Welcome to the September 2002 issue of the 'NRBC Wider Church Prayer Letter.' We hope you can use this issue as an aid in your prayers for the wider church.
With the advent of the Internet and the World Wide Web, contact between Christians is now much easier. Fellow believers who would perhaps never have met during their earthly pilgrimage can now enjoy fellowship on a daily basis. Here at NRBC this is one of the benefits of the Web that we have greatly profited from and enjoyed immensely.
If you have access to the Internet, perhaps you would like to be part of the wider fellowship that NRBC has enjoyed over the last couple of years. This can be easily arranged, with an online subscription to the 'Wider Church Prayer Letter' giving you access to more wider church news then you get in the hard copy version. Also the NRBC Mail Group allows daily contact with Christians around the world. To join, simply visit our homepage and fill in the form.
ITALY
Andrea and Emanuela ArtioliThere are 110 people attending the Manlova Evangelical Church in Italy. There have been 10 new converts this year, with 8 people being baptized in April.
A pastors conference is to be held in Florence on October 12 and 13.
NIGERIA
There has been continued violent persecution of Christians in Nigeria. This despite an apparent ending of the prolonged civil war. Churches and crops have been destroyed, and believers killed.
NAMIBIA
Namibia is a country in south-west Africa, near South Africa, Botswana, Angola and Zambia. The country is mainly desert. 30-40% of people are unemployed and some 25% have AIDS.
Namibia enjoys freedom of religion, yet less than 10% of the population are regarded as Evangelical Christians. There are many liberal and nominal Christians.
Please pray for faithful pastors to be raised up in Namibia.
IOWA - USA
Tama Reformed Baptist ChurchThe Sycamore Baptist Church is currently assisting the Tama Reformed Baptist Church, even though it is some 2 hours drive away. Tama has one deacon and no pastor.
The Sycamore Baptist Church has also started a new work in Sterling, Illinois. Five families from Sycamore began this new work.
NEPAL
25 million people live in this poor Hindu nation. There is some religious freedom, but evangelism is illegal. However there is thought to be some 500 000 Christians, with an Evangelical church in every region. Literacy is very low.
SRI LANKA
Saudi Arabian religious police arrested Sri Lankans Joel David and Solomon Privthiviraj on April 25. They had been meeting in Joel's home with other believers for prayer when the police arrived. A number were arrested, with most released the next day. Joel and Solomon are still in the Al Wattani prison. Pressure is being applied to the two to reveal the names of other Christians.
In Sri Lanka Buddhists have been attacking Christians and destroying their property, including homes.
INDIA - ROYAL AMBASSADORS ACADEMY
Building work at the academy has been progressing well, with just the chapel and administration buildings to be built. Also furniture for 300 students is still required.
The academy is also seeking to set up a permanent medical clinic.
The academy is continuing to become more self-reliant through its 'Mississippi Orchard' farm project. Funds raised help to provide the funding for the academy.
PERU
Trevor Charlton20-30 people are attending the Thursday evening services at Puquina since the meeting place was opened recently. Please pray for Nestor who has been showing interest in the gospel. Trevor and Ronnie take the services.
Pray also for the church in Simon Bolivar, that it would be well established and be able to standfast. Pray also that it will have an impact for good on the town.
RUSSIA - WORKS OF FAITH MISSION
A new church plant has been started in the city of Cheboksary (pop. 480 000) in Chavashia Oblast state and in Yoshkar Ola (pop. 280 000) in Mari-El state.
The mission has been involved in planting some 152 churches throughout the states of Udmurtia, Tatarstan, Bashkiria, Kirov and Saratav.
INDIA - NAVI MUMBAI
Jason and Jamima DeutschThe church in Navi Mumbai has been meeting in the home of Jason and Jamima Deutsch and has been looking for a new meeting place. A place was found in an abandoned banquet hall in a half built hotel, however, this had fallen through at the eleventh hour. The man had been very friendly but changed suddenly toward the church.
The church has now been able to find a more suitable rented meeting place which can be used throughout the week. It is near needed public transport so that people can easily attend. Praise God for His abundant provision.
10-15 adults have been attending Bible Study and 10 kids the Children's Club.
A Malayalam language church has begun in Bhandup, Mumbai. Already there are Oriya and English meetings.
CUBAO REFORMED BAPTIST CHURCH - PHILIPPINES
Cubao has been blessed with several evangelistic openings and opportunities which the church is seeking to use to greatest advantage. One of these opportunities has been a Bible study group, with one study going to 4am (many questions were being asked).
