9th August 2011

It's been a while since my last update but there has been a lot happening.

We have been to America to visit my wife's (and my) family. It was my mom and dad in law's fiftieth wedding anniversary and we all spent a relaxing week in Indianna enjoying the opportunity to get to know my FAMILY better. WE also got to spend a week with Monica's parents and the church people afterwards but the time went in very quickly and we couldn't visit with everyone we would have liked to.

Thank you again to the very kind people in Grace Bible that provided the transport for us to visit with them and the hospitality whilst we were there.

Moving on about three weeks we've just had a great service in the Foyle Hospice - one of the ladies in the church has occaision to be there for a week or two of respite care and requested from the staff that we have a small service. Most of the staff attended and we had a great afternoon. Every one was very attentive and some folks from Bethel also came along to lend their support. We sang a few hymns and then had a simple salvation message - hardly preaching at all - just passing on the worlds of the Bible from Matthew 11, John 3, Philippians 4 and Romans 10. Many thanks to the staff at the Foyle Hospice for their hospitality.

We will be having our Holiday Bible School Next week and the preparation are well under way. The same week we will be having four amazing little house guests - no I don't mean the kittens that are running about outside - they stay there. Bro Stan and Sister Karen have very kindly lent us their four eldest and they will be staying with us whilst attending Holiday Bible School. They are always very well behaved and we love them very much. (Just like all the kids we know)

The work goes on in an around the town - we are tracting in the Waterside - Bro Christy has been a great help - he is in the BBCIB fencing team - and will have at least one more tryout before the end of the school holidays, church maintenance , visiting and helping those in the church draw closer to God is my desire for all our church members.

We are still praying about and doing our best to contend with the world, flesh and the Devil in and around Derry and would urge all our readers to be 'sober and vigilant for your adversary the Devil walketh about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour'. Remember brethren 'we are not ignorant of his device' so 'submit yourself to God, resist the Devil and he will fleefrom you'.

God Bless you and thank you for your continuing prayers and support.

Pastor Mark Bradfield

 

12th April 2011.

Just a short note to say high and let you know that we have another handful of messages for you to listen to on our sermons page.

If you want to keep them for yourself - Use Microsoft's Internet Explorer to look at the sermons page - then RIGHT click on the sermon and LEFT click on save file as.

Save is on your PC where you want it and Robert's Your Mother's Brother you have it on your pc to play on youe phone, organiser, slate,tablet etcetc

 

 

11th April 2011

It looks like I have been away for a while but I have been able to carry out a couple of updates since the last date change.

You may have noticed the sermons page that has appeared - as time permits I will be uploading sermons that have taken place in Bethel for your help.

The first one GRACE was a test message and is an old message on Gods Grace the second one fighting the good fight was given by Christopher Cooley - a young man in the Church that has allowed himself to be used of the Lord.

It is a blessing to know that there are some young people out there that have their eyes on the Lord and not the things of this world. All too often I have come across girls and boys that I honestly thought would have been Sunday school teachers or youth leaders and even the next generation of preachers but have succumbed to the lures of the world and the praise and glory of men.

Mums and dads - it is a mistake to pander to the whims and desires of your children - foolishness is bound up in their hearts - why would you want to follow that. Many years ago a family had three children - two boys and a little girl. The boys were raised up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord whilst the little girl was spoiled by giving her whatever she wanted. Years laters when her life was in ruins she told her parents that they demonstrated that they didn't love her becasue they never took the time to straighten her out!!!

Mums and dads have a great obligation to their children NOT to give them everything they want - you are not preparing them for the world. You will not be around to nursemaid 'hurt' feelings and intercept all the things in this world that will cause them to cry. TEACH THEM HOW TO LIVE IN THE WORLD - not in a little cotton wool box with safety edges!!!

WE live in a day when if a child comes home and tells mummy or daddy that the teacher or headmaster gave them a detention that mummy and daddy are literally dumb enough to believe the word of a child over that of an adult. It wasn't that many years ago that the you would have been scared to have been chastened in school and a letter sent home because that would have meant another straightening out a home for embarassing your parents!!!

We wonder where the great thinkers, preachers and upstanding people are in the world - playing PS3, XBOX watching TV, surfing the net, having their brains turned to sludge by what rubbish is being pumped into them and then when coming down from an endorphin induced haze being given whatever they want mummy and daddy who don't want to listen to yet another temper tantrum.

Do yourself a favour - and your children - raise them up in the nurture AND admonition of the Lord. Straighten them out when they break the rules - NOT your temper and make the punishment consistent for ALL members of the family!

Remember too that is is only when you have demonstrated your love to your children in no uncertain terms that you can straighten them out in the proper fashion.

Remember that your children are an heritage from the Lord - you make sure that they get back to Him.!!

 

 

31st December 2010.

The last entry for 2010 and I would just like to wish you all a Christ centred and Happy New Year for 2011.

We are having a New Years Eve Service at Bethel tonight and you are very welcome to come and join with us. We will be singing hymns, giving testimonies, preaching, praying and eating of course too and there is always plenty for everyone.

We are looking forward to not only this but to 2011 and doing more for the Lord and the saving of men's souls.

Paul tells us in his letters that when you set out to serve the Lord that trouble and persecution inevitably come your way but the Lord promised that He would never leave us nor forsake us. So let us go on fighting the good fight and continuing our course and keeping the faith and look forward to see Jesus Christ.

The time is closer than ever to the rapture and subsequent return of Christ ot the world to rule and reign for one thousand years - let us make the most of the time we have here.

