WHAT’S INSIDE
ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM BRIDGE CHAPEL & CENTRE
ISSUE 011 | SPRING 2015
BridgeAlive
Inside this issue
What will God
do next?
Andy & Laila Davies talk about
their amazing experience
P5
Bridge youth work
The blessings, the progress and the need
P2
Reaching out in friendship
Community contact team update
P6
What is baptism?
News from Mayotte
Book Review
Baptism
testimonies
Meeting
Sebastian
Compared
to her...
Read more
Pg 3
Read more
Pg 4
Read more
Pg 7
BRIDGE ALIVE
MAGAZINE
Bridge Chapel, Heath Road, Liverpool L19 4XR
Lynn Bass, Bill Bygroves, Mark and Ellie Bygroves, Andy Davies, Ste Duffield, Carolyn Hill, Diana Niccol, Mike Wildsmith
Layout by: Graeme Forrest Photography by: Ian MacMichael
Bridge youth work
- the blessings, the progress and the need
Ste Duffield writes after a recent meeting with Mark
McKinney to discuss Bridge Chapel youth work
The blessings
We began with thankfulness. Target (age 11-14) and
Quest (age 15-18) meet every Friday night. Bridge Chapel
Centre receives 100 - 120 young people every week
(that’s over 50 in each group) and there are constantly
new faces. Many of the friends who are invited stay, and
some of them come to a real faith in Christ. There are
over 250 young people on the books who have come on
a Friday night and have heard the gospel.
The progress
On January 25 we saw young and old alike baptised,
delivering moving testimonies of their transformation
through faith in Jesus (see opposite page). Among this
group were three young people brought to faith through
the work done in Target and Quest. Behind that act of
obedience and faith lies the weekly effort of preaching
God’s word, nurturing, encouraging and one to one
discipleship.
Mark’s new role as Youth Worker is amongst these ages
(11-18 years old) and with the local schools associated
with that age group. The teaching in Quest and Target
stresses the practical application of the gospel. The team
aims to do more than simply talk through a passage
but also to explore the implications of the Scriptures
for the Christian walk. The Bible must be read with the
conviction that this is how God speaks directly into our
lives.
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www.bridgechapel.com
Mark’s passion is that every young person who wants
personal discipleship should be able to receive it and
that every new Christian should experience growth and
support in the areas of fellowship, worship, mission,
discipleship and serving. When spiritual changes begin
in a young person he looks for three signs: a love and a
desire for God, a hunger for God’s word and a heart that
loves and desires to pray. These three will overflow into
outward acts of sharing the news with others, fellowship
in the church and a gladness to serve.
The need
“The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are
few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the
harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.”
(Mathew 9: 37-38)
We rightly celebrate the coming to faith of those recently
baptised but is there a burden of responsibility to protect
the seedling that takes root and begins to grow? To guide
the path of a new believer is a great responsibility and
a wonderful calling and the need for workers is more
critical than ever. Efforts to make camp happen this year
have been challenging due to the lack of workers. We
need believers who will pray on their knees for our youth
work, and who will search their own hearts to see how
God could work through them to produce fruit in our
young people’s lives.
0151 281 9716 | [email protected]
BRIDGE ALIVE
MAGAZINE
Repent… and be baptised!
As we have studied the book of Acts together, we have frequently read of
people hearing the gospel, repenting of their sins and being baptised. On this
page you can read the testimonies of two teenagers – Zoe and Cora – and
mother of four, Danielle.
Zoe
Kiziltan
I
was at a Christians in
Sport camp in 2013
when I heard a talk on
the crucifixion of Jesus. I
found it hard to listen to
but it really made me think.
I was holding back from
becoming a Christian as
I didn’t feel good enough
to even ask for God’s
forgiveness. One of the leaders said, “Exactly - we’re
not! And God still loves us even though we are a mess
and so sinful.” That evening I gave up searching for
something to satisfy me on this earth, and let God lead
my life. I now want to follow him every day.
Danielle
O’Neary
I
was raised without
any biblical teaching
and both my parents had
died before I was 12. I
was first introduced to the
Bible through a friend at
the age of 17, and although
we studied together and
it seemed to make a lot
of sense, I was distracted
by lots of things in the world and stopped seeking the
Lord. In 2012 life seemed so difficult that I felt I couldn’t
go on. I also felt that I had strayed too far from the Lord
to ask for his help. But God graciously blessed me with
new Christian friends who encouraged me to read my
Bible again and seek the Lord in prayer. Through the
gospel I came to know and love Jesus the man, and
through his awesome deeds I came to love and respect
Jesus Christ as King of heaven and earth.
