SCOTLAND
Dundee Street Work
For some time Michael Cordiner has been reaching out to the homeless on the streets of Dundee, and he is now manning a soup kitchen 4 nights a week. Prayer is requested particularly for John who has been sleeping rough on the streets for some years. He did not want to go into a hostel because of the younger drug addicts there and usually slept under the Tay Bridge. He has just been sent to prison for threatening to shoot someone so we pray that the Holy Spirit will remind him of all we have told him over the years. We have shared the gospel with some Eastern Europeans recently but the language barrier can be a problem, although tracts in their own languages have been well received. They have not been in this country for a year so they cannot get access to the hostels - some sleep on the street, usually in bin shelters. We have long prayed for Tam; last week he asked for another Bible and the next day was full of questions about John’s Gospel. Tommy has Christian relatives, meets with us regularly in our office in Hilltown, and is very open to the gospel, but we are not sure where he stands spiritually.
Aberdeenshire
Graeme Smith reports on the spiritual progress of some young helpers during the Holiday Bible Club in Inverurie Gospel Hall, and on blessing at the Aberdeen and North-East Youth Camp. Many of the children asked questions about salvation, and four young people asked about baptism. It was encouraging to see some of them being baptised after they returned home. He is presently visiting ten schools and has the privilege of presenting the basics of the Bible to classes from nursery up to Primary 3. Pray that the Lord will continue to give favour with Head Teachers, their staff, pupils, and parents.
Ayrshire
The Bible Exhibition was in Dreghorn in September, with school groups visiting mornings and afternoons. Five schools sent pupils, primary and secondary, from Dreghorn, Springside, and Bourtrehill. Over the week around 240 children with their teachers were presented with the gospel message. In addition, around 40 children from the regular Monday night children’s club were shown round. It was open for the general public at any time during the day, and a few adults from neighbouring churches and the immediate locality came in. Following the Bible Exhibition, a week’s special children’s meetings were held with an average of 40 children coming many of them new to the Monday Club. They learned Acts 16.31 and heard various Bible stories. Behaviour was good overall and quite a few parents came on the last night for the prizegiving.
N. IRELAND & EIRE
Co. ANTRIM
Ballinaloob: A week of children’s meetings was held in Ballinaloob Gospel Hall from 20th-24th September. During this week the local schools were visited and the message was well received. L Craig was responsible for these meetings, and about 45 children attended nightly.
Ballyclare: Large numbers attended the meetings to hear J Fleck and S Gilfillan faithfully preach the gospel. The meetings concluded on 1st October. There has been blessing in salvation, and the saints are encouraged. Pray for others.
Ballymoney: Gospel Meetings commenced in the Town Hall (kindly granted) on 3rd October and continue for 4 weeks. R McKeown and T Meekin are responsible.
Ballywatermoy: Gospel Meetings concluded on 12th September. There was good interest and the Word was faithfully preached by E Robinson.
Clonkeen: Ministry meetings with J Allan took place in a refurbished hall from 6th-9th September. Large numbers attended and very helpful messages were given.
Kells: Children’s Meetings were held in a tent at Moorfields from 6th-10th September. Local brethren participated and there was good interest.
Kells Gospel Hall: J Grant gave challenging ministry from 12th-16th September on "Lessons from the lives of four Revival Kings of Judah".
Sandringham: Ministry Meetings were held from 4th-7th October. J Fleck was responsible.
"If the Lord will…"
Ballinabloob: Gospel Meetings are expected to commence on 7th November in the Gospel Hall. D McGarvey and T Wallace are to be responsible.
Buckna: Gospel Meetings are expected to commence in the Gospel Hall on Lord’s Day, 7th November. Elton Fairfield (Japan) and T Wright (Brazil) are to be responsible.
Co. ARMAGH
Ardmore: The assembly held their Annual Conference on 25th September. There was a full hall with profitable ministry. The speakers were J Rogers, J Baker, H Lowe, and W Fenton.
Newtownhamilton Gospel Hall: Gospel Meetings are continuing into the sixth week and are attracting a few locals. Speakers: S McBride, T Wright.
"If the Lord will…"
Ardmore Gospel Hall: Gospel Meetings are expected to commence on 7th November with D Gilliland and T Castles.
Co. DOWN
Bangor, Central Gospel Hall, had a challenging and encouraging week of meetings with B Martin on the subject of "Discipleship".
Holywood, Downshire Assembly, had two weeks’ gospel meetings conducted by P McCauley on the subject "Life’s most important questions". Support from other assemblies was greatly appreciated, though local response was disappointing despite the distribution of 3,500 invitations. A local broadcaster attended one of the meetings and interviewed the elders, promising to put part of one of the meetings on air.
Newry: The assembly held a week of children’s meetings in the Mourne Country Hotel. They were very encouraged with the number of children present. Of the 50-60 children who attended there were those from both sides of the community. Four of the surrounding schools were visited during the week. L Craig was responsible for the meetings.
