Look on the Fields: February 2023

‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel’

Brazil Day: 1, 11, 17, 27

Australia Day: 2 Ireland Day: 3, 24

Romania Day: 4 Cyprus Day: 5 N Ireland Day: 6, 12

Pakistan Day: 7 England Day: 8 South Africa Day: 9 Venezuela Day: 10 Norway Day: 13

Albania Day: 14

Tanzania Day: 15

Spain Day: 16

Malawi Day: 18

Dem. Rep. of Congo Day: 19

Ukraine Day: 20

Angola Day: 21

France Day: 22

Denmark Day: 23

Scotland Day: 25

Middle East Day: 26

Argentina Day: 28

BRAZIL Rio Grande Do Sul

It will be 3 weeks tomorrow since we arrived back home from our short trip to Northern Ireland, and it has been good to get settled back into the work again. We have enjoyed being back with the believers here in Sapiranga for the regular assembly meetings and while we are conscious of great weakness, we have been glad to see quite good numbers in the Sunday School and Gospel meeting. Since returning I have managed to visit a quite a few other assemblies to give a little help in their weekly meetings.

Since our return we have been very conscious of the void left by Tom and Dorothy Matthews now that they have moved back to Northern Ireland. After 55 years of faithful service, they are going to be missed in the work in our area. Our brother Harry Wilson is just back home after 3 weeks in hospital but, at 93 years of age, it becomes increasingly difficult for him to overcome these setbacks. How we long to see others raised up to give their whole lives to the work here as these faithful brethren have done.

This week I am helping Lindsay Carswell in Gospel meetings in the Hall in Novo Hamburgo, about 25 minutes from here. Our brother Joel Matos who had been sharing in the meetings, was unable to help this week as his daughter had tested positive for Covid so the brethren asked me to stand in for him. While last night was a little smaller, most nights we normally have a good number of unsaved present, so we are looking to the Lord for His blessing.

Next week, in the will of the Lord, I hope to be with the assembly in Alvorada for 5 nights of ministry. The assembly there has been encouraged recently with a number being baptized and added to the fellowship, so we trust the meetings will be a help to all.

Then, on the following week, from Wednesday to Friday we have the annual year-end Bible readings in Porto Alegre. This year we hope to have 5 Bible readings covering Paul’s first Epistle to the Thessalonians, with different brethren responsible for the opening up of each chapter. This will be the first time to be able to have these meetings since the pandemic so we trust we will have a profitable time around the Word of God.

AUSTRALIA Queensland

Arriving at the end of 2022, we marvel at the speed in which another year has passed! Reflecting upon it, we first acknowledge the unmeasured goodness of our God, giving thanks for sustained health and strength; the spiritual and material blessing He bestows upon us and the privilege we have to serve Him in some small measure.

In Australia, imposed Covid restrictions are largely lifted, and we function normally again. The pandemic left its mark, not only on society, but on the lives of Christians. In our local area we discovered a number of believers isolated and lonely, the Lord using the pandemic to cause them to review what it means to gather in a local church. During the pandemic we changed the time of our Sunday Gospel to the afternoon and began holding a teaching meeting on the Lord’s Day evening. We taught through the dispensations and followed this up with the book of Romans. This resulted in many of these families coming along, taking an interest in God’s Word. Whilst it was a blessing to see these believers coming to the hall, we needed to get to know them personally, so began a weekly BBQ meal in the homes of 2 local believers, spending time getting to know them. As a result, many began observing at the Local Assembly and since, there have been a number baptised and received into fellowship.

The Lord prompted us to commence a Friday evening youth outreach in our local town, along with a Sunday afternoon gospel outreach and the outcome has been extraordinary. Please pray for these works. If we’ve learnt anything, it’s reminded us of the value of systematic theology, consistency in the gospel and the essential component of hospitality.

During the months of June – September we travelled as a family to the USA labouring in Gospel and conference meetings. Whilst away, local Saints continued the gospel work in our town, as well as

commencing a new Bible Study, meeting more Christians and teaching God’s word. We are thankful to witness the blessing of the Lord upon this work.

Since October, we have spent time in New Zealand for conference meetings and Assembly visits and I presently write from Singapore, where I have 2 weeks of ministry meetings.

Please continue to pray for the essential work of the Gospel Billboards that we continue across Australia.

As always, we appreciate and need the prayers of the Saints.

CLIVE & RACHEL BARBER

Friday 3rd

IRELAND Writing from N Ireland

In September, brother Kenny Newell and I had Gospel meetings in Castlepollard, at Patrick and Yvette Bower’s farmyard. This was the fourth series there, and attendance was relatively encouraging with people there nightly who usually would not have an opportunity to hear the gospel in their immediate locality. The interest shown has encouraged us to continue a monthly meeting there and so we moved ‘the mobile hall’ from Galway to Westmeath. The first Tuesday night we had 9 locals present and when we returned in November locals attended again. Do pray that we might see blessing there, as we return now before Christmas, and continue into 2023 as the Lord leads.

Opportunities to visit Primary and Secondary schools with the Bible exhibition continue. It is good to see positive responses from teachers and Principals in many schools. Some schools are already scheduled for 2023. Do pray that this door will remain open and that it will be blessed of God. It is the responsibility of us all to look for and make use of the opportunities to reach a rising generation, that do not hear the gospel in Sunday school settings as maybe once they did.

Since early November a lot of our time has been spent in calendar distribution to nursing homes, hospitals, and prisons across our Island. It is encouraging to receive text messages and emails from homes and hospitals requesting more. As we work at this, we are very pleased to see last year’s calendars displayed in the reception of so many of the facilities. Both now and throughout the year pray for those who now have in their possession the living Word of God.

C. 2016 PAUL & LINDA

KISSICK

ROMANIA

“The harvest is past, the summer is ended…” (Jeremiah 8:20) and we have different reasons for much praise and thanksgiving to our great God along with items for continued prayer:

GOSPEL TENT WORK

1. Pray for the many unsaved people who listened to the preaching of the good news of God’s free and eternal salvation in gospel tents in 84 places throughout Romania and in 5 places in the Republic of Moldova.

Gospel Tent Work

2. Pray for preparations already being made for the 16th summer season of gospel work, especially in the North and Northeast of Romania, in the Counties of Suceava, Vaslui and Iași. Plans are being made to develop a tent work among children and teenagers from unsaved families in order to have weekly meetings with the younger generation and ultimately contact with their parents.

3. Give thanks to God for people saved in tent meetings. Recently a 91 year old lady who was saved in tent meetings in July in Mihoveni, County of Suceava, was baptised.

LITERATURE STORAGE FACILITY - Give thanks to God for the completion of this building near Suceava, northern Romania. Most of the literature that has been stored in our house, sheds in Ploiești and temporarily in other areas has been transported to Suceava. It is beneficial having literature stored in a strategic location with easy access. We are currently assessing the need to print and/or reprint gospel booklets and tracts.

Inside storage area

PRINTING WORK - Prayer is greatly valued for the printing of large quantities of gospel tracts and booklets. Despite the cost of printing increasing 250% during the last 18 months we are committed to meeting the need, thus enabling gospel workers and believers to engage in personal evangelism.

RECENT HIGHLIGHTS IN THE LORD’S WORK

1. The wonderful opportunity to preach at baptisms. Recently 5 believers were baptised in an assembly in Bârlad and over 200 people were present, including 30 unsaved people.

