Brazil Day: 1, 8, 13
N Ireland Day: 2, 6
England Day: 3, 22
Mexico Day: 4, 15
Venezuela Day: 5, 21, 25
Scotland Day: 7, 24
Costa Rica Day: 9
Romania Day: 10
Kenya Day: 11
USA Day: 12, 17
Botswana Day: 14, 26
Zambia Day: 16, 23
Malawi Day: 18
Canada Day: 19
Pakistan Day: 20
Australia Day: 21
Tanzania Day: 27
Sri Lanka Day: 28, 29
Albania Day: 30
Reports in this edition are from countries shaded on the map.
At the end of December we held our annual Bible readings at the Gospel Hall in Porto Alegre. This year, six readings took place over three days. Each afternoon we studied the three conversions recorded in Acts 8, 9 and 10, while in the evenings we focused on Second Thessalonians. The meetings were well attended, with over 200 present on most days, and we were grateful for a profitable time around the Word of God.
At the beginning of January, a local brother, Leonardo, and I held a Gospel meeting in Carlos Barbosa, a city about an hour and a half from us. The meeting was in the home of a woman whose mother is in fellowship in the assembly in Osório. As far as we know, this was the first time the Gospel had been preached in this city, so we were encouraged to see seven unsaved present. We hope to have further opportunities for meetings there and would appreciate your prayers that this will mark the beginning of a work of God in this area.
On January 25th we held our annual Sunday School prize distribution here in Sapiranga. We were pleased to have 120 in attendance, including several parents. Many of our children come from very needy backgrounds, so a year ago, we began providing each child with a packed lunch each Sunday as they leave. This has significantly helped attendance, and we now regularly have around 50 children present. It is a joy to see them learning the Scriptures and hearing the Gospel message. Please pray for the eternal blessing of these young ones.
Currently, our brother Lindsay Carswell and I are in the fourth week of Gospel meetings in the Gospel Hall in São Leopoldo, about 30 minutes from home. The assembly there has faced many challenges in recent years, with losing two members to Covid during the pandemic, and more recently one of the brethren, who has been a great help in the work, was diagnosed with cancer. Although attendance has not been large, we are thankful for those who come each night and show an interest. Please pray for the Lord’s blessing on these meetings.
Tomorrow, Lord willing, I will be speaking at the baptism of four believers in Cachoeirinha. It is a real encouragement to see them taking this step of obedience and we trust they will be a blessing to the assembly there.
Looking ahead, at the start of next month, DV, I hope to visit the assembly in Sombrio for special meetings over the carnival holiday weekend. There will be a ministry meeting on Saturday and three Bible readings on Monday and Tuesday. The assembly has just completed a new hall, so it will be a joy to see them with suitable accommodation for an event like this.
14/2/25
2 Sam 1-3
The period up until the end of the year was busy with ministry meetings at Larne and Annalong. Calendar distribution also takes up a considerable amount of time at the end of the year. As well as helping in our local area, we have responsibility in the neighbouring County of Fermanagh. Gillian and I also spent a week visiting saints who live in isolated areas in Counties Fermanagh, Monaghan, and Cavan, as well as contacts from previous meetings in these areas.
A visit to New Stevenson for their New Year conference was most enjoyable, with fellowship renewed among the saints in the Lanarkshire area who we have come to know over the years. It is most encouraging to see a rising generation in attendance at conference meetings, with some taking added responsibility both practically and spiritually, who were only in their teens when I first visited.
Brother Jonathan Black and I have just concluded (9th February) five weeks of gospel meetings in Knockloughrim, County Londonderry. The meetings were held in a former Methodist Church which is now privately owned. The building itself, and the location, were ideal for the preaching of the gospel. Interest from the locality was remarkable, with several men attending consistently over the weeks. Prayer is valued for one man who attended every night. We are left looking to God that there might yet be blessing in salvation. The saints at Bellaghy who convened the meetings were greatly encouraged and they have arranged, in the will of God, a gospel meeting in the same venue in Knockloughrim on the second Lord’s Day of every month. We trust and pray that this might lead to the development of a work in this part of South Londonderry.
At the end of this month, I have a week of ministry at Portrush, before commencing again in the gospel at Annalong with brother Andrew Steele on the 2nd of March. The continued prayers of the saints are very much valued for the blessing of God in our various areas of service.
C. 1991 GARY & GILLIAN WOODS 12/2/25
Over the winter months I had a number of ministry meetings in London, Derby, South Wales and in our own assembly in Winshill, Burton on Trent. The beginning of 2025 looks to be just as busy, along with the opportunity to share reports of the work of the Lord.
November is always the busiest month of the year for the WW1 presentation, for obvious reasons, and November 2024 was no different. Many groups and Gospel halls were visited with the presentation, and we conducted the usual Remembrance assemblies in schools. For some schools it was our first visit, and we are glad to say they have invited us back next year. One school in particular, was very keen to book for 11th November 2025. Throughout the month of November, we had the privilege of preaching to just over 3,500 people. Many of these people not only heard the gospel during the presentation, but also took the three tracts away with them.
November also presented us with the opportunity to show the presentation at a local Army Barracks in Staffordshire. On the site of the barracks is a building named Coltman House. Approx 70 army personnel were present that day and the presentation was well received. At this barracks, those who train to be medics start their training. While I was there, one of the Commanders commented to me that it would be good if all the medics who come to be trained were shown the presentation, to which I agreed, so we will pray that this might happen in the future.
Also, at the National Memorial Arboretum (a national place of remembrance not far from us) I was able to show the presentation to a group of staff who are ‘the educators’, who then speak to the school children that attend the learning centre at the Arboretum. The Arboretum has over 300,000 visitors every year which includes 20,000 children. This presents a great opportunity to reach a lot of people with the gospel, and so we are investigating further opportunities here and again look to the Lord for wisdom and guidance.
Christmas also provides a wonderful opportunity to reach out with the Gospel, as people are more willing to listen to the message. This year we had a number of special Christmas activities in the hall. A Christmas craft morning brought in around 60 people
from the village. Then we had a Christmas family tea, Carol service and a visit from the local pre-school nursery. Approx 150 folks from the village came during the Christmas period.
There are so many ways to reach out with the Gospel and to serve the Lord and so we would value the continued prayers of the saints as we seek to know how and where the Lord leads us.
C. 2024 TIM & SHARON COLTMAN
24/2/25
2 Sam 8-11
We want to share some of the work in Cancún. We are grateful to the Lord because this year we celebrated the 5th anniversary of the establishment of the assembly.
We have established the Bible study meeting on Tuesdays, where we recently finished the letter to Philemon, which was of great encouragement and edification for the Lord’s people. Some brothers have opened the doors of their homes to preach the gospel; being able to invite neighbours and family. “And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” Acts. 5:42. Before each meeting we invite neighbours and leave gospel texts around the houses.
We also want to share some reasons for prayer:
• for the baptisms of some new believers
• a new daily gospel preaching series
• the salvation of the sisters’ husbands
• the young children of believers who are going through adolescence
• insecurity in the land
• for the work in Cancún and the rest of the immense country of Mexico
C. 2018 (Venezuela) DAVID & SALY CADENAS 24/2/25
5th
If ever Venezuela needed much prayer, it is presently. So please pray for the county, the 205 local assemblies in Venezuela and the millions of unsaved. Conditions are so bad that it is estimated eight million Venezuelans (about 25% of the population) have emigrated, not only to other parts of south, central and north America, but also to Europe and further afield.
The vast majority of God’s people are extremely poor, as are perhaps 90% of the population. Those who work for the government are paid so little it is impossible to live, so they must take some other kind of work. For example, Julio and Marvy live locally with their two children; When not teaching, he does taxi work and Marvy bakes cakes to sell.
