News from the Networks
East Kent network
Beltinge Baptist Church
We are a small elderly fellowship and due to the physical limitations with which many struggle, we are no longer able to reach out into the community in the way we would wish. We have recently been joined by a few members of a church in the town which closed, but this has sadly not added to our physical abilities. We have been in pastoral vacancy since June 2021 and rely on a number of visiting preachers who continue to help us fill the pulpit. We have recently begun BMS church partnerships with two workers from Justice Livelihood Health (JLH) Uganda and support them in prayer.
We give thanks for those who faithfully come to take our Sunday services week by week, and pray that they will be enabled to continue to help us in this way. We pray for the Lord’s guidance for our church in the future, and for the continued health and wellbeing of all in our fellowship.
We look to our text for the year.
West Kent network
Dormansland Baptist Church
Dormansland is a small village in Surrey with a population of approximately 2300 people. Our church is just off the high street and we are well placed to work within our community. Our current focus is twofold. We’re both reaching out and at the same time doing what we can to make room for everyone to belong.
Our Easter events this year went well with lots of local families joining in with our annual Egg Hunt around the village; ending with children’s crafts at church, and of course Easter Eggs as prizes. We also loved getting out into the community to deliver little plants to those in our neighbouring streets. It was a simple act, but it opened doors for conversations, brought smiles, and reminded people that they’re seen and loved.
Our ‘Urban Saints’ group enjoyed a memorable activity weekend at the end of April, packed with adventure, laughter, and meaningful connection. From high-energy games and outdoor challenges to karaoke and a game show style evening of entertainment. The weekend was a great blend of fun and faith. It was a joy to see friendships deepen and new confidence grow as they encouraged one another and stepped out of their comfort zones.
We’ve had some great links with the village primary school, from taking assemblies or visits to see our baptistry, to one of our deacons being involved in running the KS2 choir with special performances for their VE Day celebrations.
Our Friday ‘Hub’ continues to be a welcoming space where genuine friendships are formed and everyone feels a strong sense of belonging.
We're committed to creating a welcoming and supportive environment for everyone, including families with children who have additional needs, ensuring they feel truly accepted and valued. Those who work with children and young people have attended some training to deepen our understanding of additional needs, and we have a few initiatives aimed specifically at making everyone feel welcome.
Our SEN Stay and Play Café has been a brilliant space for children and their families to relax, play, and connect. The Parent Carer Support Group gives parents / carers a chance to breathe, chat, and feel supported - sometimes just having a hot drink and a listening ear can mean the world. And we’re excited to have just started a SEN Church session - a space where everyone can encounter Jesus in a way that’s accessible and calm with no pressure and no judgment. It’s been lovely to see families who often feel left out of things talk about a sense of welcome, belonging and acceptance.
We have lots of things for you to pray about.
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We’re running an alpha course, so please pray for good conversations and connections.
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For our Urban Saints groups as plans are made for September.
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For outreach opportunities coming up, especially our village carnival.
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For our work with SEND.
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Upcoming summer events: Holiday at Home for older people, and a children’s Holiday Club.
We’re here to be a church that looks outward and makes space for everyone. We would very much value your prayers as we seek to do this.
South Kent network
Dover Baptist Church
Dover Baptist Church has been without a minister since 2021. In February 2025 two of our deacons entered into a Covenant relationship with the church as its ministers. One minister will focus on mission whilst the other will focus mostly on pastoral ministry. This marks a new beginning with a team leadership. Please pray for our leadership team as we seek God’s continued guidance about how this will develop.
We have seen new people come to worship and people staying to worship with us. We have people who are preparing for Church membership. On Easter Sunday we celebrated our church anniversary as well as the baptism of 2 young men who had been attending our childrens’ programme for several years. We are looking forward to further baptisms in June including both young people and adults.
We continue to have several small groups where people can develop their discipleship. Recently a new Bible Study has begun, with a group of adults who are keen to discover what God might be saying to them through his word. Some are relatively new Christians, please pray for them as they discover the truths of the Gospel.
And from our young people’s ministry: Sunday Workshop has been greatly blessed with the number of children increasing considerably over the last year, particularly teenagers and a very committed team of leaders. We join with the adults for worship at the beginning of most Services and then move to our Bible-based Core Programme which runs across all the age groups with themed activities and games. We have Prayer Sundays when the groups come together to share in a range of prayer activities, including craft, quiet spaces and creating prayer walls.
Other activities over the last year have been raising money for a Leprosy Mission Project, Messy July, a Light Party, leading the Christmas Family Service with our annual dramatic version of the Nativity and many children taking part in All-Age Worship. God continues to bless us in so many ways.
Please pray that God will provide enough leaders and helpers for our young people’s work.
East Sussex network
Halton Baptist Church
Halton has seen a lot of change and growth over the past couple of years and we're truly humbled and grateful to God for the blessings we've received. We've seen so many answered prayers and remain blown away by just how good God is. For a number of years the church has been praying for more young people and families and God has brought several new families into the church and our lives. At a recent gathering we were amazed to realise that on that particular Sunday, the number of children worshiping nearly matched the number of adults! We've had several baptisms and new members coming in recently and we've been giving thanks for an increase in diversity in the gathered church community. Numbers are always a double-edged sword though, and our greatest encouragement is in seeing how people's relationships with God are deepening, and how lives are being changed by the love of Jesus.
We remain committed to following God's leading as we're motivated to become a more missionally-focussed and community-centric church. Part of this has seen a number of new ministries and expressions of church and worship gathering starting as the Spirit has led us to move from the building and traditional patterns. Our Messy Church regularly welcomes families from across the community and has become the main place that many worship and belong. Last year, Forest Church began and we're already seeing a small community growing in faith and fellowship there. New monthly worship nights have been a really powerful way to encounter God and we're seeing the fruits of all of these ministries growing and multiplying. We're really enjoying sharing food with our community through a monthly breakfast, special events throughout the year, and a Christmas day meal that's welcomed guests from as far afield as Holland!
All of this is only possible because of God's goodness and provision and we are so blessed to have such a wonderful God. We'd love to ask you to join us in prayer that we can continue to build strong relationships with the community around us, finding the places where the Spirit is at work and joining in with God's mission. It's our deepest desire to see the Kingdom being built here in Hastings and we long to play whatever part God has planned for us. Please do keep praying that we remain faithful, obedient, and that we're keeping in step with God's leading. We want to see Jesus being known and people's lives being changed as they come to experience the love that God has for them. Thanks to all who pray for us, and we lift you as well to our mighty Lord as we share in building the Kingdom together to God's glory.
Mid Sussex network
One Church, Brighton
This has been an encouraging season for One Church! We continue to see new people joining us and our projects serving more people in more effective ways. Sunday’s are always full of energy and rich conversations, and we’re seeing more and more people with no Christian background at all coming along. 
Our coffee-based projects, ProBaristas and SkyLark Coffee are thriving and having very positive outcomes both here in Brighton but also in countries like Ethiopia, Brazil and Rwanda where we’re partnering with coffee farmers and their communities. Our youth work continues to do well and our youthworker continues to support young LGBTQ+ in the city. In terms of new things, we’ve established a house that supports a refugee family enabling them to gain the right to come to the UK, as well as partnering with another charity to house women who have experienced sexual exploitation in some way.
In terms of prayer, our biggest need right now is to find someone to take on our children’s work!
We’ve been advertising for a long time but still haven’t yet found the right person. We’d love to see this change. We’d also love people to pray for our fundraising - our projects are far-ranging but they all need funding, previous sources of trusts and foundations seem to be harder and harder to secure each year.
Thanks so much.
North Downs network
Church Crookham Baptist
Please pray for the fellowship at Church Crookham
North Kent network
Frindsbury Baptist Church
Please pray for the fellowship at Frindsbury.
Gatwick network
Redhill Baptist Church
Please pray for the fellowship at Redhill.
Mid Sussex network
The Hub, Upper Beeding
Please pray for the fellowship at Upper Beeding.