Welcome to this months 'NRBC Wider Church Prayer Letter.' Brethren we have been greatly encouraged by the response of you all to this prayer letter. It has been well received and we are so thankful to God for that.
Our thankfulness is for a number of reasons really, including the privilege of hearing from various reformed brethren around the world. We are also thankful to be praying for you, and of having you pray for us here at NRBC.
NRBC is keen to get behind reformed work around the globe, as is symbolized by the globe in the background image on this page (hard copy version). We are not always able to give money, or large amounts when we can, but we do offer up prayer on your behalf and our thoughts are definitely with you. A number of places have especially caught our interest. Those places are the ones that we have some personal contact with.
Your joys have become our joys and your sorrows our sorrows, though we certainly recognize that we don't sense them as you do. Is this not part of our fellowship in the Lord Jesus Christ and partnership in the gospel? What a joy it is to us here to be able to enter into your labours, even though we are such an insignificant church here in Australia. Please continue to tell us of your ministries.
GRACE TO RUSSIA
Grace to Russia is a reformed organisation that seeks to translate and distribute Christian literature in Russian to areas of the former Soviet Union for free. Currently the organisation is working on publishing J C Ryle's Expository Thought.
The Christ's Covenant Baptist Church is located in Minsk, Belarus. There are currently 38 members, with many others going along to the services. They are involved in various forms of outreach, including hospital ministry, Sunday Schools, door to door work, a public reading room, etc. The pastor is a graduate of London Reformed Baptist Seminary, Georgi Viazovski. They are seeking to plant churches throughout Belarus.
There is also a general fear of open persecution returning to Belarus.
A Reformed Baptist Church is also beginning in Odessa, in the Ukraine, by Sergei and his friends.
Visit: www.GraceToRussia.com
MEXICO
Mexico is largely a Roman Catholic country, with 90% of the population Roman Catholic. There are 102 million people living in Mexico, who enjoy freedom of religion.
There are about 7% of the people that are evangelicals. However there is growing persecution by Roman Catholics of Evangelical believers, for evangelicals are seen as being unpatriotic.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Colin and Dianne Lord are hoping to go to Ukarumpa by June 2002 for a two year stay as missionaries with Wycliffe Bible Translators. However they need 100% of the needed financial support pledged before they actually leave. Please pray concerning this matter.
NIGERIA
The Nigerian national government has informed the various state governments to drop their Sharia Law because it is unconstitutional and discriminatory. The president of Nigeria, President Obusanjo is said to be a Christian, though the demand to drop Sharia Law has come about because of international pressure being applied to Nigeria.
The various Islamic state governments however are prepared to defy the national government.
JORDAN
The Hashemi Church has a growing congregation. However prayer is needed for the continual growth of believers in the church. There is a need for the men to recognize their responsibilities in the Lord's work and to move on with them. There is also the appearance of stagnation in some of the believers.
The Mahatta Church is struggling with a lack of unity and teamwork.
Brethren, please pray for the believers in these churches. There is also a growing unrest in Jordan as a result of the trouble in the Occupied Westbank.
NEW ZEALAND
The Wellington Reformed Baptist Fellowship has moved their Bible Study to 4pm Sundays. There has been an increasing interest and growth in numbers attending the fellowship in recent months. More people are required before worship services are begun.
There is a solid group that now attends the meetings on a regular basis. The fellowship also has some Internet contact with a couple of people.
On Wednesday nights the fellowship has had opportunity to be involved with teleconferenced lectures from Grace Theological College in Auckland on Ephesians.
There has also been opportunity to listen to tapes by Stuart Olyott on the 1689 Confession of Faith.
Please pray that the believers may have more witness opportunities, rely on God more and that moreReformed Baptists move to the area.
GERMANY
There is a growing need of English speaking Reformed Baptist churches in Germany. This is because of the large number of US servicemen and their families stationed in Germany.
The Heilbronn Church is involved in a number of outreach activities, including the printing and distribution of gospel tracts, book tables and open air preaching. The church is finding it expensive to print their own material for distribution.
The Freie Baptistengemeinde of Kiel (Independent Baptist Church of Kiel) is experiencing a time of great difficulty because of low employment levels within the church. Many of their number need jobs.
The church is actively involved in outreach with a number of Bible Studies with unbelievers attending. The Children's Club is attended by Muslim children from the area.
There is a growing threat from Mormonism in the area.
MOLDAVIA
Moldavia was granted independence in 1990 from the former Soviet Union. It has a population of some 4.5 million people who are very poor.70% of the population is Orthodox, with only 3% of the population Evangelical. Yet great growth is being experienced by the Evangelicals, with more people needed to go out into the field.
