Scotland Day: 1, 16
Romania Day: 2, 22
England Day: 3, 13
Botswana Day: 4
Brazil Day: 5, 15, 23
St Lucia Day: 6
N Ireland Day: 7, 8, 12
Canada Day: 7, 9
Ireland Day: 8, 12
Angola Day: 10
Australia Day: 11, 28
Venezuela Day: 14, 25
Zambia Day: 17, 24
Nicaragua Day: 18
Italy Day: 19
Mexico Day: 20
Moldova Day: 21
Armenia Day: 21, 27
Cyprus Day: 26
India Day: 29, 31
Sri Lanka Day: 29
Japan Day: 30
Over the period after moving to Edinburgh in 2019 to late 2023, we became increasingly aware that the need for Gospel witness in Edinburgh is vast. It is a secular, even pagan city, dominated by the gods of material prosperity and pleasure-seeking. It desperately needs Christ.
During this time, we have been involved in building up contacts, door-to-door evangelism and open-air preaching in the city centre, as well as the regular teaching and preaching in the assembly. We were also encouraged to recently be able to recommence a children’s work in Gorgie for the first time in over a decade.
Seeing the enormity of the need, I felt led to leave employment and engage in Christian service on a fulltime basis. We were commended to the work of the Lord in Scotland and further afield by the assembly at Gorgie on 3 May.
In April, we visited the Western Cape of South Africa where Rebecca’s parents, Rodney and Joy Brown, live for a month of Bible teaching and Gospel preaching. It was encouraging to see the interest of the believers in the Word of God and the different opportunities for sharing the gospel.
After returning home, we were involved in fortnight long Gospel campaigns in Logan, Ayrshire and Gorgie, Edinburgh, sharing with Craig MacKie (New Cumnock) and Craig Munro (Glencraig) respectively. In both series, we were encouraged by the response of local people coming to hear the Good News. At Gorgie, we were delighted to hear two individuals profess faith in Christ.
There has been much in the news recently about immigration into the UK. While it may cause problems and fuel debates in the general election, it also brings to our doorstep many precious souls, often from lands where it would be difficult to enter with the Gospel. Immigrants mostly settle in cities and tend to gather in areas where they are with their own community. One such area is Small Heath in Birmingham, where 85% of the 22,000 population are Muslim, but with only half of this number being born in the UK. Andy continually works in this area throughout the year but for the past 8 years Robert has joined him in leading a special Gospel effort for a week in the summer.
Each year the team consists of local brothers and sisters, together with those who travel in to help. Ages range from teens to those well past pension age. For many it is their first time to engage with Muslims – a vastly different experience to what is normally encountered. To help with this we provide training each morning on Islam thinking and how best to navigate a conversation keeping the focus on the Gospel. The afternoon is spent distributing literature in various languages and engaging in conversation.
Those joining us for the first time are often amazed at how easily Muslims stop to talk about spiritual matters. That said, the same arguments come up continually, for example: “Where did Jesus say ‘I am God, worship me’?”, He did not die on the cross, or the Bible is corrupted. While it is extremely rare for anyone to threaten us, the discussion can often get intense and give cause for a “telegraph prayer” (Neh. 2:4) for grace and wisdom.
British converts to Islam do tend to be more vociferous than others. Last year, one such man, Akeel, began to debate on the street with Paul Hind (Moseley). This gathered some spectators. One mother stopped with a 9/10-year-old boy, and as Andy spoke to them, she encouraged her boy to ask a question. ‘How can Jesus be the Son of God?’ he typically asked. Having answered his question, emphasising this to be an Eternal Sonship and not a result of incarnation as many Muslims think, Andy was then able to converse freely with the mother. She agreed she was a sinner, but just as he was about to speak about the necessity of sacrifice for salvation, the convert, having finished his debate with Paul, came
past, stopped, and ultimately brought that encouraging conversation to an end. Unfortunately, we find this often happens - evidence that we ‘wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world’ (Eph 6:12).
Another convert – a perfume seller - interfered regularly (with little fragrance) into conversations Alasdair and Rhoda MacPherson (North Leigh) were having, but they did enjoy some encouragements. Abdullah, an ex-Imam who had been to a church in the past, seemed open to the Gospel when speaking one-to-one. Abdi came along twice in the week, and the second time was shocked to discover Muhammad was dead, but Christ risen from among the dead. One never can tell which aspect of truth will be used by the Lord to save someone.
Peter Singleton and Jason Anderson (both Moseley) had an honest conversation with Saleen, opening their Bibles to Luke 5 and speaking about the Deity of Christ and the forgiveness of sins. A long thoughtful conversation was had with Lance on God’s holiness, man’s guilt, and the need of a Saviour. Abdul Waqa and Liban all listened well in conversations with Stephen Baker (Huyton), and we ask you to join us in prayer that having heard, the Spirit of God will bring them to conviction.
We also produced two new tracts for last year containing excerpts from three questions each from Ultimate Questions (with permission) and again there was a good number of tracts taken. It was a particular encouragement to get a phone call from Muhammad who had found one of the tracts at a bus stop in a neighbouring ward. He had serious sin in his life that was making him depressed, and he wanted prayer that God would take away his desires. However, sadly, when Robert met up with him following the phone conversation, he was not willing to address the root of the problem or consider Christ.
After an afternoon on the street, we meet back at the hall to share what has happened, debrief and pray for those we have been talking to. A meal is shared together and we look forward to being refreshed by ministry from a guest speaker. Last year Stephen Baker was with us and it was wonderful to have his fellowship and help, with many other local saints enjoying his ministry throughout the week on 1 Corinthians 15.
We were delighted that Peter Singleton agreed to join in helping to organise and lead these outreach weeks going forward. We are also greatly indebted to local saints who provide meals and accommodation - some giving us the complete use of their home. We know the Lord takes note of such sacrificial giving and will reward in a coming day.
The planned dates for this year are 22nd to 26th July (DV) with Paul McCauley (Belfast) as our invited speaker. We would love to hear from any believer who would be interested in joining us for all or part of the week. Training, accommodation and meals all freely provided. Contact Andy (07779 034886) or Robert (07766 452826).
Please pray for this challenging and demanding work.
RM Committee: Andy Mullan, Robert Armstrong, Peter Singleton
As you start to enjoy a little warmer weather in UK for your summertime, we are just approaching winter. Winter in Botswana is very strange. It may be that the temperature drops to 1 degree Celsius at night, but by 1pm it will quite likely be 25 degrees. This makes the nighttime seem very cold indeed. Village children may not have a bed as such, but instead a foam mattress or blanket on the floor. When they sleep they will be very glad of a woollen hat and/or scarf. This is through the kindness of dear sisters from home and we really appreciate those who make and send woollen hats and scarves which we distribute around May or June to the village Sunday Schools. Thank you for your kind fellowship.
There are many children throughout Botswana who faithfully attend Sunday School and hear of the love of the Saviour. May their hearts be won for Christ and may they continue faithfully for Him and for His glory. We have 14 Sunday Schools in Gaborone and surrounding villages. Please pray for the children and the teachers.
A few weeks ago we had a meal together as an assembly and took the opportunity of getting a photo.
We have a good number of children of couples in fellowship and they are with us too in the photograph.
We have a second hall on the other side of the city and a gospel meeting, ministry and prayer meeting and a Sunday School are held there weekly also. We do value your prayers.
