Chipping Sodbury Baptist Church

Stories from some members of our church:

Roger and Christine Cole wrote recently:

"Moving to this area on retiring to be near our son in Bristol, we could have gone to any church. After looking at various church websites, we went to Chipping Sodbury Baptist Church one Sunday morning. We received a warm welcome, found the service to be helpful and the members friendly so we continued to attend. We now feel that this is where God wants us to be for the next stage of our spiritual journey."

A startling question...

When asked by my daughters if we could become Jewish as they have lots of fun festivals, I replied we followed the Christian festivals of Easter and Christmas. Then they bombarded me with question I could not answer, so I said we would go to Church to find answers to their questions.

When faced with choosing where to go to Church, I decided to try the High Street and see what the Church notice boards said. One church board said '9.30 Eucharist' I had no idea what that meant. Then I remembered the toddler group we had attended was run out of a Church hall, so I walked back across the High Street. The Baptist Church sign said '10.30 Family Service' the timing was better and it seemed to be offering what we needed.

Minda Halladay The next day when we attended, I was hopeful that we would see some of the people involved in the toddler group. We were greeted at the door and welcomed, asked if we had been before, I was found someone to sit with, Sunday School was explained to me and I got to met the leader of the children's group.

I was not expecting what I felt next, instead of feeling awkward and out of place, I felt like I had come home. So when my girls asked if we could come again next week we did - and have not stopped coming since that first week.

Going to Church allows me the time to stop and think about my life, I had always relied on science to answer what I thought were the big questions in life. But science can't guide you and help you or make you feel better about yourself. After a few months my Husband started to notice a positive change in my attitude, I was calmer and more relaxed less stressed by life and all its worries. So he started to join us on a Sunday morning as well, being a scientist he finds it more challenging but he too feels the benefit.

Minda Halladay

"Pray for one and get one free!"

I moved down to Yate in Bristol with my job in 1981 with my wife and family. As Christians we found a spiritual home, warmth and friendship at Chipping Sodbury Baptist Church. I enjoyed my new job and being in the West Country very much. In 1998 my job responsibilities greatly increased. A lot of pressure and stress came as a result of this, which affected me a great deal, although I didn't realise this at the time. As my health deteriorated so did my ablility to do my job well. I found it very difficult even to make the simplest of decisions, which then made me even more stressed. I frequently felt very panicky.

In June 2004 I went to my doctor for the first time for a long while as I was feeling so rough. He initially signed me off for two weeks and started me on some medication, treatment and tests to try to sort out what I was suffering from. In November of that year I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (C.F.S.). It is similar to M.E. but probably not so severe. To add to the stress in January of last year I was retired on ill-health grounds after 38 years with the same company. From then I continued to have regular appointments with my doctor, taking my medication and wondering what the future held.

photo of Martin Warner Then on 11th December 2005 I went along as usual to the morning service, which was a healing service, being held at the Baptist Church in Chipping Sodbury. I felt that I should ask for healing and felt that it was perhaps the right time for me to stick my neck out, so to speak. I went forward quietly towards the end of the service and two people laid hands on me, annointed my forehead with oil and prayed for my healing. I asked particularly that they pray for the mental side of my illness to be dealt with as that was probably what was frustrating me the most. Afterwards I felt very much at peace about the situation. I went to bed and slept very well. When I woke it was as if the windows had been cleaned and the cotton wool had been taken out of my ears. In the weeks that have followed I have been able to do more and more, which includes playing badminton again for eight consecutive weeks.

As well as being healed of the mental condition that I was suffering from with the C.F.S. I have also been given an extra boldness to speak out for God and tell others of what he has done for me. You could say "pray for one and get one free!" I have been reminded that God still heals today.

Martin Warner

Michael Febry writes about his changed life

Michael Febry Before becoming a Christian I went through a difficult time in my life. I became very depressed, while I was going through this depression; I did not know who to turn to for help. That was until I was invited to go to Chipping Sodbury Baptist Church, by my works personnel officer.

I was introduced to one of the ministers; it was arranged that I would meet with him once a week to discuss the problems that I had in my life. Speaking with the minister solved so many of my problems that I decided to give my life to Jesus. My life has become so much happier since I made this life changing decision; I now for the first time have a real purpose to my life.

I was recently Baptised this was an amazing experience.