Epistles From England Team-1979-England

;
from a Juat team ittinishff ^
eka//enînf a poil-C^kriiUaH nalion u/il/i iht ifaims of Chrisl

Vol. 6 No. 5 February, 1979
On The Move
NORDHIELllS TO NOTTINGHAM
One of the reasons we came to England was to lay the groundwork for the formation of a new team in another church. On March 18, that team will
become a reality when Gail Burns and Rita Ide from the U.S.A. will join us
in forming a new team to work in Nottingham.
The church we will work with is located in the St. Ann's section of
Nottingham, which is a city of 320,000.
St. Ann's is in the inner-city and
is one of the largest housing estates in all of Europe. The St. Ann's Church of Christ is, in the words of one British Chris
tian, "a miracle church." In 1952, because the membership was very small, they were told that it would be better for them to close their doors and join other churches. This idea was strongly opposed by the members because
they believed that God wanted a church in the inner-city.
On the little church struggled until 1974 when the whole St. Ann's
area, including the church building, was razed for redevelopment. Once
again, the members were told that they could not possibly collect enough money to rebuild and that the members should join other churches. Again, the members refused and for four years, they worshipped in an Independent Methodist building. During these four years they sent out appeals for money to rebuild. God blessed this act of faith by providing not just enough for a new building, but more than enough to start a building fund
for future expansion.
The church may be small, but the faith of her members has been heard in many parts of Britain. Please pray with us and for us as God continues
to work in and through His people in St. Ann's.
CURT & LINDA NORDHIELM
Redeem The Time

I cannot live a year at a time.
find us using the time we have to the full, for His glory. STEVE
be I can just manage today. Today is the day of salvation and joy,
peace, love. If I can't find joy
Nor even a month or a week.
But may
||| Our Mldfit wMl
We are in the middle of a number
while it is "today," all the tomorrows will not help much. The most
of changes. Soon four local situations will be reported in these pages,
important time we have is right now.

That's the secret way to use time
In this transition, please stay with

us as we try to explain what God is
wisely.
The apostle said, "Redeem
doing in our midst.
And please pray
the timel" May each moment of 1979
that we will stay "in the midst of God."
Christmas Carols
The week before Chrlst-
birth of Jesus.
Following an old English tradi tion, the children would place each piece of the nativity scene on a
table at the front for all to see as
mas we sponsored for the

fifth time the annual Hill-
we read and sang the Christmas story, We had 50 people present includ
ing a few parents and grandparents

who had never been before. We are
fields Carol Festival.
The event,
devised as a way to bring our alien
thankful for this special way to

share God*s love.
JANET
ated neighborhood together, has al ways been held in a local community building. This year, however, many felt we should try it in our newly
remodeled church building.
The evening went well with the usual carols, a Christmas message, fellowship and refreshments. Five
Hillfields churches made contribu
Hinckley Update
By the time you read tnis article, Janet, Pete, and I will be in Hinck ley. Pete and I have successfully completed the process of buying a house, and Janet will live with us.
Our new address will be 8 Trevor
tions to the program including a

choir and readers. The message from
the pastor of a local church was a

challenge to all. We heard of THE GREATEST TRUTH in
Road, Hinckley, Leicestershire,

England. We look forward with great expec
tations to what the Lord can do
the worldthat "He came," THE

GREATEST TRAGEDYthat "His own re
ceived Him not," and THE GREATEST

TRIUMPHthat "Those who did receive
Him, who believed on His name. Re gave power to become children of God." (John 1:11,12) We ask that you join with us to pray that the seeds sown during the
Christmas period will bear fruit to God*s glory.
PETE BOWEN
through us in Hinckley. The church people are very excited about a team coming. Since we last wrote, the
church has lost one of its most faith
ful members through death. Ray Har rison had waited for years for help
to come for the church.
missed.
He will be
We have also received word that
and Candlelight
On Christmas Eve, the Coventry Church had a candlelight service for all of our families, friends, and
Tony and Angie Calvert will arrive to complete our team on January 30.
We ask that you remember them in your
prayers, as they travel, look for housing, and settle into their new
ministry. Thank you for your constant con
Sunday School pupils.
We had an
adult mixed choir and three child

ren's choirs as well as narrators to
cern and prayers.

in Hinckley.
We are anxious to
JAN
keep you informed on what's happening
present the various stages of the
New Life
Seventeen-year-old
JANE CUNNINGHAM from Liv
erpool was raised in a religious family. She had asked many questions about God, but received no an swers. God was, it seemed, demand ing, law making, and impersonal. Unable to live with a God like that,
she became an athiest.
Having skits and plays makes our Christmas programs different from the norm here. Usually a "Carol
Service" means the singing of carols intermingled with Bible readings. This year our children and some adults performed a play built around
a number of Christmas traditions and
their original meanings.

of Christmas.
Out of
these, we looked at the real meaning

This year was unique in several ways. We kept all the children backstage, hoping to cut down on the
noise and make more audience seating.
This autumji, she enrolled in a Birmingham college to study English
and start a "new life," leaving God

behind. The last thing she ever
wanted to find was God.
But find Him she didI The very first day at college she met Phil
It was better for the play, but chaos

in the back. We also had a rather
Bell, who had just radically changed

his own beliefs. He shared his faith, with her and introduced her to others
unique shadow nativity play.
When an angel appeared to the shepherds,

the audience "oohed" at the effect.
who taught her that God is real and

personal. She found her first taste
of "new life" when she was immersed
into Christ and is tasting more as she goes along.

BEVERLY
The most unique feature (made possible by God) was two adults being born again in baptism. Wliat more ef fective way of presenting the signif
icance of the birth of Jesus to an
audience composed mostly of unbeliev

ers? Praise our Lord who does all
100 posters on street

lights and trees announced our
things well!
PENNY
We had
(Just after the shell was completed
"Community Carol Festival."
It was
at 1 o'clock, it collapsed.
our attempt to bring the whole com munity together in one giant event to see the reality of a certain Baby
born in Bethlehem about 4-5 B.C. It
a despairing lunch and began again.)

Our play came alive with a local goat (who rode in a car because he doesn't like to get wet) and a notso-local donkey. Even though the donkey stopped short of bringing Mary into the stable (we hear donkeys don't like goats), people surely got the
idea that this was a real event.
is doubtful whether 150 people is
giant, but certainly those who braved

the heavy, wet snow to come to a
store parking lot next to our church building enjoyed what happened. A 20 by 12 ft. stable had been
built of rustic wood fencing (with a straw ceiling and floor) to be the
center of our festival and the scene
The familiar carols were projected by an overhead projector onto a wet screenan umbrella kept some snowflakes from being projected as well.
for our pantomimed nativity play.
Our church Hammond organ
(next page)
was pulled to the door of our build ing and blasted out the accompaniment. In England, crossings where pedes Runners gave the cue to Michelle to trians have the right-of-way are mark begin playing the carol. Even our ed with familiar black and white P.A. system failed to work at the stripes. People call tnem, "zebra l a s t minute.
But with all the obvious diffi
Balaam's Problem
culties, it still did what was in tended, It brought many people out
crossings." Our Carol Festival donkey, Ted,

had to be walked the three miles
to hear the message of Jesus through scriptures, visual aids, and carols. And it brought people together, who
would normally stay in their own little houses , to dig into hot mince
pies and baked potatoes. We were rather tired by the time
from his pasture to our building.

When Curt and church member Steve
were bringing Ted across a busy road

on a zebra crossing, Ted stopped in the middle. Nothing would cause him
to cross.
we cleaned up our snow-marred church building, saw our stable fall to the ground, and walked our donkey home (without kissing him goodnight), but
it may have been a Baby step nearer
to Jesus for a few. ROGER
Steve went to buy some carrots for a bribe. While he was gone, a
passer-by gave the answer to the problem. "Your problem," he said,

"Is that this is a zebra crossing;
there's a donkey crossing down the

road." ROGER
EPISTLE FROM ENGLAND East Side Christian Church 1714 Madison
Non-ProfIt Bulk Rate U.S. POSTAGE PAID
Council Bluffs, la 51501

Permit #26

ERDINGTON TEAM A 144 Gravelly Lane v
Birmingham B23 6LT T

ENGLAND
^ 49 Huntingdon Rd.
T Coventry CV5 6PT
ENGLAND
COVENTRY TEAM
AMERICAN CORRESPONDENT
M/M Tim Barber 605 Arnold

U.S.A.
Oeverl^
^Jrin^lo
nufins
fênn^ niuUfe (^reaie^ ^Jrin^lon
'isslons Sorvices
Box 177
Kempton, IN
46049
Address Correction Requested
tU trom
.. . from a Juaf Juat tram miniilr^
March, 1979
la/ion witk i/aimi oj .uufinf o poil-^kritlian nalion witi llit ,Uimi ol Ckrisl
Vol. 6 No. 6
tttf
And Now For Some Good News...

Sometimes I wonder how much British news makes its way onto your
TV rays via Vâlter Cronkite & Co. each evening. Despite the efforts of our smiling media masters, it is mostly very bad news these days in this country. Strikes have hit hard, nearly bringing the country to its knees. Defying government guidelines of 5%, unions have demanded 35 to 40% wage increases. Areas which have been affected by strikes include hospitals,
trains, newspapers, ambulances, buses, water supply, truck drivers, tanker drives (making severe gasoline shortages), garbage collectors, road work
ers, TV technicians, grave diggers, and more. The miners and others are
threatening.
sacred?
Even The Times has not published since Decemberl
Is nothing
Closer to home where the heart is, we're coping quite well. The Coventry team, which at one time numbered nine in its distant history, is now diminished to two Americans, but increased to include a whole fellow
ship of folk growing in their responsibility and vision. As the hard win ter freeze begins to thaw, we see signs of new life springing up in many
people. We feel a new determination to get on being the Lord's church in a dying world. And we're encouraged by having too much to do and a list
of contacts to visit that seems inexhaustible.
Sometimes bad news in the world can make new opportunities for the Good News to sink in. False hopes and vague optimism tend to melt in the harsh light of human nature working itself out in human institutions. In the midst of the. present national crises (which will come and go and
be replaced by others), I'm putting my money on the One who changes every thing by replacing human nature witii His, which is the best news of all.
STEVE
"SOME WISH TO LIVE within the sound
Of Church or Chapel Bell, I want to run a rescue shop
NEXT MONTH a new format will proper
Within a yard of Hell."

C.
COVENTRY
T.
Studd ERDINGTON
ly introduce our new teamsthen in four locations. For now, be remind ed, we're in three places:
HINCKLEY
Steve Tate
Roger Edrington
Bev Mullins Linda Nordhielm
Curt Nordhielm
Tony Calvert
Janet Baines
Pete Bowen
Debbie Harris
Penny Creasey Michelle Edrington
Jan Bowen
H i
n c
R
e
P
o
r
Reflections on a Dream realized

When you're only twentyfive years old, eight years
seems like a long time: a
The Task
which lies before us is a big one, but it is not too big for our God,
Though we in ourselves are incapable
k
e
long time to work, a long time to dream. A long time to work

to fulfill a dream. But it's been
of bringing growth here, we are con

fident that the Lord has called us
that long since God gave me a dream about working in England. And now that I'm here, I can't get used to
the idea'.
Fulfilled dreams lead me to re
flectionand since I haven't been
in Hinckley long enough to tell you
anything significant about the work,

I want to share my reflections.
My fulfilled dreams make me realize

how wise God is to give us dreams to
dream. He made us to climb mountains:
here for a purpose and wants to use us in a mighty way to extend His Kingdom and glorify His name. Having spent just a couple of weeks here, there is not a great deal to report yet, except that we have just beguni The attendance at our services is only about seven people, but these people want to see the church grow. We are endeavoring to get to know the Christians nere
and see how God wants us to minister
to them.
We have some contacts with
to create, to achieve, to labor in efforts far greater than ourselves. And He has given us dreams so that we can see the tops of the mountains we
are climbing.
God gave me a dream
about ministry in England. As I re flect, I see how wise He was. My fulfilled dreams have also caused me to reflect on God's guid ance. God guides us in a variety of
ways: answered prayer, Scripture,
whom we are beginning "to visit and we expect God to lead us to more as the weeks go by. After some preliminary meetings together as a team, we have seen the wisdom of the Lord in the way He has brought us together. The gifts He
has given us and the experiences He

has brought us through are different, but beautifully compleiaent each other. As we have prayed and then shared together, we have been guided
into some clear roles as individuals
trials, other Christians, and the "ordinary" events of our lives. In His goodness, God leads us straight through the events of our lives to
His purpose for us.
and our ministry together is taking

direction.
We have asked God to bless us
God replaces the dreams He ful

fills with new ones. At Hinckley,
and bind us together as a team so

that we can be a reflection of what the church should be. We have asked
we dream of hundreds of people coming to know Jesus through the ministry of the Church of Christ, Will you dream with us and share in our prayers for Go d's guidance ? TONY
that in the name of Jesus, He lead us

to the lost and to build His church
in this place.
PETE
Facing Each Day

She came by the church one day, a troubled, In secure looking woman. It was the anniversary of her
ONE of my Sunday School girls

aged ten, says she doesn't believe in Satan. When asked why, she said
with feeling, "Because he's not very nice, so he just couldn't exist."
I t was then that I realized that
father's death, and she wanted to bring some flowers for our church building. SYLVIA (58) came again on a Sun day evening, and we learned that she was a very nervous woman whose job
was putting tremendous pressure on her. She began coming regularly and was soon finding a place of belong ing in our little church, even though she was a bit frightened that we might ask her to be baptized if she
Claire at her tender age was really echoing the wishes of many adults. Unfortunately, it's just not true. But our true, confident hope is in
Him who loves us and overcomes Satan and the world. BEV
think we should have these more
often," was a comment made by a mem

ber of our church after our early December fellowship meal. On Feb ruary 11, we had another fellowship meal. People were beginning to un derstand, but they still wondered
kept comingand she was very much

afraid of water.
She gradually learned that we were not there to force and God provided a good friend for her in Winnie, a
new (but older) Christian herself.
how their pound of sprouts coulcf be

enough. There was plenty of good food, and everyone enjoyed the fel lowship during the meal. Many stayed around for games and fun. Then we finished the day with our
evening worship. It was a very long day, but a good one. LINDA
Winnie forged ahead in talking to Sylvia about God and becoming a

Christian.
One night after church, I had the joy of telling her about God's pro
vision for our sins, and we cleared up some misconceptions about sin. After reading her Bible and talking
WE
with her new friends, Sylvia knew she

needed Jesus.
Her testimony is one of praise and gratitude for the new strength and ability God has provided for her to face each day without nerve pills.
With only two years to go until re

tirement, her life has just begun.
Praise the Lord'.
PRAYER:
God wants
PENNY
Talk to God about two new

them to come to Him.
investigation groups soon to begin.
were talking to a 30-year-old Spanish mother about Christ changing a person's very nature. She felt that nothing could change her'hateful attitude - hate seemed to be a part of her very nature. "It sounds like what you are saying is that I have to die and be born again," she said cynically. When we showed her that her very words were the words of Jesus to Nicodemus (John 3), she be gan to s,ee that it was possible for God's power to live in human nature.
CURT
Tales That Grip Fear

I walked into our local paint store the other day to buy some supplies
for our never-ending job of keeping our house from falling apart at the wallpaper seams. As I was leaving, a lady clerk (about 30) asked me a bit shyly, "I'm getting a new wedding ring, and I've been told that it is bad
luck if it is not blessed by a vicar. Do you bless wedding rings? Or is
that just an old wive's tale?" Superstition is strong in modern, industrialized England. Every day on a local radio station, a DJ takes time out to give a few more supersti tions from his book. He laughs, but then he doesn't have to minister to all the people in fear. Many people will never pick up a glove they have
dropped, open an umbrella inside (as if it ever rains inside), or walk under
a ladder. Few people will speak about the "good luck" of the past witnout
touching wood for the future.
Even the Church of Englandno doubt popularized and exaggerated by folk lorestill retain, in some places, the service of "churching" a woman after she has a baby. Some locals still believe it's bad luck not to be churched, and christening often has an atmosphere of superstition rather
than of a religious service.
Only Jesus will destroy him who holds the power of death and free all
those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
_.CHeb. ,2:15)
EPISTLE FROM ENGLAND
East Side Christian Church 1714 Madison
__
ROG_ER_
Non-Profit Bulk Rate U.S. POSTAGE PAID

Permit #26

EROiNGTON TEAM
144 Gravelly Lane Birmingham 823 6LT

ENGLAND
COVENTRY TEAM
49 Huntingdon Rd.
Coventry CV5 6PT

ENGLAND
AMERICAN CORRESPONDENT
M/M Tim Barber 605 Arnold
ânet
at/ij
U.S.A.
"iowen
Sainti
/Jtvrrf^ 7iUfini
fênn^ Crease^ ^Jrin^ton
.1!
loni
i0rvicc3
Box 177
Ker.pton,
46049
lEpiHtk fratn lEnglanii

. . . report ^rom learn minidtried ckaiien^n^ a poit'C^krbtian nation with the ciainti ofCkriit
Vol. 6 No. 7 April, 1979
WHERE ON EARTH IS THAT?