If you make New years resolutions - and even if you don't - let one of them be to listen to God's Word and not your own feelings (Obi Wan Kenobi told Luke Skywalker in Star Wars "listen to your feelings" - this is real life not Holywood) - many souls down through the years have caused themselves so much pain and trouble by listening to their feelings. These change almost moment by moment - God and His word never change and always have the right actions and thoughts for any given situation - follow Him and His Word instead.

God Bless, keep you, and I pray that His word will be a guide to you.

Pastor Mark

 

 

24th December 2010.

Well here we are again - and this might be the last entry to our news column before the new year.

I pray that you all have a Christ centred Christmas and New Year.

I came across some bad news that goes hand in hand with the bad weather that seems to be prevalent in the UK at the moment. A young man from Londonderry went out with a few friends about a week ago in jeans and a Tee shirt. Sadly he was found the next morning in the snow dead from hyperthermia.

Please be careful out there - even the hot blooded young are no match for the extremes of cold that we have been facing. Dress warmly in layers and cover your head - you lose a lot of heat there.

We have also had some very welcome surprises in the form of gifts from friends nad members of the congregation. I don't know who sent them but we really appreciate them. - An envelope in the weekly offering with extra money, a metric ton of coal and fify pounds of Tesco stamps. All these things and the prayers that have been behind them are greatly appreciated and my wife and I were greatly humbled by God's love and generosity to us.

Remember also the Lord at this time of year - the only place in the Bible where there was a mad orgy of buying and giving of presents was in Rev 11 when the world was relieved and overjoyed at the shutting up of God's people.

So please remember the Lord - this is (in some Christian circles ) supposed to be Christ's birthday - hows about getting a present for Him!

God Bless you and thanks the year.

Pastor Mark Bradfield

04th November 2010

As promised I'm back - the dog wasn't hungry and didn't eat my homework (ie no excuses this time)

Well a lot has been happening this past three (or so ) weeks. Pastor Roger Hain and his wife Pat (my father and mother in law) were over visiting with us for two weeks and we had a great time. It's been over two and a half years since we last saw them (though we have spoken many times on the phone) and we really enjoyed their visit.

I took advantage of having a visiting Independant Baptist preacher to take a little break from preaching and Pastor Hain very kindly filled in for me. The folks in Bethel and Roe Valley and Good news all met together on the Pastor's last night of preaching to take part in the service and for some really great fellowship afterwards. We had a time of testimonies and got to hear things that the Lord is still doing in the lives of those that love Him.

Whilst they were here we had a great opportunity to go visit Edinburgh in Scotland. We left N.I. on the morning of Thursday 21st Oct and spent most of the day travelling. We used our Satnav(GPS) to scout around the city that evening after eating and the next morning we were ready for business.

We spent three or four hours just walking around the castle - soaking up the history and taking a great many photographs of that wonderful old castle. When that was done we walked the Royal mile - cobbled streets with all manner of shops and we picked up a few souvenirs along the way. I was expecting to be able to see so much more in Edinburgh but there was no way we would have been able to do that - there was just so much to see and do. We would have needed quite a few more days to visit all the sights that Edinburgh has to offer.

We also got to see the John Knox house. This was really interesting to walk around and had recordings of some of the many confrontations the John Knox had with Mary Queen of Scots.

We also saw some of the quotes that John Knox made - pinned to the wall - and I was absolutely amazed to see one in particular. It reflected the troubles the church had a year or so ago with a family that came to cause trouble and beg borrow and steal all that they could before moving on. Which they did and have done again and now are up in Newtownards again no doubt looking for more churches to take advantage of. Thankfully at the time we limited the damage by not giving this newcomer any responsibility and just requiring that he and his wife and three children be faithful in church - which they could not do and left shortly afterwards. Sadly they managed to turn the heads of another family who left with them. The Word of God is absolutely true when it says there is nothing new under the sun.

The Saturday morning we were up bright and early packed and gone by 7:30am in order to drive across Scotland and down to Stranraer to catch our ferry back home and to get ready for Sunday morning.

I thank the Lord for our visitors - it is so good to know that despite the accent and the miles the same Gospel is preached on both sides of the Atlantic. Pastor and Mrs Hain arrived safely home to Shinglehouse on Tuesday 2nd November. We miss mom and dad already and are looking forward to the next time.

As for the Bethel - business as usual - we have been out tracting in Drumahoe already this week - click on the home page to see if we made it to your house. We met up this morning for the mens' prayer meeting - there's a lot happening but the Lord is able to overcome anything - and the young peoples fellowship this evening.

Until the next time (I've tied the dog up - he'll be getting no more homeworks)

In Christ -

Pastor Mark Bradfield

************************************************

13th October 2010

Well there has been a lot happening - and it keeps going in accordance with the Word of God (the King James Bible)

I have long been of the opinion that if you love the Lord and His word and want to do something for Him you will love Bethel Baptist Church.

Christianity is not a spectator sport - it is a participation one.

Neither is it all about you - it's all about what you can do for God.

If you put God first EVERYTHING else will fall into place. If you put anything else first then you are in trouble. You may not realise it at the time and it may take a while for it to become evident but you are in trouble.

You will find excuses to stop praying, stop reading your Bible, stop coming to church, stop helping people, consider yourself hard done by - the list goes on and on but when you are in trouble and unwilling to admit that it's you that needs to change then something from the list will fit your bill.

There is one remedy and one remedy only. God's word!!

Hide it in your heart, Psalm 119,11, make it part of your daily life, think in terms of what God says and of course apply His word to YOUR life.

Pray lots - for yourself first of all and then those around and about you.

Read God's word more than you read anything else - & talk to God much and often - things will start to get on the right track.