2. The monthly Saturday Bible studies (16.00 to 19.00) in Craiova, SW Romania, and the visits to assemblies in the area on the Lord’s Day.

3. 135,000 gospel calendars and 100,000 A5 gospel texts (1 John 4:14) with a gospel message on the reverse are being distributed by believers on the streets in many towns throughout Romania and into schools, offices, public buildings, and factories.

FUTURE PLANS

1. Having a base for the work in the region of Moldavia (N & NE Romania) will help in the consolidation of the literature work and the expansion of gospel outreach. During the winter months much time will be spent in this area for consecutive Bible teaching. Please pray for spiritual growth amongst believers.

2. Working alongside local elders and assemblies we are seeking to develop different aspects of the Lord’s work with a younger generation of believers living in a constantly changing society.

3. Continuation of consecutive Bible studies in different areas of Romania and the recommencement (17-22 January) of them in two Romanian speaking assemblies in Italy.

4. The completion of the translation and checking of the book Everyday Evangelism (sharing the gospel in conversation) by Paul McCauley and David Williamson.

C. 1992 PAUL & SUE WILLIAMS 21/12/22

CYPRUS Logos English School of Education

Mrs Brenda Flett joined Logos School nearly 20 years ago and taught as a Primary Class Teacher for 7 years. Brenda and her husband Steve’s 3 daughters are students in the school, and she continues to help on a parttime basis, covering classes and assisting teachers when needed. Brenda has Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer in the liver, having been treated for and recovered from breast cancer in 2018 and 2019. Please pray for the Flett family as they face this challenge and faithfully serve in the school.

November saw the return of the ‘24 hour run’, which has become something of a tradition at Logos School. In half hour segments, at least one student is continuously participating in a sponsored run to raise money for a charitable cause. This year, our aim was to raise money to help Brenda Flett with treatment for her liver cancer, and also to purchase new benches for students to sit on during break time. Afterwards, Steve Flett (Deputy Head and Brenda’s husband) led a very moving assembly exploring the brevity of life, the battle with cancer in their family, and their eternal security and faith in Christ. Pray that as we take opportunities to face and address real life questions, we may be able to point students towards our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. December was a month full of further opportunities. The Logos Hope ship came to Limassol Port, and we were able to plan events with them. All our students went onboard the ship for programs and bookstore visits. The ship also hosted a ‘Connections’ dinner onboard, with 100 or so parents hearing the Gospel as well as the testimony of a family serving onboard the ship. Many of the parents were challenged about why 350 people would be on a ship, volunteering to feed them, help and serve around the world for nothing, a great talking point.

We are still praying and looking for permanent Phyisics, English and Greek teachers for September 2023. Temporary cover is being arranged through the Lord’s goodness. Please contact the Logos School if you are interested.

Logos School

My work in children’s meetings and school assemblies continues to be very encouraging. Please pray that the Lord will keep the schools open to our access. During the recent meetings in Clandeboye Primary School we also got permission to put up the Bible exhibition and take all the older school children on a tour of the story of the Bible. We hope to be in other schools in the new year.

Two recent series of gospel meetings have given us so much joy. I was asked to join Ross Vanstone in a pioneer gospel outreach in a very remote area of the Canadian prairies. To our knowledge this was the first time such meetings were ever held there. The Lord worked greatly in the community, and we had between 50 and 70 attending most evenings. A man and his wife told us that they were saved during the meetings. These dear folks were God-fearing but were brought up with an unbiblical view of the gospel. It was a delight to see the Lord open their eyes as the gospel was presented to them each night. They are soon to be baptised and that will make a very public break from their heritage. A boy from another family also told us that he got saved. We had a great number of younger folks in each night.

When I came home, I joined Paul McCauley for the meetings in Clandeboye Primary School. We had 4 weeks meetings and a good interest all the way through. We were delighted to hear a girl tell us that she was saved after the first week.

In the will of the Lord, I will be travelling to England and then to Iowa for teaching in January. As always, we appreciate your prayer for us as we seek to serve the Lord in these ways.

School assembly work in a local primary school

Hendrick & his wife Kelsey were both saved from a Dutch Reformed background. They get baptised on Lord’s Day

PAKISTAN Writing from England

I arrived in Lahore on the 22nd of November and was met by three brothers from A - Sohail, Nadeem and Nicodemus. It was wonderful to see them again. We started our journey back, which took four and a half hours. Our meetings with the regional and local police went smoothly with no hiccups despite taking quite a long time. I had an interesting conversation with the senior officer. He was fascinated that I was in the country to teach the Bible. He asked me if this was a passion or if I was being paid to do this.

Later that day we had our first meeting with the group of young men in A, many of whom preach the gospel and are interested in learning more about the scriptures. It was wonderful to see that the group had grown since I was in the country three years ago and many of those I had met last time were still going on for the Lord.

Each morning we had an hour of Bible teaching with elders, young men and believers, many of whom travelled over an hour to be there. We studied 1st Peter and focused mainly on chapter one and chapter five. These were encouraging times in light of their appetite for the word of God and the concern of the believers to ensure that they were understanding scripture correctly. There were usually lots of questions and further discussion at the end of each session.

In the afternoons we travelled to different locations where marquees had been set up so that the believers could gather. The numbers varied from place to place. There were 400 plus at the largest meeting, some meetings were around 60 and the average was around 100. In the last four years, hundreds of souls have been saved and there are now over 20 assemblies in this area. Teaching large numbers of new believers is challenging at the best of times, but when assemblies are also just newly established there are additional issues such as identifying elders and seeking to guide the assembly to meeting according to the truth of the New Testament. It seems to me to be very like the days of the early church as described in Acts 11:19-30 and Acts 14.

Later in the week we travelled to F. There are two new assemblies there that commenced when a couple of men relocated from A two years ago and started preaching the gospel.

This was a very encouraging visit with many believers gathering to hear the teaching of the word of God.

Over the period I was in Pakistan, the days were packed with visiting, preaching and teaching in many locations but it was refreshing and encouraging to see the interest in the things of God.

Sadly, the persecution that the early church experienced is also quite normal in this part of the world. A couple of Muslim men were saved during the time I was in Pakistan. Since I came home they have been beaten up and their carts (which they used to sell in the market) have been set on fire. As I write, one of these men is in hospital undergoing surgery and his wife and children are in hiding until they can be moved to a safe location. This has become normal in Pakistan, especially for Muslims, as their lives are under threat from the moment that they get saved. Please pray for these dear saints as they suffer for their loyalty to the Lord Jesus.

It was interesting and encouraging to visit the villages where flooding had wrecked the houses of believers. Funding from believers in ‘the West’ has enabled these believers to rebuild their homes (usually one room structures) and where it has not been possible to rebuild, tents have been purchased to house families. Winter arrives in Pakistan very rapidly and the low temperatures are hard for the locals to handle.

At the time of the flooding medical camps were set up to relieve the higher incident of dengue and other diseases that come with flooding and the increase of mosquitoes in the area. Some families lost their carts, stalls and means of creating income and so many of these items have been replaced to help them start their businesses again. Blankets and warm clothing are now being purchased to try and protect believers as the cold weather intensifies.

