Look on the Fields: September 2025

Look on the Fields September 2025

ITEMS FOR PRAYER AND PRAISE With Daily Scripture Readings

‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel’ Mark 16:15

ST LUCIA

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Venezuela Day: 1, 21 Scotland Day: 2, 7, 9 Brazil Day: 3, 15 USA Day: 4, 11 Dominican Republic Day: 5 Zambia Day: 6, 22, 25 Colombia Day: 8 Wales Day: 10 Peru Day: 12 Mexico Day: 13 N. Ireland Day: 14, 28 France Day: 16 Spain Day: 17 Australia Day: 18 Ireland Day: 19 Ukraine Day: 20 Philipines Day: 23 Lebanon Day: 24 England Day: 26 Albania Day: 27 Canada Day: 29 Botswana Day: 30

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BRAZIL

Reports in this edition are from countries shaded on the map.

Monday 1st VENEZUELA

Ezek 28-30

Valle de la Pascua

We arrived back in Venezuela at the beginning of April, appreciating all of the Lord’s mercies that allow us to be here. We spent the first six weeks in Palo Negro where Helen’s parents have spent over fifty years of their life. I joined the brethren in Palo Negro for the last three weeks of a series of Gospel Meetings that had been ongoing.

There was good attendance with between 8-12 unsaved adults coming every night, but sadly we didn’t see anyone settling down to seek salvation. However, it is encouraging to see that some who attended these meetings now continue to attend the Gospel Meeting in the Gospel Hall on Lord’s Day evening.

There were two large national conferences held at Easter in Aroa and Valencia, plus another smaller one on the Colombian border at Sincelejo. We helped a little at the conference at Valencia which was held in a large tent. It was reported that over 2,400 attended on Friday, with a larger crowd present on Saturday when more were off work.

There were Bible Readings in the morning discussing some of the Seven Churches of Asia, with Ministry sessions in the afternoon, followed by a Gospel Meeting each night which many unsaved attended.

After the conference I helped some of the local assemblies here in Aragua State in their regular meetings. There are quite a lot of Assemblies within reach that greatly miss my father-in-law Uel Ussher’s presence and help. I was able to be with the Diez de Diciembre Assembly in Maracay for part of a series of Gospel Meetings in an area called ‘La Cooperativa’. After this series, it was good to be able to help Samuel Ussher and two other local elders at the Saturday afternoon Ministry Meeting in the Mariara Assembly when 400 Christians gathered to hear the ministry of the Word of God. On 20th May we visited Valle de la Pascua for six weeks until the end of June. The Assembly was formed in that city seven years ago and we are thankful that the Lord

has preserved the testimony to His Name. The saints don’t often get a visit and so they were glad to receive some help. I had seven nights of Ministry on one of the Epistles of the New Testament to try and strengthen and encourage the believers. Then after some Prayer Meetings we began a series of Gospel Meetings in a street called ‘Calle Nueva’.

Two sisters in fellowship live on that street and a children’s meeting has been carried on for several years in the yard of one of the sisters. Last year a little plot of land became available across the road from where the class is held and we were able to get a large concrete floor slab poured and a roof structure put up. Two weeks of children’s meetings were held in this place in January with the help of Don Gelson Villegas, a valued national worker. He and his wife came for a three week visit and were a great encouragement to the saints.

As with all new work, the local people are reluctant to come in at first and it takes time to remove the prejudices against the Gospel. Some of the children from the Bible class usually attended each night and sometimes two or three of the parents came as well. It was good to see two grandfathers of some of the children also come to hear the Gospel.

Also, a middle-aged man called Douglas (a son-in-law of one of the sisters that live here) came to hear the Gospel for three consecutive nights. It was likely his first time to ever sit in a Gospel Meeting. We would value prayer for this man. Also, for another middle-aged lady called Daritza who came quite a few nights, not only to this series but to some other meetings held earlier this year as well. We finished the series in the Calle Nueva and left a weekly Gospel Meeting established there each Wednesday evening.

Your prayers for the ongoing work in that street are valued.

C. 2003

STEPHEN & HELEN REDPATH

9/7/25

Tuesday 2nd

Ezek 31-33

SCOTLAND

Hope Centre, Glasgow

“This is the Lord’s doing; It is marvellous in our eyes.” Psalm 118:23

We are so thankful to God for the way He has worked over the past year, and we look to Him in dependence for all that lies ahead. Thank you for your prayerful support; we need it and appreciate it. Please thank God with us for: •

The blessing of people being saved and baptised

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The amazing support of our volunteers

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Increased help from Esther, Iain and Andy

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Prayerful and practical support from God’s people

Café The café runs on Mondays and Fridays with 15-30 people coming in most days. We have a core group of regulars who we have enjoyed getting to know and volunteers are always there to share the hope of the gospel or to encourage new Christians. The café is often described as “a safe place” where people enjoy having company and can share their struggles with Christians who care.

Bible Basics These conversational Bible studies have provided rich times of fellowship around God’s Word. We have finished John’s Gospel, the Sermon on the Mount, and are currently going through Mark’s Gospel. Numbers vary with between 8-16 people in attendance each week. Atheists, Muslims, those searching, new Christians and mature Christians have all spoken about the help these studies have been.

Sunday Service We continue to share the Gospel and teach new believers every Sunday at 3pm.

We worked through the book of Acts before doing a series on Gospel truths such as forgiveness and redemption. In May we started a new series that gives a panorama of the Bible over 15 weeks. We’ve been encouraged to have 18–26 people from the area here each week and to see the Word of God impacting lives.

Hope Kids Hope Kids has between 7-12 primary school aged children attending each week. We’ve been glad to see a few starting to come as a result of the school work. These nights are lots of fun with games, singing, Bible stories and memory verses. The children have been presented with their own Bible which we pray will be read for years to come.

Family nights attract bigger numbers with 45 children and parents present at Easter.

Ibrox Primary School Every Thursday afternoon we visit Ibrox Primary School for a lunch club with between 18–25 children attending. We start with games and then have a short Bible story. The attention of the kids has been great and we’ve been amazed at how much they’ve retained over the months. This has been a really enjoyable opportunity to share the Gospel and build a relationship with the kids and the school. The school have asked us to help during the summer holiday at their day club which is another good opportunity.

Prayer Points •

Please pray for spiritual fruit for God’s glory from the seed that has been sown.

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Pray for the preservation of those who have trusted the Lord and been baptised.

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Pray for spiritual growth for all who lead, help and visit Hope Centre.

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Pray that God gives increased help and strength as we seek to support and encourage all who visit.

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Pray for wisdom as we are faced regularly with complex and sensitive situations.

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A man from Iran professed to be saved and was recently baptised. Pray for him and for help to reach more Muslims with the Gospel.

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Pray for continued unity among all the believers who help and visit.

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“The harvest truly is plentiful, but the labourers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into His harvest” Matt 9:37-38.

C. 2013

JAMIE & MARILYN McILREE

26/6/25

Wednesday 3rd

Ezek 34-36

BRAZIL

Sapucaia

During May/June we had six weeks of gospel meetings in Osório using a disused barbers shop owned by a sister who is in the fellowship of the assembly there. Brother Gregg Buchanan joined for the first two weeks and for the remaining four weeks we laboured with brother Carlos Adeni.

Numbers were about 35-45 each night. One 67 year old man, Sr. José, professed to be saved. He had tried several religions before coming to the Gospel Hall for the first time about six months ago. Hearing the gospel then, he recognised it to be the truth. So he continued attending faithfully. Sr. José is the first person to be saved in his whole family. Please remember him in prayer that he might display to his wife, family and relatives the reality of God’s salvation.

Osório Gospel Meeting

We were at the annual conference for believers in Sombrio on the 19th of June. The gatherings were slightly smaller this year due to the heavy rain, but we still had profitable meetings. During one of the intervals, three believers were baptised: a young sister from Sombrio and a young married couple, the firstfruits, from Lages in Santa Catarina.

Sombrio conference Brother James Armstrong and I are now in our third week of gospel meetings in the hall in Novo Hamburgo. About 30-40 are attending nightly with about 10 of those unsaved adults. Please pray for this effort that we may see the hand of the Lord in salvation as well as the assembly being helped.

