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The Work Begins
 | Well over a year ago the members of Hereford Baptist Church felt that there was a need for Christian care of migrant and seasonal workers. Estimates say that in Herefordshire alone there may be up up 20,000 of these workers during the summer months. At the same time, a young youth pastor in Cherkassy, Ukraine, was praying and asking God to send him out somewhere as a missionary.
That call came from Hereford Baptist Church – through Vic Jackopson, founder of the 'Hope Now' charity – and in June 2006 Vladimir Makyeyev spent three weeks in Hereford to find out whether such a mission outreach could work. Vladimir met, talked and shared Christ with many migrant workers in those short three weeks. In his own words,
“I fell in love with Hereford Baptist Church and the ministries it offers. So on coming back home, my family decided to pray and wait for God's time and call for this project. Now He has opened all doors”.
Exactly a year later, Vladimir arrived in Hereford together with his wife, Laura who already had done secretarial and translation work for 'Hope Now', and his two young daughters Anastasia and Kate. His efforts will be shared among Hereford, Ross-on-Wye and Gorsley Baptist Churches. Besides Ukrainian, Vladimir speaks fluent Russian, Lithuanian, some German and he is presently learning Polish. In his enthusiasm to communicate with people from many different nationalities he'll be encouraging church members to learn a new language. He and his family will stay in Hereford for the next three years.
On Saturday 30th June a Commissioning Service was held at Hereford Baptist Church to confirm Vladimir as 'Minister to the Eastern-European Migrant and Seasonal Workers'. A large congregation was led by representatives from the Baptist Union of Great Britain, Heart of England Baptist Association, Ross-on-Wye and Gorsley Baptist Churches, the Diocese of Hereford, West Mercia Constabulary, various churches in Hereford and the Mayor of Hereford, Councillor Chris Chappell. After the Act of Commissioning, led by Hereford Baptist Church Senior Minister Rev Antony Wareham, Reverend Ian Bunce, Head of Mission Department, Baptist Union of Great Britain, gave a thought-provoking, at times light-hearted address on 2 Kings Ch 4: 38-44, his main emphasis being 'don't limit God'. At the end of the service special greetings of welcome were expressed by the Mayor of Hereford Cllr Chris Chappel; Chief Superintendent Mark Turner of West Mercia Constabulary; Rev Terry Jones, Mission Advisor of the Baptist Union of Great Britain; Jackie Boys, Diocese of Hereford; and Rev. Keith Judson, Regional Minister, Heart of England Baptist Association. The service was preceded by a time of fellowship in the Large Hall where light refreshments were enjoyed.
All present realise that there will be a huge task in front of Vladimir. He will travel widely around the farms and work places in Herefordshire and share his time amongst the Baptist churches of Ross, Gorsley and Hereford. All three churches have already opened their doors to migrant and seasonal workers with regular drop-in centres which are bound to find an ever-increasing response. As Vladimir says,
“They need so badly to feel loved, cared for and understood. The harvest is plentiful!” |
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Drop-In Centres
 | Every Tuesday afternoon from 6.30pm - 9.00pm (approx.) Hereford Baptist Church opens its doors to Migrant and Seasonal Workers to visit the "Drop-In Centre". There is much opportunity to engage in different activities, such as craft, pool, table tennis and table football, jigsaw puzzles, Jenga and much more. There is also the opportunity to acquire new language skills in more formal English classes and informal conversations. Coffee, tea, squash, cakes and biscuits are freely available during the afternoon.
There is a constant and steadily growing stream of workers coming in, thus making the "Drop-In Centre" part of their shopping trip into town. There is always a happy buzz of activity, but there is also opportunity to chat in a small group in somewhat quiter surroundings.
Ross-on-Wye and Gorsley Baptist Churches have also started offering "Drop-In Centres" on other days of the week, so that workers in the different parts of Herefordshire have opportunity to meet up with friends in a peaceful Christian environment.
Similar Drop-In Centres are held:
Gorsley Chapel - The Lighthouse
Mondays, 7.00 - 9.15pm
and
Ross Baptist Church
Wednesdays, 4.30 - 9.00pm |
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Chess Tournament
 | November 2007
As part of the Drop-In Centre at Hereford Baptist Church, Vladimir Makyeyev invited seasonal and migrant workers from the area to a Chess Tournament during November.
Sixteen players, mostly from various countries in Eastern Europe and a few Herefordians to make up the numbers, started the Tournament one Tuesday evening. The Hereford Chess Club kindly provided all the necessary equipment for each round. A little 'juggling' of pairs for the succeeding rounds could unfortunately not be avoided, as one or the other workers had to move on before the end of the Tournament. Each round was eagerly contested. Games lasting up to one hour were no exception.
For the Final, John from Romania met Nigel from Hereford. Their first match ended in a Draw. It was then agreed that a second match should be played with Nigel being the winner. In congratulating both John and Nigel on their exciting contest, Vladimir presented Nigel with an electronic "Anatoly Karpov Chess School" set (to help him improve his game, no doubt!).
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 | The Chess Tournament was rated a huge success. We thank Vladimir for his smooth organization and all who took part in it. All being well, there may be a repeat sometime next year.
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