Grace Baptist Mission
helping the churches to support and care for their missionaries worldwide
News Archives
June 2010
Envision
In February we relaunched our Short Term Service programme under the new title Envision. We are now able to offer Envision Teams for gap year students, where a team of eight young people, led by two team leaders, go to serve alongside a missionary supported through GBM. The team will have its own programme of evangelism and outreach, and a range of practical tasks, as well as their own discipleship programme led by the team leaders. The first team is planned for Peru in the spring of 2011.
We are also launching Envision Apprenticeships for young adults in their twenties to get a taste of missionary life working for a year alongside missionaries supported through GBM. We will continue to arrange Envision Placements, made-to-measure opportunities for those who want to spend anywhere between four weeks and nine months working alongside a missionary.
Our vision is to see a new generation of Christians who are passionate about reaching all the nations with the message of God’s grace. Our aim is to expand the horizons of young people to see the spiritual needs of the world and explore where God might be calling them to serve. We want to help churches to send their young people out to serve short term with the aim of envisioning them either to serve as missionaries long term or to be eager supporters of world mission in their home churches here in the UK.
For more details click here to go to the Envision page to find more details.
Week of Prayer 2010
Mission Council invites all GBM supporting churches to join us in a week of prayer for Europe, from Sunday 13th to Sunday 20th June. Can you find time in each Church service on those Sundays to have a time of prayer focused on the spiritual needs of Europe? Can you devote your midweek prayer meeting or home groups to praying for Europe?
The middle pages of the June edition of GBM Herald will contain a prayer guide, featuring details and prayer points for a different country to pray for on each day. We will also be circulating prayer bookmarks and a CD-ROM with a PowerPoint with audio commentary to play in your midweek meeting.
The spiritual needs of Europe are huge. It is the only continent where the Church is in decline, and huge numbers of people are in thrall either to secular humanism or to the superstitions of Roman Catholicism or the Eastern orthodox churches. There is an urgent need for people to come forward for evangelism and church planting. Please join with us in praying to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest field.
Ruth Sadler
We are delighted to announce that Ruth Sadler will be joining the office staff at Mission Centre as Assistant to the Radio team, as Helen Cook retires in May. She will be involved in copying the large volume of radio programmes ready for dispatch to radio stations, publishing and printing booklets to accompany programmes, and other secretarial duties. Ruth is married to Andrew, our Financial Coordinator, and they have two grown up children. Ruth previously worked for Tearfund, and both she and Andrew are members of Magdalen Road Evangelical Church, Oxford.
Gospel Worker Needed For Thames Gateway
GBM has been involved in preparations for a new church plant, the Gateway Project, planned for the Ebbsfleet area of North Kent, a large new housing development east of the Bluewater Shopping centre. As a result of the credit crunch, building development in Ebbsfleet has been put on hold, but we expect development to begin again in 2010 as the market slowly picks up.
Ebbsfleet is next to the existing settlement of Swanscombe and the western edge of Gravesend, and we have decided that the needs of these existing areas are such that we should not wait for the Ebbsfleet development to restart. The time to start church planting is now. So the Gateway Project Team is advertising for a Gospel Worker/Church Grower for the Kent Thameside area. If you have a passion for the lost, are a flexible, dynamic, innovative kind of person, are willing to move to the area and use your home for evangelism, and are keen to develop this work from a blank sheet of paper, then the Gateway Project Team would like to hear from you.
February 2010
Robin and Clara Dowling fly to Colombia
Short Term Mission is not just for young people, and Robin and Clara Dowling are proving that as they travel to spend February and March serving the Lord in Medellin, Colombia. We are very grateful to the Churches and individuals who provided financial support at the last minute to make it possible for Robin and Clara to go.
Robin will be teaching two courses at the Evangelical Seminary, in pastoral counselling and in hermeneutics, and Clara will be teaching English to Spanish-speaking students. Please pray for the vital ministry of the Evangelical Seminary, where Theo Donner has been teaching since 1983. The Seminary impacts on the ministry of hundreds of churches across Central and Latin America, and lays a vital foundation for faithful, biblical ministry across the churches of the region.
Saved2serve Conference 27th February
Our annual Saved2serve Conference meets at St John’s Wood Baptist Church in North Westminister (next to Lord’s Cricket Ground) on Saturday 27th February, 10am to 4pm. This is a day for young people aged fifteen to twenty five, who are thinking about how to spend their lives serving God. That may be in full time service, or as committed members of a local church.
Our main speaker this year is James Cator from Carey Baptist Church, Reading. James will be speaking on the subject of personal evangelism, and there will be break-out workshop sessions on witnessing at home, at school, at work and on holiday. There will also be times of worship with musicians from a number of London churches. A number of mission agencies will be there with exhibitions, so you can come and talk to them about short term mission opportunities, and several young people will be speaking about their time on beach mission, or in Manila, in Latin America, and in London with LCM’s ‘City Vision’ programme.
This is a great day out for young people, with lunch provided, and it only costs £5! Book now to avoid disappointment. Click here to download the poster with contact details.
January 2010
Ian Flanders Visits Burkina Faso
Preaching under a starlit sky to well over a hundred adults and children in a desperately poor area of Ouagadougou. Lengthy rides on the back of a moped, along dried out dirt tracks, to minister in isolated village churches. Teaching from Paul’s letter to the Philippians on the theme of “Persevering with Joy”, to a group of twenty five pastors and students. These will be just some of the lasting memories that I take from my trip to Burkina Faso.
During my stay, hosted by two African pastors with whom I have been corresponding, I also visited three radio stations, three Bible colleges, a Christian bookshop and printers and participated in a number of children’s clubs. The hours I spent with the directors of radio stations were particularly encouraging and instructive and should help my ongoing radio ministry. They were appreciative of the content and usefulness of the programmes. They reminded me that in Burkina Faso radio remains an essential tool for reaching unreached areas, for teaching believers and for giving the Muslim population (50%) access to the gospel.
The material needs of the country are evident and considerable, but the churches are full and worship is enthusiastic and noisy. Nevertheless my hosts were at pains to point out that there is a great need for believers to be taught and for this it is vital that existing pastors pursue ongoing training and that future pastors receive better training than that which is at present available. The church, from the leadership down, needs to be strengthened in the face of the growing Islamisation of the country.
Listen to Ian Flanders’ Hot News interview on Burkina Faso
November 2009
Annual Meetings - a great day together
The Friends Meeting House was crowded for GBM’s Annual Meetings on Oct 27th. Some rooms filled up so quickly for Missionary presentations that they started early. The Business Meeting heard about plans for a special thanksgiving for one hundred and fifty years of GBM in 2011. (Please return your Church response forms to Mission Centre by 31st January 2010.) There was time to meet new missionaries Andrzej and Monika Kempczyński and Sarah Clay, and to welcome home Jason and Andie Murfitt after their first term in Brazil. Fiona Steward, Malcolm and Ruth Firth, Nicola Edkins, and Jonathan Bayes all spoke on their work, and we welcomed guests from Argentine and UFM. The new GBM DVD ‘God’s chosen mission agency: the local Church’ was on show and available for sale. Every supporting church received a copy in its church pack. More than eight hundred people crowded into the hall for the evening rally, with singing to shake the soul and preaching from Steven Curry to stir the heart. The offerings during the day, including gift-aid, totalled £17576. Thank you to all who came, and make a date for October 26th 2010, when the guest preacher will be Ray Evans from Grace Community Church, Bedford.
Short Term Service
A steady flow of young people have come forward for Short Term Service with GBM, mostly in the Philippines. We are keen to grow this part of our work, as we see this as a great opportunity for young people to serve God, experience other world cultures and to test their own sense of calling.
Click here to go to the revised Short Term Service Page
October 2009
Philippines – Tropical Storm Ketsana
On Saturday Torrential rains from Tropical Storm Ketsana flooded Manila and nearby provinces. The BBC website says that some 80% of Manila is said to be under water, with 435,000 people displaced. The TV news pictures have been particularly disturbing.
GBM missionaries in the Philippines are all safe. Gilbert and Emily McAdam live in an area that is on higher ground. Matthew Gamston is currently working in the North of the Philippines. Aries and Jodith Liboro are in Valenzuala City, some didstance from the damage.
However, the flooding in the area of Cubao has been significant. Several members have had their homes (some as high as two storeys) completely submerged in flood water and have lost everything. Others have seen four ft. of water in the ground floor, ruining many of their possessions. The CCM homes have all been surrounded by floods, but because they are built on higher ground, they have not been flooded themselves. The boys home is cut off in floods too deep to drive through, and they were reported yesterday to be running out of food.
Christian Compassion Ministries has a Calamity Fund, which currently has a balance of just over $3500. Social Workers in the Educational Assistance Project will today be helping people made homeless in the squatter areas, providing food and other essentials.