I once heard the testimony of a man that was praying for the death of his wife so that he could marry his girlfriend - this is NOT the sort of Christian life we are speaking of - you know what I mean - don't you?

This may be news to some but the principle is as old as the Hills - it's in the manufacturer's handbook (God Word) and when things go wrong in this life (and they will) it should be our first port of call.

We say that if you are sick you should go to the doctor for a tablet but there are a couplde of tablets mentioned in the bible that so many seem to have forgotten and they cure that most common and persistent cause of death - SIN - the stone tables that Moses brought back from Mt Sinai and the fleshy tablets of mens hearts that the Holy Spirit will write God' Word onto - if we let Him.

Take one today - a verse a day keeps the Devil away!!!

Till the next time - soon Honest.

Mark

 

5th September 08

We had news that a number of missionaries are for leaving the mission field. Seems sad at first but having had personal experience with many of these I for one am only saddened by the waste of my time( and that of others) in helping these people; maddened by the hurt that they have caused to others and praying that the lies that they have told will be revealed in the hearts of those that have listened to them. The false doctrine and the lack of separation from the world that is so evident in their lives and personalitites would turn anyone off from being a Christian.

We'll miss you if your are a bible preacher - other wise - GOOD RIDDANCE!

18th July 2008

Good news this week - we bought a megaphone and weather permitting we will be out in town doing some street preaching and handing out gospel tracts and bibles.

We were out in the Drumahoe area of the town tracting and handing out leaflets. Despite the wet weather we gave out a few hundred and had a good time of tea and buns afterwards at Bro Steve's. Looking forward to the next time!!!

27th June 2008

Sadly this month also brings with it the silly season. Many of you will think I refer to the 'marching season and associated happenings but no I am referring to the silly things that some of our local churches get up to to try and 'bring in the crowds'.

First of all a local Presbyterian Church in Kilfennan is having a Heavy Metal/rock and roll concert. They spent money printing and distributing invites to this 'FREE CONCERT' but don't forget to bring money for burgers and refreshments (AGAIN?). But wouldn't spend money printing Gospel tracts or giving away bibles so that a searching soul could be saved!

They have a band called Somewhere Else playing and the cacophany that they produce is so ear splitting that a lot of the local residents will be going 'somewhere else' for the day and the rest just wish that the band would go and play somewhere else - perhaps 'on a green hill far far far away.

There is crowd control and chill spaces just like a real heavy metal concert. So instead of showing that there is a difference between saved and lost souls they create and cultivate a taste for a lifestyle that is second only to homosexuality in it's self destructiveness in young people and give the wrong impression - that this is an acceptable and even christian from of recreation. Shame on you!!!

We have another 'church' in town that is having strong man acts and hip hop /breakdancing in order to bring in the crowd - and through this they will give an awareness of God's love - HOW?

Other churchs are having five aside football, go karting, face painting and bouncy castles to draw in the crowds.

Forgive me for being a mortal, fallible and limited man but can you give me the references for this in the Word of God?

Do these church leaders not realise that the things you GET people into church with are the things that you need to KEEP the people there with.

The purpose driven churches have - after years of providing this sort of 'church environment' - discovered that this produces shallow, self centred and weak christians (if even saved at all) that are neither able or willing to do the service that God intended them for.

Let this not be named amoung you that are Christians - and let them that name the name of Christ depart from iniquity and making merchandise of the word and name of God.

.....

I was reviewing my last month or two and wanted to let you know of the great time we had whilst on our honeymoon in the USA.

Whilst there we had the opportunity to visit with my old pastor - Pastor Alan Fox and his family. His daughter Lydia very kindly asked me to preach at her graduation - which I did (Thank you Lydia) and then I had the opportunity to preach again on the following Sunday morning and evening services! We had a great time and it reminded me of the time I plagued the Foxes as a young christian and was always at their house and they were forever fixing me tea or lunch. Thankfully I have a wife for that now and am in a position to provide that for others. I met a lot of very nice people - Kevin, Ott, Jayney, Ronny to name but a few and had a couple of hospital visits with a gentleman belonging to the church too. All in all a very enjoyable and restful time.

This week is drawing to a close but we're looking forward to the continuation of our Bible study in Rev 11 spending a little while this evening upon the two witnesses.

Our Childrens holiday bible club is approaching as is the outreach into the town of Derry. Everyyear we gather up offerings for the work and use it to print tracts and rent a room in the middle of the town so that folks that have received a flyer can call in with us and ask us questions to which we hopefully will have the answers (from the Bible of course)

Also we have been tracking in the Waterside of Derry - we were out on Tuesday and managed to give away 375.75(!!?!!) invitation and tracts.

Plenty more to do to keep us going.

13th June 2008

I suppose many will be saying - what's been happening and your website is out of date. My reply would be yes and no! Yes the news and editorial may be a little out of date but no less as relevant as when they were headed up & No the word of God and His message to us, a fallen creation has been the same for about six thousand years - since the creation of the world.

Anyway I can't believe it's been two years since I last updated the News section.

A lot has been happening ... the best of which is that I got married!!!! My wife's name is Monica and we've been married for six months now and courting for six months prior to that.

The Lord provided me with a Godly, resourceful, kind and beautiful lady and my life has been changed (for the better) again. She has been and continues to be a wonderful help to me as we minister to the people of Londonderry.

We have been going door to door in L'derry for nigh on twelve years now. The town has been completely tracted at least on two occaisions and was on it's way to the third when a visiting missionary lost his temper at a dear catholic souls' doorway and the resulting commotion lost us our goodwill and testimony in the area.

We still pray for and continue to minister to souls in the area and are hopeful of coming across that dear lady again.