We continue with our gospel meeting every Saturday night in our home in Sapucaia do Sul. A few neighbours come on each occasion, along with some from São Leopoldo, Cachoeirinha and Canoas. We ask for your prayers for two neighbours who show some interest in salvation: Dona Nina and Sr. José (not related to each other). Only God can deliver such people out of darkness, transporting them to His marvellous light.

C. 1992

LINDSAY & BETH CARSWELL

Thursday 4th

9/7/25

Ezek 37-39

USA

Phoenix, Arizona

Fairly recently, Linda and I have enjoyed the privilege of being with the believers at the Iowa Cedar Falls conference and then a few meetings in Wisconsin on that trip. The Lord also opened the way to visit three California assemblies, then the Port Alberni and Edmonton assemblies, with a funeral there, also.

We also went to the Corvallis, Oregon assembly, and little Chico, California, a remnant from the assembly.

We both have had some health issues. I rushed Linda to the hospital, going over first aid training FAST, realising a stroke might be in progress. She had a TIA, which was a shock to us, but we are thankful it wasn’t a big one. She is now on medication and doing well. I am four weeks post hernia surgery and healing well. I had to cancel two gospel series in Canada, as it would have been too soon to lift, travel and carry bags etc.

While home, the Lord allowed us to be at assembly meetings, several hospital visits, and a Bible meeting in a home with 14 in attendance last Friday night.

A Christian businessman I know got an old bar building remodelled into showers, a bathroom, and a large open room. This building is in an area where there are quite a number of homeless people; some I have known in the area for years. He asked that I have a gospel meeting at 9am when they open the building. So far, we have been getting 12 to 15 people coming and listening to the gospel, with the opportunity to converse and answer several private questions afterwards. The streets here are dangerous, and most carry knives and weapons.

The Lord opened the way for me to make a short trip for some visits on the southern border. I was able to visit some who came to pioneer meetings in that area and reception was good. The border patrol was busy and heavily armed in what could be called the ‘frightful desert’. God willing this weekend I will visit a New Mexico assembly and a meeting at the North East Navajo Reservation (a large American Indian reservation).

Some dwellings there have no running water. Several have been coming to meetings for a number of years and mentioned they know they need salvation. Salvation is of the Lord!

C. 2002 (USA)

JOHN & LINDA FITZPATRICK

4/7/25

Ezek 40-42

Friday 5th DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

We arrived in the Dominican Republic in 2021. Since then, we have visited several main neighbourhoods in the city of Santo Domingo and about three villages with the gospel message. It did not take long to recognise that the Lord wanted us in the neighbourhood of Los Guaricanos, in the city of Santo Domingo.

Santo Domingo

We currently live in a rented house in this neighbourhood and every week we welcome into our home a good number of children, youth and adults and present them with the gospel message.

Also, each Sunday about 16 believers gather to worship and have teaching meetings. The rest of the week is dedicated to visiting people who are interested in learning more about the gospel and preaching in the open-air.

Recently, the Lord allowed us to acquire a small piece of land, where we hope to build the first gospel hall in this city, with the fervent desire to break bread for the first time.

We would appreciate your prayers to this end.

Gospel meeting Higuey

We are very grateful to the Lord for also opening a door to the city of Higuey in the east of the country, about three hours from home. We first came to this city with the gospel in 2023, and since then we have made several visits to preach the gospel and share doctrinal teachings with believers. Here we have seen several profess faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour, and some have obeyed the Lord in baptism.

Earlier this year, we began the construction of a small gospel hall on rented land, and we have seen more people showing an interest in the gospel meetings. In fact, as I write this little report, we are preaching every night in this hall and 5 to 10 people are coming to hear the gospel message. We are also praying that other believers will soon

be baptised. We ask you to pray with us that the Lord will preserve these brothers and sisters until His coming.

We recognise that, even though this place is not too far from home, we cannot attend both cities as much as we would like to. Fuel is extremely expensive in this part of the Latin American and Caribbean region. So, we are praying and asking the Lord for the help of another couple, with a desire to work full-time in the spread of the gospel in the Dominican Republic, to settle in one of these two cities.

Finally, let us pray for the sad situation of lawlessness in neighbouring Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas. It is heartbreaking to see the mistreatment of many Haitians on Dominican soil. We have contact with many of them, and a good number of our Sunday school students are children of Haitian immigrants.

A young lady named Tania, born and raised in Haiti, recently professed faith in Christ and we have the joy of seeing her quite often attending our meetings.

C. 2018 (Venezuela)

Bible class Haitian neighborhood

HECTOR & MAGVIS CASTRO

21/7/25

Saturday 6th

Ezek 43-45

ZAMBIA

Manyinga

The past few months have been very busy with various Gospel outreach activities and helping small assemblies.

We try to get out at least two Sundays each month to visit small and often remote assemblies. Some of these locations can only be reached during the dry season. When we have the time, we like to go for the weekend, taking along younger believers to also help and encourage them. A lot of these little assemblies have challenges with literacy, making the reading and understanding of the Scriptures very difficult for them. Many have not had the opportunity to go to school. When people cannot read well or cannot comprehend what they are reading, it leads to difficulties with doctrinal issues. We have

audio recordings of the New Testament in both the Lunda and Luvale languages, which we have given out to many small assemblies and individuals, so that they can listen to the Word of God properly read in their own language.

A few weeks ago, we were at a village called Chinwandumba, where the Gospel was first taken in the mid 1990’s. There is a small assembly there that has been difficult to reach because of the terrible road conditions for about eight years. Repairs have recently been done to the road, and we hope to be able to visit more often now. The believers there have very little in the way of this world’s goods, but they are happy in the Lord. They reminded us of James 2:5 ‘Hath not God chosen the poor of this world…rich in faith’.

They might not know a lot about the Scriptures, but they are putting into practice and are faithful with what they do know. Much teaching and help needs to be given to these dear Christians.

We continue to help orphans in the village where Margie used to live as well as extending the help to another village. The extended family can usually manage to feed the orphan children, but it is very difficult for them to clothe them and provide blankets. We pray that as they are shown some small acts of kindness, they will be drawn to the Saviour who loves the little children.

We also help to care for a group of around 20 elderly people who have been rejected by family and society. Tim and Joy Beer (UK/USA) took a great interest in these dear people and through the generosity of the Lord’s people, they are constructing new buildings to house them. Many over the years have come to Christ, while sadly others are content to just have a safe place to stay.

We are involved with the retranslation of the Luvale Bible. We meet with the rest of the team for a session three to four times a year. These are very intense times, struggling to find words that remain faithful to the Hebrew text yet also will be clearly understood by the Luvale people. The New Testament was completed a few years ago and has proved to be very helpful.

Camps are held four times per year for school children from grades 9 to 12. It is a wonderful opportunity for the Gospel and only the Lord knows how many have been saved and added to assembly fellowship over the years. Often when we visit Lusaka or some of the larger cities, we are surprised when people introduce themselves as having been saved at these camps.

Conferences also take up a good deal of our time and we are so thankful for the opportunities afforded by the Lord to share the Word with others. Some of these conferences are held in villages quite a distance away and it is always encouraging to see people walk or cycle or come in an oxcart from far away to attend the conference.

Prayer for all activities would be greatly valued. Thank you.

MARTIN & MARGIE KAUMBA

1/7/25

Sunday 7th

Ezek 46-48

SCOTLAND

Perth

Exploring Christianity Earlier in the year I produced a new evangelistic booklet entitled “Exploring Christianity”. It can be used as a giveaway or in one-to-one or group studies. So far, I have printed and distributed 10,000 copies (free of charge) for use around the country.

It is also being translated for use abroad. Anyone interested in ordering some copies can contact me at info@ goodnewsperthshire.com.

Good News Tour

In March I conducted a “tour” of six local villages (Aberuthven, Errol Strathmiglo, Stanley, Methven, Bridge of Earn, Errol) where there is very little, if any, Christian witness. It was encouraging to see around 50 different adults, plus children, attend the six one-off talks. Most of these people were completely new to us and many were non-believers. God willing, I hope to repeat this concept later in the year.

Aberuthven Good News Fortnight In June I shared a series of Gospel meetings in Perth Gospel Hall with Jack Hay and Gordon McCracken. We used Royal Mail to distribute invitations to around 40,000 homes beforehand. It was good to see several non-believers present each night, including a few new faces.

Football Group In June we also restarted our Friday night men’s football outreach at which the Gospel is shared briefly. In the first few weeks we’ve had around 25-30 different men along, including quite a number of new people. I’ve recently renewed the contract for our Gospel signs at St Johnstone’s McDiarmid Park and have also got a new sign up at another community football club in the city.

Regular Opportunities The twice weekly soup kitchens and monthly community lunch give opportunity to present the Gospel to good numbers of people on a regular basis. Good attention is always given, but we long for more interest to be shown. I continue to publish Gospel videos online and hope to spend more time over summer in literature distribution in town and around the neighbourhood.

St Andrews Outreach From 28th July to 1st August, we’ll be in St Andrews with a team of mainly younger believers for a week of Gospel activity including literature distribution, guided Gospel tours, Gospel talks and street work.

C. 2015

GARETH & GILLIAN EDWARDS

8/7/25

Monday 8th

Dan 1-3

COLOMBIA

Santa Marta

My wife and I, along with our family, arrived in Colombia in 2013, commended by our home assembly in Venezuela. We made our home in the city of Cartagena and soon we were engaged in preaching the Gospel there. The Lord blessed His word, and a number were saved. In 2015 we sat down for the first time to remember the Lord as an assembly.

Then the Lord guided us to go to the town of Valledupar and for three years we were involved in Gospel preaching there. Some were receptive to the message. God moved in a special way among a family called Jacome and several of that family professed to be saved, along with others. Seeing the hand of the Lord with us, in 2018 an assembly was formed. Both assemblies go on seeking to maintain testimony to the Lord’s Name.

We value prayer that they will be preserved by the Lord.

For some time, we had been making visits to the town of Santa Marta and in 2023 we decided to move to this area and we were able to rent a suitable house. We have been having Gospel meetings in different areas of the town and a few souls have professed faith in Christ. Presently we meet in a tent erected beside the house where we live.

Please pray for the work in Santa Marta that the Lord, according to the His will, will raise up a testimony there.

We have been in Colombia now for ten years. While there have been times of encouragement, there have also been times of discouragement when the enemy has sought to attack the work. The Lord has been faithful and so we continue looking to Him to preserve both us and the work in these parts.

C. 2013 (Venezuela)

JOSE & ANGELINA YEPEZ

4/7/25

Tuesday 9th

Dan 4-6

SCOTLAND

Moray

Back in March/April, we spent the best part of four weeks in Botswana, firstly in Palapye where our beloved brother and sister, Colin and Christine Raggett are based. We had a good series of gospel meetings with a few unsaved attending nightly, many of them young people. I also had six nights teaching on prophecy. We had the privilege of preaching the gospel on three consecutive Lord’s Days to seventy teenagers who form Colin’s bible class.

I very much appreciated the help of Andy, Colin’s son, who interpreted for me. It was his first time interpreting, and he did very well.

Whilst there, we witnessed the baptism of a young man of 22, called Moketse. It was good to see the baptistery still functioning. I had much joy in building it 22 years ago during our first visit in 2003. The last three days were spent helping at the Serowe Easter Conference where I shared in the ministry with a young brother from Selebi Pikwe assembly. It finished with a gospel meeting and apparently a young person professed salvation. There was a sister from the Francistown assembly present who was saved when I was preaching there eight years ago, and I never knew. So, it was a joy to learn of her salvation and to see her going on for God. After Botswana, we moved to Seoul, South.Korea, where we had some gospel meetings with the Gangseo assembly leading up to their annual conference. The conference was well attended and good interest was shown. Some travelled a distance to attend, including a young sister and her brother from Japan. A good number of the saints came to

the airport to see us off. It was very touching and we enjoyed a meal together before catching our midnight flight.

In May/June, we were back in Glenluce where we had two weeks of gospel meetings.

I was joined by our brother Samuel Kyle (Portavogie) for the second week and enjoyed sharing the gospel preaching with him. Once again, I visited door-to-door around the village and had some good opportunities to present the gospel. I am getting to know a lot of the locals and was invited into two or three homes. A handful of unsaved attended over the two weeks.

Following Glenluce, we had two weeks of tent meetings with the Kirkconnel assembly, sharing with our dear brother Aaron Colgan. Some believers, not long saved, from the local Community Church began attending during the first week and came each night thereafter. A nice number of unsaved came, especially the second week. Some of these dear folks have since attended the assembly weekly gospel meeting.

Do pray for the seed sown during the above labours. Also, for a three-week gospel series with the Prestwick Road assembly, Ayr, commencing on 24th August, God willing.

C.1972

Wednesday 10th WALES

Gospel Calendars

DAN & GWEN GILLIES

9/7/25

Dan 7-9

Gospelwales.com

It was decided to produce a Gospel Wales calendar for 2025 which would provide a framework for outreach, both on paper and online. This was designed using a selection of photos of various districts across the country. Alongside each month’s Bible texts, we added a QR code. When scanned with a mobile device, a brief video message is played, appropriate to the text for the month. An additional video was also prepared for Easter and one is planned for Christmas. We’re grateful for the help of several brethren who sacrificed of their time to prepare and record these monthly messages.

Once recorded, these videos are edited to include a landscape background scene and Bible texts.

The intention was to keep the first edition of the calendar low key so that we could see how we were able to cope with producing a few thousand. However, interest spread, and we decided to add the Welsh Bible text, offering greater appeal for many recipients.

Again, we’re grateful to those who helped with translation. A number of assemblies expressed interest in adding local contact and meeting details to each page and some decided to use photos suited to their local area. The final count was 15,500, made up of 4,000 Gospel Wales calendars and five other variants.

The response to the calendar distribution has been encouraging, with appreciation expressed by many. It’s wonderful to know that the Word of God will be visible every

day of the year in many homes. ‘My Word…shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it’ Isaiah 55:11.

Online outreach The videos produced form the basis for a monthly Facebook broadcast which is sponsored for approximately 7 days. This carries the video posts to people’s online feed right across Wales. Therefore, in addition to those who ‘follow’ Gospel Wales, the Bible texts and video explanations are being displayed to many who may not ordinarily find such material before them. According to Facebook, these are displayed around 20,000 - 30,000 times each month, with interactions (likes or reactions, saves, comments and shares) being around 300 to 560.

It is encouraging to have received a number of questions and Bible requests from all over Wales. When requests are received from people living near to an assembly, the local Christians often fulfil the Bible request by delivering it by hand. This comes with the potential of making personal contact and supplying people with local assembly literature.

We firmly believe that ‘the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword’, being able to reach the inner man, bringing conviction of sin, and pointing people to the only Saviour (Heb 4:12).

Live Stream It is a privilege to support drive-in gospel meetings that have been arranged by local brethren in Swansea, Fishguard and Pembroke Dock. There is a series planned in Milford Haven, God willing. We sponsor advertisements using Facebook’s geographically targeted ad delivery for a few days prior to and for the duration of the outreach. The Facebook page has also provided an online platform for these to be live-streamed. Romans 10:4 says: ‘How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?’

We pray that the liberty presently enjoyed in Wales in the goodness of God will be continued and for His blessing on the word distributed and displayed to date. We are looking into other gospel opportunities, and your prayers would be appreciated as these are considered; that the outcome might be in keeping with the will of the Lord.

Interest in a 2026 calendar has already been received from several assemblies. Texts have been selected and the translations are being prepared. We would appreciate your fellowship in prayer that we will be able to again achieve a good quality finished product, and for God’s help in the preparation, presentation and editing of the remaining videos for this year and into 2026. on behalf of GOSPEL WALES

1/7/25

Dan 10-12

Thursday 11th USA

Pennsauken, New Jersey

During the month of June, brother Willians Alcala (Australia) and I had tent meetings in Pennsauken, NJ. The picture shows the tent’s situation beside the large Gospel sign that the assembly placed facing the busy highway. For more than 50 years, the Pennsauken assembly has used a tent to proclaim the Gospel during one of the summer months. This year, the attendance was outstanding, with between 85 and 100 people most nights. A few souls professed and some wonderful contacts were made.

Lord willing, later this month, I expect to join brother Andrew Steele (NI) for tent meetings in Sarnia, ON. It has been 9 years since I last had tent meetings in Sarnia and I am looking forward to returning. Some of the contacts from that previous visit are still not saved. I will greatly appreciate the prayers of the Lord’s dear people for the needed help in proclaiming the Word of Life and for God’s blessing on His word and work.

C. 1974 (USA)

EUGENE & NANCY HIGGINS

8/7/25

Hos 1-7

Friday 12th PERU

Lima

At present, Lima is experiencing a very different winter. Temperatures have dropped from 32°C to 14°C with some rain, which is very unusual for the capital Lima. This has badly affected some of the weekly meetings in outlying parts of the city. Some of the higher areas are out of bounds, owing to the bad conditions of the roads and the amount of fog. We look forward to getting back when the sun returns.

The works in El Cinco, Alto Priale and Jicamarca have all seen some increase in numbers. While some children have moved away, we are so thankful to the Lord to see new families and parents attending. In Priale the work is very encouraging, with over 110 children on the register. In El Cinco we have new parents coming each week and they give very good attention.

Every seven weeks we have a Scripture exam, where the children recite the verses that they have learnt. In each location, they are memorising a different chapter of the Bible, such as John 3, Romans 3, John 14 and Ephesians 2. It is wonderful to see the Word of God being sown in their hearts.

Los Rosales Jicamarca Some who come from the poorest of homes can quote large passages of Scripture, including adults. One of these ladies takes copious notes at every meeting, while a local grandfather has also started to attend. It touches our hearts to know that only God’s salvation can rescue them from the wreckage that many of them live in.

We are very conscious that when God is at work, the enemy is often stirred. Just last week, the local Priest was seen warning the children that they should not attend our meetings. We have also suffered a lot Learning memory verses in El Cinco of vandalism at the hall and a neighbour has been quite troublesome. This sad character often acts as Shimei did in 2 Samuel 16:13 and we suspect he is responsible for the damage.

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Please remember the work in Priale, that in spite of Satan’s efforts, the work would move forward in the salvation of souls.

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Please pray for those who attend our weekly Gospel Meeting in Priale. We usually have around 10 neighbours present.

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Please pray for our oldest son John, who is now 16 and wishes to return to Northern Ireland to study. Further education is very limited here for him and travel in the city is dangerous. It has been a very difficult decision for all of us, but we trust it will be for his spiritual blessing to return to NI. Please remember Michelle, David and Joy who will remain in Perú whilst I accompany John and make the necessary arrangements for him to stay.

C. 2017

CHRIS & MICHELLE BERESFORD

21/7/25

Saturday 13th

Hos 8-14

MEXICO

Cholula

Eleven years in Xalapa consisted of building bridges with occasional cakes, often smiles, and daily prayers for these precious souls. Last week our final “adios” was five nights of house meetings with an average of more than forty people each night. Many are Catholic, but with a fear of God and, being friends of ours, they listened attentively to the Gospel each night.

Eleven months have passed since we moved to the city of Cholula on the outskirts of the large colonial city of Puebla. Located in an area known as the ‘highlands of Mexico’ we’re located at 2,150m above sea level. However, even though we’re geographically higher above most people and places, there’s no doubt that spiritually speaking this area is no closer to God nor to heaven. One is continually reminded of the deep roots of religious idolatry which are evidenced exceedingly on an almost daily occurrence. Dumb idols being paraded along with the deafening din of riotous rockets exploding overhead is a delight to the locals and a dread to every dog. Rightly did the Psalmist say about idols which have mouths that can’t speak, ears that can’t hear and feet that can’t walk before adding; “They that make them are like unto them, so is every one that trusteth in them” (Psalms 115:8). Amid multitudes who have ears that don’t hear, God’s voice has been heard by a few that have trusted Christ as Saviour. The words of 1 Thessalonians 1:9 ring true: “…ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God”.

This past week we visited several towns for the first time with open air preaching accompanied by Gospel tracts and texts. We visited one particular town with full expectation and a flat battery! When inquiring at a local convenience store if we could use some electricity, a neighbour named Rocío overheard and kindly interrupted by inviting us to her home to charge the battery. A few minutes later we were sitting sharing the Gospel with Rocío and her 22 year old son Arnold. One hour later we continued our way, rejoicing at the goodness of our Sovereign God in allowing us to see Him at work in opening a door to thirsty souls. “…Lord, Thou art God, which hast made heaven and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is” (Acts 4:24).

Your prayers are greatly valued for a change of schedule to Lord’s Day meetings here in Cholula commencing Sunday 3rd August. We’ll have a variety of teaching, Sunday School and then Gospel preaching between 10:30-1:30pm. Plus, Monday 4th August commences a week of children’s meetings after which fellow worker Jason Wahls plans to help with a series of Gospel meetings commencing Sunday 17th August, God willing.

C. 2011

TIMOTHY & JENNA STEVENSON

21/7/25

Sunday 14th

Joel 1-3

N. IRELAND

Belfast

A lot of my recent activities have been in Bangor, County Down. On 18th May, David Williamson and I commenced three weeks of Gospel meetings with the assembly at Bethesda Gospel Hall. We had an encouraging time. We were going round the homes in the area inviting people to the meetings, and a man called James came along. At the end of the second week he told us he got saved.

Please pray for him that he will be preserved and go on with the Lord.

I had a week of Gospel meetings with the assembly at Uxbridge in the middle of June.

Numbers were small, but we did have a few in during the week and the meetings were put online, so we don’t know how many will be reached. As well as that, there were some lovely opportunities to present the Gospel to people as we were out doing door-to-door visits.

Preaching in the open air in Bangor

I was glad to be involved in the Seed Sowers distribution in Bangor on 28th June.

The helpers for the Seed Sowers in Bangor

The text that was distributed in Bangor There were about 16,000 texts given out, and over 40 requests for Bibles received. The following week the Origin Bible Exhibition was in Bethesda Gospel Hall, and there were some very profitable conversations.

David and I were involved in the open-air work at Bangor seafront for the first two weeks of July. We weren’t able to get the site we usually use, and the location we had wasn’t as good, but nevertheless, it was an encouraging time. Many people heard the Gospel and hundreds of John 3:16 bags were given out.

We intend helping again at the Leicester boys’ camp in August. This is a great opportunity to present the Gospel to the lost and to seek to be a help to young believers. Lord willing, in September I’ll be with the assembly at Bridge of Weir for Gospel meetings.

As well as these Gospel meetings, there is the ongoing door-to-door work in West Belfast with David and another local brother, Drew. Please pray for this outreach.

Perhaps you could pray particularly for a lady called Victoria. She has been studying with the Jehovah’s Witnesses. We chatted for about an hour, and she was so open to and appreciative of what I was showing her from the Scriptures and about the Watchtower Society.

I have quite a bit of Bible teaching ahead of me with various assemblies as well. Your prayers for all of this activity and for us are valued more than can be expressed.

C. 2008

PAUL & KAREN McCAULEY

16/7/25

Amos 1-5

Monday 15th BRAZIL

My short visit to our field of labour has gone past so quickly. We thank God for a little part that we can play in encouraging the saints in the different assemblies, most of which are small and needing encouragement. The weather since I arrived has been unusually cold. Initially this was accompanied with heavy rainfall, and some areas had to be evacuated due to flooding. Thankfully this passed quickly, but the cold continues to hinder attendance at meetings. Christine was able to be here for three and a half weeks between her monthly treatments. We are thankful to the Lord that she felt well most days and was able to fit in a lot in this short period of time.

Santa Maria

Sunday School 13th July Our brethren here in Santa Maria have two weekly Gospel Meetings in the hall. They also have regular Gospel Meetings in two different homes of believers. In both homes, the wives and families are unsaved and do not often come to meetings.

The Sunday School work continues to encourage, although the cold weather has affected attendance. We thank God that the young brethren are doing their best to interest the children and using their cars to collect them each Lord’s Day morning.

On the 19th June, we were privileged to share in a conference in Sombrio in Santa Catarina where two national preachers live and labour. During the first interval of the

Conference Sombrio conference, three believers obeyed the Lord in baptism, one being the daughter of Sr Elton, one of the workers who lives there. The other two were a couple saved through

the new work in Lages, where another worker (Sr Claudio) now lives and labours.

