http://ferndalechurches.org.uk/news/ en john.dray@sightgroup.com Copyright 2010 2010-07-16T12:42:27+00:00 http://ferndalechurches.org.uk/news/story/a_prayer_answering_god/ http://ferndalechurches.org.uk/news/story/a_prayer_answering_god/#When:12:42:27Z Intern, Sarah Dawkins, is celebrating!Shortly to join the UCCF as a Staff Worker, Sarah had to raise £6000 per annum towards her support. However, to her delight, that sum was fully realised when, only one third of way to the target earlier this week, the remainder was provided by its end! 2010-07-16T12:42:27+00:00 http://ferndalechurches.org.uk/news/story/a_model_project/ http://ferndalechurches.org.uk/news/story/a_model_project/#When:12:39:03Z Café@thesquare was singled out as a model project last week.Mrs Luanna Julien of Shoeburyness ASDA attended the Head Office of the Company at Leeds. The prime mover in obtaining funding for the project from the ASDA Foundation she was delighted to have the café singled out as a prime example of how the Foundation’s funding might be used through local stores. This is not the first time such commendations have been received by Ferndale. Mrs Alix Mason of the Jones Memorial Fund spoke of the inspiration the Fund had received to sponsor other internship projects after their success in Southend. Other agencies locally have recognised Ferndale’s role in the community as exemplary for activities elsewhere. Other projects are currently being discussed that might involve Ferndale in local community activities. 2010-07-15T12:39:03+00:00 http://ferndalechurches.org.uk/news/story/good_news_looking_with_confidence_to_the_future/ http://ferndalechurches.org.uk/news/story/good_news_looking_with_confidence_to_the_future/#When:12:50:10Z A STATEMENT FROM FERNDALE BAPTIST CHURCHDuring the last year or so, Rev. Dr. Stephen Dray and the leaders of Ferndale Baptist Church have been subject to a succession of allegations that have included correspondence sent to the Charity Commission, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, the Eastern Baptist Association, the Baptist Union of Great Britain (BUGB) and various charitable agencies as well as widely circulated written and verbal comments. Happily, it is now possible to report that thorough, wide-ranging, investigations into these allegations by such agencies and others, including the BUGB, have taken place and they have, variously, concluded they cannot be substantiated.  Sad to say, this demonstrates what damage can be done to the life and witness of a local church and the advance of the kingdom when pastoral rupture can lead to less than helpful activity by those who part from fellowship. Meanwhile, the fellowship is grateful to God for many recent encouragements. The heating system in the Church has been fully renovated and work planned to bring the electrical and heating provision in the Church Hall up to contemporary standards. The Manse has been fully refurbished and now has a new tenant in place. The finances of the Church have been placed on a secure footing, a new Leadership team is in place and the Internet Café in Cluny Square has been opened, is profitable and has been featured in local and national press and on Radio Essex. Our relationship with our twin-church in Sopot has been re-enforced, Sarah Dawkins has been appointed to a staff post with the UCCF and Jon Delves is much restored in health and planning to return to us. The Church is united and has unanimously re-affirmed Stephen’s call to minister among them. New and exciting developments are in process and we hope to share these more widely soon. All of which gives us great hope for the future which we will share with you as it unfolds. 2010-07-14T12:50:10+00:00 http://ferndalechurches.org.uk/news/story/ferndale_on_the_radio/ http://ferndalechurches.org.uk/news/story/ferndale_on_the_radio/#When:12:52:45Z On Sunday morning Cafe@theSquare was featured on Ian Wyatt's programme on Radio Essex.A seven-minute feature was broadcast at 6.10am and then repeated at 7.10. Ian interviewed Stephen, Rose, Sarah and a number of the members of Gold Club. All in all it was a valuable opportunity to make known more widely what can be achieved by a small church in meeting the challenges and needs of the local community. 2010-07-12T12:52:45+00:00 http://ferndalechurches.org.uk/news/story/reaching_the_community/ http://ferndalechurches.org.uk/news/story/reaching_the_community/#When:12:22:29Z Last week the Southend NHS campaign to stop smoking used the Cafe to promote its activities.This is merely one of a number of ways in which the Cafe is now being used by local groups to promote the renewal of the community and a welcome confirmation that the vision to see such a work established in Cluny Square is bearing fruit. Recently Love the Suburbs also spent a weekend in the Cafe seeking to identify the needs in the local area and how they might be addressed.http://ferndalechurches.org.uk/uploads/news/images/We_love_the_suburbs.JPG 2010-07-09T12:22:29+00:00 http://ferndalechurches.org.uk/news/story/bless_this_house/ http://ferndalechurches.org.uk/news/story/bless_this_house/#When:17:08:04Z The Sunday meeting on 4th July concluded with prayers in the newly refurbished Manse.This was an opportunity for the congregation, as a whole, to thank the team who had made it all possible: Stephen singled out Mick Hartwell and David Lynam for the redecorating, Ken and Doreen Chapman for carpentry, habadashery and gardening abilities and Sarah for her adminstrative tasks: all necessary for completion of the work. It offered the chance to pray for the LORD’s blessing upon the home and upon those who would come to live in it in the coming days. This second opportunity for thanksgiving to God for his mercies to the fellowship provided a happy way to ‘wind up’ the weekend! 