On a slightly more sombre note we had to ask a number of people to leave the church and even had to change the locks on the front door. These people had been with the church for a number of years and either fell into bad company and habits or were wolves in sheeps clothing all that time. Judging by the things that brethren told me after the fact and comparing them to my own experiences I have come to the conclusion that hey were in fact wolves in sheeps clothing. The new family that arrived came with a lot of trouble in their wake but we found a space for them in Bethel.

Unfortunately after supplying them with a free car (which was driven into the ground) and welcoming them into the church they soon showed their true colours. Continually borrowing and never returning and trying to obtain furniture and appliances and computer equipment was stopped. Poor church attendance and the sowing of discord and rumour mongering nearly split the church (which happened to a dear pastors' church about ten years ago) and to top it all off they thought that they weren't getting enough responsibility in the church.

Suffice to say the church has been a much better place without them and the whole congregation has and continues to comment on how much lighter the atmosphere is.

Sadly instead of taking this time away from church to get right with God and man they have gone en-masse to another Independant Baptist church in town. The pastor of the church was duly warned of their behaviour and we continue to pray for wisdowm and strength for him.

The devil may not be in the public eye but his followers are still hard at work. IT is our Christian duty to stick to the word of God and to make it stick to our lives.

Hopefully it'll be a little sooner till the next update but please check out the church blog at www.bbcib.blogspot.com

We'll be using that as our news and editorial and church events page from here on in.

Till the next time

In Christ Pastor Mark Bradfield

 

25th July 2006

On a personal note I have just had some great news, and a number of answered prayers.

About a month ago my sister experienced some paralysis down her left hand side and ended up in hospital. A first they thought it was a stroke but soon discovered a tumor growing in the motor centre of her brain. This lead to a lot of soul searching on her behalf and a lot of prayer from christians around the world. She had an MRI which showed the tumor to be growing in a dangerous place and so a biopsy was scheduled. This was not without risk as even the biopsy could cause permanent paralysis. During this time I contacted some very nice people in England who distribute apricot seeds (vitamin B17 which is contained in high quantities in these seeds is a known anti cancer agent. Actually Hydrogen Cyanide (?) completely harmless until it gets processed by the cancer cell and turns into cyanide ONLY inside cancers cells because of their crazy chemistry) They sent them over and my sister - Aileen - started taking them right away.

Thankfully all their prayers were answered - My sister accepted Christ as her own personal saviour just a day before the surgery and whenever the surgeons went to take a biopsy they were stumped as to the condition of the tumor. Five biopsies were taken and four came back negative. The fifth came back inconclusive. Neither were there any side effects from the biopsies.

Aileen is due for another MRI in a couple of weeks time and we keep hoping and praying that it will have reduced drastically if not disappeared altogether in the meantime.

Thank you to everyone who lifted up prayers to the Great Physician - I'll continue to let you know how things progress. Also many thanks to the brethren at the church for their prayers and patience whilst i was up helping the family out this past few weeks - it was greatly appreciated.

3rd July 2006

 

First of all WOW - where did the time go?

Next just a collage of a few of the pictures we took of the kids and scenery in portrush on Saturday 1st July.

We brought loads of sandwiches - by the time we got around to eating them there was real sand in them!!! and lots of toys but in the same vein as children getting more fun out of the cardboard boxes than toys themselves at Christmas the kids just wanted to play in the sand and the water. Thankfully we brought a few extra dry and extra large T shirts and come the end of the afternoon it looked like we had our own 'Children of Israel'.

We have had a visit from a Bro Layton Kelly who spoke about the problems that many face with addiction on Sunday morning and evening. (Christians included) Speaking from a drugs background he showed how many can be dragged down by addiction to alcohol, tobacco, pornography, gambling and other lusts.

We enjoyed his messages and wish him well as he endeavours to start an addicts hostel in Dublin.

We have Bro Forrest's grandson Chris with us for a couple of weeks helping Bethel and Solid Rock Baptist church with our outreach and work about the towns of Letterkenny and the Campsie area.

Remember the holiday Bible club this August - time flies and it's nearly time to spend that special week with the children showing and telling them just what Jesus Christ is all about and that church doesn't have to be about long 'aaaaaaaahhhhhhh mmmmmeeeeennnnnsssss' and even longer faces that it can be a victorious life and you can have fun too!

 

See you all soon.

 

The Pastor

 

4th November 2005

Greeting in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We are having Bro Bryan Treadway in Ireland for about a fortnight of preaching. Bro Treadway will be visiting various venues throughout Ireland during his visit - including Portadown, L'Derry, Limavady, Newtownards and Letterkenny.

Bryan K. Treadway and wife LeAnne, three Children---Jonathan, Hannah, Nathan have been in full time Ministry for 13 years.

Saved at seventeen years old and an attendee of the Bible College at Faith Baptist College in Resaca, Georgia, Pastor Treadway preached at camp meetings and youth meetings where he met and later married his wife.

Soon after the Lord called them to Papua New Guinea where he did the work of a missionary for a number of years. This continued until, after contracting Malaria fifteen times and suffering severe and permanent damage, he came back to the States.

Bro. Treadway was then appointed Pastor of a little church in Marlinton, West Virginia where he has been ever since.

He will be preaching in Ireland for about two weeks

Portadown Lighthouse Baptist Church Wed 2nd Nov 7pm

Thur 3rd Nov 7pm

Solid Rock Baptist Church Letterkenny Sun 6th Nov 11am

Bethel Baptist Church, Campsie, L’derry Sun 6th Nov 7pm

Mon 7th Nov 7pm

Good News Baptist Church, Newtownards Tues 8th Nov 7pm

Bethel Baptist Church, Campsie, L’derry Wed 9th Nov 7pm

Thu 10th Nov 7pm

Tel: -

Bethel Baptist Church, Campsie L’derry 028 71860420

Solid Rock Baptist Church Letterkenny – 02871 290369

Good News Baptist Church, Newtownards – 028 91 827757

Lighthouse Baptist Church, Portadown – 02838 841445


There will be DVDs of services and other Christian materials available free at the church.