This visit has left me with the following impressions:

1. People are excited to hear the word of God being taught

2. Young men and elders are keen to learn from the scriptures and to put into practice what they learn

3. More men are now praying in the meetings and elders are taking an active part in leading and guiding the Lord’s people

4. The singing is quite different to ours but the saints enjoy times of singing and rejoice in their salvation

5. There has been a massive increase in the numbers of believers and assemblies

7. There is an ongoing need for good literature and for sound bible teaching

8. The people are warm and friendly

9. There is a great understanding of the power of prayer and the saints bring every situation before the Lord in prayer

10. There is need for more order in assembly gatherings, but the elders and leaders are aware of this and are seeking to teach the Lord’s people

Please continue to bring these dear saints before the Lord in prayer. They really value your fellowship and knowing that you are praying for them gives them great strength.

Many of the English homeless still benefit from accommodation provided during Covid. This spreads them further afield and can dull spiritual interest and put them into unsafe situations hidden from visibility. One man regularly asks to leave his accommodation to stay with us. We’ve noticed that more of the foreign homeless avoid the accommodation offered despite the cold as they fear being deported due to criminal records post Brexit. One struggle is communicating with these men on the street due to the language barriers. We’ve regular contact with a marginalised local DIY man living with chronic pain, frequent health scares, and self-medicating with substances. Our ongoing renovation interests him and is a springboard to spiritual discussions. Recently he admitted that he’s extremely superstitious and fears local witches. Joe explained the freedom from fear and victory possible in Christ. Alcohol abuse has dulled his mind: please pray for further opportunities and clarity as we interact with HF.

We’ve many opportunities to support struggling believers. Although this work is confidential – and we believe sharing stories is the individual believer’s prerogative - supporting work has been particularly busy recently, covers various topics and sometimes involves a lot of driving.

Atilla, a believer known to us for 9 years, has intermittently lived with us due to housing, financial and family difficulties. He requests prayer. He’s been told that he is 85% likely to have prostate cancer. A biopsy is needed to determine next steps, to which his wife is vehemently opposed: thirty years ago their daughter was diagnosed with throat cancer in Romania, and died shortly after a biopsy. Atilla is in very poor health and his wife’s mental struggles are preventing him from sleeping. In the new year, God willing, we will be attending his hospital appointments amongst other support. His large family live hand to mouth and depend on Atilla’s ability to work in London. He also supports poor Romanian believers that he led to Christ out of the JWs. Please remember Atilla.

Naomi is kept busy offering Christian counselling to believers and Christian workers. Internet issues are particularly frustrating for those serving in remote locations abroad: it’s really frustrating for them to lose reception, hop around compounds and buildings trying to find a private, safe and well-connected spot.

We were thankful to once again be allowed to hold a Christmas outreach event in a local café owned by a Muslim friend. The café was full as we sang carols. For the first time in years of running this, everyone in the café was unknown to us, and it seems that the door

Believers singing at Christmas Outreach

remains open for further outreach in this café. We find that the people contacted in the parks of Tottenham are more self-sufficient and hard-hearted to the gospel than those on the High Street so we are thankful to be able to sow in different ground amongst a different demographic.

The house renovation continues steadily. We finished up for Christmas with an unexpected push forward: a team kindly dug a trench through the garden and ran the services and waste pipes down to the site of the planned homeless accommodation and laid a patio over it.

JOE & NAOMI WYATT

Thursday 9th

SOUTH AFRICA

As in other parts of the world, the Covid pandemic has negatively affected the work here. Things have been a little easier but suddenly at the end of November we have seen a serious rise in the number of Covid infections. Folk remain cautious about attending meetings, but we are grateful for the faithful core of believers who attend, regardless of their fears.

We hold our gospel meeting in the morning on Lord’s Day, as folk do not go out in the evenings. This morning I was responsible for the message and as I got up to open the meeting it was so discouraging to see around 18 people on one side of the hall and only four or five on the other side. However, by the time we had sung the first hymn, folks had come in and we had a good number, including quite a few unsaved.

In particular, one unsaved man has been attending on and off for years. His late wife was in assembly fellowship. More recently, he has been coming almost every week, usually brought by one of the sisters in the assembly. However, this morning he came under his own steam. After the meeting he thanked me for a very interesting ‘sermon’ as he put it. Please pray as we continue to work with this dear man, that his need of the Saviour will be brought home to him by the Holy Spirit. His name is John.

We have been able to print 6500 gospel calendars which we are currently distributing. One young Indian lady in the assembly, who is a schoolteacher, is so excited to see many of her class enthusiastically receiving the calendars. She has put a large one on the wall of her classroom. She is from a Hindu background and many of her students are Hindus, and some are Muslims, so we look to the Lord to use His living Word to speak to many hearts. Various shops are pleased to have the calendars displayed on their walls and we pray that folk will read the scriptures.

The Lord has been so gracious to us over this past year again. His faithfulness is astonishing, as we learn repeatedly; ‘With my mouth will I make known Thy faithfulness to all generations’ Ps. 89:1.

C.

1968 PAUL & DOROTHY

GRIEVE

VENEZUELA San Carlos

God buries His workers but carries on His work (Charles Wesley) is a true saying. Allan Turkington & James Walmsley, two Irish born workers who left their mark in Venezuela were laid to rest during 2022 with great lamentation, but God is still at work in this land.

We were with the saints in Barinitas on Saturday for their yearly conference, an assembly Allan saw formed in 2015, after much labour with Antonio Márquez. The 4 other assemblies in Barinas were represented, and the prayer and teaching sessions were solemn, considering the charge of passing on the deposit to the next generation, from 2nd Timothy. We trust some of many unsaved present left saying…surely God is in this place!

Rosa, a hard working sister at the conference, lives in Santo Domingo, in neighboring Merida, 1½ hours west over a narrow mountain road. Strenuous gospel labour in this fanatically Catholic town over years, might seem in vain, were it not for a believer like Rosa! Allan had a gospel spell in January with little to encourage, in spite of much visitation, up and down steep streets. PRAY for Santo Domingo!

Returning on Sunday, we visited the Turkington home in Barrancas, where 3 of Allan’s daughters hold the fort while Sandra visits family in Canada. 13 needy children are being cared for and a primary school functioning on the premises is in construction. Knowing how God’s Word can bless these children, opposition is no surprise, and official permission has not yet been granted. PRAYER can change things!

Joseph, our oldest son and beloved helper was called Home on August 1st, age 35. Saved at 9 in Guanarito, and baptized with the first believers in Elorza in 2009, he was serious in eternal matters and a born mechanic. His support was invaluable, even after he left us for employment, marriage and setting up a new home in San Carlos. The young Colorados assembly grieves the loss of a true shepherd and tireless worker. María and 3 little ones, grieve a Daddy…but God’s work continues.

Family health issues limit our movements, but doors have opened in Manrique, Cojedes, and nearby areas, and the Lord has granted blessing in salvation and the building up of believers and assemblies. In 7 short visits to Portuguesa and Apure during 2022, there was mutual joy seeing the saints in Guanarito, Guasdualito, Elorza, Mantecal and Puerto Nutrias remaining steadfast despite manifold temptations. These last 2 towns just have a handful of believers in fellowship, who rarely can get to an assembly meeting, a cause for concern. The need is great…the doors are open…Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest.

C.1989 (Ven)

BRAZIL

Foz du Iguacu

This year started with the wondrous blessing of having a special children’s Bible outreach, when a small number of children came. Work amongst children these days is not easy, but please pray with us that further doors will open.

Jeff has suffered from various health problems, and for this reason has had to ease up on his workload, which has not pleased him. He loves to be involved; however old age is also a challenge!

