NEWSLETTER - FEBRUARY 2012
UPDATE
First of all, we apologise to all those who pray for us for not having written for such a long time. We just seem to be getting busier and busier, or maybe we are getting slower and slower.
The last newsletter contained a prayer request for certain political situations in Malaysia. These things are still ongoing, so we would value your continued prayers.
The past few months have been very hectic. From September to November, 2011 we were in the USA ministering in several churches, many of which are involved with us in missions, or will be in the future. We also made a very profitable visit to Venezuela. The political situation there is fraught with difficulties, but the churches are making great strides. We had the privilege of training some of the present and future leaders.
We arrived back in Malaysia in January and have already been involved in teaching in Tung Ling Seminary in the Pastoral Interns Programme, with students who are either already involved in pastoral ministry or are preparing to be in the future.
Since we arrived it was the Chinese New Year celebration. The custom is to go to people’s homes for “open house” which involves eating a lot of Chinese food. We went to open houses every day for five days. As this followed closely on the heels of our Christmas time at home we now have the task of shedding a few additional pounds – not easy when we are both advancing in years (68 and 63).
Last week we were in Singapore where Colin taught in the Tung Ling Bible College School of Ministry to seventy students hungry for the word of God. The future of God’s church in this city state is assured.
FUTURE
The next couple of months is going to be extremely busy. It looks something like this:
Saturday, 11 February: Teaching seminars at Asia Pacific Seminary in KL.
Sunday, 12 February: Preaching in Penang at the 80th birthday celebration of our dear friend Dr Joy Seevaratnam.
20 – 24 February: Teaching pastors’ seminars in Cambodia. It will be great to renew fellowship with these excellent church planters.
10 – 11 March: Ministry in Full Gospel Tabernacle in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, on the island of Borneo.
26 – 30 March: Teaching in the School of Ministry in Tung Ling Seminary, Malaysia.
9-13 April: Teaching in the School of Ministry in Tung Ling Bible School, Manila, Philippines.
20 – 30 April: Visit to Melbourne, Australia for ministry and to establish links for future missions. One of the churches consists of Tongan and Samoan believers and another has outreach to these nations.
Besides the above schedule, we will be involved in ministry in local churches every Sunday and on other occasions. Please pray that our ministry will be made effective by the power of the Holy Spirit. Pray also for continued health and strength and for all our travel arrangements. One specific need is for the provision of a car for us to drive when we are here in Malaysia as this greatly facilitates our service for the Lord.
YOUR PRAYERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Sunday, February 12, 2012
UPDATED PERSONAL PROFILE
UPDATED PROFILE
Family:
Colin and his wife, Julia, have four children and five grandchildren. Their oldest son, Ivan, has three children, Amy, Thomas and Jonathan. Their oldest daughter, also named Julia, has two children, Charlotte and Rhys.
Previous Ministry:
Colin has a total of more than 48 years in ministry which includes:
Over 19 years pastoral experience with Assemblies of God both in England (some of this time concurrent with Bible College teaching) and in the United States. During the period in the United States (1993-1995) he established a Spanish language ministry in the prison in Huntsville, Texas.
Colin and Julia were involved in five years of missionary service in West Malaysia from 1978 to 1983 during which period Colin was involved in church planting in the states of Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang, as well as extensive itinerant teaching throughout Malaysia and other countries in Asia. For two years he was a member of the Executive Council of Malaysian Assemblies of God, acting as Eastern Division Supervisor. More recently the Hurts served a further eight years as missionaries in Malaysia from 1995-2003. Most of this time was spent in Bible College lecturing and conducting leadership seminars.
Colin and Julia were the last couple to be granted a missionary visa to work in Malaysia. In 1983 their visa was withdrawn and they had to return to England. As a result nine years were spent teaching as a full time faculty member in the Assemblies of God Bible College in Mattersey Hall, England (1983-1988, 1990-1994). Subjects taught were: Missions, Romans, Luke, Acts, Hebrews, Prayer and Spiritual Warfare, Homiletics, Hermeneutics, Evangelism, Eschatology, World Religions and the Cults. During this period Colin was responsible for evangelistic outreach by the students into the surrounding towns and villages. He was also responsible for assessing the preaching ability of the students. Colin and Julia also led teams of students on missions trips to Belgium and Malaysia.
He has also been involved in itinerant teaching ministry, visiting the following countries: Belgium, Germany, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan, India, Mexico, Belize, Colombia, Cambodia, Myanmar, Venezuela and China. In 1998 Colin and Julia set up a Church Planting Institute in Cambodia which continues to the present time, producing graduates who have established over 300 churches in all the provinces of Cambodia. His emphasis has been on training leaders and potential leaders with teaching emphasis being on church planting, pastoral care and pastoral counselling.
For five years the Hurts pastored a church in Aberaman, South Wales. On 8th June, 2008 they resigned from the church to prepare to return full time to missions.
Colin is also on the board of both Asia Pacific Seminary and Network Bible Translators.
Present Ministry:
In January 2009 Colin and Julia returned to Malaysia where the first half of each year is spent in Bible teaching throughout Asia. The second half of each year is spent in the USA and Latin America.
The main objectives of their ministry is:
1. To be in the right place, at the right time, with the right word.
2. To prepare God’s people for the harvest.
3. To train leaders for the harvest.
4. To prepare the bride for the wedding (Rev.19:7)
Family:
Colin and his wife, Julia, have four children and five grandchildren. Their oldest son, Ivan, has three children, Amy, Thomas and Jonathan. Their oldest daughter, also named Julia, has two children, Charlotte and Rhys.
Previous Ministry:
Colin has a total of more than 48 years in ministry which includes:
Over 19 years pastoral experience with Assemblies of God both in England (some of this time concurrent with Bible College teaching) and in the United States. During the period in the United States (1993-1995) he established a Spanish language ministry in the prison in Huntsville, Texas.
Colin and Julia were involved in five years of missionary service in West Malaysia from 1978 to 1983 during which period Colin was involved in church planting in the states of Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang, as well as extensive itinerant teaching throughout Malaysia and other countries in Asia. For two years he was a member of the Executive Council of Malaysian Assemblies of God, acting as Eastern Division Supervisor. More recently the Hurts served a further eight years as missionaries in Malaysia from 1995-2003. Most of this time was spent in Bible College lecturing and conducting leadership seminars.
Colin and Julia were the last couple to be granted a missionary visa to work in Malaysia. In 1983 their visa was withdrawn and they had to return to England. As a result nine years were spent teaching as a full time faculty member in the Assemblies of God Bible College in Mattersey Hall, England (1983-1988, 1990-1994). Subjects taught were: Missions, Romans, Luke, Acts, Hebrews, Prayer and Spiritual Warfare, Homiletics, Hermeneutics, Evangelism, Eschatology, World Religions and the Cults. During this period Colin was responsible for evangelistic outreach by the students into the surrounding towns and villages. He was also responsible for assessing the preaching ability of the students. Colin and Julia also led teams of students on missions trips to Belgium and Malaysia.
He has also been involved in itinerant teaching ministry, visiting the following countries: Belgium, Germany, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan, India, Mexico, Belize, Colombia, Cambodia, Myanmar, Venezuela and China. In 1998 Colin and Julia set up a Church Planting Institute in Cambodia which continues to the present time, producing graduates who have established over 300 churches in all the provinces of Cambodia. His emphasis has been on training leaders and potential leaders with teaching emphasis being on church planting, pastoral care and pastoral counselling.
For five years the Hurts pastored a church in Aberaman, South Wales. On 8th June, 2008 they resigned from the church to prepare to return full time to missions.
Colin is also on the board of both Asia Pacific Seminary and Network Bible Translators.
Present Ministry:
In January 2009 Colin and Julia returned to Malaysia where the first half of each year is spent in Bible teaching throughout Asia. The second half of each year is spent in the USA and Latin America.
The main objectives of their ministry is:
1. To be in the right place, at the right time, with the right word.
2. To prepare God’s people for the harvest.
3. To train leaders for the harvest.
4. To prepare the bride for the wedding (Rev.19:7)
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
NEWSLETTER MARCH - JUNE 2011
MARCH
At the beginning of March we had the visit of Keith and Val Tipple from Frankfort, Illinois. They were a tremendous blessing to the churches where they ministered. On 4th March (our wedding anniversary) we went to Ipoh to teach a seminar on servant leadership in Emmanuel Assembly of God. We were hosted by Raymond Tan, whom Colin met on his first visit to Malaysia in 1975, when Raymond was still in school. He recalled going evangelising with Colin on bicycles. From 10th to 14th of March we were in Melbourne, Australia, ministering in two mainly Tongan churches and another mainly Malaysian church. After getting back to Malaysia Colin taught in Asia Pacific Seminary and Tung Ling Seminary, spoke in local churches and also to pastors at the Evangelical Charismatic Churches of Malaysia fellowship. It is still an awesome privilege to have input into the lives of current and future leaders of the church in Malaysia.
APRIL
April began with teaching in Tung Ling Seminary. On Sunday, 3 April we ministered at two Full Gospel Tabernacle churches in Melaka and Johor Bahru. The following Sunday we spoke at two more Full Gospel Tabernacle churches, but this time in Manila in the Philippines, in Las Pinas and Tondo. In between we ministered in Jesus Reigns Ministries. From Monday to Friday of that week Colin taught in Tung Ling Seminary, Philippines. On the Thursday we were blessed to be able to meet up with Mark Ritchie who is doing a great work in Sefton Village, and Catherine Young who works in Asia for SIL. Colin taught both of them in Mattersey Hall AOG Bible College many years ago. It is a real thrill to see them impacting many lives for the kingdom.
The rest of April saw us ministering in local churches in Malaysia and Singapore, and finally at a church camp in Genting Highlands.
MAY
On 7th May Colin flew to Kota Kinabalu and ministered in Full Gospel Tabernacle on Sunday at the English and Bahasa Malaysia services. It was encouraging to see the growth in the church since last year. After flying home again from the Monday to Wednesday of that week Colin taught Romans at Tung Ling Seminary and on the Saturday morning taught seminars in the School of Christian Education in Full Gospel Assembly in Kuala Lumpur. Immediately afterwards we drove to Penang for two weekends of ministry. Whilst we were there our car was hit from behind by a driver who failed to stop in a line of traffic. Praise God we were not injured. We also met up with Tony and Margaret Foster who were in Penang in the early 1980s and whom we hadn’t seen since 1983. On 22 May Colin preached four times in Penang First Assembly. The church is making great progress.
JUNE
In June we had a visit from our good friend Terry Thompson from Texas. Colin and Terry both taught in the School of Acts and at the family camp for Liberty in Christ Tabernacle. The remainder of June was extremely busy: Church Camp with Christ Church (Anglican) in Penang; The School of Acts in Semarang, Indonesia; School of Christian Education in FGA, KL; Harvest Training Institute in Chennai, India; church ministry in Perth and Busselton, W. Australia. Julia has made serious threats if Colin ever arranges a schedule like that again.
Please pray concerning the increased pressure upon the churches by the Malaysian government in the form of impounding Malay language Bibles etc.