C. 1990 JOY GRIFFITHS 28/5/24
Friday 5th
At the end of April, Santa Isabel do Rio Negro was visited. This is one of the seven cities on or near the Rio Negro. An excellent response was achieved under the gracious hand of the Lord. All four schools showed great interest in the Bible Time material, requesting 100% for all ages. One head teacher asked for a Bible. With none spare to hand, I gave her my own. It was very delightful to see her so happy. She also received a good selection of Gospel literature.
Claudete was keen to go with me on the slow cargo boat to Santa Isabel to make a personal delivery to the schools. On the front of the boat, we noticed the words: “The door that God opens, no one can shut.” The boat carried many indigenous people. Good friendships have been forged with both young and old. Some invited us to visit them in S Isabel. Just what we have been looking to the Lord to open. Not just an entry into the schools but also into the homes to open the Scriptures for them and pray with them.
One tribal chief invited us to visit his people. He knows we are the Lord’s servants. He also asked for a Bible. His Portuguese is excellent and of course he speaks his indigenous mother tongue. The municipal secretary of education in Santa Isabel has invited us to take the Bible Time material to the indigenous people of the Yanomami and Baniwa tribes. We met some of these in Santa Isabel when we had our meals together. The younger generation are now being educated in the Portuguese language. This is quite a challenge as it involves a three-day journey in a small lightweight boat that can be carried around the waterfalls. “Therefore, said He unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He would send forth labourers into His harvest.”
Claudete’s mother was called home at the beginning of May. Dona Olga was 94 and had been a good and faithful servant of the Lord in so many ways. We both continue well in the kindness and goodness of our beloved Lord.
C. 1974 JOHN & CLAUDETE AXFORD 28/5/24
In the month of April, we held the Saturday Bible Class in our home with a set of sessions on the Fruit of the Spirit from Galations 5. The interest from the group of young believers was encouraging as we desire that lives will be deeply impacted to become more like our Lord Jesus. For the second year, we took advantage of the May 1st holiday to hold a Labour Day Bible Class, using the assembly building in Soufriere for the location. This year, approximately 40-50 younger and older came together who would be associated with 6 different assemblies around the island. It was a long day of driving and speaking but felt the teaching on the Will of God during the sessions was guided by the Lord and much help was given. The day includes food and activities for the young people, so much labour for Trena and other sisters.
Trena continues to work in one-on-one teaching with several younger women who have been saved over the past year. With two of them, she is thankful to work alongside other sisters so that they can share in the work and learn the importance of the older women teaching the younger. Spiritual growth among each one is not always a steady climb, but we would ask for your prayers for these ones; that they would grasp the wonderful truths of our God. Col. 2:7 ‘Rooted and built up in Him…’
At the start of May we held 5 afternoons of gospel meetings in Anse la Raye. There have not been adult gospel meetings in this seaside village since January 2018 when just three attended. Our work since then in the village has been with children’s meetings and my mornings weekly on the streets with individuals.
Day Bible Class
Paul Jenkinson of Scotland joined us for this week, sharing in the gospel each day and visiting through the streets before the meetings. We were greatly encouraged by 15 different adults who came over the five nights along with 15-20 different children. Each of these are well known to us and we again would ask for your prayers for our God to move in salvation in this village as we continue to follow up with each who attended the meetings.
• Wisdom and strength to support nearby assemblies in their teaching and gospel work.
• Steady spiritual growth among young believers that Trena and I work with weekly.
• For the salvation, teaching and development of young men that would one day take public, responsible roles within the assemblies.
C. 2017 (Can) PHIL & TRENA GOULD 31/5/24
I am presently in Sussex, New Brunswick, Canada labouring with Murray McCandless in Gospel meetings in his home assembly. I have also had the privilege of conducting a week of children’s meetings here, as well as in Fredericton and two nights in Waterloo, Iowa, USA.
I believe that the children’s work laid a good solid foundation upon which we have sought to build in the Gospel series as we attempted to reconnect with the young people here following my visit last year. One young lady is very burdened, having been up late for five nights seeking salvation. Please pray that she soon takes that step of faith in Christ that leads to salvation. We believe that God is working in the lives of others who seem to be paying good attention in the meetings, and both Murray and I feel that the Lord has given power to preach. The effort is also being streamed online via Zoom, and at least two who tune in each night are anxious about their condition before the Lord. Last year, one professed during the meetings, and three were saved in the weeks following. We have extended the meetings by a further two weeks, making six in total. Please pray that this year might see a greater harvest at our Lord’s hand.
I have been asked to return for the last week in June and the first in July to assist in the Children’s work conducted by the assembly in a tent in the town. After praying about it and having built up a strong relationship with many of the young people, we felt this added opportunity was of the Lord, and we trust that He will move in salvation during that further effort.
While here, I have been out and about with my camera, seeking to obtain enough photos and material for another children’s book that will be titled ‘Canadian Tails.’ I now have over 20,000 words completed in this volume. I am also seeking to produce a daily reading book for young people that will be called ‘Creation Speaks.’ This publication will be based on mammals, birds, reptiles and insects of the world using them to highlight important Bible teaching.
Earlier in the year, I also started an Instagram account titled ‘creationspeaking’ on which I post photos of wildlife and seek to draw spiritual lessons. Many children are sadly hooked on social media, and after prayer and encouragement, this seemed like a good way to reach and teach these needy young people. Please pray for its effectiveness. ROBERT & KAREN PLANT 24/5/24
Monday 8th
We have just started tent meetings with brother Willie Fenton outside Ahoghill and are pleased with the overall numbers in attendance, with Christians bringing their families and a few from the locality present also. It would be good to see more local people coming and we look to the Lord that this may be the case as the gospel meetings continue, and we look to Him for blessing in salvation also.
Since January, God has allowed us to be involved in a number of series alongside our other activities and monthly meetings. Last week it was a privilege to attend the baptism of a young sister in Rathmines Gospel Hall who was saved at meetings shared with Mark Sweetnam at Swords back in January. God is good. Please pray for the Swords area. We were back there for a further meeting on Friday night past and intend to return for a night in June. A few in the locality have shown an interest and so we continue sowing, knowing that God will use His Word.
Meetings in Garvagh with brother Willie Fenton and in Dunmurry with brother Jonathan Black were encouraging with good numbers of local people present. The saints in each area worked hard to get folk out so we are glad for them that the meetings seemed profitable. ‘Our God is the God of Salvation.’
In April we were back in Galway city for gospel meetings with brother John Davison. Although no news of salvation followed immediately, we were very pleased with the good number that attended. A little work has been done there since gospel meetings in August. This included ministry meetings with David McAllister which were attended by some local believers. Keep praying for this area with so much need. There is a monthly meeting the nearby town of Athenry, but maybe a regular/semi regular meeting in Galway would be of benefit. The believers that live in the city are quite a distance from local assemblies and those who are in fellowship travel one to two hours to meet with the saints.
Looking forward, we would ask you to remember gospel series planned for July and August in the will of God. In July we have booked a venue in Tralee, Co. Kerry. This is not an area we have been to before for meetings and Timothy Stevenson, who will be back in Ireland then, plans to share those meetings. In August a location has been secured for meetings in Fermoy, just north of Cork City. Brother David McAllister plans to share these meetings. We look forward to the help of others to assist with the distribution of invitations and to preach in the open air on these occasions. Pray that the people of these areas may avail themselves of the opportunity of hearing ‘The Truth’. Indeed, with such need on our island and with so many areas that seldom, if ever, have the gospel preached in them, let us ‘Pray… the Lord…, that He will send forth LABOURERS into His harvest’.
