Canada
British Columbia
Kamloops: The assembly enjoyed a week of ministry during April from Alan Smith who spoke on Concepts in Colossians.
Vancouver: The Fairview assembly purposed a series of gospel meetings in the South Main Street Gospel Hall with David Hunt and Scott Kaulback (Weaver Settlement, NS) commencing May 15, D.V. Prayer is requested for these meetings.
The Victoria Drive assembly was encouraged by the baptism on April 10 of a Venezuelan woman who was subsequently received into the fellowship on May 8.
New Brunswick
Sussex: Murray McCandless continues labouring locally and periodically preaching with local brethren on Sunday nights in person and livestreamed. The assembly has seen blessing in salvation this past year. The assembly was also encouraged by over 60 children and some parents attending each night during their recent children’s meetings April 25-29.
Nova Scotia
Clementsvale: Matthew Cain visited the assembly on April 17 and preached an Easter gospel message in person and livestreamed.
Ontario
Kapuskasing: The assembly restarted their children’s outreach by having a series of children’s meetings April 18-23 with Lorne Langfeld.
Prince Edward Island
O’Leary: The assembly held several weeks of gospel meetings April 19-May 1 and May 3-6 with local brother Timmy Mackenzie (helping April 19), Tim Burton (Summerside, PE) and Scott MacLeod. These meetings were for the benefit of Filipino contacts and Christians’ children who are unsaved. The assembly was encouraged by a young man professing to be saved and news that several individuals received their assurance of salvation.
Rosebank: Gospel meetings with Tim Burton (Summerside, PE) and Jonathan Procopio that commenced March 27 concluded on April 17 after three weeks, with some unsaved in attendance. The assembly was encouraged with blessing in salvation following the meetings.
Saskatchewan
Taylorside: After a two-year postponement, the assembly convened a youth conference at Easter time. Although smaller than past years, a profitable time was had by all, with wholesome teaching given by David Booth and Ross Vanstone. They felt God was honored and are praying for eternal results in the lives of all who attended.
U.S.A.
Arkansas
Alpena: The assembly purposes to hold their annual (in person) Conference and Bible Reading over the weekend of November 5-6, 2022. Details to follow.
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 Gordon Armstrong (Tampa, FL, April 9), Lindsay Parks (Indiana, PA, April 16), Joe Dennison, Jr. (Livonia, MI, April 23), Glen Baker (April 30), and Trevor Hayes (Culver City, CA, May 7).
The West Phoenix assembly held their first conference since the beginning of the pandemic April 22-24. The good attendance was an encouragement to the believers. The Lord gave needed help to Shad Kember, Harry Rodríguez and Timothy Woodford in ministry and preaching.
Iowa
Cedar Falls: Gospel meetings with Al Christopherson and Russ Nesbit closed May 1 after six weeks. The assembly was encouraged that two young women professed salvation.
Garnavillo: Gospel meetings with Brandon Doll and Brody Thibodeau concluded on April 20 after seven and a half weeks with excellent interest, and at least six professing faith in Christ. It is reported that hundreds around the world attended the meetings online and continue to watch the recordings.
Michigan
Battle Creek: VRF: Relief efforts for the Lord’s people in Venezuela are ongoing. Continued inflationary forces in the country’s economy have pushed 76% of the population into extreme poverty. The shipments of food continue, as well as the local production of crops that are distributed amongst each assembly in the different parts of the country. The local purchase of medical supplies and support continue to be coordinated by Sandra Turkington and her helpers in spite of the sudden homecall of her husband Allan in March. Pray for Venezuela.
Ferndale: The assembly requests prayer for gospel meetings beginning June 17 with Larry Perkins and Frank Sona.
Mississippi
Tylertown: Joel Portman visited on May 1 and gave appreciated ministry on Hebrews 10 in English and Spanish. The assembly wants to thank many individuals and assemblies for their prayers and other support for the ongoing gospel effort in Loranger, LA. They have seen the reception in the past two months of Honduran believers that live near there. As a result, special gospel meetings were planned May 15-20 with Kory Crawford, Philip Moore (Hickory, NC) and John Nesbitt. Some contacts live in the nearby city of Hammond, LA. Prayer is requested for this effort and for the Honduran believers who are giving much support.
New Jersey
Pennsauken: The assembly enjoyed a visit from Russ Coleman on the Lord’s Day, April 10. The believers were encouraged to have around 70 visitors in to hear the gospel preached in Spanish on the afternoon of Easter Sunday. They were anticipating a similar crowd for the Mother’s Day Sunday School Treat in May, with David T. Zuidema speaking. Tent meetings with Kory Crawford and Marvin Derksen begin June 5, D.V.
Washington
Arlington: The assembly held gospel meetings with Joseph Baker (Jackson, MI) and Brandon Doll April 24-May 8. Prayer is requested for these meetings.
Wisconsin
Beetown: Gospel meetings with Jim Frazier in March concluded after four and a half weeks.
Waukesha: The assembly appreciated Saturday ministry with Sandy Higgins on April 30. The topic was Faith, Focus, and Our Future – the Pathway for Christian Living.
Mexico
Nuevo León
Juárez: The assembly has held nightly gospel meetings that commenced on April 11 with Miguel Mosquera and local brethren. The attendance has been very encouraging.
