Mission News for Spring 2010
We have exiting times ahead of us this month, and before that a lot of preparation and prayer. “REFRESH” will bring Jesus Christ to the doorstep of the young people on Skye. We pray they will open the door to him, and we thank God for all the people involved in the event at the end of June.
Monies raised from the REFRESH event will go to ‘In Ministry to Children’, a mission that work with street children in Columbia. For further information speak to Martin Plowman or visit their website click here
Also pray for Peter in Sudan as his time there comes to an end. Pray for his safety and for guidance in his future plans.
Please, prepare your hearts and pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the people in Portree, Skye and our Nation.
“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.”
Acts 3: 19
If there is anything you would like added to the Mission News letter please contact me before the end of August.
01470 572364 or
Yours in Christ Jesus
Julia
Highways-Byways-Missions
In our last report dated 24th February we related our plans to return to Hungary with Humanitarian Aid after our initial visit there in October of 2009. From the beginning of the year this was our main focus though we were also preaching in many places during that time. Since February we have worked in the North of Scotland and in Northern Ireland collecting, sorting and packaging the goods for this operation. We were overwhelmed at the response we received especially from people who are not Christians though we emphasised that the main thrust of the aid was to reach out with the gospel and because of the gospel we were fulfilling the call of James 2:15-16. As well as collecting the goods we were also raising finances to fund the costs of the two lorries which came to some £5000.00. The end product of a lot of hard work and organisation was that we brought many blessings to many villages in the North-east of Hungary. The way was open for us to preach the gospel and many responded to the call of repentance with tears and weeping. At one Sunday afternoon meeting approximately 50 young people and over 20 adults came to faith in Christ. We also say some renounce witchcraft and other occult practises and we visibly saw them break free through the power of the name of Jesus. At every meeting there was a response to salvation, some later giving testimony of the change which they experienced as a result of giving their hearts to Jesus.
In Slovakia, which we intended to visit for a day, we say many doors open to share the Gospel. We were there for a week speaking and ministering in various churches and at different meetings. For some, the experience of Pentecost had been knocking on their door for some time and during our visit there the door was open for us to see the Holy Spirit do marvellous things which encouraged the saints. At one meeting in a place called Sol, about 100 gypsies gathered to hear the gospel. That evening God moved in awesome power and many were saved and others set free. The desire of the hearts of many believers was to be filled with the Holy Spirit, as the power of God moved upon the meeting. One by one they came for prayer and when the Holy Spirit touched them and some were slain in the Spirit the rest of the church cheered with loud shouting of joy and rejoicing. Many of the gypsies who were there were unclean and unkempt (some had fleas) but it is common knowledge amongst the Christian believers that when they get saved they go home and wash themselves, they wash their clothes, and within a week visible evidence of salvation is noticed as their homes get cleaned and their garden areas get tidied, without anyone telling them to do that. Some of those who smoke stop immediately or seek prayer to be set free from a smoking devil as they call it. They see it as a dirty habit and because they feel clean on the inside they want everything on the outside to be clean.
We also went into the Ukraine as we had a contact there who is an English speaking Pastor. It was not considered safe for us to stop in the Ukraine as having a car from the west would make us a potential target for mafia gangs. We took their council, as crossing the border was enough excitement for one day.
Over the last few weeks we have worked in the North of Scotland. We did a door to door outreach in Lochinver and Helmsdale and spoke at some churches and meetings. Another lorry of aid is going from the North of Scotland in September/October so we were once again involved in more collecting, more sorting and more packaging. People in Sutherland have responded so positively to the Aid to Hungary that the local paper, the Northern Times want to do an article on it.
Our next big adventure is taking the youth to Ireland. This year we are going to Killarney in the south west of the Republic for a week and another week in the North of Ireland. Although we say youth it is also open for the young at heart on provision you are fit and able, and easy to get along with.
Our prayer points would be for our health wealth and happiness.
Donald and Shirley Buchanan
1 June 2010
Donald and Shirley's Website - Highways-Byways-Missions click here
Action Overseas
Pastor Alan & Sandra Skeen
Working in Malawi
Miracle in Malawi
We would like to share a very recent testimony to show how important the fight against malaria is.
