Do you have beautiful feet?

Dear church family

14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
Romans 10:15-15, NIV

This Saturday we are looking in our LEAD course at Romans and also we are exploring how we can be everyday evangelists, or as Isaiah (quoted above by Paul in Romans) might put it, those with beautiful feet! The words of Romans 10:14 resound like a rallying cry to the church to share the good news with the many unreached people in our communities who need Jesus. This Sunday we are celebrating the baptisms of three people who have found Jesus and who in baptism are saying, 'I want my whole life to be about Him'. Next Saturday we are going to be out at Brabourne for the community day, blessing that community, sharing the love of God with them, and hopefully having many specific opportunities to speak to people about Jesus. These are just some examples of what good news looks like but there is so much more.

In Isaiah, the picture of those with beautiful feet bringing good news is of messengers who would announce a great military victory being won. When the King and his army have been fighting against an enemy and that enemy has been defeated, the evangelist would run ahead of the returning army to bring the good news to all the people that the King has won, the enemy has been defeated and people would prepare to celebrate His arrival. And in a sense that is the job of the church today; we are sent by the risen Lord Jesus to go and tell the world that He has won, He has defeated the enemy, He is victorious and He is coming back. We are called to share the good news that death, sin, shame, fear, guilt - they have all been defeated so that people can experience the freedom and forgiveness Jesus brings.
We want to be a church with beautiful feet! There are many right now that are open to hearing about Jesus, let's talk about him more, let's bring Jesus into our conversations, may His name be on the tip of our tongues. If you want to explore more about how to do this effectively, why not come along tomorrow morning for a 9:30pm start (finishing at 1pm) for LEAD where we will be looking at this together!

With much love,

Mark


SUNDAY GATHERING - 10:30AM Join us this Sunday as we continue our sermon series 'All Things New'. For those who are unable to attend in person please join us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/xty2wUQMlKE


INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY ...is just ONE MONTH AWAY!!! Join us on 9th June! We love celebrating the many nations which make up our church family and being such a diverse and intercultural church is part of who we are as a church family!

Come dressed in your best, ready to worship and celebrate - and then to bring and share food together afterwards including a Braai cooked by Bret and his team!!



ALPHA COURSE Got questions? It's not too late to join the course - we meet every Tuesday from mid May to mid July. 6:30pm start - 9pm end. A meal will be provided. The course will be held in Sevington, Ashford, Kent (full address to be sent out upon sign up).

Join a series of group conversations that freely explore the basics of the Christian faith in an open, friendly environment. At each Alpha session, after a meal, you'll be hosted in a small group and watch an episode on a different question of faith – then you have a chance to share your thoughts and hear what others think. You can say anything you like, or nothing at all. Everyone's welcome. You're invited, no matter your background or beliefs. It's free and there's no pressure to come back.

Sign up here: https://willesboroughbaptistchurch.churchsuite.com/events/4rulzgjx



CAP ASHFORD LIFE SKILLS COURSE Our church partners with Christians Against Poverty (CAP UK) to support local people here in Ashford who are facing financial challenges. This course is open to all and starts Friday 3rd May! To sign up or for more info please visit our website: https://www.willesboroughbaptist.church/cap



EVERYDAY EVANGELISM Saturday 11th May 7pm 9:30am. Join with us on the LEAD Theology Course as we look at Romans and are equipped through everyday evangelism. Email office@willesboroughbaptist.church to let us know you'll be attending.



BIG CHURCH FESTIVAL At the end of May we are taking 20 of our wonderful young people to Big Church Festival from the 24th-27th May. Ahead of this weekend we would like to borrow the following items:

- Ice boxes and/or ice packs
- Camping lights (solar or battery powered)
- Event tents/shelter
- Camping storage

Please email katie@willesboroughbaptist.church if you are able to provide some of these items. Please also be praying for the youth who are attending the festival.

COMMUNITY DAY! Saturday 18th May! If anyone has any cool boxes we can use for the day please email office@willesboroughbaptist.church - please also let us know if you would like to volunteer at the event - many hands make light work!

SETUP 2 WORSHIP on the 1st June Steve and Joanne Cocking from Set Up 2 Worship are joining us as part of their UK tour. Steve and Joanne visit the UK every year to bless the UK church with their experience and passion for setting up instruments for worship. They have served at Big Church Festival and David's tent where they have worked as guitar techs. If you would like to attend the workshop please sign up using the link below and the event is £10 cash on the evening. https://willesboroughbaptistchurch.churchsuite.com/events/0a118etg

Mens BIG Brekkie is happening at The Walnut Tree on Saturday 25th May 8am for 8.30am. £10 with a £5 deposit. Please contact office@willesboroughbaptist.church for more info / to sign up


CAP Ashford Life Skills | New weekly course started 3rd May | 1:30-3:30pm | WBC
Alpha Course | New weekly course started 7th May | 6:30-9pm | Sevington (sign up for full address)
LEAD Theology Course | Everyday Evangelism | 11th May | 9:30am-1pm | WBC
The 'Real' Meal | 13th May | The Woolpack in Smeeth
Community Day | 18th May | 11am-3pm | The Warren in Brabourne
Pentecost Prayer and Praise | 19th May | 7pm | St Mary's, Town Centre
Mens Breakfast | 25th May | Details TBC
Setup2worship | 1st June | 7pm | WBC
International Sunday | 9th June | 10:30am | WBC
Deaf Awareness | June 20th | July 11th | Sept 19th | Oct 17th | More info coming soon


Sparks & Firestarters | Sunday mornings | In The Hall & The Well | 0-3 & 4-10 year olds
Blaze | Sunday mornings upstairs in The Well | years 6-8
Ignite | Friday | 7-9pm | Main worship space | years 7-13
Furnace | Mondays | 7-9pm | Katie's manse | years 9-13
The Well | Open Tuesdays, Thursday and Saturdays | 9-12 (Closed 4th & 18th May)
Crafty Cuppa | Thursdays every other week | In The Well | 2-4pm
Brabourne Craft Group | Fourth Thursday of the month | 10am-1pm | Brabourne Baptist Church  
Renew Wellbeing | Tuesdays in The Well | 2-4pm
Prayer | Before our Sunday service | front of church | 9:45am
Early Morning Prayers | Thursday mornings | 6:30am | Join here: www.willesboroughbaptist.church/prayer