Everybody is welcome and there will be refreshments provided after the service with many opportunities to speak personnally with Bro Treadway and other Pastors.

If you are out and about in the towns in which he is speaking during the day you may actually find him handing out invitations to the church and you may get a chance to speak to him there.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Your Servant in Christ

Pastor Mark Bradfield

 


8th September 2005

Here again after three months of summer holidays.

The Holiday Bible School has been and gone. We had about 55 children in attendance over the week and a lot of good seed was sown.

Bro Kevin Broyhill will be visiting at the end of this month (September) and we'll be having him speak for us on a couple of occaisions. Every one is welcome - please do come along

Bro Brian Treadway will be visiting in November for the first two weeks of the month - exact days to be confirmed but I promise I will get them here as soon as I have confirmed them. (Honest!)

Our Local Churches have gone crazy - It's official. Now they're holding rave concerts for the young people. Not content with discos every few Friday nights they now have begun to host rave/crave/craze concerts for the youth! The mind boggles - so do the ears - I can't remember the last time I have seen crowd control at a church when the people were out singing praises to their Lord and Saviour. Neither can I remember the last time I had to shout at someone standing next to me in order to be heard over the aural torture these people term as music. But seemingly you can have it all in the local churches.

The Bible says to make a joyful noise - this was more like torture. It also says that things will be done decently and in order in the churches of the saints (saved people) ie crowd control not needed because people are not going to lose control of themselves. It also says that the work of God should be of a good report outside of the church - all the people I spoke to from around the area said they went away for the day in order to avoid the racket. The Bible also state the the word of God will not return unto Him void - where were all the saved souls and edified saints? - No saved souls, no edified saints- maybe a visit to the doctors to fix the ears but otherwise no change.

What next? a bar in the basement so that the thirsty congregation can drink up before going home - or maybe a Macdonalds to keep the kids happy - or a widescreen tv to watch the football because it just happens to take place at the same time as church - what about showing the latest Harry Potter film in church and encourage the children to dabble in witchcraft and the occult?

You might laugh - but all these things have happened in so called Christian churches.

When are the men of God going to grow a spine and take their lead from the Bible instead of from an opinion poll? Romans 3:4

When are the traitors in our pulpits going to pack up and go for that career in finance? 2Timothy 3:4

Good question - the Word of God says that in the last days - poeple will heap to themselves preachers having itching ears 2 Timothy 4:3 They just do not want to hear the word of God because it condemns their lifestyles - we just want to stick our fingers in our ears and dance around shouting lalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalala as loud as we can in case we hear something we don't like.

Time to wake up and smell the coffee. the reason the churches are dying is because the world has gotten into the church. Think boats. The Boat is ok in the water but when the water gets into the boat it'll sink.

GET THE PICTURE??

There's plenty to do - we'll be out and about the town this Saturday and Lord willing at least two saturdays a month handing out leaflets Bibles and DVDs to anyone that is interested - come and see us - the stuff is all free! - It'll not cost you anything but a little time.

See you on the streets

Pastor Mark

 

24th May 2005

WELCOME back to the news page - It's been a few weeks since I last wrote but there's been a lot on.

We had Pastor Forrest and his grandson Chris visiting with us at the start of this month.

Pastor Forrest spoke at Independant Baptist churches all over the Island a number of times.

Good News Baptist Church - Newtownards

Lighthouse Baptist Church - Portadown

Solid Roack Baptist Church - Letterkenny

Bethel Baptist Church - L'Derry.

We had a lot of travelling to do and enjoyed every one of his messages and a few of those we managed to get out of him on our travels.

The visiting goes on all the time but especially Fridays the Ladies get the opportunity to go out giving out Gospel leaflets to people and putting them through the doors.

 

Saturday morning will see us out in the town from 12pm on handing out leaflets and talking to those who wish to talk about Salvation and their eternities. If you see us give us a shout.

We're also having a special service on this coming Monday (Lord Willing) evening when Jim Van Voltenburg(?) and a few of his friends will be visiting and bringing a load of Bible portions with them to give out on the streets of Letterkenny along with Bro Stan.

I'll post more as I get it.

Your Servant in Christ.

Pastor Mark Bradfield

 

Greetings again in Christ!

I trust you are all well and forging ahead in your walk with our Lord and Saviour - Jesus Christ.

It is with a heavy heart I bring news of two brethren that went home to be with Christ this past ten days. Our prayers and sympathies go out to all who knew and loved these dear souls.

Pastor H.B. Stone from Alabama was admitted to hospital (in the USA) just last week and slipped away after only a few days. We will miss him terribly as he was a regular and much loved visitor to us in Northen Ireland. He spoke in all the local Independant Baptist Churches when he visited and was a great help to me personally and to God's work as a whole in Northern Ireland. I know he will be much missed in his own church and amongst his family.

Little Grace Smith, 14 years old lost a lifelong battle with Cystic Fibrosis. Following is the eulogy her father sent to us.

"GRACE EULOGY - BY Pastor LIONEL SMITH

Grace’s life was very hard for the first year. After the first year Grace did very well and she led a somewhat normal life. Of course she still had Cystic Fibrosis but it was under control. From the age of ten on things became increasingly difficult for Grace and she suffered much for the rest of her life. For the last year and a half Grace knew that she was going down hill. When ever she saw someone she tried hard to be strong and look good but she knew that she was dying.