Last month the young son of one of our workers here at the centre in Blantyre contracted malaria. He began treatment from a local clinic and was sent home. Late in the afternoon we received a call that Moses [6 years old] was deteriorating and was barely conscious. We immediately went to their home and took them to hospital. It turned out that Moses had cerebral malaria, was unconscious and paralysed! We left them at the hospital with heavy hearts, fearing the worst.
Three weeks later, Moses is at home, walking, talking and recovering well. His father, Misi, tells the story: 'That first day at the hospital, Moses was barely breathing, only one breath now and again. The doctors all stood around his bed and said “There is no life in this boy.” I immediately sent messages asking for prayer and within 15 minutes Moses’ breathing became normal. It was very frightening to see your child, not moving, not able to speak or eat. But my faith was in God. When we were discharged he was still not walking or speaking, the doctors said it would be a long time for recovery. But now he is talking and walking and improving every day. Praise God!
Open Doors
Open Doors
Serving persecuted Christians worldwide
There are a few areas which we can think about this time:-
ZANZIBAR is a group of 3 tropical islands which lie off the east coast of Africa. 97% of the inhabitants of the 1 million are muslim.
Zanzibar is number 34 in this year’s world watch list of countries where christians are subject to persecution. North Korea is number 1 (meaning the hardest place to be a christian).
To the holiday maker and visitor it seems an idyllic place. However, beneath the surface it is not an easy place to be a christian.
Open Doors recently ran training programmes for local christian leaders on how to present seminars on understanding islam. Islamic extremism continues to grow causing increasing problems for christians. Registration of churches is difficult and several churches were burnt down or forced to close in 2009.
Please pray for strength and encouragement for church leaders, perseverance for new believers and that activities of muslim extremists would diminish.
ISRAEL and PALESTINE
Please remember the students now taking exams at the Israel college of the bible and the Bethlehem Bible College (as featured on Songs of Praise) as they seek clear direction for their futures.
Also remember those Jewish Israelis who have become believers in Jesus and as a result have lost their citizenship of the state of Israel simply because they believe Jesus is the Messiah and therefore cannot be Jewish.
OPEN DOORS - how they use their finances
In the last year over 22,000 individuals and churches (including SBC) supported the work of Open Doors UK with total giving of over £6million pounds. 89% of the expenditure in 2009 went directly on charitable activities.
For example
a) In china, 2.5 million items of christian literature was distributed.
b) Few leaders in the persecuted church have had any formal theological education.
In South East Asia, Open Doors sponsored training courses for 33,000 people.
c) In Egypt 34,000 people shared in church leadership and disciple training
d) In India 47,000 people were helped in Orissa last year through gifts of food aid and other vital non-food items.
(there are still christians suffering as a result of the violence in 2008)
Thank you for your prayers and time in remembering our brothers and sisters. If you would like more information about Open Doors or would like to be involved in a monthly prayer time, please speak to either Peter or Hilary.
CHRISTIAN FRIENDS OF ISRAEL
On 1st June C.F.I. celebrated 25 years of service to the land of Israel and to the Jewish People,- by the will of God and for His Holy Name's sake - hallelujah !
Last Shall be First - ministry to those in need.
Our acts of kindness in the name of the Lord are not always big things --- but they are done with great love. Doing "tikkun olam" [repairing the world] for God's Glory needs to be done while we can.
Over the past years countless people have worn our clothing on the streets of Jerusalem which you have sent to us, they carried countless bags of goods from our Distribution Centre and received financial help from your giving-- all which helps to relieve burdens.
Everything has been done so God would receive the glory. We only take what you give and pass it on in His Name.
"Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor! The Lord rescues them when they are in trouble---- Ps 41:1
Thousands of new immigrants have been welcomed and served in CFI` Distribution Centre over the years and each one who walks through our doors is living proof that "God's word stands forever ". Each new immigrant is a fulfilment of God's prophecies, recorded in the bible thousands of years ago!. Recently on a Friday morning, we had more than 60 new immigrants come to Open Gates. The social worker from the absorbtion centre in Beersheva, called us in advance to tell us a group of around 20 would be coming that day, but in addition to them, God blessed us with more new immigrants coming from several northern Israeli towns, as well as people from Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. One family from South Africa lost all their luggage on the way, so were very grateful to receive clothing and household items. All are presented with a copy of the Tanach. This is particularly appreciated by the children as study of the Tanach is part of the school curriculum.
