Welcome to Northlake's Reformed Baptist Church's new Wider Church Prayer Letter. This is our first issue of the prayer letter. Ouir aim is to encourage fellowship and partnership in the gospel among Reformed Baptists (and among other Reformed Christians) around the world. We will seek to do this by providing subscribers with news from and of Reformed Christians around the world. There will be prayer points, news and views, the odd article or two, thoughts for thanksgiving, photos, testimonies, etc. Please enjoy our journey together, as we enter meaningfully into the fellowship and partnership of the gospel, as one body in Christ.
If you are able to contribute information, news, or whatever it might be - please email the information to me at nrbcpastorkev@yahoo.com.au for consideration.
TRINITY EVANGELICAL CHURCH
Trinity Evangelical Church is located in Luqa, Malta, in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea. The church is pastored by Paul Mizzi, with his brother Joe being the Church's webmaster. Joe also runs the 'Just for Catholics' web site.
Paul was ordained by Erroll Hulse and Joseph Hewitt on March 10, 2001. He is married to Michelle and has two daughters, Christine and Jeanelle.
The church is Reformed Baptist, holding to the 1689 Confession of Faith. It is currently seeking to pay off its debt incurred by the construction of its new building. Paul has also been required to find part time work, as financial support from abroad has dried up.
Prayer points include Ivan, a brother whose family is opposed to his gospel stand, the Sunday School children, and the believers on Gozo (currently listening to tapes).
Paul's brother Joe is a pediatrician, 34, and single. He is 'troubled by various trials and much heartache. Please pray for me that I might learn to humble myself under the mighty hand of God and to fulfill my work with joy.' Could not many of us ask for prayer concerning this same thing for ourselves?
As the author of 'Just For Catholics,' Joe is attempting to present the gospel to Roman Catholics and to warn them of error. A visit to the site's guestbook will quickly show the sort of trials Joe is faced with.
REFORMED BAPTIST BIBLE CHURCH
The Reformed Baptist Bible Church is located in
Santa Rosa, Laguna, in the Philippines. The church is pastored by Marlon
Dalin. It currently meets in rented premises, which it will soon be required
to vacate. Funds are desperately required so that the church can build a
meeting place of its own. Please help this church by giving financially,
for it needs aid quickly. For more information on giving to this very worthwhile
cause, please email me at nrbcpastorkev@yahoo.com.au.
Prayer points include the meeting place crisis, as well as the church's evangelistic outreach efforts and for unity. Also pray for Marlon who labours under the hardship of an eye problem for which he must have weekly treatment.
Latest news on the church can be found via http://www.info.com.ph/~btellis/.
KAZAKHSTAN
The Kazakh government has recently introduced legislation that requires all missionaries to be registered, and all unregistered missionaries to be banned. Christians will only be able to meet in a central religious center. All congregations under 50 will also be banned, and the evangelization of children outlawed.
There is a group of preachers (about 100) that are beginning to understand the Reformed faith (reforming from Arminianism), with western pastors seeking to teach the pastors in the truth, and in how to preach in an expositional way. Adding to the difficulties that these men face is the threat of expulsion from the Kazakh Baptist Union.
NIGERIA
One third of states in Nigeria have seen the introduction of strict Islamic Sharia law. The result of this has been the demolition of church buildings and the prevention of new ones being built, the banning of Christian radio programmes, and the banning of Bible Studies. It has also become compulsory to wear turbans and veils.
In the state of Kaduna, 2000 people have been killed in riots over the introduction of Sharia Law. The north-west state of Zamfara will also soon see the introduction of Sharia Law.
Christians are currently being taught on how to cope with persecution. Fourteen churches currently face demolition.
INDIA
In north-east India there is a move to see New Testament churches established throughout India and the surrounding countries. The Royal Ambassadors Academy is seeking to educate and evangelise children from areas surrounding the academy. The academy is also seeking to train young Indian men called to the ministry in order to send them out into India to plant churches.
Currently the work relies on financial aid from the USA, but it is seeking to become self-reliant. To do this, rice paddies are being purchased to provide both food and needed funds. However, more funding is currently required to purchase at least another 6 rice paddies before the plan begins to work effectively.
SAUDI ARABIA
On July 1, 2001, 14 foreign nationals from the Philippines, Ethiopia, Eritrea and India were arrested for taking part in unlawful Christian meetings. As part of their ordeal, these Christians were beaten with steel rods and cables. Four Ethiopians and a Filipino are still being held.