Co. FERMANAGH
Currien: Our brother David McGarvey, assisted by other brethren relating the story of their conversion, concluded an encouraging 5-week visit to this rural area of Fermanagh. The district was visited house by house, tracts were left with the residents, and useful conversations carried on with many. Local believers were greatly encouraged when two ladies confessed Christ as Saviour. Do continue to pray for further blessing, and spiritual growth in the lives of these new converts.
Drumlone: Samuel Nelson and Gary Woods concluded a 6-week series of gospel meetings in an outreach hall near Lisnaskea. The meetings were well supported by local believers from neighbouring assemblies, and it was encouraging to see some unbelievers from the district attending from time to time. Pray that the faithful presentation of the gospel will yet bear fruit for His glory.
Enniskillen: Following a visit to the Model Primary School, L Craig had a week of children’s meetings which were held in Enniskillen Gospel Hall. Thirty to forty children attended.
Co. LONDONDERRY & Co. DONEGAL
Bellaghy: J McClelland (Nova Scotia) was with the assembly for teaching on "Back to Basics for Christian life and Testimony". Three believers were baptised at the close of the meetings.
Drumenagh: D Gilliland and J McClelland (Nova Scotia) had six and a half weeks of tent meetings with several professing to be saved. One feature of the meetings was the attendance of believers from the locality who are not connected with the assembly.
Gortade: W Fenton and M Campbell are in their fourth week of meetings (end September). Encouraging numbers of the believers’ children are attending and one man has professed to be saved.
Co. LONGFORD
During the summer, the fifth annual week of children’s meetings was held in the Reids’ home. Many contacts have been made during the years and a good interest has been shown in the gospel. L Craig has been responsible for the children’s meetings and proposes to follow these contacts in the Knockanboy Gospel Hall during October. Two weeks of Gospel Meetings are planned focusing on prophetic subjects.
Co. TYRONE
Cookstown: At the beginning of September, S Jennings had a week’s ministry with the believers on some of the parables from the Gospel of Matthew.
Dunmullan Gospel Hall: During September, Robin McKeown had a week of ministry meetings with this rural assembly. His subject was "Assembly Truths".
Killycurragh: Gospel Meetings are continuing as at 1st October in a portable hall on the motorcycle paddock, Orritor Road, Cookstown, with good interest. Speakers: J Rogers and D McGarvey (D Radcliffe helped during the first week when D McGarvey was in Currien). The believers have been encouraged by blessing and the large numbers of visitors attending.
BELFAST
Carryduff Gospel Hall: The Annual Conference on 4th September was a time of spiritual profit with heart-warming, Christ exalting, and practical ministry from J Salisbury and B Griffith. Mr Salisbury continued during the following week speaking on "The Day the Saviour Died". The presence and power of the Lord were very evident and good numbers attended each evening with interest. The ministry was devotional and challenging, and the assembly was encouraged and blessed, together with believers from other companies.
"If the Lord will…"
Cloughfern Gospel Hall: Tim Reid and David Williamson plan to hold gospel meetings in Monkstown Community Centre in fellowship with Cloughfern assembly during the month of November. Prayer would be much appreciated for blessing.
ENGLAND & WALES
Stoke-on-Trent
Peter Brandon was with the believers at Trent Vale, Stoke-on-Trent, in July for meetings. There was an encouraging attendance, including quite a number that had been contacted in similar meetings in May. Consequently, the believers are exercised to follow this up with a further series being arranged for October.
Leicester Camp
At the Leicester Camp this summer Ian Jackson was responsible for the girls’ week and Paul McCauley for the boys’ week. The gospel was faithfully preached each day, and one girl professed faith in Christ during the first week’s meetings. This valuable work has been a real blessing in seeing souls saved and young people challenged to live lives committed to the Lord. Prayer is requested that the Seed sown might yet bear more fruit in young lives.
Dorset: Weymouth
Once again it was a privilege for the assembly at Bethany Hall to host the Beach Mission for the first two weeks of the school summer holidays. The teams were not as big as in previous years but enjoyed the support and fellowship of Bethany and two other assemblies in Weymouth. The daily routine started with a time of Bible study and prayer, following which, at 11.00am, weather permitting, the team headed for the beach and erected the gazebo and banner on their allotted spot to commence the morning activities. The Holiday Special session followed lunch and extended on two days each week to include parents, and then in the evenings there was a two hour period of open-air preaching and tract distribution.
Prayer was answered regarding the weather, and on only two occasions did they have to leave the beach, but spent the time in the town centre tracting and conversing with people and opening the Hall for refreshments.
Up to 30 children attended the morning sessions and up to 60 the Specials in the afternoons; one young girl even crept back twice after having been removed by disapproving parents! Three children signed up for the Postal Bible Club, and one boy was at every meeting as he had been over several previous years despite his grandparents’ lack of interest. Another family said that because of the enthusiasm of their children over the years they have to arrange their holidays to coincide with the Mission!
As a result of the meetings, a number of good contacts have been maintained both in the usual gospel meetings and the regular Friday coffee mornings. Please pray that the Lord of the Harvest will give the increase, and that it will redound to His glory.