"Assemble the people before Me to hear My words so that they may learn to revere Me as long as they live in the land and may teach them to their children" Deut 4:10
David is one of many Israelis whom we have been able to help financially through project Doors of Hope because of you. David was born in Morocco and his parents made "aliyah" to Israel in 1956 when he was two years old. It was the end of the `70s when he finished his army training and he decided to go to America. There David met his future wife, so they married and lived in the U.S. for 15 years. During that time they had three children - two girls and a boy. They came back to Israel in 1995, but life in Israel was hard. David's wife was not able to adjust and learn the language. He started working in construction and road repairs, but had an accident at work and broke his back. He was unable to work for a long time. One day he was so depressed David went to his father’s house and stayed overnight. Returning home next day he found his wife and children missing, and discovered two days later that his wife had taken his children and flown back to America without leaving a note! These children were his life.
After many months, the US authorities gave him legal permission to bring the children back to Israel,"but I was afraid, how could I raise three children by myself -- since I was ill and my income was from social welfare? So David gave up the idea, deciding his children's future was better if they stayed with their mother. Eight years later David's friend from America managed to trace his daughter, Erica. He was overjoyed especially when she called him "daddy" on the phone; also she was able to put him in touch with his two sons.
Although we wish we could meet David's every need, because of your generous giving we were able to supply him with a stove, a washing machine and 2000 shekels of food vouchers.
Please pray that God will bring healing to David, and that his dream to see his children again soon will be fulfilled.
Marlena, during one of our visits to her home last year, was remembering with great emotion, how the Lord had moved in her life.
"I was born in the Soviet Union and knew nothing about God or religion, but I always felt that somebody gave His hands to hold me and I felt it. The first time was when I was taken prisoner by the Nazis in Russia. All the Jewish people in my village were rounded up and marched to an open field to be shot. I asked one of the German soldiers if I could use the bushes to relieve myself, and ran away unnoticed by the soldiers - my life was spared! In 1992 Brian and the staff prayed for my granddaughter Natalia. She was in a coma in Odessa and deathly ill with encephalitis. The doctors gave her no hope - she was only 19 years of age - how could this be? I was in shock and upset so decided to share it with the staff.
Brian knelt down on the floor and prayed. He told me if the doctors could not help God would. After praying, he gave me a bottle of anointing oil for my husband to take with him to Odessa. Anne Laylock, another staff member gave me powdered food supplement for her also. My husband, Effim, was in Odessa for six weeks. Just before Effim was due to return, my granddaughter was home and well!"
"fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things He has done for you" 1 Sam.12:24
"Sing praises to the Lord, who dwells in Zion; declare among the peoples His deeds. For He who requires blood remembers them; He does not forget the cry of the afflicted" Ps 9:11-12
In the late evening of June 1, 2001, CFI co-founders Ray and Sharon Sanders were celebrating their wedding anniversary in Tel Aviv by taking a walk along the Mediterranean beach .........Suddenly there was a tremendous explosion.
A disco for young Israelis was the unfortunate location of that evening’s terrible scene. As young teenagers gathered together to await the doors opening at the Dolphinarium, a suicide bomber managed to place himself in the middle of a crowd of innocent young girls. The horrible result was 21 killed and 132 injured.
Shortly after this experience, Ray and Sharon began a new project for CFI called Under His Wings. Since then, hundreds of terror victims and their families ,have been visited, providing Christian love, a listening ear, and financial assistance for medical care where required.
"You have turned for me my mourning into dancing......." Ps 30:11
"Dear CFI, I would like to take this time to thank all those involved in Project First Fruits, for the financial help which was granted to my husband and myself. It came at exactly the right time......we were forced to leave our homes in Gaza. It was very difficult for us to recover from this traumatic event; and the additional need to ask for help was not an easy one......once again, thank you for your love, prayers and your generous support.
Tina and Moshe N.
"....they have supplied their needs" 1 Cor 16; 17
To everyone who helps us, a heartfelt thank you from Jerusalem
"The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that waters shall be watered himself" Prov 11:25
The latest information we have received is that there are still 75,000 in Israel Working in close co-operation with local Jewish Holocaust survivor organizations, the team visits survivors in 50 different cities and towns. Before our visit to a certain city, we ask the local co-ordinator to give us names of survivors who are needy, sick, or lonely, and are willing to host us. Every time they open their hearts and doors to us there is a blessed visit.
