Welcome to this new page! We are excited about the gospel and would like to keep the focus of mission alive even during an unprecedented viral worldwide pandemic. This year we have created this special space or page where we can come and remind ourselves of God’s unfinished work of taking the gospel into all the world. In the making of disciples we have the task of maintaining a Christian witness and with this comes the ongoing task of challenging different world views with biblical standards. This page has videos and audio bites (featuring GBM, Asia Link, The Christian Institute, MAFand Proclamation Institute Zambia) to encourage Christian witness.
Grace Baptist Mission (GBM) At the heart of all we do is our confidence in the grace of God. We believe that mission starts in the heart of God. He foreknows, chooses and calls all who will be saved. He is the instigator of all our mission, calling people into his service, and sending them out through his church to all nations.
Here is an update:
Audio (below): GBM Radio update sent to Fryerns Baptist Church by Andrew Cook.
“How about Asia?” you may ask. Well, Asia Link ministries recently celebrated the 20th year of ministry in 2019, we [were] prompted to pause and reflect on what God has been doing through their endeavours.
In the video below members of the staff team gathered to share reflections on their experiences in Asia, and of the ongoing effort to reach the unreached people of Asia with the Gospel.
The Christian Institute: Recently run an encouraging story of…wait for it… (yes) a politician. A God-fearing politician testifying to his fellow statesmen of his trust in God during Covid-19 pandemic. Watch video below:
MAF: How about unreached parts of the world? Well, for now 75 years, MAF has been flying light aircraft over jungles, mountains, swamps and deserts. MAF enables more than 2,000 aid, development and mission organisations to bring medical care, emergency relief, long-term development and Christian hope to thousands of communities.
MAF team actually made a special short film about a village in Papua New Guinea which is inspired by real-life events, so you can hear that powerful sound now, and see the transformation an MAF plane can make throughout a person’s lifetime.
PROCLAMATION INSTITUTE ZAMBIA:
The Church in Zambia is growing at an encouraging rate but ….there is a big problem…..the rise in number of Christians is not matched by an increase in the number of trained pastors. Young Christians and untrained pastors are vulnerable to prosperity teaching and a message that combines true Christianity with traditional African beliefs.
PIZ trains preachers in order to grow churches. Pray for the ongoing work of PIZ…pray for the unreached in Africa.
All seems to be almost set for Resurrection Sunday. Posters and leaflets will soon be proclaiming the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour.
As the seasons change and Spring slowly creeps in with warm lovely sunshine and milder temperatures so will the enthusiasm to glorify God for isn’t man’s primary purpose is to glorify God and enjoy him for ever?
If you are wondering what Resurrection Sunday or Easter is all about – why don’t you come along and find out!
Grace Baptist Mission’s annual mission’s day on 25th Oct 2014:
The 2014 missions day was held in Euston, Central London at the large and elegant Friends House. Above is a panoramic photograph of the large auditorium just before it got filled to capacity as Christians from all over England came to hear of missionary endeavors. Despite saddening news from the Middle East of civil unrest and extreme violence towards Christians, there were exciting reports of new believers still coming to faith in Christ in lands far beyond the shores of the British isles that warmed our hearts. However the immense challenge of many more yet who have not even heard the gospel still remains a looming need. There is still a lot of work to be done in the fields and there are great needs to be prayed for. Here are some of the prayer requests and below are a few photos from the mission day:
GMB Mission Coordinator exhorted and reminded believers with a message from Col 1:6 where Paul encourages us with the truth that ‘all over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing’.
Missionary to Poland: Andrzej Kempczynski reported how catechism was solidifying discipleship; however requests prayer for helpers in church work, good health and more conversions.
GBM radio prayer requests for contacts in Ebola affected areas. Pray that the radio programmes will help pastors out in remote parts who do not have easy access to Bibles or Bible study material.
Missionary to Brazil:Jason Murfitt reported of converts in Amazonian basins and creeks among people groups who were once cannibals; however requests prayer for more field workers and wisdom in reaching many more people through the creek and river evangelism outreaches.
Missionaries to Kenya: Graham and Sally Jones request prayers as they consider evangelising highland areas and for more missionaries. The rousing prayer cry from Nairobi seems to be ‘come over and help us’.
Missionaries to China: Some good progress as interest in gospel and bible study takes root.
Missionary from Paris, France: Hannah Prior ministers among women leading Biblestudies; requested prayers for lasting fruit among students and young people from around the world who have come to hear the gospel while in Paris.
May God make more churches sending churches; a church that sends or supports a missionary makes an immense investment in the kingdom of God.
We look forward to the next GBM Annual Missions day in October 2015 when all roads will lead to Solihull, Birmingham if the Lord tarries.
12th October 2014 Fryerns Baptist Church said farewell to two members who were moving out of area to Kent. Dr Robert and Glenys Winston will be sorely missed.
Welcome to a bit of history. As you enter the front doors of Fryerns Baptist Church you will be greeted by an exquisitely beautiful painting. This mural or work of art which was actually made in 1954 is a special one – It’s a piece of eye catching beauty that tells a story reminding people of events of historical importance to Christians in England.
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Fryerns Baptist Church Entrance
Let’s start at the beginning – Fryerns Baptist Church was opened on the 21st November 1953.
First pastor: The very first and founding minister was Pastor Charles B. Phillimore. The church was founded by The Metropolitan Association of Strict Baptist Churches (later named renamed Association of Grace Churches South EastA.S.B.C.S.E) and the National Federation of Strict Baptist Churches. Interestingly the land purchase to erect a church in Basildon district was after two churches in London were burnt down. To begin with, a bungalow was erected initially as the first building which was later then followed by a church building. With renewed zeal for evangelism and a desire to reach the people of Basildon with the gospel there were persistent gospel mission outreaches into the community.
