Secret Church East London

22/08/2016

The 3rd teaching session on Friday night was especially appreciated by the married couples (and singles too). Unfortunately there were some who weren't able to stay for the whole evening, but are keen to get the teaching from the third session. We have good news: we will be showing the third session again on 4 September at Cambridge Baptist, from 15:30 to 17:00. Bring a picnic basket for some fellowship afterwards.

Please do note that the content of the 3rd session is not suitable for children. Part of this teaching concerns s*xual immorality, as well as God's design for s*x.

Provision will be made for caring for children who come.

22/08/2016

On Friday night we hosted the first Secret Church gathering in East London, and what a great evening it was! We had about 60 people in attendance, which was great! We had some really good fellowship during the breaks and roughly 4 hours of teaching, and those who had the energy to stay to the end were still hungry for more! We were all thoroughly challenged but also richly blessed as we heard the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ, and how this good news reaches into every dark pit in our fallen communities and brings hope.

So, because we didn't get to enjoy the last session on Friday night, we are going to have a follow-up session this Sunday afternoon, at Cambridge Baptist, from 4pm to 5pm, to watch the last teaching session. Bring a picnic basket for some fellowship afterwards.

19/08/2016

We are all set for tonight! East London's very first Secret Church! Everyone who comes is sure to be blessed as we contemplate "Christ, Culture and a Call to Action".

A few reminders:
1. We start at 6pm with a short welcome and worship.
2. We will have 4 video sessions (about an hour each)
3. You are not obligated to stay the whole night - if you need to leave early, you can!
4. Some coffee and snacks will be provided, but do bring a few extra things to nibble on (we don't provide a meal)
5. Kids will start with us in the church, and after worship they will have the option of going to the hall for "Junior Secret Church" with some activities and videos of their own
6. We encourage you to bring your bibles and a notepad & pen - no, we won't be testing anybody :)

We look forward to seeing you all tonight! If there are any questions, please don't hesitate to ask in the comment's

15/08/2016

15/08/2016

Secret Church is this Friday already!!! Excitement is building up. Remember: children are welcomed and they will be having a little "Secret Church" of their own in the hall, with videos and activities. They will also have an opportunity to write letters to children of persecuted Christians all over the world. Secret Church is at Cambridge Baptist Church this Friday at 7 Hebbes Street, Cambridge. Sessions begin at 6pm. Sessions continue until midnight but you can leave at any time. See you there! (Please share)

05/08/2016

Please take a moment to share this video with your friends. Please note that this is NOT the launch of a new church :) Secret Church is a gathering of Christians from different churches for a night of fellowship, study and discussion on how the Church impacts our culture and communities on very real, practical levels.

28/07/2016

Why Secret Church? David Platt explains the concept of Secret Church and why we hold these meetings. For more information see the Secret Church East London page https://www.facebook.com/SecretChurchEastLondon/

27/07/2016

What is Secret Church?

With the permission of Radical.net, Cambridge Baptist Church in East London is excited to announce the launch of Secret Church in East London.

When we think of "church", we think of going to meet at a building, singing, praying, and hearing a message from a pastor or teacher. But in many places around the world, "church" meets in a home, an apartment, and sometimes even in secret. Many times there are just a few believers who know and follow Christ. These small groups of Christ-followers often meet for many hours in study, prayer, and fellowship. Sometimes they face great difficulties to meet together. In some places it may even be dangerous to gather as a church to worship, pray, and study the Word. So when they come together, they want to make the most of their time together.

Secret Church is our version of "house church" where we meet periodically for an intense time of Bible study—lasting 6+ hours—including a time of prayer for our brothers and sisters across the globe who are facing persecution and for those who still have not heard the gospel. This is not for the uncommitted or faint at heart. But if you desire to know God more deeply through His Word and know His church more fully around the world, then please join us for Secret Church.

Our prayer is that God will use this focused time of study and prayer to enrich our knowledge of His Word. We pray that we also would gain understanding of the state of His church and our brothers and sisters around the world who face many difficulties—and even persecution—as they follow Christ.

The objective of Secret Church is not just to come and learn for one night, but also to take what we’ve learned and pass it along to others. We also want to recognize the great need to pray and come alongside our brothers and sisters who live in places around the world where there is little to no gospel witness or where the gospel is met with resistance. We want to use what we’ve learned during this gathering to make disciples of Christ—both locally and globally.

Secret Church was born out of David Platt's experiences travelling as a missionary and meeting with Christians in persecuted countries. He recalls a visit to one particular church where the poverty-stricken farmers stopped farming for two weeks (at great personal cost) so that they could listen to David teach them the Bible each day. On arriving back home, he wondered, how can we foster the same commitment and desire for God's Word in the West, and at the same time come alongside our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world?

Secret Church began with around 3000 people gathering for a night of in-depth study and prayer. Today, thousands of Christians and churches from all over the USA and the world tune in for live simulcasts of Secret Church - growing in their knowledge of God's Word, and the knowledge and love for God's persecuted and those who haven't yet heard the Good News.

With permission from David Platt's team at Radical.net, Cambridge Baptist Church in East London, South Africa, joins thousands of churches all around the world holding similar "Secret Church" gatherings where we dive deep into study of God's Word and praying for our immediate communities, cities, countries, and for the Church wherever she is represented around the world.

Seeking to keep as close to the original Secret Church format as possible, we meet at 5pm for fellowship and coffee, with worship and study beginning at 6pm. Teaching is delivered via video recordings of David Platt's teaching at Secret Church. Teaching is usually divided into four session of approximately 1 hour each, separated by breaks in between as well as prayer and worship.

The Bible study is usually topical, covering a particular topic at each gathering and praying for a specific nation or people group where our Christian brothers and sisters around the world are experiencing persecution for their faith in Jesus Christ.

Topics that have already been covered at Secret Church (and which we will be presenting at Cambridge Baptist Church) include the following:

Survey of the Old Testament
Survey of the New Testament
How to Study the Bible
Who is God?
Exploring the Holy Spirit
The Cross of Christ
Angels, Demons, and Spiritual Warfare
The Gospel, Possessions and Prosperity
The Body of Christ
Crucifixion, Salvation and the Glory of God
Family, Marriage, S*x and the Gospel
The Cross and Suffering
Heaven, Hell and the End of the World
The Cross and Everyday Life
Christ, Culture and a Call to Action
A Global Gospel in a World of Religions