"For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds says the Lord." Jer.30:17
Our mission in Project Shield is to come along side each Israeli combat soldier and lone soldier to show them our deep appreciation for the sacrifices they are making in securing Israel's safety and the survival of the Jewish people. Our gifts to them are not only a warm reminder that Christians from the nations love and support them but also are gifts that are truly needed.
Salaries are minimal for the soldiers - $75 a month for non combat and $150 a month for a combat soldier. Their families are responsible for all other requirements except uniform. We purchase our gifts to the soldiers from local manufacturers e.g. fleeces, thermal clothing, gloves, hats, sweatshirts, rucksacks and other requests.
With every gift we give, every task we do, every prayer we pray for Israel’s redemption, we are bringing great glory to God as well as serving the Jewish people.
Anyone wishing to donate summer clothes for CFI`s Distribution Centre in Jerusalem please contact Taylor or Ann Tel. 01470542339 or
SIM – Serving in Mission
from Sudan, with Love
Hey Pray-ers,
This week Ryan, Lori and I will be trekking out to some remote Ganza villages, villages we and probably no other missionary have ever visited. The trip will take us deep into the heart of the Ganzas land and should be a bit of an adventure.
We're going to visit villages that we've heard spoken of and gather the people in each to share the gospel with them.
The main villages we'll be staying in are Tugalebeli, Darsuma, Kafe, Tiya and Bwom. These places are locked in spiritual darkness and the dominant presence of witchdoctors and very real spiritual opposition will bring its challenges.
Please pray for our health, safety and energy.
Pray for the Sudanese Christians accompanying us; Samson, Yakub (both Ganza) and Yohan as they share the gospel with their own people.
The spiritual dimension to this is huge, and obviously your prayer will have great effect.
Will be back next Monday and will hopefully have some exciting reports for my next newsletter, Peter
A Day in the life of Peter
Hi Folks,
Had a good day yesterday so I thought I’d fire you round a wee email, give you an idea of what life looks like.
I got up yesterday at 9. Although mission life has done wonders to make me more of a morning person, I still have an occasional relapse. The first move of the day was to take the quad bike to Yabus and pickup an out-patient from the clinic, who needed a lift back home to Gondollo, where I was planning on spending the day. The guy was really skinny and weak, a soldier. I drove the quad very carefully on account of the Kalashnikov banging around behind me. It’s about half an hour from Yabus to Gondollo, our nearest and biggest Ganza village. I took him home and shouted a bit with his family. (It’s perfectly normal to have a casual chat at the top of your lungs.) From there I went to visit some of my Ganza friends, from the church there. The Ganza christian community in Gondollo is basically, 3 young couples, 3 single boys and some random children. Add that to the handful from the smaller village of Damo, and you end up with not a lot of christian people. Anyway, I spent most of my day with these 3 couples.
First of all I visited with Garbino and Jalaba; some other guys from the village were there. They all want to help me learn the language and I helped them write their names. Visiting is a huge part of Ganza culture, and the phrase used, Kyalll-li garabo, means “just staying put”. This means day spent going round all your friends’ houses drinking tea and coffee, would be described as if you hadn’t gone anywhere, so central is visiting to their community. My language is coming on well. Garbino’s dad was also at the clinic, so I took (another) trip to the clinic with Garbino to bring his dad back, who went straight to bed for the rest of the day.
Back in Gondollo news came through that one of the other men from the church, Jamal, had caught two dikdik while out hunting that morning. Dikdik are like miniature deer, about the size of a Jack Russell.
