Baptists Together Mission Forum, by Sandra Crawford 

This edition of the magazine is a glimpse into the different ways Baptists are sharing God’s mission. Their stories show how mission is responsive to the local community, and steeped in prayer and discernment. “Each church has its own unique missional fingerprint,” Lynn Green notes. “Each gathering of believers is called to worship and share Jesus in their own context… this makes for a wonderful, beautiful and varied Baptist movement.”

As Baptists we cherish our independence which enables such variety. But we recognise too, Baptists have consistently sought to walk alongside, watch over and learn from each other. Working together enriches what we do – and the National Mission Forum is one expression of our covenantal relationships.

Emerging out of the Futures Process and the closing of the National Mission Department (2013), the purpose of the National Mission Forum is to maintain a national perspective on mission across the Baptist family and be a place for collaborative listening and action. We seek to discern what God is doing at the grassroots, and reflect this back across our movement.

An outworking of Baptists Together, the Forum intentionally comprises mission specialists and those with a passion for mission drawn from each Association, as well as representatives from the Specialist Teams and Baptist Colleges.

Mission Forum meets twice a year. Each Association is invited to bring a grassroots practitioner, so we continue to stay connected to the local church, and to ensure those in the room are representative of the diversity in our Baptist family. As we listen deeply to one another, we observe growing signs of God’s Kingdom through the varied ministries of pioneers, chaplains, and local churches engaged in God’s mission throughout our nations.

Insights, recommendations, and feedback are taken back to Associations by their delegates, and the facilitator of Mission Forum is part of the Core Leadership Team and Council to inform national dialogue.

Recent discussions have covered the following subjects:

• The Quiet Revival
• The Rise of Christian Nationalism and Far-Right Movements: Implications for Mission
• Creation Care
• Baptists Together National Strategic Collaboration in Mission
• Migration
• Mission Resolution

Over the years there have been many more conversations. We have kept in touch with our wider Baptist family too. Everton Jackson (Director of Integral Mission from Baptist World Alliance), the Federation of Baptists in Britain and Ireland (FBBI), and BMS World Mission have all joined with us on occasions. Each has contributed a valuable perspective.

Reports of our gatherings are available on the Baptists Together website: baptist.org.uk/mfreports. We also presented a session at Baptist Union Council in October 2024: baptist.org.uk/oct24.


Mission Forum’s Purpose

• Mutual Support: Creating a network where mission specialists can encourage and learn from one another.
• Reflective Practice: Observing and discussing what God is doing in mission — personally, regionally, and nationally — and initiating research or strategic plans as needed.
• Inspiration and Best Practice: Taking initiative to inspire, develop, and encourage mission, sharing best practices across the movement.
• Representation: Providing a voice for Baptists Together at national meetings and events, ensuring the movement’s perspectives are heard.
• Strategic Oversight: Informing those representing the Mission Forum on the Strategic Mission Grants Committee and receiving reports on grant allocations.

Grants

Over the past decade, Mission Forum has been responsible for overseeing the allocation of the Baptists Together Strategic Mission Budget to national and strategic projects. This funding pot was created following the sale of the Newington Court property in London. We seek to discern what God is doing at the grassroots of our movement, and resource with grants to fan that work of God into flame. It has provided support for a diverse array of mission initiatives.

This pot has now been used and decisions about funding for national strategic mission initiatives is being considered as part of the Financial Model Review.


Mission Resolution

We hear compelling stories of communities being transformed and lives changed by encounters with Jesus. We rejoice in reports of churches witnessing baptisms and numerical growth. We draw inspiration from those whose steady perseverance, obedience, and compassionate acts share the essence of heaven’s kingdom within their communities; and are challenged by prophetic voices that urge us to pursue God’s justice.

In this way the Forum views mission and justice as inseparable, recognising that our call to obey the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) also means being sent, like Jesus, to embody and reflect his manifesto from Luke 4 — working to bring about God’s Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

One area that has become clear in our conversations over the past couple of years is how we live in a rapidly changing world where UK culture is becoming more divided. We therefore believe it is more important than ever that we listen to one another and learn together.

The current proposed Mission Resolution was developed out of our conversations to work toward a common understanding of mission. Such an understanding can further unify us as we seek to recognise the movement of the Spirit and participate in mission that brings transformation to individuals, communities, and society as a whole.

Baptist Assembly 2025 marked the beginning of a two-year process of discernment, dialogue, and engagement, with the goal of the resolution being adopted at the 2027 Assembly. We are currently carefully considering all the feedback and mission stories received through the Baptists Together website and will be present at Assembly 2026 to continue that listening process.