Grace never wanted people to feel sorry for her. She realized God had a reason for her being sick and though she did not know the reason she never doubted God’s love and wisdom in giving her Cystic Fibrosis. Grace’s feelings were that she was going fight for life with everything she had and when life was over she would count it a joy to go to Heaven.

Grace was as fine a Christian as I have ever met. I say this as her father and her preacher. She was never bitter for the things people said and did. She always turned the other cheek.

For the first number of years in Grace’s life she was quite a handful and believe it or not she was really mean! But my wife and I followed the best book in the world about child rearing, the Bible, and slowly God changed Grace.

Grace asked Jesus Christ to be her Saviour and He slowly changed her. Grace told me her greatest desire in life was to be a testimony for her Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and I believe she was just that.

Grace loved animals and she had a great desire to be a vet. She never gave up on that dream. When she was very sick she then hoped to get new lungs so she could go ahead with her plans to be a vet. Grace loved animals and was very kind to them. She would even carry dog treats in her pockets to give to dogs she would come across.

Grace was never short of money because people were always giving her money. Grace never kept the money people gave her but she always shared it with others. If Grace got something she always wanted to share it. Grace was planning to go to a dog show in March but the only thing she did not like was she had no money to buy presents for everyone. Of course with an attitude like that she ended up with money.

Grace always had a spirit of gratitude and thanked people for the smallest of kindnesses shown to her. Even when she was suffering she was thankful as many people know.

Over the last week Grace knew her life was short and she wanted everything clear. She was praying to God and she told him she had lied before, then she told God she had cheated in school before. She then told God “I don’t think I ever cursed, no I never cursed” and her conscience was clear. Imagine a young girl than never said a curse word in her life. Imagine a 14.5 year old girl that had such a pure life and conscience.

Grace asked Jesus Christ to be her Saviour and then let God change her into a wonderful child. Grace was not good in herself she let God’s goodness flow through her. Grace knew that she could never merit Heaven she trusted Jesus Christ and what He did to get her to Heaven. I don’t believe that there is one person in this room that is as good a person as Grace was and yet Grace could not get to Heaven on her own merit; she trusted in Jesus Christ only for her salvation.

If Grace were here today I know she would like me to tell you she would like to see you in Heaven too. She would want you to quit trusting in what you are trusting and trust only in Jesus Christ."

1 Thessalonians 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
1 Thessalonians 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

* * * * * * * * * *

Greetings in Christ on this Thursday evening of 23rd Feb 2005.

Just a note to say that the FREEBIBLE page has been updated to include a link that will allow anybody to copy and paste onto their own computer the entire text for the King James Bible. A word to the wise - the text comprises over 4million characters and make take a minute or two to download on slower internet connections so please be patient - we may break it down for future easy downloading

Absolutely FREE!

You can do anything you like with it - even print your own bibles - no copyright exists on the King James Text - makes you wonder why you pay the same as other Bibles in the Book Stores.

I was speaking with a Bro Stan today and a 'Christian' bookstore in Newtownards was having a sale - Three Bibles for the price of Two. I think it ws KJV only. It would almost make you think that the old reliable and for the past 400 yrs (nearly) unchanged KJV is going the way VHS is in the face of DVD.

Thankfully Christ tells us in His word...Heaven and Earth will pass away, but my word will never pass away. Amen (That's a word of warning to anyone printing any other Bible - cutting out the bits they don't like and putting in t hings to justify their own sinful lifestyle)

 

Greetings again on the Saturday morning.

Just a note about faith healers.

We had one here in the Maiden City and they had a gathering to wish her a fond farewell. Where are all the people that were healed. Why are the Hospitals still full of sick people - Why havn't the hospices full of terminally ill cancer patients not empty.

Why I do believe that it's because it doesn't really work.

The proof of the pudding is, as they say, in the eating.

I know there are genuine cases of cancers disappearing and souls regaining their health but my friends if you could do that and you were on a mission from God to spread His word - where would you go and what would you do?

You would go where all the sick people are - and you would heal them - and then you would move on to the next town and the next doing the same over and over again.

I stand to be corrected please write me!

Regards

The Pastor

 

 

Here we are again.

Thanks for visiting and I would like to let you know that the Islam page has been updated and our old Pastor's web link has been included - www.Allenfox.org.

We'll also be trying to roganise the index to the web page in some meaningful fashion or other - so some page may disappear and new ones will appear as and when I gather the info.

I would like to thank all the researchers and organisations that I have used and 'borrowed' information from

Berean Call, Way of life ministries, Faith Defenders to name but a few.

Thank you very much indeed and keep going.

 

Welcome back to Bethel Baptist Churches News site.

A word on the EU and how it will affect you!

I received this artice regarding the way in which the legislation in the EU is going to affect you. You hear about all these wonderful prosperous countries and how joining up with them will be of a great benefit to us all. Everybody interdependant - and end to fighting etc etc etc.

So I did a web search and found the following ' The London Daily Telegraph' web pages

'If you don't take a job as a prostitute, we can stop your benefits'
By Clare Chapman

(Filed: 30/01/2005)
A 25-year-old waitress who turned down a job providing "sexual services'' at a brothel in Berlin faces possible cuts to her unemployment benefit under laws introduced this year.
Prostitution was legalised in Germany just over two years ago and brothel owners - who must pay tax and employee health insurance - were granted access to official databases of jobseekers.

The waitress, an unemployed information technology professional, had said that she was willing to work in a bar at night and had worked in a cafe.

