PRAYER. focus APRIL MAY Dear Praying Friends

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1 PRAYER focus Dear Praying Friends APRIL MAY 2015 Robert & Elaine Murdock BIBLE COLLEGE PRINCIPAL We are in the final weeks of the second term and we will join the Faith Mission staff at Bangor convention over Easter. Please pray for the students four-week spring placements 24 April - 21 May which will be in Scotland and England this year. This is an important time of year for applications and we ask you to pray that God will stir hearts and call people to prepare themselves for a life of ministry and service. The college will be represented at conventions in Bangor, Bandon, Edinburgh and the North Ulster Bible Weekend near Ballymena. Andrew Quinn will be at a conference in England called New Word Alive over Easter. We look to the Lord to use us at these events. Over the past months we have been looking at the various roles of the support staff at the College. This has resulted in the redefining of these jobs and reducing the number from four to three. The job descriptions of the three new roles at the College is available on the College website fmbc.ac and we are seeking the Lord to lead us to the people He would have in the roles of registrar, maintenance and repair worker, and house parent/house keeper. Please pray for Scott and Patti Worth who have already indicated they will not be applying for any of the new roles and will be returning to the USA, and for Alistar Frater, the office administrator, and Suk Jha Lim, the house manager, as they make decisions about their futures. Alistar s wife, Karen, has undergone back surgery and is facing a challenging time of recovery and would appreciate prayer. We are grateful to all the support staff for all they do on a daily basis in the life of the College. Yours in Christ Robert Murdock BIBLE COLLEGE PRINCIPAL GENERAL HEADQUARTERS Govan House, 548 Gilmerton Road, EDINBURGH, EH17 7JD (0131) FAX (0131) h hq@faithmission.org WEB

2 SCOTLAND SOUTH DISTRICT Praise God for one young man who put his trust in Christ at the Airdrie Ebenezer weekend of meetings. Another weekend is planned for April in preparation for the mission May. We also give Gordon & Janice Thomson GLASGOW God the glory for the work that was accomplished at the missions in Dumfries and Johnstone. Please pray for the Arran tent mission 26 April - 3 May. There will be various outreach opportunities during the week as well as the gospel meetings each evening. I join Donnie Macleod on 14 May for a mission in Maryburgh. We thank you for your prayer support over recent weeks. Please continue to pray that in our meetings we will really experience a deep sense of the glory of God in our midst. In 2 Chronicles 7:1-2 we read, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it. We thank God for his anointing on the preaching of Rev Peter Grainger and Joe McNeilly at the Edinburgh Rallies with many having spoken in appreciation of their ministry. We look forward to Danny & June Chambers Edinburgh Rally on Saturday 2 May and Greenock Rally on EDINBURGH Saturday 16 when the speakers will be Rev Wayne Sutton and Andrew Quinn respectively. HIGHLAND DISTRICT Thank you for your support of the work done in Lochaber. We have had many encouragements lately particularly seeing some of the people we have had contact with becoming Christians and joining local Justin & Carol Cummings FORT WILLIAM churches. Praise God for what He is doing. Our children s work is continuing to grow with two other schools interested in Bible Alive. It has been going well in Fort William Primary School and the kids have given Carol a few pointers which she will take on board. We continue with SU in Lochaber High School and visits to Kinlochleven High School. Pray we may be allowed to do assemblies in these schools. Pray for the Road to Recovery meetings in Kilmallie Free Church and Fort William Baptist Church, our youth meetings and preaching engagements during this period. Please also pray for the new minister in Fort William Baptist Church, that he and his family would feel at home and be well used by God. Donnie & Catherine Macleod INVERNESS We praise God for the thirteen young people who attended our youth weekend in mid-february, some for the first time. There was an excellent spirit right throughout the weekend and the Lord blessed the ministry and testimony Dan Paterson shared. As well as the solid spiritual input, there was a real sense of unity and we came away feeling it was a very worthwhile time. I look forward to joining William Harrison and the team in Arran for the tent mission there. 2

