| Second Annual Report - 1912 |
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We present the second Annual Report of the Hastings Baptist Church with feelings of deep gratitude to God. We feel that his Holy Spirit has been present with power at our services and although, the progress made possible appears not numerically great, yet the members have been built up in the faith and have been drawn closer together with bonds of Christian love and fellowship.
We commenced the year with a membership roll of 28. Eleven members have been added to our roll - 7 of these by Baptism in this Church and four by transfer from other Baptist churches. We have lost 3 members. One has been transferred to Wellington, and two leaving the district have resigned membership, while one has removed from the roll for other reasons. This leaves our roll at the end of the year with 36 members. We are pleased to report that the hand of death has not, visited our membership during the year. One Baptismal Service has been held - two candidates being immersed. One of these has joined the Church, the other has left the District. The following Members were elected to Office for 1911, at the last Annual Meeting. Deacons: H. E. Wright; W. Turner, J. M. Barbour, W.G. Turner Owing to the growth of the cause it was considered necessary to increase the number of the Diaconate and in February Messrs M. Lascelles and J. Fear were elected Deacons. The various services held during the year have been attended by an increasing number and all branches of the work show an improvement. The Superintendent of the Sunday School reports satisfactory progress. At the commencement of the year there were 58 children enrolled. At the 31st December the number has increased to 80 an addition of 22. The Cradle Roll contains 24 names. The teaching staff has increased from 3 to 5. Mission work has received financial support from the scholars. The Young Men's Bible Class under the leadership of our Pastor reports the roll at the commencement of the year numbered 8 and at the end 7. The class meets each Sunday arid the subjects dealt with have proved helpful and are usually well discussed amongst the members. The Class donated £2 towards the Baptist Union for Home Missions. A payment for the cleaning up of the Church grounds was made and £2 2s was given towards the cost of three Baptismal gowns. The balance now in hand amounts to 5s 11d. The Young Women's Bible Class under the leadership of Mr. H. E. Wright reports a roll number in December 1910 of ... and in December 1911 of ... Members of this class have from time to time been taken into other branches of Church work and the roll has therefore been affected. Sums of money have been devoted to various Missionary Societies and the year has proved one of usefulness and help to all members.
The One By One Working BandWe have just ended our first years work here and we have great cause to be thankful to God for answered prayer; 6 converts, plus 9 girls and one lad of 15 - a total of 16 have been won for Christ. We can indeed raise our hearts in gratitude to God. We commenced with a membership of 20. During the year four have left the district but 6 have been enrolled giving - an increase of 2. The members meet together for prayer and praise the first Sunday evening in each month and these gatherings are proving to be of great help and blessing to all who take part. The object of the band is to win Souls for Christ and if the members continue to work unitedly before God with this grand object in view - then indeed the band will be blessed and many souls will know of the Salvation of the Lord.
Open Air ServicesOpen air services, in connection with our Church were commenced in May last. Mr. Lascelles was appointed Convener, and regularly, as the weather permitted, meetings were held at the street comer. We do not know the actual results of these meetings, but the seed has been sown and while some has fallen on stony ground, we believe that other seed has fallen on good soil and will bring forth fruit.
The Ladies' GuildThe members of this branch have rendered valuable assistance during the year. A donation of 6d or 1s per month is paid by members. The total amount collected since the commencement in 1910 has been £25 12s, of this £21 was paid for the new organ, and £1 7s for crockery, and there is cash amounting to £3 5s.
Missionary SocietyDuring the Year the ladies have met together for prayer on behalf of our workers in foreign fields. To date no financial assistance has been rendered but it is expected that funds will be raised by collection. Although not many in number, yet the members were able to send away quite a nice box of useful articles that will gladden the hearts of our dark brothers and sisters in India and elsewhere.
GeneralOur week night prayer meetings are well attended and our brief session of prayer together and our Pastor's addresses are proving very helpful to all the members. In March our Church Anniversary Services were held and good congregations attended our Sunday gatherings. On the following Wednesday a social in connection with the anniversary was well attended and proved a great success. A thank offering taken on the Sunday and Wednesday amounted to £20 7s. In April last a special appeal was made for funds towards the reduction of our Building Account and friends and sympathizes from all parts of the Dominion responded liberally. As a result of the appeal £30 6s was placed to our credit. In May we were favoured with a visit from Mr. Bailey from Poonah and associated with the India Village Mission. He gave an interesting address on Mission work and development in his field. The 29th Annual Baptist Conference of the Baptist Union of New Zealand was held in Napier during October. Hastings members were able to attend some of the meetings and our Pastor with the two delegates chosen to represent our Church gave reports of the work done. On Sunday 8th October Rev. H. S. Wilson of Wanganui conducted the services. A Missionary Meeting was held in our Church on Tuesday 10th October, where addresses were given by Mrs. Guy Thornton and Rev. E.A. Kirward. The meeting was well attended and proved enjoyable. As a result of a special appeal from Rev. R. S. Gray towards the work in Russia, our Church pledged itself to donate £5. A retiring collection was taken at Christmas Sunday morning and we are pleased to say that as a result £5 14s 6d was forwarded to the Union Treasurer. A particularly pleasant gathering was held in the Church during November. It was generally supposed to be a Bible Class Social; contrary to Baptist practice the Pastor was ignorant of the program. After musical items had been rendered Mr. Lascelles in a happy speech, asked our Pastor to accept a purse of sovereigns from the members as a small token of their deep appreciation of his ministrations in their midst and as a mark of their high esteem in which he is held. During the year our members have had a great opportunity for work in the Prohibition Campaign and we are glad to say that many have taken a lively interest in the work. The Baptists of Hastings can quite claim to be workers in reform movements just as Baptists ever have been. The Finances of our Church have been well maintained and our receipts are showing a pleasing increase as the months go by. The envelope system is proving of great worth and we would commend it to all who desire to obey the command of Christ and lay by the Tithe towards his work on earth. Our organisation in regard to Church work has been more efficient during the year. Various improvements to Church property are noticeable and further and bigger additions are now receiving consideration. In conclusion we desire to thank all who have assisted the cause in whatsoever way they have been led. We desire to place on record the sincere esteem which we hold for our Pastor and his work among us. Right throughout his ministry Pastor and Members have worked marvellously together and it has ever been the desire of all to place spiritual interests first, thereby to push forward God's work, that His Kingdom may come. To Almighty God the Giver of all Gifts - we desire to acknowledge our heartfelt thanks. He has undoubtedly led us during the year and we earnestly pray that the work here may continue to merit his approval and that all may go on working together in bonds of true Christian Fellowship. W. G. Turner
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