We continue with the display of Scripture both north and south of the border. This is mainly on billboards, buses, and increasingly this year at bus stops (Adshells). Sometimes avenues close, but the Lord opens others. May He direct our decisions. Pray to this end and that the scriptures displayed will have a lasting impact on those who see them and that souls may be saved to swell Heaven’s song ‘Thou art Worthy… Thou was slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood’.
C. 2017 PAUL & LINDA KISSICK 20/5/24
Pro 10-12
In early April I was with the assembly in Charlottetown for a week of ministry on the ‘Names of Jehovah, the everlasting God’. I trust that the subject considered encouraged our hearts and strengthened us in our walk for the Lord Jesus. While we can see the world getting darker and mankind turning further from God, the Lord’s word has been sufficient for every generation and is an adequate resource for us still.
I have just returned from a series of Gospel meetings with the Victoria Park assembly in Toronto. The assembly is small, but we were encouraged by the support from other assemblies; we also had some from the area attend. The families of local believers and those from the community are very much in our thoughts as we look for God’s blessing in salvation.
We will travel on Friday to Prince Edward Island for their annual conference and after this I have a week at home before other conference and Gospel commitments.
C. 2007 JOHN & ELAINE MEEKIN 16/5/24
The building work on the new hall continues. Progress is slow now as we are high up at the gable ends and each bricklayer needs 5 men to cut blocks, carry mortar and pass up person by person, but we anticipate in another two weeks it will be ready for rendering. Once we have finished the outside render, we will then move onto the refurbishment of the medical post which is in dire need of attention.
The work goes on here with its encouragements and disappointments. We have recently been able to visit Saurimo prison and it was a wonderful opportunity to preach the gospel and speak to some of the prisoners and to leave 600 bibles for the inmates. We were encouraged that after our visit we had a request from 30 prisoners and staff to start doing the Emmaus correspondence courses, so we pray that many will be led to the Lord.
We are now well into the dry season and it’s the time of year when there are open air bible teaching conferences here at Camundambala, Buila and Katoka in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), so we are looking forward to these and sharing the teaching with some from Camundambala assembly. We trust that the assembly at Buila will be encouraged and that a good number of believers from here will endeavour to make the 3hr journey there to give support to the small assemblies in the area.
We would appreciate prayer for the assemblies in Angola, as there is a very small, wealthy, vocal group of men who are doing all they can to introduce a clerical order in the local churches, and to install a President who will have authority over the elders. It’s so far removed from what the NT teaches about the local church. It’s heart breaking to see the division and strife that these men are causing and of course anyone who doesn’t toe the line to their views comes under constant attack. We are encouraged at the stand being taken by a good number of courageous men and would ask you please to remember this in prayer, that we would soon see the Lord intervene.
We are looking forward to our stocks of Portuguese bibles being replenished soon as a container is being loaded at the present time in the UK and bibles, along with materials for the new hall, paper for the printing work and Land Rover spares are all needed. It is commonly known that the Government has run out of money and is using customs in
Luanda as a means of bringing in extra revenue. Consequently, the cost of importation into Angola is exorbitant and as we only sell literature at cost price or less, this impacts the finance that we have to purchase more bibles. It would be marvellous if we could get this container through customs a lot cheaper than we have been doing for the last year or so. We would be grateful if you could make this a matter for prayer.
Debbie’s residence permit is due for renewal, and we have submitted the documentation here in Saurimo. Please do pray that the process will be smooth and speedy; these things have a tendency to get lost or delayed for no reason. The last permit was for 5 years so we trust she will get the same this time.
Thank you again for your fellowship, support and encouragement in the work of the Lord here, we appreciate it so very much.
C. 1993 BRIAN & DEBBIE HOWDEN 18/5/24
Pro 16-18
I am finding it difficult being away from home just now due to health concerns, especially for my wife, but I was able to go to a conference this past weekend. It was good to see the Lord’s people and enjoy the fellowship. There were about 260 present, including many younger believers. We need the next generation to be aware of the responsibilities of testimony.
In the meantime, we are trying to give some help locally. I am presently looking afresh at the Egypt to Canaan journey and expect to find many practical exhortations.
There is an exercise in the local assembly to reach out to the people of the district. Some opportunities are available, and we look for the guidance of the Lord in this regard.
Also, there are some believers in the village where we live, and we look for an opportunity to make their acquaintance and to be a testimony to those who are not believers. At a recent gathering here for ‘getting to know the residents’, people were telling their backgrounds and there were some who were obviously Christians.
C. 2005 LES & EILEEN HILLS 13/5/24
Friday 12th
We have a wonderful God and a great message in the gospel to proclaim and share with others.
At this time of year, we continue to be busy in preparation work for the outreach with the Gospel Literature Ireland stand at many agricultural shows. This has included redesigning both the website (www.goodnews4u.net) and some of the literature we distribute. A lot of thought goes into the content we offer on the tables at the events. We have just taken delivery of 15,000 pencils and 25,000 pens which are always well received.
In December, we were able to re-order John 3 bags from Asia and we are thankful to have received those bags this week ready for pre-packing. It was a privilege to be able to co-ordinate a total order of 170,000 bags which included 10 different designs, ordered by believers in Wales and Scotland, in addition to our supply to be distributed in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. We are very thankful to those who assisted in this project and please pray with us that the supplier, manufacturer or haulier will get saved as a result of reading the Word of God on the bags! We are looking forward to the distribution of gospel literature throughout the summer and the opportunity to engage in conversation with many people. Please pray for salvation to come as a result of the work of Gospel Literature Ireland.
We have also visited the Republic of Ireland on a few occasions over recent months. It has been a joy and privilege to reconnect with some of our former neighbours and unsaved contacts in Newcastle West. We are thankful for the open doors to us and for the kitchen tables that we are invited to sit around. We pray that the Lord will bless these opportunities in the salvation of souls and encouragement of the Lord’s people. It is also a privilege to help other assemblies in the Republic of Ireland in various ways.
At the end of 2023 we were able to design a Scripture calendar which was distributed in a couple of areas in the Republic of Ireland, along with some nationalist areas of Belfast. These calendars had carefully chosen Scripture texts along with photos from some of the areas of distribution and it is always encouraging to meet people who are waiting for the calendar to arrive with them.
As we look ahead to the coming months, we acknowledge that we can do nothing on our own strength. We look to the Lord for the increase as we seek to sow the seed of His Word and be ambassadors for Him. Please continue to pray with us for the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
C. 2006 ANDREW & GILLIAN SHANKS 13/5/24
Pro 22-23
This year began with a lot of time spent with a new contact who came into the hall to hear the gospel for the first time in his life just before Christmas but was attacked shortly after leaving the area. This led to a six week stay in hospital and gave us many opportunities to open the Bible with him and answer his questions, both in person and by phone, thanks to the patient ward staff. He was very challenged that God was speaking to him and dealing with him in January/ February.
Unfortunately, he has since been rehoused to the other side of London and is in a temporary hostel environment. (Often non-addicts would be targeted by fellow residents who steal their phones and money, and/or try to get them hooked on drugs.) Contact has now become sporadic. He is definitely searching for the meaning of life and susceptible to all kinds of strange teachings – which are too easy to find on the streets of London!
There is presently an opportunity to spend time weekly with a few catholic men who are encountering the gospel for the first time. While all are noticing the difference between the gospel and Catholicism and will now admit that they are therefore not Christians, one man has progressed further and has a real interest in what he’s hearing and sees a hope in the gospel that Catholicism could never offer him.
