USA, Belgium, Latvia September 2008
CARELINKS U.S.A.
Response from people throughout America keeps flooding in, around 200 request Bible Basics per day just at the moment. We respond with an email asking them to confirm their interest, explaining we're not Trinitarians, believe in the Kingdom coming on earth, don't believe Satan fell off the 99th floor, etc. Only about 15% of those who request the book respond to this positively- but all the same that is a large number of people. Our follow up network of brethren and sisters throughout America make a fine job of establishing contact with these folk. They also issue a weekly 'Prayerlink' newsletter, notifying prayer requests and the answers to them, which circulates amongst over 1000 contacts and bre & sis; more details at www.tacomaecclesia.net .We're pleased to report that last Sunday, one of our contacts, CHARLIE PIERCE, was baptized at the Moorestown, NJ ecclesia. Charlie was initially a student at our Aletheia Bible College, in correspondence with Bro. Duncan and Bro. JB Pickering in Australia, who then involved him with Moorestown as his local ecclesia; he and also had a huge amount of follow up from Bre. Charlie Klennert and Scott Ketelsen of the Tacoma WA ecclesia, assisted by our new Sis Lucy Caston (also a Bible Basics convert) from San Diego. He attended Moorestown for some time and we're very grateful for their willing assistance and baptism of Charlie. We mention all this to show how there is a true network within the body of Christ; when it operates functionally, it can achieve great things with God's blessing.
Here are some photos of Charlie's baptism in the Moorestown ecclesial hall, and Charlie's daughter Melanie with her new found friend in the Sunday School there:
Here's an example of the joy that comes from following up these kinds of contacts- a note from Br Stewart Klennert about a contact near Tacoma Ecclesia, WA:
"Last night I had the priviledge of meeting Antonio and his wife. He was a contact from Carelinks. It was truly a spiritual experience. Tony has been studying the Bible since 1947. The Holy Spirit has been guiding him for all these years because he believes in the Truth. I cannot wait to meet the next contact the Father has sent us. Tony and his wife are going to attend one of our meetings and I pray to the Father that he will be stirred up in Christ so that he is a regular attendee. The entire ecclesia will love him and his wife.
In Christ
Stewart"
We're in touch with an awesome lady called Ronda whose attitude is such an inspiration. Here are a few extracts from correspondence- you can read her full testimony at www,tacomaecclesia.net/rk.html
My friend checked out your book (Bible Basics) from the library and asked me to look into it for her to see if it would be a good study book or not, and I have yet to give it back. I had to check it out myself and have been reading it and this is a good study book. So many things are full of garbage today and no one seems to care anymore to learn the truth of the Bible. I believe the only way to study is with the spirit of truth as our guide and we have to turn over rocks and dig in the mud to get even the smallest nugget of truth. Since God has put me on this journey it has been a roller coaster ride but it has been so worth it ... Most of my family and those I was friends with when I first started to realize that what we have been taught in what this world sees as Christianity was wrong, have really distanced themselves from me and the old friends think I am nuts because I refuse to believe in their doctrines. That is a price I am willing to pay for the truth. It isn't easy but it is WORTH IT!...I have noticed how important it is not to believe in the doctrines taught to man by man over the generations. Certain beliefs lead to more lies and without the understanding on many things, you cannot get the truth of certain topics. It is like keys unlocking one mystery after another and I love a challenge and Yahweh has no doubt kelp me busy reprogramming my brain and heart... I look forward to receiving your book and thank you for sending it. I am in no hurry because we do have the library book until it comes in. I want that library book however back in the library so I can refer people to it. Turning over rocks and seeking God's truth,
Ronda
LATVIA
We're pleased to announce that br Raimonds and Sis Liga recently had a new baby, ESTHER. As this is Liga's 8th child, it was important she got into hospital quickly as soon as labour came on. But the local hospital has shut down; and so she had to take 2 buses, a distance of about 60 km and taking 3 hours, to get to the hospital. Duncan got up there (it's some way from Riga) a bit later, to find the birth room is on the 3rd floor and the lift didn't work. There were pregnant women climbing up 6 flightss of stairs to get to the birth room! Health care in the rural areas is simply pathetic. Anyway, we did what we could to help and make things a bit easier for Liga, and we're thankful to say that the birth went OK and the family are now at home together. We appreciate your support of our general fund so that we can always do what we can at short notice in these kinds of cases.
Photo: Soon after the birth
BELGIUM
As mentioned previously, we've been in contact with an excellent contact in Belgium, and we were able to meet and have preliminary baptismal discussions with her two weeks ago. It's a true pleasure to report the baptism of EVELYNE on Saturday. Lindy Stringer (that was), formally of Australia and Cindy's Sunday School friend, is now living in Brussells, and she and her husband Antoine were a great help and will take care of our new sister. We also had the company of Lindy's mum Sis Sue at the baptism as she was visiting Lindy and her new granddaughter Rose. We're very grateful to Lindy and Antoine for all their support and their continued care for our new sister. Evelyne wished to be baptized in the sea, which wasn't too convenient as it was a cold (+ 8), rainy and windy day. We fulfilled her wish, however, walking the wind and rain swept: beach to the water, and making a changing cubicle for Evelyne with our umbrellas- not that anyone was watching:
So we give thanks for our sister, and for God's evident blessing upon our desire to share His grace with this world.
With love from your brothers and sisters of Carelinks