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We are a growing community of ordinary people who have discovered the amazing love of God through Jesus Christ. Together we’re learning to follow and experience him as the answer to the deepest needs of the human heart. Scroll down to find out more about us, what we stand for and who is who.
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Our Church Family
At Westward Ho! Baptist Church you will discover a family made up of many backgrounds and all ages - a vibrant, growing family with a passion to see people’s lives transformed and enriched by the love of Jesus Christ.
Brought together by the difference that Jesus Christ has made in our lives, we express ourselves through prayer, worship, the sharing of joys, heartaches and deep friendships, and aspiring to live out our lives as His disciples, showing and speaking of Jesus’ love to others.
We aim to be culturally relevant without compromising our Christian beliefs and principles. We are Bible-based, believing that we encounter God through his Word and Spirit.
As members of God’s family, we are all valued and have a role to play. This includes meeting to seek God’s will through prayer and the Bible. Within this, the church appoints leaders, with varying responsibilities, that help steer and guide our church with God given wisdom.
Brought together by the difference that Jesus Christ has made in our lives, we express ourselves through prayer, worship, the sharing of joys, heartaches and deep friendships, and aspiring to live out our lives as His disciples, showing and speaking of Jesus’ love to others.
We aim to be culturally relevant without compromising our Christian beliefs and principles. We are Bible-based, believing that we encounter God through his Word and Spirit.
As members of God’s family, we are all valued and have a role to play. This includes meeting to seek God’s will through prayer and the Bible. Within this, the church appoints leaders, with varying responsibilities, that help steer and guide our church with God given wisdom.
We are an welcoming and accessible space, wheelchair friendly, and have hearing loops available. A small elevated room, the 'Gallery' allows you to watch and hear what is happening in the main worship space if you, or anyone you are with, finds the bigger space too much. The Gallery has chairs and sofas, and an array of toys for smaller children.
What we believe: our mission & vision
Our vision is to be a church:
Biblical references:
“We choose to follow Jesus, become more like him and help others share the journey,"
2 Tim. 2:1-2, Rom 8:29, John 13: 34-35 & Rom 12:15-16
"…we want to be people who genuinely share our lives and our faith with one another"
Galatians 6:10, Philippians 2:3-4, 1 John 3:16
"…and we want to bring hope through Jesus to local and global communities."
Matthew 5:13 - 16, Matt 10:8, 1 Peter 3:15, 2 Cor. 8:13-14
"…neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:15-16.t
- where Jesus is at the centre,
- where Discipleship & Disciple-making is the norm,
- where Church means truly sharing life, and
- where, together, we work to see hearts and communities changed
Biblical references:
“We choose to follow Jesus, become more like him and help others share the journey,"
2 Tim. 2:1-2, Rom 8:29, John 13: 34-35 & Rom 12:15-16
"…we want to be people who genuinely share our lives and our faith with one another"
Galatians 6:10, Philippians 2:3-4, 1 John 3:16
"…and we want to bring hope through Jesus to local and global communities."
Matthew 5:13 - 16, Matt 10:8, 1 Peter 3:15, 2 Cor. 8:13-14
"…neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:15-16.t
GIVING
Jesus Christ set the ultimate example of what it means to 'give' and serve others. We look to his life to learn from him and aim to follow his example. Every Christian is called to serve. This calling remains constant throughout our lives, even if the ways we serve change. We may help support community groups, give our Sunday mornings to serve coffee following a service or offer a listening ear to a friend in need.
We are self-supporting, relying on financial gifts from within the congregation to do our work and enabling us to serve the local community and give to wider causes both in the UK and to overseas mission. We support 4 sets of 'Mission Partners' in their work to reach the world's 3 Billion unreached people with the Gospel.
If you are interested in giving to our church, whether as a one off or a regular donation, we ask you to contact our Treasurer who can provide you with information you may need as well as encourage you to complete a Gift Aid form if you are a UK tax payer.
We are self-supporting, relying on financial gifts from within the congregation to do our work and enabling us to serve the local community and give to wider causes both in the UK and to overseas mission. We support 4 sets of 'Mission Partners' in their work to reach the world's 3 Billion unreached people with the Gospel.
If you are interested in giving to our church, whether as a one off or a regular donation, we ask you to contact our Treasurer who can provide you with information you may need as well as encourage you to complete a Gift Aid form if you are a UK tax payer.
Our leadership
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Our Pastor is Tim Sutton. Tim grew up in North Devon, and put his faith in Jesus at the age of 17. Tim went on to train for mission and ministry at All Nations Christian College and then Spurgeon’s College, gaining a BA (Hons) in Biblical & Cross-Cultural Studies and an MA in Advanced Christian Studies. For most of the past 30 years, Tim has served in vocational Christian mission and ministry in this country and overseas.
Annemarij is originally from the Netherlands. She serves alongside Tim, helping care for the church family. She also trained at All Nations Christian College, gaining a Diploma in Biblical & Cross Cultural Studies. Her current day job is Support Worker for adults with additional needs. Tim and Annemarij joined the team at WHBC in September 2016. Their vision is to see people growing and flourishing as disciple-making disciples – followers of the one and only Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ! In 2024 Tim published a book on discipleship, to help Christians discover their calling as disciples - 'Disciple Gate: Moving into Life with Jesus'. In their free time, they enjoy being taken for seaside walks by their stick-collecting dog, Bilbo. |
The wider team
Westward Ho! Baptist Church is a registered charity (charity reg number 1198050) run by Trustees. The Trustees, who make up our Leadership Team, are voted in to serve a 3 year term.
Our Leadership Team is supported by the whole of the church family as well as groups such as the Pastoral Team, our Prayer Ministry Team, and the Mission Development Team.
Westward Ho! Baptist Church is a registered charity (charity reg number 1198050) run by Trustees. The Trustees, who make up our Leadership Team, are voted in to serve a 3 year term.
Our Leadership Team is supported by the whole of the church family as well as groups such as the Pastoral Team, our Prayer Ministry Team, and the Mission Development Team.
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Children & Families Worker, Kate
Hi! I am Kate, and I am the children's and families worker. I have been a part of the community for 20 years and it has been a joy to walk along side young people and families. I really enjoy seeing young people grow in confidence and come together to strengthen friendships, and I love to see young people surrender their heart to Jesus! In my spare time you will often find me on the beach, in the sea or walking the dogs. |
Facilities Manager, Paul
I moved to Devon from Oxfordshire with my lovely wife Ruth in 2011. I first came to WHBC in 2012 and loved it so much I stayed and ultimately got baptised here in 2015. I enjoy walking, running, golf and dancing and just generally being by the sea. In my role as Facilities Manager I look forward to serving in so many ways.
I moved to Devon from Oxfordshire with my lovely wife Ruth in 2011. I first came to WHBC in 2012 and loved it so much I stayed and ultimately got baptised here in 2015. I enjoy walking, running, golf and dancing and just generally being by the sea. In my role as Facilities Manager I look forward to serving in so many ways.
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Ministry Assistant, Iana I serve as the Pastoral Assistant at WHBC, where I support the Pastor with Pastoral and Administrative tasks, helping care for our church family. I am also the church cleaner – ensuring our facilities are kept clean and tidy for the hundreds of people who use them each week. I moved to the UK in 2022 and have been serving in this church since. It is a great blessing for my husband and I to be part of God’s work through this church. |