She received a letter from the job centre telling her that an employer was interested in her "profile'' and that she should ring them. Only on doing so did the woman, who has not been identified for legal reasons, realise that she was calling a brothel.

Under Germany's welfare reforms, any woman under 55 who has been out of work for more than a year can be forced to take an available job - including in the sex industry - or lose her unemployment benefit. Last month German unemployment rose for the 11th consecutive month to 4.5 million, taking the number out of work to its highest since reunification in 1990.

The government had considered making brothels an exception on moral grounds, but decided that it would be too difficult to distinguish them from bars. As a result, job centres must treat employers looking for a prostitute in the same way as those looking for a dental nurse.

When the waitress looked into suing the job centre, she found out that it had not broken the law. Job centres that refuse to penalise people who turn down a job by cutting their benefits face legal action from the potential employer.

"There is now nothing in the law to stop women from being sent into the sex industry," said Merchthild Garweg, a lawyer from Hamburg who specialises in such cases. "The new regulations say that working in the sex industry is not immoral any more, and so jobs cannot be turned down without a risk to benefits."

Miss Garweg said that women who had worked in call centres had been offered jobs on telephone sex lines. At one job centre in the city of Gotha, a 23-year-old woman was told that she had to attend an interview as a "nude model", and should report back on the meeting. Employers in the sex industry can also advertise in job centres, a move that came into force this month. A job centre that refuses to accept the advertisement can be sued.
Tatiana Ulyanova, who owns a brothel in central Berlin, has been searching the online database of her local job centre for recruits.

"Why shouldn't I look for employees through the job centre when I pay my taxes just like anybody else?" said Miss Ulyanova.

Ulrich Kueperkoch wanted to open a brothel in Goerlitz, in former East Germany, but his local job centre withdrew his advertisement for 12 prostitutes, saying it would be impossible to find them.

Mr Kueperkoch said that he was confident of demand for a brothel in the area and planned to take a claim for compensation to the highest court. Prostitution was legalised in Germany in 2002 because the government believed that this would help to combat trafficking in women and cut links to organised crime.

Miss Garweg believes that pressure on job centres to meet employment targets will soon result in them using their powers to cut the benefits of women who refuse jobs providing sexual services.

"They are already prepared to push women into jobs related to sexual services, but which don't count as prostitution,'' she said.

"Now that prostitution is no longer considered by the law to be immoral, there is really nothing but the goodwill of the job centres to stop them from pushing women into jobs they don't want to do."

Jesus Said - Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the skies but not the signs of the time.

Well this weather report indicates all manner of storms ahead - disease and the destruction of families, health and finance.

Remember that the in the EU the highest of standards will NOT be taken as a rule of thumb but the lowest.

Think it's bad now - wait until drug stores really sell drugs (cocaine, speed etc) - until our family stores sell not only pornagraphic magazines but also sexual services - until enforcers stand beside the gambling till just in case you can't cover your debts - until alcoholics and drunkards wander the aisles asking for a pound for a cup of coffee before wandering off the the now inclusive off license.

It's coming - be warned.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

Well a Happy New Year to one and all.

We've had a lot happen this past week or two.

We would like to Wish Bro Allen Fox, Chyrll and Lydia, Grace and Hannah a very warm welcome back to Northern Ireland. They've just returned from the States on Furlough and are settling back into N.I. Life. I know that the folks in Newtownards will be glad to have them back full time, so look out for them as they go through the town and around the doors passing out tracts and challenging people about their faith.

Bro Stan Cullen, Karen and children Jade, Mark, and Jeremiah have finally gone to Letterkenny to begin fulltime work there. Please pray for them as they go - there is a lot of work to do and the Gospel to be told to all the people down there. Unfortunately there is a lot of opposition to the Gospel everywhere - guess where it mostly comes from? - our very own modern day scribes, pharisees and saduccees. Check out his web page here on bbcib.com (The Cullen Family to Letterkenny).

The work goes on - Bethel is in Galliagh at the moment where the Lord had laid a heavy burnden on my heart for the dear people of Derry there. Please pray for us and them as we go. Each on of those dear souls is precious in the sight of the Lord.

TTFN

Your Servant in Christ

Pr Mark Bradfield

 

Back in the saddle again after a few months at other things!

Well it's at the very mouth of Christmas and I've a few things that I'd like to tell you all.

First of all I hope and pray that you all have a Happy Christmas and remember who it was that made it all possible.

Well we got our Billboard up and it looks well. I've just been informed by Bro Paul that it looks even better in the dark. Friends - it's not for pbulicity for the church but for the Gospel. Please think about your eternity. You get a choice - please make the right one.

Don't eat too much enjoy some GOOD fellowship - remember those that don't have as much as you do and take a moment to think on your holidays - where are you now, what are you doing and where are you going. If you don't or won't take a moment to muse on these things now - you won't have the time when things get back to normal.

As per usual if we can help you in any way drop us a line.

God Bless and keep and Save you.

Pastor Mark Bradfield

 

 

3/6/2004

Greetings - things are very busy at the moment - work on the church building is about to take off - we'll include pictures as we get them.

I hope and pray you are all well.

Changes - Some options have been removed and some added

The editorial has been updated

Free bible page has been updated

Goodlinks has some radio station that you can listen to over the internet

Sister Churches also has a few ammendments

 

14th May 2004

Greetings again from Bethel Baptist. A couple of new things from the last time. We had a good evening in Letterkenny with Bro Stan Cullen. He was hosting a presentation on "Fortunes Told and the Future laid bare". By way of an experiment we charged three euro for entry and had 10 people turn up. There was a 90 minute presentation on predictions in the Bible about Christ his birth, life and death. The nation of Israel, the Jews and You. Al these may thousands of years before they happened and recorded as they did. Two people expressed and interest and the receptionist at the desk whilst paying the bills did too! All in all a successful evening. We were giving away free Bibles and refunding the money - but folks just said to keep it - church offering. We're looking forward to the next one.

