NEWSLETTER - OCTOBER 2018

PLEASE PRAY

In our last newsletter we mentioned that on 15 June we would be flying to Sydney, Australia to do some teaching for Asia Pacific Seminary. On the night before we flew Julia slipped on some water and fell backwards onto the marble floor in the house in Subang Jaya. She damaged her coccyx, split open her head and split her mouth with her teeth. She continued with the Australia trip but was in intense pain the whole time.

When we returned to Malaysia she went for x-ray and MRI scan which revealed what the doctor described as a foreign object in her brain. The only explanation seems to be that a hormonal implant she had many years ago has migrated through her body. She is due for another MRI scan when we return to the UK. The ongoing result of the bang on her head is that she has lost her sense of smell and taste and her hearing is also affected. Please pray for a full recovery. She is still serving Jesus passionately.

THE POSITIVES

On 7^th July we celebrated the 40^th anniversary of our arrival in Malaysia (4 July 1978) with many of those we have worked with over those forty years. Then we returned to UK and on 28^th July we had our family gathering to celebrate Julia’s 70^th birthday (actually on 2^nd July). Paula flew in from USA and Julia (daughter) flew in from New Zealand. It was a great time together.

We are now back in Malaysia as on 28^th September it was the 40^th anniversary of Lifeline Assembly of God in Kuala Terengganu which we planted in 1978. Here’s how it all began: On the first Friday morning we got up with our four children to drive from Kuantan where we were living to Kuala Terengganu. We had no building to meet in so we began our worship service on the beach. Then it began to rain so the six of us relocated to a nearby

bus shelter to continue. Then a brother called Billy arrived for the service. The people he was living

with sent a message for us to go to their home for the meeting because of the rain. So the third part of our gathering was in the home of Mr and Mrs Wee. They both accepted Christ. That’s how Lifeline Church was born. It was wonderful to be at the celebration and see the participation of various ministries from the main church and the two daughter churches.

Shortly after the Kuala Terengganu anniversary we were once again reminded of the goodness of God. We met for morning coffee/tea with our good friend Leila (now in her eighties). Her husband, Dr Mahalingam was the first person in Malaysia we had the privilege of bringing to Christ in 1978. He was Hindu by background. Colin spent several weeks visiting him and sharing the gospel. One afternoon the Lord told Colin that all of his objections to the gospel were now over. Colin went to see him, expecting to lead him to Christ. His response was – “Not yet. I now believe all you are telling me about Jesus; but the Bible tells me my commitment must be 100% or nothing. I am not sure I am ready for that.” Colin went home feeling disappointed. The next morning the phone rang – the doctor’s voice -  “Colin, when can I get baptised.” Shortly after we had the joy of baptising him and twelve family members in the ocean in Kuantan. Dr Paul (as he became) went on to pastor a church in Kuantan until he went into the presence of Jesus.

THE FUTURE

After we return to UK next week we have ministry in several churches around Wales and England up until Christmas. Colin will travel to Singapore from 16-20 December to minister at a church camp for Rock of Ages Church.

Then in January we will return to Malaysia to resume our Bible school teaching and church ministry.

The privilege continues.