The CCM Flood fund is now closed, but if you want to donate generally to the work of CCM, please send donations direct to:
Christian Compassion Ministries UK
C/o Mrs Mary Briant
38 Harcourt Avenue
Southend-on-Sea Essex
SS2 6HU
All our brothers and sisters in the Philippines would value your prayers at this time of urgent need.
Grace Baptist Mission
Click to read further news update from Brian Ellis
July 2009
Peru Update
Sunday 14th June saw the official opening of a new church building in the Simon Bolivar district of Arequipa. Friends and visitors boosted the usual congregation of around 40 to more than 100. Andrew and Ruth Sadler represented GBM and it was a real joy for them to share in such an occasion.
On the same day, Pedro and Venita publicly testified to their faith in Christ by being baptised. Since then, Anthony Green has been in touch to tell of another believer wanting to take this important step.
The new building is well situated, by a busy road, and next to a developing housing area. There is plenty of room for running the regular activities of the church, as well as providing for new opportunities. The plan is to have other like-minded groups using the facilities and there is scope for such groups to stay on the premises. Next year they are hoping to host a women’s conference.
Anthony Green and Ronny Tipismana, as well as being GBM missionaries, are co-elders in the church. Two men have been identified as potential, future leaders and Anthony is hoping to devote some of his time to training and mentoring them. One brother is viewed as a possible elder, with the ability to exercise some kind of teaching ministry. The other has the attributes of a good deacon and has really demonstrated his commitment to the fellowship over the last few years.
The team continues to meet in the area of San Pedro. It holds a weekly children’s meeting for about 50 youngsters, organised by Roxanna Green and Rocio Tipismana. They have been using the Community Hall, but this is now closed for renovation and in the meantime they will have to meet outdoors.
Listen to an extended interview with Anthony Green
New Appointment at Mission Centre
We’re very pleased to announce the appointment of Jim Sayers to the important position of Deputy Mission Co-ordinator. Jim has been serving the church in Kesgrave (Ipswich) as Pastor for the last 14years and finished in that role on 31st May 2009.
Jim was trained for the ministry at Free Church College, Edinburgh and then spent two years working alongside Brian Edwards at Hook Evangelical church before beginning at Kesgrave in March 1995. He has maintained an enthusiastic interest in Mission and has made several trips overseas to help in Pastoral training.
We look forward to Jim’s service with the Mission and trust that the Lord will make him a blessing to the wider work of the gospel. We seek your prayers for the Lord’s provision of a new pastor for the church at Kesgrave.
Listen to Jim Sayers speaking on Hot News
June 2009
Fiona Steward rejoices in… A French conversion
God is at work among the French people. I know many of you have been praying for opportunities specifically among the French and I would like to encourage you with the ways in which the Lord has been answering.
As cold contact evangelism has proved to be an effective way of reaching French students, we decided to double our efforts in this area from September – doing more surveys on the campus and trying new things; door-to-door in the halls of residence and distributing invites and tracts in places such as the Christmas market and the funfair. We are always thrilled by how many people are searching and want to know what the Bible is really about. It is also a means of drawing in some students to the different activities at the student centre which are mainly attended by international students; theme evenings, games night, English classes, Bible studies and conferences.
I have just finished the mission week (14-20 April) in conjunction with UBM (Mission Vacances). We worked with a team of 5 people as well as some of the students, who were a great help. In the mornings we met for prayer and Bible study and then went onto the campus in twos to give out invitations, gospels and tracts. After lunch we rotated between surveys, distribution of tracts and invites and the exhibition at the student centre on John Calvin (to commemorate the 500th anniversary of his birth) which brought in several new faces. On Thursday night Daniel Bergèse gave a very helpful and inspiring conference on the life and theology of Calvin. It drew a good number, some of whom were non-Christians. On Friday we held an evangelistic film night and on Saturday an English evening. This mission has provided a great context for meeting new people, sharing the gospel and giving away Bibles and gospels and it has been encouraging to work with a team. One of the girls on the UBM team, Liz Richards, will be returning to Bordeaux in September for 7 months to help me in the student work as part of her language degree year out, for which I am delighted!
If cold contact evangelism reaches many, friendship evangelism reaches seemingly less, but this is where we seem to see the most visible fruit and it is these ones and twos reach others ones and twos and so on. I would like to tell you about three French friends in whom I believe the Lord is working.
The first is a French Catholic student who I met through the international work of the Heath church in Cardiff. Through the Lord’s wonderful providence, she was on her way to Bordeaux at the same time as me. We have become good friends over the last four years and share openly about what we believe. She came to a conference at the student centre for the first time this year on: ‘Living in freedom’. In Galatians we looked at how true freedom is found in fulfilling the vocation for which we were created through an intimate relationship with Christ. She admitted afterwards that she did not have this kind of relationship with Christ which led on to the best conversation we’ve had about what it means to know Christ as our Saviour and Friend. She ended up saying: ‘I don’t think I’m a Christian!’ whilst having the desire to be, and that night she went home and prayed and opened her Bible upon a very relevant passage. During a trip to the UK she also attended an Evangelical church and said that the songs and the preaching really spoke to her. Please pray that the Lord would lead her to a good church and Christian friends when she moves to the UK to work in September.
The second person is my insurance advisor! We struck up a friendship through my many visits to the insurance agency. She gradually began to tell me about the tragedies in her family which left her with a deep depression. Then last year she got cancer which she found hard to come to terms with and started to talk about death and had many questions. She has been given the all clear now, but when we were having a meal together she brought up the question of suffering and that because of this the very name of God revolted her. She wanted an explanation! It was a God-given opportunity to start at the beginning with creation and how God, by giving man free choice could not take away the domino-effect of consequences ensuing from those bad choices, but that he had done the most amazing thing in providing an ultimate solution, by causing Jesus to bear those consequences on the cross to repair our broken relationship to Him which is the source of all lasting joy. She hasn’t grasped it but seems to have a yearning for hope above and beyond this sad world. She came to the last conference at the student centre and has said she wants to come to church to see what it’s like.
Lastly, I am thrilled to tell you about my friend Géraldine who I have known for the last three years. She was raised a nominal Catholic and we could talk very easily about God as she had no doubt about His existence. When she was going through a hard time she was delighted when I presented her with her first Bible and prayed with her. However, I knew she hadn’t trusted in Christ because her lifestyle didn’t uphold that. She was very materialistic and entangled in hurtful relationships, but she wasn’t prepared to give this up at the time. After a long period of silence she contacted me to tell me she had become a Christian, was attending an Evangelical church and preparing for baptism! I listened in amazement as she told me about how she had become disgusted with her worldly lifestyle and had started to talk to a Christian at work and who told her about what Jesus Christ had done in his life. She longed for this forgiveness, this peace with God, but she felt too dirty to go near Him. However, she soon realised that she didn’t have to do anything to come to Jesus Christ but just ask for forgiveness and turn away from her old way of living to begin a new life in Him. She told me: ‘He was the only one who could give me everything I really wanted without asking for anything in exchange!’ She says Isaiah 55:1-2 reflects her experience perfectly:
‘Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come buy and eat. Yes come buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance.’
She had always had an insatiable thirst for love but whatever she tried always left her thirsty. But, she said, God has filled her heart with love and satisfied her to the full. Her life has changed radically and she doesn’t miss anything about her former lifestyle. She finds her greatest pleasure in spending time with the Lord and the morning she is the most motivated to get out of bed is the Lord’s Day!
I praise God with you for the wonderful things He is doing and I thank God for your part in the lives of these three French people and in each survey, each conversation. Your prayers strengthen me daily and open doors for the gospel. Thank you so much.
May 2009
Austria
Jean Ellis has been serving the Lord through GBM in Klagenfurt, Austria for more than twenty years. Recently her ministry has brought many opportunities for spreading the Gospel among people within the Deaf community. The Lord has blessed this work with more than ten conversions and baptisms in the last five years.
A more recent development has been the opportunity to consider ways of making the Scriptures more usefully available to the Deaf who sometimes struggle to understand what they read especially when signing is neither possible nor available. Let Jean speak for herself:
“First of all there was the Consultation at the Wycliffe Centre in Horsleys Green, West Wycombe. It was great in every sense of the word. There were almost equal numbers of Deaf and hearing attending from a wide variety of countries and cultures. There was harmony and a good team spirit and very especially there were excellent interpreters for several of the Sign Languages represented, which meant that I could concentrate on making notes and just voicing our Deaf when they signed before the group.
We all learned a great deal in these few days and are still enthusiastic about it all. On Sunday we showed the other Deaf attending the Service in Sign Language a few of the photos Gerhard took and were able to explain a little about the work of GBM (we spent the first night and part of Friday in Abingdon) and some of what we had experienced at the Wycliffe Centre. It was good to see the Deaf get up and explain these things and especially express their gratitude for the services rendered to us – especially our three chauffeurs!
