Temple Baptist Church Church Profile

Temple Baptist Church

Church Profile Contents:

A bit of background… Welcome to Temple 1 Our history 2-3 Our town 4-5 Our locations 6-7 Who we are! Our church family 8-9 Our values and beliefs 10 What we get up to 11-13 Our strengths and weaknesses 14-15 What we’re looking for: The role 16 The person 17 Find out more 18 Welcome to Temple

Welcome to Temple Baptist Church! We are a friendly, evangelical Baptist Church in Pontypridd, South Wales.

We’re looking for a full-time Pastor to join and help lead our church family in our mission:

To glorify God by encouraging everyone into an ever increasing commitment to Jesus Christ

We’ve put together this church profile to give you a feel for who we are and what we’re all about. 1 But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. 1 Thessalonians 3:3

1887: Temple Baptist Church is 1880s-1950s: founded as a Welsh speaking Temple Baptist Church quickly church plant from Tabernacle in starts using English to serve the the town of Pontypridd, large influx of English meeting on the speakers who looked for Graig. work in the mines.

1960-1970s: As with many other Through the boom Chapels during this years, wars and times of depression period, the Church falls the Church seeks to reach out to the into decline. immediate community showing the practical love of Christ and remaining true to the Gospel.

Our history 2 2000-2005: Peter Elwood retires from ministry and Wayne Adams takes over the pastorate until 2005. The church experiences continued growth in this time, moving its Sunday morning activities from the Graig to our current building Gelliwastad Road. 1995: Wayne Adams becomes the church’s Assistant 2019 onwards: Pastor under Peter We hope and pray that Elwood God will continue to bring 2005-2018: blessing to the town and Without a full-time Pastor, further afield through the a team of elders shepherds the ministry of Temple Baptist church. Temple employs a full-time Church! Church Worker to support the work of Late 1970s: the church between 2015 and 2018. By God's grace and through the determined efforts of a few committed believers a significant change began towards the end of the late 70's. Under the leadership of Stan Vart and then for nearly 15 years Dr Peter Elwood, the church grew in many different ways

Find out more at: www.templebaptist.org.uk/our-history 3 Pontypridd (pronounced ‘Pont-uh- Our town preathe’) is a historic market town which sits at the meeting point of the Rhondda Our town and Cynon/Taff valleys in South Wales, around 20 minutes north of Cardiff. The wider town has a population of around 33,000 people (as of 2011) and is home to a popular rugby club, the Treforest, Glyntaf and Tyn-y-Wern campuses of the University of South Wales (USW). Ponty has its own radio station, indoor market, a lively town centre and boasts the Ynysangharad War Memorial Park (home to the National Lido of Wales). It has a rich musical heritage with famous sons including John Hughes (who wrote the famous hymn tune Cwm Rhondda), Evan and James James (composers of the welsh national anthem ‘Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau’) and Sir Tom Jones. 4 Facts and Figures: Religious Belief Religion not Pontypridd stated, 7%

Christian, Employment 55% 70% Employee: Full-time No religion, 36% 60% Employee: Part-time Self-employed 50% Full-time student Retired 40% Student (including full-time students) Looking after home or family 30% Long-term sick or disabled Jewish, 0% 20% Other Muslim, 1% Unemployed: Age 16 to 24 Sikh, 0.1% 10% Unemployed: Age 50 to 74 Other religion, 0.2% Buddhist, 0.1% Unemployed: Never worked Hindu, 0.2% 0% Long-term unemployed Economically Active Economically Inactive

Ability to Speak Welsh

100% Even fewer first- 90% language Welsh 80% speakers 70% 60% Pontypridd 50% South Wales Central 40% Wales 30% Probably down to 20% all the students 10% in Treforest! 0% 5 Our locations Gelliwastad Road

Side-hall Tea Room

Our building on Gelliwastad Road sits just opposite the Town Centre and is where we hold our Sunday services. We can seat about 160 people plus another hundred or so in the balcony.

