Canada
Alberta
Fort McMurray: The Labor Day weekend conference was smaller in attendance but very profitable. Steve Brand (Mitchell, MB), Jack Gould, James Ronald, Stanley Wells and Jack Zhang (Vancouver, BC) took part in ministry and the gospel. The assembly was encouraged by the baptism of a sister. Ministry and gospel meetings were planned for early October with Alan Smith. Monday School outreach resumed in September with a number of children attending.
British Columbia
Kamloops: The Marriage and the Family conference in September was a blessing with a nice number attending the various subject sessions. Sandy Higgins handled the extensive material with help given from the Lord. The messages are available on the website http://westsydegospelhall.com.
Richmond: The West Richmond assembly commenced one week of children’s meetings on September 23 with Brody Thibodeau, followed by gospel meetings with Mandarin translation for two weeks. The assembly was encouraged by six teenagers obeying the Lord in baptism during the October 4 meeting. The hall was extremely full.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Fogo: The assembly hosted open-air gospel meetings August 18-23. These meetings were held at the center of the Island each night at 8pm in the school parking lot with Dave Hunt and Dave Mullett (St. John’s, NL). There was good attendance for the outreach from the various communities.
The annual Labor Day conference August 30-September 1 was encouraging with ministry from Wallace Buckle, Pete Smith and Alex Stephenson. The believers appreciated the ministry, and the gospel meetings were well attended. After the conference, Pete Smith spent a week with the Christians in Fogo; they enjoyed their time with him, and his ministry was a great help.
Gander: In October, the assembly purposed to have a series of nightly children’s meetings with Tim Burton (Summerside, PE), leading into a gospel series the week after with Brody Thibodeau joining him.
Gander Bay: The assembly appreciated a visit September 8-12 from Pete Smith who gave ministry from the book of Nehemiah. They were also encouraged to have saints from Gander attend each night.
U.S.A.
Arkansas
Alpena: The assembly was thankful for the Lord’s blessing during the annual conference, September 7-8. On hand to give much appreciated help were Jim Ferris (Marion, IA), Jerry Jennings, William Lavery, David Richards, Harry Rodriguez, Leroy Scott (Kansas City, MO) and Gary Toombs (Kansas City, MO). The ministry blended well with the topics that came out of the Bible reading (1 John 5) with ample proof of the Lord’s blessing throughout the two days. Eight different assemblies were represented at the conference; a warm note of thanks is extended to all who attended and gave support.
Iowa
Ankeny: Gospel meetings with John Fitzpatrick and Jerry Jennings closed on September 27. Many unsaved were in attendance during the two-week series, with several people hearing the gospel for the very first time. One man professed salvation.
Cedar Falls: The assembly appreciated a visit from Clive Barber September 23-24. They also held a five-night series of their Bible hour October 5-10 with local brethren.
Hitesville: Scott MacLeod was with the assembly for ministry on October 9.
Manchester: Stanley Wells visited the assembly for ministry October 8-9.
Stout: Stanley Wells was with the assembly for ministry September 30-October 2.
Waterloo: Clive Barber was with the Western Avenue assembly for ministry September 25-26.
Massachusetts
Saugus: In September, the assembly was encouraged with weekend visits from Johnny Seed and Dan Shutt. They were also privileged to have with them Samuel Malabanti who labors in Australia and India.
Michigan
Battle Creek: Venezuela Relief Fund (VRF): Continual prayer is requested for the Lord’s people in Venezuela and for the country itself. The country continues to decline in its economy, and there is much suffering. Food and necessities are still being shipped in large quantities, as well as medical help being given. Medicines are also being brought in from Colombia regularly.
Deckerville: In September, Stu Thompson visited for a Lord’s Day and gave two nights of encouraging ministry on the believer’s security in 1 John.
Saginaw: The October 6 ministry meetings were well attended. Bill Metcalf and Dan Shutt ministered truths from 2 Corinthians 5 (“All things new”), and challenged us to “faithfulness in gospel work” from John 6. The gospel was clearly preached in the evening with a family from the Sunday school work in attendance.