With this increase in growth has come growing opposition, with the Orthodox churches and the government seeking to restrain the missionary activity.
Prayer points include needed support for pastors, meeting places and literature, including the Bible.
MICRONESIA
Micronesia has a population of about 135 000 people. It is a very poor region, being heavily dependent upon US aid.
Around 50% of the population is Roman Catholic, with a further 20% Evangelical. However there is a great problem with a mix of Christianity and Animism in the population.
There is a need for Bible translations in Micronesia. There is a Christian radio station in the country.
FRANCE
Contrary to many reports, a couple in France report that there is no open opposition to the gospel in France. However it is believed that there is heavy monitoring of its progress behind the scenes.
The small church which is attended by Jean and Wendy Souillot has six members. The church also helps out another church which has no pastor some 80 miles away. This church has gone from 40 to 10 because of its commitment to the Reformed faith.
Please pray for these churches, as well as the Souillot family itself, for the children are not yet saved. Jonathon is 23 and Louise 20.
SRI LANKA
Buddhist opposition to Christianity in Sri Lanka in the form of the Sri Lankan Society For The Preservation Of Buddhism is growing. This society seeks to keep an eye on the progress of Christianity, actively seeking to prevent conversions. One pastor's six year old son was stabbed in an attack by the group.
MAURITIUS
Mauritius is made up of three islands in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar. The country has a population of 1.2 million people, Two thirds of whom are Indian in origin, the rest being of African and European descent.50% of the population is Hindu, yet many have become Christians. There is freedom of religion, yet restrictions exist on the evangelism of Hindus and Muslims. Evangelism still occurs however, with Evangelicals now making up 15% of the population. 23% are Roman Catholic.
There is a growing need of biblical pastors and affordable supplies of Bibles and literature. Please pray for the outreach efforts to Muslims and The New Evangelical Bible School.
ECUADOR
David Sills is continuing his ministry among the highland Quichua people in southern Ecuador. He is in the middle of a six week teaching trip to these people.
A need continues to exist for a suitable vehicle so that David will be able to visit remote pastors and supply the needed training. To support 'The Sills' Vehicle Fund,' please contact Global Outreach, placing David's name upon any donations given. This can be done at:
Global Outreach International
PO Box 1, Tupelo, 38802You may also want to have a look at the web site at:
www.globaloutreach.orgDavid is the pastor of University Baptist Church in Quito, as well as a professor at the Ecuadorian Baptist Theological Seminary in Quito. He is also the Rector of the seminary. There are about 125 students at the seminary. A need also exists for a larger and quieter location for the seminary. There are currently three campuses.
Ecuador has one church for every 78 000 people, with 500 pastors for 2000 churches among the 5 400 000 Highland Quichuas. Some of these pastors have the oversight of 8-12 churches.
PHILIPPINES
The Reformed Baptist Bible Church of Santa Rosa is expecting to move out of its currently rented premises by the end of April. It will then move into temporarily rented premises until the church has the necessary funds to buy land and build their own building. They currently have around US $15 400 of the needed US $30-35 000.
The Moonwalk Church pastored by Steve Hofmair is involved in door to door work in the community. A couple of people have visited the church as a result.
Sexual immorality is rife in the Philippines and the church has needed to exercise discipline. Please pray for the church regarding this, that the believers take heed to themselves lest they fall into sin. Pray also for restoration of fallen brethren.
The church plant in Naga is looking for a larger meeting place. More men are needed in this church.
Between May 14-24 a theological training course on the doctrine of Christ and the covenants by Pastor Greg Nichols of the Grand Rapids Reformed Baptist Church will be held. Please pray for the pastors that attend.
The church at Tondo (Old Manila) has been formally organised. Six were recently baptised there. The church is currently under the oversight of Cubao Reformed Baptist Church and is being led by a student of the Grace Ministerial Academy.
At Calauag a small Bible Study group has formed and may be the basis of a new church. One of the Grace students, Gilbert Lugtu, is currently going as often as possible to assist the group. It is some 4-5 hours south of Manila.
The Christ's Flock Church in Quezon City, which was formerly Charismatic, is currently under the oversight of Cubao also. The two elders of the church who are now reformed currently attend the Grace Ministerial Academy. Many of the people left when the elders left Charismatic practices and teachings.
ISRAEL
The Grace and Truth Church building has now been given the green light to proceed following the recent court case brought against it by extreme Jewish opposition. However there is now a lack of finances preventing the work from proceeding.
Grace and Truth set up a youth group in October 2000 and now has 15 teens attending. In 2004 a delegation is to go to Kenya from this group to assist Grace and Truth missionaries there.
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10/10/2006
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