Gospel Work and other Assembly Activities

Now is the time to be planning Gospel work for the coming summer holiday period.

Believers from Cardiff go to a neighbour-ing village area each month and visit from door to door. In Pontyclun this has proved particularly profitable and many appeared to have been challenged.

In addition to the visitation the workers last year felt led to hold four Gospel meet-ings for adults in a public hall at Brynna, when a number of teenagers and some older people attended.

During the schoolholidays a week’s meetings for children took place in Llan-harry, a hall being hired from the council. These were held in the morning when about seventy children attended, most of whom never normally went to any place of worship. Three adult services took place in the evening when a number attended including the canon of the local church.

What was done above can be done in all other parts of the country. The need is colossal, the holding back is on our part.

South Wales. J. Smyth preached for two weeks in Deri during February. The small assembly, comprising two brethren and four sisters, was much encouraged when unsaved folk were present each night while many believers from denomina-tional circles also attended.

The believers in another small gathering, that at Tycroes, were encouraged by the attendance of unsaved folk from the village during special Gospel meetings led by N. Mellish.

D. McMasters held meetings for children and adults at Pantyffynon, Ammanford, when good numbers heard the Gospel message. He also visited the assemblies at Treboeth and Fforestfach for special children’s meetings.

North East England. The vehicle used by the Tyneside Open Air Workers having been destroyed by fire, the believers used their own transport and had a profitable season in the villages of Northumberland during 1976. Having been very low in numbers over the previous three years they rejoiced when joined by two brethren who have the work at heart. The winter work in the market places of the various towns has provoked a lot of interest and the Lord has blessed the word spoken.

Southern Scotland. A weekly meeting for senior citizens is held at Ebenezer Gospel Hall, Motherwell, which is wonder-fully attended, numbers reaching to well over one hundred.

Follpwing a mission taken by P. Brandon at Olive Hall, Hamilton, a weekly class has commenced where assembly principles are taught as well as the fundamental truths of the faith.

Galloway. Scottish assemblies tend to be concentrated in" the industrial areas. Elsewhere they are comparatively small and few as the population tends to be thin. Castle Douglas is typical of these. The assembly sustained a blow when a family moved to Fife, but the Lord graciously brought two Irish families in their place. Recently a baptism was arranged in a hired swimming pool. There are only twenty in fellowship yet seventy-five attended the baptismal service. These included a Church of Scotland minister, a youth group from the village whence the girl came who was baptized, together with two exclusive families. Most of these accepted the in-vitation to return to the hall for tea.

During February one of the Irish brethren and J. Stubbs preached for three weeks and quite a number of unsaved heard the word of God.

The believers at Machermore Home enjoy getting along to the assembly gather-ings at Newton Stewart. The Lord has blessed this work over the past twenty-five years.

North of Scotland. I. Munro conducts a regular Gospel service in the local hospital at Invergordon. While in the male wards in January, where the reception is normally quite indifferent, an old man who had been a patient for three years spoke of his confi-dence in the Saviour and a home in heaven. A fortnight later he was in the presence of his Lord. This should encourage all those engaged in such work.

Glasgow. There have been three baptismal services at Harley St. Gospel Hall already this year. The most recent of these was that of a young doctor, his fiancee and a young nursing sister who had been a Roman Catholic. She is at present experiencing persecution from her rela-tives.

Ministry of the Word. At Hebron Hall, Port Glasgow, ministry by J. Hunter on New Testament church truth during March was appreciated by an average attendance of fifty believers. We all need to be challenged and searched by the ministry of the Word of God and this can only take place if we attend the assembly gatherings for this purpose.

J. Spiers, having returned from six weeks of teaching in India, tells of a real thirst for the ministry of the Word of God in Kerala State. English-speaking teachers are under-stood, and those who are accredited would be welcomed.