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1 Rev. Alan Best February, 2013 February, 2013 February, 2013 CONTENTS From the President 1 England 4 India 7 Philippines 10 Saipan and Guam 17 Bulgaria 22 WECF Meeting - 2013 25 Biography - David Livingstone 31 ATTACHMENTS On-line Registration Form for WECF Meeting - 2013 Accommodation Price Options for 2013 Program for WECF Meeting - 2013 It was a privilege to visit churches of the National Association of Congregational Churches (NACC) and its social action arm, Caring Community Inc. (CCI), in the Philippines during January, six years after my previous visit. Despite such a gap, friendships were immediately renewed as though no time had passed at all, helped of course by the fact that Pastor Symphony and Mrs. Nina Castillo had attended the 8 th WECF Triennial Meeting in England in 2007. OCW’s Editor, Kerrian Cartledge, also participated in the trip and she was likewise delighted to renew friendships with our hosts after six years. Nina, Symphony, Nannie and Awit Castillo
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ATTACHMENTS - Morley Community Church...hymns during the underground service Morley Community Church is a mission congregation of the Evangelical Fellowship of Congregational Churches

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Page 1: ATTACHMENTS - Morley Community Church...hymns during the underground service Morley Community Church is a mission congregation of the Evangelical Fellowship of Congregational Churches

1

Rev. Alan Best

February, 2013February, 2013February, 2013

CONTENTS

From the President 1

England 4

India 7

Philippines 10

Saipan and Guam 17

Bulgaria 22

WECF Meeting - 2013 25

Biography - David Livingstone 31

ATTACHMENTS

On-line Registration Form for WECF Meeting - 2013

Accommodation Price Options for 2013

Program for WECF Meeting - 2013

It was a privilege to visit churches of the National

Association of Congregational Churches (NACC) and its

social action arm, Caring Community Inc. (CCI), in the

Philippines during January, six years after my previous

visit. Despite such a gap, friendships were immediately

renewed as though no time had passed at all, helped of

course by the fact that Pastor Symphony and Mrs. Nina

Castillo had attended the 8th WECF Triennial Meeting in

England in 2007. OCW’s Editor, Kerrian Cartledge, also

participated in the trip and she was likewise delighted to

renew friendships with our hosts after six years.

Nina, Symphony, Nannie and Awit Castillo

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2

As we sat in the Friday evening Prayer

Meeting of the ‘Agape Bible Christian Church’

in Quezon City, pastored by Symphony

Castillo, and the participants prayed

passionately for each other, their church and

our WECF member fellowships, I was

reminded that this is what our Fellowship is

really all about.

This message was also reinforced during visits

to our Associate Member churches on Saipan

and Guam during the following fortnight.

Membership of the WECF is about genuine

fellowship in which we seek to support and

encourage each other, especially through

prayer. None of us can afford to regard WECF

membership with a view to ‘what can we

receive?’ but rather, our primary concern must

be ‘what can we offer each other?’ And that

spirit is exactly what I experienced during my

January trip.

While we could not visit the majority of NACC

Philippine’s churches and outreaches during

the week we were there, we were privileged to

revisit some with which we had become

acquainted during previous trips, as well as

new outreach ministries. See our report on

pages 10-16.

On Saipan and Guam, we were warmly

welcomed again, renewing fellowship after

twelve months, having been privileged to visit

the churches there each January for several

years. On these occasions we have been

graciously invited to present Bible Teaching

seminars and training in Children’s and Youth

Ministry, often with Rev. A. Barry Jones, the

Immediate-Past President of the WECF and a

great friend of these churches. (You may

remember reading reports about these visits in

previous February issues of OCW).

As 2013 is already one month old, I am very

conscious that our 10th Triennial Meeting will

be held in Australia in less than eight months’

time. While a lot can happen in eight months,

I’m sure we are all aware of just how quickly

this time will pass and we will finally be

gathered at Wollongong. If you are planning to

attend, I urge you to act immediately to secure

your accommodation as well as arrange your

travel.

Whether or not you find yourself able to attend

in September, will you please join us in prayer

for the Meeting? Pray for the planning so that

everything will be ready in time; pray for safe

travel for delegates and other attendees from

around the world; pray for your delegates as

they share how God has blessed His work in

your fellowship during the past three years;

pray that we all will be challenged and

encouraged as we hear these reports; and

pray that we will all be changed by God’s

Word as we gather around it each day.

As you read the articles in this issue, I urge

you to consider forwarding a donation to

support the work of these fellowships (see

page 34).

Yours in Christ,

Alan

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ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS

OF

MEMBER COUNTRIES

EFCC United Kingdom – 10 to 11 May, 2013

4Cs Canada – 3 to 6 July, 2013

CCCC USA – 22 to 25 July, 2013

FCC Australia – 19 to 21 September, 2013

So we can prayerful ly support each other,

please forward your Annual Conference

dates to the Editor.

Participants in the Friday evening Prayer Meeting at Agape Bible Christian Church

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MINING DISASTER COMMEMORATION IN UK PROVIDES OUTREACH OPPORTUNITY FOR

MORLEY COMMUNITY CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

Many Congregational Churches in the United

Kingdom are only very small. They often work

in communities that are hard and apathetic to

the Gospel. They find it a struggle to gain a

listening ear to the Good News they wish to

share.

Morley Community Church is a small EFCC

congregation in West Yorkshire, UK. They

devised a novel evangelistic event which would

connect with the local community. They

organised a Gospel Commemorative Service

500 feet underground in a coal mine!

Fifty guests were invited by members of the

Morley Community Church to take part in a

unique evangelistic service to commemorate

the deaths of 34 local miners exactly 140 years

after they lost their lives. It was held at the

nearby Caphouse Colliery, now the North of

England Mining Museum. Members of the

church discovered there had never been any

memorial stone, plaque or event to publicly

record the disaster in the town when a gas

explosion ripped through the galleries at

Morley Main Colliery. They devised a special

service to reverse this silence of history and

create an outreach opportunity.

Retired local miners and representatives of a

range of local organisations were in

attendance. These included the Mayor of

Morley and the local MP and Shadow Finance

Minister, Ed Balls. The local history society,

local schools, ex-miners, local political parties

and members of a local pensioners craft group

were in attendance. The craft group created a

Memorial Tapestry which was unveiled during

the ceremony. It displays the winding gear of

Morley Main Colliery around which all the

names and ages of the victims were carefully

stitched into the canvas. They had spent many

months in creating this stunning banner.

Full view of the memorial banner made by

Morley Elderly Action Craft Group

After sharing lunch together the participants

descended in the cage to the coal face where

they gathered for the Memorial Service at just

after 2.00 pm - the exact time of the explosion.

A retired local miner read the roll of the victims’

names. Also in attendance were descendants

of victims. One lady was there to remember

her great-great grandfather who was one of the

miners who perished in the disaster and left a

widow and two children.

Morley Mayor, Councillor Andy Dalton,

accompanied some of the pensioners, who

were in their 80s, to the coal face, along with

the other worshippers. During the service, he

recounted that the disaster killed 34 men and

11 pit ponies; 30 others were injured; one

quarter of the victims were teenagers; two

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Our Market Boys in Search of their livelihood

were brothers; two were fathers and sons; 13

women were widowed; 50 children were left

fatherless and 5 elderly dependents were left

unsupported.

Mayor and Mayoress Dalton getting ready

outside the cage to descend into the pit

Evangelist, Ian Dring, was able to sensitively

share the Gospel with those who attended.

Several hundred feet underground in one of the

galleries they listened with rapt attention as he

paid tribute to those who perished all those

years ago. In the darkness of the pit he was

able to commend the One who is the Light of

the World. He reminded everyone that the

death of Jesus was God’s great rescue plan for

those entombed in sin and darkness.

Rev. Captain Stephen Wright, who is the

minister of Morley Community Church, said

they had been amazed at the interest and

response to the event. He said that this special

service had created massive interest in the

town and the media. It had coverage on local

radio, regional television, local newspapers and

the national press.

He expressed his thanks to the staff at the

Mining Museum who had offered every

assistance in organising the Memorial Service.

Pastor Wright said, “This was an awful disaster

and the town has been able to come together

to pay respect to the memory of those who

perished. We have also reminded our town of

the great sacrifices made in previous

generations during the course of their daily

work. We have been able to bring the Good

News of the Gospel in a unique way to many in

our area who still have links with the mining

industry.”

The musician who accompanied the

hymns during the underground service

Morley Community Church is a mission

congregation of the Evangelical Fellowship of

Congregational Churches in the UK.

Pamela Senior and Kathleen Taffinder with the banner

made by Morley Elderly Action Craft Group

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Members of Morley Elderly Action Craft Group who made the memorial banner

Picture of one of the original modified safety lamps produced by Ackroyd and Best

(donated to the museum by Pamela Senior)

Group photo at Caphouse Pit with a number of those who attended including Neil Brittlebank (retired miner), Mrs

Hardy (91 years), Ed Balls MP, Mayor Andy Dalton, Clive McManus (History Society), Neil Wilkes (ex-Miner), and

Karen Ellis (far right - great grandaughter of George Bell who was one of the disaster victims)

Article and photographs kindly submitted by

Mayor, Councillor Andy Dalton

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GOD’S AMAZING WORK FOR THE POOR A Brief Report of our ministry in India

7th to 22nd December, 2012

Dear co-workers in Christ,

God’s love is Amazing! We had a wonderful time of ministry in India and here’s some news

which we would like to share with you.

Our Children – They shouted in joy ‘Henu leh Hepa ahung tai (Mom and Dad are here!)’ when

we arrived and they all started talking to us at the same time, making it a bit difficult for us to

respond individually. We were glad that they were all well and growing in all aspects.

Painful Experiences – A rapid increase in the number of orphans and widows due to armed

movements, deprivation of medical facilities for tribal people, and HIV/AIDS. In just a week, five

kids were brought to us, three of whom were victims of conflicts. During the same week, my

cousin, who was instrumental in my education, died of TB, a curable illness, leaving behind his

young pregnant wife, who is an orphan herself.

Bethesda Academy – We are preparing to start a school for tribal children from the New Year

2013, and during this visit we were able to make furniture, recruit teachers and invite local

church leaders for cooperation. We have 5 positions for mission workers’ children.

No light- only

Lantern and

Candles.

Very Cold – we say

‘children and winter

are friends.’

No parents – they

called us ‘Mom and

Dad.’

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Mentoring younger leaders – I had the privilege to meet with the three young men who we

supported for their theological training so they can form the next line of leadership in our church

organisation. Hemkhomang (MTh) has just completed his commentary on Matthew in a local

language to be used by more than thirty thousand members of our church both in India and

Burma. Lhunkholet (BD) is pioneering a church planting ministry, leading many to Christ.

Paokholun (BD) works among the youth and he has been very effective through music and song.

We discussed the needs of our society and our responses. Currently, we are supporting two

more young pastors in the same institution for an MTh and a BD respectively with a view to

having a bigger leadership team who are theologically trained.

Ballikinrain School Singing at a Wedding

Gifts from Alison Gray in Glasgow

Buying used warm clothes for the children Media Interview at Bethesda

Staff Meeting

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Cooking chicken curry for church leaders

Children playing a game

A hotel in our town

Playing in the shade—a daily routine

Story of the boy pictured above

His father died; his sickly mother (pictured above left)

brought him to us after one full day of travel from the

Burma border. Many have died in landmine explosions

planted by militants. Comforting his mother (his mother

told me) the boy said, “Mom, don’t die, I will study and

become an officer one day and then I will take you to the

hospital for treatment.” We took the boy, trusting that

God will provide his needs.

Story of the old man pictured above (left)

This man (80?) came pleading that his grand -

children be helped by Bethesda. His sons were

killed recently and their wives have left their

families. We are praying for support.

We thank all our friends who support us and

donate gifts to Bethesda.

May God continue to bless you all!

Lamboi and Boinu Haokip

Bethesda Khankho Foundation

www.bethesda.org.in

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JANUARY VISIT, 2013

Throughout our visit, our friend, Pastor

Symphony John Castillo acted as our driver,

guide, translator and facilitator. Not only did he

take us to schools and churches, but he was

able to exercise his pastoral ministry as the

Executive Director of NACC when speaking to

teachers and pastors.

On one occasion, we were also accompanied

by Rev. Ernanie (‘Nannie’), President and

Founder of NACC, and Mrs. Awit Castillo,

Executive Director and Founder of CCI. We

were delighted to visit the land that has been

purchased for a Campsite and Bible School at

Alfonso, in the popular tourist region of

Tagaytay, south of Manila. (You may recall the

article in the August, 2011 issue of OCW when

Joan Gillard and Jenny Best visited the site

and delivered funds for its purchase from FCC

churches in Australia. Joan and Jenny were

instrumental in leading the fund-raising efforts

of the FCC).

The excellent purchase price, far below that of

similar sites in the area, was surely a miracle

and confirmed God’s hand on this project.

However, that is just half of the story, with the

rest yet to be written. As you can see, the (20

metre frontage and 150 metre deep) site is

home to countless fruit trees, without a building

in sight.

This is a great opportunity for our WECF family

to practically express its fellowship by donating

towards the construction costs of the campsite.

NACC Philippines does not have the financial

reserves or income stream to undertake this

work by itself, but as a Fellowship we can do

our part to help develop this site. When

completed, it promises to play an important

role for NACC by providing regular income for

future ministry as well as a facility for its

churches to conduct family camps and the

already popular combined youth camps; it will

also provide facilities for Bible School training

for future pastors.

The next day, we were privileged to visit the

‘Promise Land Christian School,’ situated in

the shanty-town that surrounds the Smokey

Mountain garbage dump in Payatas, Metro-

Manila.

Symphony showing us the land

Bountiful fruit from the land

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The height of the mountain of garbage is

clearly shown in the photograph above. It

towers over the people’s makeshift homes,

providing a source of income for many as

recyclable materials are scavenged from the

piles of newly delivered garbage (people must

apply and pay for a licence to do so). As well,

the health of most is adversely affected.

Several years ago, a section of the ‘mountain’

collapsed after heavy monsoon rains, officially

burying 200 people, but locals estimate this to

be closer to 1,000.

Having visited the school on several

occasions, it was good to see it thriving and we

were able to bring a short Bible message to

three of the morning session classes (there are

two sessions each day); 250 students are

currently enrolled in the school. The bright

eyes and happy faces that met us and the joy

with which they sang Christian choruses and

recited Bible memory verses were testimony to

the importance of the ministry of the school in

an area where too many children still do not

attend school at all, despite the attempts of the

government to ensure they do.

It was challenging but encouraging to observe

the quality of education that is being offered,

despite less than ideal conditions and a lack of

basic resources. The Department of Education

has requirements (such as a library and

playing area) that the school must address in

the future and some of these will require a

serious injection of funds.

The wonderfully committed teachers who work

long hours certainly treat this as ministry

because they could earn much higher salaries

teaching in the public school system. NACC

and the school would love to be in the position

to increase their pay.

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The church that worships there on Sundays

has also continued to grow and now meets in a

newly constructed building, of more substantial

material than the previous sanctuary that was

largely destroyed by termites; the church was

originally established by Korean missionaries

and financial assistance for the new building

was received from Korean sources.

The visit to the school was followed by visits to

two of eight outreaches founded by Pastor

Lindo – he has a vision to plant twenty

outreaches that will eventually become

churches in their own right. It was amazing to

walk through the communities with him and

witness the respect and affection with which he

is regarded by children and adults alike.

The first outreach is not far from the Promise

Land Church and had up to 50 people meeting

for weekly Bible Study in a partially completed

shelter until a ‘twister’ removed most of the

roofing last September. The roof was

deposited on the next door property and at

present, only a small area of roofing remains to

provide shelter for the group that attends –

sadly, the reduced shelter has also led to a

reduction in attendance to about 30.

Some of the children in the

Kindergarten 2 Class

The damaged roofing that now rests

against the neighbour’s house

Pastor Lindo standing under the small area of

roofing that remains – note the suspended

lengths of timber that provide seating for the

Bible Study participants

Rev. Erlindo (Lindo) Ganiban, (middle)

Pastor of the Promise Land Church and

Mrs. Esther Ganiban, (left) the School

Principal, with Symphony John Castillo (right)

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The second outreach was at Bagong Silangan

(‘Place of New Birth’), a resettlement area for

squatters from the nearby district of Diliman.

Although only 3-4 kilometres away from the

Promise Land Church (in a direct line) on the

other side of Smokey Mountain, travel there

each Sunday afternoon is a time-consuming

and relatively expensive exercise for Pastor

Lindo and his team as it involves two jeepney

rides and one tricycle ride.

The believers meet in a community multi-

purpose room, with at least 120 people,

including children, from approximately 80

families attending regularly (30-40 children

meet for Sunday School before the service for

adults). Their meeting place was inundated

when the nearby river rose due to heavy

monsoon rains last August. The whole

community suffered greatly as it was engulfed

by flood waters that were many metres deep –

not once, but twice, in less than 24 hours! (See

October, 2012 OCW)

That evening, we joined members from the

‘Agape Bible Christian Church’ for its weekly

Prayer Meeting (see page 2). It was very

encouraging to share with people of all ages,

including some young children who joined older

members of the congregation in praying for

each other, such as Patrick, age 11, who sat

alongside Nannie Castillo in the men’s group.

11 year-old Patrick with Nannie Castillo Some of the believers with Symphony

and Pastor Lindo (extreme left)

outside the meeting room

Part of the meeting room

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On the Sunday during our visit, we attended

‘God’s Loving Care Christian

Fellowship’ (GLCCF) in Angono, which is led

by Pastor Jasper Jornales. The congregation

celebrated its 18th Anniversary on Sunday, 27

January. The meeting was marked by

enthusiastic singing and passionate prayer in

small groups, and Alan was privileged to bring

the message.

One of the blessings of being able to share at

GLCCF was spending time both before and

after the service with the enthusiastic and

entertaining children. There were plenty of

questions about Australia and much for them to

share about life in the Philippines. During the

service the children participated in their own

Sunday School program, but joined the adults

for a few minutes to recite their weekly Bible

memory passage.

That afternoon, we joined Pastor Jasper and a

team of faithful workers for a 45 minute drive

(longer by jeepney) to Barangay Evangelista

(township) in Baras Rizal, where GLCCF

established an outreach ministry in November,

2011. The service is conducted in the

Community Centre and it was very

encouraging for the visiting team to have the

Barangay Captain and his wife in attendance.

At least 40 local people were present, including

about 10 high school students. Once again,

enthusiastic singing and prayer for each other

were highlights of the service, and the ‘Aussie’

visitors brought a short message.

Pastor Jasper leading some of the singing

Alan preaching at GLCCF

Bright and well-trained students

Numbers are growing at the

Outreach Service

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On our last full day in Manila, we visited the

‘Agape Kiddie Learning Center,’ which is a

ministry of the ‘Agape Bible Christian Church’

at Bagong Silang, a poor re-settlement

community. The church is the daughter church

of the ‘Agape Bible Christian Church’ in

Quezon City. It is led by Pastor Chris

Padegdeg, a young man whose call to ministry

was reported in OCW in June, 2011. He

commenced as pastor three years ago

following completion of his theological training.

