Reports in this edition are from countries shaded on the map.
Wednesday 1st
MOLDOVA / ARMENIA Zirnesti
We thank the Lord for a very encouraging time of outreach this summer. Much of it has been centred around the children’s camps that were held at our campsite in Zirnesti. In total there were seven camps during the period 1st June to 5th August, with over 800 children and youth attending.
There were many good discussions with the children, as we discussed the problem of sin and that we can only be made acceptable to God through the work of the Lord Jesus Christ and accepting Him as Saviour.
It was wonderful when a young boy, Mark, came to camp one morning and announced that he had prayed asking the Lord Jesus to forgive His sins and that he no longer wanted to walk in darkness. Please pray for Mark, and his family. Many parents hear the Gospel through their children who attend camp.
Another mother shared with us that her daughter was reciting a verse from the Bible at home from Hebrews. It was one that she had learnt at camp. We pray that as children and their families spend time with the Word, their eyes will be opened to see their need of salvation.
In the second week of camp we had some extra help in the kitchens. Each day meals are prepared for all the CMIAID workers, Soup Kitchen recipients (about 50 meals per day) and any other people onsite. Of course, during camp time it is extra busy when meals must also be prepared for up to 200 children. A young lady Elena joined the kitchen staff temporarily. During the time that she was working she heard the Gospel and was challenged. That week she accepted the Lord Jesus as her Saviour.
One of the Summer Camps group
Please continue to pray for all who attended camp this year. Pray also for the many parents who came to the parents’ evenings and heard the Gospel and took literature. There were some very good conversations with many of them.
We are now preparing for the second half of the year and the activities that are planned. One of the main events will be the Step into the Bible program where we will be presenting a Gospel presentation to students from the government schools in the area. Please pray for this outreach. Pray also for the medical team that will be visiting from the USA. We are looking forward to having them with us and we believe that this practical help given makes many new contacts and opens many doors for the Gospel.
It is always lovely to see the children reading their Bibles at camp
At the end of the year, we are again planning for the Christmas Festival at the Bethesda Centre. Last year over 15,000 people attended this ‘seed sowing’ outreach. We are looking forward to running it again this year and would value your prayers as we prepare. Last year, we were so thankful to have many volunteers from all around the world come and help. If you are interested in helping this year, please be in contact. The festival starts on 28th November and runs up until Christmas.
Lastly, please pray for the work in Armenia. We thank the Lord for the continued growth in the Postal Bible School work there. On 6th September we will be having a Children’s Day to relaunch the BibleTime lessons for the new school year. Pray that many more children will start doing the simple Bible lessons this year.
C. 2004 (Australia) MATTHEW
& RUTH HILLIER
5/8/25
Thursday 2nd
UKRAINE
From the 24th June – 1st August Agnes and I made a visit to Lviv, Ukraine. The purpose of the visit was to continue the spread of the Gospel, encourage the Christians and visit many personal contacts that we have built up over the last 15 years. Unfortunately, during the 5 weeks we experienced air raid sirens many times both day and night - it certainly was very earie and a little unsettling. It very much improved our prayer life and our trust in God for His preservation and protection. We recall on two separate Friday nights significant drone attacks on the city of Lviv. It was quite alarming to hear the distinct sound of the drones passing overhead enroute to their target and then to listen to the sound of explosions. Thankfully there were no injuries or fatalities, but a lot of damage.
It was a great joy to visit six orphanages to speak to the children and the many carers about the Gospel. We also had a time of singing and, with brother Ruslan’s help, taught them the Scriptures. We trust that the Holy Scriptures will make them wise unto salvation.
We enjoyed two visits to the homeless shelter in the city centre and on both occasions we had over 40 men and women who were ready to spend the night in the shelter. It was a lovely opportunity to read God’s Word and preach a short gospel message. Afterwards we distributed hot dogs, chocolate biscuits, fresh fruit, coffee and tea. These dear people had been on the street all day and had refuge in the shelter only until 8am the next morning.
With the weather very good and temperatures in excess of 30°C, we went to the Carpathian Mountains twice. It was very precious to have 20 people on the side of the road at Holivets and to preach the golden text “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”. After the meeting we emptied the van of 10 large boxes of secondhand clothes and each family went home with a full bag of
Open-air Gospel meeting in the Carpathian mountains
Rosdil disabled boys Orphanage
Director & staff at Birkii Orphanage
groceries. On the second visit we made a stop with dear Yarislava, a lady who had been saved many years ago, and met with her daughter and grandson. We had the joy of reading Psalm 23 and encouraging her in the Lord. We then went another 20 miles and had a gospel meeting in a field beside a big shed. On this occasion both Ruslan and I spoke, and the gathering of over 30 people listened carefully. As Ruslan spoke, I noticed a few with tears in their eyes who were visibly moved by the message.
Each Tuesday we went South to Ivano-Frankivsk and shared the gospel in that needy city. We were very encouraged with the numbers who attended those meetings. Our hope and prayer is that the Holy Ghost would move in power as God’s Word is preached and that sinners might believe the message and take Christ to be their Saviour.
We visited the general hospital in Drohobish, where we had a good time with the mothers, children and staff of the Mothers Centre. We trust God will richly bless His Word. We have no doubt our responsibility is to sow the seed, water it with our prayers and look to God to bring the increase. Salvation is of the Lord!
Six years ago, at the orphanage Lviv No.1, a newly appointed director asked us not to come any more with the gospel message as she had a statue of Mary that they could pray to for help and so the door closed at that time. We decided to go back with some clothes knitted by the sisters in N. Ireland and took lots of fresh fruit, yoghurts and caviar for the children. As we approached this situation nervously, to our great surprise another director had taken over and received us with open arms. We were able to see the children and meet with many of the staff. God in His grace has re-opened this door to bring the gospel to these dear souls.
C. 2010 EDMUND & AGNES JOHNSTON 4/8/25
Friday 3rd ZAMBIA Eliya
We continue to pray that God would direct us concerning the “Eliya Succession Planning” project and how we can play our part to ensure the future of the work at Eliya, which consists of the construction of a house on site for an indigenous family that has been with us for 25 years. We praise God that both husband and wife have confirmed their desire to be caretakers of the mission.
Also, during our report meetings, we met a brother and sister from the same family who shared with us their desire to spend a gap year at Eliya. They are 18 and 22 years old and are very determined to come and serve the Lord. Pray for the Lord’s guidance for them, for their parents who are backing them up in their decisions, for the assembly they are from and for us and the preparations needed for a future welcome for these two young Christians. We will be heading back to the field in November, and their wish is that we fly together to Zambia. This has indeed been very exciting and encouraging for us!
We have both been in Belgium since mid-December. Many people whom we have met have been touched and shown genuine interest in the work in Eliya. I was in Zambia for 9 intensive weeks in order to start the process: budget, building plans, supplies and materials needed, quotes etc. I am now back in Belgium, and we continue to place this
Visiting a local church
exciting project and its process into God’s hands, relying on Him only. We are ever so thankful to the Lord for giving us the privilege of serving in this remote part of Zambia and we keep looking to Him that He may clearly show us His will for this important need. We are indebted to all who pray for the work the Lord has laid on our hearts at Eliya. Below are other prayer items:
• The spread of God’s Word through the Bible Centre and the stand at the local market, the renewing of French literature and our mission staff in their tasks and responsibilities.
• We have no news from GRN concerning the printing of the French Sunday School course which was translated into Swahili. Please pray that it may soon go to press.
• The baby nutritional programme: we currently have 6 orphaned babies who are following the programme. They are all in good health and we thank the Lord for providing for the needs of these little ones and who watches over them and their “adopted mothers”.
• Bible School at Kashikishi: May the Lord raise up some students from the area so that they can become spiritual pillars in their families and in their respective churches.
• Lastly, please keep us in your prayers during our stay in Belgium until midNovember and all the preparations for our return to the field.
C. 1993 (Belgium) JEAN-LUC & RITA HAINAUT 8/8/25
Kapulo and Emily John Mikaba with auntie
Saturday 4th SCOTLAND Perth
Lillian and I visited Sri Lanka in May, her first since 2014. We had to be cautious because some foreign preachers had been expelled from the country just prior to our visit. Our efforts centred mainly in Colombo with the usual range of ministry, children’s activities, and preaching to the teens and twenties on the Saturday afternoons. A mini conference on the last weekend was supported by a couple of the outlying assemblies. This time the only difference was that the final Gospel meeting was dropped to avoid the very large numbers attracting the attention of the authorities. A conference on the east coast with a few other meetings proved to be very encouraging. We bless God for the ongoing labours there.
Immediately I came home I was involved in Gospel meetings in New Stevenston. I was helping Craig Munro but during his absence for the few days of the Lurgan conference, Joel Hawthorne took his place. Joel had also taken my place pending my return from Sri Lanka. Quite a number of unsaved visited the hall.