The newly-refurbished side-hall is used regularly through the week, as are the kitchen and tea room. ‘The Cottage’ (the church offices) are on the same site - just next door. 6 Built in 1891, our original building is nestled amongst the houses in the middle of the Graig. There’s a large open space downstairs and a cosy loft with a kitchen upstairs. We have a real heart for the Graig (which is one of the most deprived areas in Ponty Town centre) so it’s great to be so central.

The building is used for church activities and by other groups throughout the week, as well as hosting a monthly community meal and our summer Holiday Club.

Kitchen (upstairs) Holiday Club (downstairs)

Graig 7 Our church family

‘so we, though many, are one body in Christ’ Romans 12:5

We’re big on family at Temple - serving, celebrating, mourning, praying and worshipping together. We’re a diverse bunch of all ages, nationalities and backgrounds united by a saving Father who has called us into his family. Our Sunday morning meeting is an important chance to catch up, worship, learn, reflect and respond together, but we also meet in smaller groups through the week. We love welcoming visitors and new faces into the 8 family as we follow Jesus together in Pontypridd. Our Age Profile: Temple 45 Employment Status 40 35 30 8% 25 at work: 20 15 10 26% 5 0 51% 0-5 6-12 13-18 19-25 26-40 41-50 51-60 61-70 71-80 81 + What we do for work: Male (members) Male (attendees) 9% Tourism Female (members) Female (attendees) 6% Retail Creative Industry Office worker Employed full-time Management/administration Employed part-time Local government Legal services Home maker full-time Industry Health care Retired Financial services Student Emergency services Education About us: Computing 0 5 10 15 20

Are we representative? Households in Temple: Temple Pontypridd (Census 2011) Student Elementary Children whose parents aren't connected to Temple Process plant and machine Alone living in sheltered accommodation Sales and customer service Widowed living alone Caring, leisure and other service Single adult living with parent/s Skilled trades Separated/divorced with no children at home Administrative and secretarial

Married couple with one or more children at home Occupation Married couple with no children at home Associate prof. and technical

Single adult not living with parent/s Professional

Single parent with one or more children at home Managers, directors and senior

0 5 10 15 20 0 10 20 30 40 Percentage 9 Our values: what we believe

Temple is an evangelical Baptist church with a passion for the Bible, reaching, serving and welcoming our community and encouraging and discipling each other.

Our Vision: Our Mission: To be a biblically motivated, To glorify God by prayerful community that seeks encouraging everyone into to live the Great Commandment an ever increasing and fulfil the Great Commission commitment to Jesus of Jesus Christ Christ

We're an independent Baptist Church but linked to other Baptist Churches, as part of the Baptist Union of Great Britain. We are also affiliated to the Evangelical Alliance and agree with their basis of faith. 10 Sunday mornings with Temple

Our Sunday morning service starts at 11am and usually lasts for around an hour and a half. We have a lively congregation and services tend to have a relaxed feel with a mix of people contributing.

We sing together, pray together and study God’s word together, sharing how He is working in our lives and being challenged to know and follow Him more closely. There’s plenty of tea, coffee and fellowship afterwards – but you’ll have to race the kids for a biscuit!

Preaching: Music: Children:

We have a team of preachers and We are blessed with a group of Midway through the service, teachers who bring a message to able musicians who play on a rota children can go out to our us from the Bible each week. We basis. Songs are usually chosen Sunday School and creche which usually spend a few months on by whoever is leading the band, cater to ages 0-16 to learn more each series looking at part of the which typically comprises of about Christ and come to know Bible or a topic. You can listen to guitar, keyboard, bass, drums him. past series at: and saxophone. We sing a broad www.templebaptist.org.uk range of songs, new and old. 11 There’s a lot going on at Temple! Our church family are involved in all sorts of sorts of activities and trying new What we get up to: things for God is part of our church culture. Here’s a brief summary of what we do: Serving our community:

Tiddlers JAM Christians Against Street Pastors Ages: Number attending: Ages: Number attending: Poverty (CAP)

0-3 12-25 adults plus children 5-11 10 children We have a partnership with a The Pontypridd Street/Prayer Purpose: To provide free tea, coffee, squash, neighbouring church in town, St Pastors group is run by a number of toast and lots of toys and to share the love Purpose: To introduce Jesus to local children Catherine’s - where we jointly fund local churches and several people in of Jesus with pre-school children and their who live close to our town centre church and CAP work. A number in the the fellowship are actively involved. parents/carers. A seekers group will soon to establish relationships with their families congregation are involved in this They use the Cottage (at begin for parents/carers in this group. initiative. Gelliwastad) as their base.

Gelliwastad Road Monday Gelliwastad Road Friday Various Various Gelliwastad Rd Saturday

PALS Awesome

Ages: Number attending: Ages: Number attending: Concern Cymru Chat and Pack

0-3 10-20 adults plus children 5-11 30 children The Cottage provides a satellite A monthly church group which aims Purpose: To provide free tea, coffee, squash, Purpose: To introduce Jesus to local children centre for Concern Cymru (Cardiff to show the love of Jesus by toast and lots of toys and to share the love who live close to our church on the Graig Christian Concern), a Christian practical support for asylum of Jesus with pre-school children and their area of town and to establish relationships organisation which offers seekers; collecting toiletries, parents/carers. with their families counselling free at the point of clothing and other essentials for need. Over the years many of the distribution by CHAP (Cardiff counsellors offering support Health Access Practice) and to raise Graig Thursday Graig Tuesday through Concern Cymru have been awareness of the plight of asylum members of this church. seekers living locally. Toddlers Language Group Sunday Afternoon Youth Gelliwastad Rd Various Gelliwastad Rd Thursday Ages: Number attending: Ages: Number attending:

0-3 tbc 10-18 15-16 children Children Children youth: and Other Groups: Purpose: To provide an opportunity for Purpose: A new group due to begin in Spring young people to share food, fellowship and 2019. An opportunity for parents/carers of Our buildings are used by a number of support groups such as Bosom Buddies, fun, with occasional trips out and visits by pre-school children to learn a new language Young Mums’ Group. Gamblers’ Anonymous, Home Schooling Group and the members of the church from time to time to and to share fellowship together. Women’s Institute. share their testimony. 12 Gelliwastad Road Friday Homes/Trips Out Sunday Various Various Time Off TopUp Small Groups Number attending: 12-15 Number attending: 8-12 Number attending: ~80

Purpose: To offer speakers, demonstrations, Purpose: To do armchair exercises, enjoy tea, Purpose: There are currently seven small groups running in the church each week. craft and outings in a Christian environment, coffee and cake and offer support in good Around 70% of church attendees (members/non-members) attend regularly. To primarily for ladies of an older generation times and bad to some of our older folk find out more about individual groups and what they get up to, go to: https://www.templebaptist.org.uk/smallgroups Graig Tuesday Graig Friday Homes Various Prospects Men’s Breakfast

Number attending: 9 Number attending: 20-25

Purpose: To enjoy food together, worship Purpose: To share together a cooked Evangelism and share the Gospel with people of special needs. We meet regularly with similar groups breakfast with a short talk and discussion led by a Christian speaker. (Held every 2 months)

in the area. Specific demographics We have run church-wide Alpha courses in the past but have not done Gelliwastad Sunday Gelliwastad Saturday so recently. The church runs a number of events in the local community, with the aim of sharing and exploring faith with people outside the church. Throughout the year we run a series of social events (Christmas, Games Evening Arts and Crafts Group Easter, Alternative Halloween) - with an emphasis of further strengthening relationships with those who attend activities in the Number attending: 8 Number attending: 7 church. People are invited to seeker-friendly services that take place around key dates – Christmas, Easter, Mother’s/Father’s Day, etc. Purpose: An interest group for anyone who Purpose: To share an evening playing table enjoys spending time doing craft or any form tennis and other indoor games. (monthly) of art work. (monthly) Graig Community Meal Duffryn Ffrwd

Number Number Gelliwastad Thursday Graig Thursday ~80 6 helpers attending: attending:

Community Choir CraftyPatch Purpose: This strengthens the Purpose: Monthly outreach service at relationships we have developed over a local residential home (pronounced Number attending: 25 Number attending: 30-34 many years with the people living in ‘diff-rin frood’) the area through our children and Purpose: A community choir has been set up Purpose: An outreach activity for women family work. It is an opportunity to by Sound of Wales in partnership with InterestGroups giving opportunities to try all types of craft talk about our faith in a less formal Community Sunday Temple. The choir has taken part in our and on occasions offering an opportunity to setting. (monthly) recent Christmas Eve Carol Services share faith and offer prayer. supported by many family members and friends. Graig Sunday Gelliwastad Tuesday Community Monday 13 Where we’re strong

We have a visible town centre location together with a residential base. There is very good Sunday footfall and there is scope and capacity for growth in this area. The Church has a strong commitment to Bible teaching and has a broad team of preachers and teachers (which, while a blessing, can make consistency tricky). Sunday services are contemporary in worship style.

Our congregation is diverse in age, background and skills and is a welcoming, caring fellowship where people are willing to get involved in the life of the church. We are blessed to have well-established small groups, a good student ministry and engage in inter-church activities.

There is a clear desire to share the Gospel and be missional in all that the Church does, alongside an openness to trying new things and not be held back by tradition. The Church has a good reputation in the town and is known to many through its people and the range of activities which go on throughout the week in both church buildings. We have many talented and committed individuals who serve sacrificially.

Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God 14 2 Corinthians 3:5 Where we’re weak

Like many Churches, there is a clear difficulty in connecting those who attend community groups to the actual church enabling them to engage with the gospel. Being a town church, we often have new visitors, some of whom have stayed to become regular attenders.

Whilst the Church has a clear identity there still seems to be some ambiguity about current structure of the church and its future direction. This has presented challenges in pastoral support of the congregation through difficulty identifying lines of support and consistency in making sure no-one ‘slips through the net’.

Both the Church’s buildings are well used, but are old – this is a strain on monetary and people resources. Time is also at a premium with high demands on some members of the fellowship many people working at capacity. Hence the need to engage a wide group of individuals to serve - particularly in day time ministries.

I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me 2 Corinthians 12:9 15 What we’re looking for: The role

We are looking for a Pastor • Leading and co-ordinating pastoral work within the church to work with us: • Leading the spiritual direction of the church, working with the rest of the Leadership Team to continually define and Not a worker to do as directed by the keep the church true to its vision, and leading and church – but not a leader to simply coordinating our team of Bible preachers and teachers as direct the church. they open God’s word to us Part of the church family dedicated • Facilitating others through training, encouragement and co- to the work of the church full time ordination to help them use their gifts effectively, be that who is gifted and feels called to teaching the Bible/playing drums/making tea/etc dedicate their life to serve God in • Contributing to the ministry of the church as they feel this way. called/as there is need (recognising their personal gifts and calling) They would serve as a full-time Elder and as part of the Leadership Team,

but dedicated full-time to this work. the role role the fit: Where Where does Meet our current Leadership Team: 16 https://www.templebaptist.org.uk/our-leadership-team What we’re looking for: The person

We are looking for someone who: • has a close relationship to God who can help our fellowship to grow spiritually; • who is a gifted preacher and teacher with an ability to minister to a cross generational church, as lead member of the preaching team; • a team builder who is able to help people find their gifts and encourage them to use those gifts on behalf of the Kingdom; • someone who can help us live the Great Commandment and fulfil the Great Commission of Jesus Christ in culturally relevant ways; • who is passionate about helping us transform our local community;

If you think that might be you we’d love to hear from you! 17 Find out more:

For more information, drop an email to: [email protected]