Canada
Alberta
Fort McMurray: The assembly held its annual Christmas Program on December 13. A supper was served and there were quite a few visitors in attendance. Gordon Williams was here for the weekend and spoke at the program, as well as in ministry. The assembly was encouraged by a brother who recently moved here being received into fellowship, and also had the joy of seeing two young children professing faith in Christ.
British Columbia
Kamloops: During December, instructive ministry on the Holy Spirit was given by Dave Richards which has been uploaded to our website at www.westsydegospelhall.com. The series was ongoing into January.
Vancouver: The monthly missionary meeting for December was held in West Richmond where Ashley Milne gave a report on his recent visit to Venezuela. David Jones was in the area in December and visited some assemblies. The Fairview assembly was blessed in early January with ministry by Jim Currie on 1 Corinthians 11-14.
Manitoba
Brandon: The assembly recently enjoyed a report on the Sakeji School in Zambia by Mark Ronald.
New Brunswick
Sussex: The assembly was greatly encouraged during six weeks of gospel meetings in November and December with Peter Ramsay and David Hierlihy, in which four professed faith in Christ. Some excellent contacts were made, and some who had not been to gospel meetings for some time attended. Please pray that God will continue to bring forth increase from the Word of God sown.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Gander Bay: The children’s Sunday School program on December 20 went very well with a nice number out from the community. The lesson at the end of the program was given by Robert Harbin. Most of the visitors stayed for snacks that were provided.
Nova Scotia
Clementsvale: Please pray for gospel meetings with John Meekin and Jon Procopio which commenced January 10.
Ontario
Barrie: The saints appreciated the helpful visits of Jim Beattie, Larry Buote, Alvin Cook, Fred Krauss, and Bruce Rodgers. The assembly convened nine meetings on the Tabernacle with John Robertson of Chatham. The ministry was timely and edifying. A weekly Youth Night has commenced with an excellent response from children in the area with some parents coming each time.
Guelph: The saints were encouraged by a week of children’s meetings with Andrew Robertson. Recently, Brian Crawford took the annual Sunday School Treat, and was present for the baptism of two young believers.
Kitchener: Frank Sona was with the assembly on two occasions recently for profitable ministry and Bible studies on Fellowship and the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6. Jim Smith was also with the assembly for a Lord’s Day and two nights of ministry. A practical collection of winter clothing was made for the needy Sunday School families in the area. At this distribution, the families also received a supper and heard the gospel presented. At a recent baptism, Andrew Robinson spoke and a young teenager obeyed the Lord. The Christians have been encouraged.
Straffordville: The assembly was very encouraged by the best response so far, at the completion of children’s Pathfindersmeetings, which ran weekly from September to December. Derek and Frances Waldner, with the enthusiastic help of many others in the assembly, put together a program which drew between 90 and 130 children and parents, most of whom do not regularly attend the assembly meetings. Pathfinders was promoted with a float in the annual Watermelon Festival Parade, where magnets, bookmarks, texts, and invitations were given out. It was also advertized on the German Radio Station, and through invitations given out at the Aylmer Market. The growth in the attendance at the assembly has necessitated an expansion, so the hall is currently being enlarged and upgraded. We are very thankful to the Lord for continued blessing in the various home Bible studies, as well as a favorable response from the community.
Sudbury: The assembly held its annual mini-conference December 12-13, with needful and encouraging ministry given by Brian Owen, Bruce Rodgers, visiting, and local brethren. On the Lord’s Day, the Sunday School children and many of their parents stayed for a turkey dinner.
U.S.A.
Arkansas
Alpena: Joel Portman gave valuable help with meetings in Alpena, Huntsville, and Springdale, AR in the absence of Jack Saword, who was visiting El Salvador. Brother Joel joined Harrys Rodriguez in a special gospel effort (in Spanish) in Springdale. Attendance was encouraging. This was then followed by a series of well-attended children’s meetings in Huntsville (also in Spanish) by brother Harrys.
Arizona
Phoenix: The Thanksgiving conference was well attended, and all enjoyed the Bible readings and ministry. Bill Lavery and Alan Davidson stayed for a week of ministry following the conference. Stan Wells gave ministry on a Thursday night and month-end meeting in December with the chart on Biblical Prophecy.
Minnesota
Fridley: Encouraging ministry was given by R. Orr and A. Clark along with a missionary report on El Salvador during the month of December. Both were appreciated by the assembly.
Missouri
Kansas City: John Slabaugh was with the saints for ministry meetings November 1-4. They were very helpful and encouraging to all that attended.
New York
New York: The saints at Flushing Gospel Hall were joined by Ted Chambers who preached the gospel to ESL students in the monthly outreach gospel meeting. The assembly held special meetings from December 24-31 where Joseph Chung spoke from Revelation. They were joined by visiting believers from Lansing Gospel Hall, Toronto. Prayer is requested for the assembly in Flushing in the new year.
Ohio
Akron: At the conclusion of the Fall children’s meetings, David Petterson presented the gospel to the students and parents at the annual treat.
Texas
McAllen: During the last two weeks of December, about 30-40 people in total, distributed Seed Sower material in this area along the US/Mexican border. Ross Vanstone and Sid Emberly conducted gospel meetings in Spanish starting December 27, with 16 people from the area out on the first night. Please pray for these outreaches into new areas.
West Virginia
New Creek: Robert Surgenor ministered the Word for two weeks during December. While there, he visited Harmon, 60 miles away, and spoke in the Senior Citizen’s Center to about 50 people at their annual dinner. He may return to preach the gospel in the fire hall at a later date, God willing. Meetings have previously been held there with good attendance, and many friends have been made in this isolated area.
N. Ireland
Annual conference meetings were held over the holiday period in Gransha and Cregagh Street on December 25; Buckna and Kilkeel on December 26. Belfast Bible readings and ministry on December 28-29 were helped by R. McKeown and P. Coulson. (1 Peter 3-4). On January 1, Newtownstewart had a Bible reading with R. McKeown opening Hebrews 1, and ministry. Many assemblies distributed thousands of gospel calendars in their local areas. These are well received and are a means of having the Word of God displayed in homes for 12 months of the year.
Mexico
Ciudad Obregon: About 140 believers from various countries converged here at the end of December and distributed some 120,000 Seed Sower Bible texts in this city, as well as in five towns north and south of it. Duncan Beckett, John Dennison and Shad Kember are preaching in a rented building with encouraging attendance by a number of unsaved people.
Hermosillo: Two local brethren from the assembly here, Abisai Vieyra and Cristian Lizarraga, are in the third week of gospel meetings in a rented building on the northeast side of this large city. The brethren are encouraged with the attendance of unsaved people from the area.
Puerto Vallarta: Seven missionaries and Dr. J. Thropay contributed to an excellent Coapinole conference on the subject of “Evangelism.” Over 300 people witnessed the baptism of four believers. Tim Woodford, in his first visit to this area, gave a report on the work in Hermosillo.
Conferences
Turlock, CA
February 20-21, in the Turlock Gospel Hall, 3446 N. Golden State Blvd, Turlock, CA. Saturday: Prayer/Ministry 10:30-12noon, Prayer/Ministry/Gospel 2-4:30pm. Lord’s Day: Breaking of Bread 10:30m, Prayer/Ministry 2-4:30pm. Corr: Narendra Singh, Tel 209 526-0910.
Matoaca, VA
March 6-7, in the Matoaca Elementary School (2 blocks past the Gospel Hall) with Prayer Meeting on Friday, March 5, at 7:30 pm in the Gospel Hall, 6204 River Road, Matoaca. First meeting on Saturday at 10:30am. Contact John Nobles at 804 265-5455, or jnobles6@aol.com.
Mt. Sterling, WI
March 27-28, Bible Reading Conference with Prayer Meeting, Friday at 7:30pm at the Gospel Hall. All other meetings at the North Crawford High School north of Gays Mills. First meeting on Saturday: 10am. Breaking of Bread on Lord’s Day 9:30am. Bible Readings are on Romans 5:12-Romans 8. 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.
Clarksville, IA
April 4, in the Antioch Gospel Hall. More details to follow. Please direct any inquiries to John Wessels; Tel 319 269-3493.