For more on the Mission Resolution, visit: baptist.org.uk/missionresolution


Renew Wellbeing: "The Charity Grew Tenfold"

Renew Wellbeing received Mission Forum funding to accelerate and multiply its impact. Founder and Baptist pastor Ruth Rice says:

“When we applied for some funding back in 2018-19 to expand the work of Renew Wellbeing there were only a handful of Renew spaces opened by amazing churches wanting to be present, be prayerful and partner to see improved wellbeing in their churches and communities.

"Thanks to the Mission Forum’s incredibly generous support and the advice and help that came with it we saw the charity grow tenfold over the few years we received the funding. We were able to employ some part time team and reach out to many more churches and areas.

"Little did we know we were about to face a global pandemic, but the faith put in us by the Mission Forum funders meant we could hit the ground kneeling when it happened, and roll out online training, support and a new resource to any churches realising they needed to address wellbeing issues and quickly.

"Without the Mission Forum money I am not sure we would now have more than 300 centres nationally (and beyond), seven paid team, many volunteers, five books and loads of online resources to help churches be at the heart of what God is doing in renewing wellbeing. Thank you Mission Forum. Thank you so very much.”


The Small Church Connexion Team

Mission Forum funding has supported the Small Church Connexion Team (SCC), which aims to provide a unique and supportive network for Baptists Together churches with 40 members or less. More than half our Union’s churches are classed as small (below 40 members).

The SCC Team does this through hubs, which enable smaller Baptist churches to meet for training, resourcing and general encouragement: 19 have been planted, with 14 still active. Some are on their sixth event. The SCC has a growing team of ambassadors under Tim Lovejoy’s leadership. The ambassador role involves building relationships of support and trust with the churches, and a listening ear to discuss their needs and identify ways in which the church could be helped.

It also offers transitional ministry in some parts of the country, and has been a presence at several national and association events. It has been working alongside other organisations such as Baptist Insurance, E4:12, K180 and Big Life, all of whom encourage the small churches to reach out with the gospel.

“I want to celebrate something truly special in our Baptist family—the Small Church Connexion,” says Kim Bames, secretary of Waltham Abbey Baptist Church. “What began as an idea has grown into a movement of encouragement, unity, and shared purpose. It’s reminded us that being small in number is not a disadvantage. In fact, it’s often in the small, faithful steps that God does His biggest work.

"This Connexion has shown us that when we come together—sharing resources, stories, prayers, and vision, we become part of something far greater than ourselves. We’re not isolated congregations trying to do it all alone. We’re a network of believers, walking together, growing together, and building something with lasting impact.

"And we couldn’t do this without Hilary Taylor. Hilary has poured her heart into this initiative—her time, her energy, her prayers, and her love. Because of her dedication, the Connexion isn’t just a name—it’s a living, breathing community.”


Growing Young Leaders and Enabling Them to See Their Potential

Mission Forum funding contributed to the collaborative working and promoting of the intern programmes being offered across our Baptist movement. This included supporting the cohort of 31 young British Baptist leaders (aged 18–35) who attended the SENT23 gathering in Stavanger, Norway, and the subsequent three-year mission-focussed learning community.

“They are a resourced group of young adults who are discerning their calling,” says Jonny Hirst, a regional minister in the North Western Baptist Association and member of the core group of the Baptists Together Young Adults Round Table (YART).

“Individuals really grew and gained more clarity in their calling either in their church or workplace roles. They positively spoke out and shared testimonies of mission and stepping out into new roles; a couple of individuals discerned calling to recognised and accredited ministry. The community has contributed to the growing momentum of 18–35s.”

Representatives of this group have met with Mission Forum and contributed to our ongoing conversations.


Other Mission Forum Grants

• Everyone Everywhere: Conferences and strategy for mission — everyoneeverywhere.church
• Coastal Expression: A thriving network of people living and working in coastal communities, supporting and learning from one another
• Pioneer Ambassadors: Four part-time ambassadors to those working in the margins in mission — baptist.org.uk/pioneerambassadors.
• BUEN (Baptist Union Environmental Network): Developing a national missional environmental programme of material — baptist.org.uk/buen 
• Hong Kong Project: Now moving into a church planting phase — baptist.org.uk/hk.
• Firestarters: Micro-church movement working on "scattered, not small" — firestartersuk.com.
• Digital Fuelcast Collective: Providing quality video opportunities — thefuelcast.com.
• Urban Expression: Urban mission with local teams recruiting and deploying — urbanexpression.org.uk.
• Project Violet Research: Supporting the project investigating women’s experience in ministry — projectviolet.org.uk.

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