‘The one concern of the devil is to keep saints from praying. He fears nothing from prayer-less studies, prayer-less work, prayer-less religion. He laughs at our toil. He mocks at our wisdom. But he trembles when we pray.’  Samuel Chadwick, Principal Cliff College 1912-1932

Samuel Chadwick (1860-1932) was a Wesleyan Methodist minister. He was born in Burnley, Lancashire in the industrialised north of England into a   devout Methodist family. At the age of 21, he became a lay pastor at nearby Stacksteads.

After a major awakening and deepening of his faith in his late twenties, he moved on to larger congregations and greater popularity. After a few years preaching in Edinburgh and at a new chapel in Glasgow he was ordained in 1890 and returned to England as Superintendent of the Leeds Mission.

In 1904 Chadwick began lecturing weekly at Cliff College. He was doing mission work in the South Yorkshire Coalfield when the Principal of Cliff died in 1912, he immediately returned to the school and was appointed  principal, remaining in that post for the rest of his career.

Hillsborough Baptist Church has recently joined the Tearfund Connected Church Programme. This is designed for churches and Christian groups that want to get involved in supporting a specific project through prayer and giving. The project we have chosen to support is in Ethiopia and involves Self Help Groups. The Kale Heywat Church run savings and self help groups working mainly with women from the poorest families in urban areas who are often unable to provide for their children. We have pledged to give £450 to the project and Ian Baillie will be our contact.

We will receive a certificate, some bookmarks and quarterly news updates. We will build up a relationship with the project and get to know what is going on in the community. Those supported by the project will be pleased and blessed to know that people many miles away are praying for them. We can send letters and photographs and pray regularly for the work but we cannot expect like for like communication in return. Some of the people we support will not speak English or be able to read or write but someone at the partner’s headquarters will respond on their behalf.

Tearfund inform us that we can go and visit the partner, get them praying for us and even invite them here – at our own expense. This project is commended to you for your support and prayers.

Facts & Figures:
• 68,000 people involved in 4,000 self help groups.
• 95% of those involved are women, transforming lives and improving family and community relationships.
• More than 200,000 children are well fed, clothed, have access to health care and are going to school.
• Over 100 local churches showing the love of Christ to those in need.
• £75,000 annually required for the project.

Prayer Points:
• Praise for the thousands of lives being transformed.
• Wisdom for those leading the project.
• Continued restoration of relationships.

Look out for updates on the Tearfund website or in thie magazine

Recordings of the latest sermons are being added to the site all the time. Check the ‘sermons’ page for a full list.

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ,

if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit,

if any tenderness and compassion,

then make my joy complete by being like-minded,

having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.

Philippians 2:1-2