Also, Ismael Montejo leads a small evangelistic team into the local hospital for preaching and visitation.
The Grace Ministerial Academy has had nine new students this year. Please remember all involved in this important ministry, including the students.
BRAZIL
From October 7-11, Erroll Hulse and Richard Belcher, will be speaking at a leadership conference in Brazil. More than 1000 have registered to attend the conference.
The Reformed Baptist Church (Igreja Batista da Graca) of Sao Jose dos Campos is sending 25 people to the conference. This church was the pioneer Reformed Baptist Church in Brazil, begun 17 years ago.
MALDIVES - MALE
Christians that were distributing evangelistic tracts in the Maldive capital of Male on July 15 have been arrested. Maldive authorities refuse to recognize any religion other than Islam. Believers have been known to disappear in the island nation in the past.
NEW CALEDONIA
New Caledonia is situated in the South Pacific and has a population of some 200 000. Though there is freedom of religion in the island nation, with some 80% claiming to be Christian, most are of a nominal nature only. 8% claim to be Evangelical.
The Scriptures are still required in several native languages.
GRACE AND TRUTH - ISRAEL
The Grace and Truth Church continues to face determined opposition from the Yad Le Achim organisation. This group is sponsored to some degree by the government and is dedicated to opposing Evangelical Christianity in Israel. Grace and Truth has been the focus of much of their opposition to Christianity.
Please remember our brethren in Israel with the continuing terrorism problem there also.
PAKISTAN
Islamic terrorists are continuing their attacks upon Christians in Pakistan. Believers are being singled out and killed by terrorist groups that are either sympathetic to al-Qaeda and the Taliban, or directly associated with them.
INDONESIA
It appears as though Laskar Jihad is about to step up attacks on Christians in Indonesia as part of their Islamic Jihad movement. The group is linked to the al-Qaeda terrorist network and is often assisted by elements within the Indonesian military.
ETHIOPIA
Evangelical Christians are being targeted by members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. A pastor was recently killed in one attack on his home and family. The attack had been led by a leader in the local Orthodox Church.
NORTHLAKE'S REFORMED BAPTIST CHURCH - AUSTRALIA
Please continue to remember the small Reformed Baptist church of NRBC in Newcastle, Australia. We are so few in number and each week we see all the more clearly that man is unable to save one single sinner. With all the outreach that we have so far done, not one person that we know off has come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
We ask the wider church to please join us in prayer and seek the Lord of the Harvest, that men, women and children would be saved. How we long to see the church here growing, with the Lord bringing in His elect through the use of means as He has directed.
The fields here seem to hardened, with so few giving any regard to the gospel or the Lord Jesus Christ. Truly not one person shall be saved without the powerful sovereign work of the Holy Spirit. Oh that He would rend the heavens and come down.
Please pray for faithfulness also brethren. How easy it is to give up in the midst of ploughing, even before the seed has been sown and the harvest brought in.
Pray also for more labourers to go out into the field to help us.
Last week Bill, who was in the Carey Bay Nursing Home, died. He had a long fight with illness. To our knowledge Bill was unsaved. Please remember his wife Joy at this time. She is still able to rejoice in the Lord for His loving kindness and mercy.
Bill's funeral will be held on Friday, Sepember 20, at Toronto Baptist Church. We would appreciate your prayers for this also.
COLOMBIA
Stan and Bev LinesThe churches in Colombia are continuing to grow in numbers as members bring their families along to church and are subsequently saved. This is the main source of growth in the church at this stage. This despite much opposition by rebel groups.
On July 28 nine people were baptized at a service of the Grace and Love Christian Church. Another seven people are being considered for baptism. Please pray for genuine professions of faith.
7000 leaflets are distributed to homes surrounding the three churches each month. Please pray about this evangelistic work, that the Lord would save many in this area.
Two new meetings have begun on Sunday afternoons. These are at Patio Bonito and Partales del Norte. There are also 4 weekly Bible Studies in various homes.
QUITO - ECUADOR
David and Mary SillsDavid and Mary's son, Jonathon, was recently able to spend some time with them from the US. Their daughter Molly lives with them in Ecuador. This was a time the family greatly enjoyed.
The car situation continues to bring difficulty, with many needy pastors unable to be helped. $24 000US is needed to purchase a vehicle that will allow the ministry to achieve its goal of assisting native Highland pastors in ministry and training. Monthly support is also deficient by some $1500.
Any contributions to assist the ministry can be sent to:
'Global Outreach International'
PO Box 1
Tupelo, MS 38802Please be sure to put David's name on the contribution.
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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