The first thing we did was to try to implement what we had learned about translation from one of the hearing lecturers. A process of examining the text together and discussing meanings and then drawing simple outline sketches to represent the things happening in the text. After this the written text should be put aside and the drawings should be used to assist in first of all attempting to mime the whole thing (or bit by bit, depending on the length of the passage) and then once the Deaf have ‘eaten and digested’ the text in this way, they should put it into natural sign language. We bit off rather more than we could chew to start with, so had to abandon part of the process for part of the text in order to present something for the Service in Sign Language last Sunday. However, even from this we can learn a great deal.
All those involved, after initial uncertainty about the drawings and to some extent a reluctance to just do rough sketching, became enthusiastic and some were willing to work further at home – something we have been trying to encourage for some time. Unfortunately we did not have time to discuss what they had done, but I hope we will find time to do so soon.”
Please pray for this ongoing work – it will be arduous and difficult but it is also a vital step in helping the Deaf to hear the Gospel!
April 2009
Kawangware, Nairobi – A new start
Imagine if you can an area the size of say a small English village – perhaps a couple of square miles. Now take away virtually all the infrastructure – no tarmac roads just dusty tracks; no proper toilets in many parts; no proper 
housing just corrugated iron shacks and so I could go on!
Oh and then throw in up to 500,000 people of whom 70% are under the age of eighteen and you are beginning to get a picture of Kawangware. In fact I am attaching some pictures of Kawangware because it is here that Sukesh Pabari has been engaged in establishing a new church. On 21st February that new church was formally constituted with 17 members and two elders. The constituting service was conducted by Kenyan pastors, Naphtally Ogallo (Eldoret) and Sam Oluoch (Kisumu) and that was a sign of the way in which the gospel has advanced in Kenya.
How is this young church reaching out into this mass of lost humanity? It is already holding Sunday Services and about ninety attended on the Sunday after the constitution services. Most of those were young people and children and further children’s meetings are held in other parts of the area. Door to door visitation to the many shacks is undertaken by Sukesh and two young men who are being trained as future elders. Literature is being translated into Swahili and made available to many pastors who have little real understanding of biblical truth.
The area is afflicted with HIV/AIDS and also with desperate drunkenness.Home-brewed (and very dangerous) alcohol is available very cheaply and, even in the middle of the day men can be seen reeling around drunkenly. Yet the gospel is being heard and a future is being offered which will transform lives and we pray that God will greatly bless this work.
John McDonald
Listen to Sukesh Pabari’s interview for Hot News [March 2009]
March 2009
Macedonia
We recently heard from Branko Trajkovski who continue to serve the Lord in Ohrid with his new wife Belinda. Branko says, “We are living in dark and difficult world and a really superstitious and debased culture. God must guide us in everything by His Word and His Spirit.
Besides, in Macedonia our close and true Christian friends are not many. We would have more, but, for the time being, we simply can not travel in order to have them. A few times a year we manage to visit the churches in Bitola and Skopje, but there are some 15 towns in Macedonia where we know there are evangelical groups of believers whom we would like to see, encourage and serve. We praise our heavenly Father that we can travel once a year to visit our longstanding and faithful Brethren in Serbia. For our friends in Bulgaria, Greece and Albania we can only pray. So, we beg our GBM friends to pray God to grant us a wider field of influence among the churches, at least in our own land of Macedonia.”
Branko and Belinda are currently helping to lead and teach in the small church in Ohrid and he is also engaged in translation and publishing work but there are many financial constraints.
February 2009
Week of Prayer 8 – 15 March 2009
Please join us in praying for the needs of the work and focusing on the financial challenges we face at this time. A letter, together with some prayer pointers has been sent to all our participating churches, and these are available to download here.
January 2009
Robin and Clara Dowling
Robin and Clara were unable to continue with their plans for a February/March visit to the seminary in Colombia because of illness within the family which has required their presence in the UK for the time being.
Clara too needs a minor operation and will take the opportunity to get this done now that they are staying. Their hope is that the visit to Medellin can take place later in the year subject to the necessary support being in place. We will be very happy to explain the needs to churches and individuals who contact the Mission centre. Robin and Clara are grateful for all the prayers and expressions of support that they have received and the Seminary in Colombia are anxious that they should come as soon as possible. This is important work in preparing men and women to serve the Lord in Latin America and we look to the Lord to make the visit a reality.
Fifty years of GBM Radio
The story of the GBM’s fifty years of radio ministry, celebrated at the Open Day on 21 June, is told in a fifty-page booklet, O Earth! Hear written by Philip Grist, priced £2.00 and available from GBM at 12 Abbey Close, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 3JD.
In this booklet Philip Grist traces the story of GBM radio from the days when he and John Appleby broadcast from a makeshift studio in South India through to the programmes now prepared in the system-built studios at Abingdon. The story is a fascinating and interesting one with several pages of colour photographs.
Is radio evangelism effective? There are many stories that answer that question. For example, one listener wrote, ‘I’m not a Christian but having heard that Jesus can forgive sins is the best news that I have ever heard’. A listener from Ethiopia wrote to say how a ‘Sound Words’ programme (prepared by Derek French) had changed his life. He shouldn’t have received the programme. Programmes were not being aired to Ethiopia but on that particular day a radio signal from the Philippines aimed at SE Asia somehow hit Ethiopia. ‘What proof of the Lord’s sovereign control of the airwaves’ comments Philip.
Jason Murfitt’s radio ministry brought back memories to Philp of those long-ago days in India. Since February 2007 about 230 programmes have been broadcast via a local station in Manacapura, Brazil. Jason writes ‘The studio is very basic, the multi-CD player often embarrassingly jams and although there is a knack of slamming the door shut at just the right speed and pressure to make it work again, it is a knack I am still mastering; and frequently the whole master switchboard cuts out, but usually with a firm thump on the table it cuts back in; failing this the switchboard needs to be picked up and dropped from a height of about one inch, this rarely fails to do the trick – but if it does then the last resort is an even firmer kick!’
Andrew Cook, who joined the Abingdon team 2004, uses the EXP factor. ‘This simply means seeking the voice of EXPerts asking them to EXPlain in terms easily to be understood. Then, getting listener friendly Bible Teachers to give EXPosition and finding people directly affected to share their EXPerience and testify to how God has helped them’. This approach was put to good use in a series on HIV/AIDS during 2007.
John Appleby challenged Derek French (who became part of GBM’s radio team in 1992), ‘Do you realise that the first time you air a programme, you will be reaching more people in one go than you have ever preached the Word of God to throughout your whole life-time?’ This is a humbling thought to all involved with Christian radio.
Stan Evers, Potton
Moving forward in Arequipa
The work in Arequipa since its conception has been steady but not spectacular. We have seen individuals saved and baptised by the grace of God each year save this one, but one feels that the best wine is yet to come!
We have not yet seen all the Lord has planned for us. This year has been another step in the development of the work and in preparation and anticipation of what God has ordained and purposed.
Building Project
This year has been different from all the others as we began construction of the new building. This has been a process in which the Lord has guided and provided. In 2005 we purchased a small bungalow in which we made internal changes for the meetings. The following year we were able to purchase a plot of land adjoining the property. In August of 2007 I was considering postponing the project for a couple of years due to the lack of funds. I well remember praying specifically to the Lord for special guidance. “Lord if it is your will then provide a large donation that will dispel my reluctance and hesitancy” The very next morning I received an email informing me that a large donation was being sent! Such was the amount that all doubt vanished and the Lord’s will confirmed. If the Lord had sent an angel from heaven I could not have been more certain that the Lord planned for us to move forward without further delay. Such a provision for us was a green light to move forward trusting the Lord to provide the funds necessary to bring the project to completion. We have now completed 85% of the work, and will complete the work when we return to Arequipa in February 2009. We have had moments when the funds were almost gone and then more funds were promised and sent. The Church fellowship now has the use of the new building while we are in the UK, so we are so grateful to the Lord for his goodness and the support and prayers of the Lords people. This project has been vital due to the lack of space in the small hall where we were meeting; especially for special meetings. We also have young people’s conferences and other conferences from time to time where folk are with us for a few days. We also need to have room for future growth as we wait on the Lord to build his true church comprising of those called by Sovereign grace through the preaching of the word of God. Pray that while in the UK the Lord will provide sufficient funds to enable us to return and complete the work without delay. Our desire is to have the Thanksgiving service in June or July 2009.