On Lord’s Day 1st June we started a series in Perth, working with the other two local evangelists Gareth Edwards and Gordon McCracken in this effort in the Gospel. We looked for a deluge of outsiders and that didn’t transpire, but around forty non-assembly folks came and some were regular and showed interest and continue to attend.
In July we should have been in Botswana with Leonard Currie and were looking forward to renewed fellowship with the believers there, but the plans were changed in an unexpected way. I had to go for an angiogram on 27th June and expected a clean bill of health, or a couple of stents at the most. However, the doctor insisted on me staying in hospital until I had bypass surgery! If they had let me go home, as an outpatient I would have had to wait nearly a year and it was more serious and urgent than that. The surgery took place on 16th July, and they let me home on Day 5. God is good. We valued your prayerful interest then. At this stage I have cancelled everything until the end of September. I had a consultation with a cardiologist yesterday (13th August) and he is well pleased with all that was done and subsequent progress, so he has indicated that I won’t need to see him again. Many readers who knew of our circumstances were in touch one way or another, and your prayers have been appreciated immensely. We pay tribute to the goodness and faithfulness of God.
C. 1972 JACK & LILLIAN HAY 14/8/25
Sunday 5th
BRAZIL Lagoa Dourada
This month Kesia, a young girl in her early twenties, daughter of one of the brethren in the assembly wanted to talk and share some personal difficulties and doubts about salvation. We had a very interesting conversation and it’s been encouraging to see her coming every weekend to the meetings. Before this we would have seen her once every two or three months, but for the past three weeks she has been coming to the meetings. We would value prayer for her. Her interest has been a great encouragement to her father and to the assembly.
The radio program carries on with a weekly Gospel message. We have heard of many people that listen every week and some shops in town have their radio on during the program. We would appreciate prayer that this seed sown may bear fruit of salvation. We would appreciate prayer for a man called Carlos from Coronel Xavier Chaves, a town 31km from us, who receives the WhatsApp gospel messages. He has been in touch and is showing a lot of interest. We have talked to him personally a couple of times and would appreciate prayer for this new contact that a door may be opened in that town for the preaching of the Gospel.
Some brethren in the assembly have been awakened to the need of distributing Gospel literature and in the past months many tracts and John 3:16 verses have been handed out in the towns around about, in the hope of finding an open door for the preaching of the Gospel.
The Bible studies with Francisco about privileges and responsibilities of baptism and assembly fellowship finished and he will be baptised on the 16th of August dv.
C. 1998 (Brazil) MARCO & JANICE GEBARA 5/8/25
Studying with Francisco and Clecio
Monday 6th
SCOTLAND New Cumnock
In the service of God some doors close and others open, but we are glad to serve in the confidence that they are opened and closed by the One of whom it can be said “Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he…” (Psalm 135:6).
In March I had the privilege of visiting Uganda for some meetings. I joined Paul Jenkinson (Kilmarnock) who has gone for several years and has many contacts in the country. We spent time in two locations – Nansana, Kampala and then in Musoto, Mbale. It was my first visit to Uganda and it was encouraging to find little companies gathered to the Lord’s name alone and seeking to serve Him faithfully.
In October 2020 we commenced a weekly open-air in Dumfries which continues until today. At the beginning of the year, I contacted a Christian family who own a farm park on the outskirts of the town. They were incredibly helpful and allowed me to use their car park, which runs alongside a main road, for some drive-in meetings in April. More than 18,000 invites were distributed via Royal Mail prior to the meetings and Paul Jenkinson joined me for the preaching. Although some of the nights were very small, we were pleased with the average attendance and there were unbelievers present every night of the fortnight.
In June I was again joined by Paul for some meetings in my portable hall in the Lanarkshire village of Carstairs. Several thousand leaflets were distributed again via Royal Mail and the hall was erected on the main road through the village and across from the village green. The meetings got off to a slow start, but by the end of the second week there were some nights when the number of visitors matched assembly people there in support. Since then, we have commenced a monthly meeting in a venue arranged by one of the unsaved men who attended the meetings. On the first evening (August) I was joined by Alan Smith (Kirkmuirhill) and it was a delight to preach to a good number of visitors as well as to have good assembly support.
In mid-July I was on the island of Ireland for a spell. It was a pleasure to give help at Ballybollan conference. The hall was full and very hot, but the appetite for the word of God was evident and very encouraging. Following this I was involved in an outreach in the very south of Ireland, where Nathan Agnew (Armagh) and I preached for four nights in a community centre in Dungarvan.
At the time of writing, I am mainly working locally and will be until I am joined by Elton Fairfield (Broughshane) for ten consecutive nights of gospel meetings in a community centre in Maybole starting mid-September.
We value the ongoing, prayerful interest of the Lord’s people in the work in Southwest Scotland and trust you will know blessing in your own service for the best of Masters.
C. 2019 CRAIG & CHRISTINA MacKIE
20/8/25
Tuesday 7th
POLAND / PORTUGAL
In June I spoke in five assemblies in Portugal. The first assembly is in Castelo Branco, not far from the Spanish border. This was my first time visiting. I was told this meeting is struggling to survive. A brother and his family from Lisbon usually travel two hours each Sunday afternoon to provide support. The believers would welcome your prayers as they seek to be a testimony in the area. Please pray that they would be grounded in the Word of God.
Writing from the USA
I also visited three assemblies in the Lisbon area. The assembly at Olarias recently celebrated 100 years of testimony. It is considered a very large assembly by Portuguese standards. The majority of believers are from Brazil and Portuguese speaking areas of Africa. They are located in an area where there is a lot of opportunity to be a testimony for the Lord. Again, please pray that the believers would be grounded in the Word of God.
I also preached the Word of God at the assembly in Quinta do Conde in the south part of Lisbon. I spoke from the book of Isaiah, particularly on the theme of trusting the Lord in times of crisis.
When I visit Portugal, I usually stay with Peter and Nelly Cerqueira, missionaries commended from North America. They live in Lourinha where there is no assembly testimony. They would like to
see an assembly planted one day. In the meantime, they are planting an assembly an hour north of where they live in a town called Marinha Grande. They work together with a commended worker from Brazil. Recently, the small group of believers moved from a house meeting to a rented space in town and immediately received opposition from others. I spoke on characteristics of a healthy assembly and have been asked to continue along those lines on a planned visit in September.
While in Portugal a significant amount of time was given in helping Peter and Nelly Cerqueira cutting grass and tending to the needs on their property. It was a joy to encourage them in a practical way.
Quinta do Conde, Lisbon
Quinta do Conde, Lisbon
In September, I expect to travel to Portugal and Poland. In both places, I will be preaching the gospel and teaching the Word of God. In one place in Poland (Bukowno), I am scheduled to spend a day with a young couple who asked me to come to talk about the Word of God. In other place (Lublin), I expect to be speaking in an assembly as well as an assembly plant that is nearby. There is a large youth conference that takes place every September. This year I have been asked to speak about Sanctification. Your prayers as I travel are greatly appreciated.
C. 1998 (USA) MARK & TAMI SWAIM 20/8/25
Wednesday 8th
SOUTH AFRICA
Matt 24-25
A little earlier in the year, we were given a great deal of encouragement in our assembly in Oslo Beach, South Africa. Two young teenagers, who had been attending the assembly meetings for quite some time, professed faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Their testimonies were clear and unsolicited. We pray for their preservation and that they might grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In July, a week of Bible teaching had been arranged for Zulu brethren. This annual event is held in one of the Zulu assemblies. Brethren from a wide area gather for fellowship and for the study of the Word of God. A week before these meetings were to be held, thieves broke into the gospel hall and ripped out some cables, leaving a trail of destruction. We were able to sort out the problem. A few days later, they did the same thing again. The brethren were forced to install burglar bars and gates to secure the building. Since that, the thieves again raided the place twice, stealing piping from the ablution block; again, they broke into a house on the property and did the same thing. We thank the Lord that no one was harmed. In some churches people have been robbed at gun point and some have been shot. We are living in dangerous times.
One of our Zulu evangelists, Benedict Mbatha, needs much prayer. Last week he lost two family members and had to travel long distances to attend the funerals. Our brother is involved in gospel preaching in the township and in the assemblies. In addition to that, each week he visits a number of farms, where he has gospel meetings with the farm workers.
It is a blessing to have two Sunday Schools associated with the Oslo Beach Assembly. The number of children attending is not large, but it is a worthwhile work. One Sunday School is for young people who are boarders at the Senior Primary School; the children are bussed in. The other Sunday School is for local children in the area and for children associated with assembly members. Recently, we heard of one Zulu lady who gave her testimony at her 40th birthday celebration. She mentioned how she was influenced by what she had learned at Oslo Beach Assembly.
