LARNE Baptlst Church Annual Report January- December 2022 **Church Report by Tim Bailie** **In January a team from the Church ran the Pop-Up Shop on the Main Street for two weeks. Ivan and Carol Watson visited the Church to address “Coping with Depression”. The first Members’ Meeting of the year was held on 26[th] January.** **College Sunday was held on Sunday 6th February. A three week course of Hope Explored ran from Thursday 10[th] – 24[th] February. Wednesday 23rd February saw the return of Monthly Bible Study Groups, now held in the Church building. On Saturday 26[th] February the Church arranged Building Project Consultation Meetings, at which the architect conducted a short presentation; a follow-up session took place on Thursday 3[rd] March.** **Sunday 6[th] March was Missions Sunday; in the morning Scott & Shirley Ballantine were interviewed and we received from greetings from Albania; Tim McFarland from Baptist Missions took our evening service. Our AGM and Members’ Meeting was held on Wednesday 23[rd] March. Our morning service on Sunday 27[th] March was dedicated to Ukraine.** **In April we welcomed a number of visiting speakers, including John MacDermot, Lewis Stephenson and Harry Dowds. Pastor Curry attended the Banner of Truth Youth Conference from Friday 22nd – Sunday 24[th] .** **The first Special Gift Day of the year took place on Sunday 15[th] May. On Saturday 21[st] a number of the men attended an Ulster Rugby match.** **As always, June was a busy month for the Church. On Saturday 11[th] , a Fundraiser Coffee Morning was held to assist financially with Roy Warke’s proposed visit to Albania. Our Pop-Up Shop returned to the Main Street from Monday 13th - Friday 17[th] as a base for outreach. A Men’s GoKarting Event took place on Saturday 18[th] June. We worked in partnership with Scripture Union’s “It’s Your Move” in Linn Primary School on Monday 20[th] June. A Members’ Meeting was held on Wednesday 22nd June. Our annual Church Outing was at Carnfunnock on Saturday 25[th] June; Youth Sunday was held the following day. Our Holiday Bible Club took place from Monday 27th June – Friday 1 July.** **A large number of our fellowship attended the New Horizon Conference from 6th – 12th August. On Sunday 14th August we welcomed a Youth Team from Emmanuel Baptist; the team organised a number of events until their departure on Saturday 20[th] .** **On Sunday 11[th] September we heard a report from various individuals who took part in ministries held throughout the summer. Our second Hope Explored course of the year ran for** **three evenings from Thursday 15[th] - 29th September. On Saturday 17[th] a Ladies’ Fellowship** **Breakfast was held in Andrew and Lorraine’s home. On Saturday 24th September the Church hosted a Men’s Breakfast, with Adam Wenlock delivering the epilogue. On Sunday 18th** **September a Baptismal Service took place in the sea at Ballygally, at which Stacey Henry, Rhonda Wallace and Dylan Campbell were baptised. The following Sunday, the 25[th] , an indoor Baptismal Service was held in the Church for Alex Bailie, Daniel Kirk, Darcey McIlroy and Sophie Wenlock.** **October was another busy month in the life of the Church; we were visited by Sarah Dalrymple and two students for College Sunday on 2nd October. A Members’ Meeting was held on Wednesday 12th October. Our Thanksgiving Service and second Special Gift Day of the year took place on Sunday 16th October. On Sunday 23rd October we were visited by Paul McFarland from Baptist Missions in the morning and Diego Lopes (EMF) in the evening. We held a special youth evening in the Church on Saturday 29[th] October.** **Our first Youth Fellowship Weekend since the pandemic was held on 4th – 6th November. On Sunday 13[th] we welcomed John Cunningham from Baptist Missions into the pulpit for our morning service and Tim Houston for both services the following Sunday, the 20[th] . Churches’ Council was on Saturday 26th November. We hosted a Joint C.A.P. Service on the evening of Sunday 27th November at which Olly Roebuck spoke.** **A Youth Ceilidh was held on Saturday 10[th] December. Our Carol services were on Sunday 18[th] December and Christmas Morning Service on Sunday 25[th] .** **On behalf of the Membership I would like to thank Pastor Curry for his ministry; we pray that he, Shirley, Lydia, Anna and Peter will continue to know God’s blessing. I would also like to thank the Office Bearers and Members who contribute so much of their time and energy to the ministries of the Church. It’s our prayer that God will bless our efforts and that His Kingdom would be extended and His name glorified.**