So off to Jamal’s we went for some food. Jamal was sleeping when we got there so me and Garbino went in and sat with his wife and ate the bushmeat. It may be the best tasting meat I’ve had. They cut in strips of sausage thickness and then just throw it in the embers. Kind of like a barbeque. Jamal got up and we went back to Garbino’s house where Lori (SIM missionary) was helping Jalaba cover the bamboo walls of their house in mud. We had three cups of coffee and a cup of tea, over a Ganza lesson in preparation for the following day’s bible study. We use picture books and go through 1 picture a week which tell about a certain bible story, then break off into groups and get the people to practice telling each other. This week it’s on Moses on Sinai and the 10 commandments. Usually the day before, I sit with Jamal, one of my two Ganza teachers and get as much of the vocabulary for the coming lesson as possible. This week we spent most of the time trying to work out a way to describe the concept of “law” in Ganza language. Complex concepts are very hard to communicate. It is difficult to imagine how the bible would translate without concepts like law, worship, beauty, grace, holiness and the list goes on. Somehow a discussion on law became a discussion on physical exercise routines. Jamal and Garbino insisted that I give them a PE lesson. We did, and it was great banter. Imagine trying to do chin-ups hanging in a tree next to a dead dikdik. They said “this is good and we’ll do it everyday”. Before heading home there was time to give Jalaba a help decorating her new bit of wall with my finger-painting skills. Ash and water make up the paint. Jalaba requested I paint a girl, so I did, and Jalaba said “akum akum” which can be translated as “good” or “thanks” or “excellent representation of a girl, Peter”.
As I mentioned before Jamal is one of my 2 Ganza teachers. Our lessons focus on bible picture books and as a result are the best relationships I have for discipleship. My other teacher, a really smart kid of about 15 from the church, called Hidir has been sick. I found out that he’s been away this week visiting a swak (witchdoctor). The deal with the swaks is that you go to them to get healed and when you get healed the spirit that was in the swak comes into you too. It’s obviously very discouraging to find out that Hidir’s resorted to getting this kind of help. Pray for him, and against the tight grip that the traditional healers have on people, even from within the church. Pray for eyes to be opened.
That’s as close to an average day in Gondollo as I can describe a mixture of sickness, hospitality, humour, frustration and sense of privilege. If it sounds good, you should probably just do it. There’s nothing that difficult, and if you’ve got more language skill than a standard grade in German and can do more than 6 chin-ups, you’d probably have managed yesterday better than me.
As you may know stuff regarding the election in Sudan (mid April) is all very uncertain at the moment.
Pray for peace.
I’m flying out to Nairobi next Wednesday for a break and am due to return on the 23rd to a place called Dajo where the Ganza team (Ryan, Lori, Me, Nate and Amy) will meet to write the project for Ganza ministry. We expect to get back to Yabus sometime between to 27th and the 4th depending on whether we fly or walk back to Yabus, but more on that next time.
Hope you’re all well,
Peter.
DONALD AND SHIRLEY BUCHANAN
Donald and Shirley Buchanan who have been sent out from this church to help spread the good news. They travel all over the Highlands and in Ireland preaching the gospel and touching lives. They were a great support for Alistair and Barbara when they first started up Skye Bible Church in Portree.
Donald and Shirley's Website - Highways-Byways-Missions click here
SANDRA AND ALAN SKENE
Sandra and Alan Skene who come from Kirkcaldy who have been living in Malawi for several years now helping with a feeding programme for the new borns to 8 year old children as well as providing support for the families. Sandra has run this and many Sunday schools which the children love. Alan has been spreading the good news and helping many young men come into ministry. We were introduced to them by our close friend and Apostle of the church, Samuel McKibbon.
OPEN DOORS
There are always Christians being persecuted because of their faith and others who do not own a bible or any spiritual material or who are unable to read these for fear of being caught. Here we have 'Open Doors' which aims to raise awareness and bring different types of support into these situations. Peter Prall keeps us informed about these global issues and has monthly meetings at his house to pray for specific and topical areas of need.
IN MINISTRY TO CHILDREN
We have learnt about Colombia which has been known as one of the most violent countries in the world. Despite it being rich there are large proportions of the population that live in poverty. Martin Plowman has a close contact with ' In Ministry to Children' . This organisation runs two homes for children giving them a home and education immersed in the love of God.
CHRISTIAN FRIENDS OF ISRAEL
Taylor and Ann Souter have focused our attention on Christian Friends of Israel. This is an evangelical Christian ministry with headquarters in Jerusalem where it operates twelve outreach ministries. Their main objective is to take the love of Jesus back to the Jews who brought it to the Gentiles in the first place.
CFI Jerusalem Website - click here
CFI UK Website - click here
OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES
We have links with the local radio station Cuillin FM (102.7 and 106.2) where Gary hosts 2 weekly programmes - Lifesong on Tuesday from 9 to 10 am and Solid Rock on Thursday from 9 to 10 pm where he presents the gospel with modern praise music and live testimonies.