Baptist New Home Mission Campaign to Extend to All Churches

Recently a new Home Mission campaign has been launched by the Baptist Union of Great Britain (BUGB) at its annual Assembly last week, and is called "Every Church is a Home Mission Church".

Home Mission is the Baptist Family joining together to enable mission throughout Great Britain, both locally and nationally. It helps churches to lay down mission strategies to enable efficient use of resources. It funds evangelists, missioners as well as chaplains working in education and industry. It also provides materials, help and advice for the propagation of the Gospel and church growth.

During the annual Baptist Assembly held on 23rd April at the International Conference Centre in Birmingham, England, General Secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Revd David Coffey introduced the new Home Mission campaign. A clip from the video Every Church is a Home Mission Church was shown.

The video features the Baptist Church Centre, in Handsworth, Birmingham, which recently reopened following the demolition of its old tin tabernacle building.

Revd Coffey gave an address on the theme of the Assembly - Celebrating Diversity - to remind the extensive breadth of membership of the Baptist family. He said therefore through Home Mission, the family can express unity in Christ by supporting each other.

BUGB treasurer, Bernard Rouget reported at the annual Assembly that nearly £3.5 million was raised last year. Despite a shortfall of £310,000 in giving to the appeal, there was a surplus of nearly £150,000 overall. He said that a four percent increase in the Home Mission target for the forthcoming year had been agreed by Council.

Currently, new posters and other Home Mission literature will be published to reflect on the theme of this year’s campaign. The Little Book of Home Mission will explain how the appeal benefits each church.