Canada

British Columbia

Vancouver: The South Main assembly hosted the January missionary meeting. Brett Downie gave a brief report of the recent gospel effort in Cancun, Mexico. Ashley Milne gave an interesting report of assemblies in Cuba which he visited during a recent visit there.

Manitoba

Mitchell: Heinrich (Rick) Sawatsky was commended to full-time service in the Lord’s work in June of 2012. Born in Mexico, he has a desire to reach Hispanics in USA and Central America. He had been working with Ross Vanstone and others in Texas.

New Brunswick

Fredericton: Joel and Kaleigh Griffin were commended in September 2012 to the grace of God for full-time service in Canada, Angola, and elsewhere. They will be moving in January to Portugal to join Samuel and Elizabeth Simonyi-Gindele in language study prior to taking up residency in Angola, in the will of God.

Newfoundland and Labrador

English Point: The Sunday school program was held December 23 with a large number in attendance. Edward Payne from Corner Brook gave a message in the gospel. Gospel meetings are planned here for early February.

Gander: The annual Sunday school Christmas program took place on Saturday, December 22, with over 60 people in attendance.

Gander Bay: The annual Sunday school program was on December 24.A large number of unsaved contacts came out to hear recitation and singing, followed by a message from Robert Harbin.

L’Anse au Loup: The assembly held its annual Sunday school program on Friday, December 28. The hall was full, and John Brown (Halifax) spoke to the children at the end.

Ontario

Oshawa: The assembly was encouraged with the recent conference. Eight of the Lord’s servants where present to minister the Word. The hall was filled, with many young people attending. The saints also enjoyed having Larry Steers for the monthly Saturday night ministry meeting in December. He also spoke to a large number who came to the Sunday school dinner on the Lord’s Day. The assembly is expecting Brian Crawford for the ministry meeting in January.

Prince Edward Island

Crapaud: The assembly is very thankful to the Lord for the number of children at the weekly children’s outreach this session, and for the gospel faithfullypresented each week.The exercise of the younger Christians in this area is appreciated.The assembly enjoyed the recentweekend visit of Mark and Gwen Bonnell, and look forward to future visits in the coming months.

The interior of the new Gospel Hall is now being painted, although there is still a lot of inside work to be finished before occupancy.The continued support of the Christians is appreciated.

Rosebank: The assembly is planning a series of gospel meetings in late January with John Meekin and Brody Thibodeau. Please pray for these meetings.

Springfield West: A number of Philipino friends have come to work in a fish plant nearby, and a few have professed to be saved. Two ladies are now in assembly fellowship and have a desire for their families in the Philippines to hear the gospel.

Saskatchewan

Arborfield: The conference dates for 2013 have been changed toOctober 26 and 27.

U.S.A.

Arkansas

Alpena: In early December, about 200 calendars, tracts, and invitations to gospel meetings were distributed throughout the small community of Alpena. Five nights of gospel meetings immediately followed the distribution with local brethren helping, including Jerry Jennings and Harry Rodriguez. It was encouraging to see a young lady and an elderly gentleman (who came every night) attend in spite of the cold weather.

Arizona

Phoenix: The Thanksgiving weekend conference was an encouragement to the assembly. Servants of the Lord present were Alan Davidson, John Fitzpatrick, Bill Lavery, and Stan Wells. Bible readings on the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ were excellent, and a variety of helpful ministry was given. Two weeks of gospel meetings in December with John Fitzpatrick and Stan Wells resulted in one man professing salvation and a large number of unsaved out each night. About 7,500 invitations were distributed. Michael Penfold was with the Orangewood assembly for ministry on the last weekend of 2012.The Word ministered was encouraging and uplifting. On Lord’s Day night a young lady professed faith during the closing gospel message. Jim Smith is helping with ministry and gospel for the month of January.

Iowa

Hitesville: At the September Bible conference, there was the joy of a soul trusting Christ for salvation. Eugene Higgins conducted a two-week series of gospel meetings in December on “The Greatest Words the World has Ever Heard.”Some attended from the community for the first time, and quite a number from neighboring assemblies attended. The gospel was clearly preached, and there is a desire to see fruit in salvation from the Seed sown.

Michigan

Sherman: Jim Smith visited with the assembly in early November, giving appreciated and timely teaching on the Upper Room Ministry of Christ from the Gospel of John.

Mexico

Cancun: Over 30,000 texts and invitations were delivered by about 30 believers from Canada, Mexico, the USA, and Northern Ireland. David Alves Jr., Jonathan Seed, and Timothy Stevenson shared in the preaching, with the help of other brethren. The tent was pitched on December 27 on public property, and the following day 110 people from the area attended the first meeting. Although not as many continue to come, there is a core group of about 30 that attend regularly; they also attend a ministry meeting Lord’s Day morning. One man has made known his profession of faith in Christ. Our brethren have rented a house in which to carry on regular meetings once the tent comes down. Please pray that God will furnish this new work with God-called and fitted workers.

