We put out a call to our churches in the Autumn asking if baptisms had been taking place recently, and to hear and share the stories of any that had. There was a great response, with many reports coming in of young people being baptised, and chapels in very different parts of Wales telling us they had conducted baptisms last year for the first time in decades!
In total, according to the Association statistics for 2024, 59 believers were baptised across BUW churches in 2024, which is the highest number in almost ten years.
Among the stories we heard was the story of Deer Park church, Tenby, where two new believers were baptised. In August, Jeany who came to faith from a non-believing background, was baptized after exploring the Christian message with the church leaders. At the same time, God was at work in Bunty’s heart who had started coming to church for a year and a half. She also realised that she wanted to be baptised and was then baptised on the 1st of September in Tenby harbour! These were the first baptisms in the church for twenty years!
In September, several young people were baptized across our churches. At Tabernacl, Cardiff, Aled was baptised – a young man who had recently joined the church. At Carmel in Pontlliw, Harrison was baptised by his minister Rev. H. Vincent Watkins on the 15th of September. At Pencarneddi Star on Anglesey there was great joy as five young people confessed their Christian faith and were baptised on the 22nd of September. This was a real occasion of joy as it was the first time the church had seen baptisms since 1990. Praise God that He is continuing to work in young hearts across Wales!
And so we look to this new year in faith, remembering that God is at work in our country bringing new spiritual life to our churches. Could you take a moment to pray – both for these new believers and for their churches?