Stonehouse is a small Gloucestershire town
where two large estates flank a single high street. One of the five churches in
town is Stonehouse Baptist Church, where Joy Ramsbottom has been a member for
fifteen years. She’s never seen a baptism there, and for most of that time the
church has been without a paid minister. With an elderly congregation that
reduced to about ten, things got rather depressing and Joy wondered about
moving on.
She’s glad that she didn’t. The church
became one of WEBA’s growing number of partnerships between larger churches and
struggling fellowships nearby. Stonehouse made a two year agreement with
Minchinhampton Baptist Church. There was help with finance, leading services,
and preaching, and several people took on dual membership for the duration.
Then the two churches decided to appoint a minister who would divide his or her
time equally between the two churches, strengthening the partnership. A grant
from Home Mission would make this possible.
Simon Shepherd was an IT professional in
membership at Minchinhampton. Joy told me that the first time he ever stepped
across the threshold he felt that God was calling him to be the Minister of
Stonehouse Baptist Church. He hadn’t had any formal ministerial training at
that point, but he followed the call and applied for the job.
Simon’s call was unanimous from both
churches, and since he took up the post in January 2011, change has been
dramatic.
“It’s really changed beyond all
recognition” says Joy. “Everybody’s so much happier!” Attendance has increased
from around 10 to 50 at some services. The church has got involved with a
churches together initiative, using an empty shop in the town centre as a Youth
Drop In. There’s a service for older people once a month, and a new mums and
tots group, and also a parenting course, will be starting soon. There’s also a
wonderful lively lunchtime Bible Study, which was filmed recently as part of a
new BUGB video to promote Home Mission.
The biggest change Joy has noticed is in
peoples’ willingness to join in and help out. She was recently part of a team
organising Harvest Supper for 70 people. “I didn’t have to ask anyone to help
clear up” she said – “they just got up and did it!” Although Simon works
incredibly hard for the church, he has also been a catalyst, breathing life
into all the church’s missionary disciples.
The increased numbers are mostly a result
of Christians choosing Stonehouse when they move into the area, or locals who
chose to stop travelling elsewhere to church. One or two spiritual seekers have
come along too. There’s just one thing Joy can’t wait to see: “We’re longing to
get the baptistry open!”
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