During the last session of the conference, when a brother told how he was saved and Sr Roberto Ploia preached the Gospel, a lady professed faith in Christ. She lives in Praia Rei do Peixe, where Sr Joel Matos is labouring. Her husband professed salvation after the Osorio Conference last November. All of this has been a great encouragement to these national workers.

This past week, I was with the assembly in Osorio for ministry. Osorio is five hours travel from Santa Maria, and I do not often manage to be with these dear believers. Their warm appreciation for the word of God and the interest among the unsaved is something that we find so encouraging. One of the first men to be saved when the Gospel came to Osorio is still alive. Sr Alecio Freitas is 94 and despite the cold weather, was present at three of the four meetings. His work and prayers for Osorio have certainly left marks upon the work there.

God willing, I fly back to Ireland next week. I plan to help with the Open-Air work at Portrush during the Bushmills Bible Readings. On the last Lord’s Day of August, I hope to join brother Samuel Nelson in starting meetings with the Kilkeel assembly, God willing.

We value prayer for this series, that we may see God working in the salvation of souls.

Once these meetings finish, I hope to get back here to Santa Maria and stay into 2026, if the Lord will. May God guide us in His service.

C. 1988

JOHN & CHRISTINE McCANN

15/7/25

Tuesday 16th

Amos 6-9

FRANCE

Hanches

We look back with much thanksgiving for the school year that has just ended in France.

Various people trusted Christ over the year, and we were privileged to witness several baptisms. Although some brothers and sisters left the fellowship for different reasons, we continue to welcome a considerable number of people to meetings, both believers and non-Christians. In the Lord’s goodness our premises are full every week.

A fellowship day at the end of June was enjoyed by all. The programme ran from 10am to 10pm, with Bible teaching, discussion and prayer in the morning, a barbecue followed by activities for all the family in the afternoon, and a praise time in the evening.

At the beginning of September we will be very pleased, God willing, to welcome back a family that left us to go to Bible School. Yohan will work full time with the assembly, relieving us in due time of many of our current responsibilities. The assembly is also in the process of recognising more elders.

C. 1982

ALAN & VALERIE KYLE

7/7/25

Obadiah 1

Wednesday 17th SPAIN

Thank you for your continued prayers for the Lord’s work in the Seville area. Most of you likely heard the news of the April blackout in all of Spain. We pray it isn’t repeated during the long summer with temperatures frequently near or over 40º C. Houses are not insulated and staying cool would be a challenge.

Seville

The assembly in Seville is encouraged by the growth of the recently baptised couple. Johan is beginning to participate audibly in the meetings, requesting a hymn or praying.

His wife Keisy is a willing helper in other areas. Johan’s parents, believers from the Venezuelan assemblies, are here now for an extended visit and we enjoy their fellowship. There are several unsaved who are attending the meetings and showing interest. We would appreciate your prayers for their salvation.

Carl recently finished a series on the book of Hebrews and is taking up prophetic subjects during the summer. He has finished the years-long project of writing a four-volume Spanish commentary on Romans, which is now being printed and distributed in Spain and Latin America.

Romans 4 vol Additionally, we have translated and printed William MacDonald’s book ‘Enjoy Your Bible’, which will be a help in teaching the saints how to study the Scriptures. Ruth helps with the proofreading in our literature work and is also giving English lessons to a sister in our assembly.

Carl corresponds regularly with and occasionally visits Ivan, a prisoner who is the son of one of our neighbours. Please join us in praying for his salvation.

Each month we prepare a little magazine which goes out to over 400 addresses in the Hispanic world. As you can see, literature work occupies a considerable amount of our

time, and we thank the Lord that we’re able to make it all available free of charge. There are over 110 titles in print now. The most recent is one on the Eternal Sonship of Christ: ‘Jesucristo: el Hijo Eterno’.

We’re grateful to the Lord for His grace in giving us the health and enabling to continue serving in our 39th year in Spain. Thank you for your prayers, which are the incense of heaven (Revelation 5:8).

C. 1981 (USA)

CARL & RUTH KNOTT

Thursday 18th

21/7/25

Jonah 1-4

AUSTRALIA

Queensland

“How good is the God we adore, our faithful unchangeable Friend, whose love is as great as His power and knows neither measure nor end.”

It’s the middle statement of this hymn that we feel we have proved in a unique way this year. Our God is unchanging! There are changes in our world, people around us can change, ourselves and our circumstances change, but God remains the same. He is our Rock, the Rock of Ages! How thankful that in the turbulent storms of life we can lay hold on this glorious truth, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever”.

It has now been twelve weeks since Rachael’s surgery in Sydney and things continue to progress in the right direction. By the end of April, we were able to return home to Queensland in time for our home assembly conference at Cooroy. Since then, she has been able to gain her strength and be up and about getting back to some sort of normality again. Eight weeks post op we had a visit to Sydney to see the surgeon and the report was good. The surgeon wants to see Rachael again in six weeks’ time for a further check-up and the possibility of some minor day surgery. In the meantime, Rachael commences the next phase of treatment. We wait upon the Lord to guide and preserve.

Although our diary has been cleared of meetings as we take time for Rachael to recover, there is still much to do. We presently continue premarital counselling for two couples who are to be married in September and October respectively. I continue the work with Truth and Tidings magazine along with other writing responsibilities. The children are growing fast. The four oldest have now completed their schooling and are progressing into the next phases of their lives with work and further education. The three youngest continue schooling. All the children are a delight to our hearts, and we are thankful for their tremendous support during Rachael’s illness.

We continue to spread the Gospel using the billboards in prominent locations. I am in the process of organising new sites for the verses to be displayed, with the hope of having some more permanent sites also included.

We are indebted to you for the many prayers that have ascended on our behalf and communicate that we have tangibly felt the intercession of saints. How incredible to know that above all, we have a Great High Priest who ever liveth to make intercession for us.

C. 2005

CLIVE & RACHAEL BARBER

4/7/25

Friday 19th

Micah 1-4

IRELAND

Bridgetown

We thank God for His preservation and help over the past months. Brother Gary Woods and I were with the assembly in Moneydig for a series of Gospel meetings in the Gospel Hall there, which continued for six weeks from mid-May to the end of June. We had some interesting conversations while going around the area inviting people to the meetings. At the beginning, most of the unsaved attending were children of believers from surrounding assemblies. We are glad of the parents who faithfully brought their families to the meetings. However, as time went on, we were also encouraged to see an increasing attendance of adults, some of whom had never been inside the hall before, and others not for many years. We earnestly pray that the Lord will graciously grant His blessing in salvation on His good Word that has gone forth.

The believers in Bridgetown Assembly are mostly well. We thank God for the good numbers who attend the weekly Gospel meeting. Quite a number of those who come have been doing so for years and yet, as far as we know, they remain in their sins. We earnestly pray for the salvation of these dear souls. The children’s meeting finished for the season at the end of May, and is due to recommence in September, Lord Willing.

Although the numbers on the roll are not very large, there is a consistent attendance of both children and parents. The young brothers from the Bridgetown Assembly are very active in this meeting, and indeed in all the activities of the assembly, for which we thank God. We are looking forward to our annual meetings in Bridgetown, from 2nd to the 7th of August. Brother Sandy Higgins, USA, hopes to be with us and he will be responsible for the Bible Reading on the Saturday, and the ministry meetings from the Monday to the Thursday. Willie Fenton, Andrew Grieve, Mark Turkington and Gary Woods are also due to be taking part over the weekend.

After that, brother Paul Kissick and I are due to be in Cork Gospel Hall for a couple of weeks of Gospel meetings later in August. For the first week, a large number of believers hope to be there also, helping with distributing invitations and tracts, holding open-air meetings, etc. All subject to the will of God, of course. Priscilla’s family lived in Cork until she was in her teens, and it is always a joy to be back there. The assembly has been small for a long time, but the number in fellowship has increased considerably over the past couple of years, mainly due to the arrival of believers from other countries, quite a number of whom have young children. We long and pray that precious souls will be saved as the Gospel is preached and then added to the assembly.

We are very grateful to the saints for their prayerful support.