APR ^
61979
IT ALL DEPENDS WHICH WAY YOU LOOK AT IT! WE LOOK AT IT AS A MISSION FIELD.
There is a heathen land where over 40,000,000 people never attend a place of worship,
and 10,000,000 have no Bible.
Paganism and witchcraft are on the increase, and strange cults abound. Thousands of young people have no knowledge of Jesus Christ, and most older folk have given up whatever interest they once had in spiritual things.
And this is the country once called "Christian England"!
The people will not come to us. Only a very small proportion of the population will go to any evangelistic campaign even if it is not held in a church.
We must go to them. The Lord Jesus did not tell us to expect them to come. He told us that He expects us to go. We must go to tell them to come to Christ.
Often those who do go out to the homes around their churches come back disappointed and frustrated, because they have gone to ask people to come, but most will not.
But when we go out to seek the opportunity to point people to the Saviour then our priorities are right, and in due time, and often straight away, we will come back rejoicing.
COVENTRY REPORT
At All Times, Pray

We have the God-given audacity to believe that prayer changes things.
There are two main reasons for this:
First, when we have obeyed our
To Love One Another

by Pam Arrowsmith, a two-year old
Christian and mother of four
Father's command to persistently ask Him for good gifts (Luke 11:1-13), He has persistently answered our
prayers in ways more abundant than
In our Bible Study, we have been
discussing Jesus' commandment to love

one another in John 13. Thinking of
this made me think how I know others love me. I know this because;
we could ask or think. (Eph. 3:20) Secondly, we are convinced that He wants to change things and has mysteriously made our praying a part of that process of change. It isn't just that the one who prays is changed by his effort. If
that were the only effect, the pray

ers made for us by those we never see could hardly help change much around us. It is also plain that our "standing in" for another in interceding prayer somehow seems to
1)
2)
I am accepted as I am.
Concern is shown when I am not
doing well spiritually or phys

ically .
3)
Someone puts himself out to meet

my needswhatever they may be.
This then made me ask myself if
increase God's opportunity to act

in his life. (James 5:13-16)
this was the love
show others.
The
Which is all to say to you, "Please

continue and increase your prayers
for us." Here are some ideas:
We want to increase Youth Work.
answer was sadly but truthfully, "No."

Can we all be honest and admit to
accepting each and everyone of our fellowship? Yes, we may be concerned when someone isn't doing well, but are we prepared to put ourselves out to meet that person's needs? Do we even remember to pray regularly for that person as an individual? Are you like me, only really loving the people you feel closest to? Jesus tells us
to love one another to show we are his
our Sunday School outreach.

Easter break.
A three-
day "Holiday Club" is planned for

Helen. We are looking forward
to the summer return of our own Helen
Cranfield presently studying at Lin coln Christian College. Rob & Judy. Two of our newest members begin their Christian marriage
at the end of this month.
disciples. Paul tells us to love all the brethren sincerely. (Rom. 12:9,10) Jesus loves us so completely that He died for useach and every one of us. I'm praying that Jesus will show me how to love you all truly and sin
cerely.
Evangelism.
In a special pre-
Easter campaign, we hope to send cal

ling teams out to speak to contacts about the meaning of Easter and their impressions of the "Jesus of
Nazareth" TV series.
ERDINGTON REPORT
MICHELLE EDRINGTON, my wife, at
Penny Creasey Roger ,
near
the same time saw that i t was
Edhngton ^
Surprized By God
A team ministry, in our view, is
right for her also to have a differ ent role than being a part of the team ministry. Although still a vital part of the ministry of the churchespecially through a growing counselling ministryshe saw that the place where she might be the
most benefit was as a "normal" min ister in the church. Her health al
always a temporary thing.
Our goal
so militated against the kind of

schedule which a team minister usu
is that we will be able to train new
Christians to do the work of evangel
ism, witness, and even nurture.

BEV MULLINS was one of the origi
nal team ministers who began work in Coventry in 1973. After three years there, she joined the new work in
ally keeps. With Curt and Linda finishing their internship ministry here and moving to Nottingham, there is a radical change in our ministry. It came
more quickly than we expected, but

God is full of surprises.
ROGER
Erdington.
For some time Bev has
wondered whether some other type of
ministry was for her.
But she wanted
to be sure that God was doing the
leading and not herself. After alot of prayer, thinking,

and confirmation from both teams and
What Time Is It?

Timing is extremely important in all of life. It is especially im portant to God, Jesus knew very
church, she has decided to accept the

invitation to work with THE JESUS
clearly that there was a "right time"

for the completing of God's purpose. He often spoke of "My time."
The same is true in our lives and
also for the whole church. Circum
CENTRE, a contact point in the down

town shopping area of Birmingham for
both Christians and non-Christians.
Bev will begin by being the cook

for the interesting lunches and even ing weekend meals which the center
stances may sometimes seem to say
provides, as well as co-ordinating

some of the volunteer workers there.
It may be that it will develop into a
that the time is not right, but later, one clearly sees God's timing. Many people here wondered about the changes in our team. They asked,
different type of ministry at a later point. Bev will continue to be a part of our Erdington Church and will, no doubt, bring some contacts to be a
part of our fellowshipas she has already done through her spare-time
work there. But she will no longer be a part of our team ministryexcept
in the wider sense.
"How will you and Roger do everything?"

To be quite honest, we don't know,
but we are sure that this is God's
will. And we know that we are not
going to do everything. From our own congregation, God has called people to minister. Angela
believes God has called her to evan
gelize.
(continued on back page)
(continued from Erdington Report)

Every Monday evening, she is a part of our calling team. Steve wants to
learn to lead. He is involved with
Stop Pr6SS (ST. ANN'S) The team begins

their work in Nottingham on March 18 as
this is mailed. Rita Ide arrived a few
others, planning our Wednesday even ing Share 'N Care. Phil is involved in the youth group, J.A.M. (Jesus
days before and is recuperating from jetlag in Erdington. Gail Burns is awaiting
the details of the support which she
^d Me for children) , and tutors

some of the children in school sub
jects.
Jane is also learning to
teach our children.
There is a growing awareness among the Body of the other parts.

It is beautiful to watch the
hopes to receive, and will join the team as soon as everything is finalized. So, the St. Ann's Church building has been substituted instead of the team. Delays in the legal details of purchasing hous ing will cause the team to stay in the homes of the Christians there, but this may be a blessing in disguise.
For those s t i l l
believers here begin to care and share in ministry to each other. If the team had remained as it was, we may have stood in the way of growth. Special ministry can sometimes be like a cork in the bottle, not let ting the people out to minister and grow. God's time is beautiful. PENNY
wondering, the front page is a map of England upside-down.

Council Bluffs, lA 51501

Permit No. 26

COVENTRY TEAM
49 Huntingdon Rd. Coventry CV5 6PT England
ERDINGTON TEAM 144 Gravelly Lane Birmingham B23 6LT England

ST. ANN'S TEAM
HINCKLEY TEAM
8 Trevor Road
Hinckley LE10 1JD England
43 Edglnton Street Nottingham NG3 3EV England
AMERICAN CORRESPONDENTS !. Tim & Nancy Barber

605 Arnold
îOrizons Missions "orvic-:3 '.ssoc Editorial Dopt.

EOk 177
Council Bluffs, lA
51501 U.S.A.
Kenipton, IN
46049
HINCKLEY REPORT
First Contacts
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE FIRST KIND
Bowen
\ >
During the past month, we have

been visiting the parents of our Sun-
Baines
Calvert
;
1^
r ^
^
i
School children and others who
Tv^.
have some link with the church.
> whose children attend Sunday
One
School, is a member of the church but has not been regular in her attendance. When she was hospitalized recently, we visited her and have continued to visit at home. She seems to be regaining her interest in God. Please pray for
jane's faith to be revitalized.
We have also begun reaching out for totally new contacts in a door-to-door calling campaign. On our first day, we were led to two new people. One lady
is willing to study the Bible with us and is very open to what we shared about Christ. Please pray for KIT that she will be led from her confused ideas to
see Jesus as Lord.
We are excited about what God is going to do here and are glad for the opportunities He is giving us to share His message. Please pray for our first contacts so that they can have a close encounter of the third kind with Jesus, the Lord of Glory.
Close encounter of the first kindKnowledge about God Close encounter of the second kindClear belief in the reality of God
Close encounter of the third kindPersonal encounter with God
PETE
Induct & Introduct

Last month, our church held an in
duction service for the team ministry.
I t was intended to introduce us to
Using The Vacation

While the schools were on a recent
the community churches and near-by churches of Christ. In the service,
vacation week, we planned two morn ings of teaching, crafts, games, singing, and films, for our Sunday
School children. We used John's
we were charged to serve faithfully

in our various areas of ministry.
gospel to teach the children about
Jesus, "The Light of the World," and

"The Resurrection and the Life." We
The service was led by an elder of

one of the churches of Christ in near
by Leicester (pronounced Lester). Representatives from various churches
shared our new songs with the child ren and they, in turn, shared some
we had never heard.
took part by sharing in Bible readings

and by extending a welcome to us. The 80 people present almost filled our tiny church building and joined in
fellowship after the service. WE HAVE ARRIVED'.'.'.
JANET
We look forward to getting to know these children and sharing that Jesus can be real in their lives today. The response from these 23 children and their parents has encouraged us and we see that the time spent was
worthwhile. JAN
ST. ANN'S REPORT
A Look Around
Hu, , St. Ann's Church is only one
nine churches of Christ in the
NorXe/m
Qgjl Burns
Nottingham District.
The total mem-
bership of all these churches at the end 1978 was 388, which made
the third largest district in the
UK. The largest of these churches had an average attendance of 78, which is 33% of the district average attendance. That means that the other eight
churches are very small with three of them having only 10 on a given Sunday. All of these nine churches are served by one minister. He spends most
of his time at the larger church encouraging and strengthening the Christians there, so that they can be sent out to preach and lead the meetings of the
other churches. As a result, the St. Ann's Church has a number of outside preachers, which has an encouraging effect upon the Christians in Nottingham as it makes all of them reflect on how they could be used in God's service in churches other than the one which they attend. This particular custom also taps the potential of several men who, if there were enough ministers for every church, would never have the opportun ity to preach and lead in services. Perhaps this is something which might be
tried in some areas of the USA where there are more churches than ministers
and in other places too. There are probably men just sitting in the pews who might, with a little encouragement and help, be very effective speakers.
CURT
God, Our Personal Friend

After ten months of serving God in Erdington, we have learned alot from
and of God. First, God has taught us that He wants to be known at a personal levelas a person. Yes, it is necessary to study God from an academic view point, but we must take all of that knowledge and incorporate it into our lives. God wants balanced people, who know Him both intellectually and per
sonally and are able to share that with others. Linda and I feel that we are beginning to put the two together. Secondly, we are learning the freedom that only Christ can bring. This
freedom means, for instance, that if I do not feel like going out calling,
Christ wants to know about it. He wants us to go out calling because we want to and not because we feel we have to. So, God must change our feelings,
and He cannot do that unless we humble ourselves and ask Him. When we do
that, we begin to experience the freedom that Christ gives, because God is very concerned about our feelings.
God wants us to serve Him because we want to serve Him and not because we
feel that it is our duty.
T-fhen we want to serve Him, our serving is not
superficial, but it comes from the heart and is full of life. God will even give us the desire to go calling. He is not a God of law, but a creator of
new hearts. CURT
pi0tk from lEnglanii

. . . feporl ^rom team minisiriei chaifen^tn^ a poil-C^ltrhlian nation with the ciaimi
Vol. 6 No. 8 May, 1979
C^liriii
We 75 Christians
from five re
gional Churches of Christ came ex pecting something differentat least enjoyable, probably interesting, with perhaps a gleaned point to enhance
our relation to Jesus.
realize the poverty of the individu alism we Westerners have imported into the Communion service with our tiny cups, less-than-bite-size wafers, and
our seating geography that defies

meeting one another in true community. I am not unaware of the practical difficulties, but it seems to me that every church should be making some
effort to make her communion more an
But what we found was something extremely meaningful, highly communal, graphically understandable, and able
to be incorporated into our lives to
gether .
Rod Scott of JESUS OF NAZARETH
expression of
what we are
Christian Wit
ness to Israel,
led us through the major por

tions of the Passover Feast
REQUESTS THE HONOUR

OF YOUR PRESENCE AT A DINNER
together than of something
we ^
same
at the
time.
The^ infor
TO BE GIVEN IN HIS HONOUR
as we actually
shared in the
mal teaching and object

lessons made me realize
feast. (The Coventry people

know what Jesus
the ease with

which Jesus could make the one sec
meant when He asked His dis
ciples to pre
pare for the feast.)
tion o^ the
Passover into
the Lord's
Although I had previously seen a demonstration of Passover, I had never actually participated. As with many things, it is participation which is
Supper. God has prepared this event for millenia so that Jesus could truly
fulfill i t .
the great teacher.
"The bread which
we break, is i t not a participation
Jesus fulfilled all four cups: Sanetification, Redemption, Blessing, and Acceptance. It appears that He
in the body of Christ?" (I Cor. 10;16)

And participate we did. We were together learning, with one another
stopped after the tliird cup, the cup

which signified deliverance and bless ing to us. It was later that He ago
nized in the Garden about that last
praising, passing and sharing food

in true communion. It made me again
cup.
(cont'd back page)
COVENTRY REPORT
Deciding
Steve rate
Debbie
0 BARBARA.
Many of our new Christ-
Harris
T ians have become disciples because someone they knew found Jesus and
shared Him. Last year, Barbara's son, Rob, became a Christian and be
Pre-Easter
Easter activities began three
gan to be a changed person. He was eager to explain to his family the

new l i f e in Christ. His mother was
weeks prior to Resurrection Day with

a special CALLING CAMPAIGN.
teams of two went to
Several
the doors of
contacts to give special invitations to Easter events and encouraged people to watch the second-time
just as eager to learn as he was to share. After much prayer and prepa ration, she confessed her faith and was baptized. Her first simple pray er was, "Oh Lord, make me worthy of your love."
showing of the "Jesus of Nazareth"

television series.
^ mother, so can a mother bring her

son. During the two years which
Elsa has been a Christian, her son,
A JAMES.
As a son may bring his
During the week before Easter, we held three days of intensive child
ren's HOLIDAY CLUB. The 25 three to
16-year-old James, has grown to be a

fine young man. After camp last sum mer, he told me of his desire to be a
Christian. To test his conviction,
he was asked to attend a mid-week
ten-year-olds came for the four hours of activity and helped us accomplish a major goal: to make new contacts for our weekly Sunday School. Young people 11 to 16 were treated with a DESTINATION UNKNOWN. Eight excited "Sherlock Homeses" piled into our cars, all with ideas as to just where we were taking them. We
group for older boys.
Quickly his
understanding of God's plan for our

salvation grew, and he took on Christ on Easter Sunday. HAYDN. We had many eager decisions for Christ at our teenage camp last
drove through the country and had a

picnic lunch in the woods. After a romp about, it was back into the
cars and on to meet kids from the
summer.
Four young people were bap

