In the last edition of our fellowship newsletter, I was requesting prayer for my teaching/preaching trip to the land of India. So at the start of this edition it would be very remiss of me, if I did not report back of the good things that the Lord has done.

Pastor Tom Orr and I returned home on the 20th January 2001, physically exhausted but spiritually elated at the blessing of God upon His word. Each day we had two ‘three hour’ seminars with over four hundred Pastors. What a thrill it was to see their hunger for the Word of God. Then every evening we had the Gospel Crusade again lasting three hours. So a typical day went as follows:-

8.00am Breakfast

9.30am - 12.30pm First Seminar

Lunch

2.30pm - 5.30pm Second Seminar

7.30pm - 10.30pm Gospel Crusade

Dinner

Since returning home we have received letters from India thanking us for the ministry of God’s Word. The highlights for me where two-fold:-

(a) The very real sense of God’s presence in every service.

(b) The 1910 souls who came to faith in Christ during the two weeks.

TO GOD BE ALL THE GLORY.

I’m sure the folk in Ballee Baptist are already wearying of my “India” stories! But let me take a moment to remind you of what happens when a sinner is saved. Luke 15:7 says

“I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in Heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.”

When a sinner is saved from sin, several things happen. One thing is sure, if any man be in Christ he is a new creature - old things are past away and all things become new...(2Cor 5 : 17). Let me give you several things the scriptures indicate that happen when one is “born again” or born from above.

We are informed from the scriptures that there is a heavenly activity when a sinner is saved (Luke 15:7). Who rejoices in heaven?

First the Sovereign rejoices...The Lord does not delight in man’s condemnation but rather

man’s Salvation (Matt 9 :13).

Secondly the angels rejoice...I think that Rev 5 : 11 & 12 would indicate that the angels

rejoice in the work of Redemption.

Thirdly the saints rejoice......I believe somehow word gets around heaven when another

sinner finds the Grace, Mercy and Salvation of God.

Satan cannot remove or eliminate the place called Hell, because it is eternal (Rev 20:10). Satan knows it is his doom, so the Devil seeks to fool everyone he can about salvation, so he can take as many as he can with him to hell. He wants all the company he can muster,

since misery desires company. When a sinner is saved, we can say, “Hallelujah, that is one Satan doesn’t have any longer.”

When Jesus Christ was baptised in the Jordan River, the Holy Ghost came down like a dove, and rested upon Him (Matt 3 :16). At the moment of salvation the Holy Spirit not only descends, and rests upon, but actually indwells and comes into the life of every new born believer (Rom 8 : 9). He is the constant companion of the genuine child of God. He is in us to give us the spiritual wisdom and power to live for God and serve Him.

Mankind, in our natural state, are dead, damned, and deprived, but when we are saved, we partake of the holiness of God (Heb 12:10). The believing sinner is clothed in the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ (2Cor 5 : 21). Eg. Abraham was justified when he believed (Gen. 15 :6 ). We stand not on any merit or righteousness of our own, for we have none, but on the righteousness and holiness of God who is holy.

When God saves a person, He puts a “homing pigeon” instinct in that person’s heart for heaven. None of us look forward to the “Valley of Death,” but there is an instinctive desire for heaven and home. Heaven will be a wonderful place, because there will be no death, no devil, no debt, and no disturbances.

When I remember my trip to India.......imagine all this, multiplied 1910 times!!!!

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“Some Christians attest that God cares so much for us, He would never want any hurt or heartache to touch us. ‘Why, if we really trusted in Him,’ they reason, ‘God would go to any length to release us from our pain.’ But is this so?

While no one is saying God enjoys watching us struggle, scripture indicates He has no qualms about allowing suffering to wound us. But it never means He no longer cares. God certainly cared for Timothy, who struggled with frequent illness. He cared for James, run through with Herod’s sword because of his testimony. He cared for John, exiled on a lonely island. He cared for Stephen, even though he was dragged away from the synagogue and stoned.

