David Smethurst, Author at Smethurst Ministries

28 01, 2016

Latvia ~ Orphans Winter Needs – Jan 2016

January 28th, 2016|

As we have said in our post for the Ukraine orphans really need urgent help for the Orphans of Latvia and Ukraine in their great need at this very cold time of the year in Ukraine and Latvia. The current temperatures average around -20C (-4F) horrendous, and many orphanages have been penalised for exceeding their electricity usage. We desperately need to meet those heating bills otherwise the power may be cut off. Please help us if you are able. See my seperate report for Ukraine. In Latvia the needs are the same, but the orphanages are more widely spread. The [...]

28 01, 2016

Ukraine ~ Orphans Winter Needs – Jan 2016

January 28th, 2016|

We trust that you are well and enjoying God’s blessings at this time. We really need urgent help for the Orphans of Latvia and Ukraine in their great need at this very cold time of the year in Ukraine and Latvia. The current temperatures average around -20C (-4F) horrendous, and many orphanages have been penalised for exceeding their electricity usage. We desperately need to meet those heating bills otherwise the power may be cut off. Please help us if you are able. Read my seperate report for the orphanges in Latvia. […]

6 01, 2016

Feeding The Poor ~ Christmas at Gardene (1)

January 6th, 2016|

Gardene is a former USSR military-base remote country village in Latvia. The population of the area is less than 2000 people, majority of which lives below the poverty line. A small Evangelical Church with Pastor Marija in charge is reaching out to local community and running feeding center for poor kids. Over 50 kids come to the center daily for their only hot meal a day. Life has never been easy for this small village and the feeding program is struggling to meet its daily challenge to provide food. Remarkably the Lord has sustained the program for the last twenty years. It was nothing other than walk of faith. The church, whose members [...]

23 12, 2015

Your Love Knows No Limits

December 23rd, 2015|

Russell Moore wisely said; "As we become more attuned to the Gospel, we will have more of a burden for orphans!". We just want to thank You so much for having these orphans close to your heart! Your love for God and orphans knows no limits!

20 12, 2015

Flashback: This was my first ministry back in Rhodesia

December 20th, 2015|

This was my first ministry back in Rhodesia (before it became Zimbabwe in 1980). I was invited by Youth for Christ in Bulawayo to conduct two weeks of ministry in schools, military bases, churches and youth fellowships and that included a four day long weekend camp for about 100 teenagers. The main highlights were that these teenagers were hungry for God and wanted to know His will for their lives. There was a lot of terrorist activity in the country and urban areas, where you sometimes feared for your life where a bomb could be exploded in a supermarket. Driving [...]

2 12, 2015

Children and the Hopelessness of Poverty in Latvia

December 2nd, 2015|

Almost seven years have passed since a devastating economic and financial crisis hit Latvia - a nation of ordinary people. The side effects of that crisis are still vivid and very painful for a lot of people. Needless to say the country has suffered much, but a country is made up of needy people, and the people still haven't recovered fully. Probably one of the most painful effects of 2008 financial and economic crisis was and still is, the unstoppable emigration of people. Unfortunately people we are seeing leave the country are the younger generation with young families and the [...]

1 12, 2015

Wonderful Ministry in Odessa

December 1st, 2015|

Arriving in Odessa we were hosted by our delightful friends, Pastor Oleg and Tanya Vasilchuk and their beautiful baby daughter, Abigail. Then it was down to business visiting the Youth Gym Club that Oleg created with the homeless teenagers who once lived in the drains under the city of Odessa. A few years ago Oleg led to Christ, the European welterweight kickboxing champion, Igor Manjul, and his wife, Anastasia, who are assets in the church. Igor trains these rugged youngsters with the physical and emotional disciplines of these sports. Three times a week they meet in a rented gym and have a fellowship meeting with prayer, testimonies, [...]

1 12, 2015

Amazing Ministry in Kiev, Ukraine

December 1st, 2015|

Elmars Plavins (Chaplain-General to the Latvian Forces, Sasha Rodionov and I flew to Kiev from Riga to begin an amazing schedule of ministry. First up was a meeting with the Ukrainian Minister of Youth & Sport as well as other officials to discuss the role of Chaplaincy at the Olympic level, and the education of children as a charity. My counseling of Ukrainian wrestlers at the Olympics touched this politician and he opened the door for a pilot seminar to the top sports chaplains and psychologists. Then we went straight to a meeting with the assistant Orthodox Archbishop of Kiev (the [...]

1 12, 2015

Report on Ministry to the Military and Orphans in Latvia October 2015

December 1st, 2015|

I had a very busy but rewarding week, criss- crossing Latvia to various military bases. Comments have indicated that my seminars were very well received and the message seems to have been very timely. There were many looks of appreciation in soldiers’ eyes as the mes- sage entered their hearts. Time will tell as the word bears fruit in their lives. The first seminar was to the Military Police and that's normally the acid test as to whether I've hit the target or not. The message was well received. The 2 National Guard Bases that we visited that day received [...]

24 06, 2015

Wonderful Ministry In the USA

June 24th, 2015|

Delightful Wedding In an old historical Cape Cod Church It was my privilege to help conduct a wedding for longstanding friends in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. John & Linda Andrewski’s son, Christian married his childhood sweetheart Lizzie (Elizabeth Munafo). The wedding was held at the West Barnstable Congregational Church that dates back to 1616. It was a delightfully joyous occasion and during my address, that included a gospel challenge, a somewhat indifferent man shouted out “Amen” that jolted everyone. I sensed that a quite few people came closer to a faith in Jesus during that beautiful service. The [...]

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About David Smethurst