Ideas for better working together 

The latest small church hub in Waltham Abbey saw us explore how the hubs could work together between events, writes Hilary Taylor 

At the seventh small church hub event in the Waltham Abbey group recently, we saw 23 people join together from six churches. Many thanks to Oakwood Baptist Church for their amazing hospitality!

We worshipped and prayed and talked about how the hubs could work together between hub events.

The ideas suggested included:

• Prayer and practical issues zoom meetings
• Meet for food / informal chat / social events
• Sharing updates
• Monthly evening gathering for worship
• Exchange of worship leaders and preachers
• Collective buying eg gospels, try praying booklets etc, better value in bulk. 
• Leaders have a WhatsApp group so prayer or practical requests can be shared. This is underway.
• To have joint evangelism training eg London City Mission
• People with same gifting from churches meet to encourage each other eg prophets, evangelists  
• Share expertise – help with governance, worship leading, preaching, how to run a Renew Wellbeing, name of a good plumber! etc. A trade card called Christian Supply Chain Buying Group brings good value from major suppliers. B&Q, Go Pak, Screw Fix

In London Baptists, a new database is launching soon (hope to be replicated in each Association) where ALL churches can contribute help, advice and expertise, and ALL churches can ask for help. Partnership in action!

Each church also shared their plans to engage the community at Christmas – one plan includes a camel walking through Chingford and the 12 Days of Christmas Mystery on 22 November at Oakwood Baptist Church.

A few churches have Watchnight services to see the New Year in with God at the centre.

If you are interested in hosting or attending a small church hub in your area, contact Hilary Taylor