Toronto, ON
April 2-4 in Premier Ballroom and Convention Centre, 9019 Leslie, St., Richmond Hill. Meetings each day at 10am (except Lord’s Day), 1:30, 3:30, 7:00 and 8:45pm (except Lord’s Day). Prayer Meeting on Thursday, April 1 at 7:30pm in the Langstaff Gospel Hall, 1300 Langstaff Rd. Corr: Don Jennings, 53 Karnwood Dr., Scarborough, ON, M1L 2Z7; Tel 416 757-7019, and Ian Margerison, 47 Manor Ridge Trail, Mount Albert, ON, L0G 1M0; Tel 905 473-5400. Invited speakers: M. Bachert, M. Cain, E. Fairfield, D. Oliver, D. Shutt, and J. Smith.
Watertown, MA
The conference, usually held two weekends before Easter, has now been changed to the third week in September, annually (September 18-19, 2010).
Conference Reminders:
Deland, FL – February 5-7
Jackson, MI – February 12-14
San Diego, CA – February 13-14
Tampa, FL – February 13-14
Change of Address
Mrs. Alvina (Henry) Fletcher, P.K. 28-233 Fourth Ave., Sudbury, ON, P3B 4C3; Tel 705 566-0432.
Home-calls
Mrs. Elizabeth Aiken of Guelph, ON, on August 3, 2009, age 87. Our dear sister was saved as a teenager during cottage meetings near Carnlough, County Antrim, N. Ireland in December 1939. In 1957, Elizabeth and her late husband Andrew, along with their four children, immigrated to Canada. After arriving in Toronto they soon moved and planted their roots in the Guelph assembly. For 51 years they were very faithful to the assembly and in giving to the Lord’s work. Elizabeth is survived by her four children, nine grandchildren, and 23 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her dear sister, Evelyn Magee, of N. Ireland. The funeral service was conducted by Frank Sona.
Inez Stillar of Arnstein, ON, on October 26, 2009, age 91. Our dear sister was saved in 1932 at a very fruitful series of gospel meetings by Mr. Stein and Mr. Widdefield. She was baptized and received into the assembly after her only son Paddy was saved in 1971. From that time on she was very steadfast and faithful to the assembly. In her belongings they found a prayer list of over 300 names of people for whom she prayed. We are sure that many of these prayers have been answered. She was predeceased by her husband Morrie in 1993, and her son Paddy in 2004. She is survived by four grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren. The funeral was taken by David Booth and her grandson, Michael Stillar.
Richard Gustafson of Cleveland, OH (Monticello Gospel Hall), on October 29, 2009, age 85. Dick was saved February 11, 1940 during a gospel series conducted by the late brethren Gordon Reager and Robert Crawford in Akron, OH. He was saved through the truth of Acts 16:31, baptized, and faithfully continued in the Cleveland assembly for many years. He was a consistent, humble brother who devotedly cared for his wife Miriam during her many years of sickness, until she went home to be with the Lord seven years ago. Dick was unable to attend assembly meetings the last year due to sickness, but was always interested in how others in the assembly were getting along. He longed to go home to be with the Lord and his Miriam. He leaves three sons and a daughter, all saved, and five grandchildren. At the funeral, several of the family shared their memories of their father and grandfather, and Art Pile spoke words of comfort and preached the gospel. Ron Berquist took the graveside service.
Mrs. Viola Weber of Stout, IA, on November 5, 2009, age 99. She was saved on November 26, 1931 through Acts 16:31 while the hymn Just As I Am was being sung during a Thanksgiving Day all-day meeting at Stout. She was in happy fellowship in the assembly until ill health prevented her from attending. She made her home with her daughter and son-in-law, Shirley and Gavin Collins, for the last four years. She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward, and daughter, Wilma Niedert. She is survived by two sons, Lloyd, Robert, and their families, and daughter, Shirley Collins and family. The funeral service was shared by Gary DeGroote, Gavin Collins, and Roy Weber at the Stout Gospel Hall.
Dean Bottrell of Arnstein, ON, on November 7, 2009. Our brother went home to be with the Lord after a long struggle with cancer. At the age of 13, Dean accepted the Lord Jesus as Savior, and right to the end gave faithful testimony of the peace and assurance he had for eternity. He was an elder in the Arnstein assembly and could always be counted on to help with whatever work had to be done. At the funeral, David Booth preached the gospel to many unsaved who were present.