Welsh mountain stream.
tized in a
Others made their commitments in the
Erdington and Great Francis Street Churches of Christ at an ice skating
rink in Birmingham. They were also following the course of Destination

Unknown and all were surprised to see each other in the rest of the skating
weeks following. Others, including Haydn, made the decision to let noth ing hinder them from becoming Christ ians when the time was right. Haydn
shared in studies about the meaning of life in Christ. He joined him
self to Christ on Easter with James.
mass. Later, our future Olympic skating team had food and fellowship
with the others. I*m not sure about
We are encouraged that these two take Christ with them as they near
the time to leave school and look
the kids, but Steve and I were ex

hausted at the end of the day. DEB
for training and jobs.
STEVE
ERDINGTON REPORT
New Sight
Many people ask God for a sign in
Penny Creasey
order to believe, but aren't satis

fied even if He gives one.
not like that. the kind.
Instead
Roger Edrington
Ken was
?
to heal his nearly blind eyes,
He felt that he
needed a sign, but didn't specify

He could have asked God
after receiving something personal
from God: he asked, "Where do I go from here?"
Because of his eyesight, Ken can't read the Bible, and at the time he could not concentrate if someone read to him. The next best thing seemed to
be able to put himself where he could hear others read the Bible and discuss. He's been coming regularly to our Share 'N Care evenings. If no one comes
to visit on Sunday, he's in church that evening.

him to stop his compulsive habit of swearing.
He feels that God has Helped And now his wife

PENNY
His wife says that he does
not lose his temper like he used to.

reads the Bible to him at night.
might come all the way to Jesus.
Ken hadn't noticed.
Pray for Ken and his wife, Roma, that they
Coffee?
Who" has never been disappointed? "They" say that the only way not to be disappointed is not to expect any
Home-Spun Philosophy
DEREK opts that the universe came -
thing.
But who could live like that
especially when you've planned, pre pared, and even had seven people say that they were definitely coming.
This was the case of our last
together by chance even tnough it is against all the odds. Yet in his small, metal engineering firm, he is the designer in control. Chance
does not work on this small level,
coffee evening.
Only one woman came,

We
but it might at the higher level. God is too easy an answer for Derek; he must opt for the more difficult.
His controlling life theory is
and she was not a new contact.
were praying for those to whom we

could introduce Jesus in a fresh, informal way.
personal achievement.
Satisfaction
comes through reaching your own
goals and choosing them rightly,

he realizes that his goals in real
Because the evening had been com
mitted to God, we can trust that God

knew that ANNA MARIA would be the
ity lead nowhere, but that is the

way it is. He admits that he would
like to have a true overarching
only one to come, and perhaps some of

her needs were met. Please pray for
Anna Maria that she will continue to
goal, but it is impossible.

BRIAN sees more clearly the nopelessness of achieving and going no where. He wants to be convinced of
have the Light shown to her. very much wants to know God.
She
"We make our plans, but God has the last word." Proverbs 16:1
PENNY
Jesus, but doesn't see it as possible

These two men in an Investigation
Group need your prayers.
ROGER
PASSOVER
(continued from front)
GETTING TO KNOW
(continued)
"Father, if you are willing,

remove this cup from me; neverthe less not my will, but thine, be done," The cup of acceptance was
we have spent time shopping, at the movies, talking about our hobbies,
interests, and so on. I have had to ask myself, "WilJL
his death, which made all of the

other cups filled to overflowing.
"For Christ, our Passover Lamb,

has been sacrificed."
(I Cor. 5:7)
ROGER
MOVING 7 7? "Ir"\
Se*dth Ypim Change of At/f/ivts
these casual times of being together eventually bring Sharon to Christ?" I cannot answer this question with a definite, "Yes." But I know that through our casual times together, she and I are beginning to build a trusting relationship. Will she accept Jesus? Again,
no one can say for sure. But be
Please help us to be good stew ards! Every returned Epistle costs us 25c in returned postage. If you want to continue receiving our paper, please send us your change of address
cause of our trust relationship, I will at least have a hearing. Build

ing a relationship takes time and hard work, but it reaps a very im portant opportunitysharing Christ!
ANGIE CALVERT
If you are no longer interested, let

us know that as well.

Non-Profit Bulk Rate
U.S. POSTAGE PAID Council Bluffs, lA 51501

Permit No. 26

COVENTRY TEAM ERDINGTON TEAM
144 Gravelly Lane Birmingham B23 6LT England

ST. ANN'S TEAM
HINCKLEY TEAM
8 Trevor Road
43 Edginton Street Nottingham NG3 3EV England
Missions Services
Box 177 I'.enpton, I'l

AMERiCAN CORRESPONDENTS^
Tim & Nancy Barber
605 Arnold
I .-f
7 r .C
Council Bluffs, lA
51501 U.S.A.
HINCKLEY REPORT
The Great British Drift

Bo wen Jan Bowen Janet Baines
By comparison with our church at
tendance, the number of our Sunday School children is quite largeabout

20-25. One of the problems is that there has often been a gulf between Sunday School and Church. When the
Tony
Ca/vert
On The Street
Jan and I wanted to meet our
children have reached the age of 14

or 15, they have just drifted away.
Children have not been directed from
neighbor ladies and felt encouraged

by the friendliness of Penny and
Maureen. So we sent out invitations
Sunday School into God's Church.

A main reason is that the child
for a
coffee social to the houses of
ren have not been brought to commit ment to Jesus. Undoubtedly, the
church has seemed distant and i r r e l
our street and waited for the day. We prayed that God would be working. Past experience in Coventry made us hope against hope that even one would turn up. But we were very excited when
twelve ladies arrived. We didn't
evant to their daily lives. We ask you to pray that we can tie Sunday School and Church together and bring children to a commitment to Christ which will go on into their
adult lives.
to lead a
Since I
for
have been asked
have-to say much as the ladies were so pleased to be together that they chatted freely I One lady said she
class
the older child
ren, pray that I can be used to show

them how Jesus is relevant to their
lives. PETE
hadn't seen one of her neighbors for a year. Another said, "In eighteen
years, I have never been invited in
to any house on this street I"

We are hoping to try something again in the sunimer and also to form a Bible study group of the interested
A Family Service
On Palm Sunday morning we had a special service for the Sunday School
children and their families.
30 adults and 22 children.
The
ladies.
I get impatient for things
response to the invitations brought
to happen, but know we must wait on God's timing. Things look promising
with Penny and Maureen, and we pray that this is the start of seeing God
do great things on Trevor Road I

JANET
Getting To Know Her

Sharon is 18 and one of our long
The theme, "Who Is This Man Je sus?" focused the children's songs and Scripture readings on Jesus' true identity. It provided an excel lent evangelistic opportunity, and Pete's sermon, "Close Encounters With The Living God" challenged both
Christians and non-Christians to
time Sunday School attenders, but is

not a Christian. In the short time
I've known her,
(cont'd back page)
meet God through Jesus. We are thankful for the good op portunity to preach the message of the Living God. JAN
ST. ANN'S REPORT

Rita Ide Linda
Vision..
It is our firm conviction that i f
Nordhlelm
Curt
we want to work ourselves out of a
Nordhielm
Qall Burns
A Church's Hope
Where is the St. Ann's Church of
job, the church and the team must enter into evangelism together. As a result of that conviction, a meet ing was held so that all of the church might come together and share different methods of evangelism
which each had used.
Christ going? Are we ready to meet the challenge that God has set before
us as a church? That is what we are
A variety of gifts, methods, and experiences were shared that might be an aid in our proclamation. Some
of the methods will not be effective
asking as another team ministry be gins. The short while the team has been in the fellowship here has been productive. Ideas have been shared, impressions gained, and plans begin
to form.
in the lower-class area in which the
The Christians here are ready. They have been patiently waiting for four years to have their new build ing, in the middle of a new housing
complex^ completed.
And most impor
tantly, they did not give up their faith when the way became difficult. Eagerness best describes these Christians. They are searching for guidance from God to know which ideas
to use and how best to share the love
church is located, but some have much potential, and the church is now asking God to show us what is best. It may even be that God will give us an entirely new, creative method of serving and reaching. Hopefully, as a result of this sharing, God will bring a common vision and goal to all of us. Then, together we can proclaim the Good
News of the Messiah. CURT
and Prayers. . ,
At a Tuesday night Bible study, we were discussing God's will, vision and timing for the church.
As we discussed these things, some
of Jesus with the people in the area. The congregation is small and scat
tered, which is sometimes a hind rance, but God is working in this church because they are seeking Him. The hope here is to challenge the people here with the claims of Christ, to begin a Bible School to teach peo ple the way of the Lord, to complete ly meet their needs, and to create a need to expand our small building.
The Christians are ready to meet
one suggested that we all enter into a prayer covenant. Everyone agreed that it was a good idea. Now every morning at 9 o'clock,
no matter where we are or what we
are doing, we pray that God will

show us His will. Already people have found i t an important experience
in their lives. LINDA
these challenges through the Lord's

help.
RITA
***Gail arrived on April 11 and is eager to find God's part for her.
1Ejji0tlc torn lEnglani

report ^rom team, ministries
No. 9
ckaiienîn^ a post-(^ltristian nation with the ciaimi

Vol .6 June, 1979
Christ
(continued from St. Ann's)
JUN
1 8 ]Q7g
Joy f)9ciin
Paul tells us to "Rejoice in the Lord always. . and we here at St. Ann's have plenty to rejoice about. First, we rejoice in the fact that Gail, the fourth member of the team, has arrived. We are sure that her late arrival was for a purpose and that some very valuable lessons have been gained. Finally, our picture is ready above for viewing us. Secondly, we rejoice that all of us are now living in our own houses. Until this time, we were staying with some of the church members, which was a productive time for trying to better understand the Nottingham way of life. But now, we have all moved into our houses. All of us need a place which we can call our own, and now that is possible for us.
Thirdly, and the most important reason for rejoicing, is that we are ministering with a church which wants to learn and help. We have one very solid elder
behind us and about ten other
Christians who are willing to do most anything we suggest. We never have any trouble when it comes to volunteers, for practically everyone
wants to be used of God.
Fourthly, those few who do not feel as if they have
any concrete area of service are joining together in prayer for the whole
church. I am confident that God is hearing their prayers and opening
doors of service.
Paul tells us to rejoice always, even when there are things happening
that are not very good. We have a few of those events as well. But the church here is beginning to learn to take those "bad things" and praise God that He has given them an opportunity for their faith in Him to be
strengthened. "Again I say rejoice,"
CURT
(St. Ann's)
COVENTRY REPORT
Steve
Debbie Harris
We must carry on spreading the Good News with a real sense of urgency lest too many innocents be led fur ther astray. DEBBIE
oooD xmms
Ten days ago Mormons were no
Published By Church Of CKnsT
thing more than a pain in th,e neck to me, Coventry's main "religious
door-knockers" are American Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses. Confused
Recently we launched our first edition of a monthly four-page
pamphlet for mass distribution.

Its title: GOOD NEWS. Under the
people often label me a Mormon be

cause I'm an American religious worker. Could it be, too, that
"Church of Christ" is mistaken for a shortened version of "Church of
question, "Ls there any good news?"

a collage picture containing head lines such as "Prejudice", "Fight ing For Peace", "Warnings Over
Strikes", "Battered Wives" accom
Jesus Christ, Latter Day Saints"?
panied a feature article which

boldly asserted that despite the troubling facts in our daily press,
Christians believe that there is
Most people dislike the persis

callers. I dislike being con
fused for one.
tence and frequency of tae Mormon
some very good news.

We have distributed two editions
Nine days ago, two young Mor mons came to speak to our home Bible Study group. I experienced many different emotions that evening. Prior to their arrival, we all joked about them and
to 800 doors in our community. Already, two have come to our ser
vices saying, "I got your leaflet

through the door and thought I'd
come." That really is good news.
(ashamedly) I thought they were^

in for a shock when we tore their
argument apart. But when Elder Phillips and
Elder Buswell arrived and I was
seeing two very real people, my
feelings changed.
Christians.
I felt admira
tion at their dedication and^ courage in facing eight comnitted

I also felt sorry for
them as shaky hands and flushed

faces told of their nervousness.
Two hours and many questions
later, I felt sad and burdened.

Here were two fine people, dedi
catedbut to the wrong way.
Jesus warned of false prophets.
Some of the thirteen apartment buildings where we distribute.
ERDINGTON REPORT
Any Problem/?
We are learning that when Je sus is able to get through to a person and care for him, something happens. I have always expected
tlrat this would soon follow In a
Penny Creasey Roger Edrington
changed life, new responsibility,

and ability to completely follow Christ. What we often find in actual ity is that a whole rash of problems comes out. When the love of God softens a person from the barriers which have taken years to build up, it is not really surprising that severe prob lems follow. But the loving thing is that Christ wants to heal these problems. Before Christ entered the person's life, there was no way of dealing with them. There was little point in them coming out. But now, the great Healer has come and there is hope and possibility. We have found that these problems are often the result of the damage of family relationships, unresolved conflict, repressed anger and fears, and poor self-image. These are able to cripple a person--no matter how long he has been a Christian. I have frequently found that I am unable to cope with the problem. I never like to admit it, but I do not have the answer. Neither quot ing the Bible nor demanding that a person snap out of it will solve it. Only being able to spell out the TRUTH which Jesus brings in the specific WAY which relates understandable LIFE will bring people through their problems--in and by the Person. ROGER
fl Gentle Ulltne//
All day I was thinking of argu ments and ways of disproving the
beliefs of the Jehovah's Witnesses,
to Jesus." The despair that would come upon learning that everything
he had believed for 15 years was wrong would probably keep him from hearing Jesus. I thought of Jesus and the wo
man He met at Jacob's well. He
Especially on my mind were ways to

convince Jim that his translation
of the Bible was wrong and that he was wrong about almost everything he believed. My attitude was like someone bent on destroying a building--knocking down walls, tossing
old bits of lumber and brick, anx
dealt so gently and lovingly with her. He did not pounce on her, telling her how horrible her sins were. Rather, he related to her in a way which said, "You matter
to me."
ious to make one heap of debris. Suddenly the thought struck me, "Penny, you are not working with a building but a person. You will
The woman became fully aware of

her wrong when she began to see
Jesus. Because she saw Jesus
destroy him if you try to disprove

his religion rather trian lead him
first, her wrong did not fill her with despair. Jesus gave her some thing to hold OT\tO. (continued on backpage)
(continued from Hinckley) MATTERS OF DEATH & LIFE
(continued from Erdington)
If a man dies, shall he live again? Yes, he will live in a true sense, if he is a disciple of Jesus. But if a woman dies, shall
her children live again? Perhaps, but only if they follow Jesus. It is sad to have to tell you that Winnie Cawdron, a faithful mem ber of our church for over 40 years, has died. The church will miss her,
A GENTLE WITNESS (Continued) My way with Jim was not God's way. God never jerks beliefs
from someone. Rather He shows
him th.e "Someone Better", which makes him want to let go of old
beliefs and take hold of Him.
yet we can be happy for her. She will live again. Of that we have
no doubt.
If I have all the gifts of wit nessing, but don't have love, it is nothing. Love is what was missing in my attitude toward Jim. I would really appreciate your prayers for ME and for JIM
and HILDA CORBETT. PENNY
As a result of Winnie's death, we met her children. They are liv ing now--but shall they live again? Neither of them is a Christian, but we hope to help them meet Jesus. We want them to live again. If a woman dies, will her child ren live again? Possibly. . .
'PUBLISH
ACTS
HIS
GLORIOUS
THROUGHOUT
{Psalms 96:3)
THE EARTH."
TONY
(Hinckley)
Non-Profit Bulk Rate U.S. POSTAGE PAID Council Bluffs, lA 51501
Permit No. 26

144 Gravelly Lane Birmingham B23 BUT England

ST. ANN'S TEAM
HINCKLEY TEAM
8 Trevor Road
AMERICAN CORRESPONDENTS^
Tim & Nancy Barber
605 Arnold
Tloririons "losions bsrviccs Assoc Research Dept.

