Windsor Baptist Annual Report 2006
Elders' Report
Napoleon was a very fine and competent general – but his soldiers made him great.
Alex Ferguson has on more than one occasion been voted 'manager of the month/year' but he would have achieved nothing without the Manchester United team!
Paul is a very familiar to us as a great Christian – but Paul had a loyal group of people who sustained his efforts – in fact much of what Paul was able to accomplish was due to his support team. (Colossians 4: 7-14)
Although the people who work behind the scenes rarely hit the headlines, their work is every bit as valuable as the accomplishments of the people who are recognised. We know who Paul was and what he did. But do you know some of the others? Tychicus? Epaphras? Aristarchus? They are mentioned only briefly in the New Testament – but what they did was vital to Paul's ministry.
One of the main lessons that can be taken from Colossians 4 is that of simply teaching us or reminding us that ministry takes many forms. Paul wrote many of the books of the NT, planted many churches, preached numerous great sermons and endured a lot of strong opposition – but that is not all there is to ministry. In verses 7-14 we are introduced to some special people who worked with Paul behind the scenes. What can we learn from them? – just two of them – Tychicus and Epaphras.
Tychicus served faithfully with Paul. We read in Acts 20:4 he helped deliver the offering from the Asian churches to Jerusalem and in Eph.2 that he was Paul's representative and message-bearer to several churches. For Paul, Tychicus performed the ministry of assistance/helps. When Paul couldn't go himself, Tychicus went for him and brought greetings, instructions and news to them as well as reporting in a similar vane to Paul. Tychicus proved he could be trusted and Paul often depended on him for assistance (the gift of HELPS). Maybe you can't lead – but you serve (or could serve!) as a leader's aid/helper. Maybe you can't go to the mission field but you write or could write to missionaries. Maybe you can't perform a 'public' ministry but you work or could work dependably and effectively behind the scenes. Each of us can help someone else, somewhere. Just look around – that's the ministry of HELPS.
Tychicus also had the ministry of encouragement (v8) – getting alongside someone, sharing his strength with them. Everyone needs an encourager – even the strongest of Christians needs such a person at one time or another.
The elders recognise the tremendous work of many in Windsor who, like Tychicus, serve, minister and encourage week after week. We are greatly privileged to have a very high percentage of people involved in the various departments included in our Annual Report. In many other situations 20% of the people do 80% of the work – not so in Windsor. Perhaps those figures are close to being reversed!
Next we meet Epaphras (v12). He was from the Colossian church and had come to visit Paul. The one characteristic mentioned about Epaphras was that he was a man of prayer. He had a powerful ministry of prayer for the church at Colosse – and probably for Paul too.
Only eternity can fully reveal just how significant our prayers of intercession for other Christians actually have been. And prayer requires effort – wrestling (v12).
We can't all teach or preach. We can't all go – but we all can pray! The problem is that prayer doesn't seem like we're doing very much. The world at large notices and rewards visible action – not invisible intercession or contemplation. But prayer is one of the most powerful activities in which we can engage. Make the most of it (and make the most of 'Prayer Digest') and be assured you're being heard, answered, and effective. The elders are at present seeking to understand how best we can encourage a higher profile for prayer in church life. In the meantime we want to encourage you all to make better use of Fellowship Groups, church mid-weeks, Saturday morning monthly prayer times and the Prayer Digest.
God has again been faithful to our requests during 2006. He has:
- used His word, through David, to speak into our lives
- blessed Roy McMullan's ministry to the ill, aged and 'shut-ins'
- given us additions to our membership
- developed the work among our children and young people
- answered prayer in relation to the frustrations of Site Development
- called and equipped others for service at home and overseas
- encouraged further development in the areas of Evangelism and Discipleship
God continues to gift and call those who have a heart for serving Him in cross-cultural situations. During the past year we had the privilege and joy of commissioning Charles and Ruth Beattie and Margo Morrow for service in Nigeria and Peru respectively. Charles and Ruth, along with Caleb, are working with Mission Africa in Jos Evangelical Theological Seminary. Margo is currently in Arequipa for language learning prior to taking up a ministry of evangelism and discipleship through teaching English as a second language.
This year's major topical issue addressed by the church has been the role of women in the life of the church. We remain grateful to God for the open and frank way this has been handled and for the maintained unity as the subject was brought to a conclusion.
We continue to review our vision for evangelism and discipleship; proceed with the appointment of a Youth Worker; and progress our site redevelopment.
It was a particular encouragement to welcome into membership: Jim & Carol Bitner, Audrey Cluff, Patricia Dayson, Sara Graham, Catherine Greenwood, Simon & Jo Hewitt, Nathaniel & Donna Jennings, Alison McIIwaine, Janet Mulligan, Sale & Mary Ogbobi, Joel & Ruth Prescott, Matthew & Glynis Ridout and Liping Ye.
It was with great disappointment that, at the close of 2006, we learned of David's resignation. God has significantly used all of David's gifts and abilities to bring us to where we are today as a fellowship of His people. His ability for teaching God's word in a biblical, relevant and contemporary way is exemplary and of a consistently high standard. Those teaching skills have been significantly augmented by a pastor's heart – a heart of love, compassion and care for people. We thank God for all that David and Dorothy have brought to church life and pray they will be especially used by God in the remaining months he serves as pastor.
In keeping with our first paragraph we need to recognise the part that good leadership plays in history – not just in politics or sport! During this past year we paid tribute to the faithful leadership of James Greenwood who retired from eldership. In paying tribute to James' faithful service to the church, David said:
"James has been a member of this church for close to 40 years. For 30 of those years he has served the Lord as an elder in Windsor. The shape and character of our life as a church and the way we do our business is due in no small part to James' Godly and wise influence.
"...thank you brother, for your faithful service to God in this church, for modelling for us a love for scripture, a life of integrity and a commitment to serving God that will continue to inform and shape the life and character of Windsor Baptist for many years to come. God bless you and thank you."
2007 brings many challenges to Windsor. We move forward with our vision for Children and Youth, Site Development, pastoral care and much more, conscious that the God who has faithfully led us through 2006 will continue to do so as we unite together to know His guidance and direction for all our lives – corporately and individually.
Gordon Darragh Roy Gamble James Greenwood Brian Johnston David McMillan Roy McMullan Trevor Taylor John Warke