YOUR PRAYERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE
MARCH
At the beginning of March we had the visit of Keith and Val Tipple from Frankfort, Illinois. They were a tremendous blessing to the churches where they ministered. On 4th March (our wedding anniversary) we went to Ipoh to teach a seminar on servant leadership in Emmanuel Assembly of God. We were hosted by Raymond Tan, whom Colin met on his first visit to Malaysia in 1975, when Raymond was still in school. He recalled going evangelising with Colin on bicycles. From 10th to 14th of March we were in Melbourne, Australia, ministering in two mainly Tongan churches and another mainly Malaysian church. After getting back to Malaysia Colin taught in Asia Pacific Seminary and Tung Ling Seminary, spoke in local churches and also to pastors at the Evangelical Charismatic Churches of Malaysia fellowship. It is still an awesome privilege to have input into the lives of current and future leaders of the church in Malaysia.
APRIL
April began with teaching in Tung Ling Seminary. On Sunday, 3 April we ministered at two Full Gospel Tabernacle churches in Melaka and Johor Bahru. The following Sunday we spoke at two more Full Gospel Tabernacle churches, but this time in Manila in the Philippines, in Las Pinas and Tondo. In between we ministered in Jesus Reigns Ministries. From Monday to Friday of that week Colin taught in Tung Ling Seminary, Philippines. On the Thursday we were blessed to be able to meet up with Mark Ritchie who is doing a great work in Sefton Village, and Catherine Young who works in Asia for SIL. Colin taught both of them in Mattersey Hall AOG Bible College many years ago. It is a real thrill to see them impacting many lives for the kingdom.
The rest of April saw us ministering in local churches in Malaysia and Singapore, and finally at a church camp in Genting Highlands.
MAY
On 7th May Colin flew to Kota Kinabalu and ministered in Full Gospel Tabernacle on Sunday at the English and Bahasa Malaysia services. It was encouraging to see the growth in the church since last year. After flying home again from the Monday to Wednesday of that week Colin taught Romans at Tung Ling Seminary and on the Saturday morning taught seminars in the School of Christian Education in Full Gospel Assembly in Kuala Lumpur. Immediately afterwards we drove to Penang for two weekends of ministry. Whilst we were there our car was hit from behind by a driver who failed to stop in a line of traffic. Praise God we were not injured. We also met up with Tony and Margaret Foster who were in Penang in the early 1980s and whom we hadn’t seen since 1983. On 22 May Colin preached four times in Penang First Assembly. The church is making great progress.
JUNE
In June we had a visit from our good friend Terry Thompson from Texas. Colin and Terry both taught in the School of Acts and at the family camp for Liberty in Christ Tabernacle. The remainder of June was extremely busy: Church Camp with Christ Church (Anglican) in Penang; The School of Acts in Semarang, Indonesia; School of Christian Education in FGA, KL; Harvest Training Institute in Chennai, India; church ministry in Perth and Busselton, W. Australia. Julia has made serious threats if Colin ever arranges a schedule like that again.
Please pray concerning the increased pressure upon the churches by the Malaysian government in the form of impounding Malay language Bibles etc.
YOUR PRAYERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Monday, January 17, 2011
September to December Newsletter 2010
FIRST OF ALL – AN APOLOGY
Since we started out in again in missions, we have sent out our newsletter every two months because we really do appreciate the prayers of our friends around the world and we realise how much we depend upon them. So we want to apologise for the fact that it is now four months since our last newsletter. This is because your prayers are being answered and we have been very busy doing the things the Lord has called us to do.
SEPTEMBER
September found us in the United States, where we spent time with Paula and Scott, our daughter and her husband.
We also participated the Calvary Commission Breakthrough Conference in Lindale, Texas, meeting up with many of our friends who are involved in missions in many parts of the world; we just love this missionary family. This was followed by ministry in several churches, including some cowboy churches.
OCTOBER
On the first Saturday in October we went to a farewell dinner for James and Shannon Doherty who have answered God’s call to India. What a thrill to know committed people are still passionate about missions. Shannon is the daughter of our friends David and Maria Skinner..
After more ministry in Texas we flew to Querétaro, Mexico to meet up with Steve Wilson who has an apostolic ministry in the region. Colin taught at leadership training seminars in San Jun del Río, Oaxaca, and San Baltazar, besides ministering in the churches. This was our first time in this part of Mexico, but we both felt it was the most fruitful of all our visits. Four pastors who came to the conference in San Juan del Río were from a region which is entirely under the control of the drug lords. Just before they came one of their pastors and his wife were kidnapped by the gangsters. After they returned home the twenty year old son of the senior pastor was kidnapped, but later released in answer to prayer. They have 300 churches in the region and want us to go there this year to do some teaching.
OCTOBER - NOVEMBER
At the end of October we went to Maracay, Venezuela. The political and economic situation in the nation is a mess, but it was thrilling to see the advances that the churches are making. We were involved in the Prophetic Intercession Conference in Global Advance Church. We have been ministering in Venezuela for many years now, but we felt this was the most profitable time ever.
NOVEMBER
After returning from Venezuela, we had further ministry in the United States, including a drive from Conroe, Texas, via Nashville, Tennessee to visit Colin’s sister, Christine and Paul, her husband, up as far as Frankfort, Illinois to preach for Keith Tipple. It was a great time of ministry and fellowship. We were then joined by Paula and travelled on to Florence, Kentucky to speak in Heritage Fellowship over the Thanksgiving weekend.
DECEMBER
The first week of December was spent in Costa Rica, where we visited Chira Island. A Bible school is under construction and should be completed this year. We have been asked to help set up the curriculum.
2011
In January we will be teaching in Tung Ling Seminary both in Malaysia and Singapore, besides ministering in several churches. February will be spent ministering around churches in Malaysia. March will take us to Melbourne, Australia, then back to Malaysia for more teaching in Tung Ling Seminary. In April we will be in Tung Ling in Manila, Philippines. In May we will again be involved with the churches in Malaysia. June will take us to the School of Acts in Semarang, Indonesia and also the Harvest Training Institute in Chennai, India.
YOUR PRAYERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Since we started out in again in missions, we have sent out our newsletter every two months because we really do appreciate the prayers of our friends around the world and we realise how much we depend upon them. So we want to apologise for the fact that it is now four months since our last newsletter. This is because your prayers are being answered and we have been very busy doing the things the Lord has called us to do.
SEPTEMBER
September found us in the United States, where we spent time with Paula and Scott, our daughter and her husband.
We also participated the Calvary Commission Breakthrough Conference in Lindale, Texas, meeting up with many of our friends who are involved in missions in many parts of the world; we just love this missionary family. This was followed by ministry in several churches, including some cowboy churches.
OCTOBER
On the first Saturday in October we went to a farewell dinner for James and Shannon Doherty who have answered God’s call to India. What a thrill to know committed people are still passionate about missions. Shannon is the daughter of our friends David and Maria Skinner..
After more ministry in Texas we flew to Querétaro, Mexico to meet up with Steve Wilson who has an apostolic ministry in the region. Colin taught at leadership training seminars in San Jun del Río, Oaxaca, and San Baltazar, besides ministering in the churches. This was our first time in this part of Mexico, but we both felt it was the most fruitful of all our visits. Four pastors who came to the conference in San Juan del Río were from a region which is entirely under the control of the drug lords. Just before they came one of their pastors and his wife were kidnapped by the gangsters. After they returned home the twenty year old son of the senior pastor was kidnapped, but later released in answer to prayer. They have 300 churches in the region and want us to go there this year to do some teaching.
OCTOBER - NOVEMBER
At the end of October we went to Maracay, Venezuela. The political and economic situation in the nation is a mess, but it was thrilling to see the advances that the churches are making. We were involved in the Prophetic Intercession Conference in Global Advance Church. We have been ministering in Venezuela for many years now, but we felt this was the most profitable time ever.
NOVEMBER
After returning from Venezuela, we had further ministry in the United States, including a drive from Conroe, Texas, via Nashville, Tennessee to visit Colin’s sister, Christine and Paul, her husband, up as far as Frankfort, Illinois to preach for Keith Tipple. It was a great time of ministry and fellowship. We were then joined by Paula and travelled on to Florence, Kentucky to speak in Heritage Fellowship over the Thanksgiving weekend.
DECEMBER
The first week of December was spent in Costa Rica, where we visited Chira Island. A Bible school is under construction and should be completed this year. We have been asked to help set up the curriculum.
2011
In January we will be teaching in Tung Ling Seminary both in Malaysia and Singapore, besides ministering in several churches. February will be spent ministering around churches in Malaysia. March will take us to Melbourne, Australia, then back to Malaysia for more teaching in Tung Ling Seminary. In April we will be in Tung Ling in Manila, Philippines. In May we will again be involved with the churches in Malaysia. June will take us to the School of Acts in Semarang, Indonesia and also the Harvest Training Institute in Chennai, India.
YOUR PRAYERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Monday, September 13, 2010
July- August Newsletter 2010
JULY
The month began with Colin still living the bachelor life as Julia was back home in the UK. The visit for a couple of days from some new American friends (Harold Gingerich and Sherrie Weimer) made the house seem less empty – although they would have had better hospitality if Julia had been here. Sherrie was on her way to missionary service in Indonesia, to teach in a Christian school. God is still sending out labourers into the harvest.
3-4 July I was in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah (Borneo), speaking in Full Gospel Tabernacle. As always I was blessed by the privilege of preaching in this growing church. After the Sunday morning service I flew to Jakarta, Indonesia, where I spent the night at the airport hotel before taking the early flight on Monday morning to Semarang and by 8am I was in the School of Acts where I taught sessions both morning and evening up until Thursday. There were about 120 students in the morning sessions and 200 in the evenings, from all 33 provinces of Indonesia. Their hunger for the word of God was intense and it was a real thrill to teach them.
After teaching the Friday morning class I flew back to Malaysia, arriving home around 1am.
On Sunday, 11 July I preached at Richer Life Outreach in Cheras.
From 15-23 July I taught in Tung Ling Seminary in Ipoh. This is a new extension of the Tung Ling Seminary in Subang Jaya. It was an exciting time to be involved in this new venture in training people for the work of the Kingdom. One of the students remembered me from my very first missions trip to Malaysia in 1975 when we went out evangelising together on bicycles.
On Saturday, 17 July there were no classes so I took the opportunity to drive to Taiping and have breakfast with Philip and Fiona Mathius. When we first arrived in Malaysia as missionaries in 1978, Fiona was my guide around the town of Kota Baharu when Julia and I were praying about where to pioneer churches, and Philip was the pastor of the church in Mentakab and we often ministered there. It was wonderful to renew fellowship with them after many years. Thank God for people like them who have remained faithful to their work and ministry.
On my final Saturday in Malaysia I attended the wedding of Jai Isaacs to Daenielle. Jai is originally from Lifeline Assembly in Kuala Terengganu, although he wasn’t even born when we pioneered the church there. Makes you feel old when you can say that.
On Sunday, 25 July I preached at the two morning services in Full Gospel Assembly, Kuala Lumpur, before setting off for the airport for my flight home to UK.
Whilst I was having all this fun, Julia was having fun of her own back in the UK, including the engine blowing up in her car and all the upstairs light blowing out in our house in Wales - rewiring was needed. I thank God for a wife who can take all these crises in her stride.
JULY/AUGUST
Back in the UK, most of our time was spent visiting some of the churches who are supporting us in prayer, in Dinnington, Batley, Mansfield Woodhouse, Sheffield Woodhouse, Aberaman, Hirwaun, Clydach, Haverfordwest etc. It is always good to be able to share what God is doing in Asia, including many things we cannot say in our newsletters. It is only a pity that we are not able to visit all of you who are behind us in prayer and giving, because we really appreciate every one of you.
Whilst we were home we were also able to celebrate Andrea’s (our youngest daughter) 40th birthday. We really are getting old.
On 31 August we flew to Texas where we are staying with our daughter, Paula, and from where we will be reaching out into Mexico, Venezuela and Costa Rica, besides ministering in some of the American churches. More about that in our next newsletter.
YOUR PRAYERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE
The month began with Colin still living the bachelor life as Julia was back home in the UK. The visit for a couple of days from some new American friends (Harold Gingerich and Sherrie Weimer) made the house seem less empty – although they would have had better hospitality if Julia had been here. Sherrie was on her way to missionary service in Indonesia, to teach in a Christian school. God is still sending out labourers into the harvest.
3-4 July I was in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah (Borneo), speaking in Full Gospel Tabernacle. As always I was blessed by the privilege of preaching in this growing church. After the Sunday morning service I flew to Jakarta, Indonesia, where I spent the night at the airport hotel before taking the early flight on Monday morning to Semarang and by 8am I was in the School of Acts where I taught sessions both morning and evening up until Thursday. There were about 120 students in the morning sessions and 200 in the evenings, from all 33 provinces of Indonesia. Their hunger for the word of God was intense and it was a real thrill to teach them.
After teaching the Friday morning class I flew back to Malaysia, arriving home around 1am.
On Sunday, 11 July I preached at Richer Life Outreach in Cheras.
From 15-23 July I taught in Tung Ling Seminary in Ipoh. This is a new extension of the Tung Ling Seminary in Subang Jaya. It was an exciting time to be involved in this new venture in training people for the work of the Kingdom. One of the students remembered me from my very first missions trip to Malaysia in 1975 when we went out evangelising together on bicycles.
On Saturday, 17 July there were no classes so I took the opportunity to drive to Taiping and have breakfast with Philip and Fiona Mathius. When we first arrived in Malaysia as missionaries in 1978, Fiona was my guide around the town of Kota Baharu when Julia and I were praying about where to pioneer churches, and Philip was the pastor of the church in Mentakab and we often ministered there. It was wonderful to renew fellowship with them after many years. Thank God for people like them who have remained faithful to their work and ministry.
On my final Saturday in Malaysia I attended the wedding of Jai Isaacs to Daenielle. Jai is originally from Lifeline Assembly in Kuala Terengganu, although he wasn’t even born when we pioneered the church there. Makes you feel old when you can say that.
On Sunday, 25 July I preached at the two morning services in Full Gospel Assembly, Kuala Lumpur, before setting off for the airport for my flight home to UK.
Whilst I was having all this fun, Julia was having fun of her own back in the UK, including the engine blowing up in her car and all the upstairs light blowing out in our house in Wales - rewiring was needed. I thank God for a wife who can take all these crises in her stride.
JULY/AUGUST
Back in the UK, most of our time was spent visiting some of the churches who are supporting us in prayer, in Dinnington, Batley, Mansfield Woodhouse, Sheffield Woodhouse, Aberaman, Hirwaun, Clydach, Haverfordwest etc. It is always good to be able to share what God is doing in Asia, including many things we cannot say in our newsletters. It is only a pity that we are not able to visit all of you who are behind us in prayer and giving, because we really appreciate every one of you.
Whilst we were home we were also able to celebrate Andrea’s (our youngest daughter) 40th birthday. We really are getting old.
On 31 August we flew to Texas where we are staying with our daughter, Paula, and from where we will be reaching out into Mexico, Venezuela and Costa Rica, besides ministering in some of the American churches. More about that in our next newsletter.
YOUR PRAYERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Sunday, July 11, 2010
MAY - JUNE NEWSLETTER 2010
MAY
This was a very busy but productive time for us. On Sunday, 2nd Colin preached in Full Gospel Tabernacle in Malacca. That evening we flew to Chennai (Madras) in India to teach in the Harvest Training Institute (Tamil). On Monday and Tuesday Colin taught on Principles of Leadership. On the Tuesday evening he preached at the Miracle Rally where many unconverted came forward for prayer. Wednesday morning he spoke at the South East Chennai Ministers’ Fellowship. This was followed by more teaching from 3-8pm in the Harvest Training Institute. After continuing teaching on Thursday and Friday, we flew back to Malaysia. On Sunday, 9th Colin spoke at Liberty in Christ Tabernacle in Dengkil, but Julia stayed home with tonsillitis. This was the first time in a long time she has suffered from it. Monday, 10th Colin taught in the School of Acts – three evening sessions and four morning sessions to students from many Asian countries. Saturday, 15th May still kept us busy – teaching in the morning at the School of Christian Education in Full Gospel Assembly, then preaching at a new outreach of Full Gospel Tabernacle in Taylor’s College. Sunday, 16th was spent preaching at Full Gospel Tabernacle, then teaching there in the afternoon at their School of the Bible on the topics of Christology and Soteriology. At 1-40am on Monday we caught our flight to Manila, Philippines, arriving at 5am and Colin started teaching in Tung Ling Seminary at 8-30am. After teaching from Monday to Friday morning, we went with the students for a one night retreat in the hills at Tagaytay. Saturday morning got very exciting. We went to a waterfall where Colin baptised one of the students then dived into the water for a swim, forgetting he was still wearing his specs (these senior moments are getting more frequent). Aileen, who had just got baptised, found them so the crisis was over. From there we went to the Jesus Reigns Ministries camp site where their youth camp was just ending. It is good to be prepared in season and out of season. Pastor Vincent Javier decided it would be good for Colin to bring a word of exhortation. Thank God for the Bible on my mobile phone. Then back to Manila where Colin preached in two services at Jesus Reigns. Then we got our flight back to Malaysia, arriving home at around 2am. We had a few days of rest and relaxation before Colin flew to Kuala Terengganu and back for the Friday service. Julia stayed back, nursing a heavy cold. On Saturday Colin spoke at the youth meeting in Full Gospel Tabernacle (Yes, they do still ask the old man to speak to the youth!!!) On Sunday 30th we were at Full Gospel Assembly in Cheras.
JUNE
After this intensive period of ministry we did manage to fit in a few days of relaxation from Tuesday to Thursday in a hotel in Kuala Terengganu (pictures on Julia’s facebook). We really enjoyed the break. This was followed by ministry in KT and then Penang. On the way over from East to West we were so close to the Thai border that Julia got a message on her mobile welcoming her to Thailand. Ministry in Penang was at Christ Church (Anglican) and First Assembly of God. More ministry at Lifeline, Kuala Terengganu, and SIB Church, Kuala Lumpur, followed by a trip to the Elephant Sanctuary with a group from the children’s home run by our friends, the Achamby family. It was great to see the excitement on the face of the children (more pictures on Julia’s facebook). More ministry at City Revival Church, and a Home Fellowship Leaders’ retreat in Genting Highlands followed. Julia really rocked the wives with her teaching on Your Husband is not Always Right. Guess who was the subject of the illustrations!!!
We thank God for the energy and strength he gives us to maintain this schedule. We also thank you for your prayers.
Julia flew home to UK on 28th June, leaving Colin to his worst nightmare – the bachelor life.
July is also going to be busy: Sunday ministry in several churches. Teaching in the School of Acts, Semarang, Indonesia. Teaching in Tung Ling Seminary, Ipoh.
Colin flies home to UK on 26th July.
YOUR PRAYERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE
This was a very busy but productive time for us. On Sunday, 2nd Colin preached in Full Gospel Tabernacle in Malacca. That evening we flew to Chennai (Madras) in India to teach in the Harvest Training Institute (Tamil). On Monday and Tuesday Colin taught on Principles of Leadership. On the Tuesday evening he preached at the Miracle Rally where many unconverted came forward for prayer. Wednesday morning he spoke at the South East Chennai Ministers’ Fellowship. This was followed by more teaching from 3-8pm in the Harvest Training Institute. After continuing teaching on Thursday and Friday, we flew back to Malaysia. On Sunday, 9th Colin spoke at Liberty in Christ Tabernacle in Dengkil, but Julia stayed home with tonsillitis. This was the first time in a long time she has suffered from it. Monday, 10th Colin taught in the School of Acts – three evening sessions and four morning sessions to students from many Asian countries. Saturday, 15th May still kept us busy – teaching in the morning at the School of Christian Education in Full Gospel Assembly, then preaching at a new outreach of Full Gospel Tabernacle in Taylor’s College. Sunday, 16th was spent preaching at Full Gospel Tabernacle, then teaching there in the afternoon at their School of the Bible on the topics of Christology and Soteriology. At 1-40am on Monday we caught our flight to Manila, Philippines, arriving at 5am and Colin started teaching in Tung Ling Seminary at 8-30am. After teaching from Monday to Friday morning, we went with the students for a one night retreat in the hills at Tagaytay. Saturday morning got very exciting. We went to a waterfall where Colin baptised one of the students then dived into the water for a swim, forgetting he was still wearing his specs (these senior moments are getting more frequent). Aileen, who had just got baptised, found them so the crisis was over. From there we went to the Jesus Reigns Ministries camp site where their youth camp was just ending. It is good to be prepared in season and out of season. Pastor Vincent Javier decided it would be good for Colin to bring a word of exhortation. Thank God for the Bible on my mobile phone. Then back to Manila where Colin preached in two services at Jesus Reigns. Then we got our flight back to Malaysia, arriving home at around 2am. We had a few days of rest and relaxation before Colin flew to Kuala Terengganu and back for the Friday service. Julia stayed back, nursing a heavy cold. On Saturday Colin spoke at the youth meeting in Full Gospel Tabernacle (Yes, they do still ask the old man to speak to the youth!!!) On Sunday 30th we were at Full Gospel Assembly in Cheras.
JUNE
After this intensive period of ministry we did manage to fit in a few days of relaxation from Tuesday to Thursday in a hotel in Kuala Terengganu (pictures on Julia’s facebook). We really enjoyed the break. This was followed by ministry in KT and then Penang. On the way over from East to West we were so close to the Thai border that Julia got a message on her mobile welcoming her to Thailand. Ministry in Penang was at Christ Church (Anglican) and First Assembly of God. More ministry at Lifeline, Kuala Terengganu, and SIB Church, Kuala Lumpur, followed by a trip to the Elephant Sanctuary with a group from the children’s home run by our friends, the Achamby family. It was great to see the excitement on the face of the children (more pictures on Julia’s facebook). More ministry at City Revival Church, and a Home Fellowship Leaders’ retreat in Genting Highlands followed. Julia really rocked the wives with her teaching on Your Husband is not Always Right. Guess who was the subject of the illustrations!!!