Marvy was saved some years ago when I had meetings sharing with local brethren outside a house in Santa Fe. Two people were reached by grace at that time, Juan who lived directly across the street and Marvy. Juan had only heard the gospel from Pentecostal groups, but as there was so much ‘dancing’ and people falling onto the ground, he was disgusted and stopped attending. He came every night to the meetings and often told me afterwards how much he liked the order in the meetings when the Gospel was explained. He is now in fellowship and is very faithful. Then Marvy, studying to be a teacher, attended and got saved. When her studies finished, she was sent a few miles up the hill to a remote school. This was where Julio was teaching. Soon love blossomed and later they married, in the Lord. They have two children.
We have lost a number of the Lord’s servants recently. Bernardo Chirinos, a cardiologist, was taken home to Heaven at the age of 62 after a difficult struggle with cancer. He was a mighty preacher and teacher and also wrote articles, including an excellent one on Covid19.
Many of the testimonies of local believers are thrilling to recall, especially as we see them continuing to serve the Lord Jesus faithfully many years later.
For example, our brother Isaac grew up in Los Altos with little knowledge of the gospel. Sadly, he was a terrible drunkard and although he was often invited to the meetings, he seldom came. His mother was an enemy of the gospel. A friend, also a heavy drinker, was with him at a club when police arrived and spoke severely to them. His friend
replied: ‘What are you going to do, kill me? Well, shoot me!’ The policeman shot him. Isaac watched him die, and thought ‘if that had been me, I would have been in hell’. On his way to the club, he had passed the Gospel Hall where a brother had invited him to go into the meeting, but he refused and went on the club. Then he decided to go to the hall, just as the meeting ended. He spoke to some of us and the next morning, at home, he trusted the Saviour. That was 3rd April 1983. Later he married a sister called Betty and they are happily in fellowship. He is a greatly exercised personal worker and loves to preach the gospel.
So dear saints, PRAY for the work of the gospel in Venezuela!
C. 1977 NOEL & ANNE McKEOWN 3/2/25
2 Sam 15-17
David Williamson and I had two weeks of Gospel meetings with the assembly at Essex Road, Basingstoke, in February. We enjoyed the time there and were encouraged by the enthusiastic support and hard work of the assembly. Please pray for a married couple who attended very well and expressed interest in salvation.
Lord willing, David and I will be with the assembly at Ahoghill for Gospel meetings commencing 9th March, then Bethesda Gospel Hall, Bangor, starting on 18th May. We had an encouraging effort there last year and would value prayer that the little assembly might see fruit in the Gospel.
In June I plan to be with the assembly at Uxbridge for a week of Gospel meetings. The assembly gets a good number of university students at their Gospel meeting. Please pray they will attend these meetings and that God will bless.
David and I intend being back in Bangor for the first two weeks of July for open air meetings organised by the assembly meeting at Central Gospel Hall. Please pray the Lord would use this vital work to reach the lost.
We also appreciate prayer for the ongoing door-to-door work in West Belfast. The Lord has given wonderful opportunities. Pray for guidance and wisdom in following up with contacts that have been made.
In addition to these Gospel opportunities, I have quite a bit of Bible teaching with various assemblies. We feel our need of God’s help in all these avenues of service. Thank you for praying.
C. 2008 PAUL & KAREN McCAULEY 24/2/25
Dundee like many cities has two sides to it. A place where there are great advances in science and technology, it is well known for its computer games industry and more recently its connection with the arts and its redevelopment around the waterfront area. It is a lovely place in many regards, but Dundee is a city that struggles with addiction and sadly has one of the highest rates of drug deaths in Europe. It is important to remember that these are not just statistics, but individuals with friends and family. They themselves are fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters and children. The amount of people who we personally have worked with and known, who have passed away due to addiction over the past few months, has been heartbreaking. Yet it is into the darkness that the Lord calls us to shine. We go, not with our own light, but with the light of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. John 1:1 says “The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it”.
Last year was a particularly tough year in many regards. Tony, one of our staff team at Eagles Wings Trust, passed away suddenly after a short illness. We are thankful for the assurance of his Salvation, and we give God thanks he is with the Lord and his testimony still speaks to others. We work alongside Parish Nursing in the city and together we saw God’s help and comfort through that period. We had to reduce our service for some time as a result. In January this year, John Hamilton joined the staff alongside Alison McDevitt and I. We are thankful to the Lord for the good team of volunteers who help us as we seek to share the Gospel.
As well as working with a number of people on a one-to-one basis, we have a ‘Dropin’ service twice a week and a soup kitchen four nights in the week. Please keep us in prayer for these times as this year we have been busier than ever, with between 40-50 people coming most nights. It has been an honour and a privilege to get to know so many of these individuals over the years. Some of our guests have very complex needs, so working alongside other third sector and statutory groups is essential. However, it is crucial to remember that the Lord Jesus alone can fill the emptiness in our lives. We often
share this with the guys and girls who come along to our Bible study on a Wednesday after the drop-in and there is a real interest among a few of these folks at the moment. Please pray for this time. On Wednesday past there were ten of us. Sometimes the questions are searching and challenging.
On a Tuesday I often go for a run with one or two of the guys and we chat away as we run. Last week the question of suicide came up and “does that act condemn an individual to hell?”. It was a great opportunity to share the Gospel, and I explained that the only way to escape Hell is through believing in the Lord Jesus Christ and if we do that, the bible tells us we are saved. He asked how he could do that. Please pray for him and others like him. He said he wanted to do some more bible study to understand this a bit more.
Some of the individuals who work alongside us are not yet believers themselves, but it’s been a joy over the years to witness and speak to them, see barriers gradually come down and an openness to the Word of God appear. Pray too for the walking group that happens once a month. As we walk alongside folks, often discussions occur that would never otherwise take place. One lad, as a result, asked for a Bible and in the last walk was asking how to read it best. Pray for these times as we seek to follow them up. Thanks again for your prayers for us over the years.
MICHAEL & FIONA CORDINER
24/2/25
2 Sam 21-22
At present we are in the third week of another series of gospel meetings in Três Passos with much appreciated help from brother John Davison. It is 26 years ago since we first had meetings in this part of the town and over the years have seen some blessing in salvation.
This series is in the garage of one of the sisters of the assembly, Dona Maria, and is not far from where we had the last meetings towards the end of last year. The couple, Elemar and Gessi, who attended almost every night and showed interest are only coming twice a week this time and we are afraid they are weighing up the cost of going in for salvation and finding it too difficult to change their sinful way of living.
Our dear brother, Balduino, who was saved back in 1999 had the joy this week of seeing his grown-up son, Marcelo, and daughter, Roselene, back under the sound of the gospel after many years. We would ask special prayer for them. Several others have also come for the first time. We trust as we continue in the will of God that these may come back and that we might yet see a time of reaping in this area.
Tiago, our young friend from Braga, continues to have a measure of concern about his soul and we long to see him delivered and resting on the finished work of Christ. We count on the prayers of the Lord’s people as we seek to sow the Good Seed that “the light of the glorious gospel of Christ” might shine in the hearts of these dear unsaved ones.
C. 1988
GREG & ELIZABETH BUCHANAN 24/2/25
Wednesday 9th
Over the last few years labouring in the San Juan de Dios assembly in the capital city of San Jose, we have seen the vital importance of young married couples working together in order to ensure a growing and active assembly. Oftentimes, at least in Costa Rica, enthusiasm and gospel spirit in a local church is tied to the activeness and spiritual growth of the young couples and marriages in the fellowship. Other assemblies that lack young couples who are active, or that lack youth in general, seem to miss out on some of the same enthusiasm. Knowing this, no doubt in every country, the enemy is constantly attacking marriages. There is much danger in the neglect of these areas which are so obviously under attack and for that reason we were thankful to once again host a marriage retreat in early January for the several young married couples in the San Juan assembly. We were thankful that 6 of the 7 couples in their early 40s or younger were able to attend the two-day retreat. It was a blessing to have Mark and Brenda Bachert come down from Nicaragua to help lead the six studies over the two days. The fellowship and time to relax in the mountains away from the busyness of the city was also a blessing as there is a real evident camaraderie and friendship between the young couples. Two of the men in attendance are the current overseers in the assembly and the need for strong marriages for them as leaders and shepherds is so vitally important, as leadership by example is essential. We hope to have a few follow-up study sessions over the course of the coming year.
