Visiting speaker was Derek Hamer from Newport, Gwent. 

He spoke from Acts 8 about how God sent Philip to go to talk to the man from Ethiopia riding in his chariot. 

In Acts 6, we learn that Philip was one of those chosen to serve in the church, and he was 'known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom.' (v3). He was filled with God's Holy Spirit, submitted to God's power to lead and guide him. He was alert to God moving and obedient when God told him to do something.

The man from Ethiopia was influential and intelligent, 'an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians.' (Acts 8v27). He wasn't a Jew but had gone up to Jerusalem to worship and was reading the book of Isaiah on the way back home. He was clearly seeking God, but didn't understand what he was reading from God's Word, so God sent Philip to the chariot to explain the message to him.

The message is the same for every person who has ever lived, about Jesus dying like a lamb going to the slaughter, dying on the cross for us so that we can go free.

After Philip explained the message to the man, they came to some water and the man asked to be baptised. They both went down into the water and Philip baptised him. Baptism itself doesn't save us, but is a picture of how Jesus went down into death for us, defeated it, and came back up from death again, coming alive again. Confessing our sin to God and trusting in Jesus's death for us on the cross is what saves us. When we get baptised we are testifying that we want to follow Jesus Christ and start a new life in Him.

After this the man 'went on his way rejoicing' (v39) because he'd found what he was searching for - salvation in Jesus Christ.

God sent Philip down to the desert just so that he could help one man to understand the message of Jesus. As Christians, there is a purpose why God has saved each of us. God wants us to surrender our whole life to Him and do whatever He wants us to do.

At the end of the service, Ron and Janine served communion to the church. They emphasised the miracle of Jesus forgiving our sins when we trust in Him, making us totally acceptable to God just as we are. During communion, Jackie sang a solo about Jesus dying for us and coming alive again, victorious over death.

All are welcome to the Sunday services at 10.15 am.  Pastor Jonathan Fiddy is available on 871975, and the website is emmanuelgospelministries.org. 

Please note a special event on Sunday, July 26, at 10.15 am and 6.30 pm, when well-travelled speaker Geoff Tucker will be presenting 'Visual Bible Journeys', multi-media presentations through the Bible. 

The morning subject is 'Jesus our High Priest' and the Tabernacle; in the evening it is 'Jesus and His City', about Jerusalem, an important place for Jews, Christians and Muslims.