SCOTLAND

Children’s meetings with Gordon McCracken

In early September, Gordon held a series of children’s meetings in Whitburn, and on the first night seventy-five children came. This was more than had attended any night the previous year. At the usual prizegiving at the end over one hundred and twenty were in the hall, made up of children, parents and local believers. Parents signed up about fifteen new children for the regular Good News Centre held on Sundays. We trust God will give the increase to this seed sown.

At the end of the month, working with the assembly at Holburn Hall, Aberdeen, he took children’s meetings in two separate parts of the city called Kingswells and Kincorth. It was very encouraging especially to see how the children learned the Scripture verse and its meaning. The prizegivings went well with a good number of visitors coming in especially at Kincorth and giving good attention. Twenty-five schools were also visited over an eight day period when around six thousand children would have heard the gospel.

In October he was with the Tayport assembly. The children who came showed great attention and on prize night there were nearly as many parents as there were children. Before the meetings began he was able to visit the schools in the area and take assemblies, so that many others heard the gospel. He was also able to distribute flyers for the meetings.

December opportunities

We should remember in prayer, and support as much as possible, the many ways in which individuals and assemblies throughout the country use Christmas and end of year occasions to spread the gospel. It is a real challenge to break into the cultural traditions and commercial frenzy of a typically British run up to Christmas! However, many thousands of specially produced tracts will be distributed in cities, towns and villages – pray that they will be read and not discarded among the mountain of mail which comes through letter boxes and the flyers handed out on the streets. In many Halls a Carol Service will be held which will be attended by a much larger than usual number of unbelievers on what they see as an appropriate special occasion – pray that the real message of the Saviour who came to Bethlehem and to Calvary will enter hearts and minds. Sunday Schools and Children’s Clubs will use the season’s focus to further their work of impressing the gospel on young minds – pray that many will receive the greatest gift ever given (2 Cor 9.15). And at the year’s end, pray that many may be caused to reflect on the passing of life’s opportunities and to seek the Lord while He may be found. The great eternity gets nearer, for the believer it will be heaven with Christ, for the unbeliever hell without Him.

N. IRELAND

Co. ANTRIM

Ahoghill: The Annual Conference was held on 6th November with P Coulson, A Sinclair, P Williams and P McClarty. Mr Coulson continued in ministry from 8th-12th November.

Ballybollan: Ministy Meetings were held from 1st-5th November with B Currie.

Ballymoney: Gospel Meetings concluded on 29th October. The town hall was well filled nightly as the Word was faithfully preached by R McKeown and T Meekin.

Buckna: Gospel Meetings commenced on 7th November. Elton Fairfield (Japan) and T Wright (Brazil) are the preachers. An interest in fellowship would be appreciated.

Bushmills: The assembly has carried out Sunday School outreach work for many years in the village of Dervock, about six miles from Bushmills. There has been an exercise for Gospel Meetings and a hall has been kindly granted. W Fenton and M McKillen are commencing in this needy area on 7th November. Interest and prayer would be appreciated.

Dunmurry: J Fleck and J Rogers commenced special Gospel Meetings in the Gospel Hall on 16th October. Large numbers are attending with many visitors.

"If the Lord will…"

Ballinaloob: – Gospel Meetings are expected to commence on 14th November. D McGarvey and T Wallace are to be responsible. Prayer appreciated.

Kells: There is an exercise to commence Gospel Meetings on the Tully site, Larne Road, in the portable hall on Lord’s Day, 9th January at 7.30pm and continuing weeknights at 8.00pm. Speakers: J Rogers and S Wells. Fellowship, prayer and interest would be appreciated.

Co. ARMAGH

Drumacanver Gospel Hall: Gospel Meetings commenced on 7th November and are being taken by H Milliken and M Campbell.

Lurgan: The conference was large and profitable. Those responsible for the Bible Readings were J Allen, D Gilliland, T Wilson, and J Hay.

Co. DOWN

Bangor: Ebenezer Gospel Hall. A Colgan had 2 weeks of much appreciated ministry on the book of Revelation.

Cardy Gospel Hall: M Radcliffe and J Procoppio have seen blessing in Gospel Meetings.

Dromore: J Martin and W Martin have seen good local attendance at Gospel Meetings in a portable hall near Dromore.

Mullafernaghan: T Topley and S Barr are continuing in Gospel Meetings at Ashfield in connection with this assembly.

@"If the Lord will…"

Ballymagarrick: Gospel Hall. Special Gospel meetings are expected to commence on Lord’s Day 23rd January at 7.00pm and Monday to Friday at 8.00pm with W Fenton and M McKillen.

Co. LONDONDERRY & Co. DONEGAL

Gortade: W Fenton and M Campbell preached the gospel for six weeks in the gospel hall. The assembly was greatly encouraged, not only by the attendance at the meetings of both saved and unsaved, but also because one man and two young people professed to have trusted Christ as their personal Saviour.

Magheracorran: S Gilfillan was with the assembly for one week of practical teaching based on the prophecy of Haggai. The assembly is in a rural part of Co Donegal and, although small numerically, it maintains a good witness and testimony.

Portstewart: R Plant was with the assembly for two weeks of children’s meetings during the month of October. About 35 to 40 children attended each night along with a number of parents. He was also invited to speak at morning assembly in nine local primary schools.

