Scotland

Kirkconnel

During the last two weeks of May the saints in Kirkconnel had Gospel Tent Meetings with Dan Gillies and Aaron Colgan.  These brethren visited many homes in the village and over the two weeks a number of unsaved folk came to hear the gospel.  A good number also gathered for the Children's Meetings.  Please pray that God would yet move in salvation in this village which has long had a faithful gospel witness.

Peterhead

Three weeks of Gospel meetings were held in York Street Hall during May. Roland Pickering was due to conduct these meetings but was unable to come, however the Lord helped and blessed in unforeseen circumstances. Different brethren shared the responsibility for preaching: Ian Jackson preached during the first week, local brethren in the second week, then David Williamson from Belfast in the third week. Attendance fluctuated, but overall quite a number of unsaved folk heard faithful gospel preaching, and though there were no known cases of professions of faith the seed has been sown. Another encouraging feature was the attendance of several Christians from other gatherings in the town. A local Church of Scotland minister, himself a faithful gospel preacher, intimated the meetings from his pulpit and encouraged his congregation to attend. Some expressed appreciation and said that they had been spiritually refreshed, and the assembly too has been blessed and encouraged.

Inverurie

Graeme Smith reports that the Aberdeenshire Bible Exhibition went smoothly with around 340 Primary 6 pupils visiting Inverurie Gospel Hall. Prayer would be appreciated for the pupils who heard the gospel and for those who requested a Bible as a result.

Special Summer Events

Over these months many opportunities are available and are being taken to distribute gospel literature at the many cultural events now commonplace throughout the country. Local Gala days, town and country Shows and Fairs, and notably this year the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow are places where the gospel is being spread widely by personal witness in conversations along with specially designed tracts and portions of the Word of God being offered to thousands of people. May the Lord bless this work and call some to seek the Lord while He may be found.

N. Ireland & Eire

Co. ANTRIM

Ballintoy: The assembly held open air meetings in the evenings around the local villages. Those involved were given a very good reception and profitable conversations took place with individuals. There was attentive listening from people who came out of their homes to hear the gospel. D McGarvey was helped by local brethren.

Ballymena (Cambridge Avenue): W Martin and J Fleck had three and a half weeks of Gospel Meetings in Carniny Primary School (kindly granted) during June. A time of blessing was enjoyed with large prayer meetings and the school assembly hall was filled nightly with many visitors attending. The Lord was pleased to bless in salvation. This was a very profitable and enjoyable time as the Lord granted His help and presence nightly. The believers were encouraged. The meetings concluded on 2nd July.

Ballywatermoy Gospel Hall: The hall was well filled to hear excellent ministry by D Gilliland during 3 nights in June.

Kells: E Fairfield had two weeks of Gospel Meetings in a tent on a site on Byrestown Road (kindly granted). The tent was packed nightly with many visitors attending to listen to the matters raised in the special subjects announced. A very encouraging time.

Co. FERMANAGH

Enniskillen and neighbouring assemblies benefitted from a week of ministry by J Riddle in June.

Co. ARMAGH

B Glendinning and H Milligan hired the local courthouse in the village of Caledon for one week of gospel meetings. Although the meetings were small, the men were encouraged as about 20 visitors came to hear the gospel.

Co. DOWN

Annalong: N Burden was with the assembly for three nights. On two of the evenings he gave very helpful ministry on the "Good Samaritan" and John 1, and on the third evening he gave an interesting report of the Lord's work in Nova Scotia.

Ballykeel Gospel Hall (Mourne): The assembly was encouraged with the good attendance at their Annual Conference held on 26th June. Brethren W Boyd, J Wishart, M Ratcliffe, A Davidson, and J Meekin gave timely ministry. A special testimony meeting took place on 28th June, when Tom Meekin and his four sons, David, Thomas, Robert, and John participated. John gave a short account of his call and a report of the Lord's Work in Nova Scotia. There was good attendance from the assemblies and others from the locality.

Ballynahinch: Gospel Meetings are planned (DV) in a tent on a site on the Lisburn Road starting on 27 July. The local assembly is very small, and prayer and support would be much appreciated. Speakers: A Davidson and S Nelson.

Kilkeel: T Matthews gave three nights of instructive ministry drawn from the life of Samuel.