Chihuahua: There was joy in the outreach work in El Porvenir as over 75 children recited verses from memory during the prize giving night, with many parents listening for the first time.

Ciudad del Carmen:The first wedding ceremony held in the hall on December 24 caused a deep impression in many who had never witnessed something like that before. The assembly rejoiced in witnessing a young married woman obey the Lord in baptism on January 6.

Emiliano Zapata: A nice number of believers gathered on the beach of this fishing village to witness Jonathan Seed baptize a sister who had been saved in this new work.

Hermosillo: The assembly appreciated a night of ministry with John Dennison. Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Dennison helped again with a dental clinic for needy people in the area.

Mexico City: Ross Vanstone and Herman Sawatsky (Portage) visited the assembly in Nezahualcoyotl, and other towns in the states of Mexico and Hidalgo, as they followed up on contacts from the on-going Spanish work in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba.

Purisima: Ross Vanstone and Herman Sawatsky made an appreciated visit here for five days. There are now 15 baptized believers in connection with this new work in central Mexico. Please pray for workers to be called by God to this needy area of the country.

San Luis Rio Colorado: Some 60 believers from Canada, the USA, and Mexico delivered 60,000 texts here at the end of December. John Clingen (Nicaragua) started gospel meetings in the rented hall with over 50 from the area responding to the invitations. On December 30, a local group of believers gathered for the first Breaking of Bread meeting since John Dennison began preaching here two years ago. They were joined by many of the visitors that came to deliver texts and several of the missionaries in Mexico. Please pray for this new assembly.

Veracruz: Jack Coleman (Hatboro) was a real help and blessing to the Nesbitts, the assembly in the port, and the outreach work in Cotaxtla during a visit at year-end.

N. Ireland

The following series of meetings concluded in early to mid-December. God was glorified in the preaching of the gospel and a number of souls were saved. Harryville, Ballymena – R. McKeown and W. Boyd concluded after seven weeks. Newtownhamilton – W. Martin and J. Fleck in a portable hall with good interest and attendance. Lurgan – M. Turkington and D. Callaghan in a community hall for one month, with a number attending from the locality. Newry – D. Gilliland and J. Rogers. Whitehouse – D. McAllister and E. Fairfield in the Gospel Hall.

Pray for these gospel efforts commencing in the New Year: Rasharkin – G. Woods and A. Colgan; Ballykeel, Dromore – W. Martin and E. Fairfield. Newtownstewart – M. Radcliffe and D. McGarvey. Ballyshiel – J. Rogers and S. Wells. Keady – T. W. Wright and N. Fleck. In early February, brethren Gilliland and Campbell commence in Tullyroan; R. Reynolds and P. Kaestner start in the Windsor Gospel Hall, Belfast.

Over the holiday period a number of conferences were held: Buckna and Kilkeel – December 26. Belfast – December 27-28, Bible readings/Ministry. Bible readings on Romans 12-13 were opened by John Grant and David McAllister. Newtownstewart – New Year’s Day. Bible readings on Hebrews 4 & 5 were opened by D. Gilliland who continued in ministry in the Omagh Gospel Hall for the remainder of the week.

India

Kurien Kurian writes, “I am now in my final days of ministry in India. I was in Orissa and spent time with the saints at Titilagarh assembly. The testimony for the Lord Jesus in that assembly, especially during the time of persecution against the Christians by the people of Orrisa, was simply miraculous. I was much encouraged to see young men and adults witnessing to their faith in the Lord Jesus and willing to give their lives for Him! Most of the saints in this small assembly are not educated, with only some able to read the Scriptures.

“I have now returned to West Bengal and, God willing, leave tomorrow for Nepal. With the saints at Aiyabari, we will be having a gospel meeting tomorrow evening and the usual Breaking of Bread and ministry meetings thereafter. Please pray for the saints in Salbari, Belgachi (West Bengal, India), Titilagarh (Orissa, India) and Dharan & Aiyabari (Nepal).”

At the end of the December, brother Kurian added, “I am gospel preaching in a village on the southern island of Mindanao, Philippines. As far as I know there are no New Testament assemblies there that are gathering unto the Lord Jesus as given in the Scriptures. Please pray for the Lord to plant local assemblies in the Philippines.”

