SCOTLAND
Strathclyde: The assembly at Barrhead invited Stephen Grant for a series of gospel meetings in June. The attendance of some people from the town was an encouragement to the believers who had been busy distributing many tracts and invitations before and during the meetings. Many were challenged by the powerful gospel messages delivered each night, and the assembly is praying that fruit may yet result from the seed sown. Good support was given by other assemblies in Renfrewshire, for which the Barrhead believers were very grateful.
Orkney: The small assembly in Stromness again used the occasion of the annual July "Shopping Week" in the town to reach out with the gospel. Bert Cargill from St Monans was invited to conduct the effort and he gave three interesting Power Point presentations in the Gospel Hall on creation themes entitled Why is Earth so exactly suitable for life?; Why is man so very different from all other creatures?; and Does it matter what you believe? Each of these ended with a clear gospel emphasis and challenge. He concluded the series on a different note with an illustrated report of a recent visit to a conference in rural Zambia where over 14,000 believers had gathered from assemblies in an area not much larger than Orkney. This was to make the point that the gospel and its service is worldwide, that while in some cases our numbers may be small, assemblies are flourishing and expanding in other parts of the world, and we may be assured that God is at work in many places. The meetings were advertised in the Shopping Week literature and on Radio Orkney, and they were attended by an average of 30 people each evening, some of them not saved, with around 50 different people coming in over the four evenings. Believers from the other Orkney Mainland assemblies gave good support and many spoke of being helped and encouraged in the Lord both by what was explained and by the literature made available.
Summer Activities: With the arrival of September, we do well to reflect on and especially to continue in prayer over the great amount of gospel work which has been done during the summer period. Youth camps in Shetland, at Faskally House, Pitlochry, and elsewhere have reached many children and teenagers and not a few have been influenced to seek the Lord and find Him, and others to be baptised and follow Him. Organised series of meetings have been held in tents and halls as reported in these pages from time to time. In addition, many assemblies and individuals have reached out to their own communities in a variety of ways appropriate to their own situations. There have been week-long Holiday Clubs held for local children by many assemblies, open air meetings almost every week in shopping centres and elsewhere, Book Stalls have been set up and manned at many local Gala Days and Shows at the seaside and in country towns, and thousands of gospel tracts and booklets have been distributed. May it please the Lord to bless His Word thus made known and may His Holy Spirit convict many of their sin and lead them to the Saviour whom they need.
N. IRELAND
Co. ANTRIM
Ballinaloob: For the second year, childrens meetings were held in Killyrammer Community Centre from 26th-30th July. Local brethren were involved, and 50 children attended nightly. An encouraging effort.
Ballybollan: Large numbers attended the Annual Conference on 12th July when ministry was given by D Williamson, A Davidson, B Glendinning, L Craig, W Nesbitt, and J McCann.
Ballyclare: Gospel Meetings commenced on Lords Day, 8th August with J Fleck and S Gilfillan.
Ballymena: Cambridge Avenue had a very good week of childrens meetings in Galgorm Community Centre with I McClean from 14th to 18th June.
Ballywatermoy: Gospel meetings are to commence in the Gospel Hall on 16th August. They will take place on Lords Days at 6.30pm and on weeknights at 8pm. Earnest Robinson (Edenderry) is to be responsible and prayer would be valued.
Broughshane: D McGarvey had open air meetings during the first two weeks in August.
Bushmills: Exceptional numbers attended the Bible Readings with R McKeown when 2 Thessalonians 2 & 3 and 1 Timothy 1 were profitably considered with help from visiting and local brethren. Open air meetings were also held in Bushmills and Portrush during the mornings.
Carnlough: Visitors and locals heard the gospel preached at the annual open air meetings from 18th-22nd July. Local and visiting brethren helped.
Kells: Open air meetings with J Rogers, helped by local brethren, were held from 26th-30th July.
Larne (Craigyhill): The Annual Conference and Bible Readings were held in Larne Leisure Centre from 27th to 31st August.
Portrush: Ministry meetings were held from 26th to 30th July. The attendance was excellent, with very challenging, helpful ministry on future events given by J Hay. The meetings were very much appreciated.
Co. ARMAGH
Bleary Gospel Hall: The Annual Conference was held on 3rd July. The Bible Reading was led by D Gilliland. Speakers: W J Nesbitt, J Stubbs, S McBride, D Usher, and B Glendinning. The conference was helpful and profitable.
Co. DOWN
Ballymagarrick Gospel Hall: The Annual Conference on 13th July was very well attended. Encouraging and helpful ministry was given by A Sinclair, L Craig, J Allen, J G Hutchinson, B Martin, and D McGarvey.
Ballymagarrick: The childrens outreach held in Carryduff Primary School was most encouraging this year with Jeff Rogers as the speaker. The number of different children over the week in attendance was 160, of whom 60 had never been before, and there was an average of 115 nightly. The Word was faithfully sown and no doubt will bring forth fruit.