Cora
MacMichael
C
ora is 16 years old
and studying for
her GCSEs. She became
a Christian at the age of
seven, but for many years
lacked assurance because,
she says, “I didn’t really feel
any different.” From the
age of 14 Cora began to
pray about this, and when
the Holy Spirit gave her assurance that she really was
born again, she wanted to follow Jesus’ example by
being baptised.
What is baptism?
Baptism is the first command we should obey once
we become a Christian. Having believed the gospel of
our Lord Jesus Christ we should be baptised - Jesus
said so! Baptism doesn’t MAKE us Christians - it is
a wonderful and clear sign that we have BECOME
Christians. It is the outward testimony to the inward
change that God has brought about in our lives; being
baptised by immersion in water shows that we are
united to Christ in his death, burial and resurrection,
and that we too have new and everlasting life in him.
If that’s true for you then get baptised!
Mike Wildsmith
www.technologyreview.com
www.bridgechapel.com
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BRIDGE ALIVE
Bridge Chapel, Heath Road, Liverpool L19 4XR
MAGAZINE
News from Mayotte
C
hristoff and Sarah work
on the island of Mayotte,
a French Département
in the Indian Ocean. The
population is 99% Muslim, and
they are prayerfully and patiently
seeking ways to make Christ known
in a culturally acceptable way.
‘Club d’anglais’ (an English club
for young people) had been run
by Chris and Sarah in their home
for some time. Numbers had
increased, and their desire was
to run more clubs like this in an
official setting. This was one of
the reasons behind the creation of
‘Midzoru Tsara’ (‘Learn Well’) – a
centre where they now run English
classes for all ages and after school
clubs and tuition (in French) for
younger children. The centre is
situated on the ground floor of the
building in which Chris and Sarah
live, while they and their family live
in the newly refurbished upstairs
apartment.
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www.bridgechapel.com
Outside of the centre, Chris also
teaches English part-time in a local
collège (middle school in French
system) teaching 12-15 year olds.
The school is located in another
Shibushi village in the south
of the island, and so is another
opportunity to be present in the
lives of many young people in this
unreached people group.
Their fourth child, Sebastian,
was born on January 18, joining
his excited older sisters, Izzy(8),
Esmé(6) and Iris(3). Seb’s birth
has brought much joy but added
to the complexity of their lives.
Sarah had been organising the
after-school clubs at the centre,
and so now, Chris has taken that
on for a few weeks on top of his
other responsibilities, which is
proving to be quite the juggling
act. Thankfully, reinforcements
have arrived in the shape of Sarah’s
parents, who will be staying until
the middle of April.
Since returning to the island in
August 2013, Chris and Sarah
have had no co-workers with
them. They write, “We miss the
mutual encouragement that comes
from being part of a team, but
are encouraged that the church
we attend in the main city are
becoming more interested in our
work. Chris has been asked to
start a monthly Bible study, geared
towards inspiring them to reach
their island neighbours.”
The situation will also be changing
soon as they are looking forward to
a family joining them in July and
two more couples coming within
the next 18 months. “Please pray
for these three couples/families
as they prepare to come and raise
support,” they write, “and pray for
all of us as we plan and pray about
the different roles we will all have
and how we can work together.”
0151 281 9716 | [email protected]
BRIDGE ALIVE
MAGAZINE
What will God do next?
What an experience!!
I
n one day we had 28,931 visitors walking up
the ship’s gangway, the busiest day in the 35
years of OM ships history. This was one of the
Logos Hope’s last days open in Taiwan, and after
seven years living on the world’s largest floating
BookFair, one of our last days serving on board.
For the last two years Andy has been the Bookfair
Manager, looking after a team of 70 volunteers,
ensuring that the 1.3 million visitors that came
to the ship had a remarkable experience and the
opportunity to hear about Jesus.
Laila and the boys were also actively involved in
ship life, working in the BookFair and enjoying
serving on board. But we were ready for a new
challenge.
has to be bigger and grander!). This means he will
be overseeing the Ministry Centre where volunteers
of all ages, backgrounds and skills come to help sort
pallets of mixed books, ready to send to the ships.
So what is the new challenge, I hear
you ask?
We are thrilled to be staying with the ships ministry
and thrilled to be very much involved in the lives of
volunteers as they come and serve in Florence.
As you read this we will have arrived in Florence,
South Carolina, USA and will have joined an
international team, working for the ships ministry
but based on shore. We will still be connected with
books and Andy will have the grand title of Staffing
and Production Director (this is the USA, so the title
Please pray that we will quickly settle into this
new area of ships ministry, that the boys will make
new friends and that God will use us to further His
Kingdom.
