SCOTLAND
Islands and the North
Gordon McCracken spent a week in Shetland during March for school visitation and children's meetings. He conducted ten primary school assemblies and took an R.E. class in one secondary school. The pupils listened very well to the messages, each school showing appreciation of the visits. Around 60 children attended meetings held each evening in Sound Gospel Hall. One head teacher brought his daughter each night and was among a good number of parents at the prize-giving. Many encouraging contacts were made as a result of this effort. Please continue to pray for young people's work in Shetland.
He was also with the Cullen assembly for their annual Holiday Club during the first week in April. A total of 115 children came, many of whom memorised the daily text. The prize-giving was attended by over 70 parents, friends and relations, mostly not yet saved. In spite of a throat infection, Gordon was able to present the gospel very clearly and faithfully to the children each day and at the prize-giving. Please pray for the Lord's blessing on all who attended, and for the regular Sunday School work in the Gospel Hall.
Graeme Paterson's visit to Orkney has been very encouraging. Whereas schools have been difficult to access for the past two years, it has totally changed and they are now very open to visits - he had six schools during the week and had to cancel a day trip to the island of Sanday due to stormy weather. Also numbers rose nightly at children's meetings to over 50 in both Kirkwall and Stromness. Two years ago at his first meetings two children attended! This work in Orkney has been helped by the Lord greatly. God willing he has plans to have further meetings and school visits in May, and also to try some Gospel Meetings, then in the summer to hold a Holiday Bible Club in Kirkwall. Already some have promised to attend. Please pray for this very needy area.
Lanarkshire
Anna and Graeme Paterson held a "Gospel Weekend" at Faskally House, Pitlochry in February, with 40 unbelievers from Plains and Kirkmuirhill coming on the Friday and leaving on Saturday evening. During this time there were two adult Gospel Meetings and a children's meeting with other activities during the day. The weekend was a great success, with many good conversations, and existing relationships strengthened. Please pray for this work as another week is planned for Easter, 2015 (DV). This gives a tremendous opportunity in the gospel as people sit and listen, and even more by seeing close up how believers' lives witness to their faith in Christ.
Please pray for the schools work. At a recent meeting with the Head of Education for North Lanarkshire and Glasgow City Council about a project on WW1 in Schools, the outcome could not have been better - they are happy to endorse this "talk" and have even offered to pay for any printing or expenses incurred. They propose that Graeme visits each school in North Lanarkshire and secondary schools in Glasgow. If this moves forward there will be over 150 new schools to visit!
"If the Lord will…"
God loves Ayrshire intend (DV) to distribute gospel literature in Troon on 14th June. For further information call 07827 966798.
Leadhills: Alan Smith, Kirkconnel plans Gospel Meetings in the Leadhills Hall, South Lanarkshire, ML12 6YA on Tuesdays 10th, 17th, 24th and Friday 13th, 20th, 27th June at 8.00pm (DV). Prayer appreciated and support requested for the work in this remote and needy area which has been without a gospel witness for a number of years.
N. IRELAND & EIRE
Co. ANTRIM
Ahoghill Gospel Hall: S Wells had Ministry Meetings from 28th-30th April.
Ballyvaddy Gospel Hall: D McGarvey and A Steele continue with Gospel Meetings in the new hall. Prayer and fellowship valued.
Clonkeen: J Fleck and J Rogers are continuing with Gospel Meetings in Carsons of Duneane's furniture store, Randalstown. An encouraging start. Support and prayer would be appreciated.
Clough Gospel Hall: W Boyd was with the assembly from 5th-9th May, on the subject of "Egypt to Canaan", illustrated by a large chart.
"If the Lord will…"
Summer Open Air Meetings: Every Saturday evening in July and August. Portstewart: Promenade by the Cenotaph 7.00pm. Portrush: Town Hall 8.00pm. Support welcome. In association with Portstewart and Portrush Gospel Halls. (See box advert.)
Ballintoy Gospel Hall: D McGarvey and W Fenton are expected for Gospel Meetings in September.
Co. TYRONE
Castlecaufield: B Glendinning commenced meetings in this area on 24th March in a portable hall. This was an outreach exercise as this town has had no gospel meetings for a number of years. Unfortunately, the response from the local area was poor. However, some Christians' children did come along to hear the gospel.
Killycurragh: D McAllister was with the assembly for a week of profitable and well attended Ministry Meetings. The support of believers from neighbouring assemblies was very much appreciated.
BELFAST
Glenburn Gospel Hall: T Armstrong and J Rogers concluded 4 weeks of Gospel Meetings. The Christians worked extremely hard and were most encouraged by the number of unsaved people who attended. There was rejoicing in seeing God's hand in salvation.