We thank God for the energy and strength he gives us to maintain this schedule. We also thank you for your prayers.
Julia flew home to UK on 28th June, leaving Colin to his worst nightmare – the bachelor life.
July is also going to be busy: Sunday ministry in several churches. Teaching in the School of Acts, Semarang, Indonesia. Teaching in Tung Ling Seminary, Ipoh.
Colin flies home to UK on 26th July.
YOUR PRAYERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Newsletter.
MARCH
The beginning of March found us in Seremban, where Colin taught seminars on the book of Job on the Saturday and preached in Full Gospel Tabernacle on the Sunday morning and at their outreach church in Seremban 2 in the evening.
On Monday 8th Colin commenced a series of five sessions of teaching on Principles of Leadership at New Life Restoration Centre in Petaling Jaya. On 10th the venue for preaching was St. Mary’s Anglican Cathedral in Kuala Lumpur. After the meeting, a man named Wee Kim Chua came forward to introduce himself. When we started the pioneer church, Lifeline Assembly, in 1978, the meetings for the first few weeks were held in his home. It was a thrill to meet him after more than thirty years. On 11th and 12th March Colin taught at Tung Ling Seminary. On Saturday 13th he taught seminars on Romans at SS Methodist Church and preached at their Sunday morning service on 14th. That evening he spoke at a men’s fellowship at City Revival Church. Monday to Wednesday was spent teaching again in Tung Ling Seminary. On the Monday evening the series on Principles of Leadership continued and on the Wednesday evening it was back to St. Mary’s.
From 19th to 29th we were in Perth, Western Australia where we had the privilege of ministering in Grace City Church and at a missions conference in Champion Lakes Church. We also met up with a lot of old friends, including Bob and Margaret Stevenson. It was in one of their missionary meetings way back in 1973 that we first received our call to Malaysia.
When we got back to Malaysia we discovered that our home had been burgled (for the second time) and several items, including Julia’s netbook computer, had been stolen.
MARCH/APRIL
The day after our return home our family (daughters Julia and Andrea, and a friend, Carolyn, granddaughter Charlotte, and grandson Rhys, began arriving in ones and twos and for the next two weeks (30 March – 12 April) we had a great family holiday together, visiting Port Dickson, Kuantan, Penang and Langkawi Island.
APRIL
While they were here Colin still found time to speak at the Easter morning service in Full Gospel Tabernacle and to the church leaders at the Evangelical Charismatic Churches of Malaysia fellowship. He also flew to Kuala Terengganu to conduct a memorial service.
For the rest of April we had meetings at New Life Restoration Centre, Kota Kemuning, Full Gospel Assembly School of Christian Education, Full Gospel Tabernacle in Miri, Sarawak, more teaching at New life Restoration Centre, and speaking at First Assembly of God in Penang. While we were in Penang we also got to visit our very dear friend, Dr Joy Seevaratnam who is now wheelchair bound. We used to minister in his home fellowship in Kuala Lumpur over 30 years ago.
YOUR PRAYERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE
MARCH
The beginning of March found us in Seremban, where Colin taught seminars on the book of Job on the Saturday and preached in Full Gospel Tabernacle on the Sunday morning and at their outreach church in Seremban 2 in the evening.
On Monday 8th Colin commenced a series of five sessions of teaching on Principles of Leadership at New Life Restoration Centre in Petaling Jaya. On 10th the venue for preaching was St. Mary’s Anglican Cathedral in Kuala Lumpur. After the meeting, a man named Wee Kim Chua came forward to introduce himself. When we started the pioneer church, Lifeline Assembly, in 1978, the meetings for the first few weeks were held in his home. It was a thrill to meet him after more than thirty years. On 11th and 12th March Colin taught at Tung Ling Seminary. On Saturday 13th he taught seminars on Romans at SS Methodist Church and preached at their Sunday morning service on 14th. That evening he spoke at a men’s fellowship at City Revival Church. Monday to Wednesday was spent teaching again in Tung Ling Seminary. On the Monday evening the series on Principles of Leadership continued and on the Wednesday evening it was back to St. Mary’s.
From 19th to 29th we were in Perth, Western Australia where we had the privilege of ministering in Grace City Church and at a missions conference in Champion Lakes Church. We also met up with a lot of old friends, including Bob and Margaret Stevenson. It was in one of their missionary meetings way back in 1973 that we first received our call to Malaysia.
When we got back to Malaysia we discovered that our home had been burgled (for the second time) and several items, including Julia’s netbook computer, had been stolen.
MARCH/APRIL
The day after our return home our family (daughters Julia and Andrea, and a friend, Carolyn, granddaughter Charlotte, and grandson Rhys, began arriving in ones and twos and for the next two weeks (30 March – 12 April) we had a great family holiday together, visiting Port Dickson, Kuantan, Penang and Langkawi Island.
APRIL
While they were here Colin still found time to speak at the Easter morning service in Full Gospel Tabernacle and to the church leaders at the Evangelical Charismatic Churches of Malaysia fellowship. He also flew to Kuala Terengganu to conduct a memorial service.
For the rest of April we had meetings at New Life Restoration Centre, Kota Kemuning, Full Gospel Assembly School of Christian Education, Full Gospel Tabernacle in Miri, Sarawak, more teaching at New life Restoration Centre, and speaking at First Assembly of God in Penang. While we were in Penang we also got to visit our very dear friend, Dr Joy Seevaratnam who is now wheelchair bound. We used to minister in his home fellowship in Kuala Lumpur over 30 years ago.
YOUR PRAYERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Tuesday, March 09, 2010
Here is a copy of our newsletter for January and February, 2010.
JANUARY
The year 2010 started with a bang. Colin arrived in Malaysia on 1 January and started teaching in Tung Ling Seminary on the topic of leadership. On the 8th January, several churches in Malaysia had firebombs thrown at them. One of them, Metro Tabernacle, was severely damaged. The reason for these attacks was that the High Court had approved the use by Christians of the name Allah for God in their Malay language publications. The government had previously tried to ban this usage and a lower court had ruled in favour of the government, but the High Court overturned this ruling. This incensed some of the more extreme Muslims, hence the petrol bomb attacks. The argument still goes on, even though it can be quite clearly demonstrated that the name Allah predates Islam and cannot, therefore be claimed to be an exclusively Islamic word. Please pray for our friend, pastor Eu Hong Seng, who is the chairman of the National Evangelical Christian Federation and is at the forefront of the battle for religious freedom. The outcome for Metro Tabernacle was that they received substantial compensation from both government and non-government sources and permission to move into their new building was expedited – all things work together for good!!
None of these problems hindered our own ministry. Colin ministered in several churches in Malaysia, as well as several chapters of the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship, and did a series on Wednesday mornings for the pastoral staff of Full Gospel Assembly. Julia arrived on 26 January, having escaped the snow in UK, and on 28th we went to Singapore where Colin taught in Tung Ling Bible School and preached in local churches.
Also, in January, we had visits from pastors Joe Hayes and John Oakley.
FEBRUARY
We flew back to Malaysia on 3rd February and on 5th flew to Kota Kinabalu in Sabah (Borneo) to teach and preach in the SIB Likas church. The rest of February was taken up by ministry in several churches in the Kuala Lumpur area, and another visit to Borneo to minister at the SIB Kuching church camp. This was only our second visit to Sarawak, but the meetings were greatly blessed, and we also got to see quite a lot of the city, including a visit to the Cat Museum (the word Kuching means cat).
Our schedule for the next two months looks like this:
6 March FGT Seremban
7 March - Full Gospel Tabernacle, Seremban.
8 March – New Life Restoration Centre
10 March – St Marys Cathedral
11-12 March - Tung Ling Seminary
13 March - SS Methodist Church – seminars 3-9pm
14 March - am SS Methodist Church
14 March - pm City Church
15-17 March - Tung Ling Seminary
15 March - New Life Restoration Centre
19-29 March - Perth, Australia
30 March - 12 April - visit of kids and grandkids
4 April - Full Gospel Tabernacle
6 April – ECC – FGT
10 April – Memorial Service, Kuala Trengganu
12 April - New Life Restoration Centre
18 April - New Life Church, Kota Kemuning
19 April - New Life Restoration Centre
24 April – School of Christian Education, FGA
25 April - Full Gospel Tabernacle
26 April - New Life Restoration Centre
YOUR PRAYERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE
JANUARY
The year 2010 started with a bang. Colin arrived in Malaysia on 1 January and started teaching in Tung Ling Seminary on the topic of leadership. On the 8th January, several churches in Malaysia had firebombs thrown at them. One of them, Metro Tabernacle, was severely damaged. The reason for these attacks was that the High Court had approved the use by Christians of the name Allah for God in their Malay language publications. The government had previously tried to ban this usage and a lower court had ruled in favour of the government, but the High Court overturned this ruling. This incensed some of the more extreme Muslims, hence the petrol bomb attacks. The argument still goes on, even though it can be quite clearly demonstrated that the name Allah predates Islam and cannot, therefore be claimed to be an exclusively Islamic word. Please pray for our friend, pastor Eu Hong Seng, who is the chairman of the National Evangelical Christian Federation and is at the forefront of the battle for religious freedom. The outcome for Metro Tabernacle was that they received substantial compensation from both government and non-government sources and permission to move into their new building was expedited – all things work together for good!!
None of these problems hindered our own ministry. Colin ministered in several churches in Malaysia, as well as several chapters of the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship, and did a series on Wednesday mornings for the pastoral staff of Full Gospel Assembly. Julia arrived on 26 January, having escaped the snow in UK, and on 28th we went to Singapore where Colin taught in Tung Ling Bible School and preached in local churches.
Also, in January, we had visits from pastors Joe Hayes and John Oakley.
FEBRUARY
We flew back to Malaysia on 3rd February and on 5th flew to Kota Kinabalu in Sabah (Borneo) to teach and preach in the SIB Likas church. The rest of February was taken up by ministry in several churches in the Kuala Lumpur area, and another visit to Borneo to minister at the SIB Kuching church camp. This was only our second visit to Sarawak, but the meetings were greatly blessed, and we also got to see quite a lot of the city, including a visit to the Cat Museum (the word Kuching means cat).
Our schedule for the next two months looks like this:
6 March FGT Seremban
7 March - Full Gospel Tabernacle, Seremban.
8 March – New Life Restoration Centre
10 March – St Marys Cathedral
11-12 March - Tung Ling Seminary
13 March - SS Methodist Church – seminars 3-9pm
14 March - am SS Methodist Church
14 March - pm City Church
15-17 March - Tung Ling Seminary
15 March - New Life Restoration Centre
19-29 March - Perth, Australia
30 March - 12 April - visit of kids and grandkids
4 April - Full Gospel Tabernacle
6 April – ECC – FGT
10 April – Memorial Service, Kuala Trengganu
12 April - New Life Restoration Centre
18 April - New Life Church, Kota Kemuning
19 April - New Life Restoration Centre
24 April – School of Christian Education, FGA
25 April - Full Gospel Tabernacle
26 April - New Life Restoration Centre
YOUR PRAYERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Here is our latest newsletter for November and December, 2009
NOVEMBER, Texas
In November we continued our ministry in Texas. On 4th November we ministered for our good friends, Dan and Kim Moon in Huntsville. On 7-8th November we spoke in Brazos Valley Cowboy Church in Bryan. It was great to spend time with Will and Hannah Fountain, the pastors of this vibrant church. On 7th November we also participated in the missions banquet of Network Bible Translators with David and Maria Skinner. On Tuesday, 10th November we ministered at Strong Tower Ministries, a rehab work, in Smithville. Mike and Kendra Adams are seeing many addicts set free by Jesus. On 11th November we ministered in Saddle Creek Church, Tomball; on 13-15th we were at Personal Development Center, a church in Lago Vista; on 20th and 22nd we were in Iglesia Restauracion in Houston. On Sunday, 29th November we spoke for the first time in Cowboy Way Church, Alvaredo. The fellowship with pastors Dan and Melanie Haby was really tremendous. In all of these churches links were established for future cooperation and participation in missions.
DECEMBER, United Kingdom
On 6th December we were in Wales, in Llandrindod Wells. Tim and Angie Price were students when Colin taught in Mattersey Hall, many moons ago. On 8th December we were in England, preaching for John Oakley in Dinnington. Sunday, 13th December saw us back in Wales, where Colin preached at Aberaman Pentecostal Church. On Sunday, 20th December we were in London with Rafael and Julia Casela, speaking for the Christmas Celebration of Full Gospel Tabernacle.
Christmas What a fun time. Christmas Dinner at our home in Penderyn with daughter, Julia and her kids, Charlotte and Rhys, plus Charlotte’s beaux, Alex. Then Boxing Day (on 28th) at Andrea’s house near Doncaster with children, grandchildren and friends. We are blessed.
2010 Back in Malaysia
This is what the schedule looks like so far for January and February :
4-8 January - Tung Ling Seminary, Kuala Lumpur
10 January – Full Gospel Tabernacle, Subang Jaya
12 January – FGBMFI Taman Tun
13 January – Full Gospel Assembly staff meeting
14 January – FGBMFI Shah Alam
16 January – Asia Pacific Seminary - seminars
17 January – Oasis Church, Ara Damansara
19 January – TA Fellowship
20 January – FGA Staff meeting
FGBMFI the Summit Mall
27 January – FGA Staff meeting
28 Jan – 3Feb – Tung Ling Seminary, Singapore
30 January – Hinghwa Methodist Church, Singapore 31 January – Bethesda Bedok Tampines Church, Singapore
5-7 February – SIB Church, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
10 February – FGA Staff meeting
14 February – Harvest Christian Assembly, Klang
17 February – FGA Staff meeting
20-21 February – Full Gospel Assembly, Kuala Lumpur
24 February – FGA Staff meeting
26-28 February – SIB Church, Kuching, Sarawak
Please pray for effective ministry in all these places.
Yesterday (8th January) three churches in Kuala Lumpur were firebombed by Muslim extremists. Praise God no-one was injured, but pray that this will not escalate.
YOUR PRAYERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE
NOVEMBER, Texas
In November we continued our ministry in Texas. On 4th November we ministered for our good friends, Dan and Kim Moon in Huntsville. On 7-8th November we spoke in Brazos Valley Cowboy Church in Bryan. It was great to spend time with Will and Hannah Fountain, the pastors of this vibrant church. On 7th November we also participated in the missions banquet of Network Bible Translators with David and Maria Skinner. On Tuesday, 10th November we ministered at Strong Tower Ministries, a rehab work, in Smithville. Mike and Kendra Adams are seeing many addicts set free by Jesus. On 11th November we ministered in Saddle Creek Church, Tomball; on 13-15th we were at Personal Development Center, a church in Lago Vista; on 20th and 22nd we were in Iglesia Restauracion in Houston. On Sunday, 29th November we spoke for the first time in Cowboy Way Church, Alvaredo. The fellowship with pastors Dan and Melanie Haby was really tremendous. In all of these churches links were established for future cooperation and participation in missions.
DECEMBER, United Kingdom
On 6th December we were in Wales, in Llandrindod Wells. Tim and Angie Price were students when Colin taught in Mattersey Hall, many moons ago. On 8th December we were in England, preaching for John Oakley in Dinnington. Sunday, 13th December saw us back in Wales, where Colin preached at Aberaman Pentecostal Church. On Sunday, 20th December we were in London with Rafael and Julia Casela, speaking for the Christmas Celebration of Full Gospel Tabernacle.
Christmas What a fun time. Christmas Dinner at our home in Penderyn with daughter, Julia and her kids, Charlotte and Rhys, plus Charlotte’s beaux, Alex. Then Boxing Day (on 28th) at Andrea’s house near Doncaster with children, grandchildren and friends. We are blessed.
2010 Back in Malaysia
This is what the schedule looks like so far for January and February :
4-8 January - Tung Ling Seminary, Kuala Lumpur
10 January – Full Gospel Tabernacle, Subang Jaya
12 January – FGBMFI Taman Tun
13 January – Full Gospel Assembly staff meeting
14 January – FGBMFI Shah Alam
16 January – Asia Pacific Seminary - seminars
17 January – Oasis Church, Ara Damansara
19 January – TA Fellowship
20 January – FGA Staff meeting
FGBMFI the Summit Mall
27 January – FGA Staff meeting
28 Jan – 3Feb – Tung Ling Seminary, Singapore
30 January – Hinghwa Methodist Church, Singapore 31 January – Bethesda Bedok Tampines Church, Singapore
5-7 February – SIB Church, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
10 February – FGA Staff meeting
14 February – Harvest Christian Assembly, Klang
17 February – FGA Staff meeting
20-21 February – Full Gospel Assembly, Kuala Lumpur
24 February – FGA Staff meeting
26-28 February – SIB Church, Kuching, Sarawak
Please pray for effective ministry in all these places.
Yesterday (8th January) three churches in Kuala Lumpur were firebombed by Muslim extremists. Praise God no-one was injured, but pray that this will not escalate.
YOUR PRAYERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Newsletter September/October 2009
THE BLESSING CONTINUES
Texas
September and October saw a change of continent but a continuation of the blessing of God.
On 1st September Colin flew to Houston. Julia had to stay behind in Wales to take care of some pressing family matters.
On 2nd September Colin borrowed our daughter, Paula’s, car and drove to Lindale, Texas to take part in the annual missions conference of Calvary Commission. Just a word about Calvary Commission. It was launched by our good friends, Joe and Charlotte Fauss.
Through the ministry of Calvary Commission many people have been saved in prison, trained when they got out, and many have been launched into missions. We have been involved with them since a missions trip to Mexico in 1986. It was a great privilege to minister and be ministered to over the three days of the conference. The next three weeks were spent ministering in several churches in Texas. Julia finally arrived in Houston on 21st September.
Venezuela
On 1st October we flew to Venezuela. The journey from Caracas airport to Maracay was rapid and exciting, if not to say exhilarating. It was good to renew fellowship with pastor Ogla, whose husband, Jorge, was murdered earlier this year. She and their daughter, Maureen, and the whole church, are being sustained by the grace of God through all of this. In Venezuela we had the joy of teaching in the Id (Go) School of Missions in Salem Church in a place called Palo Negro. We feel this was a significant link for our future involvement in missions.
In Libertad Church, where Ogla is the pastor, Colin preached a series on Extending the Kingdom. This was interspersed by teaching in Escuela Impulso Ministerial, where a fine group of future leaders and missionaries have been training. The graduation of the students was on Monday, 12th October. It was a thrill to see the potential of those being launched out into the harvest fields. The plan is that some of the students will come to stay with us in Malaysia to gain more experience and training in missions.
On the Sunday before the graduation we were invited to minister in a church called Don Divina (Divine Gift). Colin preached in just one service – the second of their four Sunday services. It was wonderful to see about two dozen people go forward for salvation and one boy testify of being healed from deafness during the meeting.
Our journey back to Caracas airport from Maracay on 15th October, starting at 3am, was the most exciting yet, with the most manic taxi driver so far. His name was Freddy and he was certainly fearless.
Texas to Chicago and back
We were back in Texas for only one night after which we set off on a 2,800 miles drive via Nashville, Tennessee to call and see Colin’s sister, Christine and her husband, Paul, then on to preach in Florence, Kentucky for our old friend Cleddie Keith in Heritage Fellowship, and then on to Frankfort, Illinois where we had absolutely great fun with Keith and Val Tipple, and ministry in their church, International Community Church. We then did the reverse journey back to Paula’s home in Conroe, Texas.
The time in the US has been very profitable, especially in setting up links for future cooperation in missions. Several churches are planning to bring teams over to Malaysia.
Future plans
We are in Texas now until 1st December when we fly back to the UK. We have lots more ministry in the churches here. December will be spent in England and Wales, then Colin starts teaching in Tung Ling Seminary in Malaysia on 4th January.
Your prayers are very important to us.
Please keep us in prayer.
Our schedule for the rest of our time in Texas looks like this:
On Saturday morning (7th) I will be teaching at a Leadership Development seminar in Brazos Valley Cowboy Church, in Bryan. That same evening I will be speaking at a missions banquet in the Crossing Church in the Woodlands.
On Sunday (8th) I will be back preaching in the Brazos Valley Cowboy Church.
On Wednesday 11th I am scheduled to preach in Saddle Creek Church in Tomball.
From Friday to Sunday, 13th to 15th I will be doing a series of teaching in North Shore Life Development Center (I always spell it their way) just outside Austin.
From Friday to Sunday, 20th to 22nd, I will be doing more teaching seminars in Iglesia Restauracion in Houston.
On Sunday, 29th November I will be preaching in Cowboy Way Church in Alvaredo, Texas.
Texas
September and October saw a change of continent but a continuation of the blessing of God.
On 1st September Colin flew to Houston. Julia had to stay behind in Wales to take care of some pressing family matters.
On 2nd September Colin borrowed our daughter, Paula’s, car and drove to Lindale, Texas to take part in the annual missions conference of Calvary Commission. Just a word about Calvary Commission. It was launched by our good friends, Joe and Charlotte Fauss.
Through the ministry of Calvary Commission many people have been saved in prison, trained when they got out, and many have been launched into missions. We have been involved with them since a missions trip to Mexico in 1986. It was a great privilege to minister and be ministered to over the three days of the conference. The next three weeks were spent ministering in several churches in Texas. Julia finally arrived in Houston on 21st September.
Venezuela
On 1st October we flew to Venezuela. The journey from Caracas airport to Maracay was rapid and exciting, if not to say exhilarating. It was good to renew fellowship with pastor Ogla, whose husband, Jorge, was murdered earlier this year. She and their daughter, Maureen, and the whole church, are being sustained by the grace of God through all of this. In Venezuela we had the joy of teaching in the Id (Go) School of Missions in Salem Church in a place called Palo Negro. We feel this was a significant link for our future involvement in missions.
In Libertad Church, where Ogla is the pastor, Colin preached a series on Extending the Kingdom. This was interspersed by teaching in Escuela Impulso Ministerial, where a fine group of future leaders and missionaries have been training. The graduation of the students was on Monday, 12th October. It was a thrill to see the potential of those being launched out into the harvest fields. The plan is that some of the students will come to stay with us in Malaysia to gain more experience and training in missions.
On the Sunday before the graduation we were invited to minister in a church called Don Divina (Divine Gift). Colin preached in just one service – the second of their four Sunday services. It was wonderful to see about two dozen people go forward for salvation and one boy testify of being healed from deafness during the meeting.
Our journey back to Caracas airport from Maracay on 15th October, starting at 3am, was the most exciting yet, with the most manic taxi driver so far. His name was Freddy and he was certainly fearless.
Texas to Chicago and back
We were back in Texas for only one night after which we set off on a 2,800 miles drive via Nashville, Tennessee to call and see Colin’s sister, Christine and her husband, Paul, then on to preach in Florence, Kentucky for our old friend Cleddie Keith in Heritage Fellowship, and then on to Frankfort, Illinois where we had absolutely great fun with Keith and Val Tipple, and ministry in their church, International Community Church. We then did the reverse journey back to Paula’s home in Conroe, Texas.
The time in the US has been very profitable, especially in setting up links for future cooperation in missions. Several churches are planning to bring teams over to Malaysia.
Future plans
We are in Texas now until 1st December when we fly back to the UK. We have lots more ministry in the churches here. December will be spent in England and Wales, then Colin starts teaching in Tung Ling Seminary in Malaysia on 4th January.
Your prayers are very important to us.
Please keep us in prayer.
Our schedule for the rest of our time in Texas looks like this:
On Saturday morning (7th) I will be teaching at a Leadership Development seminar in Brazos Valley Cowboy Church, in Bryan. That same evening I will be speaking at a missions banquet in the Crossing Church in the Woodlands.
On Sunday (8th) I will be back preaching in the Brazos Valley Cowboy Church.
On Wednesday 11th I am scheduled to preach in Saddle Creek Church in Tomball.
From Friday to Sunday, 13th to 15th I will be doing a series of teaching in North Shore Life Development Center (I always spell it their way) just outside Austin.
From Friday to Sunday, 20th to 22nd, I will be doing more teaching seminars in Iglesia Restauracion in Houston.
On Sunday, 29th November I will be preaching in Cowboy Way Church in Alvaredo, Texas.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Newsletter July/August 2009
THE MONTHS OF JULY AND AUGUST
The month of July started out with us still in Semarang, Indonesia, teaching in the School of Acts. The 2nd July was especially notable as it was Julia’s 61st birthday (I had to spill the beans). The students gave her four cakes in total, one after the morning classes and three after the evening classes. The kindness and hospitality in Asia is still amazing to us after over thirty years. Besides the cakes she got flowers and a gift, but what really made her day was being taken by one of the brothers (while I was still teaching, I might add) to buy a Liverpool shirt (which she had not been able to find in Malaysia) for our grandson.
One frustration we still encounter in our travels we experienced on our way from and back to Malaysia – delayed flights – Air Asia strikes again. It must be the Lord’s way of teaching us patience, though I must confess to not having fully graduated from this school yet.
The 4th July was also special, the 31st anniversary of our arrival in Malaysia when we first started this missionary journey. It was a good time to remind us of the countless miracles and provisions we have seen from the hand of God.
After getting back to Malaysia I taught for two weeks in the Pastoral Interns Programme in Tung Ling Seminary. The morning topic was Pastoral Ministries and the evening topic was Leadership. I love having input into the lives of future (and current) pastors in this nation.
In July we also had the visit of a family from England, Mike and Joan Riley and their three daughters. They had come over for the wedding of pastor David Ramayah’s daughter, Janeal. The evening before their arrival we tested the aircon in our guest bedrooms, only to find it was not getting cool. We called out an engineer who discovered that someone had stolen the copper piping for the whole system. It cost quite a bit to fix it, but at least it is now ready to receive the missions teams we are expecting in 2010. (When are YOU coming?)
Besides the Bible school teaching, we continued with our Friday ministry in Kuala Terengganu, and our Sunday ministry in various churches. I was taken back in time when I preached in the Tamil Church in Kapar on 19th July. We had a power cut and I ended the meeting hot and hollerin’ – no aircon and no mike – just like it was 30 years ago.
On 29th July we flew home to the UK, going first to Yorkshire for ministry and the birthday celebration of our daughters Paula (40 – she flew in from Texas for the celebration) and Andrea (39) – there I go, spilling the beans again – and then down to our home in Wales.
After preaching in several churches in South Wales plus a trip to London to preach in Full Gospel Tabernacle (FGT) – an outreach from FGT Malaysia (our base church there) and to drop Paula for her return flight to Texas, we had a wonderful final weekend with Aberaman Pentecostal Church (APC) where we spent five very happy years before our return to missions.
Colin is now in Texas. Julia had to stay behind to take care of an urgent family matter – please pray, although we cannot go into details.
PRAYER
Once again, a big thank you to all those who are praying for us – prayer works.
The month of July started out with us still in Semarang, Indonesia, teaching in the School of Acts. The 2nd July was especially notable as it was Julia’s 61st birthday (I had to spill the beans). The students gave her four cakes in total, one after the morning classes and three after the evening classes. The kindness and hospitality in Asia is still amazing to us after over thirty years. Besides the cakes she got flowers and a gift, but what really made her day was being taken by one of the brothers (while I was still teaching, I might add) to buy a Liverpool shirt (which she had not been able to find in Malaysia) for our grandson.
One frustration we still encounter in our travels we experienced on our way from and back to Malaysia – delayed flights – Air Asia strikes again. It must be the Lord’s way of teaching us patience, though I must confess to not having fully graduated from this school yet.
The 4th July was also special, the 31st anniversary of our arrival in Malaysia when we first started this missionary journey. It was a good time to remind us of the countless miracles and provisions we have seen from the hand of God.
After getting back to Malaysia I taught for two weeks in the Pastoral Interns Programme in Tung Ling Seminary. The morning topic was Pastoral Ministries and the evening topic was Leadership. I love having input into the lives of future (and current) pastors in this nation.
In July we also had the visit of a family from England, Mike and Joan Riley and their three daughters. They had come over for the wedding of pastor David Ramayah’s daughter, Janeal. The evening before their arrival we tested the aircon in our guest bedrooms, only to find it was not getting cool. We called out an engineer who discovered that someone had stolen the copper piping for the whole system. It cost quite a bit to fix it, but at least it is now ready to receive the missions teams we are expecting in 2010. (When are YOU coming?)
Besides the Bible school teaching, we continued with our Friday ministry in Kuala Terengganu, and our Sunday ministry in various churches. I was taken back in time when I preached in the Tamil Church in Kapar on 19th July. We had a power cut and I ended the meeting hot and hollerin’ – no aircon and no mike – just like it was 30 years ago.
On 29th July we flew home to the UK, going first to Yorkshire for ministry and the birthday celebration of our daughters Paula (40 – she flew in from Texas for the celebration) and Andrea (39) – there I go, spilling the beans again – and then down to our home in Wales.
After preaching in several churches in South Wales plus a trip to London to preach in Full Gospel Tabernacle (FGT) – an outreach from FGT Malaysia (our base church there) and to drop Paula for her return flight to Texas, we had a wonderful final weekend with Aberaman Pentecostal Church (APC) where we spent five very happy years before our return to missions.
Colin is now in Texas. Julia had to stay behind to take care of an urgent family matter – please pray, although we cannot go into details.
PRAYER
Once again, a big thank you to all those who are praying for us – prayer works.
May/June Newsletter, 2009
Delay
We must apologise for not sending out a newsletter at the end of May, but we were so busy that we just didn’t have the time.
THE MONTH OF MAY
The month of May started and ended with church camps. These are always very fruitful events. It is good for the church members to get away from the hum-drum activities of everyday life and spend time together in worship, prayer and the word.
At the beginning of May we were in Malacca at the Sri Malaysia hotel with Pastor Alvin Tan and his church, High Praise Ministries. The fellowship was great, the food was great, the worship was great, and the response to the word was great; in fact you could say we had a great time.
At the end of May we were in Clearwater Sanctuary near Batu Gajah for the family camp with Pastor Ng Wah Lok and his church, Full Gospel Tabernacle from Sri Aman. Clearwater Sanctuary is where the film Anna and the King was made, and we had the privilege of using the suite where Jodie Foster stayed while she was starring in the film. This really was suffering for the gospel.
Another highlight in May was our visit to Chennai (Madras) in India. We arrived on Saturday evening, 16th May and got to bed after midnight on Sunday morning. On the Sunday Colin preached three times in Harvest Christian Assembly, at two Tamil meetings in the morning and the English service in the evening. On Monday he taught in the Harvest Training Institute on the Call of God. On Tuesday and Wednesday the topic was Missionary Principles. On the Tuesday night several were saved when Colin preached at the miracle rally in HCA. On Thursday and Friday the teaching topic was Pastoral Care.
Back again in Malaysia, on Sunday, 24th May, when Colin preached in Full Gospel Tabernacle, it was great to see 45 people being baptized. That afternoon Colin taught two seminars on Anthropology and Hamartiology.
THE MONTH OF JUNE
June saw us involved in lots of ministry again. Colin was scheduled to teach in the School of Acts from 15th-19th June. On Monday night, 8th June, at about 10-30 he received a call to ask if he could teach from Tuesday to Thursday of that week as a church emergency prevented Pastor Raymond Mooi from teaching. What a great time for the two weeks, teaching students from many Asian nations, preparing them for ministry in the harvest. We even had one student from Cuba.
The month of June came to an end with us in Semarang, Indonesia, teaching in the School of Acts (an extension from the Malaysian TSOA) at both morning and evening classes. Students from all over Indonesia, hungry for God’s word, made it a pleasure to teach.
One very fruitful area of ministry here in Malaysia is our relationship with Full Gospel Tabernacle. Besides preaching at the mother church in Subang Jaya, we also had the privilege in June of ministering to the satellite churches in Seremban, where Colin taught seminars on Haggai and Zechariah, Kota Kinabalu (in Sabah on the island of Borneo) where he taught on Preaching Skills, and in Malacca where he preached at the third anniversary of their church building.
PRAYER
Many thanks to all our praying friends out there. We really do feel the strength of your prayer support. Please keep up the good work.
We must apologise for not sending out a newsletter at the end of May, but we were so busy that we just didn’t have the time.
THE MONTH OF MAY
The month of May started and ended with church camps. These are always very fruitful events. It is good for the church members to get away from the hum-drum activities of everyday life and spend time together in worship, prayer and the word.
At the beginning of May we were in Malacca at the Sri Malaysia hotel with Pastor Alvin Tan and his church, High Praise Ministries. The fellowship was great, the food was great, the worship was great, and the response to the word was great; in fact you could say we had a great time.
At the end of May we were in Clearwater Sanctuary near Batu Gajah for the family camp with Pastor Ng Wah Lok and his church, Full Gospel Tabernacle from Sri Aman. Clearwater Sanctuary is where the film Anna and the King was made, and we had the privilege of using the suite where Jodie Foster stayed while she was starring in the film. This really was suffering for the gospel.
Another highlight in May was our visit to Chennai (Madras) in India. We arrived on Saturday evening, 16th May and got to bed after midnight on Sunday morning. On the Sunday Colin preached three times in Harvest Christian Assembly, at two Tamil meetings in the morning and the English service in the evening. On Monday he taught in the Harvest Training Institute on the Call of God. On Tuesday and Wednesday the topic was Missionary Principles. On the Tuesday night several were saved when Colin preached at the miracle rally in HCA. On Thursday and Friday the teaching topic was Pastoral Care.
Back again in Malaysia, on Sunday, 24th May, when Colin preached in Full Gospel Tabernacle, it was great to see 45 people being baptized. That afternoon Colin taught two seminars on Anthropology and Hamartiology.
THE MONTH OF JUNE
June saw us involved in lots of ministry again. Colin was scheduled to teach in the School of Acts from 15th-19th June. On Monday night, 8th June, at about 10-30 he received a call to ask if he could teach from Tuesday to Thursday of that week as a church emergency prevented Pastor Raymond Mooi from teaching. What a great time for the two weeks, teaching students from many Asian nations, preparing them for ministry in the harvest. We even had one student from Cuba.
The month of June came to an end with us in Semarang, Indonesia, teaching in the School of Acts (an extension from the Malaysian TSOA) at both morning and evening classes. Students from all over Indonesia, hungry for God’s word, made it a pleasure to teach.
One very fruitful area of ministry here in Malaysia is our relationship with Full Gospel Tabernacle. Besides preaching at the mother church in Subang Jaya, we also had the privilege in June of ministering to the satellite churches in Seremban, where Colin taught seminars on Haggai and Zechariah, Kota Kinabalu (in Sabah on the island of Borneo) where he taught on Preaching Skills, and in Malacca where he preached at the third anniversary of their church building.
PRAYER
Many thanks to all our praying friends out there. We really do feel the strength of your prayer support. Please keep up the good work.
Sunday, May 03, 2009
April newsletter
Diary
This month we thought it would be good to include extracts from our diary, so you have some idea of how our schedule goes.
Friday, 3 April.
We were up at 4-30 to catch our 7-05 flight to Kuala Terengganu. In the morning service we had a divine visitation.
Saturday, 4 April.
We caught our flight to KL. In the afternoon I drove Julia to Harvest Christian Assembly in Klang where she spoke to the women's meeting. They loved her. We drove home through a deluge.
Tuesday, 7 April.
In the afternoon and evening I spoke at three meetings for Pastor Stephen Ow and the Indonesian factory workers in his church.
Friday, 10 April.
I struggled with a cold all day. Tonight I preached at the Good Friday service in Glory Gospel Mission, Kuchai Lama.
Sunday, 12 April.
Last night I preached at the Easter service in Liberty in Chist Tabernacle in Dengkil. The meeting started at 11pm and ended around 2-30am. At 10am We went for the service at Glory Gospel Mission in Kuchai Lama where I preached again.
Monday, 13 April.
This was a long day. It started with me taking the visa applications for India over to Full Gospel Tabernacle. Then I had an altercation with the toll barrier which came down on the car before I had driven through. I travelled with three friends to Kuantan where I preached at the FGBMFI dinner. They had expected four tables but got seven (ten at each table). We drove home after the dinner, arriving at our house about 1-20am..
Friday, 17 April.
At lunch time I spoke at the Talam Corporation fellowship.
Sunday, 19 April.
Today I spoke at FGA Subang Jaya, at the 7-30 and 11am meetings.
Tuesday, 21 April.
Tonight we had almost 30 of the Full Gospel Tabernacle staff for dinner. Julia did all the cooking. Now I remember why I married her!
Wednesday, 22 April.
Tonight I started a four part series at Harvest Christian Assembly on Extending the Kingdom.
Thursday, 23 April.
Today we flew to Kuala Terengganu..
Friday, 24 April.
This morning I preached at Lifeline Assembly. Tonight we had steamboat followed by a durian fest.
Saturday, 25 April.
Tonight we had a memorial service. We then flew back to KL, getting home after midnight.
Sunday, 26 April.
This morning I preached at the 7-30 meeting in Full Gospel Assembly in Kuchai Lama.. I came home, collected Julia and went back to preach in the 11am meeting.
Wednesday, 29 April.
Tonight I continued the series on Extending the Kingdom in Harvest CA.
Thursday, 30 April.
We collected our passports from Full Gospel Tabernacle before driving to Sri Malaysia Hotel in Malacca for High Praise Ministries church camp, which will continue until Sunday. The first meeting went really well.
Please pray that the seed sown will bear fruit.
March newsletter
Relaxation
Just in case you think all work and no play are going to make us a dull boy and girl, we want to let you know that we do get some time for relaxation. 4th March was our wedding anniversary so we took the opportunity, on our way to minister in Kuala Terengganu, to spend a couple of days in a hotel on the beach near Kuantan where we lived when we first arrived in Malaysia in 1978. Even the journey there was relaxing, because they have now completed the highway from Kuala Lumpur to Kuantan and greatly reduced the “dicing with death” element. At the hotel we felt very secure as a police conference was taking place so we were surrounded by the strong arm of the law. It was great to look out from the beach (Telok Cempadak) over the South China Sea where our kids used to spend so much time swimming.
Language
One thing we love about Malaysia is the variety of languages spoken. The month of March commenced with me preaching, though an interpreter, in the Tamil language meeting in Harvest Christian Assembly in Klang. Fortunately they have the songs projected in Romanised characters as well as Tamil so I was able to sing along, even though most of the time I had no idea what I was singing – our Tamil is limited to only a few words. On our visit to Kuala Terengganu on 5th March I preached in the Mandarin service. Once again we were singing along to the Romanised words, until they projected one song completely in Chinese characters so we were reduced to humming and trying to spot the characters we still recognise. Before I preached the pastor’s wife asked me if I could do it in Manglish (the Malaysian version of English) because it was my interpreter’s first time at translating a sermon. We worked well together. From Terengganu we went to Johore Bahru where, on the Sunday morning, I preached in the Bahasa Malaysia (Malaysian national language) meeting. Here Julia and I were more at home because they use the same alphabet and we can still remember a lot of our BM. I was even able to help my interpreter (again a first timer) with a word he had forgotten. On my next visit to Terengganu I went with one of the leaders to pray for a man with Parkinson’s and was able to witness to his daughter in a mixture of English, Chinese and Malay.
Bible Schools.
Besides our travelling and preaching in various churches, Bible School teaching has now started. In Malaysia I taught in Tung Ling Seminary on the topic of Prayer and Fasting. On 21st March we flew to Manila where. After preaching in two Full Gospel Tabernacle pioneer churches on the Sunday, I taught in the newly established Tung Ling Seminary (an extension of the Malaysian school) on the topics of New Testament Survey and Prayer and Fasting.. We also attended the Baccalaureate celebration of Jesus Reigns Christian College where I preached on Powerful Potential from Ps.139. Back again in Malaysia, after preaching in Full Gospel Tabernacle and seeing about a dozen people respond to the gospel appeal, I taught in Tung Ling on Hearing God’s Voice.
Prayer pointers.
Apart from Julia falling down the stairs, ripping off a toenail and badly bruising her toes (see her Facebook for photos), the Lord is keeping us in good health and strength, which we believe is because of your prayers. PLEASE KEEP IT UP.
Next week we will commence the application to reside in Malaysia under the Malaysia My Second Home programme. Please pray that this will be approved without a hitch.
April will be a busy month with Sunday ministry, three Easter meetings, three services in one day in Seri Setia where the congregation consists of Indonesian factory workers, two flights to Kuala Terengganu, a series of Wednesday Bible studies in Harvest Christian Assembly in Klang, and a church camp with High Praise Church. Julia will also be speaking in some ladies’ meetings.
Please pray that all this ministry will be effective and eternally fruitful.
Diary
This month we thought it would be good to include extracts from our diary, so you have some idea of how our schedule goes.
Friday, 3 April.
We were up at 4-30 to catch our 7-05 flight to Kuala Terengganu. In the morning service we had a divine visitation.
Saturday, 4 April.
We caught our flight to KL. In the afternoon I drove Julia to Harvest Christian Assembly in Klang where she spoke to the women's meeting. They loved her. We drove home through a deluge.
Tuesday, 7 April.
In the afternoon and evening I spoke at three meetings for Pastor Stephen Ow and the Indonesian factory workers in his church.
Friday, 10 April.
I struggled with a cold all day. Tonight I preached at the Good Friday service in Glory Gospel Mission, Kuchai Lama.
Sunday, 12 April.
Last night I preached at the Easter service in Liberty in Chist Tabernacle in Dengkil. The meeting started at 11pm and ended around 2-30am. At 10am We went for the service at Glory Gospel Mission in Kuchai Lama where I preached again.
Monday, 13 April.
This was a long day. It started with me taking the visa applications for India over to Full Gospel Tabernacle. Then I had an altercation with the toll barrier which came down on the car before I had driven through. I travelled with three friends to Kuantan where I preached at the FGBMFI dinner. They had expected four tables but got seven (ten at each table). We drove home after the dinner, arriving at our house about 1-20am..
Friday, 17 April.
At lunch time I spoke at the Talam Corporation fellowship.
Sunday, 19 April.
Today I spoke at FGA Subang Jaya, at the 7-30 and 11am meetings.
Tuesday, 21 April.
Tonight we had almost 30 of the Full Gospel Tabernacle staff for dinner. Julia did all the cooking. Now I remember why I married her!
Wednesday, 22 April.
Tonight I started a four part series at Harvest Christian Assembly on Extending the Kingdom.
Thursday, 23 April.
Today we flew to Kuala Terengganu..
Friday, 24 April.
This morning I preached at Lifeline Assembly. Tonight we had steamboat followed by a durian fest.
Saturday, 25 April.
Tonight we had a memorial service. We then flew back to KL, getting home after midnight.
Sunday, 26 April.
This morning I preached at the 7-30 meeting in Full Gospel Assembly in Kuchai Lama.. I came home, collected Julia and went back to preach in the 11am meeting.
Wednesday, 29 April.
Tonight I continued the series on Extending the Kingdom in Harvest CA.
Thursday, 30 April.
We collected our passports from Full Gospel Tabernacle before driving to Sri Malaysia Hotel in Malacca for High Praise Ministries church camp, which will continue until Sunday. The first meeting went really well.
Please pray that the seed sown will bear fruit.
March newsletter
Relaxation
Just in case you think all work and no play are going to make us a dull boy and girl, we want to let you know that we do get some time for relaxation. 4th March was our wedding anniversary so we took the opportunity, on our way to minister in Kuala Terengganu, to spend a couple of days in a hotel on the beach near Kuantan where we lived when we first arrived in Malaysia in 1978. Even the journey there was relaxing, because they have now completed the highway from Kuala Lumpur to Kuantan and greatly reduced the “dicing with death” element. At the hotel we felt very secure as a police conference was taking place so we were surrounded by the strong arm of the law. It was great to look out from the beach (Telok Cempadak) over the South China Sea where our kids used to spend so much time swimming.
Language
One thing we love about Malaysia is the variety of languages spoken. The month of March commenced with me preaching, though an interpreter, in the Tamil language meeting in Harvest Christian Assembly in Klang. Fortunately they have the songs projected in Romanised characters as well as Tamil so I was able to sing along, even though most of the time I had no idea what I was singing – our Tamil is limited to only a few words. On our visit to Kuala Terengganu on 5th March I preached in the Mandarin service. Once again we were singing along to the Romanised words, until they projected one song completely in Chinese characters so we were reduced to humming and trying to spot the characters we still recognise. Before I preached the pastor’s wife asked me if I could do it in Manglish (the Malaysian version of English) because it was my interpreter’s first time at translating a sermon. We worked well together. From Terengganu we went to Johore Bahru where, on the Sunday morning, I preached in the Bahasa Malaysia (Malaysian national language) meeting. Here Julia and I were more at home because they use the same alphabet and we can still remember a lot of our BM. I was even able to help my interpreter (again a first timer) with a word he had forgotten. On my next visit to Terengganu I went with one of the leaders to pray for a man with Parkinson’s and was able to witness to his daughter in a mixture of English, Chinese and Malay.
Bible Schools.
Besides our travelling and preaching in various churches, Bible School teaching has now started. In Malaysia I taught in Tung Ling Seminary on the topic of Prayer and Fasting. On 21st March we flew to Manila where. After preaching in two Full Gospel Tabernacle pioneer churches on the Sunday, I taught in the newly established Tung Ling Seminary (an extension of the Malaysian school) on the topics of New Testament Survey and Prayer and Fasting.. We also attended the Baccalaureate celebration of Jesus Reigns Christian College where I preached on Powerful Potential from Ps.139. Back again in Malaysia, after preaching in Full Gospel Tabernacle and seeing about a dozen people respond to the gospel appeal, I taught in Tung Ling on Hearing God’s Voice.
Prayer pointers.
Apart from Julia falling down the stairs, ripping off a toenail and badly bruising her toes (see her Facebook for photos), the Lord is keeping us in good health and strength, which we believe is because of your prayers. PLEASE KEEP IT UP.
Next week we will commence the application to reside in Malaysia under the Malaysia My Second Home programme. Please pray that this will be approved without a hitch.
April will be a busy month with Sunday ministry, three Easter meetings, three services in one day in Seri Setia where the congregation consists of Indonesian factory workers, two flights to Kuala Terengganu, a series of Wednesday Bible studies in Harvest Christian Assembly in Klang, and a church camp with High Praise Church. Julia will also be speaking in some ladies’ meetings.
Please pray that all this ministry will be effective and eternally fruitful.
Sunday, March 01, 2009
February newsletter
February news.
It is hard to believe that we have been in Malaysia one month already. We arrived just before Chinese New Year, so in the first couple of weeks we did lots of visiting and eating.
This doesn't mean we were completely idle. On our first Sunday in Malaysia we ministered in Full Gospel Tabernacle in Subang Jaya. There were several hundred present, even though many were away for the CNY celebrations.
The second weekend I drove to Batu Pahat in Johore to preach at the Saturday night English service and the Sunday morning Chinese service in Harvest Community Church. Julia stayed back and attended Full Gospel Tabernacle. On the Sunday night I preached at the daughter church in Muar before driving home.
Singing in Chinese Pastor Sheng of Harvest CC
Glory Gospel Mission
On Thursday, 19 February we flew to Lifeline Church in Kuala Terengganu, the church we pioneered in 1978. We ministered at the Chinese service on Thursday night and the English service on Friday morning.
The last weekend in February was spent ministering in Grace Church, Shah Alam, to the youth service on Saturday and the worship service on Sunday.
Please keep us in your prayers as we keep up this very busy schedule.
It is hard to believe that we have been in Malaysia one month already. We arrived just before Chinese New Year, so in the first couple of weeks we did lots of visiting and eating.
This doesn't mean we were completely idle. On our first Sunday in Malaysia we ministered in Full Gospel Tabernacle in Subang Jaya. There were several hundred present, even though many were away for the CNY celebrations.
Eu Hong Seng, Pastor of FGT
The second weekend I drove to Batu Pahat in Johore to preach at the Saturday night English service and the Sunday morning Chinese service in Harvest Community Church. Julia stayed back and attended Full Gospel Tabernacle. On the Sunday night I preached at the daughter church in Muar before driving home.
Singing in Chinese Pastor Sheng of Harvest CC
Midweeks were taken up preaching in several chapters of the Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship.
On the second Sunday in February it was a great thrill to minister in SS Methodist Church in Petaling Jaya, and meet up with many of our friends with whom we established the Church Planting Institute in Cambodia over ten years ago. It was good to be back in this church which is still ablaze for missions.
Phua Seng Tiong, pastor of SS Methodist Church
On the second Sunday in February it was a great thrill to minister in SS Methodist Church in Petaling Jaya, and meet up with many of our friends with whom we established the Church Planting Institute in Cambodia over ten years ago. It was good to be back in this church which is still ablaze for missions.
Phua Seng Tiong, pastor of SS Methodist Church
The following Sunday we ministered at Glory Gospel Mission in Kuchai Lama, Kuala Lumpur, one of four churches being pioneered by pastor Lee Je Siang.
Glory Gospel Mission
On Thursday, 19 February we flew to Lifeline Church in Kuala Terengganu, the church we pioneered in 1978. We ministered at the Chinese service on Thursday night and the English service on Friday morning.
The last weekend in February was spent ministering in Grace Church, Shah Alam, to the youth service on Saturday and the worship service on Sunday.
Please keep us in your prayers as we keep up this very busy schedule.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Dear Praying Friends,
You will find below our proposed schedule for the first half of the year so you will have some idea of how to pray for us.
As you can see, this is a quite busy schedule (which is subject to changes), and there are other meetings which have yet to be confirmed. Please pray that we will be in the right place, at the right time, with the right word. Pray also that we will stay healthy and strong for the task. Pray also for protection etc. As we travel extensively.
We really do value your prayers.
Colin and Julia’s Schedule for January to July 2009
January 21 Fly to Malaysia
January 25 Preach in Full Gospel Tabernacle, Subang Jaya
January 31 Teach in Batu Pahat, Johore
February 1 Preach in Batu Pahat, Johore
February 8 Preach in SS Methodist Church, Petaling Jaya
February 14 Preach in Glory Gospel Mission, Kuala Lumpur
February 15 Preach in Glory Gospel Mission, Bahau
February 19/20 Preach in Lifeline, Kuala Terengganu
February 22 Preach in Grace Church, Shah Alam
March 1 Preach in Harvest Christian Assembly, Klang
March 5/6 Preach in Lifeline, Kuala Terengganu
March 7/8 Preach in Full Gospel Assembly, Johore Baru
March 11/12 Teach in Tung Ling Seminary, Subang Jaya
Topic: Prayer and Fasting
March 14 Full Gospel Tabernacle, Subang Jaya
365 Youth Ministry. Topic: How to be more intelligent
March 19/20 Preach in Lifeline, Kuala Terengganu
March 22 Preach in Full Gospel Tabernacle, Manila, Philippines
March 23-27 Teach in Tung Ling, Philippines
Topics: New Testament Survey, Prayer and Fasting
March 28 Preach in Full Gospel Tabernacle, Subang Jaya, Malaysia
Evangelistic meeting
March 29 AM Preach in Full Gospel Tabernacle, Subang Jaya
March 29 PM Preach in Full Gospel Tabernacle, Kuala Lumpur
March 30/31 Teach in Tung Ling
Topic: Hearing God’s Voice
April 2/3 Preach in Lifeline, Kuala Terengganu
April 6/10 Teach in The School of Acts, Semarang, Indonesia
Topics: Pastoral Care, Building God’s Kingdom
April 19 Preach in Full Gospel Tabernacle, Subang Jaya
April 23/24 Preach in Lifeline, Kuala Terengganu
April 25/26 Preach in Full Gospel Assembly, Kuala Lumpur
April 30- Preach at High Praise church camp
May 2
May 4-8 Teach in The School of Acts, Kuala Lumpur
Topics: Pastoral Care, Building God’s Kingdom
May 10 Preach at City Revival Church, Subang Jaya
May 14/15 Preach at Lifeline, Kuala Terengganu
May 17 Preach in Chennai, India
May 18-22 Teach in Harvest Training Institute, Chennai
Topics: The Call of God, Missionary Principles, Christian Counselling,
Pastoral Ministries
May 24 Preach in Full Gospel Tabernacle, Subang Jaya
May 28/29 Preach in Lifeline, Kuala Terengganu
May 31 – Full Gospel Tabernacle, Sri Damansara, Church Camp
June 2
June 6/7 Preach in Full Gospel Tabernacle, Seremban
June 11/12 Preach in Lifeline, Kuala Terengganu
June 13/14 Preach in Full Gospel Tabernacle, Melaka
3rd Anniversary Services
June 20/21 Preach in Full Gospel Tabernacle, Kota Kinabalu
June 25/26 Preach in Lifeline, Kuala Terengganu
July 6-10 Teach in Tung Ling
Topic: Pastoral Ministries
July 13-17 Teach in Tung Ling
Topic: Leadership
July 19-21 Full Gospel Tabernacle, Seremban, church camp
July 23/24 Preach in Lifeline, Kuala Terengganu
Sunday, September 21, 2008
KUALA TRENGGANU - MALAYSIA
In July 1978 Colin and Julia and their four children arrived in Malaysia. In September of that year they opened Lifeline Assembly in Kuala Trengganu. Last week Colin had the joy of attending the 30th anniversary celebration. It was a real thrill to see 150 people sit down for a meal and a spiritual celebration. It also became a time of witness because the restaurant was also being used by the Malaysian Chinese Association, a political party which is part of the ruling coalition. They were our captive audience as we sang praises to Jesus.
meone to pioneer a church.
The celebration was conducted by Pastor Michael Lau who, with his wife Yohana, has done a tremendous work with the Chinese language congregation.
The English congregation, which is currently without a pastor, is led by Dr Cheryan who has a real shepherd's heart.
It was wonderful to see the participation of the youth from the church. Many young people have moved on from Lifeline and are now serving God in other churches, lots of them in Kuala Lumpur.
Some students have come in the other direction and are studying in Kuala Trengganu. Their singing in three languages, English, Chinese and Bahasa Malaysia was thrilling.
One of the highlights of the evening was the participation of the "Evergreens". Their joy was contagious.
There was exceptional singing, first of all from Nadine, one of the home grown youth who, besides being a very busy doctor in hospital in Kemaman, leads worship in Lifeline.
And from Joanne, a PK (pastor's kid) from Ipoh.
But, of course, no celebration in Malaysia would be complete without the most important guest of all, the food. 150 people went home very happy.
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