Canada
British Columbia
Vancouver: The Victoria Drive assembly appreciated ministry from Willians Alcala via Zoom on May 13. The Deep Cove assembly appreciated helpful ministry April 5-9 by Jonathan Seed on the book of Philippians via Zoom. They also had a week of profitable and uplifting ministry via Zoom with Stuart Thompson May 17-21 on Peter’s life, from being chosen as the first disciple of the twelve to his appearances with the Lord. In May, the Fairview assembly invited William Skates to preach the gospel via Zoom, and similarly Clive Barber spoke a word in the gospel and again in ministry.
Manitoba
Portage: Miguel and Ruth Mosquera and their three young sons left Portage in late April to return to their field of service in Monterrey, Mexico. They had been with the River Road assembly from August 2019, acquiring Canadian citizenship for Ruth and their oldest son, Joel. Although the assembly deeply misses their presence, they are glad that they have been able to return to the work to which the Lord had called them.
New Brunswick
Moncton: On May 18, Kenneth Biddington (Shediac, NB), Murray McCandless, and Jack Stewart (Adelaide, South Australia) began gospel meetings in an old church building every Tuesday night. As of early June, a nice number have been attending and showing good interest in the gospel.
Sussex: Murray McCandless preached the gospel in person and it was livestreamed via Zoom with a tailored message for May 9 on the subject of “The Man Who Made Mother’s Day.”
Nova Scotia
Halifax: The attendance during the gospel meetings April 18-May 2 with Matthew Cain and John Meekin was encouraging, and the assembly is confident that God has and will continue to use the Word that was preached for His glory.
Ontario
Welland: The assembly appreciated ministry via Zoom from Tom Baker on May 12, Brody Thibodeau on May 19, Harrys Rodriguez on May 26, and Isaiah Frazier on June 2.
U.S.A.
Iowa
Ankeny: The assembly held a Spanish gospel meeting on May 17 with Shad Kember Jr. and Cristhian Torres (Hampton, IA).
Dyersville: Al Christopherson and Dave Yoder (Manchester, IA) held gospel meetings June 1-11 at the Dyersville Social Center.
Stout: William Skates gave ministry June 6-9 concerning the local assembly.
Waterloo/Cedar Falls: A Seed Sowers effort was planned for the area during the last week of June.
Michigan
Battle Creek: Venezuela Relief Fund: Venezuela is currently experiencing a severe surge in COVID-19 infections. The real number of cases is grossly underreported so the exact scope of the situation is unknown. What we do know is that in the last three months more than 1200 of the Lord’s people have received direct help through the VRF for the purchase of medications, oxygen and related treatments. Many other cases among the Lord’s people have received help from other sources, mainly from the UK and other countries. Forty tonnes of food are currently en route to Venezuela and the crops that have been grown locally are being distributed. Severe fuel shortages have greatly hampered the efforts to grow and distribute crops in the country. Many of the Christians have expressed their heartfelt gratitude for the abundant help they have received from the Lord’s people.
Jackson: Prayers are appreciated for a gospel tent series that commenced June 6 with Jonathan Seed and local brother Joseph Baker.
New Jersey
Pennsauken: Shad Kember Jr. was planning to hold tent meetings beginning June 6 in connection with the assembly.
Wisconsin
La Crosse: The assembly held a gospel series May 23-June 6 with Jerry Jennings and local brethren.
Mount Sterling: Gospel meetings that commenced April 25 with Brandon Doll and Isaiah Frazier concluded on May 23 after four weeks of faithful preaching.
Mexico
Chihuahua
Chihuahua: The believers are very encouraged to see the children’s work in the outreach area called El Porvenir growing to such an extent that the current hall is often filled to capacity.
Nuevo León
Monterrey: On May 5 the believers received the sad news that Ada and Antonio had passed away. Last year Ada’s father, who was part of the assembly, went home to be with the Lord, and Ada was saved a week later. Anderson Hernández was able to preach twice in the funeral home and once more at the grave to a good number of family members and friends. They left behind three children: Jared, Jair and Violeta, the youngest being only six years old.
San Luis Potosí
El Barril: The assembly was able to recommence the Sunday school in May. On May 23, four believers were baptized, and during this occasion the assembly enjoyed a visit from Miguel and Ruth Mosquera. Miguel preached the gospel before the baptisms to a good number of people, many of them still unsaved.
Guanajuato
La Purísima: After many months of not meeting together, and seeing several believers seriously ill with COVID-19, it was a great joy to the assembly to sit down together and remember the Lord again in mid-May.