Summary of faith: As a reformed baptist church Fryerns is first and foremost a bible centred Christian church. It preaches the doctrines of grace – that salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ alone, to the glory of God alone. And as a grace baptist church Fryerns adopts as a general summary of faith the Strict Baptist Affirmation of faith 1689/ 1966. (See copy here).
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Let’s go back to the Mural – You see, the mural illustrates a few men and women who stand in a long line of godly Christian men who have gone before us.
This mural, was painted in 1954 by Lewis Lupton, and it depicts the birth and growth of the Strict Baptist or Reformed Baptist denomination or sometimes simply nowadays referred to as Grace Baptist Churches. The denomination is depicted as a central tree, its knarled old trunk indicating trials and difficulties during its growth. The tree has its roots firmly placed in the Bible, one root in the pages of the Old Testament and the other in the pages of the New Testament.
At the top of the painting is a sketch of John Bunyan baptising Agnes Beaufort by immersion in a mill stream.
The communion table with linked hands represents fellowship and unity of East and West in Christ and above is a dove, the symbol of the Holy Spirit.
The Center:
The central figure represents a portrait shown to the pilgrim in John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress at the house of the interpreter “ a man with eyes lifted up to heaven, the book of books in his hand, the law of truth written upon his lips standing before the world as if pleading with men”.
He symbolises the preacher who tells of the love of God and proclaims the Good News. As a result of the work of the preacher the tree grew and so has branches.
Area I
Hymns – Hymns were introduced in 1691 by Benjamin Keach who wrote a book about hymn singing supporting his argument with scripture. At first they only sang one hymn at the conclusion of the Communion service. Eventually after a period of 14 years they commenced singing every Sunday but only after the sermon. As shown in the mural at first they sang unaccompanied using a tuning fork to pitch the note. Then they started using a violin and eventually moved on to the organ or as one early critic termed it “a fearsome engine of music”, which subsequently became the recognised instrument for use in chapels.
Area II
Preaching in the chapels increased the numbers of believers and the church grew.
Area III
Stands for theology and theologians, professors of doctrine, who taught what they believed the Bible said and codified what they believed was a correct interpretation of Scripture.
The bust is of William Kiffin a member of the first Baptist cause in London, date on the cup 1633. Another, Gifford lived in Bristol but attended the chapel in Devizes, Wiltshire and thirdly Dr Gill a Scotsman who had come to live in London.
Area IV
Depicts missionary endeavour and the early taking of the gospel across the oceans to other lands.
William Carey a Northamptonshire cobbler saw the need of people in India and felt it was God’s will for him to go there. He was turned down as a candidate but was so convinced about God’s call that he founded the Baptist Missionary Society and went as their first missionary to India in 1793. He learnt many languages and translated much of the Bible, he also complied some dictionaries to help other missionaries. He was Professor of Oriental Languages at Fort William College Calcutta for 30 years. The top picture is of Strict Baptist missionary to India Dr Ruth Harris doing her rounds on a piebald horse. When the mural was painted in 1954, she was still in active service on the mission field.
Area V
The struggle for thought and Freedom of Worship.
Agnes Snoth was burnt at the stake on the 31st January 1556 at Smarden in Kent for refusing to confess to a priest on the grounds that it was contrary to the scriptures. She was the last Baptist to be burnt for her faith in England.
John Calvin represents the Reformers ie: those who protested against the domination of the Roman Catholic Church and the restrictions of religious expression.
The Mayflower in which many Baptist as well as others fled to the newly discovered America in search of freedom of worship.
The Puritans who whilst wanting freedom of religion rigorously practiced their own interpretation of the Bible.
Many ordinary people were put in prison for their faith, indeed one of the first Baptist congregations was formed in prison in London.
Slavery is included because the first petition against slavery was drawn up by a Strict Baptist and although it was not successful it paved the way for William Wilberforce to fight for the liberation of slaves in parliament. The picture of chains falling off also symbolises the experience of salvation, in the words of the hymn writer “my chains fell off, My heart was free, I rose went forth and followed Thee”
The following chapels and events are depicted in the mural:
1) 17th Century Guildford
2) 18th Century Hartney Wintney Hampshire
3) A mission hall in Chobham Surrey
4) Fryerns 5) The Strict Baptist Open-air Mission van which used to go out every Saturday.
(Look for all these depictions in the mural when you visit Fryerns Baptist Church)
(Adapted from “The Sermon on the Mural” by Graham Phillimore delivered to the Fellowship of Youth at Fryerns Chapel on 31st December 1959.
Lewis Lupton stayed in the Manse (then in Holden Road) with the Phillimore family whilst working on the Mural in 1954.)
Trivia: Did you know that this mural was once almost completely lost in the 1990s when due to vandalism the front door was broken and the mural was splashed with unknown substances? Well the mural was re-done by Malcolm Mackinnon and got a new coat of paint to meticulously restore it.
The history the mural depicts is a constant reminder to the current generation of Christians of the necessity of the gospel (even in Basildon) and the need to always keep praying that God would send us as his labourers to a field he has prepared by the work of his Spirit ready for harvest.
We pray that we may come to see and know God’s blessing in our time.
Grace Baptist Mission’s annual mission’s day on 25th Oct 2014:
12th October 2014 Fryerns Baptist Church said farewell to two members who were moving out of area to Kent. Dr Robert and Glenys Winston will be sorely missed.