October 2024 Turkey, Ukraine / Winter Welfare, UK
Facebook Fund Raising Probably all Facebook users would admit they waste a lot of time on Facebook. But it's part of modern life for so many. Well, here's a way you could use your Facebook time well- create an appeal for donations to
Carelinks. Donations aren't what they used to be for us as many faithful supporters are now elderly or have fallen asleep in the Lord. The link to start an appeal is at
https://www.facebook.com/fund/carelinksmins/
TURKEY We've been going to the town of Denizli for around 15 years, baptizing and ministering to the large Iranian refugee community there. Some have now got to Australia or western Europe, but many others are still there doing it tough in the very anti-Christian Islamic culture they are surrounded with. They are endlessly hassled by the Police, unable to work legally and generally picked on in society. But this amazing group keeps spreading the Gospel. We were very happy to baptize BEHNAM, SAHAR, FATEME and ABBASI.
We had a great conference, going through Hebrews 11, "Of whom the world was not worthy", talking of how so many of the faithful have been always on the move, ending with the breaking of bread.
Just two days before our arrival, brother Ali [married to one of our sisters and with a young child] was viciously attacked at his workplace. He has multiple breakages, walks now with difficulty, with both hands broken too. The attack was directly related to his having accepted Jesus and rejecting Islam. The attackers threatened to locate and murder his wife and child. The Police are disinterested in such cases. He can't move elsewhere as asylum seekers have to remain living in specified areas. And he has lost his job. All so hard. Here he is explaining what happened to Cindy:
We do ask for your prayers. There were other difficult situations as well... a sister who was in an arranged marriage in Iran, whose husband brought her to Turkey and made her work in immoral work, now she's free from him but in a very difficult situation... a sister whose baptized son was placed in a deportation camp to be deported to Iran, but escaped, was smuggled to UK, and is now deeply broken down mentally. She is desperate to see him again. It was great having Cindy to talk through these issues with:
We also had a time of personal testimony, and it was good for the young visitors to hear first hand the accounts of persecution in Iran for the sake of the Lord Jesus:
UKRAINE / Winter Welfare We've made several trips to Ukraine since the war started. Mark and Duncan are making a major trip again soon, with a view especially to provide assistance against the Winter. The situation is really awful there, and other global events have rather taken media attention off Ukraine; and there is without doubt donor fatigue. Mark and Duncan will be going all over Ukraine, visiting isolated brethren and contacts. So many of our brothers and sisters, especially the elderly, are in desperate situations as Winter approaches. We plan on giving welfare and firewood, fixing up bomb damage and trying to evacuate those near the front line. Please do support in prayer and financially. We've also put the appeal on Facebook so that Facebook users have the opportunity to donate anonymously. Here are some photos from last Winter's work in Ukraine... a brother from WA definitely out of his native environment...
UK We've had so many wonderfully positive responses to the retreat weekend. Everyone wants to do it again. It truly was such a blessed weekend. We've also booked the date for our alcohol free Christmas party, which was such a success last year for our
Croydon Church in Pub folks. Over 100 came last year. We'd be open to financial donations for the event... and you're welcome too. If you play an instrument, you could come and help perform some Christian and / or seasonal songs. So, the date is... Wednesday 11 December, Lord willing, between 5:30 and 7:30 PM. At our usual weekday venue, The Venue, 5-7 Middle Street, Croydon CR0 1RE. Let's pray it will be another greatly blessed event, to His glory. If you can help on the day [feeding, overseeing the free clothing handout, chatting with folks...] do be in touch!
PRAYER POINTS
- For those recently baptized
- For brother Ali and his family under persecution
- For our work and our brothers and sisters in Ukraine
- For our asylum seeker brethren and their mental health
With love from your brothers and sisters of Carelinks