We have been encouraged to hear of another Zulu lady who trusted the Lord about 35 years ago at Murchison Hospital where I worked in the laboratory. She is still working there and we recently heard of how she has been visiting in the hospital and reading the scriptures and praying with some of the patients. Some have professed to be saved through her efforts
C. 1968 PAUL & DOROTHY GRIEVE
Thursday 9th
SCOTLAND Ayrshire
In February I was at English Point, Labrador, Canada for a three week Gospel series with Jon Procopio. In March I visited the saints in Nansana and Mbale, Uganda for Bible teaching and to support their food programs for local children. Allan and Maggie Tayebwa are full time workers in Nansana. We agreed to share in the purchase of a seven seater 4x4 vehicle that they will use for their daily transport, and I can use during my visits to Uganda. God’s people enabled us to purchase a 2012 Mitsubishi Pajero for which we are extremely grateful.
In April I had another four segments on Radio 2 'Pause for thought’. We are very thankful that this door is still open to share the word of God to such a vast audience. Also in April, Craig MacKie and I had two weeks of drive-in Gospel meetings in Dumfries. Following this I shared in two weeks of drive-in Gospel meetings in Killycurragh, Northern Ireland with Roland Pickering.
In June, I shared in a two week Gospel series in Carstairs, while throughout June and July Rachel and I were in Kilmarnock town centre each Friday with the Hope by the Roadside van and a table of free Bibles and literature. We had many good conversations, and several Bibles were taken each week.
The Ayrshire Gospel Tent returned to the grounds of the Kilmarnock rugby club for the last two weeks of July where Roland Pickering and I had the privilege of sharing the gospel again. The meetings were extremely well attended by believers and unbelievers. Some nights there were over 200 and it has been wonderful to hear of souls being gloriously saved.
I returned to Uganda in August with a group of nine travelling with me. We spent time with the saints at Nansana and Mbale in Bible teaching, distribution of Seedsowers and assisting at the food programmes. This was the first visit to Africa for most and it was a joy to see them working alongside the local believers, who I call family. I have just returned from a conference weekend with the saints in Hampton, Iowa.
In October, God willing, Rachel and our two children, Charlotte and Harry, are accompanying my father and I on a 10 day trip to Uganda.
Hope by the Roadside
Hope by the Roadside continues to grow. In 2024 we took on twenty new billboards. In 2025 we have taken on a new billboard in Inverness and we have erected our first billboards in Kenya and Namibia. We have built a billboard in Kilmarnock which was used to advertise the Ayrshire Gospel Tent and throughout the rest of the year it will display God’s word. We also are now displaying God’s word on the back of three lorries in South England, and we assisted with the display of God’s word on the rear of buses in Glasgow. Bible requests this year have been much greater, with our busiest time seeing 55 requests in just one week. In June we met with Ayrshire College to discuss supplying Bible packs for students and faculty members at their Ayr, Kilmarnock and Kilwinning campuses. On 25th August we delivered 60 Bible packs. Please pray this will continue and be used to the glory of God.
PAUL & RACHEL JENKINSON
Friday 10th
ENGLAND
Matt 27-28
Tyne & Wear
The exciting and challenging work of street preaching has gone on weekly for the past 13 years at four local venues – Durham, Newcastle, Sunderland and South Shields. However, the work in Newcastle has been put on hold temporarily because of major roadworks on the high street. We have used the free day to fit in an extra weekly visit to Durham.
Historic Durham with its many students, tourists and shoppers seems to generate our most contacts. I appreciate so much those dear aged brothers and one dear sister Marilynn (soon to be 91) who share with me in this ministry. Colin (85) has cancer, with no further treatment available. He makes every effort to join me at all four venues. This dear brother has been a massive encouragement to me in recent years.
This band of geriatrics, myself included, count it a privilege to join together in the fellowship of the Gospel – ‘Those that be planted in the house of the Lord…shall still bring forth fruit in old age’ Psalm 92:13-14.
Durham
As Ralph was preaching a young man Chris (36) listened and when I spoke to him, he told me he was on a journey to finding God. He said, “But first there are certain things in my life I need to give up!” I told him he was ‘putting the cart before the horse’. We spoke for approximately 20 minutes after which he accepted a copy of Amazing Grace.
C. 2023
After the preaching and the usual coffee-fellowship in the square afterwards, I was heading to the carpark. The board on its two barrow wheels is an unusual spectacle and occasionally causes the onlooker to ask, “What’s this?” Today’s enquirer was James (30s) from West Bromwich. When I told him it was a ‘preaching board’ he said, “Yes, I thought it may have something to do with the Gospel.” James called himself a ‘babe in Christ’. He described himself as a cheater, a liar, a thief, a drunk and a wretched specimen of humanity, but he’d come to know the Lord and was overflowing with joy. As we were speaking, Billy (70s) approached and asked, “What’s this thing on wheels?” This led to a good time of witnessing both from James and myself. Like so many we meet on the streets, Billy thought heaven is reached by good works and church attendance. By the end of our conversation, Billy was left in no doubt as to what was required of him – personal faith in Christ the Saviour. It was clear that Billy had been challenged by the Gospel and James’ testimony and he accepted a Gospel of John and indicated he’d look out for us in the future.
David spoke at length with Alex, a first-year Maths student at the university. Alex called himself an agnostic but was very open to the Gospel. David also spoke with Joel (40s) who also professed to be an agnostic. His mother was a moderator in the United Reformed Church. David felt Joel was a genuine seeker. I spoke to three lovely Sixth Form students, William, Noah and Solomon, who all gave a good hearing to the Gospel. Solomon asked what I thought of purgatory. He came from a Catholic home. Each of the boys took a copy of Amazing and the Creation magazine.
Four years ago, I met Dave who had been a drug addict for 20 years. He had trusted Christ and his life took a dramatic change for the better. He’s growing in Christ and has an obvious joy about him. Today he showed me a small hand-sized card. “I’ve had these cards printed and my brother and I are going to distribute them in the town centre.” The colourful glossy card was well designed and very attractive, bearing an image of a cross on the front and a short Gospel message on the reverse side. I commended him for his efforts. A real thrill to see the grace of God impacting a life and raising a sinner from the dung hill and setting him among the princes of His people!
Carol (70s) listened to the preaching and then came over to chat. She had a sad story to tell. She’d lost a child aged 2 and then during Covid she’d lost a daughter. She admired what we were doing, and I directed her to the Coffee Morning at the Gospel Hall at Consett.
During the last three preaching sessions in Durham, we have experienced several profane outbursts against the preaching and some of it has been directed personally at the Saviour. The language used is from the depths of the pit!
My wife (Bitten) has for the past two months, every Friday, engaged in tracting around the local shops beside our hall. As a result of this work, two pensioners, Carol and Malcolm have attended the Sunday Gospel meeting faithfully for six weeks now.
We meet a variety of folk out on the streets. The street work never ceases to generate some meaningful conversations, but I must admit that the prevailing apathy and cold indifference to the Gospel in the UK is most disheartening, especially when one considers the rich Christian heritage the UK has. Despite this, we press on, knowing ‘our labour is not in vain in the Lord.’
‘Pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run and be glorified.’ 2 Thess 3:1
Saturday
11th
AUSTRALIA/ NEW ZEALAND
From the beginning of April until the beginning of July we were very blessed to be in Australia and New Zealand, for various Conferences and different Bible Teaching series.
Writing from N. Ireland
We commenced our travels in Brisbane for their Easter Conference, which was well attended and a most enjoyable three days of teaching and fellowship with the many believers gathered. Immediately after, we drove north to Bundaberg for their Conference, also well attended though in a more rural area. We then drove south to the larger Conference in Cooroy. Local brothers shared in the ministry and bible readings as well as visiting speakers and over 250 gathered for the weekend. We were able to fit in some time at the markets with David and Meryl Delley and the ‘Australia Bible Van’. They do a wonderful work, not only in weekly markets but at conference bookstalls as well, meeting a need for gospel and teaching literature in many rural areas in Queensland and further afield. Pray for their work, and the distribution of booklets to many international visitors and backpackers.
We then travelled to New Zealand for further meetings with Marius Minnaar (a full-time brother, originally from the Western Cape in South Africa, commended from Dunedin). The assembly in Orewa where Marius and Yvette are based is small and young, and they gather in a rented community Hall. Pray for blessing and addition to the number there.
Palmerstown North Conference came next, closely followed by Miramar in Wellington. At both conferences we joined with Robert Plant (Portrush) and other more local brothers. The next weekend the Conference was at Mailer Street, Mornington, in the South Island. This assembly has seen a big reduction in number in the last 20 years, but still convenes two conferences a year. They were very encouraged to have the variety of speakers who were available this
David & Meryl with the Bible Van at 'Emundi'
David, Marius Minaar & Sam Malabanthi at the Mornington Conference in Dunedin NZ
year. A most encouraging number of believers from other places attended, and quite a few unsaved were present at the gospel meeting on Lord’s Day.
As we had our own transport we were able to visit some of the small rural assemblies throughout the lower island. ‘Browns’ at Winton, near Invercargill, is one of the smallest assemblies left in the lower part of the ‘Southland’. Like others, the numbers are now in single figures, but at least two unsaved family members attend the midweek ‘cottage meetings’.
We journeyed back north to Melbourne for requested ‘End Times’ teaching at three of the city assemblies; South Oakley, Nunawading and Bayswater. There was good support across all the meetings and a big interest in the literature provided. From there we travelled west to Perth for the final series with Balcatta and Victoria Park. We found a keen interest there also across all age groups and a good uptake in the literature which was made available.
As most will know, Helen’s Dad went to be with the Lord within three days of us arriving home. He was only ill for a few days, but we were greatly comforted that all the immediate family were in Northern Ireland at the time of his home call. Brother Bill Black is greatly missed, not only in our family, but by the saints in Harryville assembly where he had been an overseer for over thirty years.
We anticipate, God willing, being overseas again for a variety of gospel series, ministry, and conferences from early in the new year. Please keep our travel arrangements and all our families (especially the elderly members) in your prayers. We have been greatly blessed by the Lord’s preservation and provision in recent months.
C. 2004
DAVID & HELEN McKILLEN 25/8/25
Some of the believers, and speakers, at the Miramar Conference in Wellington NZ
Sunday 12th
SCOTLAND
During the month of August, Edinburgh is significantly busier with more visitors than usual. The International Festival and Fringe Festival, together with the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, bring thousands of extra people onto the streets of Edinburgh throughout August. Over 8,000 people attend the Tattoo each evening at Edinburgh Castle to watch the military bands from across the world perform.
Bridge of Weir
Over the past few years, we, along with Graeme Paterson and others, have organised a week in August evangelising the crowds in the centre of Edinburgh during the days and into the evenings. This year Joel Hawthorne replaced Graeme Paterson, who is now living in Orkney. The outreach consists of packing and handing out thousands of ‘Bags for Life’ with John 3:16 on one side and the Scottish Saltire on the other side. These bags are given out on the streets with a John’s Gospel inside them.
The outreach would not be possible without the support of a lot of mainly younger Christians who come to help. They are the backbone of the work. The Free Church College gives us parking spaces at the Mound, which enables us to park the vans with the bags and use the space as a base throughout the days. The bags are taken in bundles of 50 or 100 up to the Royal Mile and other parts around the centre of Edinburgh and handed out. The helpers work hard throughout the days and into the evenings giving out bags and engaging people in conversation.
Last year we gave out 30,000 bags. This year we gave out 27,000 bags. These bags were packed and made ready at a few packing nights at Bridge of Weir, Barrhead and Kirkcaldy. The help of everyone there was appreciated.
It is a thrill to see the bags all over Edinburgh and going to different parts of the world as they are taken home by tourists. Please pray for the good seed of the Word of God as it has been scattered.
C. 1998 STEPHEN & SHARON GRANT 26/8/25
Monday 13th
NORWAY Vigra
Encouraging Steps Forward in a Needy Land
We rejoice to share some encouraging news from the small group that gathers weekly in our home. In recent months, the believers have begun to break bread together each Lord’s Day, just as the early disciples did on the first day of the week. As a result of remembering Him in this simple way, we are all learning more of what true worship is. Some of the younger people we are discipling had never before seen bread and a cup on a table in such a manner, and it has been deeply instructive for them. One of the brothers has also begun to share in the teaching of the Scriptures, which has been a blessing both to him and to the group. Please continue to pray that the Word of God might be taught faithfully, received gladly, and lived out consistently.
The Lord has given us opportunities to share the gospel with dozens of people in recent months. It appears that a couple (C&E) who are part of our fellowship are especially burdened about evangelism. Please pray for God’s protection on their marriage and for wisdom in childraising, as they are undoubtedly a target for the enemy. Some of the most meaningful talks have taken place in our sitting room or around the dinner table, where the relaxed atmosphere allows people to talk more freely. Several others have expressed a desire to meet with us, but have not yet done so for various reasons. Please pray that these hindrances may be removed, and that they would allow themselves to be exposed to God’s Word.
Breaking Bread together for the first time on 30th March 2025
Many in Norway who feel a spiritual hunger often turn to social media, which is at best a mixed and confusing source of teaching. Please pray for us as we seek to produce and distribute more solid, biblical material in Norwegian through the very channels where people are searching. Our longing is that seekers might come to know Christ Himself through clear and faithful teaching of His Word.
A remarkable door has also opened among the children of our neighbourhood. Many come regularly to play with our own children in our home. In a society where family life is often fragmented, these little ones encounter parents speaking kindly to one another, hear the Scriptures read and explained, and taste the simple joy of home-baked bread. Our prayer is that these early impressions may remain with them, and that God might work in their young hearts for His glory.
The challenges of gospel work here remain very real. Norway is a land where scepticism toward anything beyond tradition is strong, and where secular thinking exerts a powerful influence on family life. Please pray for wisdom as we seek to raise our children in this environment, and for courage among believers to follow the Lord outside the established state church. Above all, pray that God’s Word would grip hearts, leading men and women to embrace fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ, even if it means rejection by family or friends.
We are encouraged to see that New Testament principles still work today and remain fully relevant, even in a land as secular as Norway. God’s Word is convicting and changing lives in our little group, and in several individuals who we are reaching out to.
We give thanks for the small yet devoted company of believers here, their responsiveness to God’s Word, and the encouragement of seeing the Lord’s hand at work. Pray for us also, that we may be wise stewards of our time and strength, ever choosing not merely what is good, but what is best for the glory of Christ.
C. 2024 (USA) JAMES & GRETE ATTWOOD
Tuesday 14th
ZAMBIA
22/8/25
Mark 7-8
Chingola
We continue with our discipleship and mentoring opportunities at Amano – please keep praying for that. One of the girls meeting with Jo is yet to make a commitment to the Lord but is eager to keep meeting up.
In Musenga, Stephen has also been meeting one-to-one with a lad who has been coming faithfully to youth and assembly meetings for some time. In a previous conversation, it seemed his understanding of salvation was potentially works based. But after months of involvement, we felt it best to get closer and find out more. He has been asking good questions and seems sincere in his desire to learn and grow. He is currently looking into further education so we don’t know how long he will be around for.
The Monday night bible study group has been a bit inconsistent in those attending this year. The downside of working with older teens and young adults is that they begin to
move on from the Musenga area with time. A few of them are sitting their Grade 12 exams this year and so have a lot of long days both in school and then with extra tuition after school and at weekends.
Friday youth meetings have been very up and down in numbers lately and inconsistent attendance. However, it was encouraging one Friday to have one of the young men pop home and pick up his notebook where he often writes thoughts from reading his bible. With only four of us to speak to, he shared his thoughts with us from Romans 3:23 and some other verses! We hope to start a new series soon for devotions, taking the young people through a book of the Bible.
Our Sunday School class has stayed fairly consistent for a while. The children have been learning about Daniel, some of Jesus’ miracles and some of the people whose lives were changed through meeting Jesus. Please continue to pray for the children and that they will come to a right understanding of the gospel. We are a bit limited in the number of teachers we have (and translation needs), which means we tend to need to be altogether as a group and not divided up. This means really young ones alongside older ones. Most of the kids can’t read. The Sunday school room hasn’t made much progress since December, but we do now have a slab to build on and recently plans have been underway for the details of the building.
The foundations of the Sunday School room that we are building
In April, we were blessed with the opportunity of attending a former Amano students wedding. It was lovely to catch up with some ex-students and we came away encouraged. We are so grateful for the young people the Lord has brought into our lives over the years!
Our daughter Laura (18) has been helping at Sakeji School from January - July. This was a big change for her – very much out of her comfort zone and her first proper time away from home. Although it has been a tough adjustment at times, it has been a good growth opportunity for her. We are currently exploring and praying about opportunities for her next chapter. We are pleased to announce the birth of our first granddaughter, Willow Grace born on 4th July. We are thankful for her safe delivery.
STEPHEN & JOANNE GROVE 20/8/25
Wednesday 15th
USA/AUSTRALIA / PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Brisbane
Jackson, Michigan
In June, I had the privilege of sharing four weeks of Gospel meetings with brother Gene Higgins in Pennsauken, New Jersey. The meetings were conducted in English, but the brethren organised a short gospel meeting in Spanish twice a week before the meeting in English. The Lord gave help, and the good attendance of visitors, along with the support of several assemblies, was a great encouragement. We heard of a couple of people professing salvation, but we know that the final outcome will only be revealed in eternity.
During those weeks, I also visited other assemblies on Lord’s Day: Barrington in New Jersey, and Olney and Easton in Pennsylvania. Kylie and our daughter Michelle (10) came during the third week of meetings, so I appreciated their company and support. After the meetings in Pennsauken, we visited the assembly in Midland Park, NJ, for one weekend, and we had the joy of seeing a young Venezuelan man, related to several believers, professing faith in the Lord. We visited the assembly in Mansfield, Ohio on our way to Michigan to visit some dear believers from the Jackson assembly. During our time in Michigan, I had three meetings with the Jackson assembly, and on our way back to New Jersey we visited the assembly in Cleveland Ohio, flying back to Australia on the 14th of July. Due to problems with flight connections, we ended up having a night in Vancouver, and we went to a meeting in Victoria Drive.
After one week home in Brisbane, I flew on the 24th of July to Papua New Guinea (PNG) with Alf Grant and Michael Chapman. We spent nearly two weeks in Hela Province, visiting the two small assemblies in
Belova, Papua New Guinea
Belova and Hiribi. We also went to Erebo, where an assembly used to function until most of the believers left the area due to tribal fighting. The hall is still available there, so we went there three times and shared the gospel to the children and some adults. We also held open-air meetings and visited two schools in Hela, arriving back on the 6th of August.
Back in Brisbane, I visited the assembly in Salisbury for two ministry meetings and one gospel meeting. Last Lord’s Day I went with our youngest boy, Timothy (16), to visit the assembly in Warwick, three hours from our place. Timothy shared his testimony that day – his first time preaching.
Over the last two weeks we have been supporting a series of gospel meetings in Conference Hall. Brethren Raymond Kirkpatrick and David Strahan (from the UK) have come to assist with this effort.
Please pray for:
• The unsaved visitors who heard the gospel in Pennsauken and for those who professed to be saved during the meetings
• The small assemblies in PNG
• The future of the work in Erebo, PNG
• The gospel meetings in Conference Hall with the two visiting brethren
WILLIANS & KYLIE ALCALA
27/8/25
Baptism
Thursday 16th
NICARAGUA Correos Managua
June 1st was an exciting day for all at the Managua Gospel Hall! We were delighted by the children’s program the Sunday School put on in honour of the mothers. Mother’s Day is celebrated on 30th May in Nicaragua. This was followed by the baptism of eleven people, and we were delighted that our third child, Elisabeth, was included in those eleven.
On 4th June, our eldest son, Matthew graduated from high school with honours. We all travelled to Canada during their holidays to find a place for Matthew to live and finish moving his things to Canada. He starts studying at Western University in London, Ontario at the beginning of September. We are very thankful for the warm welcome given to him by a couple in the assembly in London, where he will reside while he studies.
Ross Vanstone and I shared in Gospel Tent Meetings in June in the city of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. There was a team of about 30 people from NA that helped with literature distribution and invitations each day. There was cold weather and rain during some of the days. Thankfully about 130 people came to the tent during the 10 nights of meetings.
When we returned to Nicaragua at the beginning of August, we were thankful to see the growth and stability in the Managua assembly. Eight of the eleven that were baptised in June had been added to the assembly. One particular joy was to listen on Thursday evenings as a local brother finished teaching through the book of James with joy and with ability!
Baptisms in Managua
Group of Seed Sowers at Calgary Tent Meetings
We continue to support the weekly meetings in the assemblies in El Valle de la Laguna and in Masaya. We ask for your prayers for these two assemblies, that despite years of work, remain small and are prone to discouragement. Please pray that the Lord would give growth, commitment, and maturity in the believers. Join us in praise for the baptism in Masaya at the end of August.
Please pray for Matthew as he begins life in Canada; that he would have discernment and courage to stand for Christ in his university. Also, please lift up before our Heavenly Father the following men connected in some way to the Managua Assembly: Fabrizio, Oscar, Roger, Julio, Francisco and Juan Carlos; that they would have spiritual clarity in their lives.
We rejoice in the faithfulness of our God, as we’ve served him here for over two decades. We’re humbled at the prayerful exercise of the Lord’s people to lift us up before the throne of grace. “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. Brethren, pray for us.” 1 Thes 5:24, 25
(Canada)
Friday 17th
ENGLAND
Mark 13-14
London
John & Janice by booktable
“Can I have two New Testaments please as I want to give them to students who have recently graduated.” This is an example of the many requests we get when we are out with the book table on Tottenham High Road. A young Muslim man from Bangladesh, listened with interest as we explained to him from the scriptures that the Lord Jesus is more than a prophet, but is in truth the eternal Son of God. He willingly took a copy of the Gospel of John as he wanted to understand more of what the Bible teaches concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. Another man, when approached with a gospel tract, refused to accept it because he genuinely believed that he was not a sinner! He reasoned that because the Lord Jesus had died for the sins of the world, his sins were therefore forgiven along with those of everyone else!
Please pray that we might have wisdom as we engage in conversation with young and old alike from different ethnic and religious backgrounds and seek to share with them the message of the gospel.
In the will of the Lord, we will be taking the book table into two local events in the coming months. The Age Well Festival on the 20th September and the People’s Day Event on the 7th October, God willing. We value prayer for these opportunities of outreach.
July and August were busy months for funerals! John was asked to conduct two funerals and preach at a third within twelve days. The first was for an elderly brother whom John had known for almost fifty years and was held in a small village in Norfolk, where for over twenty years John had held an annual Children’s Mission (Treasure Seekers). On the first occasion (1978) a young girl of ten or eleven was saved. On the last occasion when we were both there (now over twenty years ago), her young daughter was also saved. This young lady became a teacher and ultimately married a young man from Hertford. They discovered that he too had been to a Children’s Mission in Hertford that John had conducted, along with Alec Catchpole, and this young man had also been saved! How remarkable! How amazing! How encouraging!
Although we had previously heard a little of this story, it was at the funeral of this dear brother, that we heard the story in its entirety. There were about 150 at this funeral, many young people and many unsaved who listened with great attention as the gospel was preached. We have since heard that one of the brothers of the young lady mentioned above, was challenged by the message and is showing interest. Please pray for him.
Three days later, it was the funeral of an elderly lady who first came to our ‘Drop In’ over twenty years ago, and with whom we have maintained contact. Sadly, over the years, like so many, she had shown little interest in the things of God, and as far as we know, had never been saved. There were just fifteen at her funeral, all unsaved, but again they listened attentively to the message given and were appreciative of the service.
The third funeral was that of an elderly brother (100 years old) from our home assembly. The unsaved family made all the arrangements, and John was asked to preach. A very large company of family and friends were present, many of whom were unsaved. Much liberty was known in preaching, and from comments made afterwards, there were those who had been challenged by the word of God.
Please pray for the many unsaved who heard the gospel at one or other of these funeral services that the word of God and the Spirit of God might continue to challenge and convict them, and that ultimately it will lead to their conversion.
C. 1977
JOHN & JANICE FROST 25/8/25
Saturday 18th
MEXICO Iguala Guerro
Assembly Established in Los Arcos
The Lord has done a remarkable work in Los Arcos, bringing together a group of believers — some saved through earlier outreach in Oacalco since 2014, and others who God has more recently reached and saved. The Oacalco outreach was primarily composed of older believing women, and for several years there were very few men responding to the gospel. In the past year, the Lord has worked through Adán and Nadia, former Pentecostal pastors. As they and their small congregation began attending the meetings, many came to understand and believe the gospel clearly – freed from the uncertainty and fear associated with a works-based message – and were saved.
Over time, it became evident that the Lord was gathering a group of believers in Los Arcos, and several months were spent teaching basic assembly principles from the Scriptures. On the 13th July 2025, a group of believers met together for the first time to remember the Lord in the Breaking of Bread. This marked the beginning of regular assembly meetings in Los Arcos. It was a momentous occasion, bringing together both those who had long awaited this day and those newer in the faith. The worship of the local brothers was especially moving. Please join us in praying that this new lampstand will be preserved and continue to shine the light of the gospel until Christ returns.
Group of Young People handing out Invites
Ongoing Work in Iguala
Please also continue to pray for the assembly in Iguala, which recently held three weeks of
Group that attended the first Breaking of Bread in Los Arcos, 13th July
gospel meetings with the help of local brethren. We were able to assist during two of those weeks. A large number of young people, many of them children of believers, attended the meetings regularly. As part of an outreach effort to engage the young people further, we took a group of them to the town park in the late afternoons to pass out invitations to the gospel series and to listen to open air gospel messages. This provided an opportunity to listen, for both the young people and members of the public enjoying the park.
During the gospel series, we are thankful to report that one young man, Juan, professed to be saved. Several others have expressed concern about their spiritual condition. We continue to pray for opportunities to preach the gospel further and for the salvation of these young people, many of whom have heard the gospel for many years.
C. (Canada) DUNCAN & ANNA BECKETT 27/8/25
Open-air preaching in the park in Iguala.
Sunday 19th
ZAMBIA Loloma
We were privileged and thankful to spend two weeks at our Zambian home area of Loloma during a recent six week visit to several countries in Africa. There were lots of joyful reunions with those we have come to know and love over the years we were privileged to serve in that area (1997-2021). Each time we return it is a great encouragement to see how God faithfully continues His work.
Early Sunday morning it was special to be back with over 200 children in the Sunday School and share with them the story of Zaccheus (thankfully the Lord was gracious in using the local language). This was followed by some spiritual encouragement for the teachers over breakfast in our home. Returning for the main assembly meetings, we were blessed to greet so many we have known over the years. A clear gospel message was presented by a local brother, followed by the remembrance of our Lord Jesus, finishing with an opportunity to encourage the believers with an overview of Philippians. Three of the elders we worked closely with are still active in the assembly, and it was a joy to fellowship with them over lunch which is provided each week for all the saints. On another day I was able to visit two of the previous elders at their homes who now, due to old age and illness, are unable to attend the assembly.
