Bethel Baptist Church - Macclesfield

News

North Western Baptist Association

In April 2008, Bethel Baptist Church was welcomed into membership of the North Western Baptist Association - the regional affiliation of Baptist Churches in north west England. As part of the "Old Baptist Union", Bethel has been a member of the national "Old Baptist Association" for the past number of years, but that association has outlived its purpose and the pastors of the Old Baptist Union have agreed to bring it to an end. By joining the North Western Baptist Association, the people of Bethel Baptist Church recognise their fellowship with a much wider body of Baptist Christians.

A coachload of people from Bethel made a daytrip to Liverpool, where the North Western Baptist Association were holding their AGM at which we were to be welcomed into membership. Many of us took part in the AGM: others simply took advantage of the opportunity to spend a few hours in the city.

A new office

The church building has three upstairs rooms: the creche, and two rooms which until recently were used as store rooms and which quickly became cluttered and untidy no matter how often we held clean-up days. In the autumn of 2007, the first store room was converted into an office, enabling our pastor to work during the week in the church building instead of at home. A major motivational factor for the office was the desire to make our church and building more open to the community, by having the building open and the pastor available each day of the week. A sign in the entrance hall points the way up the stairs to the office.

Pastor Chris Whiteley

Chris Whiteley was called to be pastor at Bethel in 1987, and brought his wife Christine and their two children Matthew and Rebecca from his previous pastorate in Enfield. In April 2007 he was caught off guard as the church organised a surprise 20th anniversary party, with friends from far and wide gathered in the building whilst he came supposedly to investigate a tripped alarm. It was excellent weather, providing opportunity for barbecue in the garden to the rear of the building, and a "This is your life" presentation in the church lounge.

In August 2007, Chris took part in preaching and in the induction of new pastors at a "Living Flames" pastors' conference in Ghana. He brought reports back to Bethel of long days - up early in the morning, and meetings lasting late into the night. The church in Ghana is growing - the people really love Jesus. We need to recapture the vision in the United Kingdom.

In 2005, to mark a total of 25 years in the ministry, Pastor Chris Whiteley took three months out on Sabbatical through May, June and July 2005. He visited several churches in the US and in France to observe how the church survives and grows in a secular society. His book of the Sabbatical, "Travelling in hope" was published in late 2005. Copies are available for purchase at Bethel. Alternatively, learn more about the book (and purchase a copy) here.

Lighthouse

Having taken on various forms over the years, the Sunday School was relaunched as the Lighthouse in 2005. They meet during the Sunday morning service, and return to the congregation towards the end of the service to share what they have learned or show what they have made.

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Going out to serve

Although still a member at Bethel, Jenny moved out to Manchester in 2002, and is now the full time worker for "Eden Harpurhey", reaching out to young people in a deprived part of the city. She has a passion to bring the whole community in Harpurhey, although particularly the youth, into contact with the various activities, clubs and services that her team provides.

The building project

The work seemed never ending in 2002 and 2003, as the church building was re-roofed, the worship hall was redecorated, and the sports hall was completely refurbished. But we praise the Lord that we were able to repay a building loan six months early! The work continued in 2005 to provide full disability access. In 2007 we turned our attention to the garden wall / retaining wall at the rear of the building, which divides our property from the railway cutting through which the busy Stoke to Manchester line runs. The wall was in a bad state of repair and potentially dangerous, so one of our members tendered his building business to rebuild the wall. More...