God cared about Paul. He told him in his prison cell, ‘Be of good cheer, Paul; for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also in Rome.’ With that I’m sure Paul cast all his anxiety on the Lord. Yet he remained in custody for at least two years after the Lord appeared to him. Did God stop caring in those two years? Of course not! God answered His servant’s prayer by giving him the kind of peace that allowed him to write,

‘I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content.’ Philippians 4 v 11.

God’s care for you goes deeper than your comfort zones. The focus of God’s care is your soul. And the expression of His care will be peace and contentment. It’s a beautiful promise that reminds you of God’s intimate concern whether you’re ill for weeks, bedridden for months, or struggling within your marriage for years. Grab hold of that truth and hang on. No matter what.”

Well, as usual, the past three months in the YPF have been as busy as ever.'Something Seasonal', later named 'A Chile Christmas' was the title of our meeting on 10 December 2000. This meeting was held at the home of Paul and Iris Houston and to them we extend our thanks for all their hospitality towards the YPF. Judith Logan (Richard's sister) and her fiance Hernan Farias, from Chile, took charge of that meeting. It was a real blessing for us to hear of how the Lord's hand has guided Hernan and Judith together and throughout both their lives He has been a constant guide to both of them.
Hernan brought along some new songs for us to learn while Paul and Iris prepared a magnificent feast in the kitchen! Thanks to all who took part.
Our Christmas Party was held in the Church Hall on Thursday 21 December 2000. This was a fun filled evening and a chance for us all to 'let out hair down'. We were all feeling very festive - those sweeping up the floor afterwards knew all about 'Silly String' and 'Party Poppers'!!
As is traditional, the choir took part in the Carol Service on 24 December 2000. Also at Christmas time, there was the Christmas Post-box facility, run for the second year. This proved to be a huge success once again with many using the post-box and most importantly, the donation box. A total of £563.50 was collected in the box and for this we thank all who donated.

TheChristian Family Centre in Armoy was our choice destination for the proceeds this year and they received this with gratitude.

and left us with a challenge from things he learnt while on his trip.

Our visit to Wellington Street on 18 February 2001 saw a good number of young people gathered in their Youth Meeting. William Moody spoke to us very practically about how we should be aiming to 'Share the Gospel' at every given opportunity.
Once again, the choir had their part to play in the Missionary Weekend on 24
February 2001. We thank all who took part, especially those who took lead
singing parts - well done!
We, the YPF Committee, extend our thanks to those of you who support us in
any way. We have a love for each one of our Young People and our desire is to see them saved and 'going on' with God. We do our best to arrange events and meetings that will be helpful steps to guiding our Young People in the right way. For us to continue in this work, and to maintain a Youth Fellowship that will bring glory to God, we need your help, encouragement and prayers. Please support us in whatever way you can.

Ian Calderwood

It would be His last earthly journey. Jesus knew full well what awaited Him at the end of the road. Betrayal?? A shameful trial??Cruel humiliation??A bloody cross?? A lonely death on a dark afternoon??The sins of the world, of all time, dumped on His shoulders?? Broken fellowship with His father?? He stopped and turned to His friends. He poured out His heart to them, telling them exactly what was going to happen to Him.

Talk about unkind ears!! The disciples not only ignored His troubled words, they turned right around and began arguing about who was going to be tops in the coming kingdom. No kind words! No helpful advice! No sympathic ear or compassionate hearts! The disciples distracted and called away by their own ambition, were only half listening. That may be the loneliest part of loneliness, knowing that no one else really understands - or even cares - what you’re going through. Knowing that burden of pain is yours alone. That’s the way it is sometimes, isn’t it???

Friends won’t always be there. Or if they are, they may not always see past the surface. Others may be busy- justifiably so - or simply unavailable. And there you are, carrying it all by yourself. Thankfully, Jesus has been through it too. He understands. He too, knows what it feels like to have friends who can’t or perhaps don’t always care. So He’s the one who lends the sympathetic ear. His eye contact never falters. His heart is yours in the middle of your pain. 