Newry: R McKeown was with the assembly on three evenings of very encouraging Ministry on Ruth 1, 2 Corinthians 1, and Song of Solomon 1. The assembly also took a stand at the Newry Agricultural Show, assisted by R Plant. Hundreds of bags containing appropriate literature, pencils, etc. were distributed to adults and children. The response was most encouraging.

Co. LONDONDERRY & Co DONEGAL

Killykergan: S Gilfillan and J Fleck are expected to commence Gospel Meetings in the Gospel Hall, commencing on 27th July.

Limavady: John Rogers has been with the assembly for five nights of open air preaching in different areas of the town. These districts were all well visited with tracts and invitations. There were evenings, due to some very good weather, when people were able to sit outside and listen to the preaching of the gospel.

Trentagh (Co Donegal): A Colgan and G Woods had three and a half weeks of Gospel Meetings, in a tent, in this country district eight miles from Letterkenny. Numbers were small, but over the weeks a number from the area attended and good conversations were had through visitation.

Co. TYRONE

Fintona Gospel Hall: The assembly had a series of ministry meetings conducted by Mr T Matthews (Brazil) from 8th-12th June.

Martray: The annual conference was held on 14th June. Those present heard ministry by R McKeown, U Ussher, T W Wright, J Lennox and A Davidson.

Sion Mills Gospel Hall: The annual conference was held on the last Saturday in June. A packed hall heard profitable ministry from E Fairfield, W Boyd and R Thomson (Glasgow). It was noticed that a good sprinkling of young people were present.

England & Wales

Stockport

Wesley and Alison Downs request prayer for several of their contacts. M from Maidenhead has recently joined their programme. He is a contact of folks in the assembly, having been in prison and now showing a good interest in the gospel. He is unsure about settling into the programme with Stockport a long way from home. However he is staying with Robbie and is keeping busy with different jobs at the mill, and plans to get involved with some furniture restoration work. He pays good attention at the Bible times in the morning and seems to get on well with the other people. Please pray that the Lord will work in his life and that his interest will flourish, also that he will settle and not find being away from his family too difficult.

T is nearly 3 months into the programme but is beginning to slip back into his old ways. He admits that he loves his drugs too much and the pull is too strong for him to cope with. Addicts have a deep love for their sin and it is only by loving Christ more and putting Him first that they will be delivered from its pull. Please pray that T will turn to the Lord to strengthen him in times of difficult and deep temptation. We know that the Lord can break the power of cancelled sin and set the captive free but he needs to trust and obey.

N has now started an apprenticeship in business admin. Over the last few months we have seen changes in him and a growing appetite for the Word - in his room recently he had his Bibles open and a notebook studying the Scriptures. Please pray that as he begins to attend college one day a week he will be able to stand for Christ, nailing his colours to the mast, not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.

B keeps in touch. She is now working full time and called recently to say that she wanted to pay off her debts now that she has some money. This encouraging sign came from her desire to obey the Lord, and recognising His goodness to her.

Birmingham

Andy Mullan regularly preaches in the open air in various districts of the city and has made some interesting contacts recently. A was born a Buddhist and married a Jew but now is a Muslim – she had some strange views but was very open to talk. One concept she could not grasp was the necessity of sacrifice, and shortly before she went her way Hebrews 9.22 was quoted to her. About 15 minutes later she returned to ask for the reference to be written down, and to exchange email addresses. H was born a Muslim but has already moved away from Islam because of how he was treated as a child. He has married a nominal Christian lady whom he says is at the point of wanting to start attending church again and he would like to go with her. He stopped and listened intently to the preaching and afterward stayed to talk. T came with the question, "How do I become a Christian?" Romans 10.9 was the answer given. He went on to explain that he had been reading a Bible in secret for some time. He seems compelled by the gospel, but is struggling with the cost of losing friends and family and possibly even his life especially if he has to return to Pakistan. Pray for many Muslims like T who are drawn to Christ but face such persecution.

Pamber Heath

Blair Martin was in Pamber Heath for two weeks gospel meetings in June. Sinners were present on almost all nights, and a number came from local denominations. The gospel was faithfully preached.

Personal

Jim Jardine (Brazil): Our brother Jim would like to apologise to fellow-believers for the delays in responding to those who have sent gifts and letters. His very long and painful illness has made the carrying out of such duties difficult. He would greatly appreciate the prayers of the saints for him, Carmen and Francisco.