NEWS 2007

Easter

9th April 2007

This year we were privileged with the ministry of Rev Geraint Richards (Newport, Gwent) and Rev Dr Iain D Campbell (Back, Isle of Lewis).

Mr Richards preached to us on Good Friday evening, expounding Hebrews 12.2b, which deals with the Lord Jesus enduring the cross for guilty sinners. We were greatly encouraged by this warm, clear and powerful presentation of the Lord’s atoning death, and non-Christians present were challenged directly and urgently to put their trust in the Saviour. 

Dr Campbell preached a series of powerful messages from Saturday evening through to Monday evening:

            Saturday 7pm               Christ’s sanctification and ours (John 17.19) ¹

            Sunday 10am               Christ’s liberation and ours (Ephesians 2.5) ²

            Sunday 6pm                 Christ’s transformation and ours (Philippians 3.21) ²

            Monday 3.15pm            Christ’s intercession and ours (Romans 8.34) ¹

            Monday 6.30pm            Christ’s mission and ours (John 20.21) ¹

(¹ Mt Pleasant, Maesycwmmer         ² Hebron)

Each sermon presented an aspect of Christ’s experience or ministry, concluding with the parallel one of Christian believers – based on and empowered by Christ’s. Both individually and as a series, Dr Campbell’s sermons were rich and deep, without being difficult to follow. Those who heard him were greatly encouraged and challenged, and God was glorified.

Our guest speaker this year was Rev Dr Noel Gibbard (Cardiff, and President of the ETCW, Bridgend), his subject being ‘R B Jones’ (always known in Wales as ‘RB’). Dr Gibbard is hoping shortly to publish a new biography of R B Jones.

Rhys Bevan Jones (1869-1933), was born and brought up a matter of yards from Hebron chapel, where his parents were members and his father a church officer. He was converted at the age of twelve, and later trained for the ministry at Pontypool Baptist College, being ordained in 1893. He was pastor of Baptist churches in Treharris (1893-1895), Llanelli (1895-1899) and Porth, (1899-1933). He founded the South Wales Bible Training Institute at Porth in 1919, remaining its honorary principal until his death - the Institute can be linked in the providence of God through the South Wales Bible College at Barry to the Evangelical Theological College of Wales at Bridgend.

After giving a brief overview of RB’s life and ministry, Dr Gibbard concentrated on his involvement in the revival of 1904-5. RB is perhaps best known for the remarkable work of God attending a series of meetings he led at Rhosllanerchrugog near Wrexham, but Dr Gibbard described in detail his faithful preaching both at home in Tabernacle, Porth and whilst itinerating throughout Wales during the revival. Without question, RB was a man of great significance in Welsh Evangelicalism before, during, and perhaps most of all after the revival, and we were grateful for the opportunity to hear Dr Gibbard remind us of this servant of God.

The meeting was concluded as always with Welshcakes, Bara Brith, etc.

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