Future leadership
Running parallel to the steady growth of the work is the need for the Lord to call others to spiritual maturity and leadership. We have two men who have been converted and now lead the worship time in the meetings. Both “Adolfo” and “Alfredo” are fervent in their desire to serve and deepen their knowledge in the word of God. The next step will be to legally establish the Church with a constitution and confession of faith. These men we believe will be appointed deacons in the near future. Next year I will be having informal times of fellowship with them in going though in detail the Baptist Confession of Faith. Please pray for these two men that the Lord will make them pillars in the Church of God. The Lord has been gracious in raising up workers also among the children and the ladies meetings. Ronny is responsible for the young people’s meetings on Sunday afternoons. We have contact with many young people who have attended camp and other special meetings. Please pray that the Lord will move by his spirit among our young people. This is an area where we long for the Lord to touch hearts. We have regular open airs as a church when we have an early Sunday morning service and then go as a fellowship to have meetings in the open air. This encourages the members to share their faith and give out tracts. This we plan to do on a monthly basis. This also takes the church to the community in maintaining a regular witness. The Lord brought the word of life in the temple, synagogue, houses, streets, fields, fishing boats etc, and we also need to make use of all means to reach the unsaved.
We continue ministry in the three areas where we have activities and as any churches we have had our joys and sorrows in the work of God. Hopes for some have been disappointed, and others sit under the word of God without any change. But the promise of God shines through the prevailing darkness and lights our path with hope. We labour in hope as promises given cannot fall short of fulfilment. The small gathering cloud to the eye of faith will not dissipate but rather is the beginning of what Gods power and grace has prepared. Don’t be discouraged, and don’t leave the place where God has placed you; you may miss the blessing !
Anthony Green
Arequipa
December 2008
Annual General Meetings
We were privileged to enjoy another fine day of Mission reports and of worship at Friends Meeting House, Euston, London on 28th October 2008. In the course of the day more than a thousand people passed through the displays and various meetings and a great spirit of joy seemed to infuse the place.
We were pleased to have a good group of Missionaries present and Anthony Green brought us up to date with gospel work in Arequipa, Peru. New missionaries, Nathan and Urpha Javed, Robin and Clara Dowling and Andrew and Danielle Gullett lifted our hearts to know that God is still calling out his people from all ages and backgrounds. Nic Edkins reported on the ongoing work among ladies from immigrant communities in Cardiff and Sarah Clay reported on her two years in Huaraz, Peru.
The day was rounded off with a time of worship and praise with up to 900 present. John Benton, Chertsey Street, Guildford preached the closing sermon from Acts 1 v 1-11 reminding us of the importance of the task of mission but the greatness of the Saviour who calls us to it.
What a great day it was – and everyone said so! What a way to let people in Central London know that there are many Christians of all ages and nationalities and they are open and enthusiastic about their faith!
Put Tuesday 27th October 2009 in your diary and make it a date to be there for our next Annual Meetings day.
Cusco: Changes, opportunities and prospects
At the time of writing we are preparing to leave Cusco for family reasons after eight years of living and working in the city and surrounding area. It has been a great blessing and a great challenge to serve in this area of Peru in teaching, training and providing work opportunities for Christians.
Geoff: Training Peruvians for mission
Geoff recently talked with Luis Chinchazo, director of the Horizontes Bible Institute, where we have taught many courses and counselled students. This Institute trains young Peruvians to serve in cross-cultural mission situations both in Peru and in the wider world. With our departure, we asked Luis where missionaries from abroad could help in the work of the Institute:
We need missionaries who can teach courses and who can counsel the students. We need others who can help us with training students to give them work skills which can support them in a pioneering mission situation. Also we need those who can teach the English language as this is very helpful for students who may work in other countries.
Many missionaries come here with a love for the people and for the place. We have noticed though that some find it difficult to adjust to the culture and as a result are withdrawn. I would like to welcome missionaries who are prepared to pay the price of socialising and opening their homes to the students. We need those who can invest time and form relationships with students and learn how they think. Though it might be hard for some people, it is worthwhile in the end. We miss such workers when they leave but they leave a mark and a greater influence on the students they worked with.
Please pray that God would raise up those who can serve in Peru in the ways Luis mentioned. What could you offer in this key situation?
Rachel: the arte charis project
Over four years arte charis has been able to generate income, provide employment and develop skills for a group of Christian ladies in Cusco through making quality greetings cards. Over the last year we have been blessed by the input of fellow Latin Link workers, Hannah Buckle (in new designs and the oversight of production) and Roland Brown (in business advice and strategy). Seven ladies have been involved over the last year (Dámaris, Chela, Mónica, Karina, Nila, Janet, Rut María) as has a young Christian artist (Daniel). In many respects the meeting together to make cards has been valuable not only for the employment but as a support group for the ladies. It is a time to share about their situations (some of which are very difficult) and to pray together.As well as the much-needed income the ladies receive valuable training in different skills to make and sell the cards.
Pray for the future of arte charis: along with Rachel's departure, Hannah also shortly leaves Cusco with her family, having completed their two year placement. There are various tasks which they currently undertake which Mónica, Karina and Roland will take on. Please pray for them to adjust to their new roles and for the project to develop further.
Pray for God's guidance for us as a family as we consider what work the Lord has for us now and as we make the transition from our home here to a new situation.
Geoff & Rachel Low
November 2008
Mission Accomplished
When asked recently if I felt that it was “mission accomplished” upon my return from Peru, I have to say that I began to wonder what I had defined as my mission in the first place. Or was it more important to consider what God’s plan had been during these two years.
I first seriously considered going on a two year Latin Link Stride placement while working in the Latin Link personnel department in 2004. I became convinced that God was calling me to offer my time to serve Him in Latin America and with that sole aim in mind headed off to Peru in September 2006. For those two years I was placed with a Christian charity “Asociación Arco Iris”, (The Rainbow Association) which has four areas of work based in the central highlands of Peru. Rainbow began with a children’s home in 1999 and has since opened a feeding programme, workshops and a range of holistic projects in a small mountain village. In each area of work Rainbow’s aim is to show Christ’s love according to His word.
There was a need for someone to work in the office on accounts and personnel matters so 50% of my week was dedicated to that. It was wonderful and hilarious to discover a side to my personality which actually loves to see all the numbers adding up, despite the fact I only scraped a C in maths at GCSE. Not only did I take to this like a duck to water but everyone else was unspeakably relieved because without exception they all hated the accounts with a passion. What a sense of humour God has and what perfect ways.
I didn’t mind where else I served; I wanted to fill the needs in the organization. This led to fulfilling roles both in the home and at the feeding programme; however my greatest surprise was yet to come as I was given the opportunity to support evangelism and social work amongst the children who work on the streets. As we prayed and relied entirely on our heavenly Father to help us grow friendships with this group of teens I felt the weight of God’s love for them grow in my heart.
Did God accomplish his mission in me? I humbly believe he did use me and taught me more than I realize. I pray he will continue to reveal his will for my life and whether that includes returning to Huaraz, Peru for longer term work with children on the streets and with the local church.
Has God accomplished his mission in Peru? I’ll leave you with Jesus’ words in Matthew 9:36-38 “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’
Sarah Clay
Return to Colombia
For many years the Bible Seminary of Colombia, in Medellín, Colombia, has trained excellent pastors, missionaries and other Christian workers from and for all parts of Latin America and beyond. The tremendous long-term work of Theo and Sonja Donner there is well known among our churches.
El seminario!
The role of the seminary, now a university foundation, is as much needed as ever. For example, perhaps 80% of pastors in Latin America do not have formal training, and are hindered in preparing themselves for adequately fulfilling biblically-aware, Christ-centred, gospel ministry among the churches (as some in the U.K. have done) by the relative lack of good theological literature available to them. They need guidance to ‘negotiate’ the theological literature that is available.
So, while there is an excellent faculty at the seminary, they are yet in need of experienced teachers. Also, while the university status is useful in terms of the recognition of the institution (and its graduates) within that culture, the seminary retains its long-standing focus on discipleship. Most of the staff and students live on campus, and there is great emphasis on getting to know one another, and mutual accountability (supported by the local churches), as a framework for growing into the image of Christ and facing life as a Christian. So it is desirable to have experienced pastors on the staff.
Our Story
Having been sent out by the Grace Baptist church at Kew, where I had been pastor for nearly 15 years, my wife, Clara and I worked at the seminary from 1993 to 1997 (following 6 months in Costa Rica in 1992, learning Spanish). I taught ‘Bible’ subjects (such as Hermeneutics (Interpretation)) and became head of Pastoral Studies. Clara had a key role among the women students and medical involvements in the seminary and the local community. I also found myself privileged with a pastoral role among the students. We came back to England for family reasons in January 1997.
I returned to being a pastor, with ongoing involvement in training projects. Clara and I both gained further qualifications (e.g. Clara is now TESOL qualified) and maintained our involvement in Spanish-speaking Latin American work. I am now pastor at Finchley, and work at Oak Hill theological college. When Clara returned to Medellín in March this year, to visit our oldest son, his Colombian wife, and our youngest grandson, she fell down and badly broke her arm. The delayed return led to contact with Theo who indicated that the Seminary would very much like us to come back! Further contact with the Colombian vice rector of the seminary (whom I know well) has confirmed how warmly they would welcome us.