The assembly has continued to grow over the last few years, with close to 15 new members being added to the fellowship. This, along with new interest from several in the community as a result of the recent Summer Bible Class outreach, means the current hall can no longer
hold everyone for the noontime gospel meeting and at times for the Breaking of Bread meeting on Sunday mornings. There are regularly 10 or more believers who need to sit outside or stand to accommodate space for the visitors during the gospel meeting. Three separate construction projects have been quoted to increase the capacity in the current hall building. The kitchen and dining room are to be expanded, followed by four Sunday school classrooms to be built at the back of property, so that the wall separating the current classrooms from the main hall can be torn down, to allow for more space to accommodate another 30-40+ chairs in the main meeting room.
Please pray for the current overseers in the assembly in San Juan de Dios, as well as for the Lord to raise up new ones to help with the ever-increasing needs of the flock as the assembly continues to grow. Please pray that there would not be complacency, but proactiveness in the face of growth and blessing over the last few years in the assembly.
17/2/25
1 Kings 1-2
Ploiesti
The first week of 2025 was a very busy and most profitable time ministering in the Northern Counties of Iași, Neamț and Suceava with five assemblies, including three nights of ministry with the Pașcani assembly.
The winter and spring months are spent in Bible teaching and intensive studies in different areas at the request of local elders. It is always a real joy to engage with a younger generation who are keen to study the Scriptures and get involved in the Lord’s work. Some are children of believers who attended studies in our early years in Romania.
Increasingly elders in assemblies are asking for specific subjects to be taught. Monthly intensive studies take place in the Counties of Bacău and Teleorman with very good interest. During January and February 25 assemblies were visited for ministry meetings.
2025 Calendars
Enquiries about calendars are received towards the end of the year as people look forward to receiving them. This year over 135,000 calendars, 110,000 A5 gospel texts, 10,000 A6 gospel texts with a gospel message on the reverse and 115,000 gospel tracts were printed. 60,000 A6 gospel texts were also printed for special distribution in the large city of Iași. Calendars were distributed throughout Romania on the streets, by believers to neighbours, friends and relatives, in marketplaces, shops, hospitals, schools, factories and offices. It is good that the Word of God is displayed in public places and in homes.
For the last few years Paul has spent a few days with a group of brethren on the streets in towns in the Counties of Hunedoara, Gorj and Mehedinți giving out calendars, A5 gospel texts and gospel tracts. In mid-December, with the help of these brethren and some believers from small assemblies, we were able to distribute calendars and gospel literature in the mining valley of Jiu (Petrila, Petroșani and Vulcan), Deva, Baia de Aramă, Motru and Târgu Cărbunești.
Every year an enthusiastic worker takes a group of young Christians to distribute thousands of calendars and gospel tracts in the markets and streets of the towns in the County of Vrancea. One of the objectives of this work is to involve the younger generation of believers in gospel work. This is repeated on a bigger scale in the large city of Iași. Some of the people contacted have attended local assemblies and prayer is greatly valued for spiritual fruit from the good seed sown.
Paul was invited to preach in a public hall in Găujani on the Romanian border with Bulgaria. Over 200 children from the local school and their teachers attended. It was a wonderful occasion and a great opportunity to preach the gospel and present a calendar to those present.
Gospel literature
A large quantity of New Testament’s have recently been purchased for gospel outreach work. Gospel tracts for Easter and A5 and A6 Bible texts with a gospel message on the back are currently being worked on. Over 200,000 will be printed and used by gospel workers and local assemblies throughout the country as they reach out to people in their local communities.
Tent work
Planning is underway for summer tent outreach work and much prayer would be valued.
Prayer Points
• Pray that the good seed sown will bear fruit and that many will be saved by God’s grace.
• 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.
• Pray for spiritual growth and maturity among believers as the result of ministry meetings.
C. 1992 PAUL & SUE WILLIAMS 26/2/25
11th
There are fourteen local assemblies (most of them young and small) in western Kenya, where the Lord has given us opportunities to teach the Word. A new group is coming up in a new place since late last year. Brothers and sisters meet separately for monthly Bible studies in four different regions here in western Kenya. I work together with the local assembly leaders. Bible training sessions are conducted during April, August and November at four different places in western Kenya. We thank God for expanding the territories of the ministry. There is a construction project going on to build a dormitory for accommodation.
Emmaus correspondence courses in Swahili and English are used to reach out to the inmates in the surrounding twelve prisons in western Kenya. We are given permission to visit the prisons and preach the gospel. There are several testimonies of life transformation, praise the Lord! Some of the released prisoners are now part of our assemblies. One of them is in the leadership of a local assembly, maturing in the Word. We have a team of four brethren, who do the marking, recording and issuing the Emmaus courses to our students in prisons and outside.
New believers (fruits during and after the Covid season) have started gathering as a local assembly here at our place (Ekero) since January 2023. Around twenty people are in fellowship on Sundays and there are a lot of children in the Sunday school. There is a gospel meeting on Mondays, prayer/Bible study on Wednesdays, Men’s Bible study Monday through Friday mornings, Women’s meetings on Thursdays and Saturdays, Youth meeting on Sunday mornings and Children’s lessons on Saturday and Sunday mornings. As the Lord has given us a wider area of ministries, we pray that the Lord will raise up committed brothers to carry on the local assembly work. We thank the Lord for all the opportunities. Please pray for grace and leading from the Lord. Thank you.
JACOB & SUSAN VARGHESE
13/2/25
It is a joy to see God at work here in the City of San Antonio, Texas. We work mainly among Hispanic people in the gospel as well as teaching, with the goal of seeing a local church established here for the honour and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ.
It was an encouragement to attend and help in the Annual Bible Conference in Veracruz, Mexico, in November of last year. There was excellent teaching and gospel given by five other workers from different areas of Mexico. A mother and daughter were baptised during the conference weekend. It was especially good to see the believers continuing on faithfully after we left in 2020, following twelve years living in the port city of Veracruz.
Last November, it was a joy to witness the baptism of a couple in the pool of the hotel where we have regular Sunday meetings. Then the oldest daughter of the couple was baptised on January 26th.
In general, we have been encouraged with some new recent contacts attending our Sunday gospel meetings in Spanish. During the week we have had gospel outreach meetings in some of the believer’s homes including our own. We have had English and Spanish gospel meetings in our home with several neighbours attending more than once.
We continue English monthly bible studies in our daughter Moriah’s apartment. Some attend these studies regularly and other new contacts are also made. Most recently we have looked at illustrations of Christ in the Old Testament during these studies. Each study has a gospel focus and many have listened with good interest to the gospel message as well as during each study.
In January we began trying regular English gospel meetings on Sundays in the hotel and there has been some encouraging attendance. Some work and school contacts of
our family have come to hear the gospel in English with several returning to hear the message again. Our children Moriah, David and Jacob all help in the work here in San Antonio.
Please pray:
• for the preservation and blessing of the assembly in the Port city of Veracruz, Mexico.
• for the continued salvation of souls among Spanish and English listeners.
• that a local church would be formed in San Antonio, Texas for the honour and glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. C. 2006 (USA) JOHN & REBEKAH NESBITT
1 Kings 8-9
In the month of January, some of the saints here in Pirassununga (including ourselves) were infected with the Dengue virus. It is transmitted by a mosquito, and leaves you bedridden with a fever for a few days. Mum, who is 83 years old, suffered more than most of us, but we are all recovered already.
We are thankful that the Lord has given some blessing in this region in the past weeks. We have seen a good increase in the number of children coming to the children’s work here in Pirassununga, and we have been encouraged with news of some baptisms.
In the neighbouring town of Descalvado, three believers were baptised last Saturday. One of these is a man called Marcos (his wife, Márcia, was also baptised). Marcos’ grandfather was saved in the 1970s and remained in the assembly until his death a few years ago. His uncle serves the Lord full time in the town of Palmeiras. Notwithstanding these assembly connections, Marcos was brought up far from the Gospel, as his father was very opposed to the assembly, often making jokes about his brother’s faith (Marcos’ uncle). Marcos’ father died during the pandemic, and the testimony of his saved relatives was used of God to awaken his soul to his need of salvation. He and his wife began coming to meetings, were saved, and have now been baptised and received into the assembly.
The third person baptised in Descalvado was a young woman called Roberta, whose husband is already in the assembly.
This next Lord’s day, just eight days after the baptism in Descalvado, the assembly in Palmeiras hopes to baptise another four believers. One of them, Erick, is the grandson of the full-time worker I mentioned above. There is also a young man whose sister is in the assembly, a young girl whose parents live in the neighbouring town of Guaxupé, and in whose home the Gospel is preached every week, and another young man with no previous assembly connection.
We have been encouraged with all this and thank you for your continued support in prayer.
C. 1998 WILLIAM & ELEN WATTERSON 12/2/25
Monday 14th
We have been encouraged to hear of a young woman of 22 professing faith in Christ recently. We have also been burdened concerning a large group of teenagers who professed to be saved years ago. Many of them are children of believers. They have been taught regularly of the need to be baptised, but they seemed to be slow to express a personal desire to take this step. Much prayer has been offered on their behalf. We thank God that in the last few weeks six have come forward, wanting to obey the Lord in baptism.
At several of our peripheral Sunday Schools in and around Gaborone, adults have also been attending. This is both a great opportunity and a challenge to present the gospel in a way that will be understood by the youngest and the oldest. Each Wednesday around 30 adults join the class of children in Kopong village, and a group of women attend the large Saturday morning class in the Old Naledi district of Gaborone.
We have begun visiting a new government primary school on Friday mornings and were able to present each child with an English Bible to use throughout the year. They are the senior pupils and seem keen and responsive so far. The headmistress and class teachers are also very welcoming. Please pray for the seed sown in so many young hearts.
Our weekly open-air witness on Thursday evenings continues in the area around the Broadhurst hall. We are always made welcome in the four different places we visit. There are always those who listen from their homes or yards and often several adults will come and sit with us on the benches we provide. It is a great privilege to proclaim to them such a wonderful message of forgiveness, peace, and hope.
We are glad of the presence of a good number of university and college students with us this year. Most are studying away from home. We benefit from their attendance in the assembly and their participation in the gospel work. For over 25 years we were able to conduct a weekly Bible study on the university campus until shortage of hostel space meant that students had to find their own accommodation in
and around the city and the group became widely scattered. These are formative years for these young men and women, and we pray that they will be preserved and continue to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. As often as we can, we host them for Sunday lunch at ‘Engedi’, our home in the village of Tlokweng. Just before we part, we always close with a brief word from the Scriptures. Please pray for them.
1982
20/2/25
San Luis Potosi
In October we had a five-night gospel series in El Barril with Ricky Sawatzky. The series was very well attended and one man professed to be saved. Since then he has been to almost every meeting of the assembly and is really enjoying them. Please pray for his spiritual growth and desire to obey the Lord in baptism.
In late December we hosted a group of seven young people from the USA. They were a tremendous help in delivering around 2,000 gospel calendars in the towns of El Barril, where the assembly is located and Jesus Maria, where we have a gospel outreach work. They were also here for our annual Christmas meeting. The Sunday School children recited some Bible verses relevant to the Lord’s birth. I then gave a short gospel message, which was followed by a meal. There were a nice number of visitors in attendance that heard the gospel.
After the Christmas meeting, we drove around nine hours to the state of Morelos, Mexico where Duncan and Anna Beckett live, to participate in the Seed Sowers distribution of around 74,000 John 3:16 texts. Following the distribution Shelley and I stayed on to help Duncan Beckett, Shad Kember, Johnathan Seed and Samuel Chesney with two simultaneous gospel series’ that lasted several weeks. There were several that attended for the first time and God blessed in salvation.
The first week of February we had five nights of gospel meetings with Paul Thiessen in El Barril. Again, the attendance was very encouraging. There were several unconverted men and several young people in need of salvation there each night. Also, there was one believer who had not been to a meeting in around three years who attended four of the five nights. Since then, she has been to one weeknight meeting. We pray that this will be the beginning of her restoration. We also value your prayers for the seed sown during the meetings.
Due to the recent encouragement of the two short five-night gospel series’, we have planned another five nights for the end of March, in the will of the Lord. We anticipate having John Nesbitt with us for the meetings. Please pray that there will be blessing in salvation during the series.
In addition to the prayer requests mentioned above, we would ask that you pray for the spiritual growth and development of the men in the assembly in El Barril, so that they may assume more and more responsibilities of the assembly and eventually function completely as a New Testament assembly should. JASON & SHELLEY WAHLS 21/2/25 1 Kings 13-15
Wednesday 16th
Two weeks ago, we had a staff memorial for Boston Mbilikita held at our Conference Centre Hall, which was packed, as Boston was very well respected and liked among staff. I am still reeling, trying to cover so many of the things that he used to do as the Administrator, and now they are back on my desk. I had handed over most of the responsibilities and he was doing such a great job. Sadly, there is just no one else capable of doing the work that he was doing as he was here for 20 years learning and helping. It was a very sudden and traumatic passing of Boston and has left such a devastating gap in the smooth running of the hospital and the many other areas of ministry here that he was involved in. His wife Lydia and the kids are having a very hard time adjusting to their husband and father being taken in such a dramatic and unexpected manner and leaving them quite destitute. While we know that it was in God’s plan, it still has been very hard for them to come to terms with his death.
I was encouraged this past week when one of our staff, Rhonda Sakuwaha, who does full time bedside ministry in the hospital, gave me her report of her contacts, discussions and chats with patients and relatives from 2024. She has been a blessing and in her notebook she had so many details of ones that she had spoken to about the Lord over the year. With many of the patients, she had spent several days reading the scriptures and chatting with them, and God was good and poured out His Spirit of understanding, resulting in the Salvation of many. We just pray that they might grow in the Lord and give evidence of changed lives for the honour and glory of the Saviour’s name.
Recently we concluded a major orthopaedic marathon, where patients descended on Chitokoloki from many of the surrounding districts, hoping that they would be helped with various bones issues. There are only so many patients that can be fitted in, in the time allocated, and they did operate on 17 major cases and some minor ones, so we are thankful for those that
were helped. However, sadly, a good percentage were told to come back another time, so they will no doubt be back when given the dates of the next session allocated for orthopaedic surgeries.
We trust that as we venture through 2025, the Lord’s presence and His unfailing promises will be the guiding light to ensure that all that we do will be according to His will and to give Him all the honour and glory.
C. 1986 (Canada) GORDON & RUTH HANNA 24/2/25
1 Kings 19-20
At present, I am preaching the Gospel using my chart on ‘The Impact of the Bible and Christianity on American History’. These meetings are in Marion, Iowa. This is somewhat outside of my usual field of labour, which is along the east coast of the United States. Iowa has half the population of New Jersey, but more than three times the number of assemblies. Happily, most of the assemblies here are very gospel-minded, and, as I write this, there are at least two other Gospel efforts underway at the same time, with two or three more planned for next month in the will of God.
This chart allows me to deal with people and events who were deeply influenced by their knowledge of the scriptures. Recounting some of those events provides a wonderful basis for the presentation of Gospel truths. In the past, it has pleased God to use this series in reaching souls for His glory, and I hope it will be the same in these present meetings.