Quintana Roo
Cancún: The assembly enjoyed a visit from Sidney and Ruth Turkington (Battle Creek, MI) during May, and appreciated his help in the teaching of the Word and the preaching of the gospel.
Angola
Angolan Literature Fund Annual Report 2020 Summary (Courtesy of John Fenn, Harrow, UK): During 2020 a large amount of literature was sent to Angola. This included 8000 Portuguese Bibles; 1800 Portuguese Study Bibles; 20,000 Chokwe / Portuguese Hymn Books; 7000 Bible Commentaries and other sound literature; 2000 Choice Gleanings Daily Reading Books; 1500 Bible Dictionaries and Concordances, plus 50,000 wall calendars in Chokwe, Portuguese, Luvale, Umbundu and Songo for free distribution; 4000 quarterly magazines; and thousands of tracts. In spite of pandemic restrictions, the well-equipped Print Rooms and Book Rooms in Saurimo and Luanda have been able to operate with over 3000 students enrolled doing the Emmaus correspondence courses. Please pray for the Angolan believers who have been severely affected economically during the pandemic. Pray that containers will continue to be delivered safely and on schedule. We ask you to join with us in prayer for wisdom in the ongoing work so that Bibles, good literature and suitably robust equipment will continue to be made available in Angola. For a copy of the full report, please email hello@alf.org.uk. Our 2020 video report can be viewed at http://bit.ly/alf_2020.
Scotland
Fife: Jack Hay and Craig Munro recommenced drive-in gospel meetings on Lord’s Day, May 2. They have been encouraged with over 20 outsiders present on some of the weeks, and others watching via the livestream. They also managed to arrange a three-night drive-in series for the southwest of Scotland for mid-June, and mail-outs covering the whole of the Dumfries and Galloway area.
Conferences
Arlington, WA
September 3-5, in the Arlington Gospel Hall. Brandon Doll, David Petterson, Dan Shutt, and David Vallance will be sharing in the ministry and the gospel. Meals and lodging will be provided joyfully! On Monday, September 6, breakfast will be served in the morning, and a special day is planned for those who want to stay for a day of fun and fellowship for all ages. Accom: Jim Klein, Tel: 425-508-2807; Email: kleinklan123@hotmail.com. Please RSVP if possible for meal preparation and planning. Please also pray with us that these meetings would lift up the saints and glorify God!
Hitesville, IA
September 18-19. The Bible Reading topic is Psalm 22.
Conferences Previously Published:
Pugwash Junction, NS – July 3-4 (cancelled)
Sioux City, IA – July 17-18
Hampton, IA – September 4-5
Alpena, AR – September 25-26
Homecalls
James K. Vallance of Northville, MI, on Saturday, July 18, 2020, age 88, after a long illness. Born in Bo’ness, Scotland, on October 2, 1931, he emigrated to the USA in 1947 with his parents and sisters. Jim was born again at the age of 12, and led a dedicated and consistent Christian life, faithfully serving his Lord for over 75 years. He served as an elder in the assembly meeting at the Stark Road Gospel Hall, Livonia, MI, for over 40 years, and was a respected Bible teacher and guide. Jim is survived by his wife Elizabeth of 61 years, daughter Mary, sons Robert (Beverly), David (Heidi), James (Mary), and Andrew (Elizabeth), and 18 grandchildren. His funeral service was taken by his four sons and Dan Shutt, who all paid tribute to Jim’s spiritual impact on three generations.
David Netti of Grand Rapids, MI, on January 30, 2021, age 87. Born in Morris Township, NJ, on December 8, 1953, he was saved at age 19 under a streetlamp in Wilson, CT, with his Bible open to John 3:15. David was married to Katherine Procopio on January 1, 1955, in East Boston, MA. He lived his whole life creatively engaging others in the hope of introducing them to the gospel, including taking the gospel to the city of Tyumen in Siberia, Russia. He and Kay were outrageously hospitable, often entertaining the Christians. They have many guestbooks comprising thousands of names of guests from all over the world. He had a knack for making scriptural truths meaningful to young people. David is survived by his wife Katherine, six children, four daughters-in-law, one son-in-law, 14 grandchildren, five grandchildren-in-law, and seven great-grandchildren. The funeral was shared by Max McLean and Jon Procopio.
Darla Clapperton of Loring, ON, on March 4, 2021, age 80. She accepted the Lord Jesus in 1971 in a gospel series conducted by Arnold Adams and Ed Doherty in the Arnstein Gospel Hall. One of her favourite verses was Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Darla’s family, friends, and fellow believers deeply feel the loss of a mother, friend and valued sister in the Lord. Darla was not only a prayer warrior but was also involved or interested in every assembly outreach and function. Her willingness to help and her ability to reach out and encourage will also be greatly missed. Her son Mike, and Gary Sharp took her funeral service, where the gospel was presented to many unsaved via Zoom. David Booth spoke at the graveside.
