Canada
Manitoba
Brandon: From September to December, the assembly appreciated ministry from Alan Smith (for a week on Gates in Nehemiah), Phil Gould (report on St. Lucia), Jack Gould and Pete Smith. They are also encouraged by ongoing ministry from four of their younger local brethren on subjects such as Joshua, Jeremiah, the Minor Prophets and Hebrews. In December, calendars were distributed in Brandon and a nearby community, and they trust that God will use them for His glory.
Ontario
Orillia: Lorne Langfeld preached the gospel at the Dominion assembly on December 26. The meeting was in person and livestreamed via Zoom.
Prince Edward Island
Charlottetown: The assembly held a six-night series of online gospel meetings beginning December 12 with Eugene Higgins titled “The True Meaning of Christmas as Seen in the Christmas Carols.” The meetings were livestreamed via Zoom and YouTube.
The assembly also commenced on January 10 a Zoom ministry series for five nights with John Meekin on the topic of “The Lord’s Sheltering Wings.”
Summerside: The Pope Road assembly began hosting a bi-weekly virtual Bible Study series beginning January 8 until March 19, entitled “The Glory of Practical Christianity,” conducted by Scott MacLeod, John Meekin and Brody Thibodeau. For more information, please visit their website at https://poperoadgospelhall.ca/the-glory-of-practical-christianity/
U.S.A.
Arizona
Phoenix: The Orangewood assembly continues their series of short Saturday night devotionals via Zoom on the “Person and Work of Our Lord Jesus Christ” to help believers prepare for worship on the Lord’s Day. Brethren taking part to date include Marcus Cain (December 11) and William Skates (December 18).
Connecticut
Terryville: The assembly enjoyed a visit from Sandy Higgins, who held several sessions November 19-20 on the book of Ruth. The meetings were also livestreamed for the benefit of believers during this ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Florida
DeLand: Due to unforeseen circumstances, the assembly was forced to cancel their February 4-6 conference.
Michigan
Battle Creek: Venezuela Relief Fund: There is very much to be thankful for in 2021. The Lord provided abundantly through His people so that food and medical help could be provided continually for needy Christians in crisis-struck Venezuela. Throughout the year food was sourced both through shipments made from the USA as well as large amounts that were produced and/or purchased in Venezuela using the funds.
Medical assistance also continues to be a big element in the expenditures funded by the VRF. A network of helpers amongst the Lord’s people across the country continue purchasing medicine, wherever it can be found, and hand delivering it to the ones in need. Purchases in neighboring Colombia continue to be necessary to supplement the shortages in Venezuela. The majority of these purchases are paid directly to the pharmacies, who usually have a bank account in the US and online payments or transfers are accepted from our bank account in the US.
Much thanksgiving and glory to God continues to rise from grateful hearts of the Lord’s people for all the help being received. We continue to look to the Lord for this New Year as, humanly speaking, we cannot see any short-term solution or change in the current circumstances of the country.
New Jersey
Pennsauken: The assembly appreciated Lord’s Day visits from Russ Coleman in November and from Paul Barnhardt and Gene Higgins in December. The assembly was also encouraged by a young woman being received into the fellowship in December. A brief gospel series aimed at teenage contacts on holiday break was held December 26-30 with Gene Higgins.
Pennsylvania
Indiana: The assembly of Christians meeting in the gospel hall are most thankful to the Lord that they have been greatly spared from the ravages of the pandemic. Some measures are still being taken, but they were able to resume some of their activities. On Halloween night, 300 bags were given out to children of the neighborhood; each bag had a wall calendar with gospel Scriptures on each page, a wallet calendar, two Sunday School papers, a gospel tract, a mini-Bible with salvation verses, a light stick and, of course, candy. On November 7, Russell Coleman spent a Lord’s Day with the assembly, giving an encouraging word in ministry to the saints and an excellent gospel message. On February 20, Eugene Higgins will be with the assembly to speak at their annual Sunday School program. He will then begin an eight-night series of gospel meetings on how the Bible and Christianity influenced the birth and shaping of America. These meetings will be live-streamed and advertised to the community. Prayer for blessing will be much appreciated.
Texas
San Antonio: John and Rebekah Nesbitt were thankful for the help of the Seed Sowers who delivered John 3:16 texts and invitations during the last week of December. Gospel meetings in Spanish commenced in a rented hall on January 2 with Shad Kember and John Nesbitt. Over 60% of the population of this city is Hispanic.
Wisconsin
Brodhead: Gospel meetings with Brandon Doll and Joel Portman that commenced November 28 were suspended on December 22, with some blessing in salvation. The meetings resumed on Sunday, January 2, and the assembly is looking to the Lord for further blessing.
Mexico
Nuevo León
Juárez: On December 12, the assembly held its year-end Sunday School event. The students cited verses about the children of Israel’s travels from Egypt to Canaan. The attendance of approximately 40 children and 10 adults was encouraging. The event culminated with a gospel message that all listened to attentively.
Chihuahua
Chihuahua: At the end of the year, the assembly was encouraged to hear the children from the two works (in El Porvenir and Valle de la Madrid) quote their memory verses.
Sonora
Ciudad Obregón: On November 29, Hilda Antelo passed into the presence of her Savior. She was saved at the beginning of the work here. Her children were thankful for the gospel message shared in the funeral home. The following day Tim Woodford shared a message at the graveside. Prayers for her unsaved family are appreciated. Marcus and Alison Cain were with the assembly the following Lord’s Day.
The assembly held a short series of gospel meetings December 27-30, after delivering 900 calendars and invitations in the area surrounding the hall.
San Luis Potosí
El Barril: The believers delivered invitations and calendars prior to a special Christmas gospel meeting. On December 24, Alicia Barrios was called home. She was a very faithful and appreciated sister who will be greatly missed.