When I arrive home, I am scheduled for Gospel meetings next month with the Barrington, NJ, assembly, which is very close to my home assembly of Pennsauken, NJ. I would greatly appreciate the prayers of the Lord’s people for those meetings. The assembly has requested a series using the ‘Future Events’ chart. Every time I use that chart, I am reminded how very close we are to the return of our beloved Lord. I hope for all of us we can honestly respond, “Amen! Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”
C. 1974 (USA) EUGENE & NANCY HIGGINS 17/2/25
We had wonderful gospel meetings in Bethel and Chadzunda over Christmas/ New Year and a few new people heard the gospel and the believers were encouraged. We pray we will be able to follow up with these new contacts. Kindly remember the leadership of both places.
Chichiri
By the grace of God, we were able to visit Lake Malawi assembly and encourage the believers. Please pray for the Lord to raise up elders. Also remember the believers there as they make progress with the construction of an assembly hall. In fact, there are halls being built in various places presently. Meanwhile, the believers are gathering under trees and in the homes of elders. We thank the Lord that we have been able to help with these constructions according to His provision.
We were also able to visit assemblies in various villages over the past few months. The believers were very much encouraged when we shared the Word of God with them. There are big problems of hunger, and the hike in food prices means a lot of believers are struggling, with many just eating one meal a day. We try to help as much a possible.
Pray for a teacher whom we shared the gospel with and have been able to follow up, encouraging him by reading the word of God and by answering his questions. We also gave him books, including ‘Knowing & Doing’, which we trust will be helpful. Please pray that he may know the truth of the gospel and practice it.
The Lord gave us the opportunity to preach at the funeral service of an elder from one of the assemblies. About 500 people attended
and all heard the gospel very clearly. We are praying the believers in this area may follow up with those who showed an interest by attending the assembly meetings.
Fire Brigade: God gave us opportunities to visit the firemen in Zomba and we shared the gospel. We were also able to visit the bereaved family of the chief and provide comfort through the word of God, following an accident in which he was killed and a few firemen were injured. Please pray this ministry will continue and for the Lord’s help as we need to travel 120km every month to visit the firemen.
Prison Work: We praise God that we were able to visit Prisons in Bvumbwe and Mangochi (young offenders centre) where a few visiting brethren shared the gospel and we gave out soap and literature.
Literature Work: We are also thankful to the Lord for literature, including bibles and commentaries, for the bible school library received from Opal Trust, UK. One of the books ‘Knowing & Doing’ (Chichewa) is useful for bible studies. Please pray that the Lord will use this book to bring many into the knowledge of the truth and that elders will take responsibility to encourage the believers in all places.
Youth Work: We had several youth conferences in the past year at Blantyre, Chadzunda, Phalombe and Blantyre Rural where we shared the word of God and the Gospel. Several youths have accepted the Lord, for which we give thanks.
Family News
We thank and praise God that Ananda’s health (Diabetes) is improving due to changes
in medication. Our daughter, Anny, has just started 10th grade online (IGCSE 1). We are thankful to God that she has found a few good friends online. Jack writes his online exams for grade 9 in March. He would like to switch to the American curriculum for grade 10 as he finds it difficult to study IGCSE, so please remember him in prayer that he finds a good online school. Anny is doing okay spiritually, and she has a heart for reaching out to the children with the gospel. Pray for Jack’s salvation.
We have been praying and planning to visit our parents (India) and take a break for some months, so please pray for the Lord’s provision and guidance. We are still waiting for approval of our Permanent Resident Permit, which is at ‘final review’ stage by the department of immigration. So please pray for the Lord’s guidance.
Thank you all for your prayers and support. Despite all the challenges of food price hikes, fuel shortages, security threats and rising opposition due to racial barriers, God has been gracious to sustain us.
ANANDA & GRACE PULLA
Late last year I was able to visit Mexico and Costa Rica over the course of four weeks, and was most encouraged to see what the Lord is doing in both of these places. I was with the saints in Veracruz for their annual conference in November, and it was wonderful to see the hall well-filled. Two sisters in the Lord (mother and daughter) were baptised on the Saturday evening after the gospel meeting and had a large number of friends and family there to hear the Word preached and to witness their obedience to and identification with the Saviour.
6/2/25
2 Kings 1-3
I spent several nights with Duncan and Anna Beckett, both in the work in Los Arcos, Morelos and the assembly in Iguala, Guerrero where they formerly lived, sharing teaching from God’s Word. From there I travelled to Cancun, Quintana Roo and was with the Turkington’s and Cadenas’s for a week, sharing in both the preaching of the gospel and ministry for the saints. Seeing the growth since my previous visit in 2023 was most encouraging.
The believers in Jaco, Costa Rica met together to break bread for the first time during my ten-day visit to that country. I had visited Johnny and Mabel Marin in Jaco on a couple of previous occasions, and again the development in the work was a cause of rejoicing. I was also with the believers in a couple of other assemblies before returning home to Halifax.
This month I have been able to preach the gospel in Spanish closer to home, including last evening in Crapaud, PEI, where I had the privilege of sharing with Norman Turkington. The attendance was not as large as it usually is during the summer months, when more workers are in the country for a limited time, but we were thankful for those who came, and their attention to, and interest in, the message that was preached. I expect to be back in April.
God willing, in March Alison and I will spend a week in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico for their annual conference. We left there in November 2022, but hold the believers close to our heart after having spent about twelve years there. In April I will be in East Los Angeles, California for their annual conference (in Spanish) and then will spend some time in Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Your prayers for these responsibilities are most appreciated.
C. 1996 (Canada) MARCUS & ALISON CAIN 25/2/25
Sunday 20th
SOHAIL’S
God is good and He is moving in a very big way changing the lives of people in different areas of Pakistan. Many are listening to the word of God.
N Bebe, aged 45 with two daughters, were from a Hindu background and used to work in the fields. While working, she heard bible passages being read as believing women played their Audio Bibles. God opened the heart of this lady, and she was happy to listen about how the Lord Jesus gave His life for people; asking ‘how is it possible? How can someone pay the price of another’s salvation?’ The believing women led them to brothers M and S to learn more about the Lord Jesus. S taught them the gospel and gave them a bible to read. By the grace of God, N Bebe and her daughters went down on their knees, wept and confessed their sins before God. They repented and came to Jesus Christ. Please keep this new believer and her daughters in your prayers.
Please pray for sister ‘A’ from the country of ‘I’ (there is already a sister called ‘A’ in ‘I’, this is a different person). She repented and came to Jesus Christ recently. This girl looked after sister ‘F’ when ‘M’ people threw acid in her face. As she was looking after her, she read the bible for the very first time with ‘F’. Then she got a bible of her own and started studying it. As a result, God changed her life. Her family eventually found the bible (she had tried to hide it) and started demanding ‘A’ repent and turn from her faith in Christ. She refused to go back to her old beliefs. Her brothers then beat her and got their ‘M’ priest to warn her that if she keeps practicing what the bible teaches, they will kill her. They said that they are giving her time to decide. Dear brothers and sisters please pray for her. She told ‘F’s’ uncle ‘I’ about the situation. Uncle ‘I’ is now a believer (he came from an RC background). We are considering sending ‘A’ to another province to save her life.
Pray for sister ‘K’. The ‘M’’s don’t let her take water from the well because of her Christian faith and a man recently tried to sexually harass her. She wants to move to another city because she is facing a tough time there. We need wisdom to know what to do. Everyone cannot move when there is a problem as the persecution of believers happens in every part of ‘I’.
Romans 8: 31-32 ‘What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?’
A Call for Praise
I am happy that God is using us with His mighty hand to spread the good news in different parts of Pakistan. We are rejoicing that many are coming to Christ.
