As I have been preparing this particular issue of the prayer letter I have been struck by a number of things that seem to be happening throughout the world that are having an affect on the church. Of course one of the big issues of our day is the rising tide of Islamic militancy that threatens the church in Northern Africa, Central Asia and South-east Asia.
Then there is the difficulty of making ends meet for churches. All around the globe there are churches facing great difficulty in getting funds to construct places in which to meet. This is so in India and the Philippines to name a couple. Brethren, please consider giving financially to these brethren as good stewards of what God has entrusted to you for the good of the church.
Then there are visa problems for Christian missionaries throughout the world also. Since September 11 security issues have grown throughout the world.
Then of course there is the issue of continuing persecution throughout the world. We in the west know little of this.
JERUSALEM - VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS:
Antony Simon (Pastor)
The ministry of Voice in the Wilderness has distributed some 1000 videos over the last six months. The work of follow-up is now progressing. There is a need for more volunteer workers for the ministry.
An interesting evangelistic enterprise by Voice in the Wilderness are the Free Friday Tours. At the end of the tour gospel literature and the Jesus video is distributed to those that are interested. Advertising regarding these tours are torn down and destroyed by the Orthodox Jews.
The congregations in both Jerusalem (35 people) and Kiriat Gat (60km south of Jerusalem) have new people attending. Evangelistic activities occur in Kiriat Gat on Tuesdays.
There are four and a half million Jews in Israel today, one million having come from Russia. There are a number of services and activities in Russian.
CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH - NEESES
South Carolina (USA)
Calvary Baptist Church is still seeking a senior pastor. They are seeking God's man for the position.
Deacon at the church, Dan Kimmel, is a friend of Northlake's Reformed Baptist Church (NRBC). Please uphold Dan and his wife Liz in prayer.
BELARUS
Concerns continue to grow in Belarus of a return to persecution. In proposed amendments to existing religious law, all unregistered religious activity is to be banned, foreigners will be prevented from leading religious organisations, all religious literature will be censored and groups of twenty or less people will be unable to register. Brethren, please remember our brothers and sisters in this former Soviet republic.
GRACE REFORMED BAPTIST CHURCH - VERNONIA
Oregon (USA)
Grace Reformed Baptist Church recently held its annual Spring conference. This year pastor Todd Jaussen from Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada spoke of 'He Is Precious.'
Pastor 'DJ' Dickey is currently preaching through Hebrews. He faces a number of challenging weeks ahead as he addresses various pastoral concerns. Please pray for DJ and the church.
DJ's son in Canada continues to face ongoing treatment (chemotherapy) for Hodgkin's Disease. In recent news, Steve has expressed thanks for all the prayers and email support from around the world. It appears as though he will make a complete recovery. Please remember Stephen and wife Carla.
Andrea Price who attends Grace is handicapped with constant pain in her legs. Her unsaved husband may soon loose his license and therefore his livelihood.
Please remember eleven year old Jason Weller also, soon to undergo corrective surgery for a Cleft Palate.
Betti Miner recently lost her unsaved husband from a heart condition.
Brethren, please remember Grace Reformed Baptist and the people mentioned here in your prayers.
GRACE AND TRUTH - ISRAEL
Please remember the church here and its ongoing legal battle with extreme Jewish leaders over the new building. They are low in funds, with each court case further diminishing the church's ability to get on with construction.
Elder David Zadok is searching out further theological training.
Rivka's husband, Joel, is dying of cancer. The couple have four girls.
Roni, the two and a half year old girl injured in the terrorist attack has improved and been released from hospital.
Also in Israel, a national conference was recently held to re-affirm the Diety of Christ. Apparently there has been some doubts in some of the Christian churches in Israel. One third of Jewish Christian churches participated in the conference.
TRINITY EVANGELICAL CHURCH - MALTA
Please remember pastor Paul Mizzi's brother Joe in prayer. He is having some emotional difficulties at the moment. He is a faithful brother who maintains the church's website and the 'Just For Catholics' website.
http://www.justforcatholics.org/
NORTHLAKE'S REFORMED BAPTIST CHURCH - AUSTRALIA
NRBC continues to reach out to the surrounding suburbs via letterbox drops. Being so few in number we have little numerical ability to do much more at the moment.
There have been several opportunities for one-on-one gospel presentations in recent weeks. There have also been a couple of inquiries concerning the church, but as of yet no newcomers.
Please pray for continued faithfulness and growth in both grace and numbers.
http://particularbaptist.com/index.html
CANADA
Legislation is currently being passed that would make it a crime to condemn or criticize homosexuality. Christians are rallying to fight the introduction of this legislation.
ERITREA
The Eritrean government acting on alleged security concerns has begun to close down all churches other than the Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Lutheran churches. In order to remain open, there is a need to register with the government.