Our prayer is that the Lord in His time will send a younger couple to work in this locality. Our numbers have dropped after the pandemic, and the local saints are either not able or sometimes even willing to take on further responsibilities.

Recently, a good number were present when Leandro and Sueli took their baby daughter Raquel to the assembly for the first time. Many unsaved family and friends attended, and Leandro preached a challenging gospel message. Please pray for all who listened, especially his father, who came along and is not yet saved.

Recently, Zedir brought his brother and brother’s wife to the assembly for the first time. They are both believers but have not been going anywhere for some time. They enjoyed the time of fellowship together and are now thinking about joining us. Please pray about this matter.

Please pray for Denise’s parents, as her mother has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Her father also has had heart problems during 2022. Being so far from them in Vitoria is difficult for Denise. Please remember her also.

God willing, we plan to come to the UK at the end of July 2023 and stay until the end of January 2024. We hope to get some additional medical attention for Jeff while on furlough.

N IRELAND Newtownards

In 2021, Clifford & Sarah Law, and Andy & Gillian Shanks, for different reasons moved to live in Newtownards. We had a burden before the Lord as how we could reach out to our new neighbourhoods, at a time when we were emerging from the global pandemic. Our intention wasn’t to start another church but rather have a place where everyone can feel at home, feel welcome and be able to share their burdens with others. We approached the trustees of a building right in the heart of our community, formerly called Movilla Gospel Hall, which had to close at the start of the pandemic. We shared our vision with the trustees who immediately supported our plans for the building, which has been renamed as ‘The Beacon’. Our motto is ‘Bringing HOPE to our community’. Alwyn and Glynis Thompson and Gordon McFarland have joined The Beacon team, helping in all the various activities. Others are greatly appreciated who support The Beacon work in different ways.

We commenced by having a coffee morning on the first Saturday in March 2022 when over 60 came and we now have a coffee morning the first Saturday of each month, with an encouraging number of neighbours coming. We also have up to 40 at the drop in coffee morning each Tuesday.

Since March, every Tuesday evening we have a walking group called ‘March into Spring’, where we ‘walk and talk’, followed by a cuppa together in The Beacon! Over the last few months, we have had interesting conversations, sharing the Gospel as we walk.

For our late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, we had a ‘Fun Day’ at The Beacon when 300 attended. We enjoyed meeting new neighbours and chatting over a cup of tea and desserts.

Our aim at The Beacon is to build relationships and show practical care and love in a hurting world, which has led to opportunities to share the Gospel with the local people. We commenced ‘The Men’s Cave’ on 16th September for men to meet each Friday morning, have a chat and coffee, do some activities and finish with a short devotional. Between 20 and 30 attend each week. A monthly ladies evening called ‘Ladies Connect’ commenced in September. Last month 37 ladies were present. The evening begins with doing a craft, followed by a Gospel talk and then coffee and chat.

Every Monday evening in the month of October we had ‘Glow Kids’ when around 20 children from the area were brought along by their parents. We decided to have a Carol Service on Tuesday 13th December, inviting all who have come to The Beacon to the various activities. We had a wonderful evening, with 111 enjoying the occasion.

As a team we continue to look to the Lord for guidance in 2023 as to how we can continue to reach out to our community, by bringing hope in a hopeless world and love in a loveless world, that all might be done for His glory alone.

NORWAY Skien

Greetings from a very cold Skien! Today our temperature is minus 10 degrees, lots of snow on the mountains and icy conditions on footpaths and roads.

We are pleased to report that Jennifer has had a stable period recently, and results from her tests and consultant confirm no further spreading of the cancer at this time. Good news from a far country! Thank you for praying!

Recently we have been reminded in Scripture of our responsibilities as Ambassadors for Christ. It has been our privilege these 40 years in Norway and Scandinavia to speak at many assemblies, camps, prisons, and home bible studies. Of recent years this has all changed, and most of our work now is by conversations and discussions, similar to the Apostle Paul in Acts 17:17. However, Jennifer’s illness has opened so many doors for us to witness of the love and kindness of the Saviour through personal conversations. In Norway at this time of the year in the far north, there is no daylight. It reminds us daily as Christ said to his disciples prior to His ascension – ‘you are light in darkness!’ Our life must radiate His light. Please continue to pray for unsaved callers to our home and those we converse with daily about the Saviour.

A recent conversation with fellow-workers in the prison ministry warmed our hearts! Literature we left to be placed in the prison library was used by God’s Spirit to lead two inmates to faith in Christ. We have been asked to assist in another future bible study group to be established if the prison authorities agree to it. This excites us as generally there is a decline in many churches today for the exposition of God’s Word, but the light of the gospel still penetrates prison cells as in Paul’s day!

Please pray for the assembly fellowship in Skien. The numbers vary from time to time, but the leaders are faithful folks, do a great work, are active in their outreach opportunities, and have a real burden for the lost. They would love to see the fellowship grow, so please pray they will not grow weary in days of anti-Christianity.

As reported before, we have a deep interest in Ukraine having visited it regularly with believers from Karmøy. Since September, 20 trailer-loads of all sorts of necessities have been delivered to areas in most need of help. The generosity of God’s people in Norway to do what they can is a great testimony, especially to unsaved Ukrainians now living here as refugees on the west coast of the country. Another trailer load leaves this week, and another is planned before Christmas. Pray especially for the drivers, their safety and no hitches at various crossing points.

ALBANIA Tirana

The Assembly

In September we had our three-day annual retreat with the assembly. Together we considered the Epistle to the Philippians, “The Lord Jesus our example” being our main theme. This year we were delighted to extend an invitation to the believers from the small assembly in Prizren, Kosovo, to join and were thrilled that a number of families were able to make the journey down for fellowship. Hearing our brethren pray and seeing them enthusiastically absorb the teaching was a real joy.

Last month, we were able to recommence outreach in the form of English classes twice a week. The purpose is solely to create new contacts with whom to share the glorious news of the Gospel. There are around a dozen young people availing of the opportunity and some of our own young believers are also attending to befriend and arrange followup conversations. Over the next few weeks, we will be arranging further outreach activities that we can invite them to and hopefully engage with them more. We have seen blessing in salvation as a result of the English classes in the past, with one young woman and her husband coming into fellowship, so do prayerfully remember this effort that the Lord will be pleased to bless further in salvation. Last week we were present once again at the Tirana International Book fair with our stall. We distributed hundreds

Book Fair

of 2023 calendars along with other Christian literature to those who visited, with many showing an interest in spiritual matters. One young man who engaged in conversation at the book fair a few years ago visited to tell me that he had subsequently got saved and now attends a local church in his area. Another young teenage boy from a village 2 hours away stopped by and shared his story of conversation also. Unfortunately, his parents do not allow him to attend a church or discuss spiritual matters so it was nice to be able to encourage him on his journey, having experienced restrictions as a young teenage convert myself, and to give him a selection of written material home to read. A good number of the believers from the assembly were involved in helping out this year, with a desire to stand against the tide and witness for their Saviour.

Emigration

Emigration continues to be a real challenge to the country in general and to the assemblies. Many have left and others plan to leave for a better life abroad. Two of our young believers left this academic year to pursue their studies abroad, in France and Italy. They are both committed Christians and were actively involved in the assembly activities here so are greatly missed. Another lady has applied to leave for Sweden with her family and is awaiting an answer. After 30 years of a fragile democracy, people are tired of the political and economic situation and no longer see a future for themselves or their children in Albania. Thousands have made the perilous journey across the English Channel for a new life in England and most feel it was a risk worth taking.