Ballywalter Gospel Hall: The assembly organised a stand offering literature at a local fete and were very pleased by the response.
Bangor (Central Gospel Hall): This year the open air meetings were held during the first fortnight of July on Bangor seafront and were conducted by R Pickering helped by M Shanks. There was an encouraging response though the weather was not always ideal.
Cardy Gospel Hall: M Radcliffe had a weeks ministry on the subject of "The Garments of the High Priest". The assembly greatly appreciated the instructive and thrilling ministry.
Co. TYRONE
Dunmullan: The Annual Conference was held on 12th July. A well filled tent of believers heard ministry given by J Hutchinson, S Gilfillan, A Sinclair, S Jennings, S Nelson, and G Woods. This conference has been taking place for over 90 years.
Killycurragh: Gospel Hall. J Rogers and D McGarvey are expected to commence gospel meetings on 12th September (God willing). The assembly would appreciate support and prayer for this special effort. NB. There will be no conference this year due to the holding of these gospel meetings.
Kingsmills: The Annual Conference was held on 12th July. A large company of believers were blessed with helpful ministry given by J Allen, J McCelland, J Martin, W Taylor, W Boyd, and J Fleck.
BELFAST
Co. LONDONDERRY & Co. DONEGAL
Bridgetown: T Wright and S Gilfillan have finished four weeks of gospel meetings in the district of Copany near Bridgetown (end June). Numbers attending from the locality have been disappointing, but there has been liberty in the preaching and one woman has professed to have trusted Christ for salvation.
Creeslough: S Patterson, G Stewart, and H Hunter had six weeks of gospel meetings in a mobile hall in the district of Cashel near Creeslough. A feature of the meetings was the number of worthwhile conversations that took place as invitations and gospel literature were being given out in the area. A number of those who attended the meetings showed definite signs of being interested in salvation.
Drumenagh: The small assembly intend, in the will of God, to have a series of tent meetings on the Magherafelt Road on the outskirts of Ballyronan village. The meetings commenced on Lords Day, 26th July. The preachers are D Gilliland and J McClelland. Prayer would be appreciated.
Gortade: J Fleck was with the assembly for five nights of teaching on various aspects of the believers position in Christ and their role in the assembly. Good numbers attended and the teaching resulted in a baptism the following week.
ITEMS FOR PRAYER
Albertbridge Road Gospel Hall: The new season of Bible Readings commences on 4th September. The studies will be in the book of Zechariah, and will be conducted by Mr Dennis Williamson (Belfast).
Ballycastle: During the Lamas Fair on 30th and 31st August, open air meetings will be held at the sea front on the promenade at 12.00pm and 2.00pm.
Ballyduff: Gospel Hall. Testimony meetings will be held each Lords Day in September DV: 5th, Mr A Weir; 12th, Mr J Parkinson; 19th, Mr M Howe; 26th, the Williamson family, Dennis, David, and Andrew.
Mr Roland Pickering is expected for ministry commencing 18th October for 3 or 4 nights at 8.00pm.
Ballymoney: Gospel meetings are expected to commence in the new Ballymoney Town Hall (kindly granted) on 3rd October and continue until 29th October. Those responsible are T Meekin and R McKeown. Prayer is definitely requested for attendance, interest, and blessing.
Glenburn Gospel Hall: Mr Brian Currie is expected for meetings Lords Day, 17th October. Gospel at 7.00pm, and from Monday to Friday at 8.00pm.
Laganvale Gospel Hall: Mr David McGarvey is expected for two weeks gospel meetings commencing on 24th October, with testimonies each evening.
Newtownbreda Gospel Hall: Mr Norman Mellish is expected for meetings commencing on 19th September. Gospel at 7.00pm. Mr Mellish continues Monday-Friday in ministry at 8.00pm.
ENGLAND & WALES
Wembley District: Nitish and Elen Patel write: We are rejoicing at further blessing we have seen in Wembley with another Gujarati Hindu man saved during the Hindi meeting in March. His name is Bhavesh and he has been coming to the gospel meeting and Bible class since last October. Bhavesh was baptised in April and is now in assembly fellowship. Around 60 were present for the occasion. When he was received into fellowship he got up to pray and thanked the Lord for his salvation. He has made much progress and has nearly read through the whole Bible. He has been helping daily in the campaign at Wembley giving out tracts and speaking to people.
Gujarati Radio Program: The number of listeners is slowly growing and a few letters from enquirers have come in to the Living Waters radio studio in Bombay. With the help of the Lords Work Trust, 20,000 gospel booklets in Gujarati have been printed each of which has the program details displayed on the back. We value prayer that as these are distributed more listeners will be attracted.
Harrow: A week of childrens meetings in Harrow in July saw good numbers of youngsters daily listening to the Word.
Bicester: Tent meetings began in late July. There was a good response in the morning childrens meetings and help was given to preach in the evenings for Frank Sona and Marvin Derksen (Canada).