He is seen in the following picture outside the

church property, which is also home to the

Learning Center and Chris’s residence; there is

no car or truck access to the property or to

most of the homes in the community.

The Learning Center has a total of 18 students

in two Kindergarten classes that operate for

two hours each, one after the other on

weekdays. The head teacher and her two

assistants provide quality education despite

limited resources and the difficulty faced by

some families in paying the modest fees. The

Center’s witness and respect in the community

was clearly demonstrated by the number of

parents and younger siblings who also slipped

into the building to participate in the morning’s

program. On the day of our visit, the classes

were combined and the children presented

musical items to their visitors before Kerrian

presented a Bible lesson with the assistance of

an Australian wombat puppet.

The faithful team travel to serve each

Sunday afternoon

Symphony’s interpreting skills were

appreciated by all

Pastor Chris with the school’s teaching staff

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Maybe you would like to consider making a

donation to the development of the Campsite

and Bible School, the schools’ ministries or the

outreaches in the Philippines. Please do so

through our WECF Treasurer, specifying where

you would like your funds to be directed (see

page 34).

If you would like to become a Child Sponsor

(US$300 per year for school students; US$600

per year for college students) or offer a

Scholarship to a Pre-School Child (US$120 per

year) through CCI Philippines, please contact

Mrs. Awit Castillo or the Editor of OCW.

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JANUARY VISIT, 2013

After our week in the Philippines, we spent

another eleven days on Saipan and Guam with

two Pohnpein Churches that are Associate

Members of WECF. It was wonderful to meet

with these friends again.

On Saipan, we were graciously invited to

conduct leadership training seminars on five

evenings, and during the Sunday morning

worship service, Kerrian presented the

Children’s/Youth Message and Alan preached.

The training seminars included a series of Bible

teaching messages from 1 Corinthians and

Youth Ministry Training by Alan, and Children’s

Ministry Training by Kerrian (‘Using Effective

Object Lessons to Teach Bible Truths’).

A highlight of the seminars was the high quality

of the object lessons presented by the

participants, some of which are shown on the

next page.

Wonparon (Pastor) James Ramon

presenting an illustrated Bible talk during

one of the training seminars

Enthusiastic participation

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Games were a useful teaching tool

Careful

preparation

by each

participant was

clearly evident

in their

thoughtful

presentations

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Pictures above:

Saipan

Pictures above:

Guam

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The final phase of our trip was in Guam where

we were delighted to renew friendships at the

‘South Church.’ Seminars on Children’s and

Youth Ministry were presented on Friday and

Saturday evenings and Alan was again

privileged to preach on Sunday morning.

The church’s congregation includes good

numbers of children and youth and the

highlight of the Saturday seminar was the

presence of a lively group of young people who

participated enthusiastically in all of the

activities.

The church is undertaking work on its building

with new Sunday School rooms nearing

completion and a kitchen is planned for the

future.

Senior Wonparon (Pastor), Jerry Jim,

and his wife, Sirinha

Alan at a seminar evening and preaching on our final Sunday

Jerry addressing a church meeting

following the service

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The numbers of children and youth who

attend means the additional rooms will be

well-used when they are completed.

SHARE YOUR NEWS

AND BE AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE

WECF FAMILY.

EMAIL YOUR NEWS, PRAYER AND

PRAISE POINTS TO:

[email protected]

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SLIVEN REPORT - SEPTEMBER TO JANUARY

At the beginning of September, I celebrated

my 44th birthday at a small family celebration.

There were further celebrations in September

when Fanny and Mitko, members from our

church, were married in a wonderful setting at

Sozopol on September 15.

Every month, my family attends a meeting of

the pastoral families in Sliven, where we share

our life in ministry together and pray for each

other.

On September 22, a forum was held in the city

of Stara Zagora, titled ‘Pure Church,’ where

Pastor Kulichev and Pastor Mladen Mladenov

were guest speakers. They shared the time of

struggle, perseverance and persecution of

believers during Communist times in Bulgaria.