ABC Christian Clinic

Sylvia continues to support the palliative side of the clinic at present with medical supplies and mentoring. The numbers attending have tripled in the last year and many opportunities present themselves for sharing the Gospel.

Children’s Home - The Hiding Place, Gjirokaster

The children are all well and looking forward to the Christmas holidays. Dan, the oldest, is almost 14 and having teenagers brings its challenges and added responsibility with decision making. The electrical system which had been causing a number of issues has now been entirely replaced and repairs completed. We are thankful to the Lord who has so faithfully provided for this ministry since 1998. Many children who have passed through the doors have trusted Christ and only eternity will reveal the full extent of this work.

With Christ

In September our dear brother Salvatore Corcelli went to be with the Lord. Salvatore was used by God to begin the assemblies in Albania and was a father figure to many of the believers, having had a distinctive influence also in Enris’ life. Our prayers are with his wife Beatrice and the wider family circle as they mourn their loss.

Our sincere thanks once again to you all for your prayful and practical support during the last 15 years. The Lord’s saints have been faithful. Marana-tha!

ENRIS & SYLVIA NASE

The word of God is quick and powerful

TANZANIA

The Lord in His goodness and grace has continued to prosper His work among the children of Watoto wa Thamani Day Care Centre, at Thursday and Friday Kids’ Clubs and the work in the local assembly of Kinzudi village, on the edge of Dar es Salaam.

Each January gives us the opportunity of reaching out to 25 new families from the village as their 4-year-old children start at WWT. Each morning they sing choruses, learn Scripture verses, and hear Bible stories before going on to learn how to read, write and count. Their parents are invited to assemblies throughout the year, each being an opportunity for them to hear the gospel message. Most of the families are poor and vulnerable and are often in crisis. Helping them when appropriate has shown them the love of God, and after being invited to attend the assembly gospel meetings, some of them have been saved, baptised, and received into fellowship.

Life for many of the believers is a challenge as they struggle to provide basic necessities, particularly those who are single mothers. Some have been abandoned by their partners, others widowed, and left to bring up their children singled handed. Practical help, support and encouragement continues to be extended to them, giving them a roof over their heads and the means to feed their families. The sisters meet once month for a Bible Seminar to help strengthen them in their faith, give them opportunities to share concerns with each other, pray for each other, and encourage each other in the Lord. Sessions for girls approaching adolescence and puberty have been developed to inform them of the changes to their bodies, help prepare them for such changes, and backed by Scripture, equip them to withstand the pressures of culture and live in a manner that is God-pleasing.

Thursday Kids Club in the city of Dar es Salaam and Friday Kids’ Club at the WWT facility reach hundreds of children each week with the gospel. Sitting on mats they sing choruses, answer questions, learn Bible memory verses and listen with rapt attention to Bible stories. They are eager to be rewarded for their efforts in learning the scriptures. Most of them also know the books of the Bible by heart and can now find their way around God’s Word and make connections to the stories that they hear. Each week the Scriptures are sown into their hearts and the gospel poured into their ears – watered by the prayers of the Lord’s people, we look to Him to give the increase.

Some older children are helped in their Primary, Secondary and Tertiary education. Families struggle to afford to provide them with uniform or the equipment necessary. Some are allocated school places far from home, which require bus fares, which is beyond

the means of the family. The Lord enables these needs to be met, but we require them to attend the Sunday meetings to receive this help. We pray that exposure to the message of the love of God and the work of Christ will leave a lasting impression on their souls, and lead to their individual confessions of faith in Christ. C. 2002 STEPHEN & GILL DAVIES 14/12/22

SPAIN Soria

How we praise God in this season for providing us with a Saviour, with everlasting hope and joy and forgiveness beyond measure because of Jesus Christ. This is our message, and it will never change.

For the first time after Covid, we can go back into the senior citizens residential homes to sing, preach the gospel and give out a daily reading gospel calendar to each person. This is such a victory. Please pray with us for all the residents and their families, along with the staff who will be listening and will receive a calendar for the new year, that the message of salvation would be applied to each heart by the Holy Spirit. We continue to distribute a few thousand calendars each year to family, friends and contacts all over the province and pray for eternal fruit as a result of the daily readings. We believe some have come to simple faith through these readings.

The clothes depot has been extremely busy recently and many different nations are coming along with great needs for winter clothes. We are praying about all these opportunities to show God’s love to them. We have extended the opening hours to facilitate everyone. Pray for every piece of gospel literature which each person receives and the testimony we give, that it may bring great glory to the Lord. Helen has formed a few friendships with Arabic ladies which is encouraging; she needs much wisdom with them.

Thank you for all your faithful and prayerful support over the past year. We are deeply grateful for everything and pray that our Lord will richly bless you just where He has you.

BRAZIL Tupi Paulista

During these days we have been intensely involved with the personal distribution of Calendars, together with Gospel leaflets in our immediate area. Many good contacts have been made and very profitable conversations held. We are greatly encouraged and know there will be lots of follow up work to be done.

Later this week we would like to go inland to Iranduba, Manacapuru and Novo Airão for distribution and contact with local families. The Amazon rainy season has started early so we trust in the Lord to hold the rain for a while so we can make some purposeful visits to these places.

John was recently diagnosed in Manaus with a detached retina and growth in the coróide of the right eye. It was necessary to take further consultation in São Paulo which was excellent as we obtained a second and third professional opinion with a very thorough explanation given. Currently the diagnosis is an undetermined brown melanocyte lesion in the right eye. The growth is very atypical, therefore specialists have requested to wait a further six weeks in order to observe any alterations and allow the eye to settle from the recent internal eye haemorrhage. A return appointment to São Paulo has been made for the 24th January when repeated ultrasound & retinography of the eye will be done. Specialists do not wish to start treatment without being certain of what they are dealing with. In the meantime, the doctor has requested a scan of the middle part of the body organs to check for possible spread.

We express appreciation of the interest and prayers of the Lord’s people. The Lord has been gracious in that it is still possible to be out and about in the work of the Lord.

MALAWI

We were back in Malawi for MGO 2022 - joined by 20 overseas visitors for 2 weeks of Gospel outreach, based at the recently acquired site at Saidi.

The school term was extended to compensate for Covid closures earlier in the year. Although this frustrated our plan to

Writing from N Ireland

run a daily Bible club, we adapted and took the program into 6 local schools, which worked exceptionally well. Thousands of school children heard the Gospel. Each child received a Seed Sower text and Acts 16:31 exercise book.

We also held several Open-Air meetings, and praise God for the large crowds who stopped to listen.

The volunteers distributed invitations to special Gospel meetings at Saidi. The interest was such that we extended the series by a further week. There were many new faces, and it’s encouraging to learn that numbers continue to increase at the regular weekly Gospel meeting. Many listened to the Gospel with obvious interest.