Ohio
Akron: The assembly enjoyed the profitable and practical teaching of the Word of God by Marcus Cain, Sandy Higgins, David Petterson and David Vallance during conference meetings on Labor Day weekend. The believers appreciated the time of fellowship with many visiting believers and trust the Lord will bless His Word presented, to the encouragement and growth of His people and the salvation of the lost. The assembly was also encouraged by witnessing three young believers obey the Lord in baptism in September. Prayer is requested for purposed gospel meetings in December with Gary Sharp and Dan Shutt.
Virginia
Crandon: The assembly was delighted by two young sisters obeying the Lord in baptism September 21 in a local creek. They were both saved as young girls through John 3:16.
Wisconsin
Ontario: Scott MacLeod was with the assembly September 30-October 1 for ministry on the assembly.
Mexico
Chihuahua
Chihuahua: The assembly was very thankful to the Lord for the annual conference held in mid-September. The teaching was shared by Marcus Cain, John Dennison, Anderson Hernández and John Nesbitt. Two believers from the work in El Vergel and two from Parral were received into fellowship on the Lord’s Day, being fruit of the work that commenced a few years ago in a mountainous area of the state of Chihuahua. After the conference, Anderson gave appreciated ministry for two nights.
Nuevo León
Monterrey: A 14-year-old Sunday School student recently professed to be saved, the only one in her family that knows the Lord.
Sinaloa
Guasave: A gospel series commenced here on September 16, helped for the first week by Hugo Toscano, a young brother from the Santiago Ixcuintla assembly. Shad Kember then helped, as the series continued into October.
Jalisco
Puerto Vallarta: Glen Baker was with the assembly in September and gave appreciated help in the Bible studies and in the gospel, and also had a short series of ministry meetings on bitterness.
Zapopan: John Dennison was with the assembly for five nights of ministry, speaking on courtship. It was encouraging to have the believers from the Guadalajara assembly join the Zapopan assembly each night for the teaching.
Mexico State
Metepec: After having regular house meetings over the course of several years in San Lucas and in the north side of Toluca, a central point for gospel outreach was found in Metepec. Duncan Beckett and local believers from Iguala make a monthly visit to this area, and prayers are appreciated for the contacts from both areas, as well as for others who are showing interest in the Word of God.
Nezahualcóyotl: The assembly recently enjoyed a visit from Shad and Deborah Kember, and appreciated his help in ministry and in the gospel.
Veracruz
Veracruz: The believers from the assembly, along with John and Rebekah Nesbitt, continue with weekly visits to Cotaxtla, where a large number of children attend the children’s meeting and around 20 people are present at the gospel meeting.
Xalapa: Paul and Barb Thiessen visited the assembly in September. His ministry on four couples from the book of Genesis was a blessing and help to the believers.
Quintana Roo
Cancún: The attendance at the regular meetings continues to be encouraging. The believers enjoyed a recent visit from Pedro and Lucrecia Torres from Naguanagua, Venezuela; he gave edifying ministry.
N. Ireland
Co. Armagh
Kilmore: J. Rogers and A. Steele commenced gospel meetings August 25 and were continuing into October. Good numbers were attending.
Portadown: W. Martin and D. Strahan commenced gospel meetings with the Hanover Street assembly on September 8 and were continuing into early October.
Stonebridge: In association with the assembly at Clonroot, B. Currie and J. Palmer held gospel meetings that commenced July 29 and continued into September.
Tassagh: A portable hall was erected in this area where S. Nelson and J. McCann commenced gospel meetings October 13.
Co. Tyrone
Dunmullan: G. Woods and E. Fairfield held a few weeks of gospel meetings with this small assembly.
Co. Londonderry
Portrush: Due to a major golfing event, the brethren were unable to hold their annual “drive-in open air gospel meetings at The Pitts” during the early summer. However, they were able to erect a portable hall on this same site and held three weeks of well-attended gospel meetings with T. Armstrong and A. Steele.
The assembly had their annual children’s meetings during the second week of July with R. Plant. Many children of believers on holiday in the area attended, along with those from the area.