The Emerging Project
The upshot is that our church at Finchley has graciously agreed to release us, subject to such factors as the raising of the necessary funds, to spend two months of the next ‘working year’ (early February-early April 2009) at the seminary. I will teach two courses, Pastoral Theology and Pastoral Counselling, as well as being involved with students pastorally, and Clara hopes to help with English classes at the seminary, as well as use her nursing and motherhood experience there and in the community. During this time we will also reflect, with our friends at the seminary, on how we can realistically help the work there in the longer term. We commend this project to your prayers.
Robin Dowling
September 2008
Athelington Family Camp
Athelington Hall Farm proved once again to be an ideal venue for the 2008 Family Camp and we had a record number of people on camp with 170 plus enjoying a week of Bible ministry, mission focus and fellowship. Sukesh Pabari opened up the word of God to us each morning on the theme of mission and the clear biblical mandate for mission being church based. Not only did we have a record attendance overall, we also broke previous Athelington records with the number of children and young people. Running parallel with the morning Bible ministry was the Bible Club for children under the age of twelve and forty children packed into the hall every morning. Maria Amoako led this meeting with her team of helpers, and the theme of the week was “Great Days of the Bible” with a clear gospel message throughout. An equal number of young people enjoyed the late night programme with various games and activities including an opportunity to grill the missionaries.
The marquee proved to be a very attractive and pleasant environment throughout the day beginning with the morning Bible ministry and each evening we had the mission focus. Sukesh Pabari spoke about the challenges of his work in Kenya; Maria Amoako shared her burden and concerns for the country of Spain, Andrew Cook and the opportunities presented by Radio, and a focus on the evangelistic challenge for the forthcoming 2012 London Olympic Games. Also during the week we heard about the work in India, Western Kenya and Brazil.
Add to this recipe the morning and evening coffee bar, games and competitions, and the Friday Hog Roast and you have a full and exciting week for all ages. The unanimous verdict was that Athelington was a great and fantastic week for all ages. The weather was a little damp, but also a week with plenty of sunshine. However the weather didn’t matter as nothing could take away or spoil the wonderful fellowship and the blessing of God’s word throughout the week.
Colombia
It is good to hear from our missionaries from time to time and this recent news from Theo and Sonja Donner reminds us to pray for them as a family, and also offers insight to the work of the gospel overseas, and the training of men and women for Christian service. Theo and Sonja are living and working in Colombia, South America.
Family - This month it will be a year since the accident in which Charlie Osgood, Meeuwisse's husband, died. Meeuwisse gave birth to twin daughters – Rachel and Rebekah – in February. In April she moved to Canada and since then has been living two doors away from Wiarda and Ross and their family. We do thank you very much for your prayers for Meeuwisse and the family. Saskia and Luis Eduardo would appreciate prayer as they seek to find the Lord's will for their future. They are hoping to find a situation where both of them can pursue their studies, but this is not easy. They are planning to leave Colombia in the middle of next year, but apart from that nothing is definite.
The Bible Seminary - The second semester has started and Theo’s responsibility for the first four weeks is a series of lectures on The Old Testament in the New Testament. Following that, the course on the Torah starts which includes a heavy load of homework, usually two piles of homework to correct every week. Then following the autumn break Theo is due to speak to pastors and missionaries of the Christian and Missionary Alliance from all over Latin America in Guayaquil.
Publications - The book "Small Biblical Theology" is well on it’s' way to being published. There are still some problems to be resolved, but the book should come out in the coming months, under the title “The text that interprets the reader”. At the end of June Theo taught this material as a one-week course in Bogotá. Work on a History of Exegesis continues, but it has been slow.
Ministry – In May 2008 Theo spoke on the experience of Burnout to a considerable number of pastors and Christian leaders. Several new invitations to speak on the subject have come as a result of that. It will be one of the areas he hopes to speak about in Guayaquil in October.
The Nation - Colombia continues to be in the news. You will have heard and/or seen the news about the spectacular liberation of 15 hostages in the early days of July. The liberation included Ingrid Betancourt and three US military advisers. They were the most high-profile hostages held by the FARC guerrilla. Ingrid Betancourt was kidnapped while campaigning for the presidency. She is now well and truly launched on the road to fame and high office. Curiously, she will be able to choose whether to follow a political career in Colombia or in France. She holds both nationalities. You may want to pray for her. Her experience of captivity has meant a new relationship with God. As her background is Catholic, she interprets the experience from that perspective, but there seems little doubt of the reality of the change in her. The president, Alvaro Uribe, is also facing a difficult choice. He may be able to change the constitution once again to allow him a third term of office. But apparently he is considering the alternative of following the Russian example, i.e. allowing someone else to hold the office for one term and then present himself again for the elections of 2014.
“May you know God's presence and blessing in your life and work”,
Theo and Sonja Donner
Open Day in Abingdon
Thank you to all who attended the Abingdon Open Day on 21st June. The day began with rain as the grounds where prepared for a full programme of events, however as 10am drew near the rain ceased and the sun began to make an appearance. It was an encouraging time as a good number of visitors began to arrive and continued to do so throughout the day. A live in-house radio broadcast could be heard across the site presented by the GBM radio team with interviews, information and music. There was a choice of three seminars on the theme of India, Spain, and the Philippines. The main theme of the Open Day was the celebration of 50 years of GBM Radio that had its beginnings in South India. A very well presented exhibition traced the history of radio down the years; also the Literature Zone and the radio partners, FEBA, MERF, TWR and HCJB contributed to an informative and challenging day.
In the Long Gallery, part of the medieval Abbey Buildings, there were stalls featuring the UK based work, the Asia, Africa, Europe and South America Zones and a very busy Togo children’s area with activities and stories throughout the day all combining to make it an instructive area as people made their way through. Over in the Abbey Chapel and GBM Offices the activities continued. In addition to the busy studios broadcasting the live programme, there were two radio editing demonstrations, both very well attended. The team demonstrated the significant changes that have taken place over the years in the technology used to produce programmes. There was even the opportunity to have a go at editing yourself, which proved very popular. It was good to have a number of missionaries with us for the day and people had ample opportunity to hear from them and to engage in conversation. The day concluded with a Thanksgiving Service when over 400 people packed into the marquee on Rye Farm meadow. The marquee was supplied by the Association of Grace Baptist Churches, East Anglia and was situated on the meadow across the river Thames from the Abbey Close complex. During the meeting we heard testimony from Nathan Javed who is working alongside the churches in Bradford and Haworth, West Yorkshire. Derek French interviewed John Appleby who began the radio ministry in Tamil Nadu, South India 50 years ago. It was John Appleby who then opened up the word of God in the closing message to bring the day to a conclusion.
Thank you to so many of you who helped to make this day possible. We couldn’t have done it without an army of helpers beforehand and on the day itself. Thank you to David Piper and the team from Suffolk for supplying the marquee and efficiently erecting and dismantling the whole thing in record time. Thank you to members of Mission Council and many of our supporting churches in offering your help. We are very grateful to the members of Abbey Baptist Church, Abingdon in the help you gave, and allowing us the use of the building. Thanks also to the Friends of Abingdon for the loan of the beautiful Abbey buildings, to Richard Graves, Gloucester for the technical help and equipment, and to Steve Piggott, Horsham for ably playing the keyboard and leading the singing before and during the Thanksgiving Service. The danger now is that I have missed somebody from the list, but a heartfelt thanks to everyone involved.
July 2008
Developments in Cardiff
It has been about three years since I moved from the Wilds of West Yorkshire to the Cosmopolitan Capital City of Cardiff. The scenery may be different, but the people in both places are the same. There are those with shattered lives, those who have flatly rejected Christ, those who are apathetic and those who have actually never heard about him. After a conversation with one lady in a restaurant in Bradford in 2001 I came to fully realise that there are so many people of different nationalities who have never heard the truth about Christ. As I thought and prayed about that fact, the desire the Lord placed in my heart was to reach out to folk who have never had the opportunity to respond to the wonderful truth of the Gospel.
The team involved in outreach work in Cardiff has developed under the leadership of Philip and Florence James. Joining the team provided me with a framework of activities that helped me to get to know people from different backgrounds and faiths very quickly. There are a number of churches that support this work across the city, and it has been a joy and privilege to work alongside them.
As a team we have been thrilled to witness the Lord working in the lives of both men and women, and to see some confess their faith publicly through baptism. Please pray for these friends, that they would continue to grow and mature in their faith. Please also pray for them as they face many heartaches, uncertainties, frustrations and fears.
