Logo

 

Banner Image:   National-News-banner-Purple
Template Mode:   Baptist Times
Icon
    Post     Tweet


Baptisms in a JCB in Canada 


How do you respond when someone wants to be baptised, but there's no baptistery in sight? Army chaplain and Baptist minister Gary Birch takes up the story



Gary Birch JCB baptism
 

'I’m chaplain to The King’s Royal Hussars and while on exercise in Canada, three lads came to our communion services and expressed an interest in baptism,' writes Gary. 'I talked it all through with them, and as already committed but not yet baptised Christians, what better place!'

Gary and fellow chaplain Padre Luiz Marques were able to create a makeshift baptistery using tarpaulin and a JCB. 

'We had a decent size group of their mates watching, and they all took videos to show families back home,' continues Gary. 'Within a week of posting the video online, there had been more than one million views!

'Both Padre Luiz Marques, who is also here with 4 Battallion REME (pictured right, with Gary), and I are Baptist ministers and fairly new to army chaplaincy, but marvel at the opportunities it brings to share our faith and the love of God to so many young men and women.' 

Gary Birch JCB Baptisms

Baptist Times, 04/06/2018
    Post     Tweet
The 2025 Sam Sharpe Lecture
This year's lecturer Dr Selina Stone brings a prophetic and deeply theological lens to the Sharpe legacy of "liberation from below”, writes Wale Hudson Roberts
Fresh Streams calls Baptists Together to a day of prayer and fasting
Fresh Streams is inviting Baptist churches, ministers, and individuals across the UK to unite in a dedicated day of prayer and fasting on Thursday, 25 September 2025
'A thank-you—from those taught, challenged, and inspired by her ministry'
The Revd Dr Karen E. Smith was surprised with the presentation of a new volume published in her honour at this year’s Baptist Historical Society Summer Conference
Calling previous members of the Joppa Group
Were you a member of the Joppa Group? Do you have historic papers about it? An invitation-based roundtable event is being co-convened to mark the 40th anniversary of the group's founding. Paul Weller explains more
Ripples of Change - a service of celebration and thankfulness
A service has been organised to mark the role Jane Day served in our Baptist family as Centenary Enabler, combining thankfulness for the progress made, as well as a time of lament for many of the findings of Project Violet. Lisa Kerry explains more
I Will...Leave a lasting legacy
The Baptist Union of Great Britain with BMS World Mission have now launched a new church resource to help those considering an ongoing blessing to support God’s mission both in the UK and overseas
     Latest News 
    Posted: 29/07/2025
    Posted: 04/06/2025
    Posted: 21/05/2025
    Posted: 07/01/2025
    Posted: 07/01/2025
     
    Text Size:  
    Small (Default)
    Medium
    Large
    Contrast:  
    Normal
    High Contrast