Tuesday, February 04, 2014

NEWSLETTER, JANUARY 2014



A LOOK BACK AT 2013

2013 was a very special year for us.

On 2nd July Julia celebrated her 65th birthday. Friends in Malaysia made it a very special time for her.

4th July was the 35th anniversary of our arrival in Malaysia as missionaries with the Assemblies of God. It was a good time to remember the many miracles the Lord performed for us in those early days. There were miracles of provision for us and our four children who were only seven, eight, nine and eleven years of age at the time. There were the miracles of open doors into Kuala Terengganu where we pioneered Lifeline Assembly. There were miracles of salvation, healing and deliverance as many lives were touched by the Lord. In fact, as we look back over the whole of those 35 years we can see that it has been a series of miracles.

In December Colin celebrated his 70th birthday. His surprise party at New Life Church in Dinnington really was a surprise. Considering the email, photographic and video tributes that were collected, collated and compiled by Julia and the children it was amazing that Colin hadn’t the slightest hint of what was going on. Perhaps it was his age!! We want to take this opportunity to once again thank all those family and friends who made this such a special event.

The year came to an end with ministry in Yorkshire and South Wales and our annual visit to Full Gospel Tabernacle in London for their Christmas celebration. The church is an outreach from FGT in Malaysia and they have congregations in London and Croydon. Colin also ministered in Ashford Christian Centre in Kent where the pastors are David and Joyce Lamb. Joyce is from Malaysia and she and David first visited us in our home in Kuantan, Malaysia in 1979. It was wonderful to renew fellowship with them and to see how God is blessing their ministry in Ashford.

December was also the time when Colin went for a biopsy on his prostate. Many thanks to all those who prayed. He was given the all clear.

AND NOW INTO 2014
Our first weekend back in Malaysia was spent in Penang where we attended the funeral of Dr Joy Seevaratnam. Dr Joy was greatly used by God in the early days of the charismatic renewal in Malaysia. He prayed for his patients and saw miracles. His home fellowship was a place where many encountered the power of the Holy Spirit for the first time. He later moved to Penang and quit medicine to serve the Lord full time. Colin had the privilege of baptizing him and many family members in 1979. After Colin preached in Global Harvest Assembly where Reuben, Dr Joy’s son, is now the senior pastor, we flew back to KL and Colin taught for a week in the Pastoral Interns Programme in Tung Ling Seminary.
This has been followed by Sunday ministry in three different churches.
On Saturday (8th February) we are flying to Singapore where Colin will teach in the School of Ministry in Tung Ling Bible School as well as speaking in three local churches. The remainder of February will be taken up with Sunday ministry in several churches plus Saturday seminars.

We thank the Lord for the health and strength he gives us to continue with this busy ministry schedule and we really do believe:

YOUR PRAYERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE