Saturday, September 25, 2010 saw thousands of men across the world get together for a morning of bacon, eggs and fellowship.
Due to a decrease in publicity and a change in date from October to September, just over 50 churches registered this time round, although we know of others who met a couple of weeks later and some churches that held a breakfast but didn’t sign up.
For the churches that met, it was a hugely successful morning. We’ve posted as much feedback as possible to our website, and here’s a selection of comments.
Last year’s (2010) biggest Bigger Breakfast was organised by Brabourne Baptist Church in Kent ą they had 49 guys meeting for an all-you-can-eat breakfast.
Organiser Ian Ruck notes: “We meet for breakfast four times a year and always include an interesting guest speaker. On this occasion Peter Marsden, Director of Operations for the charity Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East (FRRME), was no exception.
“He explained about the achievements in war-torn Iraq. Canon Andrew White, the vicar of Baghdad and the congregation are making an incredible difference to ordinary people’s lives, right across the sectarian divide. Despite the fact that St George’s Church has suffered bomb damage three times in the last year, the work continues.
On Christmas Day 2009, St George’s was packed full of people, standing room only, in the knowledge that the church, on a list obtained by intelligence sources, was to be bombed that very day. “The parishioners although aware of the threat, still came. If only our churches were so significant in our community.” The breakfast held a collection for FRRME and raised £150. For more information on the charity, log on to www.frrme.org.
While most churches met in their church hall or a local cafÄ, Wantage Baptist Church had a different venue. Nineteen men gathered in an Italian restaurant for their breakfast, organised by BMM secretary Bryan Orchard.
“Most men were from Wantage Baptist Church with a few from other local churches,” he notes. “We had a speaker from Swindon who is an ex-alcoholic and drug taker who told his life story and particularly the way the Lord had done a great work in transforming his life and helping him in recent years. ╩A number of the group found his testimony inspiring and enlightening.”
Members of Treeton Baptist Church also had a guest speaker ą the chaplain of the Yorkshire County Cricket Team shared about his work to 26 men who gathered in the church.
Abingdon Baptist Church men enjoy breakfast and friendship
Burgh Baptist Church enjoyed a fry-up and then had a check-up! Their guest speaker was a Christian nurse who gave some health tips to the 25 men gathered.
Another guest speaker was organised for the men’s breakfast held by Shirley Baptist Church in Southampton. They welcomed Phil Bingham, who served with Thames Valley Police as a police motorcyclist for 30 years.
Organiser Peter Baker writes: “It encouraged those of us who have been on the road of faith for some years to ‘seize the day’ and make the most of every opportunity God gives us. He also gave a very clear Gospel message to those among us who do not know Christ. After his talk I invited everyone to my home in November to view a DVD called Just Walk Across The Room by Bill Hybels of Willow Creek Church in Illinois.”
Dorchester Baptist Church met in a local cafe. “The Town Crier, Alistair Chisholm joined us to count us in,” says organiser Lee Rhodes. “We raised £63.51 which Alistair asked us to give to the Dorchester Opportunity Play Group, a charity for children with SEN.”
Members of Rye Baptist Church organised a breakfast in their church. “The gents ate and chatted and the cooked element of the breakfast included ╩nine different items,” noted organiser Malcolm Harris. “There was plenty of food with second helpings readily available,
“There was a friendly, informal atmosphere. We used part one of the DVD An Audience with Nigel Benn filmed at New Life Church, Hull, which was well received. No one was in a rush to get away. This was a free event.”
Members of Weston Tove Valley Baptist Fellowship ensured that their breakfast was particularly evangelical: just nine of the 27 men present were members of the church.
“Eighteen were men invited through our Community project, most without any church interest,” writes organiser Gill Jones. “After Breakfast, our speaker was Robert Lightowler, who is a part-time chaplain at a men’s high security prison near Milton Keynes. He presented the Gospel in an interesting and challenging way. The many questions which came at the end were testimony to the interest he aroused.
“We made no charge for breakfast. However, enough money was raised to pay for all the food, Robert’s expenses and enough to give a donation of around Ż50 to the CPR which supports the work of the Chaplaincy.
“We saw the unusual sight of men standing round the toasters and coffee pots laughing and chatting together: who says men don’t talk to each other!”
Weston Tove Baptist Fellowship men's group
Jerusalem Elim Church in Merthyr Tydfil had 13 men to breakfast. Over coffee the organiser shared with the men the parable of the sower and the simple truth that no seed would land anywhere unless we grasp the importance of the first few words of╩ Luke 8 :5 ‘A sower went out to sow’, and how we sow with our words. Then afterwards they had some prayer and more fellowship before finishing. A blessed time was had by all.
There’s more: members of Victoria Baptist Church in Deal met round a kitchen table, Bingley Baptist enjoyed a Wii tournament after their meal, Sonning Common churches joined together and saw attendance rise. It’s exciting reading every testimony and seeing how God has worked through these breakfasts.
Many breakfasts were helped by ladies in the kitchen. Top left the ladies of Weston Tove Baptist Fellowship and top right the ladies of Abingdon Baptist Church