Hospital Staff Devotion
We thank the Lord for the ongoing work of the mission hospital which provides quality healthcare on a spiritual foundation. The management team (administrators, doctors and two missionary nurses, Rebekah Chikuta (Flynn) and Naomi Poidevin) do a commendable job of running the facility. It was a joy to be with them for several staff devotions,
Loloma Sunday School Teachers
share the gospel throughout the facility using the public address system, and visit through the wards.
The church managed Boarding School at Kayombo has now been running for 10 years, and we praise the Lord for this testimony of His grace and faithfulness. Despite the remote location, and many practical challenges, 496 students are attending the school this year, receiving a good academic education on a spiritual foundation. They start the day together with a spiritual devotion, with ongoing input through the week. Sunday mornings the older grades attend the gospel service in the local assembly, while the others remain at the school for a gospel service there. It was a joy to reunite with those we worked closely with from the inception of the school and see them continuing with the same vision. An opportunity was given to speak with the teachers and then with all the students, a great privilege and blessing.
During one weekend, I was able to attend a boy’s camp at Samafunda, where 122 young men listened to the continual presentation of the gospel over a 3-day weekend. It was very encouraging to witness the local brothers in their commitment to this work.
Please continue to pray for the local believers and missionaries as they seek to serve the Lord in Zambia. Specifically for:
• The preservation and growth of the assemblies at Loloma and through the area.
• The needed wisdom and grace in the running of the Mission Hospital and Kayombo Boarding School, both of which are excellent opportunities to present the gospel.
• Ongoing unity in the Lord’s work in Zambia.
C. 1997 TIMOTHY & JOY BEER 26/8/25
Kayombo Boarding School
Monday 20th
BOTSWANA Gaborone
We have recently concluded several personal Bible studies with believers who have expressed an interest in assembly fellowship. They have been exposed to different teaching and doctrines in other denominations but have been willing to learn the assembly truths we regard as precious. They understand too that any readjustments in their thinking are best made before they are received into the assembly. What has been reassuring is that they have been attending the various meetings for many months as onlookers. As one of them wisely put it, “We are not in a hurry.” Topics that we have covered include the eternal security of the believer, the person and work of the Holy Spirit, the role of sisters in the assembly, and an outline of Bible prophecy. These studies supplement the usual assembly Bible study each week, but have the additional benefit of allowing the friends to ask questions of a more personal nature in their home environment. We pray for their spiritual progress. Please pray for a young girl of nine called Yame. Since early childhood, she has required regular surgical intervention to keep in check recurrent growths in her throat. Every few weeks her breathing becomes compromised, and she is readmitted to hospital. Before getting back home, several days are usually spent in the intensive care unit. We wonder at times how much more her little body can take. After two tracheotomies, special injections, and numerous laser and surgical treatments, she remains a sweet and brave young girl. Yame, her mother, and her grandmother, have attended the Sunday School in the Old Naledi district of Gaborone for many years. We long for their salvation.
The weekly open-air gospel meetings throughout the year are always a good opportunity to be out and about in the local community. In wintertime, it is cold and dark. The four sites near the gospel hall in Broadhurst are all in the catchment area for our Sunday School children. We normally take along four benches to allow others to join us, share in our singing, and listen to the short gospel message. Over the last few weeks, the children have been unusually quiet and attentive. Adults often join us or listen nearby as they sit outside in their yards. We give thanks for this liberty and rejoice that the harvest will come one day!
A young couple after their personal Bible study
Yame
Tuesday 21st
ENGLAND Burton on Trent
Over the last few months, we have been reaching out with the Gospel in various ways. We certainly are living in days of great opportunity to share the Gospel.
Following the homecall of both of my parents, I was made aware by the funeral directors that they run a bereavement group to help people that have lost someone. This is a time for them to get together and share their experiences. I saw this as an opportunity to share the gospel, so made enquiries if I could attend and they gladly agreed. As a result of this, one of those attending the group now attends our coffee morning. I also was looking for a leaflet to give out that would be a help and a comfort as they experience the loss of a loved one. I have written a leaflet called “Comfort in Sorrow” and hope to give this out at the next group meeting.
In May we started work with the homeless in Derby and Nottingham city centres. There are a group of six trustees and others that come to help. We have set ourselves up as a Charity called “Project 3418” which is Luke 4v18 – ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor, he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted’. We go out onto the street every Thursday night from 8.30pm until 11.30pm reaching approximately 40-50 people each week. We supply essential hygiene items and food and clothing.
Recently we have taken delivery of a catering trailer which will be a great help in this work, enabling us to store and transport much of what we need each week. We are so thankful to the Lord for those that gifted this to the charity.
At Easter and in the summer school holidays we ran a Kids Holiday Bible Club in the
assembly here in Winshill. At Easter we held our first ladies craft evening with 14 unsaved present and plan to hold more of these events in September and December. Refreshments are provided and a Gospel message given at the end.
In August we used the new trailer for the first time as our stand at the village Fete in Winshill, giving out John 3:16 bags with literature. We also had craft and games for the children.
As the children return to school, the school assemblies will restart. Currently we visit twelve schools on a regular basis to take assemblies, and then others specifically with the WW1 Presentation for their Remembrance assemblies in November. I hope to contact more schools in the area to see if they will allow me to visit to take their assemblies.
The WW1 presentation will again be busy over the winter months, when I will have the privilege of visiting many varied groups and using it as a tool to reach many with the Gospel. At the beginning of June we spent a week in Shetland with the WW1 presentation visiting schools and public halls.
Over the winter months we have several ministry and report meetings planned and also a week in Newcastle for Gospel meetings. We appreciate the continued interest and prayer support of the saints.
20/8/25
C. 2024 TIM & SHARON COLTMAN
Wednesday 22nd
SOUTH AFRICA
It was good to have fellowship in the Lord’s Supper with the believers at Gelvandale Assembly in Port Elizabeth. On our way back from Port Elizabeth we stopped at Wittedrift, a small poor rural community, where I preached in the open-air on Lord’s Day afternoon. Isaac and Katrina Billet, commended from Port Elizabeth, are labouring in this area. You can pray for them as they labour alone there. The work is difficult, and Isaac is the only brother in fellowship.
Cape Town
We also stopped at George and had meetings in a home with around thirty people, a mixture of believers and unbelievers; a TB hospital where we had twenty-two people in the library and then spoke to some patients privately in the wards; and at the Gospel Hall in Pacaltsdorp for ministry. Joy’s sister Mary and her husband Robin are serving the Lord in this area.
On our way back to Cape Town we met up with John and Priscilla Bartman, who serve the Lord in Riversdale. They have been there for many years and have seen much blessing, but have also experienced major disappointments as not all who were in fellowship have continued faithfully for the Lord.
Yesterday we had an open-air meeting in the front yard of a sister’s home in the Bellville Assembly. Her father, who is not saved, arrived just before we started and left again just after I finished preaching. I have had opportunity previously to share the Gospel message with him in his home. He understands but is stubborn. Sadly, he has been diagnosed with cancer. Please pray for him. His wife professes to be a believer. After preaching over the loudspeaker, it was good to go along the street with literature. All accepted it, and I had a good opportunity to explain the message to one man.
Northpine Assembly continues with Gospel outreach on Sunday afternoons, and I have been invited to preach. Carloads of children are brought from the nearby Scottsdene housing estate by local believers. It was a big shock when one of the elders recently went home to be with the Lord after a short illness. Northpine Assembly feels his passing. Pray for the encouragement of the saints.
C. 2001 RODNEY & JOY BROWN 25/8/25
Isaac Billet with local people
Thursday 23rd
ENGLAND Lancashire
“For we are labourers together with God…” 1 Corinthians 3:9
It is a privilege to be able to work in close fellowship with the assembly here in Cleveleys. Although few in number, there’s a real desire to work together in the gospel and in prayer. During the summer the assembly has engaged in gospel outreach. This year we held meetings at the hall, as drive-in meetings were not possible due to complaints to the local council. Huw Rees (Carmarthen) and Cameron Piper (North Leigh) helped the assembly, preaching each evening for six nights, with open airs and door-to-door visitation daily. Eleven different people attended over the series with one man attending three times, others twice. A street event in Fleetwood saw us manning a Bible stand on the final Lord’s day of the series, with many tracts
given and good conversations held. We look to the Lord to bless His word, please water the good seed with your prayers.
The assembly have continued weekly Saturday open air meetings in both Cleveleys and nearby Poulton le Fylde. We are planning to reach across Lancashire to cities, towns and villages through “God Loves Lancashire”.
Food bank
During recent months 30-50 people are helped by weekly food parcels, which they collect from the hall. Each parcel has a gospel tract enclosed. Many clients stay for coffee and a chat, giving opportunities to share the gospel one to one. Some folks share their burdens, including domestic abuse, health issues, housing problems and addictions.