Holiday Bible School is taking shape with Logos etc taking shape and plans for lessons activities games and so on in the final stages of preparation. We are meeting every two weeks in an effort to get all the pieces into shape. It''ll be fun - check out the Holiday Bible School page for more details

2/3/2004 Hi again from Bethel Baptist. Just a few noteworthy events and news items. Since we last posted we've had four saved in the church and a lady who mailed us to say that she accepted Jesus Christ as her saviour one day after we were out putting Gospel tracts in through letterboxes. The Lord said to go forth and preach the Gospel to every creature and that His word would not return void and he has proved that time after time.. We are also planning some renovation work to the church hall after a series of roofing problems so please pray for that.

Other news - We got an excellent set of Creation DVD covering just about all you'd need to defend your self from the nonsense that evolution is forcing down peoples throats at every turn. Need a look - give me a call.

Bro Stan is speaking at the mount Errigal Hotem this coming Thursday on the "Prayer that will keep you out of Purgatory" if you get a chance go and see it!! If you can't go please pray.

 

We also started plans for the Holiday Bible School preparations and at this stage are still looking for ideas - if any body out there has any drop us a line. We'll be publishing the finished student books on the web for anybody else who may want to print up their own copies.

23/9/2003
Greetings again from Bethel Baptist Church.
Here we are again approaching the end of another year and where has the time gone.

A few things have changed. As some of you may know I have been pastoring part time. But now the Lord has arranged it that I'll be albe to quit my day job and concentrate more fully on His work. And how I am looking forward to it.

There is a great need not only in our Maiden City but in the world as a whole to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His free love gift to all mankind that will repent of their sins and accept Him as their own personal Saviour. Pray the Lord of the Harvest that He will send forth more labourers. World press shows us that things - contrary to the idea of evolution taught by the world - are not getting better but actually getting worse!

The churches and places that teach the teachers are actually becoming more and more liberal.

I received an anonymous letter regarding a Baptist Church going soft - teaching ecumenical ideas and forging of links with all flavours of apostate religion.

The Lord calls us to separate ourselves from the things of the world, and to look to His word for guidance, direction and strength.

Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:

However - the Lord says that whilst the out look is grim - do not be troubled. To those that love Christ as their only Saviour the uplook is out of this world. Keep looking up and walking in Christ.

* * * * * * * *

We had our missions conference two weeks ago and Pastor Fox and family (From Portaferry), Pastor Don Randall and family (from Portadown) and Pastor Donald Randall and family (from Tandragee) brought us news of their missions fields and a message on the importance of missions each for three nights. We enjoyed the time of preaching and fellowship and look forward to having then all again.

We also enjoyed our Holiday Bible School- began - 11th August and ended on the 18th August. The theme was - Jesus to the Rescue. about thirty children attended over the week of lessons activities games and snacks. See the Holiday Bible page for more pics and news.Holiday Bible School

Visiting Evangelist - Bro. Paul Forrest from Lynchburg, Virginia(U.S.A.) was visiting with us at Bethel Baptist in Campsie over the past two weeks. He Also preached for our sister churches - Annagh Baptist in Portadown and Good News Baptist in Portaferry. We had seven great services here in Campsie all of which we taped and videoed(?) If you were there then it was great to see and talk with you over a cup of tea if not come along any time you are always welcome!

It's a sad day when things like this happen but when you take your eyes off the Lord you will be like Peter and begin to sink into the stormy waters. At least Peter had the sense to call upon the Saviour and not the R.N.L.I..

It's a sad day when in this age of free speech and so-called religious equality that the rules only apply when it suits!
During the preparations for a presentation on "The Dilemma Facing Evolutionists" one of the invites was returned to one of the church members that lives in that area with a death threat on it!?!
It would seem that in keeping with all the places where Christians try to show people that there is a one true God. That His Only begotten Son - Jesus Christ the Messiah - came into this world to shed his blood and die on the cross so that anyone who confessed Christ and believed that God had raised him from the dead, would have eternal life, that when reason fails - might prevails. In other words when they can't prove their stand is right from the Bible that their only recourse is violence!

Why am I surprised? - I don't know!

Why am I saddened? - because I was in the same position about fourteen years ago until someone told me. I believe people should at least be given the opportunity to think for themselves - to "reason together" (Isaiah 1:18).

However the work goes on.

I am reminded of the story of a man - an unbeliever who was walking on the beach one day after a particularly bad storm. All manner of things had been washed up upon the shore and in the distance he could see a small boy wandering along throwing a starfish here and there back in to the water.

The severity of the storm had washed up thousands of the creatures and it seemed to the man that the lad's task was hopeless.

The Man caught up with the boy, stopped him and said to him." Son, there are thousands of starfish here. You can't save them all, it's hopeless, what does it matter?"

The lad replied as he picked up another starfish and threw it back inot the life sustaining waters "Well, it matters to that one."

The reality of the situation suddenly hit upon the man and he spent the rest of the day helping the little lad throw the stranded creatures into the sea.

You see, everyone may not get the chance to hear the Word of God - to accept His Son as their own personal Saviour.

BUT IT WILL MATTER TO THOSE WHO DO!

One of the families (Stan and Karen Cullen and children Jade, Mark and Jeremiah) in the church has been called to begin a missionary outreach in Letterkenny. Pray for them as they hand out Gospel Tracts and Tell the folks about Jesus Christ and the free, forever and sure - gift of eternal Life!