They witnessed to God’s grace and protection

during these turbulent times.

My wife, Zhani Slavcheva, and Anna Byankova

were invited to attend a one-day national

seminar in Sliven organised and run by

American missionaries in Bulgaria. The

sessions were led by Ivan Nikolov. The topic

was ‘Develop our Skills to Communicate

Effectively’ by careful listening without rushing

to give advice.

On October 13, Zhani was a guest speaker on

‘Share the Gospel with your Neighbour’ and

she was also a participant in the worship of a

national women's conference in the town of

Asenovgrad.

During October, we were blessed to have

Pastor Emmanuel Tinev as a guest in ECC -

Sliven.

October 1 to 4, Pastor Christo Kulichev and his

wife came to Sliven to hold public meetings to

familiarise attendees on the role of

Protestantism in the development of Bulgaria

during the Communist era. He presented his

books ‘On Freedom in Prison,’ ‘Process,’

‘Messengers of Truth,’ and ‘The Merits of

Protestantism in Bulgaria.’ A press conference

had been called and journalists promised they

would attend, but none came. In Bulgaria, after

20 years of democracy, media censorship still

exists.

In early November, we commenced the final

repairs and upgrading of the Sunday School of

ECC - Sliven. There has been great progress

on both the inside and the outside of the

building. We have insulated the roof, plastered

all the walls, placed lights in the ceiling,

completed all the plumbing and tiling in the

bathroom and bought a shower cabin for the

bathroom. Soon, we will start tiling the rooms

and the stairs.

In December, we received Christmas boxes

with gifts for the poor and three guests from

Scotland arrived in Sliven, helped distribute the

boxes and taped our Christmas ministry in the

region. For weeks we visited churches and

families and brought joy to many people in

need. We spent unforgettable days in which

the carol ‘O, Holy Night’ sounded out.

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After intense rehearsals, our worship group

prepared four new songs for Christmas and a

Jewish song about baby Jesus became a hit.

The choir presented a wonderful Christmas

program for the church which was enjoyed by

the regular congregation and visitors alike.

I was able to visit Shiroka laka, Vidin, Sofia,

Burgas, Veliko Tarnovo, Stara Zagora and

Kazanlak in severe winter conditions to give

presents to needy widows and children.

During 2012, God blessed our Church family

with beautiful babies in five families. All were

dedicated and surrounded with a prayer of

blessing and for God’s protection on their lives.

SUNDAY SCHOOL REPORT

On December 22, we all came together -

drivers, teachers and church children to invite

unbelieving friends to a Christmas party. They

listened to the Christmas story, participated in

games, songs and finally, a delicious

Christmas cake.

Children were given Christmas boxes. We

thank those who sacrificed their money and

time for our children! Thank you, dear friends

for your generous hearts.

In December, we found a house for a village

church in Seliminovo, because the daughter

church has met in a bus stop for 4 years.

YOUTH ACTIVITIES

Prayer meetings are regularly held every

Thursday and they are attended by a

permanent group of 20 people. In these

meetings the emphasis is put on the reading of

the Word of God and prayer. We celebrate

birthdays, which unites the young people. The

encouragement of the prayer meetings is that

all of the participants have started to realise

the need for devotion in their prayer life, which

has led to the creation of additional initiatives.

1. A group of young people gather every

morning at the church where they actively

intercede for our church and our city;

2. Another group of young people go to a

prayer mountain several times a week, where

they pray for the church and the city;

SATURDAY YOUTH MEETINGS

A permanent group of around 30-35 people

gather every week. During this quarter,

different guest preachers and brothers from

the youth group were invited to share the

Gospel. The encouragement from these

Saturday gatherings is the constancy of the

praise and the group work.

The topics studied were related to personal

sanctification, consecration to God and

dedication to service. It is encouraging that

young people respond to the call and really

change as they seek God.