Limavady and Londonderry: The assembly at Limavady arranged for 25,000 Seed Sowers to be delivered into every home in Cityside, Londonderry, October 4-5 in preparation for P. McCauley and D. Williamson to have two weeks of gospel meetings October 7-18 in the Bogside neighborhood of Londonderry.
Co. Antrim
Eden: S. Gilfillan and W. Martin had three weeks of gospel meetings in this small village outside of Carrickfergus as an outreach of the Sandringham assembly. A nice number attended and the gospel was faithfully presented. A week of children’s meetings was held in this same Eden hall with M. Kenny from Glengormley the week prior to the gospel meetings.
Ballymoney: Four weeks of gospel meetings commenced September 29 with W. Fenton and J. Rogers in the Town Hall.
Co. Down
Belfast: The conveners of the Belfast Easter conference have arranged for five nights of gospel meetings with J. Fleck and W. Martin in the Assembly Buildings Conference Centre, in Belfast city centre (where the Easter and Christmas conferences are held) October 14-18. Special prayer meetings were held in the Whitehouse, Glenburn and Windsor Gospel Halls. In addition, a distribution of invitations and tracts to 15,000 homes took place in Belfast city centre.
Castlewellan: In September, A. Ingrim and T.W. Wright had a short series of gospel meetings in the new community centre.
Edenderry: J. Black and W. Skates held two weeks of gospel meetings in the Edenderry Gospel Hall commencing September 29. This was the home assembly and area where W. Skates was brought up.
Conferences
St. John’s, NL
November 2-3, with Prayer Meeting at the gospel hall, 47 Smith Avenue on Friday, November 1 at 7:30pm. All other meetings will be held at St. Teresa’s Elementary School, 110 Mundy Pond Road. Saturday: Prayer 10:30am, Missionary Report 11am, Ministry 11:50am, Bible Reading (Romans 12) 2pm, Ministry 3:45pm, Gospel 6:30pm. Sunday: Breaking of Bread 9:30am, Ministry and Sunday School 11:30am, Ministry 2:15pm, Gospel 6:30pm. Lunch and supper will be served both days. Matthew Cain, Marvin Derksen, Peter Ramsay, and Shawn St. Clair have been invited to share in the conference sessions. For further information, please contact the correspondent, Gary Tarrant, E-mail: gary.tarrant3@gmail.com.
Pennsauken, NJ
January 10-12 (Note NEW date), with Prayer Meeting on Friday, January 10, at 7:30pm at the Pennsauken Gospel Hall. All other meetings January 11-12 are at the Haddonfield Middle School. Saturday: 10am, 2pm and 6:30pm. Sunday: 10am and 2pm. This will be a topical conference considering “Temples in the Scriptures” and will be led by Alexander Higgins, David Petterson and Shawn St. Clair. For information or accommodations, contact Peter Higgins, Tel: 609-605-0698; Email: papetehiggins@gmail.com.
Conferences Previously Published:
London, ON – November 2-3
Saskatoon, SK – November 2-3
Oshawa, ON – November 9
Blues Mills/Cape Breton, NS – November 9-10
Bryn Mawr/Hatboro, PA – November 9-10
Oil Springs, ON – November 9-10
Phoenix, AZ – November 29-December 1
Maberly, ON – November 30
Saugus, MA – December 7-8
Change of Address
Kirkland Lake Gospel Hall, 521 Government Rd. W, Kirkland Lake, ON P2N 3J1
Change of Address of Correspondent
Charlottetown, PE: Brian MacDonald, Email: brianandverna89@gmail.com
Homecalls
Shirley Newcomb of Avonport, NS, on May 12, 2019, age 87. Shirley was a twin, the second youngest in a family of eight children. Born in rural Nova Scotia, she was brought up to believe that her upright life and teenage commitment made her fit for heaven. Shirley became acquainted with the gospel after attending meetings at the gospel hall in Halifax. She was saved soon afterward when reading “Safety, Certainty and Enjoyment.” In her words, “the Bible became a new book.” Shirley worked as a nurse and after her retirement resided in Windsor, NS. She lived a godly, consistent life of testimony to her family, coworkers and community, caring for her mother and mentally challenged older sister. Shirley was in fellowship at the Avonport Gospel Hall for many years and is much missed by the believers there.
Doris E. Tolman of St. Thomas, ON, on August 2, 2019, age 93. During meetings in Sarnia with Herbert Dobson and Lorne McBain in March 1951, Doris was saved, soon baptized, and added to the assembly. Her late husband Lloyd (June 2015) was saved six months later and also received shortly after. Until prevented by ill health, her life focused on the assembly and the Lord’s people. Doris taught Sunday school for many years. Large numbers attended her viewing and funeral, testifying to the respect she earned in the community and among the believers. She leaves behind four children, nine grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. As many do not share the blessed hope of reunion, prayer is appreciated. Family memories were related by her oldest son, Jeff Tolman. Murray McCandless followed with a solemn, clear, yet simple and warm presentation of the gospel. He also spoke words of comfort at the graveside.
Marjorie O’Brien of St. Thomas, ON, on August 4, 2019, age 92. She was born on July 6, 1927, in Sheffield, England, and came to Canada as a war bride in 1946. Her daughter, Diana, was saved at tent meetings in 1971 in St. Thomas and then shared the gospel with her family. As a result, Marjorie, her son Rodney, and her husband John (predeceased December 2003) were saved shortly afterwards. All four members of the family were baptized and received into the St. Thomas assembly. She was a very happy, cheerful sister, always encouraging, and faithful to the assembly. Marjorie truly was a woman of prayer. She is survived by her one daughter Diana, her son Rodney, nine grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren, many of whom know the Savior. Wade Steers shared the funeral service with Aaron Rock, the eldest grandson, who also spoke at the graveside.
Sharon Rea Weimer of Hatboro, PA, on August 5, 2019, age 68. She was saved during Fred Holder’s meetings at the age of 17, and was in fellowship in the Hatboro assembly through most of her life. Sharon bravely fought cancer, which returned three times in 20 years. Her last year was most difficult, but her testimony for God remained strong. She is survived by a son and two daughters, three grandchildren, a brother, two sisters, and her mother. Eugene Higgins shared in the memorial and gave a sweet word in the gospel.
Frank Tornaquindici of Newington, CT, on September 10, 2019, age 85. Our beloved brother went home suddenly from a heart attack. He was at the meeting on Lord’s Day, took part in worship, and was also at the gospel meeting. He was awakened through Job 33:14, saved on March 8, 1948, and went on well. Our brother was held in high esteem, not only in Newington but throughout the world. He was a faithful husband, father, overseer, and friend, and was a diligent student and teacher of the Scriptures. His gift made room for him everywhere, and the assembly benefited greatly from the sound doctrine he taught and the loving shepherding manifested toward all. Frank was an ardent evangelist and helped in many fruitful gospel series throughout the USA and Canada. He leaves behind his beloved wife Rhoda, two children, Paul and his wife Patti, and Lori and her husband Mark Procopio who serve the Lord in Brazil, and five grandchildren, all believers. Eugene Higgins spoke suitable words of comfort and encouragement at the very large funeral, and also preached the gospel at the graveside. The assembly and family greatly feel the loss.
Astor “Vince” Bodden of Pennsauken, NJ, on September 23, 2019, age 33. His older brother was saved first through outreach work at Woodrow Wilson High School in Camden, NJ. Vince was saved at age 23 during tent meetings in 2010. He was a valued member of the Barrington Gospel Hall and, following his marriage to Mattie Marcellus, he fellowshipped at the Pennsauken assembly. Vince was easy to love, with his cheerful, positive attitude and delight in discussing Scripture. Over the last three years, he fought a valiant battle against cancer, facing with a faithful spirit the many complications and indignities of treatment. He is survived by his wife Mattie and their three-year-old son, Jonny. Vince felt a deep burden to provide for his family, and to share the gospel with his extended family. Prayer is requested that the Lord will meet these two needs following his passing.