In the last month we met two workmen. The boss was busy making arrangements for his soon retirement but had never given thought to his soul. He attends a catholic church weekly to keep his partner happy but professes to have no time for any religion. Nonetheless, over a two-week period he came with questions about what we believe (this was not solicited or prompted by us) and he would listen to the answers given without debating. On one occasion I was able to reshare the message I had just preached the day before with him. This was most likely to the dismay of his employee who was a local nominal Muslim with no interest in these spiritual questions but had to listen all the same!
We would appreciate your prayers for these 6 men who come from very different walks of life, have very different physical circumstances, but have all heard the same message and have the same great need – their soul’s salvation!
C. 2013 JOE & NAOMI WYATT 13/5/24
The Lord has preserved His work here in Tucupita in the state of Delta Amacuro. Presently we are kept busy with the routine activities in this area. Every week a children’s bible class is held in 7 different places and a gospel meeting in 4 of these places. We are encouraged to see these children who at first knew absolutely nothing of God’s word, beginning to have a fair understanding of the basic truths of salvation. Please pray that they may also receive His word and the Lord may plant other testimonies for His Name in this state.
On the 19th of April, which is a national holiday here, a good number of believers from the assembly, along with a few others who were visiting, gave out gospel texts and literature in an area called Paloma. Although it is full of JW’s, Catholic’s and other sects, the people were very receptive and a few have come to our meetings in the hall.
Our brother Joel Ramos (my father in-law) from the assembly here in Tucupita, was called to be with the Lord at the end of January. He left a very bright testimony and in the final months of his illness he witnessed to all who came to visit him. His oldest son, Hugo is the only one in the family not saved as yet. As he was well known and respected a large crowd heard the gospel at his funeral. After that, we were able to preach for a few days in the home and then in another area where he had many friends and relatives. However, we also encountered much opposition from the Roman Catholics, who were very annoyed that we were preaching the gospel in that area.
A week ago, another sister in our assembly lost her husband in a tragic way. He was walking along the street in a very drunken condition and fell headfirst into a hole which had water in it. Tragically he drowned as no one was there to help him out. Sadly, this man was never willing to come to our meetings. He was present at the funeral of our brother Joel, 4 months ago and tried to interrupt the meeting by speaking out loud. His wife wanted the gospel to be preached in the home, but after the meeting was over the Catholics took over and our sister was not able to hinder it. We appreciate your prayers for his widow, Sra Carmen, who was amongst the first to get saved here in Tucupita.
It was a joy for us to be at the Easter conference in Valencia and see the interest of so many of the Lord’s people to hear God’s Word. The numbers in Valencia get up to approximately 2,000 and the conference in Aroa which is held simultaneously may get around 1,000. Then also at the end of April we were with the assembly in Los Altos where Mr Noel McKeown lives, helping with a few ministry meetings before their conference which was held on the 3rd and 4th of May. Their hall was also packed, plus many were sitting outside.
Please remember in your prayers the need of our country. We have presidential elections coming up in July and our prayer is that there may be peace and suitable conditions for the spread of the gospel. The difficulty to get petrol is still one of the main hindrances in many parts of the country. Although there seems to be a little lift in the economy, prices of food, etc. are soaring high and beyond the reach of the majority. Many have relatives who have emigrated to other countries and receive a little help from them. But there is still an ear for the gospel and for this we are so grateful. No doubt, the fields here are white already to harvest, and we must “pray to the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers.”
We appreciate your prayers for us as a family and also for the assembly and for the progress of the gospel here in Delta Amacuro. Our brother David Perez and his wife remain here and are a big help in all the activities in the Lord’s work.
C. 2014 (Ven) WILLIAM & JOELINA TURKINGTON 14/5/24
Pro 27-29
Meeting at Ivoti
The recent floodings here in Rio Grande do Sul have shocked us all. How quickly things can change when God moves His Hand. People may speak of global warming and El Niño etc, but we know a higher Hand moves the scenes and works behind the scenes. A large part of the state has been affected - it’s going to cost the government millions and one wonders when all the bridges are going to be rebuilt, landslides cleared, and routes reopened. Sadly, many lives have been lost and thousands are homeless. It is our earnest prayer that this catastrophe will bring about some fear of the Almighty in this nation, that largely has turned away from God and all things religious since the pandemic.
This week we are having prayer meetings with the assembly in Ivoti in view of a series of gospel meetings to start on Lord’s Day, God willing, with brother John Davison. It has been a joy and encouragement to have brethren from the Sapiranga and Novo Hamburgo assemblies join with us in earnest prayer. A young man of thirty who was brought up in the Sunday school recently professed to be saved and his partner is now showing some interest. “Brethren, pray for us”.
C. 1998 GREG & ELIZABETH BUCHANAN 13/5/24
In February, we continued with the Bible Alive program in local schools, where hundreds of pupils enjoyed learning about the Old Testament and the character of God. The stories of God’s love, mercy, forgiveness, wisdom, and power were particularly engaging for many students.
The Newmachar Bible Explorers Club had low attendance, but those who attended were enthusiastic about learning Bible verses and stories. Notably, one older boy showed a keen interest in salvation when the Gospel was discussed.
At Woodside Primary, Aberdeen the SU group had around 25 regular pupils who enjoyed Bible stories, singing and the Treasure Keepers memory verse cards, provided free of charge thanks to the generosity of God’s people. At the Dyce Academy SU group, we used a youth Gospel program to explain the Gospel to about six pupils. Inverurie Academy’s SU group also had some first-year pupils re-engaging with the Bible through the program, along with one or two older pupils attending.
March marked the completion of the Bible Alive sessions, where we discussed the cross, resurrection, and a wonderful glimpse of Heaven as described in Revelation! The Newmachar Bible Explorers Club concluded for the year and we have commenced our adult Bible study for summer, including some new Christians and one non-believer.
The Woodside Primary SU group ended the term with 25 regular attendees, who deepened their understanding of God’s Way of Salvation. Although disappointed by the break, they were assured the group would resume after the October holidays D.V!
Wednesday 17th
Effect of Drought in Zambia
‘LORD HELP US’ was the response from an elderly lady at Kamlaza who had lost her crops and didn’t know how she was going to survive for the next 10 months. Sadly all 41 farmers in the Kamlaza assembly suffered a similar fate when rains stopped during March when the crops were maturing, causing them to wilt and fail to produce seed.
The drought, blamed on El Niño, has affected 84 out of the 116 districts in Zambia resulting in widespread crop losses and forcing the president to announce a national state of emergency. UNICEF reported that over six million people from farming households are at risk of acute food shortages and malnutrition lasting from May until the next harvest in May 2025.
The drought has also affected the country’s electricity supply. Zambia depends heavily on hydroelectric power, but low water levels in crucial dams have decreased power generation, leading to more frequent power outages. Underground water tables are also low with many boreholes in rural areas running dry. The tragedy is that those most affected are the poorest in the land.
Dealing with poverty among our fellow believers is at the heart of SHAREAfrica’s mission, and while this current crisis is far beyond our capability, the existing infrastructure allows us to reach many of the most vulnerable. We already support children, farmers, widows and the vulnerable, including making a high-protein porridge formulated for the malnourished.
Anyone travelling through the country will be shocked at the gulf in living standards between the rich and poor, yet it is the poor rural farmers who supply much of the food that ends up on the rich man’s plate. Fairness has lost its meaning, and the Golden Rule which most would agree is a solution, remains far from the thoughts of those who just want ‘more’.
