Ministers and Mission Workers Affirmed Together

Ministers and mission workers joined each other on the Assembly stage on Saturday

Normally the recognition of Baptist Union of Great Britain ministers and the commissioning of BMS World Mission personnel takes place on separate evenings at the event. Ministers and mission workers

However, because of the historic nature of the event - celebrating 400 years of Baptist witness in England - it felt right to combine the two, explained BUGB secretary Jonathan Edwards.
More than 60 ministers lay preachers were recognised, having all been transferred to the BUGB fully accredited list since the last Assembly.

Nepal, Chad, China, Kosova, Thailand and Afghanistan were among the destinations for the latest batch of BMS mission personnel.

Assembly delegates read words of affirmation for everyone on stage. Then in another break with recent tradition, delegates also read out words to affirm their own ministry.

'Office workers, nurses, the retired, home makers, shopkeepers, bankers, cleaners, the unemployed, the underemployed - all are invited to make their life an act of worship,' said Jeff Taylor, BMS chair of trustees.

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Stories round the campfire

Several stories and videos of how churches and people in the Northern Baptist Association (NBA) are connecting with their communities in imaginative ways were shared on Friday night at the Baptist Assembly

Urgency of the harvest – uniting in mission

Are we willing to seize the opportunity, shake off distractions and take advantage of this ‘Kairos moment’ of increased spiritual openness? That was the challenge shared by Leone Martin, who preached on Luke 10:1-24 during the Sunday morning sermon

Annual Returns encouragements; ‘make space for God to speak and move’

General Secretary Lynn Green highlighted areas of growth (and decline) in the latest Annual Returns, as well as encouraging Baptists to continue to make room for God to speak and lead us into His new thing

Colossians, and three angles of ministerial calling

Assembly delegates were reminded of the 'terrifying' yet 'glorious and sacred' nature of ministry as demonstrated by the Apostle Paul in the book of Colossians, by Baptist theologian Helen Paynter

Walking Worthy – new President Alex Afriyie’s address

New President Alex Afriyie outlined a three-fold vision for his 2026-27 presidency, calling on Baptists to embrace a life ‘worthy of God’s calling’ through a focus on Christ-centredness, community diversity, and missional courage

Presentation of ministers, pastors and RLMs

Around 40 ministers who have been transferred to the fully accredited list, Recognised Local Ministers (RLMs) and pastors who have been accorded recognition since the last Assembly were presented and prayed for on Saturday afternoon

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