From September my work will be taking a new direction, and I will be working in an area of the city called Cardiff Bay. If you were to paint a picture of Cardiff Bay today, you would need lots of different pots containing lots of different colours. You would also need to have at hand brushes of varying degrees of thickness and length; such is the cultural, ethnic and material diversity of the area.
According one Internet site Cardiff Bay - or ‘Tiger Bay’ as some used to call it - was where the multicultural community in Wales had its beginnings. In its day it was a very busy international trading centre, and as a result people from over 40 different countries settled in the area. Today, young professionals from all around the country work in the tall- mirrored office buildings and eat in the restaurants and Tapas bars once the working day is over. Some can even catch the Water Bus to work! The Welsh Assembly overlooks the water and the Wales Millennium Centre, situated right next door, now hosts the latest West End shows and other high profile concerts.
From September I will, God willing, be moving to join a church situated in this very area. Cardiff itself has several Christ centred, Gospel preaching churches, but as you head towards the Bay area there is evidence that some churches have closed. A few years ago, a young couple had the desire to see an evangelistic witness established in the area. The Lord has graciously blessed that vision and desire and now, five years on, ‘The Bay church’ is seeking to reach out to their community.
Nicola Edkins
July 2008
June 2008
Welcome to Nathan Javed!
It is our privilege to work alongside the churches in Dewsbury, Haworth and Halifax in supporting Nathan in his work
We hear from Nathan: I accepted Christ as my personal Saviour through a youth ministry in Pakistan in 1997. I grew up in the north of Pakistan. I was born into a Christian family and my parents worked for a mission hospital. Growing up in a Christian home I read the Bible every day but without understanding the meaning of scripture and the importance of it in my life. This was until I realized the conviction of my own sin that separated me from God’s Saviour, Jesus Christ. I thank God that I came to an understanding of Him through that youth ministry and that I trusted Jesus as the Saviour of the world. He has done a wonderful thing for me when he died upon the cross for me. No one else has, or every will do such a thing for me.
My parents and the rest of my family came to work with Dewsbury Evangelical Church in Yorkshire in 2002. After my conversion in 1997 I was involved with working among the youth in different ways. Everyone has plans for their life. I wanted to finish my degree in IT and settle down with a good job but God’s will was not the same as my will. There was something in my heart to give myself fully to the work of the Lord that seemed impossible until I came settle in Britain. I choose to study more about Christ at a school where I did my diploma. Then I worked for a year with a church in Lancashire amongst ethnic minorities. Then I did a three year degree in Theology in South Wales.
Now I am working in a multi-cultural society, something I had always wished to do. I grew up with children from America, Sweden, Germany, Australia and Pakistan. These were children whose parents had felt the call to work in the Pakistani Mission hospital where I grew up – A full report will appear in the next edition of the Herald magazine.
Summer 2008
A fellowship meeting takes place every evening with the focus on Mission. Several missionaries are present during the week. In 2008 the dates are 9th-16th August and there are still spaces for campers and Caravanners. Our main speaker for the morning Bible ministry will be Sukesh Pabari. Sukesh is working in Kenya based in Nairobi. There will be missionary input from GBM missionaries who will be present including Maria Amoako who will be taking responsibility for leading the children’s meeting each day. See elsewhere on this website for the poster and booking form.
Then at the end of August Every year a camp is run at Root Hill Farm, Surrey, It is specially geared for youth aged 17+. The Camp this year will be from 23rd – 30th August 2008 when we hope that Phil Arthur (Lancaster) will be our main speaker. Stuart Olyott will also be a speaker with a number of others. You will find a booking form on this website or you can contact the Abingdon Office.
May 2008
Welcome
Carey Outreach Ministrieswas founded in Canada just over ten years ago. It is a Reformed Baptist mission, whose calling is the training of pastors around the world. The work began in Romania. Since then the Lord has opened doors of opportunity in several Asian countries, in Madagascar, in Latin America and the Caribbean, and in the Middle East. There are three aspects to Carey’s work. The William Carey School of Theology runs seminary-level training courses in the various countries. The Carey Printing Press produces study materials free of charge translated into the required languages. Where Christian books are in short supply, or too expensive for the average pastor to afford, we trust that this will be of great help to them in their ongoing personal study. The Carey Church Extension Programme provides financial sponsorship for church-planters in different countries. There are areas where GBM and Carey are doing similar things, and it is envisaged that there could be potential for a fruitful co-operation between the two agencies. Jonathan will be working in cooperation with Maciek Stolarski to identify where resources can be shared and teaching material developed in the future. A full report from Jonathan will appear in the June edition of the Herald magazine.
Jonathan and Carey Outreach Ministries, are seeking the fellowship of GBM in helping to promote this important ministry and to help in the financial support of Jonathan and the family. Jonathan will be available for deputation among the churches and you are invited to contact the GBM office in Abingdon to arrange a visit to your church in the coming months.
Barcelona
A supply of tracts in Spanish and Catalonian were already available for distribution and roll up portable posters will be displayed in the markets. The aim is not to reach out to the masses of people but rather is two fold:
To have one to one contact with those who live and work nearby and to clearly and simply present the Gospel message to them. Then to make the Church known in the district. This is very much a Biblical method of evangelism. The Apostle Paul, when in Athens spoke in the “…market place every day with those who chanced to be there” (Acts 17:17). However, we are very conscious that we do not have the gifts and abilities which Paul had, but we do have a desire to tell our neighbours that God loves them so much that He sent His son to die and suffer on the cross as a living sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin.
On Saturday 19th April we went out for the first time. After meeting at the Church and a time of prayer we divided into two teams of five and went along to 2 market places. It was a beautiful spring sunny morning and there were lots of people about. For two hours we distributed tracts and sort to make conversion with the passers by. Several contacts were made, young and old, and these have to be followed up during the next few weeks. We would value your prayers on our behalf. Pray that God will bless our efforts to make the Gospel known to those who live near to us here in the city of Barcelona. Pray that God will enable us as we seek to serve Him.
Patricia Davies, Barcelona
April 2008
Phillipines
The lot that we bought is 100 square meters in size, on the ground floor we have the kitchen and two toilets and a small church office. This means that most of the space on the ground floor has been taken up which leaves a small space for the Sunday school. We were able to just about fit everyone in during the worship service. Thanks to the Lord’s wonderful provision we are able to carry on the work on the 1st floor and we will be able to use this space in the next couple of months and so have more space for visitors to come into. Just from the experience of using the new building on one occasion it has already proved to be a much better place to gather compared to the old building! During the rainy season the old building floods quite heavily, and during the summer it becomes extremely hot.
Aries Liboro, Velenzuela City, Philippines
Ulverston
In 1997 the Church called Steve Wood, an Elder at Lancaster, to work full-time serving the Lord in Church Planting in Ulverston. Today the church continues to grow with a full programme of meetings and activities taking place every week. In addition to the Sunday services, during the week there is a work among children and young people, outreach through the market stall and exhibitions at special events. The opportunity to bring the gospel message to older people and a fellowship of believers who are committed to the town and the community and are seeking to honour God in all that they do. Please continue to pray for those recently converted and baptised, several are involved in personal Bible studies. If you are visiting the Lake District at any time then do look them up as they would be so pleased to see you and it is always a means of great encouragement.
Open Day
The theme of Open Day will be celebrating 50 years of Radio but will also feature many other aspects of the work around the world. Refreshments will be available throughout the day and tea will be served following the afternoon meeting. We will need you to book your tea in advance!
Summer 2008
A fellowship meeting takes place every evening with the focus on Mission. Several missionaries are present during the week. In 2008 the dates are 9th-16th August and there are still spaces for campers and Caravanners. Our main speaker for the morning Bible ministry will be Sukesh Pabari. Sukesh is working in Kenya based in Nairobi. There will be missionary input from GBM missionaries who will be present including Maria Amoako who will be taking responsibility for leading the children’s meeting each day. See elsewhere on this website for the poster and booking form.
Then at the end of August Every year a camp is run at Root Hill Farm, Surrey, It is specially geared for youth aged 17+. The Camp this year will be from 23rd – 30th August 2008 when we hope that Phil Arthur (Lancaster) will be our main speaker. Stuart Olyott will also be a speaker with a number of others. You will find a booking form on this website or you can contact the Abingdon Office.
March 2008
KENYA UPDATE Political situation
Kofi Anan has been in the country for over three weeks now and has mediated between the two sides. Both the government and the opposition have agreed to a coalition government but cannot agree on the details. It would seem that a workable agreement is a long away…
Today the opposition party issued a statement saying mass protests would re-start next week unless the government shifted from its position. Please pray about this as, humanly speaking, if no agreement is reached, we could once again see rioting, violence and deaths in our streets.
Ministry to the refugees: Jamhuri Park still has many thousands of internally displaced people. We have distributed thousands of tracts to them and spoken to hundreds of people of Christ and His invitation to come to Him for salvation. We are now in the process of helping families leave the park and settle in different parts of Nairobi and also to start small businesses to enable them to provide for themselves. This is a long slow process that needs much prayer and wisdom.
