'God's Baptist people are in good heart' - Steve Finamore's reflections  

Outgoing Baptists Together President Steve Finamore shared encouraging signs of church growth and renewed hope across Baptist networks

Invited to offer reflections at the end of his presidential year, a significant portion of Steve's address focused on an emerging pattern of church growth he has witnessed across his church visits - growth now supported by both Baptist statistics in the annual returns, and wider studies such as Bible Society's Quiet Revival. 

Steve began by saying all his suspicions about Baptist had been confirmed. 'God's Baptist people are lovely,' he stated.

'And we're also in pretty good heart.'

He described attending anniversary services at two contrasting Baptist churches in Somerset villages - one with an older congregation that had hymns played on an organ, and another with a larger, younger congregation led by a worship team.

'Both very different, but both brilliant,' Steve said. 'But there was something in the air that told you they were the same, the same Baptist people, the Spirit of God on the move.'

Similarly Steve noted meaningful encounters in the previous week with both retired ministers ('I was one of the youngest in the room') and Baptist interns ('I was definitely the oldest').

'God is on the move among us in our different age groups, as well as collectively,' he continued. 'Most places I've visited have good stories to tell - and I started to discern a pattern. People are joining our congregations. 

'In some places, they're older people. In others, they're younger people. Sometimes they're both.'

Many often have no prior church contact, Steve said, before sharing a personal example from his home church in Somerset. The church had been praying for people in their 20s to join, and now have a group of around 20, who have formed a home group and established a new midweek children's club. 



He likened this surprising growth to the story in Mark 4, about the seed that grows in secret. ('Something happening under the radar, while the world is asleep, while our attention is elsewhere, happening in plain sight, but not being seen.')

Steve placed these positive trends in historical context, acknowledging that current membership remains a fraction of the Baptist high-water mark from the early 1900s. Nevertheless, he expressed hope that these signs might indicate a turning point after a long period of decline.

Referencing the increase in baptisms documented in the 2024 annual returns, and Bible Society's Quiet Revival report, Steve said, 'Perhaps this is the change that we've longed to see and that we've prayed for. I had to retire for it to happen!

'Join me in praying that this is the tide turning, and let's live as though it is.

'Let's live with that expectation that William Carey called for, that we should expect great things from God.'

Steve's twin presidential themes have been the place of scripture in Baptist life, and an encouragement to identify and equip the next generation of leaders. He emphasied both as he concluded his address. 

'Let's be clear about the place of the scriptures that reveal the Lord Jesus Christ, the place that they have amongst us. 

'And let's be aware that if God is going to bless us, then we are going to need evangelists and pastors and teachers and pioneers. 

'Let's look for those women, those men, those younger people who we can identify and equip and resource, so that they can resource and equip and prepare the people of God as they join our churches and as we find them in the communities around us. So that when God acts, God's Baptist, people can ride that new tide, that wave of his blessing when it comes.

'Thank you so much for allowing me the joy of serving.'