Andy, Laila, Nat and Zach.
Contact us at: [email protected]
www.bridgechapel.com
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BRIDGE ALIVE
BRIDGE ALIVE
Bridge Chapel, Heath Road, Liverpool L19 4XR
MAGAZINE
MAGAZINE
Reaching out in friendship
Letter to the Editor
Community contact team update
“A
vital part of
following Jesus
is to persuade
and encourage
others to follow him as well.”
Mike Wildsmith, Bridge Alive
The Community Contact
Team reaches out in
friendship to people living
around the church. A small
team of people visit on a
Saturday morning and take
relevant leaflets for any
activity that may be going
on. In that way we are slowly
getting to know people and
indeed some are now coming
to events. We pray regularly
together, and our vision is to
see people come to the Lord.
If you have a heart for
evangelism and would like to
talk to people about Jesus,
then please get in touch.
Dear Editor,
Or you might prefer to
befriend an individual or a
family that we have already
contacted, get to know them,
invite them to activities and
pray for them.
While I agree with much that Ste
Duffield said in your last issue about the
importance of living each moment fully
for God and not being anxious over the
morrow, I do want to put another point
of view.
It would be great if everybody
at Bridge kept in touch with at
least one of our neighbours—
reckon we could reach a lot of
people that way.
Surely two of God’s greatest gifts
are the gifts of anticipation and of
memory. Looking forward to things
and remembering great times are
fundamental to our mental well being.
It is the link between generations too.
Looking at old photographs is the best
way to stir conversations in those who
may not remember what they have just
said or done, but can remember their
grandfather’s house from the 1920s.
Planning our holidays, parties and
celebrations are fun and exciting – surely
a blessing too.
If you would like to join our
vision in whatever way would
suit you, please contact one
of the team — Andy Taylor,
Jean Park, Lizzie Rudasumbwa,
Muriel Kelly, Reg Davey, or
Diana Niccol.
It’s how we do this while reminding
ourselves, as Bill’s song says, that “Our
days are in his hands”.
Be Online!
What do other readers think?
Aidan Woods
Stay healthy, find work, live life
A
new service has started at Bridge Chapel
Centre, aimed at helping people to Be Online.
According to their publicity, “Being online
can help you stay healthy, find work and keep in
touch – with loved ones and the whole world.” But
some people are not confident using the internet and
find it hard to know where to begin. This is where
UKonlinecentres come in. It doesn’t matter if you’ve
never touched a computer or tablet before, or if you
just need help taking full advantage of what’s out
there, they are here to help you Be Online.
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www.bridgechapel.com
The friendly staff and volunteers can help you learn
how to search for information, look for work, book a
doctor’s appointment and much, much more – all for
free. It’s quick, easier than you think, and anyone can
do it. And if you are already giving it a go, they can
help you get more out of the internet.
Why not give it a try?
UKonlinecentre, every Friday at Bridge Chapel
Centre, 10.00am – 12 noon.
0151 281 9716 | [email protected]
MAGAZINE
Compared to her…
Carolyn Hill reviews a book dealing
with a common female problem.
In her book, Sophie de Witt
seeks to address this problem.
Where do we find our security —
Have you ever walked into a
room and immediately done
a quick comparison between
you and the other women
there?
Your thoughts may be
something along these lines...
“I wish my hair looked as good
as hers”, or “She’s let herself
go a bit!”. Even in church we
may have similar thoughts, or
additional ones like “She’s so
blessed that her family want
to come to church”, or “At
least my children sit still!”. As
we compare ourselves with
others, we can either end up
feeling bad about ourselves or
smug and self-satisfied, neither
of which is healthy for us as
Christian women.
from our relationship with Jesus,
or from comparing ourselves
with others to see how we’re
doing? If it’s the latter, we are
seeking significance in the
wrong places. In this book,
de Witt looks at triggers for
what she calls CCS (Constant
Comparison Syndrome), its
treatment and how we can
develop a healthy identity based
on what Jesus has done and
continues to do for us.
This is a timely book in our
image and performanceobsessed society. It helped
me to see areas in my own life
where I have compared myself
with others when I should have
been confident in my identity
as God’s child and secure in his
love. It’s both an encouraging
read and a challenging one,
using biblical insight to help
readers understand how we can
experience contentment in an
imperfect world.
Compared to her…
How to experience true
contentment
Author: Sophie de Witt
Publisher: The Good Book
Company
BRIDGE ALIVE
BRIDGE SPORTS
If you are interested in sport, there are lots
of activities for you to get involved with.
Mark and Ellie Bygroves have prepared for
us the list below.
WOMEN:
BRIDGE NETBALL CLUB
Play in a social netball league on a Tuesday
evening.
• Start times vary between 6:20 & 8:50pm.
• At Belvedere Academy sports hall.
Contact: Ellie Bygroves
MEN:
MEN’S FOOTBALL TEAMS
BRIDGE TARGET FC
• 10:30am Saturdays.
• Home pitch: Jericho lane
Contact: Dan Holden
BRIDGE QUEST FC
• 10:30am Saturdays.
• Home pitch: Jericho lane
Contact Mark Phizacklea
BRIDGE FOCUS FC
• 10.30am Saturdays.
• Home pitch: Mather Avenue
Contact Liam Kiziltan
For general football information contact
Mark Bygroves. Follow us on Twitter for
updated information @Bridge_Football
BRIDGE CRICKET TEAMS
• Summer period.
• Evening games at Sefton Cricket Club.
Contact Ben Webster
MEN & WOMEN:
BRIDGE RUNNING CLUB
• Monday evenings, 7.00pm
Contact Mark Bygroves/ Vinnie Hessey
Follow us on Twitter for updated
information @Bridge_running
SPARTAN STRENGTH & FITNESS TRAINING
• Monday and Wednesday evenings,
6.00pm
Contact Phil Forrest
Follow us on Twitter for updated
information @spartansandf
www.bridgechapel.com
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BRIDGE ALIVE
MAGAZINE
A Christian classic
“Behold, I saw a man clothed in rags, standing in a certain
place, with his face from his own house, a book in his hand,
and a great burden upon his back. I looked and saw him open
the book, and read therein; and, as he read, he wept, and
trembled; and not being able to contain, he brake out with a
lamentable cry saying, “what shall I do?”
In 1677, writing from a prison cell, John Bunyan took upon himself to
describe the “race of saints,” known now as THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS.
Within this book he describes the Christian life as being like a journey,
the ups and downs of which are captured in vivid illustrations and a cast
of Scripture-based characters, perilous countries and monstrous beasts.
The author took after the prophets, who used metaphors to “set forth
truth.”
Just like C.S. Lewis, who was inspired by the Scriptures to write
the Chronicles of Narnia, John Bunyan was inspired to write the
masterpiece for which he is remembered. The difference between
the two, however, is the undisguised nature of John’s writing. Overt
depictions from the Scriptures litter every paragraph and, casting
your eyes towards the footnote of each page, you will be sure to find
references linking each image to its counter passage in the Bible.
More valuable than the well written story, however, is the heart in the
tale. Through the struggles of the main character, Christian, we see
the real life experiences of the author, who felt the pangs of every twist
and turn on his own path to Calvary. What this book depicts, using the
Scriptures, is the true Christian walk; not one depicted by ease, comfort
and a slipping effortlessly into the afterlife, but the much more realistic
picture of a narrow path fraught with danger and temptation, where
false and true companions are made, God’s word is a sword for the fight
and the Celestial City awaits.
The book comes in both modern and original language editions, but
whichever version is at hand, I would urge anyone who is serious
about his/her walk to read it. For me there was a strange recognition in
following the journey of Christian. Observing the points in the path that
he walked I could say, “I have been there.”
Ste Duffield
0151 281 9716 | [email protected]
Letter from the
Pastor
Wise words from a
wise man
E
than the Ezrahite was wise.
He is often identified as
Jeduthun, and it is possible that
he was a Levite of the family
Merai; a singer as well as a sage.
Psalm 89 is a ‘Maschil’ Psalm, a
Psalm of instruction. In verse 13 of
Psalm 89 Ethan writes concerning
God: “You have a mighty arm;
strong is your hand, high is your
right hand.”
The songwriter, Jenny Hewer,
identified that these hands are
the hands of ‘Our Father who is in
heaven.’ She wrote concerning the
hand of God and the trials of men
the following words:
Father, I place into your hands
The things I cannot do.
Father, I place into your hands
The things that I’ve been through.
Father, I place into your hands
The way that I should go,
For I know I always can trust you.
Father, I place into your hands
My friends and family.
Father, I place into your hands
The things that trouble me.
Father, I place into your hands
The person I would be,
For I know I always can trust you.
It is good to know that we who
believe can place into the mighty
strong and gracious hand of our
God all our concerns.
Our past we can leave in his hands
with all its mistakes, regrets and
guilt.
Our present we can place into his
hands — our fears, insecurities,
anxieties and cares.
Our future we can place into his
hands, knowing that his strong
and mighty hand holds secure the
future.
Bill Bygroves
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www.bridgechapel.com