We visited a local farm prison and the entire prison population (over 300 men) sat in the afternoon sun and listened as the Gospel was presented. Conditions in the prison are appalling, and we were happy to leave a gift of a bed mat, a bar of soap, and a Seed Sower text with each prisoner. The highlight of MGO was the Children’s Day at Saidi. It’s just two years since we made the first land purchase there. Since then, the Lord has blessed, and we have been able to extend and start developing the site. That Saturday our eyes melted with joy as we saw the vision start to materialise. There was some anxiety as our estimate of 200 children was exceeded by 400 - a great problem to have! The site was teeming with youngsters. By God’s grace each child received a nutritious meal, heard the Gospel and went home with a Bible craft by which to remember the day. This has encouraged us to forge ahead with plans to develop the work at Saidi. Around 50% of the Malawi population is under 18 years. We have a perfect opportunity to reach many of them with the Gospel before their lives are forever marred by sin.

I have postponed a planned visit to Malawi in December as the country is in the grip of a crippling fuel crisis. Please pray for guidance regarding further trips in the new year for Bible teaching and to supervise the building work (DV).

Saidi was teeming with children

DEM. REP. OF CONGO Lubumbashi

A pregnant lady, who came to faith in Christ through Kavul and others from the Kamilombe assembly, gave birth to triplets recently (on the roadside on her way to the clinic). It was lovely to see the assembly rally round, and out of their poverty give baby clothes and food to help the couple and their other 5 children. Sadly though, 2 of the triplets died. We helped with some repairs to the family’s tiny home as the roof leaked like a sieve in the rain.

Paulin, the head teacher of the Bel-Air Primary School (who gave up a more lucrative job for this post) is very thankful for all the help received to get the school out of its disastrous state. Doors have been repaired or renewed and staff morale has increased. Delphin, a school’s evangelist visits them on Friday mornings - which the children love, the staff appreciate, and parents comment on favourably.

Despite several years of promises, Luapula School (3 classrooms) is still waiting for the mining company to begin work on building more classrooms. Funds given to the provincial government have not been released to the construction team, which is very frustrating. Pray for action in 2023! Tumbwe (headteacher), supervises 2 other schools about 30 miles away. Each week Tumbwe spends hours on a motor-bike on bad roads, travelling between schools - and still manages to smile! Sadly, no trace has ever been found of his 9-year-old nephew who disappeared over 18 months ago when walking home from church, or another relative, taken from his home by military in the middle of the night for no apparent reason.

‘No room at the inn’ applies to 45 pigs at Ephphata School for the Deaf, who are evidence of their successful auto-financing project. The pig’s new accommodation is waiting for a roof. The school continues to do a brilliant job in educating about 200 deaf children. The Deaf Christian Fellowship has many members amongst past and present students. Among them are trained carpenters who work with Isazu. Visitors to the workshop who admired their work have given permanent jobs to 4 carpenters. When walking past a mortuary that was being built, Isazu seized the opportunity to ask if he could display coffins for sale outside it! After interviews and a visit to the workshop, this was accepted. Since then, he has been recommended to others and now has the possibility of making simple coffins that poorer people can afford. We thank the Lord for such opportunities. About 2 months ago, Isazu’s home was attacked by bandits, many in police uniforms and carrying guns and machetes. They broke windows, forced doors, and ripped out the electrics before stealing anything of value. Isazu’s wife had to beg on her knees for her husband’s life as they weren’t satisfied with the money she produced. They were hit in the face, but the children were unharmed. Their lodger was severely beaten with a spade and needed several weeks in hospital. He is still unable to work. We thank God it was not worse, but please pray for emotional healing for them all.

1985 RACHEL NEWBY

UKRAINE Writing from N Ireland

Lviv

It is nearly 10 months since the commencement of the war in Ukraine, leaving a trail of death and destruction in its wake. Let’s please continue to remember the millions of Ukrainians who mourn the loss of loved ones and miss so badly other loved ones who have been evacuated to many different countries including Ireland, where the latest figures from the UN confirm nearly 60,000 refugees.

We are in constant contact with the believers in Lviv and Ivano Frankivsk to encourage and chat, and much prayer has ascended to the throne of Grace for them as they constantly live under the threat of missile attacks and fear for their life and that of their families. In the last month, as winter conditions unfold with temperatures subzero, hardship continues, with no electricity or water for prolonged periods as Russia destroys the infrastructure of the major cities.

We have heard of other activities that have taken place in different parts of Ukraine often told to us by relatives who are refuges here in Ireland. Speaking with Ruslan in the last month one evening – he seemed quite down and unusually quiet. It was not too long until we understood why! Earlier that day he had attended 3 funerals of comrades all under 30 years old leaving wives and young families. He also told us that another 90 comrades had been brought back from Donbas to Lviv army hospital badly wounded. Ruslan has been given leave on various occasions to visit orphanages with humanitarian aid, supplies, calendars, and second-hand clothes. We thank God for their courage and service to the Lord as he and Tanya distribute financial aid sent to them via us from the Lord’s dear people.

We were delighted to hear of Sasha and Tanya’s daughter, Sarah from Ivano getting saved, a great encouragement for all in Ivano. We keep in touch with Dan and Dima as they serve the Lord together in Street work and Gospel outreach, with several refugees who have fled from the East attending the Gospel meeting. The Ukrainian Gospel calendars we designed and had printed in NI have also been printed in Lviv by brother Lubchic and shared with the believers in Ivano for distribution. Please pray for blessing on God’s eternal Word.

Ukrainian refugees

Over the last few months, many new contacts have been made with new arrivals and more NI citizen’s willing to open

Ukrainian refugees from Kharkiv living in Ballymoney, NI

their homes and take in these fleeing families. In September, Noel and Caroline Brown received a family of 5 into their home to live. Amazing to think that one morning there was 4 at the breakfast table and the next morning 9! We were invited to have a meal with them and converse a little to help make them welcome. After finding out names and ages of the 3 kids, we enquired what part of Ukraine they were from. It took a few moments to process their answer – LVIV! They were living less than 2 miles from our apartment in Lviv in an area called Vinicky. At the end of November Noel and Caroline arranged a Ukrainian thanksgiving evening in their home. Twenty-four were gathered for a nice meal, 13 Ukrainians and the rest Irish folk. There was a glorious opportunity to read the Scriptures and share the Gospel.

At the end of October, we took delivery of 4,000 Ukrainian Gospel calendars, but to our surprise there was an extra 1,000 at no extra cost. ‘God is good and doeth good’. Our thought was to encourage by placing the Gospel texts and Word of God on pictures of their homeland, like Lviv, Kherson and the Carpathian Mountains. Many refugees have commented favourably and were delighted to see pictures of their own country.

Please continue to pray for all in Ukraine, believers and unbelievers. Also, the thousands who have been displaced and have found refuge in Ireland and other countries. We sincerely thank you all for your interest, prayers and support over the past trying months.

ANGOLA Writing from England

By the grace of God, we were able to spend another 3 months in Angola and with His help and strength, much has been achieved to His glory and praise.

Having once again sourced materials required for Cavungo, we returned there straightaway while the roads were passable before the heavy rains destroyed them. The internal floors of the house were concreted, cement plastering commenced on walls, and a bedroom, kitchen and shower room tiled with the available tiles bought. The kitchen sink and worksurface were installed, and instructions left for the local brethren to continue to cement plaster the interior, build a water tower and fabricate and install the burglar bars for the windows.

Returning to Camundambala, the roofing trusses were fabricated and installed, along with the roofing sheets of the mission worker’s house. Further security and maintenance work was also done on our home in-between times.

We lift our hearts in praise and worship to the God who enables His servants the privilege of serving Him in Angola. In Cavungo, the saints and sinners alike have so very little, and live from day to day trying to survive where food is so limited and medical needs unmet. Sister Irene spends all her time and energy seeking to serve the saints, villagers and witches alike! Her very modest income from subsistence farming helps her provide for their needs and the camps which are held in her courtyard each year. She is a believer with a vast vision for their blessing – which on a human level would be impossible to achieve. However, our God is abundant!

We were privileged to be able to help out the many malaria cases that came to our door during this past rainy season, being able to supply the necessary medicines. We were also able to ‘buy’ blood so that it could be infused into an 8-month baby Ana (daughter of the Camundambala school deputy head). Money had to be paid to the donor, who was a man passing by the hospital at the desperate time of need, as well as then paying for the equipment for testing, and finally the staff for the equipment and time in transfusing it into the baby. This happened twice, but we thank God for His healing care of her. This approach is inconceivable in the UK.

We also thank the Lord for providing us with 22 young folk in our home on a Sunday evening for 3 hours to sing hymns, read 1 & 2 Peter and have hot supper and fellowship. On a Tuesday evening we also have 10 girls who come to our home to learn to sew and study the book of Ruth, before sharing a warm supper and fresh cake.

We have returned home to the family for Christmas, and to get more medication for Jonathan. He has two different consultant appointments in February, after which we hope to return for longer spells during the dry season when it is cooler and has less impact on his already very low blood pressure. The Lord knows our future, and we look to Him for guidance and help in relation to it.

As we write to you today, we have been home from our two-month visit to Canada for just six days. During the visit, we travelled almost 7,000 miles by car and slept in 22 different beds! That should help you imagine how glad we were to come home! We were able to connect with many who partner in the work here in France through their prayerful support. We also visited several different assemblies, including one French-speaking local church in Quebec. Many of the places we went to don’t often have a visit from a missionary at all, so we trust we were able to encourage and stimulate them in their own situation, as well as sharing our ministry and needs for prayer with them.

Added to that, we were thankful for God’s protection over us as we travelled, at times in hazardous conditions because of an early onset of winter in the prairie provinces. We have already had more than our share of cold and snow for the winter! The beauty of God’s creation was breathtaking at times. With all those miles, we certainly had time to admire the view.

This year has indeed been a year of travels for us. In January we had a quick visit to Regina following the homecall of Gerry’s dad. Then in July we drove to Edinburgh to help Laura with her move back to Nantes. And in August we enjoyed a week’s holiday in the south-west of Ireland with all our children. In between all the coming and going, we were thankful for many occasions to serve the Lord here. At our own assembly in Nantes la Beaujoire, we are still heading towards starting up two new outreaches in the suburbs of Nantes. These projects demand many hours of preparation and prayer as the believers seek the Lord’s guidance as to how, when, and where, to move forward. Dorothy continues to spend time on one-to-one relationships with other ladies in the assembly. She is keen to hand on to others the responsibility for things like fellowship meals and coffee breaks. Then there’s the management of the bookshop. We are thankful that things seem to have continued nicely in our absence there!

The past few months have brought new seekers along to the assembly and several of them have been following Bible discovery studies. It’s been very encouraging for us to see this follow-up work continue even when we aren’t there. There have already been some conversions, and we hope that there will be more baptisms in the near future.

Thankfully the family are all doing well. We continue to appreciate your prayerful interest.

C. 1985/88 GERRY & DOROTHY SEED 7/12/22

Tune: Sweet Bye and Bye

1 I HAVE only one life on this earth And as vapour it’s passing away. I must labour for treasures of worth, Ere toil ends at the close of the day.

3 This one life that I have, I may lose, And, in losing, a hundred-fold gain! Then to fall on the Rock, I will choose, And be broken, God’s best to obtain.

Only one life to give!

2 Only one life, and white are the fields, With compassion this great need I view; This one life that I have, I will yield; And the little I can, let me do.

4 One poor life, small the offering at best, Yet the world and the flesh often call; This my answer must be to each test: “I’ll not serve God with less than my all!”

I must never withhold it from God.

Only one life to live!

I must not miss the “Well done!” of God.

DENMARK

Never before it seems, has there been so much to fill and distract the hearts and minds of young folk as in the present. Carol and I have 4 children and 12 grandchildren, a number of whom are not yet believers. Like many others no doubt, we bear them and others before the Lord each day, that they may ‘Seek Him with all their heart and find Him (Jer. 29:13)’.

We are very thankful therefore, that of late, we have seen more young people at our meetings, including the friends of some who are in our little assembly.

Most Danish people’s experience of “Christianity” is what they perceive through the more formal, liturgical protocol of the Danish Lutheran Church. Coming to a so called ‘evangelical church’ can therefore be somewhat of a religious culture shock. We always try to be conscious of this and make every effort to welcome people and put them at ease. Having a cup of coffee or tea together after meetings helps in this respect in that it gives opportunity to chat together, and, hopefully, address any misconception or prejudice they may have.

Living as ‘salt and light’ among those with whom we have to do in our daily lives, be it work, school, family or assembly, is, therefore, what gives most credibility to the Gospel here.

A few weeks ago, we held a series of meetings from Friday to Sunday based on Galatians, as to what the Gospel is and what it is not. A Danish and a Faroese brother were responsible for this teaching, supplemented by the testimonies of some who have experienced salvation and what the change has meant in their lives. About 40 people were present throughout, which was very encouraging.

IRELAND

Writing from N Ireland

Looking back, the year 2022 commenced with a gradual return to normality and invitations to travel once again. This was most welcome, though the early part of the year was fully occupied with the completion of the ‘Essential Questions for End Times’ Book - targeted at street outreach and studentsand the publication process.

Visits up and down to the south and west of Ireland were mixed in with the publishing, and an extended caravan trip with Jonathan Goodwin from Collooney Assembly once again in the Spring. The small caravan which we were given has been a real asset. The conversations on the streets can be most profitable, and many of the questions asked in the past found their way into the new book. Street preaching in the South of Ireland has changed greatly over recent years and has now an ‘ear’ and an acceptability not seen in the past, and often not seen in other parts of the UK.

Helen was able to join me - with the caravan - for an extended visit to the Orkneys and Hebrides (in August and September). Some of the outreach meetings convened by the small assemblies were most encouraging. At ‘St. Margaret’s Hope’, one of the most isolated assembly locations, the saints rented a community hall and quite a few unbelievers attended, including two ladies who said ’they had not heard this message before’.

In October we were invited to Kamloops (B.C. Canada) once again for a third series of gospel meetings, this time with Dave Richards (an elderly local full-time brother). Though the winter weather came in early there was much to encourage and a number of young folks openly confessed their faith who had been unsure or unwilling to tell. One young man - as soon as he confessed that he had been saved a few months back - asked for baptism and the meetings closed with a large crowd on the final night, including a baptism, a supper, and many unsaved relatives and friends attending. I had shipped out a good quantity of the ‘Essential Questions’ booklet before the meetings commenced, and again everyone attending got a free copy. In at least one case a lady reading a ‘borrowed’ copy from a family member, came back to hear the gospel after 20 years absence.

The year concluded with a return trip to Sligo and Collooney assembly for the annual door-to-door 2023 Gospel Calendar distribution. This year (being the 10th Anniversary of their own calendar) they printed 8,000 and a team of young helpers came on a Saturday to help in the inner Sligo housing estates. It was a time of real fellowship, and hard work too!

