From The Manse.

I was challenged recently about plans for 2010 for Idle Baptist Church and Community Centre. It made me stop and think, not just about we might have planned, but what is God’s plan.
In conversation it is always about what we might seek to do – in God’s name – in this place. We reflect on what has been done in
previous years and seek to carry that forward. As we grow older we see change as something to be avoided, yet we change if only be-cause of limitations on what we can do because of a lack of
energy.
All around us there is change. The world is not as it was a decade ago or as it was when our forebears planted a Baptist church in Idle. I was watching Michael Portillo in “Great Railway Journeys” as he tried to travel around by train using a Bradshaw’s Guide from the 1850s. Change was all around. In that era the idea of travel had been for the rich, now it is available to almost
everyone. Communication is now instant around the world. No longer does the Union Castle ship sail from Southampton at 4pm every Thursday with the mail for South Africa.
As we plan for 2010 in Idle what changes do we need to incorporate if we are to become relevant to the people in Idle?
The Deacons this month will be looking at “Hopes and Dreams for 2010” and how such hopes may be achieved.
What are your expectations for 2010, personally and for the Church. Are you content to see us gradually reduce in numbers and fade away or do you think we can better interact with the neighbourhood and once again become a place where people want to come – as was the vision of our forebears 200 years ago.
Tony

Idle Baptist,Bradford Road,Idle,Bradford BD10 9RE