C. 1992

DAVID & PRISCILLA McALLISTER

21/7/25

Micah 5-7

Saturday 20th UKRAINE

Lutsk

When God called us to His work, we never imagined that we would spend 11 years in a country at war. We have lived in Ukraine now for 23 years and it is our home. The war started in February 2014 but intensified greatly in February 2022. We will never forget that 24th February, but Rhoda and I quickly made up our minds that, while hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians would flee across the border, we would not. God called us, He called us to a work and He never called us to leave. How could we ever leave behind a growing assembly and the believers who are part of our spiritual family!

This past week has been difficult with two bad attacks on Lutsk. Sirens go off and are unpleasant to hear, but it is the drones and missiles that cause awful destruction and death. Spending a night in a bomb shelter/basement is not pleasant, but it is necessary.

Through it all, God has blessed us and preserved us.

Camp We have just finished our 24th summer camp which was the largest yet with 102 children. James Colledge visited us along with his wife Nadia and their baby daughter, Mia. James has been with us for 23 summer camps and his ministry in the assembly and the Gospel messages with the children are very much appreciated. This year they experienced the two bad bombings in Lutsk. Even at the camp, which is 20 minutes out of town, the windows were shaking. For us, sleeping at the children’s home (22 of the youngest children are too young for the camp), all we can say is that the explosions were mighty!

The children’s home operates at full capacity. We have 62 children and we love and provide for each of them. Their young lives have been blighted by tragedy and many of them have been traumatised. They have lost their parents and, in some cases, their whole family: they feel lonely, insecure and frightened. It is our privilege to provide for them a “home” where they are loved, cared for, protected, and given a hope for a brighter future. They are prayed with every morning and evening, they have their own Bibles and Bible story books in their bedrooms, they attend Sunday School, weekly children’s meetings in the home and the young people’s meeting. It is so encouraging to hear them singing choruses around the home and quoting Scripture. Please pray for Albert as he shows a genuine interest. We appreciate your continued prayers for the home, the staff and ourselves.

The assembly is active in Gospel work and our Thursday evening Gospel meeting is extremely large.

We commenced this meeting at the start of the war in 2022 and still many people attend.

Faithfully, every week, the Gospel is preached to approximately 300 Ukrainians.

Gospel meeting

Presently, we are about to print two books. The book titled The Persecutor was printed by ourselves 15 years ago. Over this time, we have printed and distributed 12,000 copies. We have now redesigned the cover and are ready to reprint. It is the life story of a Russian, Sergei Kourdakov, who persecuted Russian Christians until God saved him.

An ideal book for us to give out in the present circumstances. Living for God by John Grant has been translated and we are waiting for permission to print. All our literature is distributed freely throughout Ukraine.

Books

Rhoda and I really appreciate your continued prayers for the assembly, for the children and for ourselves.

C. 1993

TIMOTHY & RHODA SLOAN

15/7/25

Sunday 21st

Nah 1-3

VENEZUELA

La Cruz de Taratara

By the grace of the Lord, we serve in the Gospel of God in a town called La Cruz de Taratara, in the State of Falcón. We have understood that He has called us to sow the seed in this place. There is a Gospel Hall here, built by other workers in the past, but as yet there is no established assembly. There are a few believers who persevere, and we trust that the Lord will plant an assembly in His own time.

Preaching at the police station

Gospel Hall in La Cruz de Taratara

We preach in the hall as well as in the open-air in various areas of the community, including a police station close to the hall, where the officers have asked us to share the gospel with them.

We also hold a Bible class, attended by several children and young people. We hope to see the hand of the Lord working in the salvation of those who are showing a concern and interest in the salvation of their souls.

We appreciate your prayers as we continue preaching in the nearby places of Palo Pintado and Julia Note. We are also teaching the children to recite portions of Scripture in preparation for the special year-end activities of the Bible class.

Recently we have been making repairs to the Gospel Hall and plan to build a small apartment to accommodate those who come to help in the work, as well Mario & Rebeca with Bible Class as paint the premises in His good will. We believe in “Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” Eph. 3:20.

C. 2024 (Venezuela)

MARIO & REBECA VARGAS

25/7/25

Hab 1-3

Monday 22nd ZAMBIA

Chitokoloki

False Security in the Bush

We are very thankful for the open door to the gospel in the Republic of Zambia. The “Preamble” of the Zambian Constitution declares: “WE, THE PEOPLE OF ZAMBIA: ACKNOWLEDGE the supremacy of God Almighty; DECLARE the Republic a Christian Nation...”.

While on the surface this brings thanksgiving for the freedom and openness with which the gospel can be presented, it also brings a false sense of security to those desiring an eternal home in heaven.

Recently at the Bible study in Zambezi, we had intended on taking up the topic of “Eternal Security” for one session.

We believed that the truth of John 10:27-30 would be sufficient to convince those searching for eternal hope to trust the words of the Saviour. Sadly, we were very wrong!

After three sessions of going over the Saviour’s words in John 10, as well as looking at other scriptures, very few of the 17 in attendance were willing to change their minds, move away from church teachings, and take Christ at His word – how sad!

We also witness this disposition during the English gospel meeting and village outreach, where

Zambezi Bible Study

English Gospel Meeting

Village work folks we know aren’t saved will say to you, “wonderful sermon” as they leave. Again, the message has touched their ears but not their hearts. Thus, we labour to have people recognise their lost and helpless condition before God first and then point them to the truth of salvation.

Another side effect of the dependence on “always being a Christian”, is that there is an underlying idea of works to “maintain” your salvation. A belief that unconfessed sin, even as a believer, will land you in hell for failing to confess it before dying.

On the positive side, for those who have eternal security, it is a bitter-sweet time at their home-call. One dear lady around 100 years of age passed into the presence of her Saviour in April of this year. During many visits with her prior to her home call, it was very apparent she knew she would be in heaven when she passed away.

It is wonderful to see that the truth does indeed set us free! (John 8:32) So many are afraid to die because they haven’t “confessed their sin at church” and feel an impending doom which enslaves them.

So the challenge moving forward is to sow the truth of the glorious gospel into their lives, and present a Saviour who saves and can never fail in keeping the ones who trust Him for eternity, as Paul declared in 2 Tim 1:12, "I am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.”

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” John 10:27-28 C. 2009 (Canada)

SHAWN & RHONDA MARKLE

"I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish". John 10:28

16/7/25

Tuesday 23rd

Zeph 1-3

PHILIPPINES

Manila

We are presently in the USA for a short visit with family, friends, commending assemblies and a couple of conferences. The change of pace and cooler weather has been an invigorating and refreshing time. Lord willing, we expect to return to the Philippines before the end of August.

After several years we have been able to start construction of an extension to Lynwood Christian Academy. This phase includes a new stairwell and four additional classrooms.

The stairwell has been mandated by the local fire department and the classrooms by the Department of Education. Our first priority is the stairwell and as the Lord supplies, the classrooms. At this point in time the 2025/26 Philippine school year has just begun.

This year Lynwood has 233 students enrolled with a staff of 20 teachers plus office and custodial staff.

Land for the Hilltop (Ponderosa) Assembly pray with us that the family of the previous owner will be able to provide all the legal documents required for the sale of this property. For several years this assembly has been meeting outdoors on a hillside when the weather is fine. At times they were able to erect a temporary shelter. In more recent months they have been meeting in a very cramped room and praying earnestly for the Lord to supply a suitable site to build a hall. The Lord has graciously provided.

We thank the Lord for another good year of summer camp sessions. Our Christian Training Camp had fewer third and fourth term campers this year due to school calendar dates. Normally I teach three classes, but this year I only had one class per day in addition to being overall camp director. We were excited, however, to witness the level of commitment of the 66

Although there are still a few legal requirements necessary to finalise the purchase of land for the Hilltop (Ponderosa) assembly, we thank the Lord for His provision of a 400 square metre property. Please

students who did attend this year. It was both a blessing and encouragement to see their desire to study God’s word.

Lord willing, on 4th October 2025 Emmaus Philippines will celebrate 75 years of service. Marlon Govender, International Coordinator for Emmaus Worldwide, has agreed to be our guest speaker. Although there has been a steady decline in the number of new enrollees in recent years, use of their free app has helped compensate for those no longer using the local postal service. In May this year a conference was held in Dubai for regional coordinators, language coordinators and key office staff. We were challenged to do two basic things before the end of the year; 1. Make personal contact with our respective country coordinators and 2. begin the process of identifying potential staff to eventually take leadership of the ministry in our respective countries. In the Philippines our current director has recently resigned.