God has changed the lives of another five members of a ‘H’ family in village 75. Sha, Me’a, R’ha, N’b and Ur. They are happy to receive the Lord Jesus in their lives. God works in the lives of people in different ways. In this village there was a lot of disease which was spreading through dirty water and as a result a young child died. Many are suffering from stomach and liver problems. I am thankful to God who provided funds so we can now provide a clean water supply for the believers of this village.
One of the prison believers, who was released from prison, is now teaching his wife and children about the Lord Jesus Christ. His family are very happy that God changed his life completely. He is now preaching the gospel. We recently baptised three new believers in PP prison and have provided warm blankets and warm clothes to some older believers and orphans. I am thankful to God for using all of you to bless the poor and starving believers in our assemblies.
Brothers M and Z from ‘S’ are going to preach in a new village where there are a total of 32 believers. We recently baptised another seven men and women who came to Jesus Christ.
We are currently preaching in 28 areas and in 9 prisons, travelling to these areas on buses and motor bikes. I am grateful to God who used you to enable us to reach the lost with the gospel. Thank you so much for your love, support and prayers.
Yours through Grace, on behalf of the believers in our region of Pakistan.
Update 24/2/24 – Sister ‘A’ has reached a safe place and she went to a private hospital for surgery. Sister ‘K’ is safe now and she is with other believers in the city of ‘As’. Brother ‘I’ has arranged a three-room home for both families. Thanks be unto God.
C. 2006 SOHAIL, via STEPHEN & CAROLE BAKER 17/2/25
We are thankful to the Lord for the opportunities He has given us to serve Him and His people, despite our weakness and feeling of inadequacy.
Following two big trips last year, firstly south to Melbourne and then north to help with the bible stall at various agricultural shows up the coast (covering about 4000km each trip), we were back home in time for the Burleigh Heads conference in mid-September. We like to support them each year if we can. We also like to celebrate our wedding anniversary, so being 45yrs we decided to spend a few days in Tasmania and combined it with a visit to the three assemblies on the island state. Ministry meetings were held at Upper Burnie, Ridgley and Myalla, with good attendance from the three assemblies as they supported each other during our visit.
Our final series of ministry for the year was held at our commending assembly in Cooroy, so it was good to spend time with the believers, along with our family members who still live in the area, including both our mums who are now in their 90’s.
Daily we are in contact with the believers in Venezuela and are still able to provide relief monthly, in accordance with the Lord’s provision through the generosity of His people. They are still finding it very tough, with no improvement in sight after the Presidential elections held last year saw the usual result of the same government staying in control.
We are very grateful to the Lord for His unfailing care and provision as we serve Him with the grace and strength that He alone can give. The fellowship of the Lord’s people is also greatly appreciated, and we express our sincere thanks for your prayers and support.
C. 1994 (Australia) PAUL & DAPHNE CHAPMAN
24/2/25
2 Kings 9-11
Since my last report in this magazine, I have been encouraged with opportunities that the Lord has opened in a village school just a couple of miles away from home. A teacher who knew me from a previous school moved there and asked if I would go and help her with an R.E. lesson. Thankfully that lesson went well and led to R.E. lessons with three classes in total and an established pattern now for regular assemblies. It is not a church school, but the leadership there seem very willing to have my input into the school. Last December many schools were willing to take Stuart Scammell’s Christmas books and I’m hoping to distribute Easter books too in the next few weeks in the will of the
Lord. I always have an annual theme for school assemblies and this year I am dealing with some of the Lord’s miracles, the next one being ‘The Ten Lepers’. I have been visiting many of these schools for well over 30 years now and am grateful to the Lord that so many doors remain open for the presentation of His Word.
Ministry of the Word continues to be a prominent feature in my schedule and in March D.V. I hope to visit Prestwich, Mayfield, Warrington and Broadwas-on-Teme, as well as continuing a series at home in Skelmanthorpe on 2 Thessalonians. I am also involved with our local Monday night children’s work where a regular (but not large) group of children attend to hear the gospel.
I continue to have administrative responsibility for the Yorkshire Bible Study Week which is held each October in Scarborough, and I am making preparations for this year’s event in the will of the Lord. Ian Jackson is due to be the speaker this year.
Gillian’s health continues to be poor on the whole and we value prayer for her as well as for the ongoing work of the Lord.
C. 1991 PHILIP & GILLIAN KAYE 14/2/25
May this year will mark two years of marriage, and we are so deeply grateful to the Lord for bringing us together as well as the privilege we have to serve Him together here. Our little David is now nine months old and we are both in awe at how quickly he is growing and becoming his own little person. Please pray that David will come to know the Lord while he is young, and we will know how best to raise him in the things of the Lord.
We both continue to be involved with the medical work in various ways and are grateful to the Lord for this avenue to show forth the love of God practically as well as share the message of Salvation. The population is expanding and that means the number of people who come to our facility is also increasing. It is our prayer that we will not only be able to help physically, but also reach them for eternity.
2 Kings 12-14
We both also continue to be involved in Children’s Work. It is important to both of us to reach the young with the gospel. Abel is involved with Sunday School with upwards of 600 children attending each week. Rebekah helps with a weekly children’s class on the mission with about 50-60 children present each week. Please pray for these activities.
It is our desire to help those in need, especially those of the household of faith. We have been trying to visit some of the older believers in the area and try to encourage them, as well as supply them with small food and toiletry packages. We also try to help some of the younger ones struggling with the costs of postsecondary school. Even a toiletry pack and a few food items can show that you care.
The past few months we have been working on making improvements at the Old People’s Village on the mission. This area is home to up to 26 older people who either have no one to care for them or have been rejected by their families. We are in the process of replacing one of the housing units with a more modern structure, as well as building some toilet and shower blocks. We hope in time to replace all the houses, toilets and outdoor kitchens so that our elderly folks have better facilities to call home. Many of them have come from such difficult circumstances that we really want to provide them with a safe place to live their remaining days. It is a privilege to be able to share the love of Christ and point those that are not saved towards a Saviour who loves them beyond what we can fathom.
The past months have been difficult months for many with regards to food availability. The drought last year has led to many shortages and high prices. Every year in June we stock up on maize for the coming year. The local staple here is nshima which is ground maize cooked and eaten together with any type of vegetable or protein. We grind maize each month to give to the elderly and vulnerable assisted by the mission, as well as cook at the hospital for the patients. In January the container was completely empty, with still five more months until harvest. We thank the Lord for His abundant provision…we now have more than enough to carry us through until June. Please join us in praying that the rains will continue and there may be a plentiful harvest this year.
ABEL & REBEKAH (Nee Flynn) CHIKUTA
25/2/25
Thursday 24th
Understanding the Gospel (www.understandingthegospel.org)
Understanding the Gospel (UtG) is five years old. Although that may not seem old, in the online space it is bordering on ancient. What began as a small venture, involving a few UK-based brothers and sisters, has grown into a project with over one hundred contributors and a wide scope of content and delivery platforms. It was time for a review and refresh.
In addition to revisiting our original project statements and chatting to our contributors, we decided to bring on new people to the core team and re-work the structure of the project with renewed focus on the three original aims.
By using the resources available to us we aim to –
(a) Broadcast the gospel, which is “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16).
(b) Create resources for Christians to use when sharing the gospel (Mark 16:15).
(c) Enable Christians to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).
Our contributors in the project are now divided into a new team structure. We still have many contributors and are continually seeking others to write, record, edit, publish and whatever else is required in UtG. We have changed things around so that we have more ‘square pegs in square holes’, having learnt from a few years of working together.
Either directly online, or by providing resources for people to freely use in their community and local church, we are writing articles, producing podcasts, filming long and short-form videos and preparing social media content to communicate the gospel and help Christians. We want to get to where people are learning, meeting and spending their time. In our age, most of that is online.
We depend on the Lord for everything in UtG; people, time, resources, skills and opportunities. He has sustained the project thus far and brought so many talented and gifted people together with a passion for the Lord and the gospel. We trust Him going forward as we work towards reaching more people with the gospel and Bible teaching.