SUDAN
A Sudanese man who was converted some 11 years ago was recently prevented from leaving the country in order to travel to Uganda. He was seeking to apply to a theological seminary in Kenya.
During his Christian walk this brother has been arrested, interrogated, imprisoned, tortured and threatened with death. He gas been denounced by his family and has been classified as a criminal under Sudanese law. Apostasy from Islam is punishable by death in Sudan.
BENIN AND THE IVORY COAST
In Benin there is much interest in the gospel, with churches in Cotonou, Porto-Novo, Keton and Bohicon often crowded. The church in Keton has recently expelled many ungodly men. the pastor of the church has suffered many trials and attacks.
A preachers conference was held recently in Benin to teach the local pastors. This was from February 21 to 24, 2002.
In the Ivory Coast capital of Abidjan, certain people have been deliberately seeking to elad people away from the truth.
The Gagnoa church is actively reaching out into the community and has recently built a new building from which radio programmes are to be produced for the local station.
ECUADOR
David and Mary Sills currently minister in the South American country of Ecuador (Quito), though David travels also to places like Nepal and the Dominican Republic. The Sill's have a son in the United States (Christopher) and a daughter in Ecuador (Molly - 15).
Ecuador is a country with a tropical coastline, snow-capped Andes mountain range and volcanoes, and the Amazon rainforest in the east. Travel in the rugged terrain of Ecuador is difficult, and this has become a major problem for the Sill's. David seeks to get out into the country to visit the various national pastors for training, but this has stopped because of car troubles. A need exists for a vehicle that will allow this ministry to continue.
Not only is there a need for money to buy a new vehicle, but there is also a need for an additional $1800.oo a month to cover regular costs.
Ecuador has a major pastoral short fall, with many pastors having the oversight of 10-12 churches each. The Ecuadorian Baptist Theological Seminary is seeking to establish a new site at Quito, that will help to train nationals in this important work. The search is currently on for a national to preside over the seminary.
The small village of La Union has a small church that is often packed. However, the leaders of the church have a poor understanding of the Scriptures, not even knowing that the Jehovah's Witnesses that work in the area are not evangelical Christians.
David's wife Mary leads a ladies Bible Study in the Quito area.
Above: Mt Chimborazo - Ecuador
Above: David Sills and Molly
Above: Typical of the Country to Travel in.
STEVE HAMMOND
Steve is currently a pastor in a Sothern Baptist Convention Church in Estes Park, Colorado, in the United States. He will be resigning his position in order to pursue pastoral work in Reformed Baptist circles. This he has done for conscience's sake, being concerned with the SBC's doctrinal stance, its seeker sensitive direction, and its continuing support of Arminian missionary activity.
By resigning after 8 years in pastoral ministry (4 years as a Calvinist - 20 years a Christian), Steve will loose his benefits, salary and housing. His concern however is for the glory of God and for faithfulness toward Him.
Steve is hoping to attend the Association of Reformed Baptist Churches of America General Asembly in March, and to present his case to pastors there, with the view of settling into a Reformed Baptist Church and to future pastoral ministry as a Reformed Baptist. If he gains no pastoral role before the end of March he will need to find secular work to support his wife and three daughters (14,8,7).
GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH
Grace Baptist Church is located in the Ukrainian city of Zhytomyer, about 135 km west of Kiev. The church is five years old and has a membership of around 80 people. The church is pastored by Vitlay Balan. It is a Reformed Baptist Church.
Vitlay is married and has four children, and works full time as well as serving the church full time with what time remains after work. Needless to say he is a very busy man.
Vitlay is keen to fellowship with Christians in the wider church, especially from the United States and Australia. If you would like to contact Vitlay, please email me at nrbcpastorkev@yahoo.com.au, and I'll pass on your details.
Above: Vitlay Balin, pastor of Grace Reformed Baptist Church - Ukraine
Above: the Grace Reformed Baptist Church of the Ukraine at a baptism in June 2001
IRELAND
Reformation Ireland is located in Newtownabbey, County Antrim and in Ballinteer, Dublin City, in Northern Ireland. Reformation Ireland is seeking to contend earnestly by the grace of God, and to confront false ecumenism in Ireland.
Among prayer points is a new work in the Dublin area. Each Wednesday 8 people attend the Bible study in Ballinteer, led by Mark Fitzpatrick. Among these folk is Damian, a Roman Catholic who is expressing great interest in the gospel and in the writings of J C Ryle.
Evangelistic work includes door knocking in the area, with copies of Peter Jeffery's book, 'Which Way to God' to be distributed to enquirers.
VISIT US ONLINE
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