Just got back from the Baptist Assembly, held in Brighton this year – again! It is a long way to go for a Northerner. Though, having lived down there for a number of years, it does mean that I bumped into lots of friends and past acquaintances. In the end it is who you meet at events like this, rather than what you hear, that makes the journey worth while. Great to spend time with college colleagues, Leroy, Keith, Ian, Julia and Charlie. The biggest turn out of our group at an Assembly so far!
The theme this year was Freedom, in response to the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade. I know nearly every Christian event you will go to this year will be about freedom, but we do need reminding over and over again that Jesus came to set captives free.
I applauded when…
…a Palestinian Christian asked us for “freedom not sympathy”.
I wanted to cry when…
…I heard the story of Maria, a migrant worker who came from Brazil to work in our country, and was paid £10 for her first week’s labour picking daffodils.
I laughed when…
…John Weaver reminded us of his scientific background and then informed us that “six point ten percent” of people went to church. (For the non-scientists, you can’t have point ten of anything.)
I bought…
…a book on graphic design from Borders, resisting the Assembly exhibition stands. I even managed to resist the hard sell guy on the Masterlife stand (a company that desperately needs a book on Graphic design).
Next year the Assembly will be in Blackpool and if I manage to finish some studies, I may even be welcomed there as a fully accredited minister. The theme is to be about care for creation.
If you are interested, I think you may at some point be able to download talks from this year’s Assembly (and past ones) at EssentialChristian.com. But at £4.50 a shot, it is cheaper to go to the assembly. Despite all the amazing technology around at the assembly, there isn’t a free podcast in sight! Maybe this year they’ll offer some free for download on the new BU web site?
Tim, Great to catch up with you at the assembly… or should I say on the way to the assembly!
Tim, Great to catch up with you at the assembly… or should I say on the way to the assembly!
Great to discover a fellow WordPress fan. I like the Stanley Road site. I’ve added it to the WordPress Driven Church list!
Great to discover a fellow WordPress fan. I like the Stanley Road site. I’ve added it to the WordPress Driven Church list!
Hi Tim,
Matt Hollidge here, really appreciated your email in the run up to the assembly this year.
If you want to get back to me, I’d love a bit more of your take on it this year, what you thought of the sessions, worship, prism after hours etc.
Let me know what you thought,
Yours
Matt
Hi Tim,
Matt Hollidge here, really appreciated your email in the run up to the assembly this year.
If you want to get back to me, I’d love a bit more of your take on it this year, what you thought of the sessions, worship, prism after hours etc.
Let me know what you thought,
Yours
Matt
thanks Tim. I can’t really take any responsibility for the site thoug. Its all Matts work.