Box 177
Council Bluffs, lA
51501 U.S.A.
Kempton,
46049
HINCKLEY REPORT
Bo wen Jan Bowen
THE CHURCH THAT PUSHED

THE PAPER THROUGH
Two years ago two Churches of Christ in Birmingham began to
Janet
Balnes
Tony
Calvert
publish a monthly outreach paper

called, "Good News". The name re
veals its purpose: to present Jesus as good news to the community. We have joined these other churches in distributing "Good News" to our
community. We distribute about 1,400 copies every month.
The response has been good. When we do door-to-door calling, people

remember that we are from "the church that pushed the paper through" the mail slot. Our most exciting response has come from Julia Salter. She came to our services as a result of reading the "Good News", and
now Janet and I are studying the Bible with her.
but has never committed her life to Jesus.
Julia "believes",
Because of the Bible
study, she already sees a change in her life. the commitment which changes everything!
The Scripture declares that the
We hope she will make JAN
TRAPPED
No exitexcept when Jesus comes bashing down the wall si Please pray that they will follow
their Liberator when He comes for them. TONY
whole world is a prisoner of sin.

But there is something still
worse. The world doesn't even
know it is in prisonl Having never experienced freedom, it equates bondage with liberty. This is one
of Satan's most effective delusions.
*Are we as mature as we think? Or are we still discus-
Hinckley certainly doesn't look like a prison--but the inmates are everywhere. There is James, en
-. si ng a sharing, and
meshed in homosexuality, but think ing he is free. Or take Doreen,

tangled up in confusion as a re
sult of her talks with Jehovah's Witnesses. Her cell doesn't have
convincing one another of the same thinga God taught us. a months year, or ten years ago?
* Do we let God lead us into a
deeper relationship with Him? * Can we let God say, "Give up your
barriers and fears and let me lead
much light; she can't see well enough to sort out the truth. Julie is only 19, but is trap ped in the shell she built to pro
tect her emotions from her mother's
you to a transformed life"?
* Will you let God show you where you are spiritually and then sub
mit to Him, so he can lead you on?
I asked myself these questions

and didn't come out well on all
violence. Now love can't get out. Nearly everyone we've met is
in a maze with no exit. And it hurts to see them in there.
accounts.
But I see where I am, and JANET
I want God to show me where I'm to
go from here.
(continued from front page)
ST. ANN'S REPORT

Rita Ide
Rooted in Love
Next to our church building
are several small bushes which
Gail Burns
Linda
Nordhielm Curt
Nordhielm
have trouble growing due to being

frequently uprooted. The new
building is often under attack by

vandals, so there was a need for steel doors and unbreakable, re
inforced windows. The endurance of the members was battered with
Tru/t
Developing a relationship with
children who do not trust anyone
is hard. To teach them that there
discouragement. But the love of Christ prevails

This ultimate love was shown in
is a God who loves them and keeps
His promises is going to be (and

will continue to be for a long
time) very difficult.
The St.
Ann's children have lived with
an unusual way on Easter Sunday. The church body wanted to share the joy they had because Jesus is risen. So, the Christians
here took flowers house to house
broken promises, and often in bro ken homes, all of their lives. We are trying, however, to begin to build that trusting relationship.
and gave them to those living

nearby. Somebody was touched by God's love. The bushes, which had all disappeared on Saturday, were re turned and replanted on Monday. " . . . In doing this, you will heap coals on his head." (Rom. 12:20) RITA
A young couple from the cKurch has been gathering children on

Sunday afternoons to teach them songs and read them stories about Jesus. We are joining in with them in their struggle to teach
and Instill in them that i t is
possible to trust and love.

Later on this summer we will
UJhot Role
Our arrival in Nottingham has
have a Holiday Bible School and a once-a-week activity session to

show the children the trustworthi
ness of our Lord.
brought some interesting reactions, The concept of "team ministry" is

new in this area. It is clear
that Curt is the minister, but what of Rita, Gail, and Linda? Recently at a district ladies meeting, the women of the team were able to share the concept of team ministry and just how each
of us fit into the team. As a
At present, we are working with the children on a play to be pre

sented at an annual festival in
the St. Ann's area. We hope to further develop our relationship

with them and to reach out to the
people who will attend the

festival.
GAIL
result, some of the fears of three
strange American women were

removed. LINDA
5.1 GO
JUL 1 8 1979
ST. ANN'S REPORT
Rita Ide Linda Nordhielm
Prayer (continued from

Hinckley) MOLLY-another young woman
who wants to see how Jesus
If you were planning to buy a Rolls Royce Silver Shadow, it will cost you $5,880 more from next week. Gasoline will be up to almost $2 per American gallon. Although Britons will have
iEpiatk from iEnglanii

Ji report f,
m I tarn miniifrUi
Nordhielm Gall
Burns
a posf'^kniiian idon
Vol. 6 No. 10
with (fi9 cfai
ofCLis!
can help her. LYNNE-a young mother who

reads seriously the New Testa
July, 1979
basic income tax lowered from
ment which we gave her. Pray

that her enthusiasm will de
33% to 30%, it will of necessity

make buying a more serious busi ness as the cost-of-living index rises SVz % overnight. For us living
The 27 voice MILLIGAN COL
In Erdington, we took the
LEGE
(Tennessee)
CONCERT
choir to two smaller shopping

centers with slightly more civiliz
velop into commitment.
CHOIR hit England this spring on

a 10-day whirlwind tour. Our team
Surprising Answers
Waiting is not always easy. The team found this out in regard to evangel ism. We wanted to wait until the church was ready to evangelise with us. So, we waited and prayed. We were encouraged by the results. On the first night of calling, four church members showed up, though only two of them could go with us. The second night of calling saw five members out with us. All of them were en couraged by the calling and want to continue. They also show an eager de sire for follow-up and real concern for the people. About forty houses were surveyed in these two nights and two investiga tion groups were arranged. However, just when things appear to be going just the way you hoped, it seems that something always happens. One of the groups was for teenagers. But when the time to start arrived, no one had come. What went wrong? Was more prayerful consideration
JAMES-Pray forTonyas he meets regularly with James to discuss

the Christian faith.
ed, but just as needy audiences.

Large crowds listened to the choir
from U.S. dollars, we are losing on the falling exchange rate and the higher taxes. Pray that God will
continue HIS provision.
ministries determined to capital ize on this opportunity for preevangellsm in the open air and
joint praise in our church build ings.
TONY & LlZ-a Catholic couple who are just learning that they can have a relationship with
Jesus.
and a number picked up tracts concerning our faith. At least it

gave some people contact with
Christian people.
In the Old Market Square in
PRAY FOR EACH OF US as we try

to lead people like these to
know and love Jesus.
JAN
Nottingham, choir members
were heard to say, "I've never been heckled in my life," and
One center's manager gave the choir coffee in the VIP lounge of a large department store, and the
chief security advisor came to the
Birmingham has just had a new spate of letter bombs with North ern Ireland postage. Postal
"What were all of those winos
evening concert in the Erdington

Church with about 80 others from
doing?". The Old Market Square is

a huge courtyard area that is sur rounded by all types of stores and
needed? A different approach? Did we misunderstand God's leading? Or

was it the result of the teenagers not being able to tell us "no"? The other group was formed with five adults. It did not work out as we
BRITAIN'S NEW CONSERVATIVE
the community and othei Birming

ham churches.
hoped either, but this one brought an immediate blessing. We were meet
ing In the home of one of the participants. When the other members did not
arrive, we decided that it would be best to start without them. Just as we
GOVERNMENT has just raised the tax added to most goods except
service is disrupted in Birming ham as bomb experts search.
office
buildings.
The
many
The choir got their first ex
food from 8% to a whacking 15%.
passing people made it an excel
perience of staying in homes there (not counting all 14 fellows In Curt and Linda's living room). Some of the English Christians grew quick
did, the three children (aged 14-20) of the host couple joined us. So, we have a whole family involved in an investigation group. We have been praying that God would give us several strong family units In the St. Ann's area, and it could be that we are seeing God at work.
RITA, LINDA, & CURT
lent place for an outdoor concert.

It was also ideal because the
choir arrived in Nottingham at the

Non-Proflt Bulk Rate
U.S. POSTAGE PAID Council Bluffs. IAS1501

Permil No. 26
beginning of a two-week-long an
nual festival. It was "kicked-off"
ly attached to the collegians, and it was an experience of deepened

faith to share their home.
the night before by 200,000 Not

COVENTRY TEAM 49 Huntingdon Rd. ERDINGTON TEAM 144 Gravelly Lane
To Be or Not To Be Baptized
Shortly after we arrived In Nottingham, Chris informed us that he want ed to be baptized. A year earlier he had attended an investigation group, so he knew something of Christ and Christianity. I had several serious talks with Chris about his beliefs and reasons for being baptized. Because the St. Ann's Church does not have a baptistry (they could not afford one when the building was built), we had a united service with the area Baptist church, who also were having a baptism that night. About 100 people gathered on a Sunday night to witness the baptisms. At the start of the service, Chris had not arrived. The service continued and still no Chris. When it was time for the baptism, Chris was still not
there.
tingham Forest Football (soccer) supporters welcoming their team
The concert at Coventry was

an influential success. After
Coventry CV5 6PT England
Birmingham B23 6LT England

ST. ANN'
home after winning the coveted

HINCKLEY TEAM
8 Trevor Road
singing in Coventry Cathedral to scores of wandering tourists, the choir drew 120 plus to our little church. With Hinckley and others joining us, we "packed 'em in"
with children on the floor under
the conductor's feet.
43 Edgin!
Hinckley LEIO 1JD England
Nottingli
England
f Co
European Cup. The choir did not have quite 200,000 people
over
listening,
1,000
but
heard
nevertheless
them in an hour long concert. Part of those 1,000 were the hecklers
and wInos. As one of the leaders
Tim & Nancy Barber
60S Arnold
The community is still buzzing

about the big crowd that loved the
Just why he did not come Is still a mystery. I have not been able to reach him either by phone or personal visit. He has apparently not tried to reach me. Pray that God will bring some stability to his life through
Christ. CURT
Council Bluffs, lA
61501 U.S.A.
;.!Is3ions Service. Editorial Dept.

BOx 177
sard, "It is good of these kids to be exposed to this type of audience."
music of the enthusiastic, young

American Christians.
iêmpton, IN
46049
COVENTRY REPORT
ERDINGTON REPORT
Penny Creasey Roger Erdington
HINCKLEY REPORT
Pete Janet
Bowen
Baines
Jan
Bowen
Tony
Calverl
'Not the Only

Christians,
...But Christians only." Like a cool breeze, this siogan refreshed
the minds and hearts of our
many from several churches help ed to bring large crowds. In our time together, we do not seek to deny our differences. In stead it is exciting to see how
much we can learn from an
Pressure Relieved
Have you ever felt yourself pressed for time, quality and suc
cess? So much so that whatever
ned and organized and then asked

God to bless the event. You know
How Much
what the Bible says about our own strength and wisdom. (1 Cor. 1:25).
This was
Does It Cost?
We often find it hard, but never theless essential, to talk to people about the cost of following Christ. We love to share the joy and life
A Week in the Life of...

This week our Monday plan
ning meeting is Tuesday because
spiritual
ancestors, parched
in
other's experience with Christ. In

deed we have learned that Christ
the denominationai battles of the
it is you are doing is a burden, something you will be happy is

relieved? I have often had this
my experi
ence last
19th century. Seemingiy, each group claimed exclusive posses

sion of Christian truth. This slo
is much bigger than our ex perience of Him, showing that we

need what others can teach us of Him.
year with a
kind of pressure. It can be over simple things like daily chores,
three-day
causedme.
a lot of
I
Ml I
that Jesus brings, but we must al

so tell people of the complete
commitment which Jesus wants.
gan, planted as the seed of an idea, soon took root as a move ment influencing many believers from various groups. Looking back on our movement, we can say that our
forefathers were some of the first
"How will I ever get everything

done today?" Many of you will be able to Identify with me when I relate these feelings to Vacation Bible
School.
It Is interesting that none of those we have shared with locally feel a great compulsion to unite our churches organizationally through some lowest common de nominator of creed or practice.
undue pres sure and frustration, and I caused the same for those helping me. It wasn't because we had a VBS, but
because I didn't wait for God's di
Jesus does not want crowds - - He
church leaders to be seriously In terested In ecumenism -the unity of Christians. In a way, they were a century ahead of their time; for in our own generation the
Ecumenical Movement has in
Instead they desire simply to

share and work together at the grass roots- to be Christians to gether when we can despite which building we enter on Sun day morning.
STEVE
wants disciples. Recently we met a young man named Dave, who like many of his age, had not really considered the
claims of Christ at all. We shared
of visitors, helping some neigh bors in difficulty, and Pete's trip to Coventry for the day. Our Mon day evening evangelistic calling is Thursday because there was a Christian Education meeting. Wednesday should be normal for us with time for visiting, sermon or lesson preparation, and so on... (Sorry, the phone just rang.) Now it looks as though we are
having more America on visitors from Wednesday
rection. it wasn't His VBS, it was

mine.
This year, God did it all. There

were about the same number of
about following Christ from both angles - - the life and the cost. He
later said he was not interested in
afternoon, though we will still go to Youth Club at 7 p.m. Anyway, Thursday should be fairly normalwe have a team Bible study and
then studies with various con
fluenced many churches again to see that perhaps those within their own group are not the only
Christians.
children, some of our older young people were helpers, we had some
new contacts for new
meeting again - - at least not for awhile.
In Coventry we had the opportunity to express our desire to be "Christians only, but not the only Christians" by sharing with and learning from believers
from other denominations. We
God is full
of pleasant
We always say that next year we will plan further in advance, do things differently-and enjoy It! It rarely seems to happen that way. There are many reasons for these feelings - disorganization, not del egating enough responsibilities to others, not allowing enough time for preparation, etc.
One big reason we often fail to realize is that WE have planned, organized, etc. In our own strength. We didn't ask God if He wanted a VBS this year rather than something else or whether He wanted us to do it. We didn't ask God what He wanted nor did
people were involved - and I enjoy ed it thoroughly.