In such difficult times, we cannot lose focus on the wider objectives. The challenges today are caused by things out of our control, whether climate change or other economic and geopolitical pressures, therefore our objective must remain on creating lasting solutions through investment in productivity. Poverty alleviation starts with people earning a living. The simple response may be to distribute aid, which in some situations is necessary, but it is not a lasting solution. Here is what we believe will deliver the best results:
• Boreholes and simple irrigation: If a farmer has access to water, he can grow vegetables and keep animals.
• Different varieties of seed: Sorghum, millet, and new varieties of sunflower which are more drought resistant. These are in the early stages of development.
• Training grain farmers to be seed farmers will increase their earnings.
• Increasing capacity to produce more food for the needy.
• Spiritual needs: we cannot underestimate the value of a comfortable meeting place where worship and fellowship produce fruit of a different kind. Bibles and hymnbooks are essential to Christian worship and many saints have neither.
at his former school in Zambia compound. He is now in junior secondary at
We are grateful for the prayerful and faithful support received in recent years as our brethren in Zambia do everything in power to help their fellow believers. In spite of the economic and practical challenges facing many Zambians daily, it is always encouraging to see the spiritual interest and progress of the Lord’s people.
UPDATE FROM JIM McPHAIL, HARROGATE 28/5/24
The Monday night men’s Bible study has restarted. It is great to see the interest, participation, and learning as we consider who the Lord Jesus truly is in the gospel according to Mark. During the months of April and May, we held Biblical marriage studies for any couple who wanted to attend in Managua. We were delighted that each week we had around 18 -20 couples who came and learned more about healthy Biblical marriage. Please continue to pray for the couples that form part of the local assembly. We are saddened that we have had several couples emigrate to other countries in these last few months. We miss them and their contributions to the Lord’s work. Pray that the ranks will be filled!
Brenda and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary in May. We look back on two decades in Nicaragua with joy and awe, as we remember the Father’s faithful hand through many years. We enjoyed celebrating mothers on the 26th of May, a few days earlier than the National celebration on the 30th. We had several new families come in for this celebration where the Gospel was shared. We had 3 week-long series of Gospel meetings in three different assemblies in the months of May and June. Pray that the seed sown will continue to germinate and bring forth much fruit.
Thanks also for praying for our family. Matthew (17) will be entering his last year of high school, Micah (15) will be entering grade 10, Elisabeth (12) will be entering grade 7, and Elena Raquel (10) will be entering grade 5. Thank you for partnering with us in prayer for Nicaragua!
Brenda and I will be visiting Scotland at the end of June with our family. We will be in Gorgie on Sunday, June 23rd and giving a report at Ladybank on Monday evening, June 24th. We will be at Perth on Tuesday June 25th. We are excited to visit several assemblies in Scotland and pray that the work of the Lord in Nicaragua will be an encouragement!
MARK & BRENDA BACHERT
27/5/24
Please do pray with us that the rising of the earth might slowly stop so that we might return to some measure of normality, that the prison work might start again, and that this problem will not impede our plans for a multi-purpose Christian Centre here in Pozzuoli, Naples.
Some of you may have heard that on the evening of the 20th of May, there were three significant earthquakes in our area, with the epicentre about 2 miles from where we live. Although the earthquakes were only between 3.5 and 4.4 on the Richter scale, what made them so concerning is that they took place only about 2km underground, (most earthquakes happen at 10km underground). Buildings shook and were damaged, people panicking sought safety anywhere, thankfully nobody was hurt. We slept in our car that night as did many others.
Over recent years we have become used to feeling minor earthquakes as a weekly and sometimes daily occurrence. There are many more earthquakes taking place that we don’t actually feel, in fact last week the Vesuvius observatory registered 274 quakes in our area.
The whole area is slowly rising. This is due to the underground magma heating the underground rivers, causing evaporation, which causes pressure, which causes the earth to rise, which causes these earthquakes. This situation has been going on for Eccl 9-12
thousands of years and is cyclical. The whole area tends to rise and fall slowly, but in the acute phase, it can cause problems.
The long and short of it is that some people have had to leave their homes, including some members of our assembly, until their homes are declared safe, or if declared unsafe, they are made safe. Some public buildings such as schools have been temporarily closed. As you can imagine it is not easy for life to go on as normal at the moment.
What is saddest of all for Patrizia and I is that the Pozzuoli women’s prison has been temporarily closed until it is made safe. It is such a shame as the work with the craft course and Bible studies was going so well. Your continuing prayers for us and the work of the Lord in Italy is very much appreciated. Please pray for this current situation and opportunities to continue to present the Gospel.
6/6/24
S of S 1-4
San Luis Potosi
Special meeting for the Day of the Child
Recently, the assembly in El Barril rejoiced to receive a young brother to the fellowship of the assembly. In April, we held a special event for the Day of the Child. There was a nice number of children present and several adults that normally don’t attend that heard the gospel. Since then, one lady has continued to bring her children to the Sunday School. Typically, there are a good number of unconverted that attend the Sunday meetings, which includes the preaching of the gospel.
With the help of the local believers from El Barril we continue to take the gospel to the communities of Chupaderos and Jesus Maria twice per month. In each village, we preach the gospel in the home of believers who invite friends and families. There aren’t large numbers that attend, but there does seem to be some genuine interest in the gospel.
Prayer requests:
• The salvation of more men in El Barril. Currently, there are only five men in the assembly.
• Blessing in the gospel works in Chupaderos and Jesus Maria.
• The salvation of more young people. There are a number of young people that have recently begun to attend the meetings.
• The spiritual growth of the men in the assembly so that they may handle more of the responsibilities.
• The restoration of three believers that left the assembly over the last few years.
‘Publicaciones Pescadore’ (PP) is preparing to publish another series of gospel tracts. This series will use various hymn writers and their hymns to present the gospel. Since June 2020 PP has produced over 150 new gospel tracts that have been digitally shared free of charge via social media. They have reached most, if not all, of the Spanish-speaking countries. Some are even being printed and physically distributed in Cuba. The tracts can be downloaded from https://publicacionespescadores.com/folletos
Each month, I also write an article for the monthly digital publication Mensajero Mexicano. The short articles are for the devotional section titled ‘Contemplando a Cristo’ (Contemplating Christ). For the last several months, I have been working through the Messianic Psalms. The publication which includes teaching, gospel and devotional articles, along with a question-and-answer section and news from the assemblies and works in Mexico, can be read or downloaded from www.mensajeromexicano.com
In March, we had the privilege to help with a series of gospel meeting in Rosario, El Salvador. It was our first trip to El Salvador and encouraging to meet the believers and workers in that country and labour with them in the preaching of the gospel.
Sunday 21st
Zirnesti
In May we were able to have a very special event at the CMIAID Base, in Zirnesti, Moldova. It was a Gospel outreach lunch for prison officers. This was the first time that we have had any contact with them. It came about because Ion, part of the CMIAID team, was doing some First Aid training in a school in Cahul. After he gave the training to the children, one of the parents came and introduced himself and asked if the same training could be organised for his staff. It turned out that he was the Governor of the Cahul prison. We were very happy to offer a training session at the CMIAID Base and we said we would like to share a message with them and provide a lunch as well. So, on the 22nd May, 31 prison officers came. We are so thankful to the Lord for this great opportunity to be able to share the Gospel with them. They were so open and friendly. Many took Bibles and Christian literature, and one man came to Sergey after the message and said he had understood many things that day that he had not understood before! Pray that their eyes will be opened to see the Lord Jesus and they will turn to Him to be saved.
We are now discussing with the Governor the possibility of starting to use the Emmaus Bible Correspondence Courses in the prison. Pray that this will be a possibility and that we will be able to find more ways to work with the Prison Officers as well.
In the beginning of June, we will be starting our Summer Camp season. The first two camps will be English Immersion Camps, which will be followed by five children’s camps and two youth camps. We have been overwhelmed by registrations this year with more people applying than spaces available. We expect about 1,000 children to attend the campsite over the summer. We would value your prayers for this busy period. It is so wonderful to be able to share the good news of the Gospel with so many children. Pray that the workers will start this season with renewed passion and zeal.
We continue to be encouraged by the way the Lord is opening doors in Armenia. We have been able to spend some time there setting up the Postal Bible School office. We will soon start enrolling children to do the BibleTime lessons. There are a few prayer needs that we would like to share with you regarding the work in Armenia.
• Pray that the Lord will provide suitable workers for the Postal Bible School work. We have someone to get the work underway, but as it grows more help will be needed. Pray that the Lord will bring people with a passion to reach children for the Gospel.
• Pray for plans for the next Strong Foundation Conference. We were greatly encouraged by the feedback from participants and for the interest there is to study the Word. These are some of the comments that were received on the feedback forms: “Thank you for a very blessed and fruitful time. It was a wakeup call for me”; “May God bless you very much for organising this conference and for all the blessings we enjoyed during those days”; “Come to Armenia as soon as possible so that we can enjoy God’s Word and fellowship together”; “Thank you for the blessings we received for discipleship, it was very helpful”. Pray for the Lord’s leading as we consider the next topic and when the conference should be. We would like to use the opportunity of the next conference to distribute a study book that we are publishing by Jabe Nicholson, which is called, “The Church: Masterpiece of the Ages”.
• We have had an offer of a very suitable house which could be used for meetings, accommodation, and as a PBS Office. Pray for the Lord’s direction in relation to whether we should purchase it and if so, for the Lord’s provision of the money needed.
A little girl who needs our prayer
I wanted to close with another prayer point. A few weeks ago, when workers were visiting a school in Moldova to collect BibleTime lessons for marking they noticed that one little girl, who had been very faithfully doing the Bible Course for some time, was in tears. They asked her what was wrong. She said her mum had torn up her Bible course and told her she did not want her studying the Bible. Please pray for this little girl and her sister. Please pray also for their mother, that she will realise what she has done and turn to the Lord Jesus for salvation. Thank you again for your prayers and support for the work in Moldova and Armenia.
C. 2004 (Australia) MATTHEW & RUTH HILLIER 27/5/24
Monday 22nd
”As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country” (Proverbs 25:25). We are happy to report some good news from the work among local assemblies in Romania.
Conversions – We continue to hear of people from Christian and non-Christian backgrounds being saved by the grace of God in different areas of the country. For example, during the last six months a good number of people have been saved in the village of Chilișeni, County of Suceava, where there is a large assembly that we visit regularly.
Baptisms – In the first century, saved people were obedient to the New Testament Scriptures and were baptised (Acts 2:41) and added to local assemblies. Recently I have had the wonderful opportunity of preaching at baptisms in Verești, County of Suceava, when five young believers were baptised; and in Medieș Ariet, County of Satu Mare, six believers, some who were saved during the winter, were baptised by immersion and over 150 people gathered together, including the local mayor and his deputy.
Bible studies – As in the first century (Acts 2:42), saved and baptised believers who gather together in local assemblies need good healthy Bible teaching. During the last five months I have ministered in 40 assemblies; some for a series of ministry meetings. Increasingly elders in different local assemblies are asking for specific subjects to be taught. For example, late March believers from seven assemblies packed the hall in Siret, on the Romanian/Ukrainian border for teaching on the Person and work of the Holy Spirit. Ministry on future events was requested and I am halfway through a series of 12+ meetings with the Verești assembly. It has been encouraging to see large numbers of keen young people in some meetings.
• Pray for young believers who are getting involved in the Lord’s work.
• Pray for younger men developing as Bible teachers – it is a great encouragement to see.
Expansion of the work – During February I was able to visit for the first time an expanding work amongst gypsy believers in N.W. Romania. The Lord has greatly blessed His work in Tinca and the surrounding area and it was wonderful to spend a Saturday with brethren from the Counties of Maramureș, Satu Mare and Bihor involved in planting new assemblies. On the Lord’s day I was able to minister in three assemblies planted in the last 30 years in the Counties of Maramureș and Satu Mare (Sărata, Vetiș and Medieș Ariet). We had the joy of seeing a young man profess salvation in Vetiș. The following weekend there were special gospel meetings in Tinca and Medieș Ariet and the Lord wonderfully worked in the salvation of souls.
Summer gospel tent ministry – The 17th year of using tents for gospel work commenced in early April in the County of Hunedoara, and later in the month in Răcăuți, County of Bacău. Tents were pitched during the month of May in the Counties of Iași, Giurgiu, Bihor and Satu Mare. Below are some specific requests for your fellowship in prayer for the gospel tent ministry:
• That good numbers of children will be reached once schools finish in mid-June. Some are eagerly waiting for the tents to be pitched in the locality where they live.
• For safety for all those involved in the tent work.
• That there will be spiritual fruit from the distribution of the Word of God and gospel literature.
• That the message of the gospel will be understood by those listening and result in genuine conversions.
• That wisdom will be given to those involved in conversations with people interested in the gospel message.
• For health and stamina for believers working amongst children.
C. 1992 PAUL & SUE WILLIAMS 6/6/24
We have faced unprecedented flooding right across the Rio Grande do Sul since arriving back from a brief visit to Northern Ireland. We arrived on Saturday 27th April and faced torrential rain as we went to the Bible Reading that night. After a brief respite on Sunday rain started again and within 6 days, we had 14 inches of rain here in Sapiranga, which is about 50% of Northern Ireland’s annual rainfall. This caused massive damage across the State with roads and bridges being destroyed and some towns left completely isolated by the flooding.
In spite of the rain, we were able to go ahead with the Novo Hamburgo conference on 1st May and although no one was able to attend from the interior of the State, we still had almost 300 present and had a good day around the Word of God.
By Thursday, river levels were starting to rise dramatically as all the rainwater drained off the land. That is when the serious problems in the State capital of Porto Alegre really started. The river Guaiba reached 2 feet higher than its previous record which had been back in 1941, and terrible flooding spread across the whole area. To date 116 people have lost their lives and 143 are still missing, and the material destruction is on an unimaginable scale.
In all of these circumstances we are deeply thankful to the Lord for the measure of protection enjoyed by His people and their families. We know of about 8 or 10 believers whose homes have been flooded, but we recognise that the situation could have been much worse. Here in Sapiranga, flooding was limited to the far side of the town from us, and our local believers were unaffected. However, because of the flooding in the region, we are unable to travel to Porto Alegre or to the interior of the State. However, we are thankful that the road to the coastal region is still open. As a result, Joy and I were able to travel to Osório on Tuesday to visit some folks, and yesterday afternoon we travelled to Itati to be with the believers for their weekly Bible Reading. In the will of the Lord on Saturday we intend to travel to Sombrio, just across the border into the State of Santa Catarina to spend the weekend with the believers there. Heavy rain has restarted today, and more is expected over the next few days, so we would very much appreciate your prayers for the situation here.