2010-07-07T17:08:04+00:00 http://ferndalechurches.org.uk/news/story/a_wizard_farewell/ http://ferndalechurches.org.uk/news/story/a_wizard_farewell/#When:22:03:07Z Saturday 3rd July saw Ferndale gathered to ‘party’. The occasion was bittersweet. On the one hand, the Church rejoiced that another of the young people associated with it would be moving out into Christian ministry elsewhere. On this occasion it was to celebrate the appointment of Sarah Dawkins as a UCCF Staff Worker (thus following in the footsteps of Peter Dray and Gareth Leaney). On the other hand, Sarah will be deeply missed: as the various testimonies at the end of the evening made plain. The theme of the evening was the ‘Wizard of Oz’ and along with the yellow brick road, the tin man, the lion and the scarecrow road and an appropriate cake… various members of the congregation made complete fools of themselves by dressing up. Sarah, you will be missed, you have contributed so much and we look forward to regular visits… like our other ex-interns! 2010-07-04T22:03:07+00:00 http://ferndalechurches.org.uk/news/story/a_major_step_forward/ http://ferndalechurches.org.uk/news/story/a_major_step_forward/#When:14:57:43Z Ferndale’s income has been significantly damaged in recent months through the loss of income occasioned by an empty manse.The condition of the property was such that complete refurbishment was required but no monies available to undertake the work. Nevertheless, trust in God proved effective (!) and some months later the Church has a property to be proud of: completely redecorated, double-glazed, re-floored and with new curtains, new lighting, a new fitted-kitchen and refurbished heating system and a garden of which to be proud. But prayer is invariably effected through human hands! Ferndale would, therefore, like to thank, especially, David Lynam, Mick Hartwell and Ken and Doreen Chapman for all their efforts. On Sunday 4th July a short act of thanksgiving will take place in the property before the new tenant moves in the following week. 2010-06-28T14:57:43+00:00 http://ferndalechurches.org.uk/news/story/a_celebration_of_1000_years_of_spiritual_formation/ http://ferndalechurches.org.uk/news/story/a_celebration_of_1000_years_of_spiritual_formation/#When:14:51:20Z As a Visiting Scholar of Sarum College, Stephen was invited to share with former students, teachers, fellows, scholars and friends in the celebration of the 150thAnniversary of what is now known as Sarum College over the last weekend.Sarum is a college that continued the work of spiritual formation that had already a history on the site going back for many centuries. The Celebration event included stimulating papers, refreshing fellowship, superb meals (!) and a final thanksgiving service in which well over 500 people filled the Cathedral for the Eucharist at which David Stancliffe, the bishop of Salisbury, presided. Stephen particularly enjoyed some stimulating convesations with fellow celebrants such as Susan Howatch and Prof. G. Lloyd-Jones of Bangor and was involved in discussions as to his further role in the College. Sarum College encourages people of all faiths and none to meet in a non-threatening atmosphere and to ‘beg to disagree’ in a mutually affirming context. Stephen comments ‘As a conservative evangelical I feel free to ‘argue my corner’ while able to benefit from the freindship and stimulation of the views of others. I love my visits to Sarum.’ 2010-06-27T14:51:20+00:00 http://ferndalechurches.org.uk/news/story/new_appointments/ http://ferndalechurches.org.uk/news/story/new_appointments/#When:12:32:59Z At a Church Meeting held on the 20th June, the resignations of Robin and Maureen Baker from the Diaconate was received with regret.Both have faithfully served the Church for many years and they have worked themselves to a standstill in the last year or two and richly deserve their ‘retirement’. A fuller tribute to them will follow. However, at the same meeting, a new interim leadership team of Melanie Diji, Mick Hartwell, Georgina Eastham and Carol-Ann Chapman were appointed and Stephen given authority to co-opt others. It was suggested that Rev Bonnet Moyo might be appointed as an Associate Pastor. This is an exciting development as the Church prepares itself for trhe future and seeks the LORD for guidance in so doing. 2010-06-22T12:32:59+00:00