Do pray with us for the Lord’s clear direction in identifying the person of His choice for this important role.

May each of you continue to rejoice daily in all His blessings as you follow in His footsteps.

C. (USA)

DAVID & RUTH HARVEY

Wednesday 24th LEBANON

‘The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear?’ Psalm 27:1

14/7/25

Hagg 1-2

Tyre

I am sure many of you will be following news from the region. Many here say that this is the first time that the dispute between the big countries is taking place directly between them, rather than using Lebanon as the playground.

People are tired – they are tired in the south of almost two years of war and this is seen in the way people react to everyday situations. Many have lived through several wars and this is not their first experience of losing their homes, sense of safety, etc. Funds for rebuilding have not reached Lebanon and many from border villages cannot imagine rebuilding again since this is not their first experience of having to do so. Despite this, most have returned to their home localities or plan to move closer to them over the summer months if the situation allows.

Relief Project Thank you to all who gave generously through the period of war and in the months that immediately followed the ‘ceasefire’. It was a real blessing to be able to distribute a further 900 relief packages in southern villages most significantly affected. I visited some of those places myself and saw the needs. Sadly, there are still regular incidents of airstrikes and bombing in many of the neighbourhoods. In total, we were able to give out more than 4,000 aid packages, each including Arabic New Testaments. In addition to this, we were able to help teachers whose homes had been severely damaged or destroyed.

LEST (Lebanese Evangelical School, Tyre) The school year has now finished and we were able to hold most end of year events. It was definitely one of the more challenging years for everyone. I have continued to go to school twice per week and maintained online and phone contact with staff and students were possible. The school is currently undergoing an accreditation process and I have the main responsibility for this. It has been good to have this project on days I am in Beirut. I was able to continue chapels for foundation phase and elementary students since the ‘ceasefire’ so please do pray for our students over the summer. Teachers and students alike are tired and hoping for a peaceful summer.

Beirut As mentioned, my time in Beirut has mainly been taken up with my work for LEST and the relief project, but it has also been a blessing to have time with believers. I have had some opportunities to support other ministries in Beirut over the summer using my training. I am also undertaking several training courses for school and also to build on my own therapeutic skills so that I can continue to support those who have endured so much over the past few years. In addition, I decided to learn Arabic writing and reading as I had always focused on spoken language. This is a challenge, but it’s been fun at the same time! Thank you for your prayers.

Prayer Points •

Pray for peace in Lebanon. The ‘ceasefire’ did not actually change much in the South as there are daily airstrikes and drone strikes. The buzz of the drone is also loud over Beirut. These sounds and acts of war reinforce the trauma that so many have endured. Pray for the leaders making decisions that will determine what comes next.

•

Pray for LEST – pray for high school students who still have to do their official exams this month and pray for staff and students to be kept safe and refreshed over the break. Pray for the eternal seeds planted over the years to grow in their hearts.

•

Pray for this generation of young people – yet another group of people who have experienced war and trauma. Pray for their hearts to be protected and that they would seek Hope instead of bitter seeds being planted.

•

Pray for the New Testaments that were distributed to many families through the relief project.

•

Pray for guidance for me as I work out how to balance new opportunities, the situation in the country and my role in the South.

ANDREA SMITH

7/7/25

Thursday 25th ZAMBIA

Zech 1-5

Chingola

We are nearing the end of the second term of 2025 at Amano Christian School. ‘Amano’ means wisdom in the local Bemba language and our school motto is the verse from Proverbs 2:6 “For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding”. It is our continuing prayer that through the scripture lessons, daily devotions and informal conversations with teachers, dorm parents and youth counsellors that our students will want to be lifelong disciples of Jesus and learn how to successfully face life’s challenges wherever they go.

We thank God that the new Zambian primary teacher has settled well as the grade 6 and 7 class teacher, but we were disappointed that the new French teacher decided to leave us abruptly after less than 3 months because of a better job offer elsewhere. We urgently need a replacement and a science secondary teacher, as next term several Secondary teachers will be away on furlough.

We have had challenges with student misbehaviour this term, with the most severe cases resulting in one pupil being suspended and two being expelled. Unfortunately, one of the suspensions is not being accepted by a parent who has engaged lawyers in an attempt, which has so far been unsuccessful, to reverse the decision. This has not been an easy situation to deal with. Most of this term the Interim Principal has been on furlough so some of his responsibilities have fallen to Phil to cover. We certainly need the “Amano” which comes from the Lord.

We praise God that we have recently received donated funds to build a new four classroom block for the primary school to replace the existing cramped shipping container rooms. We have been wanting to do this for several years. As well as being a more conducive environment in which to teach, it will enable us to increase the number of primary students enrolled.

On 21st June we had the honour of being invited to ‘share the Word of God’ at the 20th Anniversary of Wukwashi Wa Nzambi in Kitwe.

The name means “God’s help” in the Lunda language – a language used mostly in Zambia’s North Western Province. WWN was founded by a British couple, John and Becky Wright, who were working at Amano, along with the help of other Zambian Amano workers. WWN is a community-based rehabilitation centre for children with physical, learning and

social disabilities. This includes children with club feet, cleft lip, cerebral palsy and Down’s syndrome. Under the leadership of Henry and Joyce Mutembu from 2008 it has now grown into a school for 40+ children and a centre for physio and other therapeutic services. They reach out to many families, not only in the surrounding area but in communities throughout Zambia. They also help churches and other organisations learn how to value and positively welcome disabled people.

This is in stark contrast to how traditional Zambian society treats disabled people.

They are usually considered a source of shame to be hidden away.

C. 2005

PHIL & HILDA CRACKNELL

21/7/25

Friday 26th

Zech 6-9

ENGLAND

Skelmanthorpe

Yesterday I conducted three school assemblies and that concluded the school visits for the 2024-25 academic year. It has been a privilege to visit local schools for over 30 years, “showing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength, and His wonderful works that He hath done” (Psalm 78:4). May He be pleased to bless His Word for the eternal good of children and staff alike. All the schools that I visit have been happy to rebook for September or October in the will of the Lord, so I rejoice in the Lord’s goodness in keeping these doors open.

In late June the reception class from the local primary school visited the Gospel Hall in Skelmanthorpe for an afternoon as part of their R.E. curriculum.

We were able to demonstrate and explain baptism, the Lord’s Supper and other aspects of what we do, as well as sing, have a quiz and tell them the story of the Lost Sheep.

Opportunity was given to promote our children’s work and we look to the Lord that some of these children might start to attend.

By the time this report is published I will be busy getting ready for the new academic year of school assembly visits as well as the numerous ministry meetings planned for September in the will of the Lord. I hope to be in

Wythenshawe every Wednesday during the month to continue a series on 1 Thessalonians that was started in May, as well as having responsibility for several individual meetings including conferences at Wrexham and Trent Vale. Planning for the Yorkshire Bible Study Week in October will be full-on and also our Monday night children’s work in Skelmanthorpe will be recommencing.

Prayer is valued for the ongoing work of the Lord and also in relation to Gillian’s health which continues to be poor a lot of the time.

C. 1991

PHILIP & GILLIAN KAYE

8/7/25

Saturday 27th ALBANIA

Zech 10-14

Gjirokaster

We are thankful to God, who continues His good work at The Hiding Place. Though we face many challenges, He is the One who provides solutions. Thank you so much for all your support.

The children have been doing well during this first part of the year. They have continued with their daily routine between school and home. Our teachers have done their best to support them with their homework and studies.

However, it has been difficult and challenging with some of the children, especially Paulina and Ambra. Samoel, Ambra, Dion, and Toni have been attending developmental therapy sessions this year, but their improvements seem to be slower than before. We have been looking for a psychologist for Paulina, as she has had multiple traumas and we have realised that we are no longer able to help her on our own, even though we did a good work with Samoel when he first came. Samoel was open and allowed us to help him, while Paulina’s behaviour has been completely different.