3 Wednesday 1 April Meeting in Maryburgh to share the vision for the tent mission to be held mid-may. Sunday 19 April I take both services in the newly refurbished Dornoch Free Church May Tent Mission Maryburgh: we are really grateful for the help that enabled us to secure a very central site for the tent on a green area in the town. There is a full programme planned for the two weeks, including: Saturday 9 A family fun time to kick things off; pray for a good day as we hope to run events inside and outside the tent and get as many people interested as possible Gospel meetings every night except Saturday After school clubs 4-5pm Saturday 16 Coffee morning Pray for the team coming to help us: Justin Cummings and Gordon Thomson and students, James Brown, Siân Galbraith, Grace McKeown and Alana Speirs. This mission has great potential to reach into the community and we ask for earnest prayer for the advance of the gospel in this area and beyond. EAST DISTRICT It has been encouraging to have positive feedback with Christian literature taken at the end of meetings. On Thursday 2 April I speak at the Mustard Seed ladies meeting in Glenrothes and take the service Kathy Wood KIRKCALDY Nigel & Ruth Wilson PETERHEAD at St Monans Evangelical Church on Sunday 26. I look forward to our rally at Dunshalt on Tuesday 21 April at 7pm. Nigel has had a number of good spiritual conversations with unsaved elderly folk while doing door-to-door visitation in Peterhead. Pray that people will be more open to talk about spiritual matters and that God will use the literature given to save souls. We have known the Lord's help at recent services. Pray for folks we have met with various spiritual needs and problems in their lives. Ruth continues with Mums and Tots, ladies meetings and Sunday School. Nigel takes Allandale Nursing Home on Thursday 23 April, morning and evening services in Peterhead Baptist Church on 3 May, and Fraserburgh Baptist Church on 10 May. Praise the Lord for His help in the recent series of Bible studies with Fraserburgh Baptist Church as we looked at King David s final word and the importance of finishing well. I look forward to being at Noel McClintock the Bangor Convention over the Easter weekend. On returning I have ABERDEEN a full programme of meetings throughout the District as well as our series of rallies. We welcome Rev Tom Shaw as the speaker at the Fraserburgh Convention followed by a series on Spiritual Revival in St Combs. RALLIES Dunshalt ~ Tuesday 21 April at 7pm with Andrew Quinn Aberdeen ~ Thursday 30 April at 7.30pm with Noel McClintock Buckie ~ Thursday 7 May at 7.30pm with Noel McClintock 3

4 FRASERBURGH CONVENTION Friday 8 - Sunday 10 May in the Baptist Church FRIDAY & SATURDAY AT 7.30PM SUNDAY AT 8PM SPEAKER: REV TOM SHAW A series of meetings on SPIRITUAL REVIVAL Thursday 14 - Sunday 17 May in St Combs Assembly of God SPEAKER: REV TOM SHAW ANGLO SCOTTISH BORDER DISTRICT We give the Lord praise and thanks for the encouraging time of mission at Bethany Evangelical Church in Dumfries. The attendances were excellent and it was especially good to have so many unsaved in William & Carolyn Harrison NEWTON STEWART each evening. Quite a number of these were new contacts with wideranging needs. Praise the Lord for a young boy who earnestly and clearly sought the Lord for salvation. Along with the ongoing practical work, which increases at this time of year both in the Camp Centre and on the grounds, we continue with the regular District programme of meetings. I speak at Hesket Newmarket Free Church on Sunday 19 April. Donnie Macleod, Gordon Thomson and I, along with a team of Bible College students, conduct a tent mission on the Isle of Arran Sunday 25 April - Sunday 3 May. Please be much in prayer for this mission. Thank you to those of you who have been upholding us in relation to our son Kyle s planned spinal surgery. Unfortunately the operation did not take place in February due to lack of an ICU bed and was rescheduled for Friday 20 March. ENGLAND SOUTH WEST DISTRICT We are currently planning and preparing for a three day Holiday Bible Club in Bovey Tracey 1-3 April. FMBC students Gavin and Rebecca Harrison join us for two weeks in May as part of their Spring Ian & Hazel Gilkinson LEWDOWN placement. We plan to work alongside the Rev Colin Halstead for one week of that placement in Warmley, near Bristol, where outreach will involve a children s mission and residential home visitation and services. Gavin and Rebecca will also be involved in our regular District programme. We have been very encouraged to receive so many camp bookings so soon, with both camps now virtually half full. Ian has left forms at all the schools in which he takes regular assemblies; do pray that more children from these schools will attend camp. FUTURE EVENTS Launceston Rally Tuesday 9 June at 7.30pm Baldhu Rally Friday 12 June at 7.30pm BBQ in the Barn Friday 26 June at 7.30pm Speaking and singing: The Ayrton Brothers 4