Submitted by Albert Moore.

I would like to share with you some thoughts I put together by God’s help from my ‘quiet times’ out of the book of Genesis; the story of Noah and the ark. My attention was especially caught by those lovely words in Genesis chapter 6 v 8; ‘But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.’ The more I thought about these words the more I became aware of the depth of truth contained in them to us as individuals; we to have found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Those of us who are saved can put our names in place of Noah’s and say the same. Grace when God in His mercy saved us, grace that God keeps us in His mercy, grace to forgive and restore when we fail and grace to help us cope in the trials when our hope is smashed by fear and complete despair. When Noah built the ark it had a window in it above ch 6 v 16 and so if Noah wanted to look out he would be looking upward and heavenward. We as believers must always keep looking upwards to heaven and to God amidst our busy lives and the many things that distract and invade our minds of God. Isaiah 45 v 22.

Noah and his family were to go into the ark and every living thing of all flesh, male and female; they were to take unto them of all food (Gen. 6v21). God had seen to their physical needs and provided for them all that they needed. Thank God for our food and His provision day by day. God does and will meet all our needs Phil. 4 v 19. When we are rejoicing in the fulness of Gods blessings and all is going well, it would be so much easier to believe that God meets all our needs but indeed the opposite can also be said when we’re in the midst of trials because God also meets our needs. Thank God for every prayer, it’s effect and answer of which I personally and many of God’s people can witness to.

Noah obeyed God for it says ‘Thus did Noah according to all that God commanded him, so did he’ Gen. 6 v 22 & 7 v 5. We should and ought to do all that God would command us to do. Sometimes we disobey God and don’t always get things right how so often we could say the same as the apostle Paul when writing to the Romans in chapter 7 v 15-25. If we disobey God we should ask His forgiveness Isaiah 43 v 25 and learn from our mistakes to rely and trust God all the more. Sometimes God in His mercy and sovereignty can turn our failures around for His glory and good as He wonderfully moulds and shapes us to bring something profitable and good out of the ‘shipwreck’ that will forever teach us and stick by us.

God shut Noah and His family in the ark where they were safe and secure from the deep waters surrounding the ark outside. I think this is a lovely picture of God’s protection to Noah and his family during the time of the flood. We to are mercifully protected by God day by day John 10 v 28. As the waters increased they bare up the ark and so to when the storms and difficulties increase in our lives; God will bare us up and protect us so that we will be safe and secure in Him.

God remembered Noah Gen. 8 v 1 and He will remember us. God didn’t leave Noah and his family in the ark because He made by His almighty power, the waters to return from the face of the earth 8 v 3. God will not forget us in the darkest of trials or difficulties and if we seek Him and pour out our hearts to Him He will be with us and bring us through. When the waters were dried up Noah removed the covering of the ark, looked out and saw dry land again, Gen. 8 v 13&14. Noah could look out with joy and rejoicing knowing that

When God removes the trials and difficulties in our lives by His almighty power, we to can look ahead with joy and a renewed strength of faith again to our future knowing that the one who protected and brought us safely through before will not leave us or forsake us because He has promised to be with us always, Matt 28 v 20.

When God answers our prayers we should thank God for His goodness and mercy to us. God blessed Noah Gen. 9 v 1 and so to will God bless us again.

Would Noah and his family have perished in the flood if they hadn’t built the ark? I don’t believe they would because God would have saved them by divine intervention in another way. Why? because Noah had found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

I conclude my brief thought by thanking God for His grace and mercy to a wretch like me; I will never be worthy of such, the mercy and love and grace of God.

The New Year began with a visit from Trevor Boyd and Billy Scott. They showed slides of their work amongst the orphaned children of Romania and every one’s heart was deeply touched by what was shown on slide and the spoken word. In February our speaker was unable to come and so Mrs Andrea Conn graciously accepted our invitation to come at short notice. The meeting was very well attended and a good evening was enjoyed by all. We hope to have Mr. Boyle (our original speaker) later on in the year.

