Renowned speaker is VIP birthday guest

10:09am Friday 16th May 2008

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BAPTISTS are marking 200 years in Kidderminster with a celebration service on Sunday, with the head of their church in Great Britain as guest speaker.

General secretary of the Baptist Union, the Rev Jonathan Edwards, who represents the voice of the UK Baptist Church worldwide, will join in the celebrations at the Franche Road church.

Minister-in-Training, Simon Gudger, said: "He is a renowned speaker at conferences worldwide and for him to visit Kidderminster for this occasion is a tremendous privilege."

Past ministers, local dignitaries, friends and neighbours past and present are invited to the service at 11am, which will be followed by a lunch.

An exhibition of the history of the church has been put together for the anniversary and on Sunday, and during the next few months, people will have the chance to see a huge range of articles and pictures from the church's archives, including an original copy of the church's 100-year souvenir booklet and photos of ministers and meetings dating back to the early 1800s.

"As I have been looking through some of the documents in preparation for this anniversary, it has become apparent just how much the Baptist Church in Kidderminster has impacted on thousands of lives across our town," said Mr Gudger.

He added: "It has been an important part of our preparations to celebrate this event for it not to be an insular affair.

"The church is here to share God with its community, to identify with the current needs and then demonstrate how God can meet those needs."

Organisations that meet at the church are joining in with their own anniversary celebrations this week.

Musical toddler group for one and two-year-olds, TotsRock, had a party with balloons, bouncy castle and cake on Tuesday and tomorrow the Jack and Jill pre-school group, which has met at the church for more than 30 years, is planning a party.

Other groups planning celebrations include the Brownies, Slimming World and the Kidderminster Camcorder Club.

The church will also be holding a summer fun day in late August/early September for all the community.

Mr Gudger said everyone was welcome to Sunday's service and copies of a 16-page history booklet on the church can be downloaded from its website, at www.kidderminsterbaptist.com