5 NORTH DISTRICT Teaching the overview of the Old and New Testament Bible Explorer has been encouraging and challenging with some real searching questions being asked. We have three schools after Easter for Bible James & Lynda Bovenizer PRESTON Explorer. Lynda speaks at a ladies afternoon on Saturday 25 April at the Word of Life Church, Congleton. We continue with Sunday services and mid-week meetings at Word of Life Church, Congleton, Banks Methodist Church, Bible Pattern Church, Blackpool and Salem Congregational Chapel. Three students from the Faith Mission Bible College join us 25 April - 21 May to help with outreach alongside Banks Methodist Church, near Southport, 25 April - 7 May including a tent mission weekend 1-4 May. We then move to Chorley Evangelical Church 8-21 May for an outreach programme engaging in street evangelism, gospel meetings, coffee mornings, a children s programme etc. Please pray that God will use us for His glory as we go forth with the gospel message. Our regular work continues this month including the Globe student café on Monday nights in Gateshead and energise youth group in Bethany Christian Centre on Tuesday nights. Both of these events have been having encouraging numbers. Mark continues to preach on Mark & Sheena Nelson SUNDERLAND a regular basis and services over the next few weeks include Broadmead Way Evangelical Church, Sunday 19 April and Rowley Baptist Church, Sunday 3 May. Paul Curwen NORTH LANCASHIRE fun days using balloon modeling skills. I speak at a number of services over the next few weeks: Good Friday morning service at Capenwray Evangelical Church, Capenwray evening service on Sunday 26, and Nether Kellet family service in the morning of Sunday 3 May. I continue to be involved with Open Church at Lytham St Annes Free Methodist Church and am also encouraged to be getting more bookings for both meetings and family I speak at a number of meetings including Bethel Evangelical Church, Ripon, on Sunday morning, 19 April, and Broadmead Way Evangelical Church on Sunday 26. We have a gospel outreach service Alistair & Sharon Patterson at Leyburn Mission Hall on Easter Sunday afternoon at 3pm; we YORK would love to see others coming in from the town. On Easter Monday, we have the annual Leyburn Rally in the Methodist Church at 3pm when we look forward to having Pastor Donavan Lurrie with us as the speaker. SOUTH EAST DISTRICT The after school clubs at Platt and Vigo were particularly encouraging, with a number of children trusting the Lord at Platt. Some have booked for camp. The Kent Camp is 1-3 May, but we Arabella Paul KENT need a very definite increase in numbers of children booking in. In the coming weeks I will be preparing for both the teaching and practical aspects of camp. Please pray the children will be kept safe and will 5

6 meet with the Lord. On Sunday 19 April I take both services at St Barnabas Church, Istead Rise. The Kent Rally and Fellowship Tea for supporters of the work is Sunday 10 May at Istead Rise. David & Donna Ohin NORFOLK We have experienced increased opposition lately at the open-airs in Norwich. A man attacked us physically a few times. Eventually the police came, handcuffed him and took him away. Please continue to pray for our protection. David was able to visit C (recently saved and mentioned last time) quite a few times to read the Bible and pray with him, which has been very profitable. It s great how he knows he is a child of God. Because he can t read we gave him an audio player with the Bible on it. C also watches preaching DVDs to spiritually nurture him. He needs much prayer. We continue with Open-airs, school assemblies, visiting and various meetings in the next few weeks. Stephen & Cynthia Walker EARL STONHAM The second phase of the building project is scheduled for April and May. The old building is down, the site is cleared and we are ready to commence! Our desire is to have the building fully functioning for camp which will take place July/August. Please pray with us for good speed. We are entering into a busy season when a number of exciting things will be happening. CHRISTIANITY EXPLORED I am waiting on confirmation as to whether or not we are able to use the local Costa Coffee in Stowmarket to run a Christianity Explored in conjunction with Mickfield Evangelical Church. If this venue is unavailable we do have other options. Our proposed plan is for seven Thursdays from 23 April. There are a number of non-christians interested in doing the course. SPRING PLACEMENT Students Gavin and Rebecca Harrison along with Kyan Frith join us for their spring placement 25 April - 8 May. As well helping in the above course we will be visiting on the Gainsborough estate in Ipswich with a DVD, helping at Kent camp, taking school assemblies in our immediate area alongside other preaching opportunities. CONFERENCES The Ipswich Conference this year takes place in Shepherd Drive Baptist Church on Saturday 16 May at 3pm. Our Bible College Principal, Robert Murdock, is the speaker. This year for the first time we have planned a youth conference at the Centre at Red House Farm. This will also take place on 16 May at 7.30pm, and again Robert Murdock will speak. SOCCER SCHOOL Soccer School is held here at Red House Farm May for children 7-14 years. At the time of writing I have had contact with twelve local schools to promote it via school notices, leaflets sent home and opportunities from assemblies. Last year was very encouraging when we had significant contact with young families in the surrounding area. The Soccer School is done in conjunction with Sports Reach, based in Lancashire. Soccer is only part of the story! There is about an hour and a half in the middle of the day which is 6

