The Overseas Ministry so far -
Scotland
In early December, the ministry in Scotland went so
well. I had a wonderful Business Mens dinner outreach
on Friday night and saw a number make a serious commitment
to Jesus. Then the Christmas Outreach Concert at the
Falkirk Baptist Church was a beautiful presentation in
song, music and visual aid. I had a great opportunity
to preach the Gospel through a simple Christmas message,
based on some of the characters of Christmas, and gave
an altar call. The pastor did the counseling afterwards.
On the Sunday the Renfrew Christian Fellowship near Glasgow
in a couple of hours hosted two meetings which were well
attended with the people responding well to the challenges.
Christmas
with the Family
It was wonderful to have the family all together again
for Christmas in Brighton, England, one of those rare
occasions – Deborah back from Southern Africa,
Paul over from France, Rooth and Niamh, and some good
friends, all together with us.
Florida USA
I then flew from London to Orlando to speak at a Humanitarian
Aid/Outreach Organization led by my nephew, Philip Smethurst.
I had originally purchased a World Traveler (economy
class) ticket and acquired the last available seat in
the flight. When I checked in at Gatwick Airport I found
that British Airways had put me up into World Traveler
Plus. Well, two youngish ladies came and sat in the two
seats next to me, and just after we’d leveled out
a young man came to me and said, “Would you like
my Club (business) Class seat, and I’d like to
sit with my wife – the lady who’s sitting
next to you.” He is a BA flight captain and they
had taken stand by seats and got separated. So I ended
up in business class just as we’d prayed. Talking
with him later, he asked what I did and what I was going
to do I Florida. That opened the door to share Jesus
with him. God is so good.
The Convention was power charged
with many young people, hungry to take the Gospel to
Central Africa, Mexico, Central America and Brazil, caught
the passion to serve Jesus Christ in this fashion. On
the New year’s
weekend I ministered in a great progressive church in
Destin, north Florida near Pensacola. What a refreshing
group to be with, hungry to reach the unchurched around
them. The theme was “Making the Church like Heaven
in 2007” where outsiders can visibly see our relationship
with God through Jesus when ever we are with them – taking
Jesus to our families, friends, neighbours and colleagues,
outside the church.
Wimbledon, SW London
On Sunday January 7th I enjoyed ministering in two church
services - in the New Life Church, Wimbledon where long
standing friends embraced the challenge once again to
reach the lost around them. The theme – “The
Church like Heaven in 2007” was well accepted.
God’s will in Heaven is carried out immediately
without a hitch, so should it be on Earth. Jesus’ taught
us to pray, “Thy will be done on earth as it is
in Heaven”, which means in us first and then through
us into the world. What a way to impact the world around
us – with obedience to God – and obedience
produces miracles.
In the evening I had the joy of preaching
at the Merton Park Baptist Church, which resulted in
a Moslem man from Kosovo, and a Jew in the service, unbeknown
to me, being convicted of their need of a relationship
with Jesus.
Ukraine
Please pray with me that God will somehow use
my presence there to speed through the sale process of
the Homeless Orphans Centre we want to purchase. It’s
been dragging along with too much opportunity for the
price to go up.
Southern Africa Project to help women who have Aids
Deborah’s project to the African women who have
Aids is drawing in a lot of needy women and their sick
children. I’ll get to Southern Africa in March
to check on the needs and see how many more sewing machines
they need (the hand operated Singers – we can get
them through a friend for just over $135 AUD each – essential
for areas with no electricity, to get a home industry
going for the women to feed and care for their needy
children.
Dave Smethurst
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