core leader's
wedding with the rest of the group at the end of June!
Claire Finnie
Page 6
Dumfries Baptist Church
Dumfries Baptist
Church
Leadership Team
In Dumfries Baptist Church there are five Purpose Groups, each led by one of the deacons:
Magnification
Maturity
Membership
Ministry
Mission
Each issue of Outlook is featuring one of these groups to give an outline of their responsibilities and key people involved
so that you may contact them if you are interested in getting involved or have gifts to share.
Christianity Explored Ministry Phil Proctor
Mission
Purpose
Group
Outreach Events Ministry
“go and make disciples”
The command to go into all the world is repeated
throughout scripture.
Our mission is primarily to the people of Dumfries,
secondly to those in the region, thirdly to the wider
community of Britain and ultimately to the ends of
the earth. (Acts 1v8)
Mission calls for a verbal explanation of the Gospel
of Jesus Christ. (Romans10v17)
Together we communicate God’s word.
Lead - Phil Proctor
Global Partnership Group Barbara Mearns
Dumfries Baptist Church
Page 7
Pastoral Care and Small Groups
Dear Friends,
It is almost nine months since I took up the role of Associate Pastor here at DBC. It therefore seems appropriate to give you a
brief report in relation to my main areas of responsibility which are: Pastoral Care; Small groups; and Discipleship.
Pastoral Care comes under the remit of the ‘Membership Purpose Group’ which met for the first time, since my arrival, in early
February. The diagram below indicates a developing structure concerning overall Pastoral Care.
Pastoral Care Team
CAP
Small Group Carers
DBC Pastoral Care
Alistair & David
Practical Care
Prayer Team
Individual Contact
Small Groups
Alistair and I discerned that Small Group development should be my first priority. We currently have sixteen Small Groups- a new
group for our 20–30s having recently started. Approximately 130–150 people meet in Small Groups on a weekly or two-weekly
basis to share fellowship, study God’s word and to pray.
The Vision Statement for Small Groups is: “To connect those attending DBC together in communities where they can grow in
Christlikeness, Spirit-filled maturity, love for each other, and attract others to faith in Jesus.”
As DBC continues to grow, small groups will be an essential element and expression of ‘Church’. Between 300 and 350 people
attend our church on a regular basis. Individuals can be lost in such a large church. As the church grows larger, ministries must
grow smaller, so that people find real, meaningful fellowship that is supportive; and are given the feeling of belonging.
Currently, we are a church that has Small Groups. Our vision is that we become a church of Small Groups, where all those who
desire deeper fellowship might find a group of believers who care, and who are seeking to grow together in their knowledge, love
and service of the Lord Jesus.
Small Group leaders meet together twice a year to share encouragements and to pray. I have written a Small Group Leaders’
manual which is a working document that details the responsibilities of Small Group Leadership; the qualities, character and
competence of those who might become Small Group leaders; and the training that we can offer to those who are so called.
All the existing Small Groups now have a nominated Pastoral Carer or Carers. These folk have the requisite gifting to fulfil this
role. Not only do these Small Group Carers look out for the needs of those attending their particular group, but others who attend DBC regularly have been attached to a Small Group by Alistair and myself, based on personal contacts and geographical
proximity to the given group. This means that, although you might personally not attend a Small Group, you may be attached to a
group for pastoral oversight and care. The Small Group Carer should have contacted you concerning this attachment. We all
have a responsibility to care for one another and both Alistair and I are always available if you need to meet with us.
I have written a leaflet entitled ‘Ten Reasons Why You Should Join a Small Group’. The existing groups are listed on the back of
the leaflet and my contact details are inside. If you would like to be connected to a Small Group, please do get in touch. Perhaps
you feel led to start a new Small Group? If so, please speak directly to me.
Pastoral Care Team
Another part of my remit was to establish a Pastoral Care Team. Currently, this is made up of the following people: Eleanor Moss;
Betty Campbell; Susan Finnie; Andrew Rideout; Alistair and myself; but we are seeking to develop the team further.
We are discussing the introduction of a ‘generational pastoral care structure’ in which a team member would have pastoral oversight of an age-specific group. We are also seeking to develop care for our students and missionaries. The Pastoral Care Team
is currently working through a CWR course called ‘Learning to Care’.
Our hope is that this Pastoral Care Team will be fully functional by September 2015 and that we will be able to offer the ‘Learning
to Care’ course to anyone in the fellowship who would like to develop their pastoral gifting.
Jesus said: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men
will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13: 34-35 (NIV)
Structures are helpful, but without the commitment required they are just structures. Love is essential. May we collectively learn
how to love one another as Jesus loves us.
David White, Associate Pastor
Contacts
Senior Pastor
Alistair Purss
01387 263032
[email protected]
07476379865
Associate Pastor
David White
07403471707
Student Youth &
Community
Worker
Holly Armour
Secretary
Lesley Mackay
Treasurer
Ian Penn
Church Office
Mon-Fri 9-1
Prayer Diary
Prayer
[email protected]
Eleanor Moss
[email protected]
01387 247456
May 9th
October 3rd
[email protected]
June 6th
November 7th
01387 263994
[email protected]
Karen Miller
01387 710155
Heather McCombe
01387 253416
Lynn Mitra
07711160983
Friendship Hour
Val Penn
01387 263242
Discoverers
Jane Rafferty
01387 268066
Toddlers Group
7.30 - 10pm
[email protected]
01387 268926
01387 263994
Girlzone
Dumfries Baptist Church,
Newall Terrace
[email protected]
01387 263242
Eleanor Moss
Ministry
2015
September 5th December 5th
All Secondary Pupils Welcome
Treasurer’s Report
Total Monthly Offerings
February 2015
£9063.92 (+ £7089.66 for appeal)
March 2015
£11,279.41 (+ £11,329.54 for appeal)
We are now half way through the current financial year and income to date (excluding appeal) amounted to £92,480 (£3557/
week against a budget of £3462/week which assumes we use £14,000 of our current surplus). During the same period we
have spent £102,899 (£3958 /week against a budget of £3673/week).
Income for this financial year is just above the agreed budget figure but expenditure is well above the budget figure due mainly
to the continuing expenditure on dry rot eradication.
The response to the appeal has been remarkable in that we have now actually received more than £1,073,868 towards the
purchase of land and building of a new church. We have spent about £450,000 for the purchase of the new site and fees
which gives us about £600,000 in the building fund. The appeal to other Baptist churches in Scotland has raised over £5000.
We are so grateful to God for His generosity and we must maximise our giving to ensure that we use effectively the gifts God
has provided .
If you already give regularly, or are considering doing so, and you pay income tax (as the vast majority of us do) you can “giftaid” your offering which effectively means the church can claim an additional 25p for every £1 you give at no additional cost to
you. Please prayerfully consider whether you can Gift-Aid your giving. You can continue to give weekly, monthly or directly
through your bank. Please see me if you want further information regarding Gift-Aid.
Ian Penn - Treasurer (01387 263242)