The assembly had their annual "drive in open-air" outreach during the months of July and August. There was an average of 150 cars in the car park each Sunday evening. There were different speakers each evening and the meetings were professionally recorded and are now available on DVD’s. The assembly has also been encouraged by four believers being baptised recently and received into the fellowship of the assembly.

Co. TYRONE

Ardstraw: D McGarvey and G Woods are expected to commence in the gospel early January (DV). Prayer would be very much appreciated.

Derryvale: (near Coalisland) Gospel Meetings commenced in a furniture store on Lord’s Day, 17th October. Speakers: W Boyd, J Bingham.

Donemana: A well filled hall gathered for the Annual Conference held on 14th October. The speakers were D Rogers, A Patterson, B Glendinning, J Hay, G Woods and R Wilson.

Donemana Gospel Hall: Gospel Meetings are expected to commence on 14th November. Speakers: B Glendinning and N Coulter.

Killycurragh: Gospel Meetings were held with J Rogers and D McGarvey and ended on 17th October. During the course of these meetings the hall was filled nightly. Local people attended extra well and consistently. There was also blessing in salvation.

Lungs: The believers gathered for the Annual Conference held on 2nd October. Speakers were J Rogers, J Allen, S Gilfillan, and W Martin.

Newtownstewart: Large crowds gathered in the Gospel Hall to hear ministry by D Gilliland during the last week in October. His special subject was "Assembly Assets and Assembly Additions".

EIRE

Longford: Two weeks of Gospel Meetings were held in the Knockanboy Gospel Hall during October. These were based on prophetic subjects and L Craig used a simplified chart to illustrate coming events. Although the overall numbers were small, there were those in attendance that were long prayed for. The feedback from those who attended amounted to 19 questions which were addressed after the last meeting.

Skibbereen: The assembly held their annual week of children’s meetings and were very encouraged by the number of children who attended regularly. Quite a few adults came with the children and stayed through the meeting. L Craig taught the children from the Gospel of John.

ENGLAND & WALES

Cheltenham: The Christians at Bethany Gospel Hall have been celebrating the 50th anniversary of the testimony from the Gospel Hall in Hesters Way, built in 1960. An Open Day was arranged in July and 5,000 invitations given out. There was a tremendous response from the townspeople and those on the Estate, with many turning up on the day who used come to Happy Hour, Sunday School, and Seekers in years gone by. Many memories were shared with many people, beyond what had really been prepared for, but it was obvious that good impressions were made - many children have since come to our Wednesday Kids’ Klub which has trebled in numbers, and families to our gospel meeting on a Sunday afternoon. Special joy and thanksgiving came when one lady who had regularly attended our gospel meeting for the last ten years trusted the Saviour.

On our Annual Conference Weekend in October, in the afternoon there was a time of thanksgiving with reflection and rejoicing in God’s faithfulness, then evening ministry from Ken Rudge and Ceri Reese who have had a long association with the assembly at Cheltenham. We are encouraged to continue sowing and watering the seed with prayer, assured that God will give the increase.

Hanslope: Gospel meetings began on 24th October with R Eadie and A Barber. Prayer for the salvation of souls would be appreciated.

Coventry: The saints at Upper Hill Street Gospel Hall were greatly encouraged following a week of children’s meetings with Mervyn Hall of Bicester. Regular Sunday School numbers have doubled as a result. Prayer would be appreciated for sustained long-term interest and growth.

Bicester: In October, a week of ministry from Sandy Higgins on the walk of the believer was much appreciated. A Chinese lady who has been attending gospel meetings for two years recently professed salvation.

Bromborough: During June, July and August, 7,500 special leaflets were distributed in the town. These were designed to complement regular tract distribution and to describe the beliefs and practices of the local assembly. A prepaid reply card was included - a number of responses were received and have been followed up. During the last week in September and the first in October a gospel effort took place with Stephen Baker (Huyton) and Philip Armstrong (Bromborough). Unsaved folks present on each evening were primarily brought through the personal contact of local believers. During door-to-door visitation some good conversations were held although there was also much apathy and indifference. An Afternoon Tea attracted about twenty unsaved folks and the Sunday Family Gospel Tea saw fourteen unsaved adults and nine children present to hear a clear gospel message – many have had contact with the assembly for a number of years. The numbers in the children’s Sunday Special are showing a gradual increase and more consistent attendance. Please pray that we may see God at work.

Wallingford: The assembly held a series of gospel meetings in their hall during the last two weeks of September, and were encouraged by the faithful preaching of Roly Pickering from Northern Ireland. Larger numbers of unsaved people attended compared with recent years, including many teenagers who walked to the hall on several nights. The meetings were preceded by a short series of weekly meetings held in the homes of various believers. Earlier, audio CDs and the Ultimate Questions booklet had been distributed to all the homes in the town. Please pray that the seed sown may be blessed in the salvation of souls.

Ealing, London: The assembly at Ealing held their annual holiday Bible club during the last week in October. The average number of children who came regularly was in the mid-thirties. L Craig taught the children for the first hour from the Gospel of John while others reinforced the message with worksheets and crafts during the second hour. A good number of adults came to the evening prize-giving held on the final day.

Yorkshire

The 15th annual Yorkshire Bible Study Week was again held at the end of October at Sneaton Castle Centre, Whitby. Ian Jackson was responsible for the meetings. Excellent Bible Readings on Romans 8, and ministry on the Red Sea and the Jordan crossings, were helpful and challenging to the group of around 100 believers from all parts of the UK and some from Canada. The warmth of the fellowship was also greatly appreciated.