End Times Book

We ask for prayer on the distribution of the printed word. 100s of New Testaments, tracts and ‘Essential Questions’ booklets are being given out in the cities and towns of Ireland, and other parts of the U.K. too, as well as 1000s of Calendars at each year end. It is all “good seed” in various forms, and capable of being used of the Spirit of God to reach where we will not or cannot go.

SCOTLAND Glencraig

As we begin a new year of service for the Lord we look back with gratitude upon the Lord’s goodness since we returned from South Africa. We have enjoyed a number of opportunities to visit assemblies in various parts of the UK in the preaching of the Gospel and the ministry of the Word.

In September and into October I was with the assembly at Ballynaloob, Northern Ireland, for 4 weeks for a series of Gospel Meetings. The believers worked very hard at bringing neighbours, friends, and contacts. We praise God that we saw His hand in salvation. Late October and into November I was with Graeme Paterson at Plains for a series of Gospel Meetings. We are grateful that a few different unbelievers from the community attended and heard the Gospel.

In November Craig Munro and I visited the Shetland Islands for a series of Gospel Meetings. The weather was very stormy and not seemingly conducive to Gospel work but support and interest were good. We were delighted to see the Lord’s hand move in salvation once again. From there Craig Munro and I went on to Fraserburgh for a short series of Gospel Meetings there. The assembly is small but the interest in the Gospel was good.

Looking forward, Lord willing, in January I am due to visit the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland for some ministry meetings before heading to South Africa for some ministry meetings there. God willing that will be my first trip back since our departure. As the year progresses, I am due to be with a number of assemblies for series of Gospel and ministry meetings.

In relation to the family, Alexander and Daniel seem to be settling in well. Your prayers for their spiritual progress and Alexander’s health would be appreciated. We come to the end of what has been in many ways a difficult year for us as a family, but we can say with Nahum: “The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him” (Nahum 1:7)

MIDDLE EAST Writing from Jordan

Thank you for your continuous prayers for us and the Lord’s work in the Middle East. Let us share some of what’s going on in our ministry to encourage you more in prayer:

Jordan

1) The Lord continues to encourage us in the weekly biblical lessons with refugees from different backgrounds and the word of God is growing among them.

2) In the middle of September 2022, the Lord arranged for me to visit Canada, Toronto, to encourage a group of refugees who participated in the weekly Bible study ministry in Jordan and grew in the local assembly fellowship and then immigrated to Canada. We had a wonderfully uplifting time, encouraging them to continue to study the Bible together.

3) At the end of October, we held an Emmaus conference for the Middle East in Jordan. It was a wonderful time of fellowship.

Social Media

The social media ministry is progressing well, with the number of followers reaching more than 250,000. After sending posts and videos to areas which are living in total spiritual darkness, we have found an amazing reaction from people. Please pray for the spiritual success of this outreach.

Encouraging news

We also have encouraging news from the social media ministry. Our friend (W - who we shared his testimony with you previously), who read the Sermon on the Mount, after he heard a famous clergyman attacking it, searched the internet and got to know our page. This brother, his wife, his daughter, two of his children, and his daughter-in-law, the entire family of six, were baptized last week, and their joy was great. Please pray for their protection, our protection, and the extension of the Lord’s wonderful work in our region and this great open door.

Egypt

The work in the new assemblies is growing and encouraging. Pray for the needs of physical buildings for these local assemblies.

Sudan

We glorify the Lord for work in Sudan. The Lord is doing great things to bring the light of the Gospel there. After the arrival of ten thousand copies of Van Dyke Bible (considered the standard version of the bible in Arabic), the books were not enough for the needs of the local elders. Amazingly, the Lord arranged for the printing of an additional forty thousand books to be delivered to Sudan, which are now on the way. Pray for clearance

of paperwork to pass customs then get access to the warehouses and then to those in need.

Please pray for:

• Bible study groups with refugees and active discussions on the message of salvation.

• The ministry of Emmaus and its spread among Arabic speakers and the extension of the service to new countries.

• Pray for the growing impact and spiritual blessing of the social media ministry.

• The newly established assemblies in southern Egypt and the need for physical buildings.

• The upcoming visit to many assemblies in Egypt during January and February 2023, God willing.

• The outreach ministry in Sudan and the growth of the new local assembly there.

Mr I & Mrs L Z

The work in the new assemblies is growing and encouraging Egypt

Emmaus Graduation

BRAZIL

Once more we are in the threshold of another year, and we can sincerely say ‘thus far the Lord has helped us’. We had a difficult year health wise, but even so we can see how the Lord protected and preserved us from complications and allowed us to recover and return to our activities once more.

This month some from the assembly in Arame handed out calendars with bible verses in Arame, the villages of Melos, Diamante and Bandeirinhas. We also handed out some calendars in Lagoa Dourada to people we have had contact with during the year.

Two weeks ago, we had a three-night series of ministry meetings in the hall, and it was encouraging to see so many present.

On Monday we visited Alonsio once more to study the Bible with him. Pray he may understand the simplicity of the way of salvation and may be saved. On Thursday we visited Jefferson, and it is so nice to see his growth and how it is clear he reads his Bible. On Friday we visited a young couple, Carlos and Pamela. Some time back they attended meetings but due to some personal issues and a baby arriving they stopped coming to meetings and moved to the countryside. Now they are back in Arame and sought us out and asked us to visit and study the Bible with them. We would value prayer that they may return to the meetings and may be saved. Pamela’s mother is in fellowship, and it would be a great encouragement to her to see one of her daughters saved.

We would also value prayer for a new contact, Euriane. She lives close to us and when we gave a calendar this year she asked if we could go and read the Bible and pray with her. She is confused and has been to different denominations but is seeking peace with God. Pray for her and for us that we may have the right words to help her.

ARGENTINA Parana

On 30th August, my last day in Paraná before travelling to Scotland, I signed on behalf of our ‘Ecos de Eternidad’ Trust for the purchase of a piece of land with one small building already on it and also a larger one but in bad repair, for the most recent church plant. The funds came from a dear sister without a family but with vision. The assembly is still small but have a core group of three married couples who are well able to guide them. We miss their presence and gifts in our assembly but are happy that another light has been lit in a community of about 20,000 inhabitants some 15 miles out. They had their first Breaking of Bread in the smaller building two weeks ago. So, no more renting but plenty to upgrade and expand. Please pray about this new assembly.

On my first Sunday back in Paraná, about a hundred gathered for a united baptismal service with my local assembly, which we saw planted in 1980 and the assembly which my daughter Fiona and her husband Heber saw established from an outreach in the North Side of Paraná in 2016. Six were baptized. Baptisms bring relatives to witness baptism by immersion. Heber preached a powerful Gospel message and undoubtedly the Lord will give the increase.

January is midsummer, so the assemblies in this province join in Summer Camps. One for young teens and another for young people. These have proved to be a time of blessing and decision making for those attending, with regard to salvation or to baptism. Please pray for fruit from these efforts.

C. 1974 JIM BURNETT

Challenges of Growing Old

Getting older is an unavoidable fact of life, often linked with inevitable fears. David writes Psalm 71 as an old man (v9, v18) and addresses some of these concerns. In it all, his confidence is still in God (v19).

Problem of Loneliness v12 ‘Be not far from me’

Problem of Helplessness v12 ‘Come quickly to help me’

Problem of Weakness v9 ‘my strength fails’ v16 ‘I will go in the strength of the Lord God’ In spite of these PROBLEMS, David is filled with PRAISE to the Lord (v6,v8,v14,v22)