Amongst those helped we enjoy meeting asylum seekers, there being an increasing demand in our area among these people. We find some are initially wary, but they soon relax when warmly
Bible stand at outreach in Fleetwood Open air work
welcomed and are receptive to the gospel. Among countries of origin are people from Eritrea, Afghanistan, Qatar, Iran and Ethiopia. Showing them the love of Christ and sharing the gospel is a tremendous opportunity, since many come from countries closed to the gospel. There are some very sad stories shared of the trauma they went through before leaving their home country.
Agricultural Shows
We were pleased to attend two local agricultural shows, after several years of being unable to attend due to poor health. We distributed John 3:16 tote bags filled with gospel literature for both children and adults. Weekly seed sowing packs are posted across the area near the assembly with invitations enclosed. With it being harder to get speakers in the area for the gospel and ministry, Neal is increasingly involved with another brother preaching most Sunday nights and teaching in the assembly weeknight Bible reading.
Thank you for your prayers for the work of the Lord. Please pray:
• For contacts who attended gospel meetings: Sue, Mohammed, Tom & Ashley, Peter, Briana.
• For weekly open-air meetings.
• For food bank contacts, especially asylum seekers.
• For help preaching and teaching in the assembly.
• For “God loves Lancashire” set up and reaching other areas.
C. 2010 NEAL & CHRISTINE HARTRIDGE 26/8/25
Bible stand at outreach in Fleetwood
Friday 24th
INDIA Narsapur
It is the amazing grace of our Living Lord by which this ministry is being immensely blessed. It is nothing but His faithfulness. We are daily dwelling in it and rejoicing. Praise be to His Holy Name, the Name above all names.
The medical work is carrying on well. We are able to serve around 30 leper inpatients and various out-patient cases. Let me share with you a recent case of a lady called Suryakantham, who is a leper patient and who regularly obtains treatment. Moreover, she is a servant of the Lord working at a remote place called Seethanagaram. One day she was rushed into the hospital in a very critical condition with multiple abnormalities and seemingly no hope to revive. But truly the Lord did a miracle and healed her completely from deathbed to normal state. Isn’t it the Lord’s doing? What a wonderful God He is… join us and give thanks.
The hostel ministry is also being blessed. Presently we have 116 children in both the hostels, Dr. Edward Short’s Hostel and the George Muller Home. The Lord is enabling us to provide consistent care towards their spiritual, physical and overall well-being. Many young children are doing their medical courses like MLT, MPHW, GNM Nursing etc. Kindly pray for the children.
We also praise God for the two new girls, Polamma and Chengamma, who are sisters. These girls are new to Bethesda and sadly, Polamma has leprosy. They were actually found roaming on the roads with duck herders. The government found them and brought them to Bethesda. They are poor and have neither parents, nor anyone else. But the Lord is with them (Matt 19:14) and undoubtedly the Lord brought them to Bethesda. They are with us, and we are with them now. Thanks to the Lord. Kindly pray for Polamma and Chengamma.
Bethesda Special Upper Primary School is also running well. This year we have a few new admissions and a few new class promotions to high school. There are 65 pupils now with 5 teachers.
Male Leper Ward
Sisters Chengamma and Polamma with their Warden
Tabitha, a HIV girl from the George Muller Home, was recently diagnosed with abdominal TB. She is under medication and doing well. Please continue to pray for her.
Bethesda does always “look to the Lord” in all our needs as He is our provider, our Shepherd and our prayer-answering God. The same God yesterday, today and tomorrow. Kindly remember us as we deal with the practical running of the hospital and all that it entails. Truly the Lord is so faithful in providing us our daily bread.
BETHESDA (LEPROSY) HOSPITAL
Saturday 25th
4/8/25
Luke 12-13
An influential young local believer was eager to have the Word of God taught systematically to his peers. As a result, a Bible teaching workshop, ‘Deeper in the Word’, has commenced in a local hotel once a month, on a Saturday morning. We are studying the life of Abraham, with around 24-30 young adults attending. This is excellent opportunity to introduce many to a deeper understanding of the Bible, with the aim of both teaching and creating a deeper appetite for the Word of God.
In the summer we had the joy of baptising Caleb. He had previously been attending the Bible for Beginners group. Pray for his growth in the things of the Lord and for help as we seek to disciple him. Those who attended this study earlier in the year have expressed an interest in commencing another study in the autumn. Pray for help in our study of John’s Gospel and for new attendees to join us.
In November are planning to, again, take students from the three most senior years of Logos School for a weekend retreat in the mountains. Pray for blessing in the teaching and discussion of the Word, and particularly that salvation will result.
C. 2003 MICHAEL & SHIRLEY McKILLEN
20/8/25
Sunday 26th
CANADA Nova Scotia
Things continue in Clementsvale with much sowing and a little bit of reaping from time to time. A young man who originally had been invited to our regular weekly gospel meetings by two young High School students, came along a couple of times about two years ago. While somewhat impressed, he seemed to turn back as he counted the cost of becoming a Christian. This Spring he came back of his own accord, two Sunday nights in a row. He talked with one of the brethren in his home afterwards and asked some questions. After answering his questions, he was given some verses to read and think about, and asked ‘if there was a Gospel Meeting on Wednesday night would you come?’ He said that he would, so the brethren changed our mid-week meeting to a Gospel Meeting. We learned that he got saved on the Tuesday night while considering Ephesians 2:8 and then got assurance of salvation in the Wednesday night meeting. He’s from an unsaved home and getting a bit of opposition now. He has a part time job on a farm so can’t get out to all the assembly meetings, but often comes when he can. Please pray for this young man as he goes into his last year of High School in September.
Another young man who is also going into Grade 12, told a sister that he got saved three years ago. He had been scared about dying and remembered getting a Bible at Children’s Meetings (around seven or eight years previously). Apparently while reading in Romans he was saved. He has a difficult family background and doesn’t get a lot of support at home. He also has a job that doesn’t always allow him to come to meetings, and he has a girlfriend who may not be saved yet. He only comes occasionally, but last Sunday morning he brought her to the Remembrance Meeting for the first time. So, these young people need a lot of prayer as they navigate life in a very corrupt society. It always encourages me to think of Joseph, Daniel and his three friends being preserved in a godless environment.
Presently we are having Tent Meetings in a nearby community with brother John Meekin and a younger brother from Nineveh Assembly, Aaron Hubley. This is the second week, and there is a nice number attending, with children and a few locals coming quite regularly. We were encouraged last Friday night when a nine-year-old girl, whose mother is in fellowship, told us that she got saved in the meeting. Then on Sunday we had an outdoor baptism, when two men who were saved a few years ago and a thirteenyear-old girl obeyed the Lord. Also, we had a week of Children’s meetings prior to this Gospel Series and quite a few children along with some parents attended.
What’s troubling is that many Christians children who grew up going to all the meetings, haven’t come yet. Also, neighbours who have been witnessed to over the years remain complacent in their sins. Please pray that there might be a breakthrough in some of these cases.
Our annual Conference is coming up at the end of the month. We’re praying for definite messages from the Lord to help, encourage and challenge both young and old and all in between. Also, that souls would be saved.
C. 1981 AMY McCLELLAND 18/8/25
Monday 27th
ROMANIA Writing from England
Casa Simeon is a large part of the work of Operation Brotherly Love (OBL), but not the total. There are other involvements outside of the care home that are undertaken by OBL’s sister charity, Operațiunea Dragoste Frățească (Operation Brotherly Love in Romanian). This was set up to enable us to assist needy saints in various ways.
One of the trustees of the Romanian charity, Vasiliu, is an elder in a local village assembly and is also an evangelist with a ministry that reaches out to all the assemblies in Botosani County. Recently the assembly that he gathers with had an exercise to visit struggling assemblies in Moldova to help them in evangelism and a small assembly is now gathering in the village of Miorcani, where 16 brothers and sisters gather weekly to remember the Lord. One of Vasiliu’s sons goes to the Moldovan assembly every week to help and brother Vasiliu goes once a month, when around 50 believers from other village assemblies gather at Miorcani for teaching and evangelism. The journey is about 90 kms and we help with travelling costs. They also organised a Holiday Bible Club for the children of the village when about 100 children came.
Gospel outreach in Romania is difficult as the unbelievers can no longer be easily persuaded to come to meetings. In former days, when many souls were being saved and assemblies springing up in villages, OBL was able to finance the building of 14 new premises where the saints could gather. The assemblies in Romania are known as ‘Biserica Crestina Dupa Evanghelie’ or ‘Christian Church according to the Gospel’.
Another aspect of the work is providing medical care in some cases where the nature of the treatment is not major. A child called Ana was born with hare lip and cleft palette, a condition often left untreated, because parents can’t afford the cost of the operation. Ana’s cleft palate was particularly serious, and her parents had taken the offer for her to be operated on by a team of student doctors visiting from America. Sadly, the operation went wrong leaving Ana with serious complications. We first became involved in 2011 when she had just started school and was finding it very difficult, so we agreed to finance corrective treatment for her. Since then, several procedures have taken place and her treatment is still ongoing. Ana is now 15. Medical care in Romania is not free and most people would not have medical insurance, so many conditions are left untreated, hence the need to help a number of cases.
