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Is
A praying friend sent me an article that asked the question, ‘Is
It is true that Islam has been targeting the
In the midst of this decline, though, comes a reawakening of new parts of the Church. While the dross of the dead institution is washed away more and more, the evangelical living church is getting stronger. Many small house churches have begun and some of them have grown to be leaders in the Christian community. There are strong brothers and sisters here having gone through the pain of loss. Perhaps we have something to share with our brothers and sisters in the
Years ago as the
Now the world comes to the
The question we should be asking is, how do we reach the many people groups that need the gospel right here on our door step? The Lord loves those who we see as a threat to our culture and society. How can we reach the world starting here at home in the
As Beckie and I have been stepping back from the leadership of Grace Church in Shirley we have been asking the Lord to show us our next steps. (We will continue to be a part of this wonderful church, and we want to see it flourish reaching the world around it.)
Here is what we see on the horizon. We have been reaching out for the last 20 years through a group of Speakers Clubs. I was a member at one then started another. It is still a great outreach point for Malcolm and me. This past experience has prepared me to take the next step. We really want to share the gospel widely and see what the Lord does in establishing new points of light (infant churches). Our question has been, how can we meet the most people in a natural way in order to share the gospel in a meaningful way?
We are making plans to start English as a second language clubs. I will be taking a course in teaching English as a second language when I get back from ‘home ministries’. The teachers of this course and wider in the language school, ‘The Brass House’, can put us in contact with many in our city who wish to work on their English. We already have plans to start a club with some Iranian friends. Many have basic vocabulary and are able to get what the want, but struggle with fluency. We would take up where the introductory courses leave off. We would love to see many such groups started in the
Britian is not finished. While there is still a lot of bad news coming from this place, the Lord has not quit! With your help, together will share the gospel to the world come to us in
The Christian Institute: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/
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Who are
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Till He Returns may He find us Faithful! January 2010 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -- What will our response be to the nations coming here? -- What about W my Egyptian friend? -- What does the Lord want for them? -- Please Pray with us for Tim Hartman's ministry -- A Special Thanks! Dear Friends, We are excited to find what the Lord has in store for our lives this year. Generally that means walking with the Lord in His mission to reach His world. In the last year we have been privileged to meet many first generation immigrants from over 7 different countries. We are learning to share God's love primarily by helping them with their English. We are helping with both and Iranian and | |
I met with Mohammed last night. He is has been here for a year after arriving from | |
What about W my Egyptian friend ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tonight I will meet with W an Egyptian. He drives a fork lift truck. He is sending money home to build a house for his family. He is a good Muslim who needs the Lord. This is either a great threat or a great opportunity. Perhaps some people like W will come to Christ. Najib and I will continue to share Christ with W. Some of the 'Churches' will die, they are in areas of the city that now are very ethnically mixed but the ones on mission will take the challenge to bring Christ to the world all around us. We will continue to need to see new Churches planted. Please pray that many on mission churches will join with us as well. | |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Most 1st generation immigrants are working jobs that no one else wants, not because they are not bright, but because their English is not good enough. Many of them have not had much education and they can't even read their own language. They are not trying to conquer I believe that what Satan means for evil God can use for good. We want to encourage God's people to reach out to the world all around us. It would only take 2 people and a room to meet for 2 hours a week to begin to meet the needs of many who need to learn English. In the process we will be given the privilege to speak and demonstrate God's love. | |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please pray that Tim Hartman who will be with us here for the next 3 months. Please pray that the Lord use him in reaching out to many. I am praying that the Lord will bless Tim and those he meets while he is here. Tim is finishing up his training at Liberty Seminary and is looking forward to what the Lord has for him and Meagan. Meagan will join us as well for his last three weeks he is here. | |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I want to thank you for your faithfulness in prayer for our ministry. We greatly miss our 'Yoke Fellow' Jim Knepper who is now with the Lord. He faithfully prayed for us everyday for over 23 years. We are praying for Edna and the rest of the family. We want all of you to know how much we value your prayer. We can do a lot of work, but only the Lord can change a heart. The Lord wants to answer your prayer as He draws people to Himself. Our work only becomes valuable when the Lord is in it. Please continue to pray! Thanks from the bottom of our hearts! Together In His Grip! Bill & Beckie |
Hi Everyone,
We’ve heard parts of the
Many of those who are coming to the ‘Speaking Allowed’ club in Ladywood are also seeking work. Their English is not good enough to give prospective employers confidence to employ them over someone who has better English. Please pray with us that this valuable help will display the love of Christ and that the Lord will use these difficult times to draw many to himself.
Adult education courses are likely to be swamped this year. As the new term gets started in September Bill will be helping out again in
John Piper’s definition of wisdom has helped to focus our attention on what we can do to reach the lost in the
'Wisdom is the ability of the soul to perceive God-glorifying, Christ-exalting, gospel-fashioned, people helping ways to live, with the knowledge God gives us.' (Colossians 3:16; James 3:13-18)
May the Lord give you and us wisdom and strength to do what we can, to use all that we are and all that we have to share the good news of Christ and his sacrificial love for us during these uncertain days.
Recently at Film Club Brenda said we were good advertisements for religion. Thanks for praying that the ensuing conversation with Brenda about our relationship with Christ as opposed to religion will have a lasting impact in her life.
Beckie has been looking for a new secretarial position for some time and thankfully the Lord has provided one. She’ll be working for the local Council at a training centre for education consultants. She finishes her current job on the 2nd of September. We are looking forward to a visit from Beckie’s twin sister and her husband for a week and then Beckie starts the new job on 14th September. Thank you for your prayers for her continuing testimony to those she’s leaving behind and those people she’ll be working with soon.
The challenging economic climate (Laura has tried to explain quantitative easing but with limited success as far as her mother is concerned) causes us to once again be humbled by your giving to allow us to minister through you here. May God continue to supply your needs.
Grace Church:
Things done over Easter:
· Good Friday Witness Walk
· Saturday Children’s outreach combined with Shirley Churches Together
· Quiz Night: lead by Andy & Cathy Pollard, over 80 in attendance we shared the Quiz and Fish & Chips.
· Sunday we enjoyed rejoicing in the Lord’s resurrection along with you
· Tom & Joyce Baker’s 60th wedding anniversary: They are still serving the Lord and the rest of us at Grace Church coffee & Tea each Sunday
Things coming up to pray for:
· Gareth Davies will lead a Children’s event at the Layca Centre called ‘Explosion.’ Please pray that the Lord will begin a good on going work among children from the area around
· Elders training days with Tom Barlow 15th – 17th May: This could be a great weekend with the leaders of our two churches in
· Visit with Paul Klawitter & Fenton (GBIM board member) and Judy
Mc Donald 29th – 31st May: We are looking forward to the encouragement that they will surely bring.
Speaking Allowed: Ladywood: We have had a good start! Currently we have 4 from
Adult Education: