Logo

 

Banner Image:   Baptist-Times-banner-2000x370-
Template Mode:   Baptist Times
Icon
    Post     Tweet

Nick Lear inducted as Regional Minister 

The latest induction at the Eastern Baptist Association completes the team, writes Hayley Beckett

This last year has been a white knuckle ride for the Eastern Baptist Association with many ups and downs, left and rights, but last Saturday (15 November) signalled the end to the ride and the beginning of a new adventure.

Nick Sally LearIt was with great delight the EBA once again came together to welcome and induct the Revd Nick Lear as our new Regional Minister.

The service took place at Central Baptist Church, Chelmsford one of the churches within the area that Nick will be based. Friends, family and members from some of the EBA’s churches gathered together with one Regional Minister from our partner Association and other local ecumenical representitives. The Revd David Mayne, our EBA moderator led the service with worship provided by the church in Chelmsford.
 
Linda Campbell, of Spurgeon's College and a member of the appointing panel shared a story of how it was very clear that Nick was the right person for this role “at such a time as this”. It had taken three attempts at finding the right person and many hours of seeking God, as a group, on who he was calling into this role. She talked about the interview day and how God was very clearly leading the panel and to make this decision.

Nick then shared openly about when the adverts had come round the first two times he was very content to pray for the right person and move the emails into his deleted items folder.

The third time, following a consultation with the churches and a slight re write of the job description, many people he counted as friends and trusted collegues kept saying to him that maybe he should apply for the role. Reluctanly but obediently he submitted his application making it very clear that this was the case. He was very surprised to be called for interview but during the process felt God changing his heart and speaking to him that this was where God wanted him. When receiving the call that evening he was completely at peace with accepting the role and knew wholeheartedly this was the right thing.
 
EBA Regional MinistersDavid Mayne, the Association moderator led the Induction vows, and it was a real blessing to have Nick standing surrounded by his wife, Sally, the current EBA team, partnership representative and members representing different ecumenical bodies committing to a renewed working relationship to further the Kingdom of God within our area
 
During the service there was also opportunity to induct Richard Lewis (pictured centre alongside Nick, left, and Simon Goddard, right) into the role of Regional Minister Team Leader. Richard takes on this role from Paul Hills who is retiring early in 2015.
 
Nick then preached, entitled “A preach to myself (you may listen in if you wish)” in which he shared that a Regional Minister's role is to come alongside each church, stand with them for better or worse, richer for poorer in sickness and in health, and be involved in partnering with them to enable them to share the Gospel.

He finished by saying he always ends his blog with the same phrase, to remind himself and any readers that God has richly blessed us in order that we can go and bless others.
“Be Blessed and be a blessing.”
 

Baptist Times, 20/11/2014
    Post     Tweet
EBA Home Mission Stories
Examples of how Home Mission funds are being used in the Eastern Baptist Association
SubArticleD2019
Art exhibition celebrates connection between faith and creativity
Leigh Road Baptist Church (LRBC) recently held a captivating event, Faith in Art: An Evening with the Artists, that drew a diverse crowd of art enthusiasts, community members, and families
Churches Together in King’s Lynn Peace and Justice Forum 2024: a positive step forward 
More than 45 people gathered at Cornerstone King’s Lynn Baptist Church for a day conference on peace and justice, the first of its kind for some years in West Norfolk
David Mayne appointed EBA Regional Minister Team Leader 
The General Meeting of the Eastern Baptist Association (EBA) voted to call David, Lead Pastor at Shoeburyness and Thorpe Bay Baptist Church in Essex, to serve as the new Regional Minister Team Leader for the Association
Churches come together as chaplains at Lowestoft festival
Ten chaplains volunteered their time to host a space where people could encounter the presence of God at the First Light Festival
'They changed an isolated, withdrawn old lady into one who feels ready to face the world'
Leigh Road Baptist Church is celebrating the first anniversary of the weekly drop-in space called 'Renew Wellbeing' in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex
Ipswich walker who forgot to change her shoes leans on church support  
A Baptist church member who has walked a total of 100km to raise money for Christian international development organisation Tearfund has paid tribute to her ‘amazing supportive church, family and friends.’
     Regional News 
    Posted: 20/12/2021
    Posted: 05/11/2021
    Posted: 03/06/2019
    Posted: 18/10/2018
    Posted: 03/10/2018
    Posted: 19/01/2018
    Posted: 20/10/2017
    Posted: 05/09/2017