PENNY
Dave understands that follow
ing Jesus is costly and means change. Things he has said make
tacts. Then, of course, our doorto-door calling. Pete's just returned from Coventry and has announced that our Wednesday afternoon visitors
will be here on Thursday after

noon and evening instead. No calling on Thursday. Friday is our day off, but Jan
us think that the cost is too great at least for now.
I 1Hi Wfl Ml ^ come of my

\ 1=== I Ml I
I
It was just thing to add to my weekly sched ule. Now it is a special and even important part of my week. We
PREP
A young man recently told me about the futility of life and
death. "It takes a man about 70
have helped to form an informal group in our area from the Church of England, Methodist,
Monday af^ ^ ternoon ladies

Bible Study.
one more
and Brethren Churches, meeting

with thom to discuss what we
can lesrn from one another to be
more effective disciples.
We
are
planning
(with
this
group) and Inter-church newsletter, joint outreach to a big new housing estate, and pulpit exchanges. We have enjoyed sharing in events like the Christ
mas Carol Festival and the Milli-
don't have fantastic theological

discussions. We don't even have
years just to get to know what life is about and get ready to live it. Then he dies. It's a crayz set up." The more I thought about it, the more I agreed. As I struggle to gain what life Is all about, it
seems that life will be too short to internalize the realities
We need to show people the cost of discipleship and yet show them that the life Jesus gives is worth everything we have to give. Please pray that Dave will see this
and decide to follow Jesus.
PETE
has a study in the morning and

we have to practice for our Sun day School Anniversary Service.
Then its off to Birmingham with the Youth Club to go ice skating! At any rate, we will be calling on Saturday morning and make final preparations for Sunday in the
afternoon.
Prayer Priorities
KIT-a young woman with many
confused ideas about life and
gan College Choir Concert when
real "deep" sharing. What we do have is a small group of Christians studying the Word and trying to apply it to our every day lives. God is blessing us. We are grateful.
DEBBIE
Ministry means involvement with people. Since we can't plan

people's needs, we often find that
our schedule isn't what we had
discovered. But later, a simple thought struck me. It's not so crazy if this life is preparation for
another and "life continues as
her purpose in it. She needs to

see Jesus as LIFE.
we wait for Him to tell us. We plan
usual" WITH HIM.
ROGER
originally planned. But needs must have priority over strict scheduling. We wouldn't have it any other way! JANET
ST. ANN'S REPORT

Rita Ide
Linda
(continued frofn Erdlngton)
torn lEnglani
ft m (gam minislrirJ
Nordhielm
Gail Burns
Nordhielm
Although people had talked to her about committing her life to Jesus in baptism, she had seen it as an optional extra--and probabl not something which she needed. In reading Juan Carlos Ortiz's Disciple, she discovered that it was God's way to receive Him. When she realized, there was no hesitation. "When can I be baptized?"
were her words to me.
cULn^tn^
Vol. 6 No. 11
a/ton with tkr cfai
.fCUl
August, 1979
With just a few Christian friends and her non-Christian English husband gathered around the baptistry, Ana was born again in water and Spirit. Thinking it might be nice to have someone help her in the changing room, I asked, "Would you like someone to come with you?" "No thanks," she replied quickly, "I've got Who I need."
The Glory Story

A Nice Problem
What do you do when you have so many church members who want to help that you cannot find any one night that all can come to do door-to-door calling? This is one of the problems which we
faced here at St. Ann's. But
ROGER
"I can't do it, Missl" "Oh, you can." "I can't. Miss. I'm afraid of all them peoplel"
And so it went for the last half
The Spirit In Mission

It's a privilege to be living in these days. I thank God that ever He gave me days and breath to see the outpouring of His Spirit in revival as we're seeing today. And I'm saying that, no doubt, in one
of the neediest mission fields of the world Great Britain.
"Hello.
We're from the Church of Christ.
We're taking a religious survey in this area. Do you have time to answer a few of our questions?"
"Yes,
. if it won't take too long."
A mission field called
hour before a performance of a play

about the resurrection called "The
Glory Story" at the St. Ann's Fes tival. The eight children worked
for six weeks on the mime and did
it is one of those problems that you like to face. As a team, we could have gone out and done the calling our selves, but this would not have
a "smashing" job.
helped the British Christians take part in the growth of the

church.
I was out in Indonesia not more than two o'r three months ago for the second visit. I felt, when I landed in that country, a "spiritual tang" in the air because of what God is doing by His Spirit. When I returned home to London Heathrow, I feel I have just come into a spiri tual backwater. The Bishop of Fiji came into this country and said, "In my country today out of every hundred, 98 will be in church. I've come from American where out of every hundred, 60 will be in church. And I understand that by the most conservative estimates in Britain today, only three or four out of a hundred will be in church. I want to know,
which is the heathen land?"
major len moules
"Here's the first question. Are you a member of any church or religious group?"
"Yes. I've been a member of the
Church
for many years." "Are you interested in knowing God person ally?"
"Pto. I don't think I'm interested in that,
Sorry, but I think I
need to go now."
So, we devised a method which would overcome the problems. We decided to create calling teams and have an American team member
responsible for asking particular

members of the church if they could arrange a time to go call ing.
It has resulted in some teams
Non-Prolll Bulk Rate
This little dialogue is typical of many door-step discussions we have while calling in Hinckley. Most people we meet are "members" of one church or another. But as we ask them the questions on our survey, it becomes clear that the vast majority have no personal knowledge of
God.
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
Council Bluffs. lA 51501

Permit No. 26
going out weekly and others every

other week. But it does ensure that the whole church is involved
Part of our mob at work

in the privilege of evangelism. These calling teams also en

sure that one of the American team members is involved so that
49 Huntingdon Rd. Coventry CV5 6PT

England
144 Gravelly Lane Birmingham B23 6LT

England
A very interesting situation, to say the leasta "Christian" with no interest in knowing God! In the secular society of England, the Church has been reduced to the level of a social club. For many there is something good about being a "church member", but people seem to have great difficulty in defining what is so good about it. It is difficult for secular society to define what is good about the Church because society {and sometimes the Church) has lost the
essence. The essence of the Church is the life it has to offer--and
the follow-up can be arranged. It is our prayer that the

whole church will form one big team in the name of Christ.
CURT
in "The Glory Story" During practice, however, our patience wore thin, our voices rose above the yells of kids punching one another, and more than once, we considered dropping it altogether. I'm glad that we didn't. The children experienced a job well done, and it has encouraged them enough that they want to do it again.
GAIL
HINCKLEY TEAM
6 Trevor Road
ST. ANN'S TEAM
the essence of that life is knowing God.
"Now this is eternal life;
43 Edglnton Street
HInckley LE10 1J0 England
Nottingham NG3 3EV

England
that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus~Christ, whom you
have sent." (John 17:3) Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life."
way to have the Life is to know the Truth. Many know about Him. Do you know Him?
The only
TONY CALVERT (HINCKLEY)
Tim & Nancy Barber
605 Arnold
Council Bluffs. lA
51501 U.S.A.
'lissions SsrvicGS
Box 177
Ke:npton, IN
46049
COVENTRY
REPORT
Steve
Tate Debbie Harris
ERDINGTON REPORT
Penny Creasey Roger Erdlngton
HINCKLEY REPORT
Pete Bowen
Janet Baines
Jan Bowen
Tony
Calvert
Time To Go
After many months of prayerful consideration, Lee and I have decided to complete our work with the Coventry Church and return to the U.S. early in September. Guided by advice from those who have long been involved in our ministry, we feel that the Lord
has confirmed to us that the
Both Lee and I know we have become a bit British. We have made our
Rescued By God
Last November JULIE KNIGHT came to live with Bev and me. We had re
Traditional Security
An English tradition dating back to the 1800's is the Sunday School
Walk Round or "The Treats". Still
RE in GB
The only compulsory subject
in schools in Great Britain is
home here, and the Lord has ful

filled us in His service for five
years. But we are excited about opportunities to be with family again, to pursue higher education, and to grow through the nurture
of Christian fellowship. We plan to spend the rest of this year in Fisher, Illinois, working through our main support
ceived a phone call from "The Jesus Centre" asking if we could keep a nirl who had been "rescued" from the Children of God. She was 21 years old, had had a nervous breakdown, and had a 3h year old daughter. Mv first response was, "No." Selfishly, I was tired of livinq in cramoed quarters with neoole with nroblems. It was nice just to be free at home for a while. Objectively, I honestly doubted if we could give
this qirl the time and security it sounded like she would need. But
alive today in Hinckley, it is billed

as a "Procession of Christian Wit
Religious Education (RE). There are different approaches to RE
in different schools.
It may
timing is right for a change in ministry, both for us and for our
church.
of Christ.
Since most of our team moved
ing church, River Valley Church During that time I hope to write a booklet defining
God dealt with me and within 24 hours, Julie had come to live with us. The past few months have been a series of severe depressions, the
ness". The Sunday Schools of various churches make a float to parade in the streets, followed by the walking Sunday School children, complete with
banners and flower baskets. Music
be taught by atheist, agnostic, Hindu, or Christian.

The subject matter has tradi
to Coventry, we have gradually shifted the emphasis in Coventry until now I feel the more "typi cal" role of a pastor. We think
the concept of team ministry,and exploring its uses in other mis

sion situations.
the groundwork laid down by the

team's ministry can now be car
ried on by the church through the

direction of its elders and one
equipping minister.
Debbie will
In January, we want to settle in Nashville, TN, where Lee's family lives. We will be in fel lowship with the Belmont Church of Christ, our other supporting congregation, and I hope to start
worst she has had recently. Last week through prayer and claiming the victory of Jesus, Julie was becoming free from her past. Although she had been following Christ in many ways for some time, she came to the full knowledge that baptism into Jesus was lacking. Without hesita tion, she phoned Roger and was baptized Thursday morning at nine. Her most recent testimony, "God is more real to me than people."
PENNY
is provided by local marching bands. Many parents will work hard for this day because it is a "nice" tra ditionyet they have not commitment to Christ nor do they even see a need
for Him. Sometimes it is difficult to see
the usefulness of an event so steeped
tionally been the Bible, but now many also study world religions and philosophies. Obviously, an understanding of other reli gions and philosophies Is not a bad thing, but when a watereddown Christianity is presented along with them as one of the equal alternatives, it can be very harmful.
It was refresh
The Man She Needs

ANA MARIA OGDEN (25) brought her two young child
ren to our toddler's club. She didn't seem to be
in tradition and absent of real mean
continue her part in the ministry

until the new minister comes.
my M. Div. program at Vanderbuilt University. Please pray that in all these plans the Lord will
rule and guide.
STEVE
interested in the normal mother's pastimegossip. While Linda Nordhielm (now in St. Ann's) worked in the kitchen, Spanish-born Ana would probe about what
this church believed. Linda never gave her more than enough, and Ana always came back wanting more. Soon Ana was regularly involved in nearly every meeting of the church. Early in childhood, she had rebelled against her strong Roman
ing. But we look for God to break through the false sense of security and to present real Life insteady of empty traditions. JANET
ing to find a com

mitted Christian
teacher presenting an accurate picture

of Jesus to his
Hi" students.
A1
I write this, it seems
the Lord is leading the church quite definitely toward who our replacements should be. By next month's Epistle, the decision will
be announced. It is hoped that the new minister will arrive in
Robbed Flat
Our sister Jane came home
Catholic upbringing because no one seemed to be able to give her the

answers she needed. Now she found herself discussing issues of real importance in every spare moment. There were many doctrines which she questioned, and some she flatly denied. But when she saw the truth of something, she really saw iti Over the months, the woman who wanted to get her point of view across and didn't always appear to be listening mellowed into a person who was open to all kinds of "new" thoughts generated by God's Spirit. Even though she began to believe more and more, she never thought that she would experience anything. Ana would continue to talk to nice people about important things, but it would never reach her inner most being. The tipping of the scales did not come from her head, but through a prayer. Our Share 'N Care group was praying earnestly for God's direction for our meeting. As we asked His continued presence with us, Ana experienced for the first time in her life that God was
though he is not allowed to challenge children to commitment, he can point them in the right direction. We hope to follow up the
after a day out to discover that

thieves had broken into her flat
example that this teacher gives

and work with him to lead child
ren to Jesus. PETE
January, and we are encouraged by the strong possibility that he

will be able to live in the area
(apartment) and stolen about $900 worth of her belongings. Only a

few hours before this, she had told Steve how empty life seemed for people who only lived for the things which money can buy. Even in her sadness, Jane trusts the advice Jesus has given: "Do not
save riches here on earth where robbers break in and steal. In
around the church. As things are developing, I sense that the four month break between ministers can
Wanting the Difference

Heather (13) is interested in finding out how Jesus can be relevant
to her life. Since she has a cotnnitted Christian teacher in school
be a very productive time as the

church evaluates its resources of
(see article above), she has seen the difference in his life.
She wants
gifts and abilities, and those

called to lead have more oppor tunities for service. LEAVING WILL NOT BE EASY.
the same for herself. She's eager to learn about Jesus because she has seen that He can mean something in this world today.
We are having a weekly study with' Heather after meeting her one
evening in our calling. Please pray for Heather as she studies God's Word. And pray for Janet and I as we try to show her that she can have a personal relationship with God through Jesus. JAN
stead, save riches in heaven."

DEBBIE
there.
From then on, there was no stopping her. (continuei) on back page)
^loo
!E]it0tk from !En0lanIi . . . report ^ront team nuniitriei

nînq. apodt-C^kridtian nation with lite ciaims of-CkrUt
Vol7 No. 1 September, 1979
THE PERSONAL PRICE OF MISSION
Evangelism across the barriers of nationality and custom Is not new. Today we call this process
"cross-cultural mission." But even before the time of Jesus, God's Word had formed the idea. James at the
Jerusalem Conference (Acts 15)quoted Amos to remind his Jewish Christian brothers of God's purpose. "I will restore the Kingdom of David... so all the rest of mankind will come to me, all the Gentiles whom I have called to be my own." (vss. 16-17) The very restoration of God's chosen people in the old Testament was for tte purpose of talking his message of salvation to those in all non-Jewish cultures.
this process contains an inherent tension, a built-in conflict. This tension iswhat the Jerusalem
conference seemingly was all about. The conflict came between those of one culture (the Jewish Christ ians) seeing the gospel through the eyes of their own experience, and another culture (the Gentiles) ex pressing their new faith in that same Gospel In different ways. Above both cultures was a unifying truth
about God's word of salvation through Christ.
the purity and simplicity of that truth was seen more clearly In the light of cross-cultural mission.
Peter, through his roof-top vision, and Paul, through his revealed Icnowledge of God, came to see the Jew
ish custom of circumcision as insignificant to Christians in another culture. Through this process of shar ing the gospel outside one's own culture, it is possible to see what we think is the message itself change. We recognize that non-vital cultural expressions of faith can actually "water-down" the gospel. We are left
with a "purified" truth when we know this.
this experience can be painful. Galatlans 2shows us how painful. In the strained relationship be
tween Peter and Paul, we might see the dilema of many returning missionaries. Having left his native cul ture, Paul had grown through his experience of expressing his faith Interms the Gentiles could understand-wlthout any Jewish extras. Peter, with less missionary experience, seems almost reluctant to give up the culture h&has known to accept the new non-Jewish forms of faith. The result: conflict! lor the missionary today who returns after years of trying to become a part of the culture in which he serves, tension may come when he realizes that his faith, too, has been changed in ways that the "Peters" back home may not understand. Also, those left at home have developed In ways that he cannot share. So he pays both ways: he has grown In his faith In ways that others may not be able to appreciate because it has not been their experience, and he has missed out on many years of development in the
"folks back home."
Thomas Wolfe said, "You can't go home again". Maybe he's right. You will never be the same
once you've given yourself to serve In a new home, and home won't be the same place you left years ago. That Is the personal price of mission. It does not just apply to those going to serve overseas or to another country. It remains the challenge to any called to serve within a culture or class or race different from their
own. ---
We have experienced the priceless rewards of cross-cultural mission as we have served for five years with the teams In England. We novv have a deeper value for the timeless truths of our gospel. We
have become "citizens of the world." And we have seen the beauty of differing cultural expressions of faith. But we know these would not have been gained without paying a personal price. Some who leave their home to serve In a new culture miss the rewards because they are not able to pay that price. But the
future of fruitful mission in our multi-cultured world depends on those who can.
STEVE
Harris
K^^BKUK^BOUm zgfc^^l
^V
Helen Cranfield (new Intern)
I have been back in England now for two weeks, and I am not quite settled yet. There have been alot of changes in two yearseven the church building is totally different. I am pleased with how simple, yet beautiful and very prac
tical i t is.
The youth element of the Body has greatly encouraged me. Jaki, James,
and Haydn (teens I knew before) have become young Christian adults, which I find exciting. I continue to be inspired by several who plod on in their
faith despite many difficulties. Mr. and Mrs. Withnall, for example, carry on faithfully, never missing
a meeting. Leon, Janice, and their six children have been remarkly faithful in the face of many trials and much sickness. Nick, who became a part of the family after I left, seems concerned to study the Bible and to win others. Phil is another that has been faithful in attending and making valuable contributions. Lil has had more than her fair share of bad health but seems always willing to
work through it.
I have to admit that there were disappointments too.
I was upset to find
that Steve Barthorpe returned to Zambia the day before I arrived home. Robin and Jean, who I had just begun to get close to before I left for the States,
no longer attend the church. I was also disappointed to learn that Steve, Lee, and Nathan are leaving, as I had looked forward to renewing that friendship, too,
It is good to be home. I left a close friend behind in Illinois, but a very close friend came back with me to England and is constantly by my side. I do not know what the future holds after my one-year internship in Coventry terminates, but I do know that this friend will be with me wherever I go, and I
shall try very hard to share Him with others. His name is Jesus.
has come to us as Helen Cranfield,\ O;

a 20-year-old English Christian,
>1 A "breath of fresh air"
jy gQjj and Coventry have
^^1 abotft called Rick and Joy Blazek

to minister here. They
has returned from two years of study*'

at Lincoln Christian College to begin
a year of on-the-job training. H Our brother, Steve Barthorpe, blessed us all during a three-week
visit home. Steve is a construction
Ik. \
are presently serving a
church in Birmingham and will be moving to Coventry in January, 1980. llA concentrated two-week calling program, aided by summer interns.
engineer in Zambia, but spends much time teaching Bible studies and help
Dale & LeeAnn Winters (Minnesota Bible College) has resulted in contacts.
1>Sandra Luz Caero is our church's
ing stsrt new churches. We feel our tiny church has a long arm extending
to troublesome Africa.
9-year-old, adopted Bolivian girl. Through a national Christie*^ organ ization, Tear Fund, .-pport her with our letters, prayers, and finances.
DEBBIE
ERDINGTON REPORT
Penny Creasey
The Victory Seekers