Ukraine

Louis Smith writes, “The following is a summary of the work in Ukraine during 2012. Full-time missionaries in Ukraine at this time are Timothy and Rhoda Sloan working in the Lutz area with the assembly and in gospel work, and Edmund and Agnes Jonston who are working in the Lviv area. A conference was held in Lutz in July, and the second conference in Lviv in October. Flora Kancer, her son Timothy, and Gilles Plourde started the work in Lviv in 1995. Flo spent several months every year since then until she passed away in December 2012. A number of brethren helped to see an assembly formed in Lviv in 2011. In 2012, several brethren from Canada and the USA worked in Lviv and in Ivano-Frankvisk. In March, Steven Anderson and Joshua Kenworthy from Arlington helped in Lviv for a while. Dan Perez worked for 17 months, mainly in Ivano Frankivsk, returning home to the USA in the end of November to renew his visa. He is attempting to acquire a 12-month visa. In March, Louis Smith worked with Dan Perez in Ivano-Frankivsk. Meetings were held three nights a week in a rented apartment. A number of schools and orphan homes were visited with Bibles and a gospel message. Clothing was distributed and the needy were helped. In April, Malcolm Stanley teamed up with Dan and continued to work in Ivano-Frankvisk with the same efforts in meetings, in schools, orphan homes, and helping the needy. They were also able to speak and distribute Bibles in four prisons to hundreds of men and women. Eric Fowler, his wife Margie and Hiedi Schinkel continued the efforts in May. Gilles Plourde labored in Lviv in the month of June with Edmund and Agnes Jonston. The Breaking of Bread is held in the new meeting room in Lviv and those from Ivano attend after driving for two hours over rough roads to get there. In October, Malcolm Stanley, Howard Pratt and Dan Perez spent most of their time in Ivano-Frankvisk continuing the work. Following that in November, Louis Smith, Eric Fowler, and Dan Perez continued the efforts. A number have been saved in Ivano-Frankvisk and attend the meetings in the apartment. At times up to 34 saved and unsaved attend the weekly meetings. Since all the foreign brethren have returned home from the work in Ivano-Frankvisk, brothers from Lviv have travelled to Ivano-Frankivsk once a week to continue the meeting in the apartment. Prayer is needed that Dan Perez will get a long-stay visa and that younger men will be called to help in the work.”

Conferences

Matoaca, VA

March 2-3, with Prayer Meeting on Friday, March 1, at 7:30pm in the Gospel Hall, 6204 River Road, Matoaca. First meeting on Saturday at 10:30am at a different location this year. Please contact John Nobles, Tel: 804 265-5455,or E-mail: jnobles6@aol.comfor further information.

Manchester, CT

March 22-24, 95th Annual Conference, with Prayer Meeting, Friday at 7:30pm in the Gospel Hall, 415 Center St, Manchester. All other meetings will be held in the Bolton Center School, 108 Notch Rd., Bolton, CT. Saturday: Ministry 10:30am and 2pm, Gospel 6:30pm.Sunday: Breaking of Bread 10am, Ministry/Gospel 2pm.Contact Ted Kaulback, Tel:860 742-0002, E-mail: kaulted@aol.com for communications and accommodations.

Mount Sterling, WI

March 23-24, Bible Reading Conference. Prayer Meeting, Friday, March 22at 7:30pm at the Gospel Hall. All other meetings will be at the North Crawford High School north of Gays Mills. Saturday: first meeting at 10am. Lord’s Day: Breaking of Bread 9:30am. Bible Readings are on John 14-17. Accom: Richard M. Dudgeon, Tel: 608 734-3639, E-mail:rmdudgeon@juno.com; or Wayne Granzow, Tel:608 874-4760, E-mail: wcgranzow@centurytel.net. Outlines of the readings and order of meetings will be sent on request.

Kapuskasing, ON

March 30-31, with Prayer/Ministry on Friday, March 29, at 7:30pm in the Gospel Hall, 154 Mill Street. All other meetings in the Kapuskasing & District High School, 61 Devonshire Street. Saturday: first meeting Prayer/Ministry 10am. Lord’s Day: Breaking of Bread 10:30am. Accom: Michel Larocque, Tel: 705 335-5223, E-mail:mtvs@personainternet.com; or Gerald Labelle, Tel: 705 335-3712, E-mail: gerrycarole@ntl.sympatico.ca.

Nineveh, NS

March 30-31, in Park View Education Centre, 1485 King Street, Bridgewater. Prayer meeting on Friday, March 29 at 7pm in Gospel Hall, Route 208, Civic # 2495, Nineveh. Supper will be served on Friday at 5pm in Gospel Hall. Saturday: Bible Reading 8:30am (John 15:1-17), Ministry 10am. Corr: Robert Kaulback, 19 Medway Street, Bridgewater, NS, B4V 1J8; Tel: 902 543-5530; E-mail: robert012@ns.sympatico.ca. Accom: Clark Hubley, Tel: 902 543-3268.

