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The Banner of Truth Leicester Conference, 13-16 April featured a galaxy of speakers. Alongside Kevin De Young from Michigan the main speakers were Stuart Olyott and Michael Reeves ably assisted by Alan Davey (SW France), Geof Kingswood from Canada and Gary Brady and Geof Thomas.

The theme was ‘The Suffering of this Present Time.’ Kevin De Young set out the rational behind our suffering in the suffering of Christ and our identity with him. There was a mind blowing sermon focussing on the shame of the cross. Stuart Olyott took the pattern of ministerial suffering set by Paul in 2 Corinthians. This included some remarkable words of personal testimony which were both humourous and profound. Michael Reeves spoke on Puritan teaching concerning suffering and suffering in the life of Spurgeon. Alan Davey covered the cost of commitment on the mission field. Father and son-in-law Geof Thomas and Gary Brady provided the opening and closing sermons. At first glance the theme may have appeared gloomy but the speakers handled it with wisdom, warmth and scriptural integrity. It was a particularly affecting time of fellowship. Well done Banner!

A church plant that almost failed has taken off and goes independent in January.

Billy, Justine, Gill, Emma, Gary, John, Maggie, Amy are just a few of the many who have come to faith over the past six years at Shepherd Drive Baptist Church on the Chantry and Pinewood estates in Ipswich. If you have never been to the ‘far east’, Ipswich is a historic sea port on the river Orwell with a couple of large marinas full of posh yachts. Now just over an hour from Liverpool Street station in the City of London, it is also a rapidly growing commuter town.

Making a mark for God

Situated at a key point on this expanding housing development, the church is starting to make a real mark for God among the many young families who live round about. It was, however, back in the 1970s that a Christian nurse living on the estate first felt a burden to reach the local children with the gospel. In due time this led to a church plant, which, in spite of sincere efforts and a good building, never really impacted the area as it might have. After a closure of around three years, the fellowship was re-launched in 2007 with a specific aim of reaching the un-churched.