Raring to go. The guys from DPBC are all ready to go to Soul Survivor 2010. Five nights, camping, worship, great teaching and lots of fun with thousands of other young Christians.

No, the team are not blue with the cold. The last evening at Soul Survivor this year was a fancy dress. The Smurfs are back in town and the soon to be Papa Smurf (Jon) is looking very excited at the prospect.

Photograph of the Dinas Powys Baptist church, Masterlife Discipleship course group taken at the Celebration and Presentation evening held at Hebron Hall on Wednesday 4th August 2010.

Jade is trying to teach the group a new dance. She will have further opportunities to teach other disciples to dance before the Lord when she leads a group of 14 people from Mount Pleasant Baptist church, Barry all of whom have signed up to take part in the Masterlife Discipleship training course in September.

Some people have already asked to be included in a Masterlife group this Autumn. If you are interested in joining the group which will run between September and Easter 2011 then have a chat with Ruth or Steve who will be happy to talk about the course with you.

TESTIMONIES FROM THOSE WHO HAVE COMPLETED THE COURSE.

"The course helped me through a natural progression in my faith. I felt that as new situations and questions came up, Masterlife was able to answer them. It was as if the course was written for me and acted like a personal coach, confirming and affirming my thoughts and feelings"

"It has made me appreciate what faith actually is and how this is cemented through being a part of the church. My expectations of what God wants for me and what I can actually give have changed along with my desire to be part of, and to see, His Kingdom realised on earth".

"Masterlife has helped me to know the importance of spending time each day with God. We have covered a lot of different subjects, which has helped me understand and live out what it is to be a disciple. It has helped me to get to know the people in my group too. I feel like I know God better by looking at how I am as a Christian and what a disciple should be like. It has really helped me be disciplined as a disciple".

"Masterlife has really helped me to grow closer to God and have more of a relationship with him through reading my Bible, praying and discovering where he is calling me at the moment. I have really enjoyed having fellowship in my group which has helped me be more confident and open with people. Masterlife has given me the base tools that I know I will keep growing in and has encouraged me to witness more to the people around me. Even though I still struggle with different things I am more aware of them now and can work on them in God's strength. Masterlife has grown me, made me more disciplined and prepared for my future ministries".

Some of the Masterlife group enjoying the recent Presentation evening. No they are not concentrating on a Bible study, they are playing the "Articulate" board game.

LLANGASTY RETREAT HOUSE

At the end of each Masterlife Discipleship course, the group leaders spend a day away in prayer. The purpose of the day is to pray about each person that has just completed the course ahead of meeting with them individually so that they can talk about Spiritual giftings and possible opportunities for Ministry and Mission within the church at Dinas Powys and beyond. The hope is to be able then to help the disciple explore areas of ministry and set some goals for the year ahead.

Steve, Ruth & Gi were at Llangasty last week and despite the drizzle had a lovely day there and a great lunch. Llangasty really is a great place to visit, a christian centre, situated just off the A40 Brecon to Abergavenny road, with plenty of room to pray together or to roam around on your own. Outside the main building are lovely garden areas, patio overlooking Llangorse lake which you can walk down to and which has a lovely quiet church to sit in as well.

The centre hold open days on which you can just go along and take your own sandwiches and perhaps make a small donation to the work or you can arrange to go for the whole day (10am - 4pm) during which a lovely 2 course lunch is supplied (cost £16).

If you are looking for somewhere to have a day of prayer and get away from the home distractions, then I would strongly recommend Llangasty. The one picture above does not do the place justice, but when you arrive at Llangasty and look out across the wide open lake to the hills beyond you find yourself straight into the Psalms, a good place to start on any day of prayer.

You can find more about the centre at their website http://www.llangasty.com/ or you can ring them at 01874 658250.

BAPTISMS AT DINAS POWYS BAPTIST CHURCH

Don't forget that this coming Sunday, 8th August we will be having 5 baptisms straight after the morning service. The baptisms will be held at Hebron pool and everyone is invited to stay for a buffet lunch afterwards.

The five people getting baptised on this occasion are : Daffydd Griffiths, Carl Long, Nathan Richards, Sammi Dean & Peter Dewey.

Please do come and support this lovely group of people as they commit themselves further to Jesus by going through the waters of Baptism.

WEDDING PICTURES 17th JULY 2010

The entrance of the Bride
(Sorry our roving reported couldn't get a good shot of the brides entrance. If you have a better picture of this moment then do send it in to the blog via dpbcsec@tiscali.co.uk)