BORDEAUX
Praise God for answered prayer. The Lord has given one of the students a real burden for prayer so we meet to pray twice a week, and we are also having an extra group prayer meeting on Thursdays before the Bible study.
Many students are expressing a real interest so please continue to pray that the Spirit would bless the sharing of the gospel and that many would be saved.
ABINGDON OPEN DAY
The Abingdon Open day is planned, God Willing, to take place on Saturday 21st June 2008. We trust many of you will be able to attend on the day. You will find a poster and response form on this website, and details may have been circulated to your church.
Do make a date in your diary to be here in Abingdon in June. It promises to be a good day of fellowship with interactive displays throughout the day, a thanksgiving service in the afternoon when God willing, we will have Mr John Appleby as our guest speaker. Seminars, radio station, and lots of events for the children.
PRAY FOR INDIA
Graham Field revisited India with the team and he shares his
experiences: Returning to India for the first time since leaving there as a 14 year old, was a tremendous experience. For many years after I had returned, I found it very difficult to answer the question ‘where do you come from’? I felt like I came from India, but my white skin and British parents meant I could never really say ‘from India’.
Returning did feel like ‘going home’ though. The itinerary, for me, was ideal. It entailed visiting as many of the Churches and Mission Centres as possible, thus enabling me to see most of the places where I grew up, as well as meeting so many of my Christian brothers and sisters in the Churches. It was a mixture of emotions seeing some of the old Mission ‘bungalows’ which were all in various stages of dilapidation. In Kovilpati however I met up with Antoni, a man who used to work for Dad and who I was able to recognise approximately 40 years after seeing him last! Selveraj, one of my old playmates was also there and he still lives on the old mission compound! Then to meet four people up the Kolli Hills , who all remembered with great affection and appreciation both my parents (John & Margaret Field) as well as many of the other missionaries who had served there, was a moving experience. Although I cherish the memories, the biggest thrill was to see so many new chapels, meet, and even be privileged to address on one occasion in Kilpauk, so many Pastors and Evangelists who have given themselves to serving in the work of the gospel and to see how the Lord is blessing the work with so many converts. A particular treat for me, after the main party had returned home, was to spend a couple of days visiting the Nilgiri Hills where I went to School, to relive some happy memories there and to enjoy the 5 hour climb up the beautiful 7,000 ft mountains by the old steam train. I was also able to visit the Church in Ooty where the Lord saved me – a Church which according to C T Studd’s biography you avoided if you did not want to be converted!
Graham Field, Leytonstone
February 2008
Brazil
We praise God for all who faithfully prayed concerning our little seven seated boat which arrived on the 19th of December 2007, and we marvel at how the LORD graciously answered those prayers. The name of the boat is:
“Maranatha – Vem Senhor Jesus” (Come Lord Jesus).
This is the story of the maiden voyage. The Lord had put an orphanage on our hearts some eight months ago when we were making investigations about a family of eight children who had been abandoned. We had heard about an orphanage which was mysteriously planted on one of the hundreds of islands on one of the networking rivers leading away from Manacapuru. Since we had heard that it existed we had been desperate to visit it. Well just two days after our boat’s arrival Andrea and I along with a small team embarked on our maiden voyage to see if we could find it. We had no idea where the island was, although we knew the name of it “Nova Esperança” (New Hope) which worryingly NO ONE at the port had ever heard off. Still, by faith we set off confident that God would direct our path, despite the fact that the land we were constantly surrounded by were islands, each about the size of Truro, and that the Orphanage could be tucked away on anyone of them. To cut a long story short, we sailed at nearly full throttle for two hours along this very remote part of the Amazon, passing just three very small communities, and about twelve scattered wooden houses either on stilts or floating on the river tied to nearby trees. We constantly scanned the far banks of the islands for the orphanage, and occasionally stopping to ask the bemused locals if they had heard of the island we were looking for, but none had.
In the end, as the fuel gage was getting close to the halfway mark, we had to turn around and head back in the direction of Manacapuru. After another hour of journeying, and when we had nearly given up, I just kept thinking, “well Lord, this is your boat, your work, we are your servants, and right now we are doing all we can, if it is your will show us the way to the orphanage, if not, then lead us to another community where your sheep are, whether lost or found.” Andrea turned round with the comment, “this is like trying to find a needle in a haystack”, true I thought but the needle is here...somewhere...
We decided to call in on one final house as we were about to head into the final stretch of river leading us back to Manacapuru. After a careful search for someone who looked likely to be able to help, I got out the boat and walked along a rather posh floating boardwalk, towards what looked like a wooden palace, a massive house with five stories which looked totally out of place compared to the normal one or two roomed huts which we were accustomed to seeing - this was probably the tallest building outside of Manaus! I was greeted by a rough looking elderly man and asked him if he had heard of the American pastor said to run the orphanage, to which he responded, “Yes, Pastor Jack is asleep in the house.” He was referring to the wooden palace behind us. I couldn’t believe it so asked about three times more to ensure he had understood me correctly, and each time he confirmed we were right on the doorstep of the orphanage! After all that travelling the island and orphanage were just fifteen minutes up river from Manacapuru!
After walking through this magnificent house we were seated on their veranda with a drink of Guanana (to experiment with this local delicacy try mixing Iron Brew with Appletize), then with a great height advantage we looked through the trees and viewed the part of the island in view, and spoke about our conversions, calls to mission, and our various cultural observations for an hour or more. In case you were wandering there were orphans there, although only two, partly because of the Christmas holidays. But it was good to finally make contact with this faithful Baptist missionary couple who had bought the island, built this huge house, and have survived working in the local community for the past 7 years. This maiden voyage was a great reminder that our all knowing and all powerful God truly works in mysterious ways and is always in perfect control of every situation.
Jason Murfitt
Philippines
We continue to run our sponsorship programme to enable street kids to go to school and currently have nine children being helped. Each of them comes from a very difficult family and has numerous problems. Many are still homeless, at least two have TB and most have parents who give them very little support or positive example. For a long time we’ve been struggling to know what to do as at least three children have a parent using drugs and another has been selling drugs. Why are we supporting these children when parents are using their own money to finance their drug addictions? On the other hand if we withdraw our support and help we know that the drugs won’t stop. The education will. And then what hope is there for these kids? Very difficult decisions. We thank God that although most of them are struggling, little by little they are making progress in their studies. One of the other social workers has agreed to oversee them but we are short staffed which means we can’t help them in the way we would want, or support them in the way they need until we find a new social worker. So please continue to pray that God will provide the right person for this very difficult ministry.
A month or so ago after our church service a visitor asked me for some medicine for his leg wound. His name was R and after a brief chat I told him to talk to one of the church members. I was away for the next few Sundays but he came again. He’s a robber who had just come out of prison and openly admitted to killing a number of people in his robberies. He said he now wanted to earn an honest livelihood instead and asked if there was anything we could do to help him. And there wasn’t. Finding employment is a massive problem here. College graduates compete for low paid jobs in supermarkets. After 6 months the law says that employees have to be paid benefits, so the supermarkets only hire people for 6 months and then replace them. There are a number of street people who are lazy and don’t want to work, but for others who are prepared to work hard and want to earn enough money to get off the streets there is often no way out. And the same for millions in the slums. The poverty trap. Recently we sent four men to work on the new construction of the church where Aries is Pastor. I think they get paid about £3 a day (average wage for construction) and I had loads of men asking if there was space for anymore. We could have sent twenty.
Matt Gamston
Kenya
During the last few days of 2007 violence erupted in Kenya when the results of a hotly contested election were announced. In Nairobi the worst of it was in places like Kibera, reputedly Africa’s largest slum and home to between 700,000 and one million Kenyans. When people were forced to flee their homes, the government and aid agencies stepped in and provided refuge for them at the Nairobi Show Ground, a large park with permanent facilities for shops and stalls for the annual Nairobi Agricultural Show. At present some 6,000 to 10,000 people are camped at this ground waiting for a long term solution to the problem.
As the show ground is walking distance from our house, I make three or four visits there every week primarily to distribute tracts and speak to people about the Lord, but also to offer practical help where needed. It is a wonderful opportunity for the gospel. People who had been busily engaged in work or business for years suddenly find themselves sitting around all day with nothing to do and are most grateful to be given reading material. Start talking to a small group of four or five and soon others come to hear what you have to say, turning the thing into an impromptu open-air meeting. I spoke to a group of five young men for over half an hour because they had so many searching questions about the way of salvation and how our sins can be forgiven. A Roman Catholic man who had never read the Bible in his life gratefully accepted a Swahili New Testament and immediately began reading it. In a visit of two to three hours, one can give away 500 to 600 tracts and hold up to twenty of these informal open-air meetings.