Want to get a full understanding of the Christian gospel?
It is a message that impacts every aspect of life, death and eternity. For articles, videos and podcasts about God, the Bible and Christ scan the QR code or visit understandingthegospel.org
Search ‘Understanding the Gospel’ to find our channels
The new structure of UtG has three content creation teams covering the Gospel, Teaching and Titus 2 (by women, for women). In addition, there are teams for Social Media, Publishing and Scheduling, Pastoral Care, Finance and the Technical Support and Development of the website and app.
We are all working with the teams of contributors to create good quality Gospel and Bible Teaching content and deliver it through the Website, App, Youtube, Podcast and Social Media platforms. Our desire is that people will be directed to the Word of God on UtG, by various means, and be blessed by the Lord.
25/2/25
2 Kings 18-19
Please continue to pray for the work of the Lord in Venezuela, that it may be preserved for His glory and precious souls will be saved before the Lord’s imminent return. The assemblies are active in the spread of the gospel and although there are times when there are no visible results, God is glorified and His word will not return to Him void (Isaiah 55:11).
where they have held a Sunday School for many years. There has been encouragement with souls professing to be saved, as local brethren have preached for six weeks. They will be having Bible Readings this week, considering the First Epistle to Timothy, and have asked us to help them. We look to the Lord for His gracious help.
The assembly in Juaniquero has had four weeks of Gospel Meetings in the home of believers. The assembly is small, only six brethren in fellowship, but they were encouraged to see a nice number of neighbours under the sound of the gospel. A few brethren from here helped several nights, travelling three hours by motorbike to be there, and returning the next morning to their employment. It was our privilege to go twice last week.
The assembly in La Pica, where we are in fellowship, started Gospel Meetings last week in the home of a faithful sister, whose husband is not saved. Please pray for him, and for a sister-in-law whose husband was murdered last year; she is showing an interest in Salvation. Our family is attending as well as other believer’s children. How we long for their salvation.
We enjoyed a visit with the assembly in Fundacion CAP, Valencia, in January looking at the figures of our Lord Jesus Christ in the book of Numbers in a devotional and practical setting. We pray that the saints will be encouraged to imitate and serve the Lord. Two weeks ago, we had Bible Readings with an assembly in Maracay considering Colossians chapters 3 and 4 and rejoiced to see the good interest among the saints.
We expect to receive 12 new tracts from the printers this week. Pray that they will result in the salvation of precious souls as the assemblies give them out to seeking souls.
While there are encouragements, there are also disappointments and things that we don’t write about, but make us seek the Throne of Grace: let your requests be made known unto God (Phil. 4:6). God is still on the throne, and we ask you to pray for this country with all its unrest, that the Word of the Lord may have free course and be glorified.
C. 1999 SAMUEL & SHARON USSHER 24/2/25
26th
This evening over 20 small children, aged 8 years and under, and two parents joined us at the open-air meeting. This is held on Thursday evenings in the area of the assembly hall (we go to four different spots all within a short distance from the hall). Many live very humbly and their lives are very hard, but they continue to give us a welcome
among them. A week ago on Saturday we went around the area of the hall inviting the children for Sunday School and it was very good to see old faces and parents who know us well. This open-air meeting is our time to see our local neighbours, as not so many are coming at the moment to the gospel meeting in the hall. They do come however in good numbers for the annual Sunday School prize giving, so that is encouraging. From where we stood this evening, I could see four adults sitting and standing nearby in order to listen, as well as those who sat with us. Others walk by on their way home and hear some of the message as they pass by. We hold the meeting at 7pm. Sowing the good seed of the Word of God is a great privilege in areas where there is an open ear to hear. We realise this is a blessing and we thank God for it.
We have resumed all the Sunday Schools and the opportunities we also have to teach Scripture in local schools. For many years there has such a freedom to work with children in towns and villages throughout the whole country. How marvellous to teach weekly the truth from the Bible. We know you would give your right arm for this liberty so we ask for your fellowship to pray that the seed will bear fruit for eternity. Many believers work fervently and quietly reaching out to others and their testimony is a great influence among colleagues and family and neighbours. Please plod along with us - your prayers keep us going, of that there is no doubt.
C. 1990 JOY GRIFFITHS 14/2/25
Sunday 27th
The new year and term started brightly with 25 new 4-year-old children joining Watoto wa Thamani Day Care Centre. They were very excited to be with us and all have settled well into the routines and activities of Class One. They received knitted cardigans and blankets which they were thrilled about. It’s quite staggering to see that most of these little ones walk to and from WWT unescorted by parents. Please pray, not only for their safety and wellbeing, but that young as they are they may have eternal impressions etched into their souls and have a life-changing encounter with the risen Christ through the things they learn at WWT.
We had huge numbers attending the Friday Kids’ Clubs during the Christmas break and so were shocked at the first Kids’ Club after the school year started earlier this month. Instead of the hoards waiting at the gate for the 4pm start, there were but a handful. We started with only 24 or so children, so each one was given a bar of soap as a reward for coming. However, by the time the Bible story was told, there were 171 children present.
The beginning of the new school year always throws the children out of rhythm, and it takes them a couple of weeks to get into the new routine. We count it a privilege to tell, however many come, the wonderful message of the Saviour. Thursday’s have seen stable numbers attending, and a good time being enjoyed. Between the two Kids’ Clubs more than 200 children recited the memory verses perfectly. We are now teaching them Psalm 8.
The Kinzudi assembly continues to be encouraged by those interested in the gospel. Mama Gift, a widow with four children linked with WWT, was supported practically for an initial period of six months which we extended to the end of last year. She asked for baptism, but having attended other churches in the past and listening to false teaching, there was some confusion and misunderstanding about salvation and the meaning of baptism. She was given ‘Ultimate Questions’ to read. Sadly, since support received came to an end, she has not been seen. This may be an indication of her motive. However, Kung’uta, from a Seventh Day Adventist background, having spent last month reading through the same booklet, told the assembly elders this past weekend that he realised that his previous profession of faith based on keeping the Sabbath and Ten Commandments was empty. Salvation is about the love of Jesus and believing on Him. He assured them that, having come to know more fully the truth of the gospel, he is now genuinely saved through faith in Christ. This is a wonderful breakthrough.
This past weekend, the Kinzudi assembly had the joy of recognising Masumbuko as one who has been doing the work of an overseer and shepherd. It is encouraging to see those who are committed to, and have a burden for, the work of the assembly. This incremental step assures us that the assembly, which is the Lord’s, can function in the absence of missionaries, led by those who are spiritually discerning and in tune with Him.
Mama Hemedi and Mama Alfani, two sisters in the assembly, both with 4 children, for whom the Lord provided houses last May, are now so very happy to have had electricity installed. Having light in the dark evenings (the sun sets around 6:30pm), being able to charge a phone, or have a fridge, will make a huge difference to their lives.
Thank you for your continued fellowship with us in this ministry for Christ. There is much for which to thank and praise the Lord; there’s also much to bring before Him in prayer.
Monday 28th
Last September, Jack Hay and Eric Baijal visited Sri Lanka. Gospel meetings were held in Yatiyantota and Badureliya and several ministry meetings were held in Colombo. Yatiyantota is located about two hours East of Colombo. The assembly in that area is small in number, but very active in their gospel outreach. In October, they held a gospel campaign in the three villages surrounding their area. During a public holiday in October, they also distributed gospel tracks at the foot of a mountain known as Adam’s Peak. Adam’s Peak is 7300ft tall and near the summit, there is a rock formation that is known as Sri Pada, translated as ‘Sacred Footprint’. Buddhist tradition holds that this is the footprint of the buddha. As a result, during the holiday periods, large numbers of devotees flock to this ‘sacred mountain’ area. Several thousands of gospel tracks were distributed that day.