The Belfast Easter Conference this year was well attended and seemed to be enjoyed by those who were present. We had the help of visiting brethren A Sinclair (Scotland) and M Derksen (Canada) who, together with local brethren, shared in the ministry. The help of all our dear brethren was much appreciated. The Home Workers' Report meeting was shared by brethren D Williamson, D McAllister and R Pickering. Those who took part in the Foreign Workers' Report meeting were E Johnston (Ukraine), R Armstrong (Tanzania) and M Derksen (Canada). All of the above gave most interesting and edifying reports of the Lord's Work in which they are engaged. The closing Gospel Meeting on the Wednesday evening was taken this year by brother W Martin (Ballymena) who gave a clear and challenging presentation of the gospel to a well-filled hall. The convenors greatly appreciate all who willingly helped in both the providing and serving of refreshments over the conference period and to the many ushers who greeted and seated people every day. We look for results both from the gospel preached and the ministry and reports given.
Co. LONDONDERRY & Co. DONEGAL
Gorteade: S Higgins was with the assembly for four nights of devotional and practical teaching based on the closing chapters of John's Gospel.
Limavady: The Annual Conference was very well attended, including a good number of young people. S Higgins conducted a very profitable Bible reading on Hebrews 13, and in the evening gave an insightful and very challenging report on the furtherance of the gospel in Mexico. He was also with the assembly for five nights of ministry. The afternoon session was for the ministry of the Word, and helpful teaching was given by A Davidson, R Plant, R Armstrong, and D McKillen.
Co. ARMAGH
Newtownhamilton: J Rogers had two Gospel Meetings in Mary Lockhart's home in April. The immediate area was well visited and some local people attended. This sister has been deeply exercised over a number of years about her neighbours, and these meetings were arranged with a view to a follow up at a later stage. Prayer would be requested for this needy border area.
Co. DOWN
Bangor, Central Hall: Michael McKillen was with the assembly for four nights of very encouraging and practical ministry based on some Old Testament characters.
Kilkeel: N Fleck was with the assembly for much appreciated ministry during the first week of April on the subjects of Salvation, Separation, Submission, and The Sanctuary.
Newry: A Finney, with the support of the Newry assembly, arranged meetings for children on each Tuesday evening of the month. G Rogers was the speaker. The response was very encouraging with many local children hearing the gospel for the first time, and all of them learning John 3.16 by heart.
Portavogie: The New Road Assembly Annual Conference held on 26th April was well attended, with helpful ministry given by W Nesbitt, A Davidson, J Rogers, W Boyd, M Derksen, S Wells, and B Currie.
ENGLAND & WALES
London
Nitish Patel and other brethren held a week of children's meetings in April in South Norwood with over 80 children attending through the week and also up to 20 parents coming along.
Pray for the children's work at Wembley, as Nitish Patel assisted by others is now holding two children's meetings each Saturday. This is to enable them to cope with the good interest and the numbers of Hindu children attending the Gospel Hall.
John and Janice Frost report that the work in Tottenham continues with encouragement, with as many as 19 outsiders attending the Gospel meeting. The outreach to the homeless and marginalized continues week by week with the gospel preached in English and Polish to the many who come in. Their attention is excellent and many good conversations follow. New faces are seen weekly along with those who have come over weeks and months and in some cases years. Showers and clothing are very popular - another way of showing practical Christian love and concern as well as meeting a very real need. For these people we continue to provide a hot meal at the close of the Gospel Meeting. A number of non-marginalized friends have also started coming to the Gospel Meeting, the All Age Service and the mid-week Bible Study.
Recently a group from the local museum visited the Hall for John to give a talk on the history of the building in which the assembly meets, mentioning also some who have been associated with the assembly over the years and are well known locally or nationally. It is 176 years since the work first commenced in Tottenham and 175 years since the Hall was opened. In recent years several local historical groups have visited like this, providing an excellent opportunity to reach a different section of the community. This time 25 visitors came and took time to chat after the talk and tour of the building.
Bicester
There was good interest and good numbers at the Easter Conference when Ian Jackson and David Vallance were responsible for ministering God's Word. Also up to 5,000 Seed Sowers packets were given out in the locality during the conference weekend.
Lancashire
A good number of believers from several areas came together at Cleveleys in April for a Seed Sowers weekend in which thousands of these texts were given away in Blackpool. Pray that that this distribution of God's Word may bring salvation to some precious souls.
"If the Lord will…"
Sydenham: Gospel Hall. J Black is expected to commence Gospel Meetings on 22nd June.