There is a risk involved in saying prematurely, "See how much we've grown." I don't want to give a false picture of things here, but I would like to say
that we are growing. I cannot write that bold, new steps have been taken for the Lord, but many individuals are taking brave, little, new ones. During the past three weeks, Roger and Michelle were on vacation, and Bev was away for two weeks as well. I have been able to watch our people function virtually without "us". It was a shaky time. People were grow ing in one area of their lives and falling in another. One week would see a brother or sister encouraging another, and the next week, the other would be encouraging the first. I saw this as normal and positive. They seemed to be always moving each other toward maturity in Christ. Our Wednesday meeting became more of a time of sharing and encouraging with prayer that God would have His way in our hearts. Having experienced a little of God's power and presence in this way, desire for more has begun a regular prayer meeting.
It may rrot sound like much because
Roger Erdington
Gesa (23) and Telse (18) from Ger many have just visited us for a couple
of weeks. Their plight is a diffi cult one with the only real fellow ship they know being in England. Their faith is encouraged while they are with the Christians here, but the
months of life without other Chris
tians quickly erodes God's Life in them. They want to stay with God, but how do they survive? We are claiming the promise that
God will give us whatever we ask in
His name. Will you pray seriously with us that God will find meaning ful fellowship for them. Listen to Telse tell her story.
A CHRISTIAN ALONE
by Telse Tiedemann
To be a Christian without any fel lowship can be very hard. That is the experience my sister and I have always had at our homeGermany.
Yet I do not believe that it is God's
will to be alone as a Christian. We belong to the Lutheran Church,
you may be there already. I see it as good, healthy growth. When we realize that God really does want to
which is so big that the personal

need is always covered over. In our
do something with u, and we begin

letting go of pet sins or earthly props, the Holy Spirit begins sweep ing into every heart, and the Church begins to experience its present and real position in Christ--"ruling above all heavenly rulers, authorities, powers, and lords." (Eph. 1:31,3:10) That's where we should be, that's
where we want to bevictorious in Christ. PENNY
town (pop. 13,000), 8,000 people arc

members of our church, but most of them have never heard anything about God and Jesus. Materialism has grown so much that they are happy enough with their money. I know that especially young peo ple are interested in God's faith,
ALONE
(continued from Erdington)
STATISTICALLY (continued from Hinckley)

To date, we have knocked on 375 doors and have had personal contact
with someone in 278 of these homes.
but there is nobody who really wants to answer their questions.

We do not have full immersion in
our church in Germany, so last year
at camp in England, I was baptized in

a river. This wonderful experience
showed me Jesus and how to know God
personally.
T fee"! that it is God's will for me to become a minister in the Luth
Out of the 278, 136 people immediate ly indicated that they were not inter ested in talking to us; 61 said they were members of other churches ,and therefore, not interested. 89 people answered the questions on our survey; 64 of these were not
interested in further contact. Five of the 89 are now involved in discus
eran Church. I can only pray that God will give me the ability through the power of His Holy Spirit to share with other people the gospel of Jesus
Christ.
sions or Bible studies, and four (all members of one family) are attending church regularly. Including the three people who v/e contacted through other
means, we are now involved in evan
You may write at this address:

Gesa & Telse Tiedemann Gustav-Frenssen-Str. 2
gelistic studies with eight people

and have occasional contact with 12 to 15 others. TONY
2212 Brunsbuttel, WEST GERMANY

Non-Profit Bulk Rate
U.S. POSTAGE PAID Council Bluffs, lA 51501

Permit No. 26

COVENTRY TEAM 49 Huntingdon Rd. Coventry CV5 6PT England ERDINGTON TEAM

ST. ANN'S TEAM
HINCKLEY TEAM
8 Trevor Road
Missions Services
Tim &Nancy Barber

605 Arnold
AMERICAN CORRESPONDENTS!
.il
Council Bluffs, lA
51501 U.S.A.
Box 177
Kempton, IN
46049
HtNCKLEY REPORT
NEIGHBORHOOD
NEEDS
A neighborhoodwhat is it? It is a group of people who each have their own set of needs, fears, and expectations from life. Due to the fact that motherhood keeps me con fined to the house, I began to ask God to show me what my ministry
would be. The answer has come--
Poctrine/of OemonA
"The Spirit says clearly that some people will abandon the faith in l?iter times; they will obey lying spirits and follow the teachings of
demons." --I Tin. 4:1
the neighborhood! I have met five families, each with their own unique needs. One thing they have in com
mon is the need to know .lesus.
ine "later timps'" are certainly
BARBARA is one of the people I have met. Eight weeks ago her hus band left her and their five-yearold son for another woman, which
has caused her much emotional suf
now times"at least in Hinckley. In our door-to-door calling over the

last few months, we have met several spiritualists--people whose religion consists in making contact with the supposed spirits of the dead. Spiritualists seek meaning for their own lives and hope for the world by consulting these spirits for guidance. They organize themselves
into "churches" and consider the
fering and pain,
God has opened the
door for me to share with her that
Jesus is the one who can help her

where she hurts.
What is a neighborhood?
It is a
group of people who need someone to share Jesus with them. When you
pray about your ministry, don't
leave out the possibility of being

that someonel ANGIE CALVERT
things they do to be God's work,
never realizing how radically opposed ' to God's will their actions are (Deut.18:9-13).
There can be no doubt that these spirits are real. There can also be little doubt that they are not actually the spirits of deceased people, but demonic spirits whose purpose is to lead people away from faith in Jesus. We're very concerned right now for one of the women with whom we have studied the Bible. Molly is searching for something to give meaning to her life, and she is convinced that the spiritualist meeting to which she went was "wonder ful". We will need the power of the Holy Spirit as we try to lead her away from unholy spirits. TONY
Statistically Speaking
Statistics never tell the whole story, but they can be helpful in making sure the whole story is told. Here are some statistics related to the evan
gelistic work we began in Hinckley in March, 1979:
ST. ANN'S REPORT
The Vouth
Coffee Anyone?
Or maybe you would like a cupcake or a biscuit (cookie)? Saturday morning, August 4, our
church invited our neighbors to come
and visit over coffee. Whereas in
of St. Ann's have very little to do,
especially during school vacations. Many have finished their time at

school and most of these will not be
able to find work.
They are tough-
the past people have been reluctant

to talk to loerabers of the church, we
found that they responded well to a coffee morning and our talk covered
many different subjects.
acting people, but not considered worth listening to. They are people caught between two worldsa "grown up" world with respect and responsi bility and a "kids" world which they
have outgrown. In an effort to help these teen
The people in this area have a

need for friendship, loving care, and Jesus' truth. This event opened
the door for us to share the Lord's truth and love. RITA
agers, we arranged a place in the nearby conmunity center where they

could come for activities or just be
with people who care and would listen.

We invited them to come anytime during
the three hours.
TuioBifthdoy/!!!
VARINA decided that she wanted to
7:00 Nobody. 7:30 Nobody. 8:00 Still no
accept Jesus Christ as her Lord and God. We gathered together with the Chasewood Baptist Church on July 15 to share the experience of her new birth through her baptism into Jesus
Varina has a number of serious
Just when we were thinking this method would not reach them, they
began to come. During the final hours, 15 young people came and went. Antong these were four fellows who frequent the pub and heckle the church
with words and stones. They stayed
until the endwhether it was just
problems to deal with. But God has accepted her where she isin the
midst of it alland we know that
through His strength, she will be

a conquerorl
July 15 WftS also Varina's birth day. What a great experience every year for her to share two birthday celebrationsher natural, physical one and her supernatural, spiritual
one. SAIL
for something to do or because they saw our care, it is hard to tell. But they camel Our next youth even will be a show ing of the movie, "The Cross and The
Switchblade." When school starts
again, we will have a regular Thurs

day afternoon spot to see them.
Please pray that these youth will

clearly see the love of Jesus.
RITA
... nîn^ a poit-^kriitian nation with the ciaimA of(Christ

Vol. 7 No. 2 October, 1979
from !En0land report from team miniitrieS

Ocr t
s
Our Mind On Money

The Sixth Annual
Financial Report
One of the important principies that every Christian learns - hopefully sooner rather than later ~ is that God will provide. The Christian who depends totally on the gifts of other Christians ~ as we do ~ has the opportunity to learn this over and over. Many of us experience the uncertainty of not knowing exactly how God will provide our financial needs. Sometimes IHe calls us to do without what we wanted. This teaches us to rely on l-iim alone and not on material goods. In a country with a lower standard of living but a higher cost of living, we have been able to re-evaluate a Christian's lifestyle. Although it sometimes causes us frustration and stretches our ability to stretch money to the limit, we would not exchange what we have learned for "a mess of pottage". Most of us are supported by one to three churches and perhaps a few individuals. The degree of care given varies widely. Some churches constantly review their gifts to us; some give the same they gave six years ago. Consequently, some of us receive substantial raises this year, some marginal raises, and some are on the same amount. Some churches mai<e sure that their missionaries have good retirement and benefit programs and some of us still have no certainty about our financial future. Certainly God works in different ways with all of us and the wide variation of both need and receipts bears this out. In all honesty, we should share with you that this year has given us the worst drop In the rate of exchange in our team's history. The pounds which we buy with your dollars have been whittled away by 16% since last year at this time. And inflation is now running at 17%, which makes our daily bread come quite a bit more expensive than yours in the U.S.A. And when you're complaining about your gasoline prices, remember ours at just over two dollars per U.S. gallon. We should also mention that we are still In the middle of sorting out our tax situation with the British government. Although we have been corresponding with the tax office for four years (I), they are still In the process of making a ruling for our special situation. We fear that we could be unexempt from the basic 30% taxation rate and may be liable for back taxes. This would be Impossible for most of us to cope with. Please pray for us In this regard. We are still convinced that our main talking about money should be to our Father. If we are in touch with Him and you are in relationship with Him and He cares about both our needs, l-ie will provide. Our ministry and the figures which we report on the back page are the evidences that in fact, HE HAS PRO VIDED. We are grateful that you have been In touch with Him enough to be the channel for His grace to us. THANK YOU SINCERELY! And 1 know that many of you will have experienced the grace that He has given you in giving. THANK HIM SINCERELY! So we put our ledgers away again for another year. If you ask questions, we will gladly answer anything. But if not, we won't breathe another word about money to you until next year. But please keep those words going for us to our Father.
ROGER
COVENTRY REPORT
cided that they should have "church" at home on Sunday night. So they dol The children get their Bibles, and mother tells them a story; then they sing songs and have a prayer.
Joann is eager to invite other boys and girls in her neighborhood to come along "because they need to
Out on the Farm

As a first-time staff member at the
hear about Jesus too".
Churches of Christ camp for young
children (ages 7-10), I found myself

in the midst of what appeared to be
the sort of chaos which must have
They are only children, and the lessons they have learned about Jesus and life are very elementary. But don't forget about mustard
seeds!
(Matt. 13:31-32)
TONY
persisted when "The earth was without

form and void." But after a few weeks
to reflect, I can see that there was
Sr
a great deal of useful order amidst

the chaos which 25 excited children can generate. Seated in tent classrooms on Mr.
Barrs' field (actually a reclaimed horse pasture, complete with manure),

the children learned what God can
SPECIAL YOUTH ISSUE

Confessions of a Camp Cook
I was hoping to be on the staff of the older kids' camp and was dis appointed when I wasn't needed. Be cause I was tired of working with little kids, I decided to avoid them the younger week by volunteering to be the cook. As cook, I ended up having four teenage helpers who in a
produce in the life of a believer

in Jesus,
The nine qualities which the Spirit of God produces ("the fruit of the Spirit") were the themes of the Bible
lessons. The lessons were reinforced
by preparing a musical called, "THE

MUSIC MACHINE", which the campers
sang for their parents at a special Closing service. Campfire, recrea

tion, crafts, and nature walks were also part of the camp experience. What did we accomplish in our three days out on the farm? Perhaps the
way (God's way) ministered to my

thwarted first hope. We WORKED alright as we fed up to 45 people. Olive was constantly fetching water for us; the girls peeled mountains of potatoes and scrubbed endless pots and pans. I thoroughly enjoyed being with the
older kids after all. DEBBIE
response of a little girl named Joann shows what kind of effect such a camp
can have. Joann's mother is a member of the
Church of Christ in Hinckley; they come regularly on Sunday morning, but not evening. After camp, Joann de
ERDINGTON REPORT
Brdlngton
WF ^^!!Jfisn^HIHHHk
^
How to Convert
Your Sunday School Teachers
We are dedicated to integrity and excellence in the name of Jesus. As our team works in Hinckley, we want to be consistent in the quality of work which we do. But integrity and excellence need to be balanced by love. The Sunday School here is a challenge to our integrity and desire for excellence. When we arrived to start our work here, we found that three out of the four Sunday School teachers were not Christians. It was a bit shocking to me at the time, but it is not really that unusual in England. I have heard of Sunday School classes which were taught by atheists! The three ladies who teach in our Sunday School are by no means atheists; they are kind, helpful people. But they are not disciples of Jesus. How can our Sunday School win young people to Christ when most of the teachers haven't been won to Him? How can we challenge the teachers to
deeper commitment when they have nothing on which to base that commitment?
Our desires for integrity and excellence are frustrated. Yet in our frustration, we are driven to love. We want these teachers to know Jesus, Were we to push them out and take over their classes, they would most certainly be alienated from us and from Jesus. That is not the
way of love.
What is the way of love? To work gently and sensitively for change, to pray for opportunities to share good news about Jesus with these women,
and to show them God's love by our love. Love is patient and kindand it keeps integrity and excellence from TONY becoming idols.
Exposed at Camp
We always find that exposure to camp life has a definite effect on the campers, even when they are back home. But this year there was unexpected exposurel 17 year-old JAMES broke out with chicken pox during camp, and three other campers got the spotty disease when they
returned home.
JANET
Montp gou <âbe

FISCAL YEAR
RECEIPTS
September 1978 to August 1979
(except where otherwise noted)

St. Ann's
Coventry
Gail Burns Rita Ide
(Mar-Aug) (Apr-Aug)
$ 2,100 $ 1 ,950
$10,975
Debbie (Davis) Harris

Steve & Lee Tate
$4,200 $7,200
$3,854 $8,250
Curt & Linda Nordhielm

Erdinqton
Penny Creasey Roger Edrington Michelle Edrington

U.S.A. TEAM FUND+
$ 7,065 $ 7,610 $ 1,540
Hinckley Janet Baines Pete & Jan Bowen Special for house $1,200
Tony & Angie Calvert(Feb-Aug)$5,800

Field Fund $ 350 Moving to England $1,875
U.K. TEAM FUND++
Balance Sept. 1 , 1978

Receipts Expenses $ 850.93 $1,348.74
$ 1 ,353.26
Balance Sept. 1 , 1978
$ 413.24
Balance Aug. 31, 1979

+The U.S.A. Fund is
855.45
Receipts $ 18.82 (Interest only) Expenses $243.84 Balance Auo, 31, 1979 $ 188.22

East Side Christian Church
1714 Madison
used largely to publish this 11-
Non-Prollt Bulk Rate U.S. POSTAGE PAID
Council Bluds, lA 51501

Permit No. 26
Council Bluffs. lA 51501 COVENTRY TEAM EROINGTON TEAM
times-a-year pub lication. Although

i t becomes more ex
130 Hastings Rd.

Coventry CV5 6PT England

ST. ANN'S TEAM
pensive every year as the list grows and costs soar, our impression is that
i t is worth it.
HINCKLEY TEAM 8 Trevor Road
Let us know if you disagree or agree.

++The U.K. Fund is
used for expenses

that relate to the teams but not di
Tim & Nancy Barber i
"issions ServicGs
Box 177
005 Arnold
Council Bluffs, lA
51501 U.S.A.
Ken:pton, IN
40049
rectly to the
churches here.
ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED
HINCKLEY REPORT
Climb Every Mountain Ford Every Stream
title implies. Mind you, we did climb a few steep hills and played in the river near the old mill where we
stayed.
Our youth camp (for 11 to 18 year olds) took on a modified form
this year with only eleven campers and four staff members--but it did pro vide an opportunity for close interpersonal relationships. The pressures are great for youth who decide to follow Christ in a so ciety like ours. With this in mind, we designed the lessons around the var ious CONFLICTS which each teen faces. We looked at the struggles young people have with themselves, with their peers (to be "one of the gang"), and with authority (when rebellion is "in"). We tried to show that, although follow ing Christ is hard (and sometimes causes conflict Itself), it is the best way in conflict situations and ultimately is the only way to a true resolu
tion of the conflict.
Many of the young people at the camp, who have become Christians recent ly, are finding it difficult to keep going in their walk with the Lord. We hope that the week was an encouragement for them. We urge you to pray that their faith will grow, and that they will be "more than conquerors through
Him who loved us"l PETE & JANET
What a Change!
"That's it. . . I've had enough; so just go homel" I pushed the girls
out the church door and had to lock it
penetrate and change this girl. That was six years ago--a diffi
cult child (to put it mildly).

mitment to the Lord.
To
day Jakie is a lovely, young lady with much potential and a real com Of her experience at camp this year, Jakie says, "Pete asked us questions that really made me think of why I was on earth. They really brought out my bad points. And be cause Pete was honest in sharing some of the bad things he had done, I could be open and talk about the bad in me. Now every time I think of doing something bad, I think,
'What would Jesus have done?' I
to keep them out. Discouraged at my failure to control Jakie (8) and Deb bie (10), and fighting emotional tears, I sat listening to their taunts and to the rocks they were throwing at the
church windows.
Jakie was moody, dominant, aggres sive, and stubborn. She was posses sive of my time and attention and al ways hanging onto me. She was con stantly in scraps and squabbles with
other kids and the team ministers.
However, she was faithful in coming to
think of you lot (the team) coming

over here and Jesus dying on the cross and know that I can do things
I didn't think I could." DEBBIE
Sunday School, midweek groups, camps, holiday club, and everything else. God's love and acceptance began to
ST. ANN'S REPORT
Linda
Nordhielm
HBS
Food
Curt Nordhielm
Fun
Children like to make things and show them off. So I poured over
craft books until I found two crafts
Since St. Ann's, Nottingham is not a part of the same district as the other team ministries, we did not join their camp. Instead, we had a Vacation Bible Schooli we call it Holiday Bible School in England.
Because of the small size of our
church building (basically one room),

we had three different sessions. In
for each day (one each for the morn ing and afternoon groups), which they could easily make and be proud. The 4-7 year olds made plaster of Paris wall plaques with imbedded sand,
sea shells, and a mirror. The 8-12's made table top bookshelves. The only complaint we had was that the older
children wanted to make the mirror
plaques too.
GAIL
the morning were those who were 4-7; the 8-12's came in the afternoon; and the teenagers in the evening. Teaching the 4-7 age group, I found them eager to learn and do the planned activities. We met many new children, which was encouraging, and they were regular in attendance. Teaching was also, at times, a hum bling experience. Just when we thought we were really getting through, one little girl reminded us just what they often learn. As soon as she walked through the door she asked,
"When are we having our orangeade?" m ^ II 1 f 1
Families
The children came to HBS for a
week.
Now would the parents come for
one evening to see their children participate in the family service we planned for the following Sunday
evening?
Only two of the parents came. One child's parents did not allow him to
come. We wonder if it is a lack of interest in their children's activi ties or a fear of the church which
held them back.
One day we taught about kindness and sharing. For that day, they practiced what they had learned.
But by the next day, they had forgot

ten,and an argument resulted. However, we believe that they did learn some things about God, and we are off to a good start in reorgan izing our Sunday School. LINDA
Nevertheless, the service went well with 25 children participating. The Christians here and the two par ents enjoyed it. That's a starti
1E)ii0tk from lEnglanii

... report ^rom. team minidtriei
cliaiienQinQ lengtn^ a a poSl posl-^firiilian nation with the ciaint4 ofCUt
Vol. 7 No. 3
November, 1979
:!
Corporate worship, worship with other Christians, is very much a part of our relationship with God. We come together with people who accept the Lordship of Jesus Christ to worship the Father who sent Him. We gain strength and encouragement from our worship together, as we share the hymns, prayers, the Word, and the Lord's Supper. Very much a part of that experience is the actual order of worship on a given Sunday morning. Having had the opportunity to worship in two dif
ferent cultures with different orders of service, I am much the richer for
Allow me to share with you some of this gain. There are several important differences between the basic order of service in the U.S.A. and U.K. Churches of Christ. First is the reading of
it.
Scripture.
Every Sunday morning here, three portions of Scripture are read:

Gospels, and Epistles. All help those who worship tie tonot just a conglomeration of
is what the British Churches
one each from the Old Testament,

three revolve around a theme and
gether the Bible into a unit and

independent thoughts. Another important difference of Christ call the prayers opportunity for anyone in for anything on his heart. in* prayers that are often it is those prayers
the heart. A third difference
of the church. This gives the congregation to pray

This sometimes results
"poorly prayed", but

which are nearest to
is the placement of
from the opening hymn
clearly centered upon
the sermon and Communion. (
^
^
The service here is
tion is toward Communion.
the Lord's Supper; onward, the direcAs a result, it

but not tacked on--
comes at the end of worship with the sermon earlier in the service.
I appreciate very much the emphasis placed upon the Lord's Supper, and it has taken on new meaning for me. A final difference would be that of hymns. Though some of the hymns
are sung very slow, and we always stand to sing every verse (since it is in
fact a poem), they are often rich in content. Only a few of them have
choruses, and the hymns often speak in a majestic way of a God who has saved
man from himself. The traditional Church of Christ hymnal contains no music, as many songs could be sung to two or more tunes. This allows for the pos sibility of learning a new hymn by singing it to an already known tune. Thus, out of the 763 hymns in the hymnbook, perhaps 600 are known by many members of the church. Those of us from America might regularly sing only
75 or less, and we are the poorer for it. There are some ideas from the American service that I would like to
see implemented here. But if God would ever call me back to America, there are some ideas from British worship that I would like to take with me.
CURT
COVENTRY REPORT
He en
Cranfield Debbie
Harris
"All good gifts around us
1
HURTS IN THE FAMILY
Are sent from Heaven above.
Then thank the Lord,

0 thank the Lord For all His Love."
What happens when you get very close to someone in your church and then get hurt by him? This is a
problem JIM and SYLVIA faced a few weeks ago. Some friends in the church had unknowingly upset them, an. they felt that they could not face these people in worship on Sundays. DAVE'S sermon on Sunday morning seemed to be speaking to this prob
lem. Dave pointed out that the ans wer lies in improving your relation ship with God. Only when both parties have proper
relationships with the
Father can the relation
Our church building once again was gloriously decorated with fresh pota toes, carrots, cauliflowers, onions, beans, all kinds of fruits, lovely and colorful flowers, a lump of coal symbolic of warmth, a glass of pure sparkling water, home made wall hang ings, bread, jams, and hand-knitted sweaters symbolic of God-given talents As we began our Harvest Thanksgiv ing service by singing, "Come ye thankful people come", I was wondering just where many of our people were. Attendance was disappointingly low es pecially to those who had worked on the display of harvest gifts. Sun day evening our attendance was a
ship between brothers be

restored.
record low of 10 (including 3 guests). At our Monday morning meeting an elder, Helen, and I tried to figure
out why so many were absent and won
dered what more we could have done to
But making peace with our broth ers and sisters also involves being honest with them. Many times some thing said in fun can cause deeply felt hurts. This is exactly when one needs to explain how he has been hurt. The tendency, however, is to go home and let your hurt
build into bitterness.
Is your relationship with God as it should be. How about your rela tionship with your brothers and sis ters in the Church. True worship
is not possible when our relation ship with God and with our brothers
promote Harvest. We felt discouraged at our members lack of support and loyalty. It seems that many things take presidence over attending wor ship on Sunday. I wasn't looking forward to our Monday evening Harvest meal, thinking that only a few would attend. As God would have it, we had 24 people fellowshipping and filled with a sweet
Spirit (as well as good stews made with the vegetables from the display)!
God blessed us all, and we are deter
mined to build on the closeness we
is broken.
(Read Matthew 5:23-24)

HELEN
shared to encourage others in the body

DEBBIE
J^RDINGTON REPORT
.'trmim I
deep need causing their behavior. Many of us in our congregation are experiencing this traumatic, yet won
derful correction to our vision of
Penny Creasey
Roger Brdlngton
Jesus--and our understanding and ac ceptance of each other. If Jesus offered pardon and love to my brother, shouldn't I? "There
is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. . "As the Father
LIVING IN LOVE One of the hardest things as a
human being is to see through a per

son's actions and attitudes to his heart. As Christians we sometimes
has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love." PENNY
BUILDING
WITH BANANAS
"We chose the title after listening to a bricklayer on a local building site. He was standing next to a pile of badly made bricks. Looking at the curved-up ends he muttered,'How can anyone build with these? They're just like bananas 1' In spite of those oddshaped bricks he was still able to use
his skill and build a fine wall. The bricks reminded us of what Christians
have trouble realizing that certain

actions and attitudes of other Chris
tians, although wrong, are more sig nificantly expressions of deeper con
flict within their lives. We often think we look beneath the
surface, but we stop short of finding

the basic need that has not been met
and the hurt which results in this
person's behavior.
The real task as
ministers of Jesus is to find the un
are 1ike--imperfect and very different

from one another. Yet God wants us to
met need and apply Jesus to that need. As simple as this sounds, it is
fit together in a loving cormiunity."

When we realize that our church has
probably the most difficult thing to achieve. Why? One reason is our own imperfect sight of Jesus. Often our perception of Him is not true nor complete. None of us know him per
fectly al though , praise God, we are perfectly known. We often get confused and are un able to offer condemnation to the sin,
all sorts of problems, "We can take

either of two courses. We can become
so disillusioned and disappointed by this collection of people and their

problems that we see in our church that we give up and quit. We can
but love, grace and mercy to the sin ner. Impatience and frustration (con demnation) rather than love and accep tance become the usual offering.
In our ministries, we work with people whose problems and difficul ties we do not always understand.
then start a lengthy trek in search of a non-existent 'perfect church.' The other choice, and in some ways the
hardest, is to take a look at o^ res

ponsibilities and faults as well as
those of our brothers and sisters. It
is 'for better, for worse, for richer,

for poorer' that we commit ourselves
Our shortcoming is to be impatient

and push them into what we see as
to a church and God expects us, with His special help, to make it work. " Derek & Nancy Copley. Building
With Bananas. Exeter: The Pater
growrn for them before w^ve offered

them Jesus as the way to meet the
noster Press ,1978.
IN THE
^
Bible
"In the beginning i

was the Word, and
BEGINNING WAS THE WORD.
Study
J G o d , and the Word

PETE
the Word was with
. . . and at the beginning of Sep

tember we started a mid-week Bible
was God." We hope the Living Word will continue to teach, encourage, and equip us as we look into the
written word.
study. Our Church had not had a Bib le study for many years, but we felt something was needed in the way of teaching and fellowship which was
different from our Sunday meetings. As It Is now, we have about 10-12
NEW MEMBERS
John and June Bevins were Jeho
people each Tuesday night and are

quite pleased with the progress. The group is made up of both Chris tians and people who have not yet
decided to follow Jesus.
vah's Witnesses for many years, but became Christians eight years ago. Recently, along with their 14-yearold daughter, Judith, they placed their fellowship with our church. They are a very committed family
and are a valuable asset to our
We study the gospel of John and have found that God is speaking to all of us through it.
Church family in Hinckley.
You may contact Steve & Lee Tate at R.R. 4,

1714 Madison
Champaign, IL 61820 USA through December 31, 1979. After Jan. 1 , 1980 their address
will be c/o Jane Terry, 500 Plantation Ct. Apt. J-3, River Plantation, Nashville,
TN 37221
Council Slufts, lA 51S01

Permit No. 26

COVENTRY TEAM ERDINGTONTEAM
130 Hastings Rd. Coventry CV5 6PT

England
144 Gravelly Lane
Birmingham B23 6LT

England
ST. ANN'S TEAM
HINCKLEY TEAM 8 Trevor Road
Hinckley LE101JD L England
AMERICAN CORRESPONDENTS Tim S Nancy Barber

60S Arnold
. ... ô-rizov.'Z ..i3olons Csrwyi
Council BluKs. lA
51501 U.S.A.
i-ditoriaX Dept.
177
-onipton, in
46049
ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED
HINCKLEY REPORT
Pete
So weft Janet
AFTER 25 YEARS. . .
The Church of Christ here has had
Baines
Jan
\
1
*
m
a steadily declining membership for

more than 25 years. Since 1953, there
have never been more than two additions
Bo wen
Tony Calvert
I ^
in any year. The last baptism was in 1963. But God is bringing new life!
Let Me Introduce You To A Friend

After initial contact with LYNNE WHITFIELD, a young housewife, I had the
opportunity to start a Bible study with her. Much to my surprise, on the day of the Bible study, she had already read most of John's gospel and had a list of questions for me to answerl She eventually finished reading the
New Testament (and had many more questions!).
As weeks passed by, I could see that Lynne was becoming aware that she
needed to follow Jesus. Several weeks ago, I gave her a book by Edith Schaeffer called Christianity Is Jewish. She read the book in one evening
and was convinced that she must follow Jesus. She was baptized Into Him.
Lynne has been so convinced that Jesus is the Truth that she has already
witnessed to her sister, Julie, who is now in a Bible study and very close to accepting Jesus as her Lord and Savior.
I had an opportunity to introduce Lynne to my Friend, and she intro

duced Julie to her new Friend.
your Friend?
Once Upon A
Do you have a friend you can introduce to

preaching in Africa without the aid of a P.A. system assured that our hard-of-hearing members heard. Last, but not least, was the
JAN
Our Sundays of late due to A few weeks Sunday evening
have been rather busy special events: ago we had our first "Guest Service". We
"Harvest Sunday". (Harvest is the British equivalent of Thanksgiving.) A special children's program in the
afternoon attracted 74 people in all
some of whom had never been to our
distributed notices and invited all
the people we had met in the community--but we didn't really expect the more than 50 people who turned out! Only a week later we had our first baptism for many years, but Jan has already told you about that. Then came the Sunday when a Brit ish mission family (working in Zam bia) came to share with us. I must say that Chester Woodhall's experience
church before. The evening service was a "Harvest Sing" with twice as
many as we usually haveand twice as many people to hear good news
about Jesus.
We are glad God has confronted so many with His truth through these
special services. who are seeking.
His wisdom and love as
Now we look for we help those

