Rev'd Ali Taylor

Rev'd Ali Taylor Pastor at Yardley Baptist Church, Birmingham

Today I'm delighted to share that my first book, 'Through the Valley', has been published.Born out of one of the darkest...
11/07/2026

Today I'm delighted to share that my first book, 'Through the Valley', has been published.

Born out of one of the darkest seasons of my life, this collection of reflective poetry, biblical lament, and guided questions has taken many years to bring to completion.

It is written for anyone navigating heartbreak, grief, relationship breakdown or significant loss, and for those seeking to accompany others with compassion and hope.

My prayer is that these pages will reassure readers that God welcomes honest lament, difficult questions and even seasons where faith feels hard to hold.

Thank you to everyone who has encouraged, prayed, proofread and supported this project along the way.

If you'd like to learn more about the book, or order a copy, it’s now available on Amazon in paperback, hardback and a Kindle editions. The link is in the comments below.

If you do read Through The Valley, I’d be really grateful if you’d consider leaving an honest review as these really help independent authors like myself reach readers who may need a book like this.

Heading home from Harrogate on a train delayed by a lightning strike(!), but using the, longer than expected journey to ...
17/05/2026

Heading home from Harrogate on a train delayed by a lightning strike(!), but using the, longer than expected journey to reflect on an amazing final morning at assembly.

This was a wonderful opportunity to pray and worship together, sharing communion as a whole gathering before we departed for home. Feeling very blessed and encouraged to have had one of my reflections, written over the past couple of days, shared as part of these closing sessions. This has been a really great Baptist Assembly 🙏🏻

Another busy day at Assembly. Started with a parkrun - the Harrogate course was beautiful in the early morning sunshine....
16/05/2026

Another busy day at Assembly. Started with a parkrun - the Harrogate course was beautiful in the early morning sunshine. Then onto exploring the resources zone before lunch. My little boat from yesterday had been added to a display on the JPiT (www.jpit.org.uk) stand 😊 Currently the resources haul contains 8 pens, 3 bags, a stash of bookmarks, some service resources and a mini Jesus figure!

In the afternoon we considered a mission resolution and this was followed by the ministry celebration where we marked the passing of pastors and mission personnel since the last assembly and then celebrated the presentation of ministers and pastors who have completed their ministry formation studies. Lovely to be able to cheer on a few friends of mine as they got their handshakes!

After dinner with friends, the Baptist colleges had reunions so I was able to have a lovely catch up with Rev Ed Kaneen - the current Principal of Cardiff Baptist College (https://www.cbc.cymru/academic-team/ed-kaneen) He was one of my tutors from my time of ministerial formation and I was blessed by his wisdom and care during my time at college.

A full-on but full-of-blessings day.

An interesting and inspiring evening hearing stories of where God is at work in our Baptist family, with a challenge to ...
15/05/2026

An interesting and inspiring evening hearing stories of where God is at work in our Baptist family, with a challenge to us to seek out what God is calling us to.

And then a beautiful time of worship and prayer to close out a full first day. If the QR code works into the final photo it will take you to the Baptist Assembly prayer space (link also below) - you're welcome to join in and pray with us from wherever you're reading this.

https://www.nwba.org.uk/prayerspace/

Interesting and challenging afternoon exploring matters of justice - firstly 'Israel and Palestine - listening and refle...
15/05/2026

Interesting and challenging afternoon exploring matters of justice - firstly 'Israel and Palestine - listening and reflecting together', then 'Acts of Compassion and Voices for Justice'. The origami boat was made to reflect the impact we are currently having as churches on our communities.

Arrived and welcomed. Good to see familiar faces already!
15/05/2026

Arrived and welcomed. Good to see familiar faces already!

Heading off to Harrogate for the Baptist Assembly!
15/05/2026

Heading off to Harrogate for the Baptist Assembly!

He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.Matthew 28:6The stone is rolled away - Jesus is alive - He is risen - rise...
05/04/2026

He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.
Matthew 28:6

The stone is rolled away - Jesus is alive - He is risen - risen indeed!

02/04/2026

What a joy to spend an hour in prayer at church tonight during our Gethsemane Prayer Hour. During the time I wrote this reflection which I shared at the close of our time together:

One candle.
One hour.
Just You and me, God—
sitting in the silence.

And I pray:
Not my will,
but Yours be done.

Not an easy prayer.
Not for me.
But even harder for You.

I wonder what went through their minds that night.
The meal still lingering—heavy with new significance.
The hour late.
The olive grove dark… and still.

Maybe they were just tired.
Maybe the crickets sang them to sleep…maybe.
But either way—
Your disciples slept.
While You stayed awake.
Praying,
passionately,
fervently,
desperately.

Lord, when we long for Your will to be done-
in our lives,
in our families,
in our world,
Help us to watch and pray.

And when our willing spirit
gives way to our human weakness,
keep us from temptation, Lord

One candle.
One hour.
Just You and me, God—
in the silence.

And I pray:
Not my will,
but Yours be done.

Not an easy prayer.
But still I pray it—
I whisper it again—
though my heart resists,
though I am weary and tired
Not my will…but Yours.

And still I pray it—
as the darkness of this night gives way
to the dawning of a Friday
that holds more darkness yet.

© Ali Taylor 2026

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Yardley

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