We praise the Lord for this wonderful opportunity. Please pray with us that we will be able to continue these visits for as long as the people are there. Pray also that they will continue to accept tracts and be willing to hear the word of God preached. From the third Sunday in January we are planning to have a service there each Sunday at 2 pm. Please pray that many would attend these meetings and that the Lord would work savingly in their hearts.
Macedonia
Things are changing in Macedonia and prices of most things are going up and people’s wages remain the same. People are worried about Macedonia trying to get into Europe because they can’t see wages getting better and yet people are struggling to live, electricity, water, food are all more expensive which is adding extra stress into people’s lives.
B is a 30 year old believer in the church here at Ohrid, she came to know the Lord a number of years ago and has faced problems at home from her parents who are Orthodox Christians. Two years ago her father died, then the problems became even worse because her mother believes that B’s new faith has brought a curse on the family and caused her husband’s cancer and death. Her Mother finally asked her to leave home saying, “I don’t want you here anymore”; this is far from unique in Macedonia. B was staying with a friend in Skopje while looking for work, she hasn’t found a job and she has been asked to leave. She has been given a small flat if needed here in Ohrid for a few months if all else fails in Skopje. When somebody becomes a Christian here there is always a price to pay.
Easter Project
Most years we have organised summer projects inviting folk from Britain and Albania to help in the village work during the summer. This year we hope to bring a group of Albanian believers over for the Easter holiday and we will be doing door to door work in the villages. It is always useful having Albanians reaching out to Albanians as this makes sense. A team of eight have been invited to come during Easter and help us in this work.
January 2008
Kenya
KISUMU
We are well and safe and thank you for your prayers for us here. The rallies were announced and are to take place over three days - so it’s easy to avoid that type of trouble - we just stay in the house. This is why we stayed in the 11 days before!!
The more dangerous aspects of life are sporadic acts of violence that can erupt at any time. In Kisumu the Human Rights Watch who have been to the mortuary have confirmed over 50 dead. The government says the rallies are banned so if you join a rally you can expect the 'full force of the law.’ This morning there was trouble on our side of town. More gun-fire than yesterday this side and plenty of crowd noise. The crowd blocked the roads so the General Service Unit (riot police) keep coming on the detour past our gate in their vehicle - we can see their helmets and rifles. We sit tight. We have spent the day doing email correspondence and phone calls keeping in touch with most of the pastors.
NAIROBI
Thank you for your prayers and messages of concern. Things remain volatile; the last two days have seen clashes between groups and the security forces. This is what gets reported because it is public, however behind the scenes a sort of 'ethnic cleansing' is taking place. I have written about S before. He is a Kikuyu by tribe, and has been living in a block of flats owned by his father in a poor area called Mathare North. But the area is dominated by Luos, some of whom occupy rooms in the block and who have been protecting S and his family. This afternoon the mob finally entered the ground floor, ransacked the place and set it on fire, then proceeded up to the top floors. We are told they were looking for S and his brother J, calling out their names. We took ourselves to prayer in the normal evening prayer meeting, and have recently learned that they have been delivered from so deadly a peril by a relative entering with 7 policemen. How relevant that we were reading 2 Corinthians 1:8-11 in the prayer meeting!
Abingdon | 18 January 2008
India
We have maintained our interest and support through providing funds to train and support pastors and church planters, to help fund the medical ministry and the literature work. We have also coordinated and participated in supplementing the teaching and training programme for the many pastors and church planters. The training programme is an ongoing ministry under the oversight of Tamil Baptist Church, Kilpauk. This ministry has involved a number of pastors from our supporting churches here in the UK, but how could we keep the vision alive in the hearts of many others who have been praying for India over the years? The “India Experience” was arranged to allow a number of people to visit the churches in Tamil Nadu, and to see many of the historical sites from the missionary era when foundations where laid for the planting of churches. There follows a report from one member of the party who herself presently serves as a missionary in Barcelona, Spain. She tells her story and shares her account of the India trip was indeed an experience.
The India Experience
It was 40 years ago that the Lord called me to serve him in India as a missionary with Grace Baptist Mission. However the Lord closed the door and it was impossible for me to satisfy that desire. Eventually after much prayer and waiting upon the Lord for His guidance I went to Spain where I have been working for the Lord for the past 34 years.
For many years when I retire I said that I would go to India as it has a special place in my heart. I haven’t retired as previously planned but I did want to visit that far off land and see something of the foundations of Grace Baptist Mission, the Churches, the Mission Compounds and especially the Kolli Hills. I sought someone to go with me but no-one wanted to go and I didn’t want to go alone. So I suggested to David Higham that there may be people in the churches who would love to do what I wanted to do. Finally a team of 17 set off from Heathrow and were met at Chennai by Yvonne and Cliff Langton.
The journey to the hotel was short but we could hardly believe the sights before us. Traffic which didn’t seem to have any rules except for ‘SOUND HORN’ which could be clearly read on the back of every vehicle. There were few pavements so hundreds of people were walking along the road just inches from the open sewage, together with the cows, the goats, dogs and anything that could move on wheels. People were walking bare foot and riding their bikes and driving their vehicles with nothing on their feet. We really weren’t prepared for such evidence of extreme poverty and the culture shock experience was severe.
We spent the following 13 days in Tamil Nadu, South India, visiting the Churches, the Schools and the Mission Compounds etc which had been founded by Strict Baptist Mission (now Grace Baptist Mission). It was a joy to see faithful Pastors and church elders continuing the work and to worship with our Indian brethren. It was sad to see some buildings abandoned and in ruins.
A highlight of the trip was to go up the Kolli Hills, not by bullock carts and then to be carried up the hills by coolies as our early missionaries had to but by road – not an easy journey with 70 hairpin bends to negotiate. On the way we saw monkeys and sandalwood trees as we left the plains behind us. It was a beautiful journey and in sharp contrast to all that we had seen previously. We were greeted by a small number of brethren. One elderly gentleman had been one of Mother Brand’s boys. We wandered around the old Mission Compound and solemnly visited the tombs where the Brands had been buried in the Kolli Hills where they had lovingly and faithfully served the Lord. What a privilege it was to have a picnic lunch in their bungalow which after so many years is still in a very good condition. We left the beautiful hills to return to the plains, the smells, the honking horns, the masses of people and so many sights that were unfamiliar.
One day we even saw a pig being carried on a bike. A lorry in front of us carried a huge load of eggs – how did they survive uncracked on those bumpy pot-holed roads? A lorry loaded with chickens in metal cages had stopped by the side of the road and a man was throwing water over the chickens presumably to help them survive the heat and get them to market alive. Buses were overloaded during the rush hour and came towards us on two wheels and not always on their side of the road. The incidents which we experienced could fill all the pages of our notebook and even more. The memory card of our cameras couldn’t hold all the sights. I had to purchase another card with 2 MB.
The overnight train journey was an experience not to be missed. Bunk beds were separated by curtains and compartments shared by men, women and children. Thank goodness no one brought any goats or any other livestock. Some had to travel 2nd class and had to squeeze in between the third bunk and the roof of the train – no room to breathe here!
But all in all we had a wonderful time and we would encourage you to pray for the Tamil Baptist Churches which were founded by our missionaries and for the work today that goes on by the national brethren.
Patricia Davies
Peru
I am on site early in the morning to buy materials if needed and to keep things moving along; and seeking to keep down the costs. The builders are making good progress and by the goodness of God it will be a place where the doctrines of grace will be proclaimed for future generations. We have applied for the building license and we are praying that it will go ahead without any problems and we would value your prayers that the Lord will not permit any delays during the construction. Thanks again to you all for your love and support towards us. God willing sometime during 2008 we will be holding the opening service for the new Church.
Ronny and Rocio have been aware of your prayers for them over the past several months following the devastating earthquake that struck his home town of Ica. Whilst his family were all kept safe, they were affected by the quake and his mother received some minor injuries as a result. Ronny spent some considerable time in Ica and was able to help where he could. The Church in Simon Bolivar provided him with funds to use in helping the Church in Ica, and in any other appropriate way. Ronny reported that the quake was so violent that his Mum had to crawl on her hands and knees; at the time she was on her own. The family later found her under the stairs. So you can understand his desire to go home for a time and be there to help.
Anthony, Roxy & Mellisa Rony, Rocio & Samuel
Who Will Go?
As we look back over the years the Lord has blessed those weekends and we have been privileged to see many men and women now serving on the mission field, who have attended the conference as part of their preparation. We look forward to hosting a similar event in the future as and when the need arises. We would direct the attention of Young people who are interested in hearing how others are serving the Lord in evangelism to the Saved2Serve event in London on Saturday 9th February 2008. This is coordinated by the Association of Grace Baptist Churches South East. Details can be found on their website: www.agbcse.org.uk.