July 2011 Belgium, China, Malawi
The Bible Companion readings this Sunday include Romans 7 and 8, and there's an MP3 about these chapters at http://www.aletheiacollege.net/audio/rom78.mp3
BELGIUM
Carelinks continue to see the providential hand of God in our work, ever seeking to connect people and actively guide circumstances towards the salvation of men and women. We have providentially come into contact with some Iranians in Belgium who have a serious interest in the true Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and wished to accept it in baptism. Brother Andy Taylor of the Windermere UK ecclesia is in the midst of driving over from the UK to Latvia with a car full of literature and welfare clothing for the Riga Bible Center, and he was able to meet with Duncan in Belgium and assist with the baptism of Hussein.
Photo: Andy with H after his baptism
Photo: Duncan baptizing brother Hussein
They had a most interesting time talking with his flat mates, from Turkey and Iran. Andy got back on the highway to Latvia, with another 2 or 3 days driving ahead of him, sleeping in his tent on the way, and Duncan then went on with new brother H to another city to meet and baptize another Iranian, B, who converted to Christianity in Iran many years ago but for the last 12 years has been living in Belgium, reading his well marked Bible but unable to find a church which agreed with his understanding of the Gospel. There are many other former Moslem contacts in Belgium and indeed throughout Europe that we continue in contact with, some of whom are thrilled with the simple, logical truths of the Lord Jesus Christ in contrast to what they have previously been taught.
Photos: Happy fellowship after baptism
Here's a letter from an African refugee sister received by our sister Robin Jones in Australia; these issues are very real and call for all the prayer and support we can give:
Firstly,loving greetings in Jesus Name! Dear Brethren in Christ in Australia I come in front of you to explain my suggestions which form a short history about my family life and myself, since I was in my country until here in my refuge in Mozambique. Indeed I am telling myself,my name is CHARLOTTE [], I was born in CONGO DRC I am 31 years old, I am mother of family with my husband. I have been baptized in 2001 at Lichinga ecclesia/Mozambique. About my persecution and insecurity in Congo, there I have been persecuted morally and psychological until nothing will permit me to back home. They killed my parents and some of my brothers. The militia Mai Mai raped me and destructed my daughter's right eye, until now she is blind. God be glory for keeping me and my family until our arriving to Mozambique but present here in Refugees camp we are among our ennemies who also escaped from Congo to raise up against me and my family. They make us trouble night and day. Thus dear brothren here I am I have no hope nor future hope for my children so I exhorte you in Jesus name to come in my security with our common prayers in one faith
May God bless you.
Yours Sister in Christ.
Charlotte.M.
CHINA
We often report baptisms in China, and the following email summarizes very well the spiritual situation of a lot of people in China, and it's against this background that we are witnessing the Gospel succesfully, by God's grace.
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re:Bible Basics
Date: Thu, 28 Jul 2011 09:52:54 +0800 (CST)
From:
To:
I am so comfortable to recieve your e-mail.Here I want to tell you the reason why I am so fanatic to get the Bible. I am 24 and I think I am in trouble now.As my personal life, I work hard, well I do not think that i get what I deserve.My boyfriend and I, we want to get married, however, we have to face the terrible situation, high house price and China already entered senile society, provide for the aged becomes the issue that people pays close attention to very much. We do not believe that we can undertake the huge pressure. As my beloved country, China. You may noticed something by TV or other medias. China has been developing too fast and we can not follow her rapidly step. Also Information Blockade,the government control all the main information sources, we do not know what happened actually, no matter in home or abroad. You know in China, there are few people who has religious faith, so it is very difficult to help yourself. So I want to find a proper way to rescue me. May God Bless me!
MALAWI
We have had several enquiries as to the welfare of our brethren there following the recent disturbances in Malawi, which is one of the poorest countries on earth and where people are really turning desperate for basic commodities. Following is an update from our brother Esau, including thanks to Carelink readers who kindly sent and send literature to the new ecclesia there:
28th July 2011
Thank you for the communication. I hope you are fine. Here we are all fine. I am glad to inform you that the Lord has still kept his promise by keeping our group healthy. We have now finally relocated to a new place. We have moved from Brother Leonard's place to a classroom at a secondary school. With the increasing numbers it seems we are better off now although we are not very sure as what this means in view of the current political situation in the country. Of course we are still advancing the idea of a permanent place. Please continue praying for us.
I am glad to say that, we are still in touch with few ecclesias from various countries who are still giving us moral support. I am very happy to talk about the spiritual freedom which I am now feeling. However, I feel I need a continued and diligent study about the the word of God in general. As such don’t hesitate to send us any spiritual materials which you may be in your possession. As you might have heard of the disturbances in the country, indeed we have experienced some political instability in the country in form of lack of fuel and forex, rising costs of basic commodities and general dissatisfaction among the general public about the way the ruling party is implementing its policies notably not holding the local assembly elections and expulsion of some ambassadors’ from some major donor countries including Britain resulting in withholding of aid from these countries. The general public had organized some demonstrations which took place on 20th July 2011, unfortunately the police ended up shooting close to civilians in major towns. In our Town Nkhotakota , the situation was calm but in Lilongwe 200km south 4 people died and in Mzuzu 300km north of Nkhotakota 9 people lost their lives not talking of property. But life has since stabilized and lessons have been learnt by both the government and the citizen. I am very sad also to learn of the recent shootings in Norway, that peaceful country where I was baptized. May the good Lord have mercy upon them. Greet your family and all members of Ecclesia.
Br Esau
With love from your brothers and sisters of Carelinks