One of the New Halls
Casa Simeon News
We can rejoice that items from the last prayer letter have been resolved. The solar panels are now installed and are proving to be very beneficial as they have greatly reduced the electricity bill for the home.
The measures that Alina has taken regarding a waiting room for visitors seems to have satisfied the authorities and a low mileage second hand car has been purchased in Romania which is much more reliable than the 15-year-old one it replaced. No carers have had to be replaced by qualified nurses and the regulation concerning the space around every bed has not been brought up again. For all these things give thanks for answered prayer.
A new lady has recently been added to the number of residents making a total of 17, but as there is room for 22 saints to be accommodated, please pray on. So far, the authorities have not imposed any unbelievers on the home.
Prayer is requested for:
• Further blessing on the evangelism in Moldova and safety for the brothers who travel there to help in the new assembly.
• Safety for Titi and Alina as they travel extensively to tell of the work of Casa Simeon.
• That more residents will come into Casa Simeon.
• Full recovery for Ana.
• Favourable results from the next court hearing in the dispute with the water company.
Give thanks for:
• Answered prayer in relation to the regulations in Casa Simeon that were causing difficulties for Alina.
C. 1995 RICHARD & RUTH McCLENAGHAN 25/8/25
Ana
Tuesday 28th BOTSWANA Gaborone
We are learning the parable of the Lost Sheep in Luke 15 with our Sunday School children. Please pray that these verses will help them understand the salvation God freely offers. We are just coming to the end of the winter season and they close tomorrow for their short winter school break.
We continue to call all times with the children “Sunday School” work (sorry to confuse you) as then the parents and children know it is about Bible teaching and not something else. We have three Sunday Schools that do take place on Sunday, three on Monday, two on Tuesday, one on Wednesday, one on Friday and three on Saturday. These are all in different locations, some in the shade of a tree in a village like this one in Mochudi and some in the assembly building.
The mid-week ones are usually held at around 3pm - most of them are in areas outside of Gaborone in nearby villages. Unfortunately, there is a new syllabus being introduced in the schools which means that children aged approximately 9 to 12 years are staying on later in school and arriving home after Sunday School time. Those younger than 9 are also affected as some schools now ask their children to rotate coming to school at different times. One week they start at 7am and finish at lunch time and the next week they start at noon and finish late afternoon. This means we see some children every other week, and some children we now do not see at all. On the weekend, the older age group (9-12 years) are being asked to attend extra lessons at school. As you can imagine we are very sorry about this new change.
Please pray with us and pray for our children. It has been our great joy for many years to have opportunities to teach in Sunday School work and we obviously wish to continue with that.
There are several changes just now affecting Botswana as a nation and we ask for your prayers for us here.
C. 1990 JOY GRIFFITHS 21/8/25
Wednesday
29th
ENGLAND/ UGANDA/PAKISTAN
Local Work
Liverpool
I have just finished three weeks of gospel meetings in Manchester. It was hard going but lots of people heard the gospel on the streets. We gave out a significant number of Bibles, especially to teenagers, and a steady trickle of people came into the hall to hear the gospel. Please pray for Isaac. His parents are believers; he is a lawyer and came to the meetings twice of his own volition. We are praying for his salvation.
We are mainly at home during August as we assist in a Vacation Bible Club in our home assembly and spend some time with our family. In late August, into September we go to Wick and Orkney, in the extreme north of Scotland, for a series of meetings. The assemblies are small in these areas and appreciate the help.
Uganda
The work in Uganda is expanding mainly through a weekly radio programme we are privileged to share in. Souls have been saved in a number of places and they, along with existing believers, are interested in the teaching of the word and so they invite my fellow workers and great friends, Alozious Wokatega and Sanya Charles to go and visit them (to teach). When I was there in January and April this year it was wonderful to see many new believers (and those new to consecutive bible teaching) come to conference events for teaching and also to be able to visit them where they live and gather. There are now believers gathering in seven locations; they are at different stages of their understanding of the truth of a New Testament Church. They are up against a lot of false teaching from charismatic teachers, so called apostles and the prosperity gospel, which is rife in their country. They would appreciate your prayers.
Pakistan
The saints in Pakistan continue to prosper despite the physical trauma of poverty, flood and illness and against the backdrop of ongoing bouts of persecution from time to time. I read recently that Samuel Rutherford, the Scottish preacher in the 1800’s, once said in his book ‘Letters to Lady Culross’ - ‘Grace grows best in Winter’. This seems to be so true in Pakistan. They prosper despite, and often because of, the persecution they face. There are over 30 assemblies in the region we visit, most of them having been established in the last 8 years. They work hard in gospel outreach in cities, towns and villages and in the 9 prisons that they have access to. Again, your prayers are invaluable. ‘For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shown toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister’ Hebrews 6:10.
C. 2006
STEPHEN & CAROLE BAKER 5/8/25
Thursday 30th
SOUTH AFRICA
“For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” Romans 5:19
George
We are ever grateful for the Lord’s goodness and help during the mid-year get-together for the Bible correspondence lessons. After preparing their food, the bus transported and dropped off children from three main areas in George. We collected others from surrounding outlying areas, and they were all brought to the hall in Pacaltsdorp.
We were encouraged by the turnout, although we had expected many more. We were especially thankful for our son, Caleb, and his cousin, Sarah Brown, who came down from Port Elizabeth to help. Young people from our assembly also joined in to assist. Our theme was obedience, with the main text being Romans 5:19 “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous”.
Brother Fred Syce, (a young brother from the assembly) shared the Word of God, beginning with Adam and Eve’s disobedience, Jonah’s disobedience, and Abraham’s obedience in offering up his son Isaac. The central focus was on the obedience of our Lord Jesus Christ, even to the point of suffering the death of the cross for us. Many of these folks come from broken homes and difficult circumstances. How wonderful that we are still able to sow the Word of God, trusting that it will bring forth much fruit.
Everyone thoroughly enjoyed making a craft of Jonah and the great fish. This is also a little game for the younger ones to enjoy afterwards. For every 10 lessons completed, a certificate is awarded. A total of 160 certificates were given out, with the top young lady having completed her 186th lesson. Once again, we pray that the Word will be hidden in their hearts and dwell in them richly.
Please continue to pray for the assembly and the outreach to Harry Comay, the TB hospital, among the young folk and the cottage meetings.
C. 2000 (SA) ROBIN & MARY ROSSOUW 18/8/25
Friday 31st
GRENADA Carriacou
Regarding repairs to our home and the assembly building following hurricane Beryl, not much has changed since our last post. In an effort to increase the number of homes being built on the island and a hope to occupy ahead of the dreaded hurricane season, the Government of Grenada has captured the skilled men such as contractors, masons, carpenters, labours and electricians. Unfortunately, this has left many houses on the island having their roofs repaired but the windows, doors and other household items are still needed to complete the structures. We were given countless assurances from skilled construction workers that they will commence renovation work, but to date no one has kept their word. In addition, quite a significant number of homeowners, like us, are currently waiting for building materials or funding.
Funding for materials for home repair was made available after the passage of hurricane Beryl. We applied for government aid and were approved, but couldn’t collect at that time due to lack of storage to house the materials. Now that we have secured suitable storage, we are unable to obtain the materials as the hardware store is awaiting necessary funding from the Government before material distribution can resume.
The tarpaulins that cover the roof of the basement where we reside are constantly being destroyed by the strong winds. We also use the first floor of the same building to meet each Lord’s day morning, because the tent where we were first housed was destroyed by fierce winds. We have since resumed Sunday School but in an open format where kids and adults alike assemble for a time of singing and bible teaching. That was welcomed by all. It was such a joy to hear the little kids singing again. Unfortunately, once it rains, we cannot meet to break bread because there are no doors or windows. We are urgently awaiting our fellow brother from mainland Grenada to complete building plans to be submitted to the relevant authority for approval before any work can commence. We hope that the approval will be granted quickly as we are now in the hurricane season once more.
Prayer Requests
• Pray that the Lord will provide in the purchasing of building materials.
• Pray that we will be able to get two skilled men and a helper to commence work on our house.
• Pray that these men will be honest and work the required hours.
• Pray for the plans for the Gospel Hall to be completed and approved to allow construction to begin very soon.
• Pray that the unsaved person who visits us from time to time will heed the gospel message.
• Pray for believers to remain faithful and committed.
• The alcohol consumption among our youths is alarming. Pray that they will be delivered from the chains of darkness that enslave them.
Brethren pray for us. We value your prayers. We do get discouraged at times, but we cannot give up. We are encouraged by the Lord to keep trusting and not faint.
LINUS & JENNIFER LOUIS
C=Date of Commendation
Published by:
LORD’S WORK TRUST 42 Beansburn, Kilmarnock KA3 1RL