Jalisco
Puerto Vallarta: On December 19, the El Coapinole assembly had a small but profitable local conference preceded by two nights of ministry. The Word of God was taught by Glen Baker, Julián Toro (Manizales, Colombia), Sergio Arres (Tepic, Mexico) and local brethren. Two young brethren were baptized and another was received into assembly fellowship. Four grandchildren of Don Panchito, who passed away several years ago, have now been baptized and form part of the assembly.
Veracruz
Veracruz: On November 20, the assembly happily received Juan Carlos Rodríguez into the fellowship, having moved from Medellín, Colombia. Another couple was received in December, bringing further joy to the Lord’s people. The believers enjoyed a recent visit from Harry Rodríguez and his family, and appreciated his ministry on the birth of the Lord Jesus.
Conferences
Stout, IA
April 8-10, in the gospel hall, 407 3rd Street. Friday: Prayer Meeting 7pm. Saturday: Ministry 10am and 2pm, Gospel 6:15pm. Lord’s Day: Bible Reading 10am (Hebrews 10:1-18), Breaking of Bread 10:30am, Ministry 2pm, Gospel 6:30pm. Lunch and Supper will be served both days. Corr. Aric Stickfort, Email: aric.stickfort@corteva.com; Cell: 319-404-1809.
Conferences Previously Published:
DeLand, FL – February 4-6 (cancelled)
Arlington/Marysville, WA – February 19-20
Updates
Change of Correspondent
Englehart, ON: Wayne Marshall, Email: rxwayne@gmail.com (as of January 2021, reposted)
Homecalls
Lenore Peat of Toronto, ON, on October 8, 2021, age 83. After a brief illness, she passed from the hospital into the Savior’s presence. At age 12, alone in her room, she rested on the truth of John 3:16. Initially in fellowship at the Mimico assembly, Lenore married Craig Peat (predeceased 2010) and they were together in the Eglinton Avenue assembly for two years before joining the fellowship of the Lansing assembly until her homecall. Very involved in the assembly, Craig and Lenore were generous in their hospitality and practical support of the Lord’s work. Recently in Bethany Courts, Lenore was always interested in others. Mother to Bruce (Landa), Robert (Lisa), and Douglas (Janice), she thrived on her grandchildren. At the funeral restricted by COVID-19, Lenore was honored by her three sons, and by her brothers Ted and Paul Robinson. “Until the day break, and the shadows flee away.”
Suzanne (Sue) Black of Strongville, ON, on November 14, 2021, in her 77th year after a five-year courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. She was predeceased by her husband Doug in 2008. Raised in a Christian home in Montreal, QC, she trusted the Savior as a girl of 14. Sue was in fellowship at the Ogilvey Gospel Hall in Montreal until getting married and moving to Ontario. After a number of years they settled in Midhurst, ON. From 1974, she and Doug were in happy and active fellowship in the Strongville assembly. Their home was always open to the Lord’s people. They had a burden for unsaved friends. Sue was faithful to the Lord, her family, friends, and the gathering center. She will be greatly missed by her two daughters and son, their families, grandchildren, and the believers. The funeral service was taken by Jim Comte.
Helen Armstrong of Oshawa, ON, on November 19, 2021, age 90. She was not raised in a Christian home, but at the age of 13, while walking alone down a country road and under the conviction of sin, she put her trust in the Savior. Helen’s life proved the reality of conversion. In 1964, she married Eric Armstrong and they were blessed with two children, Bryon and Julie. They were in happy fellowship in Pape Avenue, West Hill, and in later years in the Oshawa assembly. Helen was a happy saint who appreciated God’s assembly. She always had a concern and care for younger believers. Helen suffered a stroke and was unable to attend meetings for several years until the Lord saw fit to call her home. Gary Oakes and Ken Nicholson shared the gospel and spoke words of encouragement at the memorial service.
Jeffrey Jerome Van Damme of Wallaceburg, ON, on December 4, 2021, age 65. He was the beloved husband of Janet Van Damme. Born on July 17, 1956, Jeff was saved in 1982 through John 1:29. He saw the Lamb dying for his sins and trusted in that work rather than in his believing. After a time, Jeff was baptized and added to the assembly, and continued steadfastly for nearly 40 years, giving excellent help in gospel preaching and leading in Bible studies. Please pray for his mother and five sisters and their loved ones, who heard a clear gospel message from Gerard Roy, Bruce Cottrill, lvan Poirier and Charles Workman. Jeff’s kind and gentle ways will definitely be missed.
Robert Kaulback of Nineveh, NS, on December 9, 2021, age 76. He was born on July 23, 1945, and saved on April 25, 1968, finding peace through the words of Isaiah 53:6. Robert was employed in the Michelin plant in Bridgewater, NS, for 38 years, having an exemplary personal testimony among his work colleagues and his neighbors. He was a faithful and beloved overseer in the Nineveh assembly who loved his Lord and valued both the assembly and the things of the Lord. Robert is survived by his wife Ruth of 51 years, his son Andrew, his daughter Andrea (Chris) Mosher, and his two granddaughters Brittany and Brianna Mosher. His funeral service was conducted by Murray McCandless and John Meekin. Robert’s passing is an immeasurable loss to the assembly in Nineveh. He will be missed because his seat is empty (1 Samuel 20:18).
June Walvatne of West Union, IA, on December 29, 2021, age 91. She was saved as a girl in April 1948 through the truth of John 3:16, and continued in assembly fellowship for over 70 years, seldom missing a Sunday. She was able to remember the Lord just days before her homecall. June will be deeply missed by her seven sons and one daughter. Her private funeral service was conducted by Robert Orr and nephew Don Wardell. Grandson Michael Walvatne spoke at the grave.
