Outreach and Mission

The Baptist Church, Brierfield support the work of a number of missionaries and outreach workers around the world and in the UK.

Most of this support is carried out through the following organisations:

BMS World Mission (link opens in a new tab)

Operation Agri (link opens in a new tab)

Home Mission (link opens in a new tab)

Schools Work in Pendle

Open Doors (link opens in a new tab)

The Gideons International (link opens in a new tab)

BMS Church Partners

Through the BMS World Mission Church Partners scheme we have created a link with Andrew and Gwen Millns who are serving in Bangladesh in leadership ministries.

Andrew and Gwen moved to Dhaka in February 2013 after a period of training at BMS' International Mission Centre. Andrew has most recently been a regional minister with the Heart of England Baptist Association. Gwen was a minister at a church in Birmingham. Their home church is Church of the Redeemer in Birmingham.

After some months of language study Andrew hopes to have a mentoring role with the Bengali Baptist Sangha (Union), offering assistance in the developing of ministry and mission. Gwen’s primary role will be at the College of Christian Theology Bangladesh, mentoring and training pastors.

Click here to access the BMS Live Feed for more information

We have also linked with a missionary in Tunisia.  Unfortunately due to the sensitivity of their work we are unable to provide many details about them online, although several members of the church are in touch with them and updates are given during sunday mornings as they come through.  They are currently working on Health Ministries.

Rachel Lawrence

Rachel is a member of our congregation who has gone to work with WEC International in the UK and Ireland (link opens in a new tab).

To give a little more information here is an interview with Rachel taken from the WEC website:

Name: Rachel Lawrence

Nationality: British (very)

Place of Residence: Bulstrode (UK WEC Centre)

Role within WEC: Children & Youth Worker in UK

How did you become a Christian? I became a Christian aged four when one of my brothers led me in a prayer to ask Jesus into my life. My dad was also involved in child evangelism so I was converted each week!

How did you become part of WEC? Very slowly! I was a tent leader with WEC Camps in the 1990s; from 2000-02 I taught missionary kids at Vavoua International School. I also did a WEC Trek teaching English in South Korea before coming to help in the Youth Office for ‘a few months’. That was nearly two years ago! I finally signed up fulltime in November 2012.

What does your role involve? Supporting UK churches as they mobilise for missions - through leading World Adventure Programmes for children, providing mission-focused resources for children’s workers and helping with WEC camps.

What motivates you to do this? Young people need Jesus. WEC Youth create opportunities for young people to hear the gospel, be discipled and challenged about God’s heart for the nations. It’s thrilling to see them come to camp, grow as Christians and go on to serve God.

Who has most influenced your life? Seeing my parents live out their faith in a godly way on a daily basis had a huge impact. They weren't just 'Sunday morning Christians' - they modelled what a Christ-centred family looks like.

What are you reading at the moment? Is It Just Me? by Miranda Hart (I like a good laugh!) andWhy are Americans like that? by Stan Nussbaum. (My American friend teased me about British behaviour after reading Watching the English by Kate Fox, so now it’s my turn to tease her.)

What's your favourite book of the Bible? Jonah, because the guy gets it wrong so many times, yet God still chooses to use him (and us); also because of God’s compassion for a people who don't know him.

What are your hobbies? Dancing! I’ve tried nearly everything from Aerobics to Zumba, but my favourite is tap dancing - less like Fred and Ginger, more like Morecambe and Wise!

What music has influenced you most? Scripture in Song by Dave and Dale Garrett, which I listened to as a young child. They still come to mind today when I need a bit of encouragement.

What do you expect to be doing 5 years from now? I just want to be wherever God wants me to be.