June 2025 North America, Ukraine, UK
NORTH AMERICA Some inspiration for us to witness more, from brother Tim Anderson in Virginia:
"I've come to realize my truck tailgate message is an in your face kind of thing. More effective than a small bumper sticker because everyone who sees the large words is very possibly touched by their conscience to reflect on their relationship with their creator! I was initially reluctant because my pride considers this as tacky yet as I considered advertising my business and phone number in bold letters to generate interest in what I have to offer, I thought why is that not considered tacky! So began my journey to touch every conscience that has the fortune or misfortune to be behind me on the freeway or walk by in a parking lot. Even just sitting in my driveway all of my neighbors are aware I have a special hope I want to share. Even to my surprise that a 10-year-old school girl stopped to thank me for my witness and I now have a relationship with her parents, and there is interest in her possibly attending our youth camp here in Virginia. On occasion, I will get a toot from a passing car with a thumbs up or at a light they will roll their window down and thank me for the witness. In parking lots on occasion, people have taken pictures to capture the website for freebible.info. So don't be afraid to share your hope and realize you can touch untold 1000s of souls everywhere you travel to the grocery store, work , running errands around your town and especially on trips where you can touch every heart in each vehicle whose eyes glance at your message to consider listening to Gods word!"
Brother Duncan comments: "I do love this idea. I'm unashamed of my faith, but I fear to use bumper stickers because despite liking to think I'm a considerate driver, there are times when unintentionally I cut someone off, or they think I do. Rather hard not to have these moments driving in congested South London. And they will see my bumper sticker, advocating the Bible app... and a slogan like "Faith comes by hearing..." !!??!!??".
UKRAINE
Bombardment of civilian areas is now at the highest point since the war began. We made a brief but intense visit this week to help a family who were bombed out and then given a derelict rural property to live in about 900 km. away. So hard to leave other family members behind, with some men of the wider family in the military, and have to do what you can to grow crops and renovate the property, having been used to an urban life. With just a few bags of belongings from your past life, a life that disappeared just in a night. We appreciate your prayers for our safe keeping, which were answered, but ask they continue for our dear ones here in this horrible war.
The highlight was meeting with SVITA, a Jewish woman who had come to faith in Jesus as Messiah and for some time has been an extensive user of the Bible Companion app. She has seen through the common errors of the popular churches, and come to total agreement with all our doctrines. She has made a herculean effort to become self sufficient, clearing land, growing crops, and now eagerly planting various vegetables as seedlings in her kitchen, now to transplant them outside to make the maximum use of the growing season. She's discovered some overgrown cherry and pear trees which she's looking to harvest later in the Summer, Lord willing. Her latest addition is two young goats, just off milk from their mothers, and eating their first grass outside in the yard:
Here's the current frontier of the cleared land:
But it's spiritually that Svita really shines. Here's her two language Hebrew-Russian Bible, along with Bible Basics through which she has come to the Truth in spirit and truth:
She has mazza bread for breaking of bread, sent by the World Jewish Congress, and it was a joy to do this with her:
We brought with us a portable baptism bath, transported with much difficulty from Croydon UK to her remote village in Ukraine, as she only has a shower. And it worked just perfectly. We left it with her in the hope of further baptisms of her family and others in that place. She gave a wonderful prayer after her baptism, in Russian and Yiddish [a hybrid form of Hebrew spoken by Eastern European Jews], you can hear it in the video
at https://youtu.be/qETul4X2RhA
As we say so often, "you just can't make this stuff up". The horrors of war led a Jewish woman to the absolute truth of Jesus as Lord, Saviour and Messiah. May this be a sign of greater things, of the spiritual fruit on the fig tree that will presage the Lord's return.
In other news from Ukraine, prayers please for elderly brother Yaroslav as his diabetes is leading to gangrene in his feet. He runs the risk of sepsis and amputation. We've provided funds for medical treatment, which largely has to be paid for as effectively, only emergency medical services are operating unless you pay privately.
We so appreciate your donations which enable this work to continue.
UK
ROBERT has been a long time attender at our meetings midweek at The Venue in Croydon and also at the pub on Sundays. A lifetime of careful thought has led him to a serious acceptance of the Lord Jesus and the things of the Kingdom, and it was a great joy to baptize him in the large bathtub where so many South Londoners have been baptized:
Sister Cis is having a cataract operation and we'll be without her catering help the next few weeks in Croydon... if anyone can help please do get in touch!
It was quite some years ago that we baptized brother Hamid in Scotland, and we're delighted to say that his witness over 7 years has come to fruition in the baptism of his friend SALAR, which we were delighted to witness online. Salar has been looking into the Gospel for the 8 years he's been living in Glasgow and now has taken the step of faith and surrender to the Lord Jesus.
PRAYER POINTS
- For those recently baptized
- For us all to find ways to witness in daily life
- For our displaced brothers and sisters in war zones like Ukraine
- For more Jewish folks to join the dots and see the Lord Jesus and accept Him as heir Messiah
- For some more catering helpers in South London the next few weeks
With love from your brothers and sisters of Carelinks