New Assistant Pastor for the Newtownards Baptist Church.
Tuesday 21 st August 2007 was a special night in the history of Newtownards Baptist Church. Stuart Burnham, son of a well known local doctor, was installed as Assistant Pastor.
The Pastor of the Church, Tom McLaughlin, was the Chairman and extended sincere greetings to the many friends from Millisle Baptist, the home church of his new Assistant, and expressed thanks to all who would be involved in the Induction Service.

After the singing of the hymn “Thine be the Glory!”, and a scripture reading, Pastor McLaughlin opened with prayer.
An Elder of the church, Trevor Mitchell recounted the history of the call to Pastor Burnham. Two years ago, and for a period of six months Stuart, then attending the Irish Baptist College, had served the Newtownards Church as Student Pastor as part of his practical training. During that time the elders were impressed by his spirituality, enthusiasm and ability to minister from God’s Word.

Following the call of an earlier Assistant Pastor, Andrew Roycroft, to the Armagh Church the need for his replacement became apparent. The Elders met with Stuart and his wife Lorna to discuss the assistantship and made it an item for prayer. In February the decision to issue a call to Stuart was agreed and his acceptance had culminated in the evening’s Induction Service. Trevor expressed his best wishes, on behalf of the church, to Stuart, Lorna and little Ruben.

In the Act of Induction, led by Pastor Jim Byers, the new Assistant Pastor, followed by the church members,
pledged their support and commitment one to another and to their Saviour, Jesus Christ
On behalf of the Pastor, Office Bearers and members of the Newtownards Church, Sandy Stirling, an Elder, welcomed both Pastor and Mrs Lorna Burnham into the membership of the church.

Anne McLaughlin, wife of the Pastor, presented on behalf of the ladies of the Church, a beautiful bouquet of flowers to Mrs Burnham.

It was then the turn of Stuart to respond and in doing so he expressed a sense of feeling very welcome, and thankful for the prayers of many important people in his life. He thanked God for his parents and for those of his wife, Lorna, who had been such tremendous examples to him in love, patience, and gave him encouragement to study the Word of God. He felt indebted to the many leaders in his early life in Millisle Baptist including Sunday School Teachers, Youth Leaders and of course the Pastor, Alan Baird.

Lorna had encouraged him to turn his theory into practical service and he was thankful for the opportunities he had with CEF through the directors Jim and Kim Patterson. Above all, Stuart thanked the Lord Jesus Christ for saving him and for enabling him to attend the Irish Baptist College and to engage in full-time service.

Audrey Thompson, the church organist, composed the music and, using the words of a poem written by Helen Meneely, sang a very meaningful hymn entitled “God’s presence”.

Pastor Edwin Ewart, Assistant Principal, brought greetings on behalf of the Staff and Students of the Irish Baptist College and paid tribute to Stuart’s enthusiasm, interactivity and his quest for the answers to many difficult questions. Mr Ewart thanked the Newtownards Church for the role it had adopted in calling young men as Assistant Pastor which contributes so much to their post-college experience.

Before the singing of the hymn, “Oh for a closer walk with God” an Elder from the Millisle Church, Mr Don Coulter, in his greetings, spoke highly of the spiritual growth of Stuart over the past ten years in prayer and preaching. He advised him to continue to stay close to God, to have times alone with God and to be a living sermon in his own home.

In his address Pastor Alan Baird, spoke very highly of Stuart’s progress in spiritual things and then reminded all present that both Stuart, as a shepherd, and the members of Newtownards Baptist, as the flock, had to face the realities and responsibilities of church life. The shepherd had to watch and to lead and, on a coming day, give an account of his stewardship to the Great Shepherd. The church membership had to support him through prayer and encouragement and be willing to listen and learn from his ministry of God’s Word.

The hymn, “Jesus! the Name high over all”, rounded off a very solemn, important and enjoyable Induction Service for Stuart and Lorna, Ruben and (….Stop Press…little Bradley Thomas who was born just two days later..)

A very enjoyable tea followed, having been prepared by the ladies of the Newtownards Baptist Church, and provided the opportunity for many friends and families to extend their best wishes to the Lorna and Stuart in their new ministry which commenced on Sunday 2nd September at 11.00am when Stuart preached his first sermon as Assistant Pastor.