SCOTLAND

In August, a group of believers from the Linwood assembly in Renfrewshire had another weekend of camping, with the objective of tracting a remote area and visiting a small assembly on the Lord’s Day. Most stayed in tents in the middle of the Cairngorms, and distributed tracts in Aviemore, Kingussie, Newtonmore, Kincraig and some hamlets in between, using the Rio Olympics tract with a nice cover note introducing who they were. On the Lord’s Day, they met with the small assembly in Kingussie, who were encouraged to have around 20 visitors with them to remember the Lord.

Paul Jenkinson had his tent pitched for two weeks in August at Girvan, Ayrshire, where there is a small assembly. It was in a well-populated area of the town and, although very few locals came in, many people passing by or living nearby saw the texts and heard some of the preaching, some listening deliberately. Meetings for children were quite well attended, and believers from other assemblies supported the work.

At the Gospel Hall, Dedridge, Livingston, Gareth Edwards and Alasdair Baijal had two weeks of Gospel Meetings at the beginning of August. 10,000 invitations were distributed, but very few responded or came to hear the message. There was some encouragement as one lady professed faith in Christ, and three folk were baptised as a result of earlier work by the assembly.

At St Andrews in Fife there is a regular weekly Gospel Meeting in the Gospel Hall to which a few people come. During the week of 22nd - 26th August there was a high profile Gospel effort in the town, led by Gareth Edwards and Graeme Paterson, including public talks for half an hour each evening on ‘Famous Scottish Christians and the Message they Loved’; an extremely good presentation of the Gospel by enthusiastic preachers. The effort was supported by an equally enthusiastic and dedicated team of 20 believers of various ages from places as far apart as Brae in Shetland and Carrickfergus in Ulster. They stayed as a group in one of the university residences, and busied themselves during the days distributing 14,000 high- quality A5 invitation cards with a clear Gospel message to the many visitors and locals in the town centre and by the famous Golf Course, and into each home. They also travelled out to include each of the villages from St Monans to Crail in the distribution. A large trailer advertised the meetings, and in the afternoons Archie Deans conducted tours around sites associated with the rich historical Christian heritage of St Andrews, supported by specially-written tracts on John Knox, Samuel Rutherford, the martyrs Patrick Hamilton and George Wishart, and Saint Andrew. It was gratifying to see the Gospel Hall completely full each evening, and, although most of the space was taken up by the workers, and some believers from nearby assemblies, up to ten others came, some every night, in response to the hard work put in during the days. Pray that lasting results may come from this special effort.

N IRELAND & REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

CO ANTRIM

Larne: The recent Conference and Bible Readings held over the Bank Holiday weekend, 26th - 29th August, saw increased numbers, including many younger believers, attend. The Bible Readings on 2 Timothy were considered helpful, and the ministry practical. A special Gospel Meeting on the Lord’s Day at 8.30pm saw many unsaved present to hear the Gospel clearly presented. A sense of the Lord’s presence was recognised by all.

Ballycastle (Lammas Fair): The Annual Open Air Meetings conducted on the seafront on 29th and 30th August were very well supported. Thousands of tracts were distributed, and help was given by J Rogers, R Pickering, B Glendinning, R Plant and various local brethren, all of which was much appreciated.

Belfast (Bloomfield Gospel Hall): Willie Fenton and Andrew Steele commenced Gospel Meetings on 11th September, and plan to continue until 2nd October, DV.

CO DOWN

Ballykeel (Lough Road): The assembly is very encouraged by the good numbers attending the Gospel Meetings currently being conducted by S Gilfillan and W Martin, including a good number of unsaved.

Dromore: The assembly held Open Air Meetings in Dromore and the surrounding district over almost three weeks, with most encouraging response.

Drumlough: G Woods and N Fleck continue in the Gospel, with several unsaved attending.

Growell: The Children’s Bible Week was held again in Hillsborough with L Craig, from 8th - 12th August. There was an excellent response with approximately 165 children, including many teenagers, present each evening.

Moneyreagh: The meetings conducted by B Currie and J Palmer in a tent pitched on Comber Road, Ballygowan are continuing, with encouraging attendances.

Newry: A week of Open Air Meetings was held in August. Many homes were visited, God was good, and the weather was favourable.

CO LONDONDERRY

Drumenagh: L Craig had a well-attended week of Children’s Meetings, with many parents and travelling folk present each night.

CO TYRONE

Fintona: The Annual Conference was held on 17th August, and a capacity crowd heard Bible-based ministry from A Davidson, J McCann, J Palmer, B Smyth, G Woods and I McKee.

Kilmore: The Annual Conference was held on 30th July. A good number of believers attended. Speakers were B Glendinning, A Colgan, E Fairfield, J Fleck, S Nelson and D Armstrong.

CO ARMAGH

Clonroot: Gospel Tent Meetings being held in a local Garden Centre now continue into the sixth week, with good attendance. Some strangers are there nightly. Speakers are A Davidson and S Nelson.

“If the Lord will ...”

Tassagh: Gospel Meetings are expected to commence in early October with M Turkington and D Strahan.

CO DONEGAL

Bridgetown: The assembly had three nights of encouraging and practical ministry with N Mellish in July. They were also very encouraged by the ministry, and numbers present, over their ‘weekend of ministry’, and the Ministry Meetings following, with D Gilliland. Nearly 300 saints gathered on the Saturday, and many stayed over for the Lord’s Day, as well as for the four nights of ministry. The small assembly appreciated very much the attendance of so many believers, and also the help of the brethren who took the time to come and minister the Word.

ENGLAND, WALES & CHANNEL ISLANDS

Lewisham, London 

Jonathan Black had a week of Children’s Meetings and Gospel Meetings in August, with an encouraging response from the neighbourhood.