This time of year provides us with many means and ways to point others to the Lord Jesus. The boys and girls clubs will take a break for the holidays but not until after a Christmas party celebrating the birth of God’s Son. On the last Saturday before Christmas, we will join with other local Christians in a busy public shopping area to sing Christmas carols to shoppers. George will preach a Christmas gospel message as part of the event. On the last Sunday morning before Christmas, we will enjoy a Christmas play performed by the church children and led by Karen. That evening, we will put on a Silent Night Carol Sing in honour of the 100th anniversary of the famous Christmas ceasefire on the battlefield during World War One. A great TV commercial reenacting the same event has been widely seen in British homes so it is very much in the national consciousness right now. Here it is…

Finally, on Christmas morning as per custom, our church will gather together to remember that the presents, the turkey dinner, and everything else we enjoy about Christmas is only possible because of the birth of the baby in the manger. Christmas starts with Christ.

We anticipate an exciting Sunday service between Christmas and New Years in which 3 of our young people will be baptized. What better way to close one year and start a new one?

In the new year, we hope to see the launch of a fellowship of believers from a Muslim background from across Birmingham. George will be sitting with several other key people this month to work through some of the advance preparation needed to create such a fellowship. Please pray about this important development and that God would lead the way to make it a reality in 2015.

Thank you for standing with us faithfully! Yours ever,

George and Karen

On September 11, 2001, wicked men brought down the Twin Towers in the name of God. Nobody had even heard of “Islamic State” (ISIS/ISIL). Now 13 years later, one could be tempted to think that Al Qaeda seems almost tame in comparison.

You prayed as we spent 4 Days on the Beach. You prayed for travel safety and God gave it as we drove the 4-5 hours there and back. You prayed for the families to enjoy getting to know each other. God also answered that prayer as we saw potential barriers of ethnic, cultural and religious differences crumble away. You prayed that we would be safe at the beach and that we would have good weather. We did! We enjoyed extended periods of sunshine especially at the beach, enough to get a sunburn. If you know anything about British weather, you will know that sunshine is a precious and rare jewel, especially in summertime.

You prayed as George was planning to share a message from God’s Word on the final night. That did not happen as planned. Instead, on the first night, a spontaneous gospel conversation broke out as the men sat and relaxed together before going to bed. On the second night, the other men asked George to play guitar and sing whatever songs he would like. He started with ‘Everlasting God’, thinking about the one man there whose mother had passed away 2 weeks before (‘you comfort those in need’). That led to ‘Our God’ (‘out of the ashes we rise’), ‘Your Grace Finds Me’ (‘in the weeping by the graveside’), and a handful of other songs with clear Christian lyrics. In between, George explained God’s grace in Christ as portrayed in the songs. The men kept asking for more songs, saying they were ‘encouraging’, ‘therapeutic’, and ‘good for the soul’.

Pray that God will continue to speak. Pray also for spiritual fruit as we restart regular fall ministries. We thank God continually for your prayers. God is at work!

George and Karen

Please pray this weekend as we spend 4 DAYS ON THE BEACH!

Over 30 of us will cook, eat, play, and otherwise spend time together in a weekend retreat from Friday, Aug 1st to Monday, Aug 4th.

• Pray for safety as we drive the 4-5 hours in 2 mini-buses on Friday and then get settled into our rooms
• Pray that we all have a blast getting to know each other.
• Pray for safety at the beach and good weather to enjoy it!
• On our last evening together (Sunday), George will speak to the whole group. He appreciates your prayers. It would be great if you could remember this while you are at church on Sunday morning.
• Pray for safety again as we drive back on Monday.
• Pray that this will be the beginning of good things to come in many lives!

Portugal just beat Ghana 2-1. This is now the 12th time in the last 2 weeks we have opened our doors for the neighbours to watch World Cup Football games on our church’s 14 foot screen. A couple of nights ago a man walking by the church, stopped in to watch the last 1/2 hour of England v Costa Rica. When he saw there were snacks and soft drinks available he asked if he could indulge, saying he hadn’t eaten for 3 days–no food and no money. After the game was over, he gladly received a voucher from our church’s Foodbank which would give him about 3 weeks of groceries, practical help to get him back on his feet, and opportunity for spiritual counsel and prayer. Pray for C.W. and others like him in our area.

Another night saw a group of 6 young Muslim men come in together to watch a game, perhaps feeling safer in numbers. I suspect that the soon advent of Ramadan will make such appearances less likely. Here in the UK, Muslims will be fasting for about 19 hours each day due to its northern latitude (same as James Bay). The World Cup games show here in the evening, at a time when many people are making final preparations to break the fast, or doing their obligatory prayers, or actually having their first food and drink since before dawn. Which would you choose–football or food?

The Fast of Ramadan is unworkable above the Arctic Circle where the sun never sets in the summer and never rises in the winter. If God really established the Fast, did He somehow forget about the extreme north and south of this planet? No, this is one of the clear evidences of the non-divine origin of Islam. I am impressed at Muslim devotion and effort, but no one should have to endure this burden in the first place. They are trapped in this obligation for a complete month every year as long as they live. May God grant freedom to the captives!

George

p.s. the BBC has an interesting article on this subject here