Greenford Baptist Church

GBC members Adam and Rachel Thomas are off to Bosnia soon. Read their fascinating newsletter here and subscribe to future ones if you would like to.

Our Journey

Our journey to this point has been a long one and rather than showing us the big picture God has chosen to take us small steps all the way. We have felt called to be involved in Mission together from the beginning. Rachel felt this was long term from the start though this has been a growing sense for Adam. God did not show us, for some time, the where, what or when so it has been a process of discovery.

From the start we have involved our church leadership, accepting their guidance and being under their authority. Approximately 5 years ago with their support we applied to Baptist Missionary Society (BMS). The outcome of this was that they said that though they recognised our call to Mission they had nothing suitable for us at that time, they advised us to get some theological training.  In fact we had started looking into this and had visited a number of colleges, our church leadership advised us to visit London School of Theology (LST) as part of this.  This was in fact where Adam ended up studying.  He initially went for one year but in conjunction with our church and the way God had blessed us financially he came to realise that he should do all 3 years and graduated with an honours degree in Theology in June 2010.

We have had a long standing relationship with Novi Most International (NMI), who work in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). Novi Most work with young people, who are still dealing with the effects of the 1992-1995 war, both in their own lives and emotions, and also in the infrastructure of their country.  Adam first went out in 1999 to work on a summer camp and has been out most years since.  Rachel went too in 2000 and a few more times before the children came along and we all went out as a family in October 2010 for a reconnaissance visit.  Adam has also been on the board of trustees for the last few years.

During our time of searching we tried to be faithful to that which we were already involved in, hence our continuing involvement with Novi Most.  Though we felt we would love to go long term with them we never felt the Yes from God at that time.  Adam felt early on called to work with Muslims and reconciliation between them and Christians, the very work Novi Most does, and this has been a growing heart calling for Rachel too.

As it came towards the end of Adam's degree course we knew the time had come for us to seek God's next step for us.  We researched a lot of different Mission organisations, those specifically reaching out to Muslims and those with more varied outreach, all the time aware of our links with Novi Most, but not wanting to just pursue them as the obvious choice, instead wanting to be open to God's leading.  In the process we seriously considered options in places as diverse as Europe, central Asia and North Africa.  Each time God showed us they were not for us.  At the end God brought us back to Novi Most. We now believe, along with both our Church Leadership at Greenford Baptist Church and Novi Most International, that God is calling us to go to Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina with Novi Most International. We are planning towards going in May 2011.

In respect of what we would be doing again God has taken us on a journey.  Ultimately we are willing to do whatever God wants.  This may be using specific skills we have, but not necessarily in obvious ways.  Over the years we have gained a variety of skills and God has used them in different ways.

Adam is excellent at DIY and car maintenance, having worked in a business with his brother, for the latter, as a young man, He loves sport and has used this on a number of mission trips over the years and has just completed a level 1 FA coaching course and hopes to do level 2 before we go.  He has a degree in computing science and has run his own IT business for 14 years.  He now also has a degree in theology, and is also skilled at discipling young men.  We don't know exactly which of these God will use most but we can see ways in which God could use all these skills with Novi Most.

Rachel has nursing skills, though is no longer a registered Nurse. Within this she has done a lot of teaching. God has also enabled her to get alongside young mothers as a supporter and encourager.  She has also always been involved in church children's work in a variety of ways. She hopes to utilise these as she gets alongside young women and mothers, hopefully also doing some basic health care/parenting training.

Our prospective roles whilst on the Novi Most International Mostar team are:-

Adam:

• Novi Most International: Delivering Klub Programme and Courses as appropriate; Football coaching both within Klub and locally and other sports; Helping with IT – computer training, looking after Novi Most systems; Helping with NMI vehicle maintenance; NMI Klub premises maintenance.
• Family: Helping where required with Home Schooling.
• Local Church: Active Member; Helping in the Worship group; Helping in Home groups
• Bible School: Academic resources in any practical or academic way.
• Long Term Strategy: Small business enterprises to help equip and employ local young people.

Rachel:

• Family: Running Home; Home Schooling – leading to helping children make transfer into local schools; Hospitality.
• Novi Most International: Supporting Young women/mothers from all local communities; Possible Basic Health Care and parenting courses; Other parenting groups as appropriate.
• Local Church: Active Member; Helping in Sunday School; Helping with church children's club.

In our Journey we discussed and prayed for our children's place within all this, Micah is now 8, Talitha 6, Ezekiel 4 and Hadassah will be 2 shortly before we go. We believe that in calling us He is calling them too, they are His children first and ours only by his sovereign blessing.  From experience we know how God can bless others through our children, both as they open doors for us in relationships with others and how they witness to those around them themselves.  We believe that the most important thing we can give our children is for them to see us following where we believe God is leading. We trust that their experience of living in Bosnia and Herzegovina, learning new language and culture, will enrich their lives both in the now and for their futures.

Novi Most International require their international, non-Bosnian, workers to raise a team of prayer supporters and raise all their financial support for their daily living costs, including rent and flights to and from home. We believe that where God calls he enables.  In the area of Mission God calls some to pray, some to go and some to give. Over time He may call any of us to do all or some of these.  All any Christian can do is to be faithful to what they believe God is calling them to do.

We are excited by all that we believe God is asking us to do, yet at the same time daunted by what it involves.  Our trust and confidence are in God as we walk through this door He has opened for us. As a family, we are inviting you, our friends and family, to prayerfully consider in what way God may be asking you to partner with us in this mission.

If you would like to subscribe to our newsletter please send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with the word “Subscribe” as the subject title. If you would like to receive our additional prayer letters and also if you are considering supporting us financially please add this to the email.

If you don't have access to email please speak to us to let us know which letters you would like to receive or contact us via the church office on telephone number 020 8575 5034, address Greenford Baptist Church, Beechwood Avenue, Greenford UB6 9UA.

Thank you.

God’s Blessings and Love in Christ Jesus...

Adam and Rachel, Micah, Talitha, Ezekiel and Hadassah

website: www.weservehim.org

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