Harold Cox of Huntsville, ON, on November 22, 2009, age 88. Our dear brother was born on December 28, 1920. He lived his whole life close to the Huntsville area and received the Lord Jesus as Savior in his early teens. Our brother and his wife were faithful supporters of the assembly at Huntsville. The Lord blessed his marriage of 63 years to May Cox who was taken home to glory in 2006. He leaves four children, eight grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, and one sister. The funeral service was shared by son-in-law, Don Robertson, and Jim Jarvis, who faithfully preached the gospel.
Mr. Herbert Thompson of Portavogie, N.I., on November 29, 2009, age 93. He was saved on February 6, 1944, and six months later was baptized and received into fellowship in the assembly at New Road, Portavogie. He remained steadfast until the end, and was, for many years, an elder in the assembly. Our brother, who was a fisherman, loved the Lord and His people, and was a good supporter of the gospel. The large funeral was a token of the respect he held in the village. Funeral services were shared by T. McNeill, S. Ferguson, and J. Rogers, where words of comfort were spoken and the gospel preached to a large audience. Prayer is valued for the large family circle, many of whom are not saved.
Veronica Mason of London, ON, on December 9, 2009. Our beloved sister was born in London, ON on September 12, 1916, and trusted the Lord Jesus through the truth of John 6:37. She, and her late husband Orval, first met with the saints in the old Pall Mall Hall. Orval was called home in 1988 and Veronica was later received into the home and family of Mikio and Daphne Ikeda. For 13 years she was lovingly cared for by this dear family, and Daphne was by her side at the hospital when she was called home. Veronica was a dear sister with an infectious smile and a deep love for the Lord Jesus, and she will be missed. H. Garnham and D. Warden spoke at the funeral service.
Violet Ruchti of San Diego, CA, on December 12, 2009, age 86. She was born near Boscobel, WI in 1923, saved when five years old, and received into the Blue River assembly as a young girl. After many years in Chicago she moved to Phoenix. She had a real love for children, and gathered them to teach in her home. She later had a class of children in the Sunday School at Sunnyslope. Violet was a very gifted artist and her texts are still seen in many gospel halls and homes of the Christians. In 2003, because of poor health, she moved to San Diego where she was cared for by her sister until her home-call. She lived a quiet, godly life, and was very faithful in attending assembly meetings. The funeral was taken by Paul Vizzini in San Diego, and Stanley Wells took the graveside service.
Barbara Foster of Manchester, IA, on December 20, age 85, after a long illness. Our beloved sister was saved as a teenager through the words of Acts 16:31. She married C. F. Foster in 1945 in Manchester, where they lived and were in happy fellowship their entire married life. She was a faithful sister, helpful and respected, and bore her health problems with patience. She and her husband provided foster care for numerous children. Surviving are her husband, one daughter, six sons, two foster daughters, besides other family members. Al Christopherson and Robert Orr shared the service held in the Gospel Hall.
Ronald Borrett of Marion, IA, on December 22, 2009, age 89. Ronald took the gift of salvation as a boy of 11 in March 1932, when his entire family was awakened through the preaching of the late Oliver Smith. He married Corinne Smith in 1941 and they were in assembly fellowship in Manchester. Ten years later they moved to Marion where they, along with other believers living in the area, were instrumental in the formation of the Marion assembly in 1962. At the funeral service, son Nathan emphasized his Dad’s faithfulness to their mother for 68 years, to the assembly as a correspondent for over 30 years, and to the family. Left to cherish his memory are his wife Corinne, one daughter, two sons, and their wives. The funeral was conducted by Al Christopherson.
Darlyne Ekstrand of Sturgeon Lake, MN, on December 27, age 77. Our beloved sister was saved on September 10, 1974, shortly after a gospel series conducted by Leonard DeBuhr and Robert Orr. She was in the assembly at Hinckley since its formation in 1985. As a faithful and generous sister with a heart for the gospel, she manifested love to the saints and the assembly. She is survived by her brother, Roland, who with his wife, Amelia, faithfully cared for her for a number of weeks; also a nephew, niece and their spouses, besides other relatives. A nice number of former co-workers attended her funeral. The service was shared by Robert Orr and Roy Weber.