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2 dec - 8 dec 2016
JIBC comes of age JAVEA INTERNATIONAL Baptist Church celebrated its 21st anniversary last Saturday with a party at the Cumbre Restaurant, Cumbre del Sol. by Jack Troughton The church was inaugurated on 5th December 1995 when a congregation of 11 was led by founding Pastor, Tim Shupp, from Texas, his wife Louise and their three children. And Barbara Watts, one of the original members, remembers how a curtain was drawn across Pedro’s Restaurant to separate them from customers. As the Sunday Service drew to an end, the congregation was tantalised by the delicious aromas from the kitchen! Over the years JIBC has had many homes including Xabia International College’s Primary and Senior School halls, the Grande Cafe Toscamar, Restaurante Amanacer on Cabo de la San Antonia, and Javea Players Studio Theatre. It now meets at The Church Centre in Javea Old Town. Pastor Phillip Laver, who was at the helm from 1999 to 2004, successfully registered JIBC as an English-speaking Church in Spain and over the years it has grown steadily and is now affiliated to the East Midlands Baptist Union in the UK. It is also a Baptists Mission Church and supports Christian Missions in Spain, the UK, Iran and Africa. It has close links to the Spanish
Baptist Church in Javea and also supports its Harvest Store which strives to help those in need. Current Pastor Steve Hall welcomed everyone to the celebration and said the “strong foundations of the early life of the church” could still be seen and JIBC continued to have a positive influence in the community on a daily basis. After enjoying a meal and tucking into a special anniversary cake made by Lynn Capon – cutting the cake is pictured - the party was treated to some special entertainment; 12-year-old Rosanna Post sang a solo, Jen Ward performed a comedy sketch ‘Cheap Flights’, and Claire Harkness-Post sang a melody of songs. JIBC continues to be an English-speaking church and its congregation is made up of people from many backgrounds. While its members are mainly from the UK, it is a truly international church welcoming people from Holland, Spain, America, the Caribbean, Ireland, Germany, Hungary, Moldova, Burma, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and India. And everyone is welcome at Sunday Service taken by Pastor Steve at The Church Centre at 10.30am. However, there is a full diary of events through the week, to find out more visit website www.javeabaptist.es or call 96 579 5847.