Fred Culin of North Bay, ON, on April 1, 2021, age 93. He was saved as a boy of ten, appreciating the truth of the old gospel hymn, “Only trust Him, Only trust Him now, He will save you, He will save you now.” Freddie was a faithful elder that loved the assembly of God and was a great supporter of the work of the Lord throughout all his years. He was the beloved husband of Dorothy June (nee Lohnes), and loving father of Dianne (Dale) Boyes, Danny (Carol), Debbie (Brian) Crawford, Donna Lee (Ed) Souriol and David (Kimberly). He will be missed by all, especially his wife Dorothy of 73 years, and lovingly remembered by his 13 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. His son-in-law Brian Crawford spoke words of comfort at the funeral and graveside.
Arthur (Buddy) Baker of Willmar, MN, on April 27, 2021, age 84. Buddy was saved in the 1970s in Willmar and was in fellowship many years in the Willmar assembly. Married on June 11, 1955, he was preceded in death by his wife Shirley in 2008. Art is survived by eight children: Rick (Shelly) Baker of Willmar; Sheila (Harvey) Post of Prinsburg; Dawn (Gary) Pladson of Willmar; Randy Baker of Spicer; Rob (Jean) Baker of Spicer; Ross (Joy) Baker of New London; Paul Baker of Belgrade; and Jason (Andrea) Baker of Lincolnton, GA. Also surviving are 21 grandchildren, and 23 great-grandchildren. Many attended his funeral in Willmar, officiated by Robert Orr.
Emagene Coleman of Hatboro, PA, on May 19, 2021, age 84. She was the beloved wife of Bill Coleman and went to be with Christ after a lengthy illness. Emy was born on December 4, 1936, and trusted Christ in September 1953 after hearing a message on Isaiah 64:6. A warm-hearted woman, “given to hospitality,” and faithful to the Lord, His assembly, and His people, she will be greatly missed. Emy is survived by her husband Bill and four children: Bill (Sandy), Carole (Joe) Turso, Joy (Michael) Hughes, and Jean (Tim) Procopio. Faithfully witnessing to the Lord whenever she could, she is now in His presence forever.
Ruth Chambers of Midland Park, NJ, on May 23, 2021, age 102. She was born in Waterville, CT, in 1918, and born again in 1931 through Isaiah 53. She was received into fellowship in the Waterville (now Terryville), CT, assembly. In the mid-1930s, she began a career in accounting that lasted almost sixty years. In 1951, she married Ed Chambers; they had two sons. In 1957, she and Ed came into fellowship at Midland Park, where they remained until their deaths. They loved to entertain; preachers, missionaries, and other visitors were frequent house guests, and it was an unusual Sunday dinner that did not feature guests. Ed was Treasurer of the Gospel Hall Home at Longport, NJ, and they spent many days of their retirement working there. Ed went to be with the Lord in January 2021. She leaves her two sons, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Lucille (Lou) Ludos of Jackson, MI, on May 25, 2021, age 98. Born on May 16, 1923, in Detroit, MI, she was born again on March 30, 1950. In Lou’s words, “Salvation is a free gift to those who accept it as a sinner. The Lord Jesus paid it all!” Lou was a devoted wife to her husband Chet, a loving mother to her sons Phillip, Terrance and James, and an example of a faithful Christian woman to all. She and Chet were a part of several assemblies located in Illinois, Florida and Michigan throughout their lives, and their home was always open to visiting saints. Lou loved to sing and play the piano – her joy showed in her bright smile and lively step. The funeral service was taken by Phil Ludos, Doug Losey and Joseph Baker. Please pray for the unsaved family members who heard the gospel faithfully preached.
Paul Vizzini of Peoria, AZ, on May 30, 2021, age 74. Paul was born in Lawrence, MA, on March 11, 1947, and was born again on June 17, 1958, while reading John 6:47. He married Jean Brandt on June 3, 1974. Professionally, he held many executive positions in the USA and Canada, but the assembly was everything to Paul. With a true shepherd’s heart, he served as an elder in assemblies in Methuen, MA, Mount Auburn, MA, and Sunnyslope/Orangewood, AZ. Paul labored in the Word with a deep exercise to feed God’s people. He and Jean were known for gracious hospitality and were instrumental in the start of the Spanish work in West Phoenix in 2001. Paul loved his family deeply and is survived by his wife Jean, his sons Jonathan (Julie) and David (Jennifer), four grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter to be born later this month.