Chihuahua
Chihuahua: Gospel meetings commenced on May 2 in the hall in Valle de la Madrid. In the regular children’s meetings in the hall in El Porvenir it has been encouraging to see some adults attending as well.
El Vergel and El Parral: These two towns were visited on April 8 and April 22. The interest on the part of the believers in the Word of God was again encouraging, as was the good attendance at the children’s meetings.
Guanajuato
La Purísima: The regular weekly Bible study resumed in April, and the believers are enjoying the teaching from 1 Peter.
Sonora
Ciudad Obregón: Marcus and Alison Cain visited on April 10, the same day the assembly resumed their regular Sunday School work. The regular Tuesday meeting is once again in person for the teaching and preaching of the Word of God. On April 27, Socorro passed into eternity. She had heard the gospel for many years, being one of the key contacts for the beginning of the work. Before passing into eternity, she expressed the surety that Christ had died for her sins, and that she was going to be with Him.
State Of Mexico
Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl: On April 23, the believers spent some time evangelizing in strategic points near the hall, followed by Duncan Beckett preaching the gospel. Visitors included neighbors and friends of the believers. The assembly also appreciated Duncan’s word of ministry on April 24.
Hidalgo
Pachuca: The assembly in Matilde celebrated an Easter conference, with believers from Veracruz and Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl attending. The teaching of the Word of God and the preaching of the gospel was ably handled by Anderson Hernández, Harry Rodríguez and Paul Thiessen. Nicolas Thiessen (Zapopan, Jalisco) taught the Sunday School lesson.
Veracruz
Veracruz: On April 7 and April 10, Harry Rodríguez encouraged the assembly with his visit and shared profitable ministry from the Word of God.
Chiapas
San Cristóbal de las Casas: Timothy Stevenson preached the gospel in the home of a contact for six nights with blessing.
Quintana Roo
Cancún: At the beginning of April the assembly held two weeks of gospel meetings with David Cadenas, Timothy Stevenson and Timothy Turkington.
Conferences
Sioux City, IA
July 16-17, in the Sioux City Gospel Hall, 120 South Leonard Street, Sioux City, IA. Saturday: Prayer 7pm. Sunday: Breaking of Bread 9:45am, Bible Reading 11:15am (James 2), Lunch 12:30pm, Children’s Meeting 1:40pm, Ministry 2:30pm, Dinner 4:30pm, Gospel 5:30pm. Corr: Gary Hayes, Tel: 712-223-2398; Email: george55698@outlook.com; or Bernie Mertens, Tel: 712-223-0439.
Conferences Previously Published:
Garnavillo, IA – June 4-5
Augusta, ME – June 25-26
Taylorside, SK – June 24-26
Updates
Free copies of Fifty Years of the Gospel in Venezuela by Sidney Saword are available within the US from Jim Thompson, Email: jptbooks@gmail.com
Homecalls
Blair Thomson of Charlottetown, PE, on March 9, 2022, age 77. He was saved in 1979 and later baptized and received into the Charlottetown assembly. For a number of years, Blair taught in Northern Quebec, where he was able to witness to students and others he made contact with. He is survived by one sister and three brothers, for whom prayer is requested. The funeral was shared by Scott MacLeod and Brian MacDonald from the Charlottetown assembly.
Marilyn Groothuis of Cedar Falls, IA, on April 1, 2022, age 82. When she was four years old, her mother died, so she and her twin sister Carolyn were raised by their grandparents, Roland and Geneva Berridge of Midland, MI. At the age of 16, while on vacation in Huntsville, ON, Marilyn was saved by the grace of God. Following her marriage to Glen Groothuis in 1965, she moved to Iowa and was in happy fellowship with the assembly in Cedar Falls. Marilyn was an example of the believers in word, in conversation, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity (1 Timothy 4:12). She is survived by her husband, Glen, four sons, one daughter, 30 grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter. Her five children, son-in-law Bob Smith, and Russ Nesbit shared in the large funeral service.
William T. Nason, Sr, of Saugus, MA, on April 19, 2022. Born on June 23, 1937, Bill was saved in 1966 while reading Romans 10:9. Despite suffering much physical pain, he maintained a cheerful and joyful spirit. His commitment to the assembly and to the Lord’s people was evident by his determination to attend the meetings and to participate in worship, despite the effort it was for him even to rise from his seat. He had a wonderful ability to “connect” with people of all ages, and was loved by young and old alike. Bill is survived by his wife Janice (née Gurney), sons Bill (Nancy) and Roger (Paula), as well as a daughter Alana (Jim) Grant. He was predeceased by his daughter Lorna in April 2003. Bill and Janice have seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. His presence in the family and in the assembly will be greatly missed.
David Hardie of La Crosse, WI, went into the presence of his Lord and Savior while holding the hand of his beloved wife of 64 years, Lois, on April 22, 2022. He was 83 years old. David was saved through Romans 5:6 on December 13, 1974, at age 36. Soon after, he entered into assembly fellowship at La Crosse. Before his passing, Dave served the Lord as a trusted elder for 40 years. He brought glory to the Lord as his character became consistently more Christ-like. Dave was kind, gentle, selfless, caring, supportive, devoted, hospitable and generous. He knew his Bible well and was an active teacher. Dave brought many to Christ and helped to magnify Christ in many who were saved. He spent the last few years in Tampa, FL, due to his health. Special “Thanks” to the saints in Tampa for their faithfulness to Dave and Lois.