JANET
ST. ANN'S REPORT

Rita Ide
and Eldridge Cleaver {now a Christian) was speaking. Surprisingly, they

were very well behaved and listened to what was being said. We thought of having the boys make
Linde
Nordhie Curt
Nordhielm
Gail Burns
their own ping-pong table and using the church building for games. The church board hesitated in allowing the building to be used in such a way,
but forwarded the decision to the
MINISTERING TO THE YOUNG. . .
Dirty word written on the doors, heckling and pounding on the windows and doors during services, and garbage thrown through open windows while we worship are only a few of the things that happen to our church. Most of this is done by six teenage boys with
whom we are sharing Christ,
whole church. Meanwhile, these boys are left in limbo except for the dis
cussion that we have with them out
side our church building. We are praying that during this interim, these young men will not lose their
interest. RITA
We met these boys in August when

the church financed several evenings of activities at the local community
center. Ping-pong, "The Cross and the Switchblade" movia, snack bar, discus
sion and music were the activities
AND TO
THE OLD
during the three evenings. Every other group in the area has reportedly banned these fellows be cause of their disruptive nature. Two
of them are in court for minor offenses.
In August, the church committed
They were beginning to believe that we They looked forward to these evenings, showed up outside of our building to
talk, and listened to what we said. But the community center is not available to us now, and the boys are still in school, so we meet with them
herself to holding half-hour services at the Long Hedge Old Folks Home
The service
loved them since we took time for them. once every two weeks.
and the chatting afterwards offer a

break in the routine for the resi
dents, and allow us the opportunity to brighten their otherwise quiet lives by singing old, familiar hymns. GAIL
LINDA has decided, after sixteen
in the evenings. We have a good re lationship with them and do not want
to lose it. But what can we do? The church does not have the facilities
to keep them occupied. With their good in mind, Curt and I took five of them to Birmingham for a Christian rally where Cliff Richard (with today's number one record and a
months of team ministry and much prayer, not to be a part of the team.
There are a number of reasons for
this decision, and it has not come easy for her. Though out of the
team, she is still a ministerjust not a team minister.
Christian for 14 years) was singing
iEpiatlc from lEnglanJi

^
report ^rom team minhtriei cltaiienîn^ a poat-^kriitian nation with the ciaimi oj^kriit
Vol. 7 No. 4
December, 1979
JESUS CHRIST IS BORN
EVANGELISM AND THE DEVALUATION OF THE TRUTH

We consider it very important that we really communicate with people when we share the gospel. A1though we depend on the Holy
Spirit to convict people of their need for Christ, we know He uses us in the process. We have a responsible part to play. For this reason, we take pains to make sure people really understand what we are saying.
I mention all of this because here in Bri
KING FOR EVER
tain we have a society turning so far from God that it is very easy not to conmunicate. The concepts of right and wrong have been undermined; truth has been devalued; people have become relative in their thinking. Con sequently, we have few instances of quick conversion. It often takes people a long time to realize they are wrong, to know they
are sinners in need of Christ.
ENJOY JESUS' BIRTHDAY

Even though we can't be with you during your special celebrations, we shall miss being with you. We wish for you
the best.
An example; We have talked with one lady in Hinckley for monthsmore than six months 1 For a long time she saw no problem with be lieving in Jesus and reincarnation at the same time. After months of visiting, showing her love and concern, listening to her views and sharing some of ours, we are finally be ginning to communicate. She is beginning to understand what we are saying is opening up to the message of Jesus. Please pray for us, that we may effectively communicate the gospel--so that people will
understand their need for Christ and make a
In Jesus,
All of us in the teams
decision based on the truth, not on a false
idea of the issues involved.
PETE (Hinckley)
COVENTRY REPORT
Helen
Cranfield
Debbie Hams
Careful planning and enthusiastic help made this day a success. Sev eral of the 23 passengers were new
faces and came to Sunday School the following week. The mother of two new children joined us and later said she was impressed because no one tried to shove the gospel down her throat. The kids enjoyed the journey and
CHURCH OF CHRIST GETAWAY
want to fly again soon.
As another
During a mid-term week of vaca tion, Debbie and I planned a youth day for children aged four to ten. It was staged as an airplane journey. As they entered the church build ing, the children paid their fare at the check-in desk, were greeted by suitably uniformed and smiling stew ardesses, and assigned a seat on the
traveler, Paul said, "I have become all things to all people for the sake of the gospel." ". . . Tickets please!" HELEN
A JOB WORKED OUT

"We're here to work ourselves out
plane.
After check-in (giving us
of a job."
You've read this before
names and addresses for follow-up
and our British friends have heard i t
calls), the passengers were welcomed aboard by Captain Smethurst (one of our members).
Our first stop was the Vienna Cathedral where we sang appropriate choruses like, "He's Got the Whole
World in His Hands". Then we flew to Zambia where Debbie and Dave
many times these past six years. The Coventry Church is seeing the reality of that statement. I am the only remaining team member in Coventry. I've been working with intern Helen
(and of course, our church elder) since the September departure of the Tates and will continue until the January
arrival of our new ministers. Rick and Joy Blazek. At that time, I will end my official ministry. But staying to live here, I'm sure God will keep me busy and involved here in Coventry. We thank God for leading the Coven try Church to this time when she is
greeted us in bright African costumes and taught us an African song and

handshake. We talked about our bro ther who ministers there and drew
pictures to send to him.

We lunched in the United States
(did you see us?) and enjoyed an in flight movie (two cartoons) while
flying to Paris where we participated in games following the style of "It's a Knockout", a humorous, yet serious athletic competition between various European countries. On the return journey, we had a quick word from the captain and a short sermon just before a smooth landing at the Church of Christ airport.
strong enough to stand without the help of a team. I cannot begin to sum up my feelings
about the six years I've spent in Cov entry. As a team minister, I've ben efited from the encouragement, love, and discipline of my workmates. To them, and to rny supporting friends and family in the States, I simply say, "THANK YOU" and know that God will bless you. DEBBIE
ERDINGTON REPORT
Penny Creasey Roger
into the Lord on his 43rd birthday.
Ken could tell you many of the ways in which GOD has helped him change. In his own words, "I was a heathen and
a villain, and now I'm a Christian." Roma, the one who brought Ken, has still not stepped over the line to
Erdlngton
follow Jesus, but perhaps she will.

God does not force. And Ken goes
along growing very steadily.

HE CAME AWAY SEEING KEN MANSELL (43) is one of those
He's
been converted and baptized not un

like Pauland he's sure that some time God will make the scales fall
unorthodox happenings that only God

could work out. Ken's wife, Roma, had seen the radical change in the health of one of our members. Bill Muller, when God healed a serious heart prob lem, Ken was going blind, and doctors
could discover neither the cause nor
from his eyes too.
ROGER
NEVER TOO OLD
"What would you have said. Mum, if three months ago someone had said you
would be immersed?"
the cure.
Ken was bitter, cursing
other people, blaspheming for his rotten luck, and extremely depressed
when alone.
"Why, I would have said, 'Whatll You must be balmy ii" you think I'm going under the water at my age."
So went the conversation between
Roma told Ken, "If it could work for Bi11, it could work for you."
Ken's response:
heal me?"
"How can I ask a
73-year-old OLIVE SMITH and her daugh ter Angela (35) two weeks ^go. Angela
has been a Christian for a year. Olive
has watched her and wondered what could
God who I don't even believe in to
Nevertheless, he went to a meeting where there was prayer for healing. He walked out, but later was convinced to go to another. At this meeting,
Ken the unbeliever had an experience
have caused Angela to be so interested in a church and reading the Bible. Why
she even became less concerned about
(difficult to put into a few words)

which opened his eyes. His physical eyes were not healed, but his view
of God was radically different.
That moment was a Damascus Road
material things 1 Olive later started coming to our older women's meeting, then our Sun
day evening meeting.
She was surprised
to find that she "actually liked the people there."
Her strong desire to know God's

truth for her in her later years and
experience (dare anyone call it unbiblical?), which caused a radical

reversal in the direction of his life. He was at a crossroads and sought some of us to find out where he should
to be able to share the happiness she saw in Angela, led her to ask God to help her know Him. God answered her prayer and the
weeks that followed fouriu Olive grap-
go from there. From then on, he was with us in meetings and Bible studies.
He was asking others to read to him
the Bible he so much wanted to know but could not read. He was baptized
ling with questions regarding her baptism as an infant in the Church of England (she had fallen away at the
NEVER TOO OLD (continued from Erd.) usual age of 14), the fact that being
good never makes one a Christian, and that being a friend of God could only be gained by trusting in the finished
work of Jesus. Olive has learned that one is never too old. She has also discov
FAITH (continued from Hinckley) had told them the importance of bap
tism. One Sunday afternoon, we looked at Scriptures about baptism; the same night we baptized them, along with
Yvonne's mother, FLORENCE TURNER. We
had expected to have one baptism

instead we had fourl
ered what Angela found so exciting about reading her Bible--the joy of meeting Jesus as the Holy Spirit re veals Him through the written word.
PENNY NO EPISTLE NEXT MONTH.
We break in order to devote our time to
"I have faith." I expected people to come to Christ because we prayed. But there was a greater response than I expected. God has helped my little faith to grow bigger. TONY From the next issue, the Coventry Report will not be included on a regular basis as it has finished
Christinas outreach.
We'll join you again in February to tell

you all about it.
its era as a team ministry situation.

Because we think that you will still want to know what is going on there, we will include a quarterly report on God's work in Coventry.
Non-profit Bulk Rate U.S. POSTAGE PAID

1714 Madison

Permit No. 26
Council Bluffs, !A 51501

COVENTRY TEAM 49 Huntingdon Rd. Coventry CV5 6PT England
ERDINGTONTEAM

ST. ANN'S TEAM
HINCKLEY TEAM
8 Trevor Road
AMERICAN CORRESPONDENTS,^
Tim & Nancy Barber
605 Arnold
?!i33ior.3 Corviccs
Dox 177
fC. 2 6 JS7S
Council Biuffs, lA
51501 U.S.A.
Ke.upbon, III
460i9
HINCKLEY REPORT
Pete Bo wen
WHAT GOD HAS DONE!
Janet
Baines Jan Bowen
JULIE I
Last month when I wrote about Lynn's
baptism and her eagerness to share

Jesus with her sister, JULIE SWANN,
little did I know that this month I
Tony
Calvert
would be writing more about Julie.
Julie had listened to what her sister was saying. She had seen changes_ in Lynn's life over the months. Within a few weeks of Lynn's baptism, Julie
was convinced that following Jesus was the way she wanted to live. Julie was baptized into our Lord and has now begun her new life with Jesus, Since they were baptized, Lynn and Julie have been sharing their faith with another sister, Pauline. Now for the first time in her life, Pauline
is considering Christ for herself.
JAN
AND FOUR MORE A Lesson in Faith
I
I under
JULIE II
Since
"I do have faith.
Help'the little
From the be
Our first contact with JULIE
faith I havel" {Mark 9:24).

stand how this man felt.
SALTER was when she began to attend

our services at Easter time.
then, Jan and I have been involved in a Bible study with her.
Julie had been seeking answers to her questions and problems for near
ginning of our work here, we have prayed for the growth of the little
church. We believed God would hear and answer. But when the answers
ly six years. She kept waiting to change and make herself better before she made any coimiitment to God. We thought she'd never see that she could not possibly make herself good enough and that she could never make
i t alonel
started coming, I realized how small my expectations had been. I honestly did not expect so many so soon. Help
the little faith I have'.
BARBARA BUNCE was baptized soon after Julie Swann. It was rny wife,
Angie, who was instrumental in help ing Barbara to know Jesus. After
Barbara's life was shattered when her
Then one day it struck her: "If I believe in Jesus, why am I fight ing so hard to keep from committing
myself to Him?"
Julie invited her friends to come
husband left her, Angie was able to tell her about Jesus' speciality;
putting pieces together again.
Bar
bara still feels the pain of her mar
to her baptism. Her husband, an un believer, was especially curious to see what was going to happen.
Julie will need your prayers as
she witnesses to her husband and as
ital problems.
But now there is hope
and rest, even in the pain. JOE AND YVONNE TEESDALE live in a
village three miles from Hinckley.

When I met them at a Bible study, they
she grows in her faith.
JANET
already believed in Jesus, but no one
ST. ANN'S REPORT

R/te Ide
. Llndi
Nordhie
HARVEST WEALTH
English churches celebrate the
richness of God's blessings of the harvest in a festival. It is not a
Curt Nordhlelm Qall

Burns
festival of only thanks for what they have received (though there is defi
BOAT PEOPLE LOVE

Matthew 25:31-46 came to life
nitely thanks). It is a festival of sharing God's graciousness with those

in need.
with much meaning on a particular Sunday evening. The church

had decided to set aside one Sunday
In the immediate area of the church, there are a number of older people who
live on a very limited income.
Thus,
the members of the church brought to
evening offering for the "Boat Peo
ple". The news on TV and radio had kept the plight of these people be
fore us.
the building some of the wealth that God had given them. Some brought veg
etables from their own gardens; others
Millions of dollars are needed
brought store-bought goods. They were placed in the front of the building in
a nice arrangement. The Harvest Festival service was
to help these homeless. In that one offering the church here contri
buted $85 to that goal. You are
an uplifting occasion as we worshipped

God while seeing His blessings before us. Following the service, the gifts were arranged in packages and taken to several of the elderly people who needed and appreciated the gifts, RITA
right, it does not sound like much.

But, it was the compassion of people who firmly believe that God has given them all they need that was
put into action.
On the night when the offering was received (there was only one week's notice given) there were 15 people present who receive some
type of income from Social Security.

Of the remaining nine, there was
BETWEEN you, US, & GOD

-Mr. Richardson-a black man who seems
one who works part-time, and another

who was not able to give.
In a country v/here the cost of
to be searching for an Identity in

a white-oriented country.
living is high, and the standard of

living is low, we are happy to say
though they are poor, their joy was so great that they were extremely generous in their giving," (II Cor. 8:2) GAIL & CURT
that the Christians here ''even
-Mrs. Roe-a lonely, marriea homemaker. -the five teenage lads mentioned in an
earlier "Epistle". -Varina-she is experiencing some
difficulty in her Christian walk.

Epistles From England Team-1979-England

Încărcat de

Informații document

Drepturi de autor

Formate disponibile

Partajați acest document

Partajați sau inserați document

Opțiuni de partajare

Vi se pare util acest document?

Este necorespunzător acest conținut?

Drepturi de autor:

Formate disponibile

Epistles From England Team-1979-England

Încărcat de

Drepturi de autor:

Formate disponibile

;

from a Juat team ittinishff ^

eka//en^inf a poil-C^kriiUaH nalion u/il/i iht ifaims of Chrisl

Nottingham, which is a city of 320,000.

St. Ann's is in the inner-city and

Redeem The Time

Nor even a month or a week.

||| Our Mldfit wMl

We are in the middle of a number

of changes. Soon four local situations will be reported in these pages,

important time we have is right now.

In this transition, please stay with

The apostle said, "Redeem

doing in our midst.

And please pray

the timel" May each moment of 1979

that we will stay "in the midst of God."

mas we sponsored for the

ing a few parents and grandparents

fields Carol Festival.

devised as a way to bring our alien

thankful for this special way to

tions to the program including a

the pastor of a local church was a

Road, Hinckley, Leicestershire,

the worldthat "He came," THE

ceived Him not," and THE GREATEST

We have also received word that

Sunday School pupils.

adult mixed choir and three child

cern and prayers.

keep you informed on what's happening

present the various stages of the

their original meanings.

these, we looked at the real meaning

This autumji, she enrolled in a Birmingham college to study English

and start a "new life," leaving God

It was better for the play, but chaos

Bell, who had just radically changed

unique shadow nativity play.

When an angel appeared to the shepherds,

who taught her that God is real and

into Christ and is tasting more as she goes along.

audience composed mostly of unbeliev

100 posters on street

(Just after the shell was completed

"Community Carol Festival."

a despairing lunch and began again.)

is doubtful whether 150 people is

giant, but certainly those who braved

for our pantomimed nativity play.

Our church Hammond organ

crossings." Our Carol Festival donkey, Ted,

from his pasture to our building.

were bringing Ted across a busy road

passer-by gave the answer to the problem. "Your problem," he said,

there's a donkey crossing down the

EPISTLE FROM ENGLAND East Side Christian Church 1714 Madison

Non-ProfIt Bulk Rate U.S. POSTAGE PAID

Council Bluffs, la 51501

Council Bluffs, la 51501

Birmingham B23 6LT T

Council Bluffs, la 51501

f^enn^ niuUfe (^reaie^ ^Jrin^lon