Toronto,ON

March 29-31, with Prayer Meeting, Thursday, March 28 at 7:30pm in Langstaff Gospel Hall, 1300 Langstaff Rd. All other meetings in Le Parc Conference Centre, 8432 Leslie St., Thornhill. Meetings on Friday and Saturday at 10am., 1:30, 3:45 and 7pm. Lord’s Day: meetings at 2:15, 4 and 7pm.Corr. Ian Margerison, 47 Manor Ridge Trail, Mount Albert,ON,L0G 1M0, Tel: 905 473-5400, E-mail:ijmargerison@gmail.com; and Randy Marisette, 30 Fieldview Cres., Markham,ONL3R 3H7, Tel.905 475-7919, E-mail: marisettes@hotmail.com.

Vancouver, BC

March 29-31, with Prayer on Thursday, March 28 at 8pm in the South Main Gospel Hall. All other meetings in the South Burnaby Secondary School for Bible readings, ministry, missionary reports, and gospel. Visitors welcome. Contact Earl Ritchie atearlrit@aol.comfor more information.

Palm Springs, CA

April 7. Contact Charles Spataro, E-mail: cspataro1@verizon.net.

Stout IA

April 13-14, with Prayer meeting on Friday, April 12 at 7:30pm. Saturday: Ministry 10am.Lord’s Day: Bible Reading 9am (1Cor 15:35-58), Breaking of Bread 10:30am, Ministry 2pm. All meetings will be held in the Gospel Hall. Corr. Gary DeGroote, 28073 West Brook St., New Hartford, IA 50660-8508. Tel: 319 983-2713, Cell:319 231-4132, E-mail:gdegroote2@msn.com. Hall Tel:319 346-1153.

Conference Reminders

DeLand, FL – February 1-3

Arlington, WA – February 16-17, Youth Conference

Jackson, MI – February 15-17

San Diego, CA – February 15-17

Additions to Address Book 2012

Joel and Kaleigh Griffin, c/o 1192 Hwy 105, Douglas, NB, E3G 7K1; E-mail: joel.kaleigh.griffin@gmail.com.

Heinrich Sawatsky, c/o Box 113, Portage la Prairie, MB, R1N 3B2; E-mail: sawatzky_48@hotmail.com.

Home-calls

Frank E. Studnicka of Lancaster, WI, on November 9, age 79.He was born again July 11, 1958 and was in assembly fellowship in Beetown, WI, where he was a shepherd for many years. His home call was unexpected; he leaves his wife, Belva, of 53 years. Prayer is requested for two sons and one daughter, as well as five grandchildren, who listened attentively at the funeral. Jim Frazier conducted the funeral service and Joel Frazier spoke words of comfort at the graveside.

Charles Calabrese of Hoboken, NJ, on November 12, at age 99. He was born in the USA, but was raised in Italy, returning in 1928. He boarded with a family of believers who faithfully witnessed to him until he accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior, May 1, 1932. Thereafter, his life was never the same. He was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ and openly declared it to everyone with whom he came in contact. In 1948, he went to Italy specifically to speak to his parents about the gospel. They, with many others, were saved, and out of that visit an assembly was formed in the town of Monte San Giacomo which continues to thrive to this day. He was in the Hoboken assembly since he was saved. He loved the Lord with all his heart, mind, and soul, and was a faithful elder until his state of health kept him homebound. Pray for two of his sons who do not yet know the Lord.

Harold C. Mead of Jackson, MI, on Sunday, December 30, 2012, at the age of 90. Harold was saved at 55 years of age through the words of 1 John 5:13: “That ye may KNOW that ye have Eternal Life.” He served in the US Army during WWII, and when he returned, co-founded an excavating company. Harold and his wife graciously cared for a son, who was injured in an accident, for 30 years. He enjoyed making wooden frames for Seed Sower texts, and was faithful to the assembly in Jackson. His funeral was taken by his son, son-in-law, and two grandsons where the gospel was clearly preached to over 200. He leaves a wife, three children and their spouses, three grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

Via Magazine

Volume 42 is now ready for delivery. Via is a free resource for Christians to use in reaching the lost. We will gladly send you whatever quantities you are able to effectively use, whether a handful for your car or large numbers for your city. You will not receive an invoice for the magazines as we are funded by Christian’s gifts. Some will be interested that the cost of printing and shipping in North America is about 10 cents/copy. They are packed in boxes of 650. Feel free to order in full or part boxes.

Main Office: Box 551, Portage la Prairie, MB, R1N 3B9, Tel: 204 857-8435 Fax: 204 857-7728; E-mail: info@viamagazineonline.com.

Toronto: International Bible House (Attn. Joy Robertson); 6 Beech Street, Brampton, ON, L6V 1V1; Tel: 905 874-4072; E-mail: ibibleht@gmail.com.

USA: Rick and Joanne Zahnow; 1718 Deerfield Dr., Fergus Falls, MN 56537-4321; Tel: 218 736-3028; E-mail: rickandjoannezahnow@gmail.com.