There is a growing Islamic militancy through the influence of surrounding Sudan, Somalia and Yemen.
KRAPINA - CROATIA
Kris and Nina Brackett
A lot of evangelistic activity is being carried out in the Krapina area by missionaries Kris and Nina Brackett. The work includes house to house literature distribution in the area surrounding the church. Some 13 people have begun a correspondence course on the Gospel of John as a result of the outreach efforts. Follow up work will begin soon.
The church has 30 Christians and is the only non-Catholic church in Croatia. There are some 148 500 people in Croatia.
Please pray that financial needs will be met.
MOONWALK REFORMED BAPTIST - PHILIPPINES
Recently 35 men from around the Philippines gathered for a theological modular course with Pastor Greg Nichols of Grand Rapids Reformed Baptist Church in America. Announced at the course was the aim of beginning a more formal training program for pastors from November this year, Lord-willing.
A Pastor's conference will be held in Cebu July 10-12. 70+ are expected to attend. It is on Ministerial Progress and Pitfalls. Steve will preach 5 times, Nene Martinez 5 times, Gerry Regencia once and Paul Cuevas once.
The Hofmair's have recently received visas with the option of renewal for 10 years. An answer to prayer.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Colin and Dianne Lord
The Lord's are still waiting on work visas so that they can go to New Guinea. They are also seeking help from churches in Michigan.
PHILIPPINES - REFORMED BAPTIST BIBLE CHURCH
The church is now meeting in the garage of one of Pastor Marlon Dalin's friends in Santa Rosa. A block of land has been purchased for $19 000 US. The church has only $1 400 US in its building fund. For a small, decent building, the church needs $10 000 - 15 000 US.
Marlon would like to thank all those who have been praying and giving, but points out that more is yet needed. Please support the church in prayer and consider giving financial help to the church. For more information on how to give, please contact Kevin Matthews of NRBC, who will give you the necessary details.
MARSHALL ISLANDS
Some 70 000 people live in the Marshall Islands, halfway between New Guinea and Hawaii. The republic is very poor, being heavily reliant upon US aid, from whom it gained independence in 1986.
The majority profess to be Christians, with 40% evangelical. However, this seems largely to be an external nominalism only, with much evident corruption and low church attendance. There is freedom of religion.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH - JAMAICA
Aaron Dumas pastor's the large First Baptist Church of Jamaica, a Sovereign Grace Baptist Church in Kingston, Jamaica. His ministry includes writing 3 times a week in a local paper and conducting a call-in program on local television.
Please pray for Aaron. He longs for fellowship with Christians of like mind around the world.
KAZAN - RUSSIA
The Baptist prayer house in the city of Kazan, some 800km east of Moscow is threatened with demolition in order to build a new road. The church with a congregation of 400 people is unregistered and therefore has no right to own property in Russia (the building belongs to a member). There is the promise of compensation, but there is concern over whether this will in fact come and actually be sufficient in replacing the current building.
KAOKOLAND - NAMIBIA
Abel Van Bilyon
Abel's visa/work permit is being held up. It had been thought that he was involved with an Angolan para-military group. Only after the permit is granted will consideration be granted for a permanent residence.
Without the necessary permit Abel's ministry is threatened and another worker will be required to carry on the work.
VIETNAM
Persecution continues at an alarming rate in Vietnam. The government is seeking to eliminate all Christians by the end of this year. The Hmong Christians are now facing the worst persecution they have yet encountered.
MALI
Materialism is a major problem in Mali. This is a problem in the church also. Please pray the leaders will not yield to the temptations of materialism.
In the capital Bamako (Rene and Sonia Einfeldt were here for 8 years to 2000) the church has a national pastor. It does not have its own meeting place, currently meeting in a room provided by the mission. Please pray about this need.
Another prayer point is for the country to not fall under the Islamic influences of its neighbours.
VISIT US ONLINE
Our Wider Church Awareness Site can be found at: http://particularbaptist.com/wider/widerindex.html
For email contact, Kevin can be addressed at:
nrbcpastorkev@yahoo.com.auIf you are of Reformed Baptist persuasion and would like to add news of your church or work, or add requests for prayer to this prayer letter, please contact Kevin on the above Email address.
For 'snail mail,' write to Northlake's Reformed Baptist Church, 27 Middle Street, Cardiff South, NSW, Australia, 2285.
We thank all sources of information that have made this prayer letter possible and ask the church at large to commit to praying for one another. Brethren, please pray for us.
To subscribe or unsubscribe, please contact Kevin at nrbcpastorkev@yahoo.com.au. Please clearly indicate what you wish to do. Other NRBC newsletters and magazines, each having a free email subscription can be found via our home page.
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10/10/2006
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