Unfortunately in March our speaker was again unable to come. This time we called on the services of Mr. & Mrs George McConnell from the Family Life Foundation who specifically deal with Family Care & Cancer. This couple are living with cancer and they told us of how this disease has affected them not just physically but emotionally but how even spiritually they have come to depend on God for each day. Please remember to pray not only for George and Elizabeth but for each of our speakers as they tell others about the Saviour they love so well.

In April we are hoping to have a visit from Mrs Doreen Lewis from B.E.E. She has a ministry in 3rd World countries amongst the women folk and we are looking forward to her coming. Please plan to attend if possible. We would love to see you there. This will finish our season for this year. Please pray as we make plans for various speakers that God will guide and direct as we make preparations for the new season beginning in September.

While our missionary meetings finish in April our prayer meetings continue as usual throughout the summer months. Why not come and join us for one hour on the last Wednesday of each month. We cannot expect blessing if we are not prepared to pray. Please come and encourage the different ladies that lead this meeting month by month. We have a lovely time of fellowship and a real sense of God’s presence can be felt at the prayer meetings. Join us if you can. We look forward to seeing you there.

The writer of the book of Ruth takes us behind the scenes and lets us trace the steps of one little family who are overcome by famine and problems. The head of this family is Elimelech. He is married to Naomi and they have two boys, one named Mahlon, the other Chilion. Today names are given without much thought but in Bible times names given to Hebrew children were very important.

When Elimelech was born his father and mother gave this name with a thought to the boy's future. Elimelech means, "My God is King" The greatest desire of his parents was that the boy would live up to his name.

There is nothing like a crisis to reveal one's true character. We do not know if his parents were still alive when the events now disclosed took place, but if so they would have been greatly disappointed with their son.

A famine had come to Judah, and Bethlehem had been hard hit. God had four sore punishments that He declared He would bring upon the God rejector and idolator - War; Famine; Pestilence and Death. These He used again and again but especially Famine, (13 famines in Scripture) - "a famine in Egypt; a famine in the days of David; Samaria had a sore famine" etc. Sin was the cause of the famine in this Land.

Had not God provided two million Hebrews with daily food in the wilderness for years? Had God changed? This was a loss of faith and he removed himself from God's purposes and took sole responsibility for his family' future. The consequences were tragic. (Men have shared in tears with me about difficulties in Churches / Fellowships and giving up with the result that their families today have no interest whatever, strangers to grace and to God) The price of backsliding is too great a price to pay. In 1 Corth. 11 v 30, Paul states that because of sin in the lives of believers some are weak, some are sick, and some have died. God's discipline for sure is upon the disobedient.

Within a short time in that Land of Moab, Elimelech dies, leaving behind a grieving broken-hearted wife in a strange land with her two sons. He never witnessed the ulti

mate sorrow brought upon the family through his actions. Before we sin, before we turn our backs on God's love and God's plans, let us stop for a moment and ask, 'who may have to pick up the pieces and bear the consequences of our actions'.

Dear Naomi's grief is soon to be added to as both her sons marry pagan girls. For Naomi it is grief upon grief, but it is not yet over. Within a short time there were two more funerals, her two Sons die.

Verses 8, 9 and 10 of Chapter 1 in heartbreaking. Naomi's advice to these two girls, "Go return each to her Mother's house, the Lord grant you that ye may find rest in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them and they all lifted up their voice and wept. And they said unto her, surely we will return with thee, unto thy people". How would these girls find rest in a pagan land, this was terrible advice. No one has ever found rest there.

When Naomi arrived back in Bethlehem she was unrecognizable. "They said, is this Naomi? She said, "call me not Naomi, call me Mara for the Almighty hath dealt bitterly with me, I went out full and the Lord hath brought me home again empty" v19/20. That is what sin does. Naomi's name means pleasant. Pleasantness was her going away Name, bitterness was her coming home Name.

Ruth marries Boaz, he was the one who had the right to redeem Ruth and make her his wife. They had a Son, Obed, who was the Father of Jessie. Jessie was the Father of David.

This Chapter opens with a famine and closes with a harvest. The intervention of Divine grace is the only explanation that can be given for the glorious transformation. Ruth at the start is a foreigner, at the finish a Fellow-citizen, grace is the only reason.

Whenever God writes the history of a life, He does it with a purpose - to teach lessons and illustrate truth. When we study the biographies of bible characters we should dig deep and find out what God is saying. 'Lord what wilt Thou have me to learn here' Let this be our prayer as we study this mighty chapter of His word.

Who is a pardoning God like Thee and who has grace so rich and free.

If my days were untroubled and my heart always light

Would I seek that fair land where there is no night.

I f I never grew weary with the weight of my load

Would I search for God’s peace at the end of the road.

If I never knew sickness and never felt pain

Would I reach for a hand to help and sustain.

If I walked not with sorrow and lived without loss

Would my soul seek sweet solace at the foot of the cross.

If all I desired was mine day by day

Would I kneel before God and earnestly pray

If God sent no Winter to freeze me with fear

Would I yearn for the warmth of Spring every year.

I ask myself this and the answer is plain

If my life were all pleasure and I never knew pain

I’d seek God less often and need Him much less

For God’s sought more often in times of distress.

And no one knows God or sees Him so plain

As those he has met on the pathway of pain.

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Long ago in a certain town in Germany a good Christian woman was one night sitting by her dying fire. Her children were beside her weeping, for there was nothing for them in the home to eat. The mother kept assuring them that the Lord would provide for their needs as He had promised. At that point one of the little girls said to her mother, look mother, at the coin in the side of the peat. The mother looked and pulled the coin out from the bosom of the burning ember. In the morning she was told that the coin was of much value. That day as she laid her table and filled her cupboards with good things they could not but praise,‘The Giver of all Good.’

Philippians 4 v 19.

“I’ve done my best to lead a good life.” “I’ve never hurt anyone,”

“My good works should earn me a place in HEAVEN?”

SOUNDS FAMILIAR?

Have you said these things!

Is it really possible to go to Heaven by doing ‘your best’

JESUS SAID:- “I am the way; the truth; and the life;

No man cometh unto the Father but by me.”

How many times dear unsaved friend have you heard the gospel?

How many times have you hardened your heart and ignored God’s warnings to repent?

It says in the Bible that God’s spirit won’t always strive with man. Why don’t you make the decision now to be saved before your chance is past. Only God knows how long your life will last - you could be in Eternity before you get to the bottom of this page. Read this poem and put yourself in this position.

Tomorrow, he promised his conscience

Tomorrow I mean to believe,

Tomorrow I’ll think as I ought to

Tomorrow my Saviour receive.

Tomorrow I’ll conquer the habits

That hold me from Heaven away.

And ever His conscience repeated

One word and one only - Today!

Tomorrow! Tomorrow! Tomorrow!

‘Til youth with its vision was gone

‘Til age with its passions had written

The message of fate on his brow.

And forth from the shadows came death

With the pitiless syllable NOW!

Anon.

The cross is at the heart of Christian theology. It was pre-figured in the Old Testament in the types and shadows. It was the reason why the Saviour was born in Bethlehem and he ‘set his face as a flint’ to go to Jerusalem. As He died that atoning death on the cross, it divided all of mankind into two classes - the saved and the lost. It was the subject of the apostles preaching and their only glory and it dominates the teaching of the New Testament as believers are ordered to live lives worthy of the One who loved them and gave Himself for them.

It is no wonder then that the thought of the cross, casting a shadow over our lives, under which we are to live, formed the theme of a well-loved hymn. It as penned by a prolific hymnwriter, Fanny Crosby, who was blind from the age of six months due to a physicians’s negligence. Her hymnwriting was prolific and she wrote over 2000 hymns, sometimes under an assortment of pen names. She died at the ripe old age of 95 and her legacy has blessed millions of souls ever since. Submitted By Jeannie Craig.

I am Ballymena born & bred and lived all my life in the Doury Road estate until I was married. Although neither of my parents were believers, my mother sent my sister and me to Ballyloughan and then Wellington St. Sunday Schools. I remember nothing from those Sunday school days but my sister Michelle was saved at 11 after attending meetings at Ballymena Free Presbyterian Church. I had no interest in the things of God and left church when I was 13 and never went back until I was 25.

Another Ballee church member Billy McDowell was getting married in Sept 1993, and as I was his best man he invited me to the Gospel meetings under the guise of me getting to know some of those who would be going to the wedding. Right from the very first meeting I realised that I needed to be saved such was the simplicity of the message and the conviction of Gods spirit, however like so many others, I thought that I would come to Christ when I was ready. I continued attending the Gospel meetings and to procrastinate until 7th Nov. 1993 when Eric Magee preached on the parable of the great supper in Luke 14. Many people had been invited but they each made excuses not to accept the invitation, leaving the Master to proclaim that they would never be invited again. Verse 24 “ For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper ” sent a chill up my spine, and I realised that I couldn’t afford to reject Gods offer another time in case He never spoke to me again. The parallel to my situation was obvious to me, since I had refused many invitations from Gods servants including my sister, best friend, boss and preachers at Ballee. I waited after the meeting and spoke further with Eric in a Portacabin outside the hall before I accepted Gods merciful invitation and put my trust in him. I praise God for his mercy that he gave me so many opportunities and like many I wish that I hadn’t wasted so many years. A few weeks later, Sharon who I later married, was saved after a gospel meeting taken by Alan Hoey.

As a challenge to those who like to believe that they will accept Christ in their own time, can I remind you that God may not strive after you forever. Please lay your pride aside and seek him while he may be found. Every day thousands of living stones are being added to the church, and it will soon be complete. Don’t be left out wishing you were in.

In recent days foot and mouth disease has rarely been out of the headlines and being directly involved in agriculture it is the most dreaded disease of all not to mention the severe economic and political problems that it causes. Leaving aside the physical reality and looking at it in a spiritual sense can change the way we view this problem and it makes us ask the question, “Is this a natural phenomenon or God’s judgment.” I have read some articles, passages of scripture and listened to some preachers and commentators and I want to share a few of these views and thoughts with you.

The general consensus of opinion would suggest that this is God’s judgment upon our nation. J.C.Ryle, Bishop of Liverpool, wrote a small booklet called “The finger of God,” after an outbreak in England in 1865. He believed it was God’s direct judgment on the people because of materialism, drunkenness, adultery, no fear of God, a movement towards Roman Catholicism and an ungodly Government. He suggests that not only was God sending a message to the ungodly to repent but also to the church to consider their ways.

In Exodus Ch 5, Moses and Aaron told Pharaoh of the Lord’s instruction to lead the people of Israel into the wilderness that they might have a feast to praise Him and to sacrifice unto Him. Moses and Aaron demand that he let them go, verse 3 “lest he fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword.” The book of Exodus contains the accounts of the plaques with Ch 9 dealing specifically with the plague of the cattle were he chose to in verse 4 “sever between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt.” This shows how God chose to punish one nation because of their disobedience and save the other because they were obedient.

I heard a preacher recently speak on Jonah in relation to the present crisis and in Ch 4 he suggests that because Ninevah had repented He spared (last verse) 120,000 children and much cattle. He felt that Ulster would be spared from the brunt of this pestilence because of the much suffering of the pst 30 years which has left many orphans due to the deeds of terrorists and because livestock production is our main industry.

Other’s would suggest that because our government have burned so many cattle because of B.S.E. they are being punished for this dreadful waste while millions starve because they have nothing to eat. Whatever the view as to why this has been sent, I feel we cannot deny that God has sent it for a purpose and surely we must look and learn that God is mighty and powerful and He blesses those that fear and obey Him.

1. What is Gift Aid?

If you pay tax, Gift Aid is a scheme by which you can give a sum of money to charity and in our case the church can reclaim from the Inland Revenue basic rate tax on your gift. That increases the value of the gift you make. For example, if you give £10 using Gift Aid in the current tax year, that gift is worth £12.82 to the church.

2. How can I make a payment to the church?

You can make payments in cash, cheque, direct debit or standing order. If you are paying by any of these methods the church treasurer will give you a ‘roll number’ which you use each time you make a payment.

3. How does my gift qualify for Gift Aid?

You Must

* Pay at least as much tax, as the church will reclaim on your gifts in the tax year in

which you make them.

* Make a declaration to the church that you want your gift to be treated as a ‘Gift Aid

donation.’ (See note 6&7)

4. Have I paid sufficient tax?

When you give money to the church under Gift Aid, the church treasurer will at the end of the financial year reclaim basic rate tax on that money. You must therefore pay an amount of tax in that year at least equal to the tax the church will reclaim.

5. How much has Ballee Baptist Church reclaimed in recent years?

Although the giving through Covenant/ Gift Aid has increased over the last number of years the actual amount we have been able to reclaim has decreased due to the cut in the basic rate of tax! ( See example below).

Financial Amount

year ending reclaimed

31 December £’s

1998 8723

1999 7821

2000 7552

Total 24,096.00

6. Why do I need to give a declaration?

The declaration is the church’s authority to reclaim tax from the Inland Revenue on your gift. By giving the declaration, you are confirming that you understand this.

7. How do I make a declaration?

In writing or orally. Here at Ballee Baptist Church we have a written declaration form which is available from the church treasurer.

All you need to do is

* Enter your name and address

*Make clear whether the declaration covers this gift or others as well (already made or

to be given later

Make clear that you want the gift or gifts to be within the Gift Aid scheme.

These details are all included in the pre-printed Gift Aid declaration form provided by the church.

8. Can I withdraw a declaration?

If, for any reason, you decide that your gift should not be within the Gift Aid - perhaps you realise that you will not pay enough tax to cover the tax reclaimed by the church - then you can do so, provided you inform the church treasurer in time.

9. What if I no longer want my gifts to be within Gift Aid?

If you wish to stop your donations or if you think that your gifts should no longer be within Gift Aid because you on longer pay sufficient tax to cover the tax that the church reclaims, you can cancel your declaration at any time. The cancellation will take effect from the date of your letter.

10. What about money paid under my existing deed of covenant?

If you had a covenant in existence at 5 April 2000, you may continue to make the payments due under that deed, without completing a Gift Aid declaration, until that deed expires. If you make additional gifts, above your commitment under the deed, you must give the church a declaration to cover those gifts if you want to be able to recover the tax on them.

11.Do I have to wait until my deed of covenant expires?

No. You can bring your regular payments to Ballee Baptist Church within the Gift Aid scheme, simply by making a declaration. You do not need to execute a further deed of covenant.

12. How do I set up a direct debit for the Gift Aid scheme?

Just ask the treasurer for the bank details of the church and you can then set up a direct debit with your own bank - this method simply avoids having to place your gift in a marked envelope in the offering boxes.

Further details on the Gift Aid scheme can be obtained by asking the church treasure who also has a small supply of the Inland Revenue booklet ‘Giving to Charities by individuals’ (IR65)

(Prepared by Church Treasurer - Stephen Irons February 2001)

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Sunday 1st April AM & PM Pastor Evan Williams. {Rathcoole Baptist.}

Sunday 20th May AM & PM Pastor Eddie Rae.

Sunday 3rd June AM & PM {Anniversary Sunday}

Pastor W. Entwhistle {Clifton Park Baptist}

Sunday 17th June AM & PM {Youth Sunday} Mr. Henry Berry. {C.E.F}

To Adrian & Jayne Shaw on the birth of their son Matthew on 6/2/01.

To Billy & Sharon Cull on the birth of their son Stephen Brian on 22/01/01.