John Dunlop from Crosshouse, Scotland, visited us in November. Gospel meetings were held in Ingiriya and Badureliya. Ingiriya is situated in the Western Province and is an area which the Badureliya assembly members have been visiting for several years. It began as a preaching point and now there are several believers in that area. The population in Ingiriya consists of around 90% Buddhist, 9% Hindu and just over 1% Christian. It is hoped that an assembly can be established in that area in the future. John Dunlop also visited the East Coast for ministry meetings in Omadiyamadu and Ralodai and gospel meetings in Vakareny. The highlight of the visit was the opening of a new Gospel Hall in Palchchenai, where the assembly was established 14 years ago. They were meeting in a tin-roof structure and were delighted to finally move into their new hall.
The Bethany Home for girls was established fifteen years ago. Over the years, many girls from distant areas outside of the capital Colombo, have come to stay to study and progress their careers. The elders of assemblies in their local area recommend suitable girls. The assembly in Colombo has taken on the responsibility of looking after the girls. Several girls who have come under the sound of the gospel have been saved over the years and have also married brothers in the assembly. Some of the girls who have spent time in Colombo have returned to their villages and are faithfully serving the Lord in their area.
Two years ago, it was felt that the very old house which they live in needed major repairs and renovation. In November, work was completed, and we had the joy of reopening the Bethany Home once again. John Dunlop spoke at the formal opening of the Home. The entire assembly in Colombo were present and it was a very happy occasion.
John Dunlop speaking at the reopening of Bethany Home
During December, we arranged several prize-givings at our Hall for the various children’s outreach works. For the first time, we invited parents of the children of the Ja-Ela nursery to a prize giving. Fifty-five parents of the nursery children, mostly from Buddhist and Hindu backgrounds, listened to the gospel preached by Tharindu Fernando who is a native of Ja-Ela. Please pray that the seed sown will bear fruit. Brother Ravishanker from our assembly spoke at the Prize Giving for our Saturday afternoon children’s club. Over three hundred parents and family members filled the Hall to watch their children receive their prizes. Approximately 120 children attend this meeting every Saturday from 2:15pm to 4:15 pm at our Hall.
The Ja-Ela nursery is continuing to expand and grow. The number of pupils has doubled in the last quarter. We have had to recruit two new teachers to cope with the extra numbers. Rasanjali and Sinthiya are both in fellowship in our assembly and are now working full time in the nursery.
We appreciate your fellowship in the work of the Lord, and we are so thankful to the Lord for His care.
Tuesday 29th
In December we purchased, packed and distributed over one thousand school bags filled with stationery items and literature for children from poor families across the island. We also distributed dry rations to poor believers throughout the country. Local assemblies in the various areas selected the recipients. We purchased the items in the capital Colombo, our assembly members sorted and packed the items at our hall and then we transported the items to the various assemblies across the island. We also organised two residential youth camps at Bethesda Gospel Hall in Colombo at the end of the year. Firstly, the Sinhala language camp (most of those who attended are in fellowship in our assembly) was held over four days for those between the ages of 15 to 25. Then the Tamil language camp (most of those who attended are in fellowship in assemblies outside Colombo) was held over three days. Matthew Paterson from Aberdeen was the speaker and he gave encouraging ministry from 2 Peter.
Jack Hay visited Sri Lanka with Eric Baijal this month. God willing, this is the first of three visits to Sri Lanka that Jack has planned this year. Gospel and Ministry meetings were arranged by several assemblies across Sri Lanka in January and February 2025. Jack and Eric also spoke at conferences in Colombo and Valaichchenai.
Jack Hay spoke at a village gospel meeting in Kithalawa in February. There were about forty present at this meeting, of which six were Muslims. The brother who invited them told us it was their very first time at a gospel meeting. One of them asked several questions about the gospel message after the meeting.
Sanika, Samothi, Sanothi and Asahel
Recently a sister from the Matara district by the name of Sanika became a widow after her unsaved husband committed suicide. In addition to her grief at losing her husband, Sanika had to find a way of looking after her three children. Sri Lanka does not have a welfare system for such situations, and she was unable to feed her children.
Sanika, who was studying the Bible Correspondence Courses, wrote to us and explained her situation. (For the last 45 years, we have been distributing correspondence courses across Sri Lanka from our assembly in Colombo. Believers from our assembly voluntarily give of their time to correspond by post with those that live in distant areas).
Once the brothers in our assembly spoke to Sanika and understood her situation, we helped Sanika and her children Samothi, Sanothi and Asahel move to Valaichchenai and provided them with a home and work on the assembly run farm. We also helped the children to find local schools and now their lives have stabilised. Please remember them in your prayers.
We are continuing to faithfully preach the gospel every week and hoping to see more souls saved and assemblies established across the island. Please continue to remember us in your prayers.
Thank you again for your kindness, prayers and encouragement that you have shown towards the Lord’s work in Sri Lanka. We appreciate this greatly, and we give Him our heartfelt thanks for His goodness. “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb 12:2).
UPDATE FROM BETHESDA GOSPEL HALL, COLOMBO 24/2/25
Wednesday 30th
‘Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me’ Matthew 25:40
This past year has been full of challenges, yet we have witnessed God’s hand caring for us throughout it all. Although there have been delays in some situations, we trust that the One who began a good work in us will see it to completion.
Overall, the children have enjoyed good health, for which we are very grateful. On September 1st, ten of the children started school and two began attending kindergarten. Ambra and Paulina have entered first grade. We are particularly thankful that Samuel, Flora and Kida are performing much better this academic year. We are proud of Benarda and Emanuela, as their teacher is very pleased with their grades and progress at school. As of now, our twins are the only ones at home during the day, at least until next autumn. Samoel, Ambra, Dion and Toni are attending a development session for therapy. Our oldest children have been participating in the children’s meetings at church. Every day, they spend time in devotion, reading the bible and praying together. Miri is also part of the church youth group meeting that started this year, and they are enjoying their time with their peers. In November we began a devotion time for the youngest children. They read bible stories, take time to pray and sing together. Twice a month the oldest children take part in a dinner for children at the church, where they have the opportunity to ask questions about faith and the bible. Our children often have insightful questions.
During 2024 we completed several projects, including furnishing the children’s rooms and the guest house. Our playground work has started, providing much more space for children to play. Looking ahead this year, we need to address several projects including repairing the tiles in some of the children’s rooms and on the balcony, as the balcony has caused leaks in the room below. Also, we need to install air conditioning units in the living room and playroom and replace toilet doors.
We are grateful to God for everything He has been doing at the Hiding Place. We appreciate the grace we have found in the government’s eyes, and we are thankful that everyone is witnessing the good work God is doing. We feel blessed to continue the legacy that Marijan has left behind. Please keep praying for us and for our children. This is a beautiful work, but sometimes it can be very challenging. It can be difficult to leave at the end of the day without thinking about the children, which can become stressful and tiring. We ask for God’s wisdom to help us manage our emotions and find a good and healthy balance.
Pray that our children may enjoy good health and experience spiritual growth. May they find peace, joy and fulfilment in God’s love and His word. May they trust the One who never changes and never forgets. May God use each one of us to sow His love in their hearts. Specifically, please pray for Miri, Ela, Nada and Flora who have begun to understand the difference between faith and religion. May they lay their lives in God’s hands and trust Him completely.
We are truly grateful to each of you for your continued support and trust.
Tel. 01563 521098 E.Mail: lwtrust@lwtrust.co.uk www.lordsworktrust-kilmarnock.co.uk
Charity No. SC008740
Alistair Buchan (Aberdeen) Kevin Oh (London)
David Grant (Kilmarnock) Alastair Sinclair (Crosshouse)
David Hutchinson (Ballymoney) Gordon Stewart (Wallingford)
Raymond McNair (Glengormley) Stephen Trimble (Ballykeel)
Secretary: Leonard Currie (Kinross)