7 given over to Bible teaching and small discussion groups. Last year a number of the children stayed behind to talk about giving their lives to Jesus. Pray with us this year that as the gospel is shared young hearts would be receptive to the message. ADVANCE NOTICE SHARE THE VISION MEETINGS Tuesday 9 June ~ Great Ellingham Wednesday 10 June ~ Horham Thursday 11 June ~ Whepstead Saturday 13 June ~ Stowmarket CENTRAL DISTRICT Team working on the EARLESFIELD ESTATE GRANTHAM Daniel & Grace Howson Andrew & Grace Morton Earlesfield Community Church, Grantham: We had an amazing holiday club in February with an average of fifty five children each day. The family event on the Friday evening attracted over eighty and was a great way to build relationships as well as renew contacts. The five students from our Bible College were an incredible help and contributed greatly to the success of the week. One family in particular are attending church and asking lots of questions. We have made a start at interviewing key people on the estate to try and identify particular needs that our church can seek to meet. These questionnaires are proving valuable in gathering information but also giving opportunities to speak of the gospel. We look forward to our second anniversary on Easter Sunday and plan an Easter club on Easter Monday. A team of twelve from USA joins us on 18 May for two weeks of outreach and evangelism. This will include two half term clubs and some social projects on the estate. Our summer camps are booking up well; if you would like details please get in touch on or central.english@faithmission.org WALES It has been a privilege to be involved in visitation in the past few months, particularly in hospitals. During a recent visit I had the opportunity to read and pray with three out of six patients in a ward and was able to share the gospel with one of the gentlemen. We see Paul & Elizabeth Crowe NEWTOWN visitation as a vital part of our work and would value prayer as we continue to take every opportunity to either share the gospel or to bring encouragement to the Lord's people. EVENTS Newtown Evangelical Church - Sunday 12 April Llandrindod Wells Evangelical Church - Sunday 12 April Bwlch y Sarnau - Sunday 19 April Learn to Lead - Thursday 23 April Reading Group - Monday 27 April Grace Independent Reformed Church, Neath - Sunday 10 May Learn to Lead - Thursday 14 May 7

8 FM events Bangor Convention Easter 2015 April 3-7 SPEAKERS George Verwer - Robert Murdock Derek Maxwell - Harold Vaughan William Park - Jackie Hughes For further information hq.ireland@faithmission.org tel: (028) including Living Hope youth events 2015 Tuesday 30 June - Sunday 5 July Speakers expected... JONATHAN LAMB ~ ROBERT MURDOCK ~ PETER MAIDEN ~ JOE BARNARD DAVID HARRISON ~ JOHN MATTHEWS ~ JANICE QUINN ~ ROBIN SYDSERFF A programme for all ages... Morning Bible Readings Evening Word and Worship Youth Track Seminars CONTACT DETAILS (0131) admin@faithmission.org REJUVENATE FRESH HEART edinburgh convention 30 June - 5 July 2015 Faith Mission & Missionary Training Home (known as The Faith Mission) is a charity registered in Scotland No. SC for young people part of FM Edinburgh Convention quality Christian fellowship solid & relevant Bible teaching challenging adventure activities SPEAKER : JOE BARNARD BOOKING INFO: rejuvenate@faithmission.org tel: