Southern Counties Baptist Association - Home Mission
Home Mission is a fund financed by a percentage of the tithing and giving that members of local
Baptist Churches give to their churches. This money is payed into the Baptist family purse, and is used to fund the
National Resource Centre at Baptist House, Didcot; Regional Associations as they aim to support, encourage and resource
local churches; local churches themselves; and Green Shoots, the national mission fund, which gives grants to mission
projects around the country.
Home Mission Story: Ryde Baptist Church
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Ryde Baptist Church has gone through an incredible transformation. After a fire destroyed the church's interior,
a reduced membership of mainly elderly people prayed through 10 years of disappointment . Refusing to give up,
their prayer brought about an amazing rebirth in 2004, of both the building and their way of being church.
Now the George Street Centre, the church is a six day a week community centre. Between 600 and 800 people come
through the doors each week, for the cafe or one of the many groups that share the building.
Since its opening 2 years ago, through cafe witness, Alpha and local networking, the church is growing new Christians fast. Challenges arise on a daily basis as they seek to share Jesus Christ through Christian love and practical care. But the Holy Spirit confirms their witness each day. "It's very hard work, but also exciting and rewarding. We're being stretched continually, but are also powerfully aware of God's hand upon us," says Revd Jane Kingsnorth, their minister.