We have also started a daily devotion time with the younger children at home, except for the twins, as it was difficult to keep them attentive for 30 minutes. The children have learned Bible stories, prayed together, and it has been wonderful to see them grow spiritually. The older children have continued their evening devotion time. Adela, Ela, Nada, Flora, Samoel, Kida, and Ola have been attending children’s meetings at church, as well as discussion evenings twice a month with elder Petrit. Miri has been part of the youth group we started this year. Dani has also joined the youth meetings at the centre when he stays there. Last November, he was baptised. We are thankful for all the good things God is doing in their lives. We are especially grateful that they are open to hearing the Gospel and have begun asking questions about it. During the summer, the older children will be participating in various camps. We are looking forward to a busy and meaningful season ahead.

Maintenance We are thankful, as we have been blessed in several ways. We were able to buy a car for the home and we were gifted with a corner sofa and chairs. Three brothers from Ireland came and helped us replace the tiles in one of the children’s rooms and on the balcony.

We have installed a new door for the kitchen.

Prayer points •

Please pray for our children - that God would guide and protect them as they grow up and face important decisions. May they learn to seek God’s wisdom and develop a heart that desires what is good and right.

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May God give them tranquillity, wisdom and strength, and may He heal their hearts and souls.

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May God give them hope and a clear vision for their lives.

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Pray for the health and well-being of our staff ladies. Over the past two years some have faced health challenges and difficulties.

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Please pray for our growth in knowing Jesus and His Word as we serve Him. May He guide us each step of the way.

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Please pray that we might know the Lord’s help in continuing this ministry.

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Finally, may God bless us all with a spirit of joy and friendship, both for the children and for one another as we work together as a team.

Update from DORJOLA at THE HIDING PLACE

21/7/25

Sunday 28th

Mal 1-4

N. IRELAND

Omagh

The monthly gospel meetings in Knockloughrim (started by the assembly at Bellaghy following the series of gospel meetings with Jonathan Black earlier this year) have brought much encouragement, with local people in attendance every month. Do continue to pray that there might yet be the foundation of a work of God in this area of South Londonderry.

Brother Andrew Steele and I concluded six weeks of gospel meetings in Annalong before Easter. We were delighted to have a well filled hall most nights, with a good representation of locals present, and a considerable number of the families of the believers in attendance. Although we were saddened to leave many in the same state as when the meetings commenced, still in their sins, we were delighted at the opening of the fourth week to hear of blessing in salvation. Andrew was able to visit many personal contacts from previous meetings in this area, quite a number of whom attended the meetings. All the homes in Annalong village received an invitation, as well as a large part of this Mourne country area, in what turned out to be excellent Spring weather for visitation.

During May and June David McAllister and I were together for six weeks of gospel meetings with the assembly at Moneydig. For the first two and a half weeks the attendance was somewhat unpredictable. The rest of the series was much more settled, with up to thirty local people present over the final weeks of the meetings, most of whom are not accustomed to regular gospel meeting attendance. Some were also present for the very first time. As the seed is sown, prayerfully we look to God for His blessing in salvation.

Moneydig, although a small assembly, faithfully supported the meetings throughout, with surrounding assemblies giving their support in bringing their families. Like many other assemblies around the country, Moneydig could do with a lift numerically. God is able!

God willing, after a summer break, we look forward to a couple of weeks with the assembly at Longford in the Republic of Ireland. It is their exercise to have gospel meetings and children’s meetings at the beginning of August. Do pray for the salvation of souls, and that in all our activities God will be glorified and the name of our Lord Jesus Christ magnified.

C. 1991

GARY & GILLIAN WOODS

14/7/25

Matt 1-4

Monday 29th CANADA

Summerside, PEI

In April, Matthew Cain and I had the opportunity to join the assembly in St. John’s, Newfoundland, for a series of gospel meetings. The saints attended the meetings well and a few unsaved came to hear the gospel each night.

Upon returning home, we were able to help the assembly in Pugwash with some ministry on the life of Gideon for a Lord’s Day. I then travelled to Ontario for a couple of conferences and some ministry meetings.

At the end of June we travelled to Corner Brook, NL, for their conference and then continued to Gander, NL, to help with a week of children’s meetings. The effort seemed to go well, with a nice number of children coming along to hear the word of God. On our way home, we stopped in Corner Brook again for a night of ministry.

When we returned to PEI in July, Scott MacLeod and I began a series of gospel meetings in a tent, located in a small area within the municipality of Summerside, known as Slemon Park. We were able to rent the field for two weeks. We are currently in our second week and there have been some unsaved coming in to hear the gospel. We look to the Lord to bless His word. If there is evident interest in salvation, we’ll look to the

Lord for His direction moving forward. With the tent pitched in the area, we felt that a week of children’s meetings would be beneficial, so we were able to hold those during the first week. We were encouraged by the attendance of the children of the Lord’s people, along with some others coming from the Summerside area.

Lord willing, in August, Brody Thibodeau and I plan to be with the assembly in Parsons Pond, NL, for another series of gospel meetings. We were with the saints in November of last year and felt that the Lord would have us back again in the summer. Please pray for this upcoming effort.

C. 2024 (Canada)

TIM & RACHEL BURTON

22/7/25

Tuesday 30th

Matt 5-6

BOTSWANA

Palapye

Funeral of Mma Bailekae - graveside A few weeks ago, Mma Bailekae, an elderly sister in fellowship here in Palapye, who had been blind for decades, went home to be with the Lord. Mma B or Mma Baile (as she was called) outlived all her ten children and at least one of her grandchildren. Within a week of us moving from Serowe to Palapye in October 1999, there was a death in her yard (less than 150 metres from our house) and they called me to preach at the week of ‘Merapelo meetings’ they have before the funeral. I then took the funeral on the Saturday. Many in her yard were drunkards, including Mma Bailekae herself at one stage. She lived a very rough life before salvation, but when she got saved in October 2011, the change in her life was absolutely remarkable, so that all who knew her ‘before

Merapelo and after’ were given a living example of what true conversion really means. It was no doubt that as a result of this fact her daughter Mmayea (who very rarely came to any meetings in the Gospel Hall) allowed us to have meetings in her yard for the preaching of the gospel. Sadly, Mmayea died about 2 years ago, without leaving any profession of having trusted Christ as her Saviour.

Merapelo One of the abiding memories we have of Mma Bailekae was seeing her, week by week, being brought to the Gospel Hall led by the hand of a great grandchild, of perhaps 6 or 7 years of age. She attended all the meetings in the Hall, as well as all the outreach meetings and conferences. She showed significant loyalty to the gatherings, even before she was baptised in 2014 and received into fellowship. Such determination to attend and meet with the Lord in each assembly gathering continued until the death of Mmayea.

It was only then that the family (none of whom are saved, and none of whom have any interest in the things of God) decided to move her to another part of Palapye which meant that it became difficult for the saints to visit her and she spent the last two years of her life in much isolation, and badly neglected.

After her homecall, we preached in her yard each day from the Saturday evening, right through until and including the following Friday. We then took the funeral on the Saturday, preaching in the yard and at the graveside. Many people heard the Word of God preached during the seven days and we look to the Lord to bless His Word. The impact of the testimony of soundly saved, separated souls living in the community, in fellowship in the assembly, and their consistent witnessing for Christ is incalculable.

Prayer would be valued for the ongoing weekly activities and outreach: •

The regular assembly meetings – Lord’s Supper, Gospel Meeting, Sunday School, Bible Class, Prayer & Ministry Meeting, Bible Reading each Saturday evening.

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The preaching in the Secondary School assemblies each Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

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The Primary School assemblies on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

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The Scripture Union Class in a local Primary School on Wednesday afternoons.

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The Children’s Meeting in the Gospel Hall each Friday afternoon 4.30-5.30pm

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Outreach meetings in cattle posts outside Palapye.

C. 1991

COLIN & CHRISTINE RAGGETT

28/7/25

C=Date of Commendation Published by: LORD’S WORK TRUST 42 Beansburn, Kilmarnock KA3 1RL Tel. 01563 521098 E.Mail: lwtrust@lwtrust.co.uk www.lordsworktrust-kilmarnock.co.uk Charity No. SC008740 Alistair Buchan (Aberdeen) David Grant (Kilmarnock) David Hutchinson (Ballymoney) Raymond McNair (Glengormley)

Kevin Oh (London) Alastair Sinclair (Crosshouse) Gordon Stewart (Wallingford) Stephen Trimble (Ballykeel)

Secretary: Leonard Currie (Kinross) Total gifts received during July 2025.

Total: £590,448.95