Good news indeed...

ALGERIA: CHRISTIANS ACQUITTED IN BLASPHEMY CASE

Verdict suggests Algerian government could be softening crackdown on Christians.

ISTANBUL, October 29 (Compass Direct News) – A court in northwestern Algeria today acquitted three Christians charged with blaspheming Islam and threatening a member of their congregation who re-converted to Islam.

The acquittal was announced in a court at Ain El-Turck, 15 kilometers (nine miles) west of the coastal city of Oran. The defendants believe the judge’s decision to acquit was due to the spurious evidence used against them.

The acquittal also comes as part of a larger trend of the Algerian government bowing to negative international media attention and government condemnations of such cases, they said.

Defendant Youssef Ourahmane said that as a result, a recent government crackdown against evangelical Christians has eased off in recent months.

“We had noticed the last four or five months the government is trying to back down a little bit,” Ourahmane said. “I think the pressure on them has been strong, such as condemnations from the U.S. and foreign ministries from France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria and Spain. This pressure from outside has embarrassed the Algerian government very much.”

Read more here...

The Prayer Connection - transforming your circumstances

Trick or Treat?

For anyone who didn't receive this by email:

If, like me, you dread 31st October here are some suggestions:
• Borrow a Rottweiler for the evening
• Put up a sign – “We burn witches here!”
• Redirect the little darlings to the Manse for mass exorcism.
Seriously, though, you could consider turning the whole ghastly business into a positive experience out of which some good might come. Down at Wesley Owen I found rainbow-coloured erasers with messages printed on such as, “God is love” or “God keeps His promises” (45p), pencils stating “You are special” or “Jesus loves me”, with an accompanying text (25p), and various other bits and bobs with a Christian flavour. These little gifts (much better than sweets) could be wrapped up individually and put in a basket as a “lucky dip”. If that feels like one extravagance too many, you might buy a packet of envelopes, perhaps decorate them with stickers to make them look irresistible and pop into each one a leaflet advertising the Dad’s Pop-in/Contact Messy Church event at the end of November.
If nothing else, they probably won’t bother you next October!
Brenda Crisp

Bromley Baptist Contact List October 2008

I've just sent out the email version of the Bromley Baptist Contact List for October 2008. This is a list of all the friends of Bromley Baptist and you need to be included in the list to receive a copy. If you didn't receive one but would like to, please email me. (Let me know too if you receive it but no longer want it). Hope that makes sense...

A print version should be following along shortly...

Church Family Meeting

There is a Church Family Meeting this coming Sunday (5th October) straight after the morning service with lunch included.

Don't worry if you haven't signed up for lunch for now - there will be extra provided - should be enough for all.

During this meeting we will be looking at a proposal for interim arrangements for support of our youth work.

Please come and also pray for the meeting and discussions.

Great facility

Simon told us yesterday that in future MP3 versions of Sunday sermons will be available on the website. This is a super idea. Thank you to all who have been and will be involved in this initiative. Nowadays we find that, if we come out to the morning service, we just don't make it to the afternoon or evening - to have the facility in our own home now to listen to the sermon (without having to bother about tapes - although we have been grateful for this ministry in the past) is such an added bonus. Thanks to everybody concerned. Why not hop over to the church's website and take a look?

Hazel's card sale this Saturday

Just doing a bit of blog-hopping and was reminded when I arrived at Hazel's place that it's her card sale supporting the work of Tear Fund this coming Saturday 27 September.

Her cards are gorgeous and you can see a sneak preview here

Please do go along...

A welcome surprise

I had an email from someone today wanting to get involved with the blog, which is just great. I'm looking forward to hearing their views, ideas, chatting with them, just about anything really.

If anyone else would like to do the same please get in touch here - the more the merrier...

One year on...

...missing Andrew Gosden is still a blank space in family’s heart...

Linda sent this link to an article in last Friday's Times.

Andrew still missing one year on

Andrew Gosden went missing a year ago today. A service is being held to mark the timing and leaflets are to be distributed in the hope that someone's memory will be jogged. Our prayers are with the family and for his safe return.

CaféChurch in August

Tuesday 12 August at 7pm will be the next CaféChurch in Bromley at Costa Coffee, Market Square. The focus this month will be Fair Trade.

CafeChurch Network

CafeChurch Network is coming to Bromley!

Tuesday 10 June at 7pm sees the launch of CafeChurch Bromley in Costa Coffee, Market Square. We'll be taking the elements of a cafe church service that we're used to running here at Park Road, and presenting them inside Costa's.

This is a perfect opportunity to invite friends and family that might be just beginning to think about faith, or who need a way of connecting with God, his people and his church again.

The CafeChurch Network co-ordinates congregations that are working with Costa to provide a church on every high street, and here in Bromley we'll run once a month on the second Tuesday.

It will take a team to run it, and a good number of people have come forward, but if you could pray for CafeChurch, welcome people on the door, or host a discussion around a coffee table please sign up and speak to Jonathan.