C. 1998
Wednesday 24th
Our school program on Thursday has been encouraging. We are thankful to the Lord for the young people from the local assembly who have a desire to come with us and help. One of them will usually teach the memory verse and another will do the quiz to reinforce what was taught in the lesson. Alison usually does the singing and I do the lesson, unless there is a flight, in which case one of the young men will take the lesson. Please pray for these young men as they learn how to engage in this kind of work - it takes a bit of practice to keep a crowd of generally unruly kids engaged, and we are all learning as we go. Many of these young folks in the assembly end up going away to town, either for school or work, and we are hopeful that maybe what they are doing here with us, they can replicate by themselves when they move to Lusaka or the towns in the Copperbelt. There are a lot of kids in the compounds in Lusakadefinitely ‘fields white to harvest’.
So please pray for the young believers helping us: for their walk with the Lord and an exercise to work for Him, and for the development of their ability to carry on this kind of work. Please pray for the assemblies in Lusaka and the Copperbelt, that the Lord would lay it on the hearts of the Christians there to take advantage of the opportunities.
The hospital project is moving right along, with ceilings and floors mostly installed. We are moving into the finishing stages: the installation of plumbing and electrical fittings, painting and tiling. Also, the waste pipework for plumbing has yet to be done. We are grateful for all the folks that the Lord has sent along to help us with the project.
C. 2013/17 CHRIS & ALISON BRUNDAGE 4/6/24
Thursday 25th
We were in San Pedrito for more than seven weeks evangelising and preaching every night. Attendance was encouraging and, in His mercy, the Lord allowed us to see some professing faith in the Lord. Among them was Mr. Manuel; his wife, a dear sister called Carmen, was very worried because, in his rebellion against the gospel, he had consented to receive classes with a false doctrine. After the second week of the meetings, we visited him and he agreed to come to the hall. He is of indigenous origin and knows his native language “Kariña”, so we learned some expressions including a basic greeting “Hello, friend”, which sounds like “Dua, mi choro”. That was our greeting every night, until one day he greeted me “Dua, mi piro.” I didn’t understand and asked what it meant, and he said: ‘It means “Hello, my brother”, last night I decided to receive Christ as my Saviour, now we are brothers’.
How much joy he has given us! In the assembly of San Pedrito, apart from being small, most of its members are elderly and being a rural area, the young ones are forced to leave for studies or work. God has placed His testimony in this
This year's Aroa conference
small village and has been faithful in maintaining it. At the end of the meetings, four believers were baptized and received into fellowship.
We ended the meetings to attend the Easter conference in Aroa, Yaracuy State, which have been held there for over a hundred years. The last time I had gone was about thirty years ago, so it gave us much joy to be able to be there and not only enjoy the conferences but also see how the Lord has blessed His work in that part of the country.
Upon returning, we accompanied the brethren in our hometown of Los Altos. The Northeast conference was coming up and Los Altos is the hosting assembly, so there were pre-conference prayer and ministry meetings and much to arrange both in the hall and in our homes. Thanks to the Lord, we managed to have the conferences; not only was there very good attendance, but the Lord moved the hearts of His servants and a good number of them arrived. We enjoyed good teaching and fellowship with believers who we don’t see often.
After the conference, we had the exercise to visit the different assemblies in the area before starting teaching in Piñantal. For these meetings we bought a motorbike; the bad road conditions and frequent problems with fuel led us to make this decision. We hope it will be useful and help us to attend not only Piñantal, but also the different works in the mountain area surrounding us.
We ask for your prayers, not only for us and the activities we carry out, but also for the work in Venezuela, that the Lord may continue to manifest His grace and that the Word of the Lord may continue to flow freely.
C. 2018 (Ven) PEDRO & LOIS MALAVE
22/5/24
Friday 26th
The summer has come in Cyprus, the staff are enjoying holidays with loved ones and friends and the school itself moves into the yearly maintenance time; also, we have to complete the required works of the building itself that it may be registered as a School building and not as it was originally registered, an apartment block. We would ask for your prayers, specifically for the builders that are going to move in and complete the required works to meet the legislation. Some of it is a little on the dangerous side as they will be high up in the air on scaffolding where a fall would almost certainly mean death; please remember those who will be labouring at the school that all the work might be completed throughout the summertime and the standard and quality will be such that meets the requirements of the Ministry of Education and Municipality of Limassol.
The Lord has blessed the school through another year. We have had the joy of seeing the senior pupils graduate, knowing that, as they have progressed through the school, a number have put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, and know the wonder and joy of Salvation.
When the new school year commences in September, we are pleased to report the number of parents that have registered their children for another year is such that the school will be full. We are thankful to the Lord for His help financially as we have been able to pay our way through the year that has passed. We look to the Lord for teaching staff because
each year when the school year comes to a close there are those that have been with us for a little while and now feel it is time to return back to their homeland and loved ones and continue in their career.
There are also those who have dedicated their lives to serving the Lord in the school, giving many years of faithful service in the proclamation of Gospel, and the education of the pupils passing through Logos school. We are most grateful as they form the core of our teaching platform.
Remember in prayer our new teachers who must find accommodation and adjust to a new way of life far from family and friends. We are always thankful to the Lord for those that come and help in the school, taking a year out from their studies. It’s a great help to the teachers when there are others in the classroom with them to help, especially during the presentation of a new concept as sometimes pupils find it a little difficult in learning concepts which are new to them.
In the New Year, we had the joy of two brethren being with us for the ministry of the Word. First, Craig Munro came with his enormous Kings chart which filled the whole of the back of our platform area giving us a very visual history of the kings of Israel and Judah. His subject for ministry was the kings of Judah. Craig brought out the positive and negative sides of the rule of these various Monarchs and used their lives to teach us to be careful in our assembly lives, and in our witness, as we find ourselves in a world where there are so many apostates, so many gatherings, and various theologies, far from the mind of God.
Secondly, John Scarsbrook spoke about the life of the apostle Paul: his Preparation, Prayer, Preaching and Pastoral ministry. As an example, he presented Paul’s Preaching - his motivation, the method, the message; our brother brought to us thoughts for our own lives on the way we conduct ourselves and the manner in which we live as we walk with Him day by day.
In the will of the Lord the Assembly is looking forward to a visit by Dan Rudge in the Autumn.
COLIN CLARKE, Chairman of the Logos Trust
6/6/24
In the month of May I had the opportunity to have a short visit to Armenia. It was good to see the work of the Lord going on there. To see believers whom I met when I first went there 20 years ago going on for the Lord was a blessing. There are encouragements in the assembly in Yerevan.
The Sunday school work progresses, with a good number of children coming along. However, it would be nice to see more brethren in the assembly with a hunger for the Word of God. Do continue to pray for the work there. In the village of Dvin, the Sunday School continues there, as does the meeting for the adults. However there has been opposition from the evil one in recent times and prayer is needed for the preservation and the building up of the work.
Do pray for the forthcoming camp work. The camps are held in a place called Stepanavan, in Northern Armenia in a very picturesque place. The dates of this gospel effort are July 8th to the 28th, God willing. Between 90 to100 children usually attend. For many of these young children and teenagers it’s their only opportunity to be in contact with Christians and to be exposed to the truth of the gospel. Do pray for the children and for those who will be responsible for the teaching of the gospel. It is a big undertaking for the small assembly in Yerevan.
Pray that the Lord would guide and direct brethren to go to Armenia and help there. There is a great need for a teaching ministry and an open door for the gospel. To see unsaved at every meeting in Yerevan, is something not seen very often in this part of the world.
Upon arriving directly to the East of Sri Lanka, it was our privilege to visit the assembly at Roladia. It is located in a remote area and has only in the last few months been able to get an electrical connection. This has made a great difference not only to the assembly
but also to whoever is speaking, as they can use fans to circulate the air and make the high temperatures bearable.
It is always encouraging to see a great interest among the assemblies and attentiveness to the Word of God. My subject was how Paul ‘continued steadfastly’ in the midst of such persecution all around him, to which they could relate. Believers in this area of Sri Lanka face strong opposition.
These 3 young men in the photo Komathan, Kathushan and Dilakshan, a 15-year-old and two 16-year-olds came after the meeting to ask about a Bible reading plan, which was such a good question to ask by three young lads not long baptised and who only recently had been added to the assembly.
All our meetings in the east of Sri Lanka were tremendously encouraging. The believers listen so well and are keen to learn biblical truths and put them into practise.
Back across the island in the capital of Colombo, there is no less of an interest in the large assembly there. Like the Thessalonians, they ‘sound out the Word of the Lord’. The youth meeting on the Saturday afternoon
Tuesday 30th
During the month of May, I was again in Japan. For the first time in eight years, Ruth was able to join me, along with our two adult sons. The first week of May is known as Golden Week, with four national holidays within seven days. Sadly, it is also a time when idolatry is emphasized, with large wooden chests covered in gold being carried through the streets to the pounding of large drums and shrill flutes. It is a marvel to the onlooker how the golden chests resemble our impressions of the Ark of the Covenant in the hands of the Philistines.
Our first responsibility was the Annual Conference in Yokohama. This is the assembly first formed by the efforts of the late esteemed brother Jim Currie. It was the largest conference among the assemblies since the pandemic, with 177 saints in attendance. As is typical of such conferences, there are two speakers, each preaching an hour in the morning and then again another
Assembly at Teine, Sapporo, Hakkaido
hour after the bento-box lunch. And if you know anything about the punctuality of Japan Railways, you will know that the conferences progress in a similar manner.
The saints in Fuchu, Tokyo were delighted to see Ruth and Edison and Crawford , and the steadfastness of the believers encouraged us greatly. While in Fuchu a young brother with a family told me how the ministry given in the conference last September convicted him so much that he changed his employment so he could attend all the assembly meetings.
Also in Tokyo is an assembly in the downtown Shinjuku area, called Daikyomachi. They have recently built a new hall, and within the three-storey building is a very small bedroom/apartment for the preacher that comes for meetings. I was touched when they explained the apartment is also for the widow that might need care and respite, yet not hospitalization. I looked at the brother and said, “1 Timothy chapter 5”, and he nodded. The saints had made provision in advance.
After a visit to Sendai, a city two hours by bullet train north of Tokyo, our final week was spent in Sapporo, Hokkaido. There are two assemblies in the city where we gave ministry and had a short Gospel series, with Edison and Crawford sharing in the gospel meetings. We might remember the city of Sapporo in prayer. There are two million souls, and the saints are zealous in tract distribution and Gospel preaching.
C2001 (Can) ELTON & RUTH FAIRFIELD 12/06/24
Bethesda completed one hundred years of service last year. It is now one of the most renowned hospitals in the area. Hundreds of leprosy patients and many HIV patients who walked into the campus were blessed physically and also accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour. The secret of this blessing has been that Bethesda proves the Lord Jesus Christ as a living and prayer answering God. All our personnel, spiritual and financial needs continue to be met on a daily basis. He is the same God yesterday, today, and tomorrow. A staff member retired a year ago and we couldn’t pay his gratuity. We asked the Lord to help meet the need. The answer was unusual and unexpected. There are several Casuarina trees in the campus. A vender offered to purchase the trees and the tender prices was sufficient to pay the gratuity. We were amazed and very thankful. Thus, the Lord is faithful in meeting the needs.
There are three hostels in the campus, named the George Muller Home and the Dr. Edward Short’s hostels. One is for children with HIV whilst the other two are for the children of HIV and leprosy patients. Kindly pray for these children (around 120 in total) that they may come to the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The hospital continues its good work attending to all patients (in-patients and out-patients) who come to us. There are two doctors, one Joseph Willington and the other Miss Vileena. Please pray for both of them and their significant responsibilities. The nursing staff, the pharmacy staff and all the other staff provide loving care to all the patients who come to us. Some patients come to us in such a serious condition that no other hospital would normally take them. However, we are very happy to provide them with the necessary care and treatment.
There is a school on the campus to help educate the children with HIV and leprosy, as well as those whose parents are being treated at the hospital. This facility is very beneficial to these children. There are 6 qualified teachers currently helping 70 pupils. Kindly pray for the children as well as the teachers.
Thou life of my life, blessèd Saviour
Thy death was the death that was mine, For me was Thy Cross and Thine anguish, Thy love and Thy sorrow divine; Thou hast suffered the Cross and the judgement, That I might forever go free –
A thousand, a thousand thanksgivings, I bring, my Lord Jesus, to Thee!
For me hast Thou borne the reproaches, The mockery, hate, and disdain, The blows and the spittings of sinners, The scourging, the shame and the pain; To save me from bondage and judgement, Thou gladly hast suffered for me –
A thousand, a thousand thanksgivings, I bring, my Lord Jesus, to Thee!
O Lord, from my heart do I thank Thee For all Thou hast borne in my room, Thine agony, dying unsolaced, Alone in the darkness and gloom, That I, in the glory of heaven, For ever and ever might be –
A thousand, a thousand thanksgivings, I bring, my Lord Jesus, to Thee!
Ernst Homburg and Emma F. Bevan The New Believers Hymn Book (No. 606)
The Lord’s Work Trust (LWT) is indebted to the ongoing efforts of Mary Armstrong and Ann Wade, who have worked in the Office for many years and help ensure that the Trust continues to support assembly work and workers in over 90 countries.
As LWT has grown, so too have many administrative and governance requirements. It is therefore timely that we now have some additional help, and we are delighted to welcome Cheryl to assist with the Trust’s operations. We are also very pleased to welcome Rebekah and Brian. Both will primarily help with the Trust’s subsidiary, John Ritchie Limited (JRL).
Cheryl Brooks
Cheryl will support the work of the Secretary and Trust, including helping to produce the monthly ‘Look on the Fields’ magazine. Cheryl is originally from Glengormley in N Ireland, but now lives in Perth, Scotland, with her husband Scott and two children, Harrison and Keziah. Scott and Cheryl are in fellowship in Perth Gospel Hall.
Rebekah Dalgleish
Rebekah is originally from Shetland, but following her marriage to Adam, now lives in Fife, with their young son Micah. They are in fellowship in Glencraig Gospel Hall. Rebekah will use her creative abilities to help JRL with external communications. She will also help further develop the John Ritchie website and social media communications.
Brian Chalmers
Brian has recently taken on responsibility to coordinate the publication and printing of all John Ritchie books. He will also help with the digitisation of previous books and magazines, making them accessible and of value to many. Brian is married to Ruthanna, and they are in fellowship in Luthermuir Gospel Hall. They have three girls – Mattea, Tabitha and Jessica.
Tel. 01563 521098
Charity No. SC008740
Alistair Buchan (Aberdeen) Stephen Trimble (Ballykeel)
David Grant (Kilmarnock) Raymond McNair (Glengormley)
Andrew Grieve (Belfast) Alastair Sinclair (Crosshouse) Kevin Oh (London) Gordon Stewart (Wallingford)
Secretary: Leonard Currie (Kinross)