In November, the young people organised

hand-made lunches to distribute with love to

the church members after one of the Sunday

services. The positive response of the whole

church encouraged them for future initiatives

that we hope to repeat again soon.

On the night of Christmas, a group of 17

people visited the homes of some of our

Church members. They sang Christmas songs

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and prayed for them. Food packages,

purchased with the personal funds of the

youth, were given to needy families.

FAMILY NEWS

We travelled a great deal in December and in

early January in very cold weather. I entered

hospital with acute pyelonephritis along with a

very high temperature. I had kidney tests with

poor results, so the doctors started me on two

antibiotics fed directly into my veins. After a

week in hospital I felt better, but I’m still at

home and am taking my third round of

antibiotics. I'll have further blood tests to check

my condition in the next few weeks.

Tsveti, our daughter, has applied to five

universities in the UK and Scotland, not for

Medicine, because they don't accept Bulgarian

and Romanian students, but she has decided

on Marketing, Advertising, PR and an extra

language (Italian). The universities are:

University of Greenwich, London

Kingston University, London

University of Glasgow, Scotland

University of Worcester, Worcester

University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield

On January 12, Tsveti sat the IELTS exam at

the American University in Sofia and the British

Council in Bulgaria. The results were ready by

January 25. She earned 8.00 from a maximum

of 9.00, which gives her the opportunity to

enter the universities for which she applied.

PRAISE THE LORD. Her application has

already been confirmed by all of the those

mentioned above, with the exception of the

University of Glasgow, Scotland. The final

deadline is for Tsveti to confirm one of the

conditional offers by May 8, 2013.

Please pray for wisdom and God’s leading for

her and our family as this momentous decision

is made.

Till next time, God Bless you,

Pastor Stoyan Slavchev

IT’S TIME

FOR A DECISION!

Are you going to be at the

10th Triennial WECF Meeting,

23 to 27 September, 2013?

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A

U

S

T

R

A

L

I

A

W E C F 10th Triennial Meeting

23 – 27 September, 2013

Wonderful Bible Teaching

Hear what is happening

around the world

Rich Fellowship

FELLOWSHIP OF

CONGREGATIONAL

CHURCHES, AUSTRALIA

Families are encouraged

to participate in this

WECF event.

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PROGRAM SAT 21/SUN 22 Overseas delegates arrive

MON 23 SEP Afternoon – Registration of Participants

Evening – Triennial Meeting commences. Theme: ‘No Other’

TUE 24 SEP Meeting continues

Optional afternoon outing (Symbio Zoo/Stanwell Tops/Sea Cliff

Bridge)

WED 25 SEP Meeting continues

THU 26 SEP Meeting continues

Optional afternoon outing (Wollongong/Kiama area)

FRI 27 SEP Meeting concludes (after lunch)

SAT 28 SEP Day Outing for Overseas Visitors – Sydney (Harbour Bridge, Opera

House, Manly Ferry Trip)

SUN 29 SEP Visits by overseas visitors to FCC Churches; preaching where

appropriate

MON 30 SEP Possible trip to Canberra for overseas visitors, travelling through

the Southern Highlands and farming country to the Nation’s

Capital (determined by demand)

TUE 1 OCT Canberra trip continues, including Floriade floral festival

WED 2 OCT Canberra trip continues – afternoon return to Sydney

THU 3 OCT Overseas delegates depart for home countries, OR

Further local sightseeing, OR

Depart for other Australian destinations.

COMPLETE PROGRAM IS ATTACHED TO EMAIL

BIBLE HOUR SPEAKER

Rev. Mike Raiter

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Plan on joining us in Plan on joining us in

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where you will be where you will be

blessed and be a blessed and be a

blessing to others!blessing to others!

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Initial requests for accommodation for those who have already

sent an ‘Expression of Interest’ were made in early September,

2012.

Please prayerfully consider attending this conference and

confirm this by emailing your Registration Form to:

[email protected]

REGISTRATION

A Registration Form is attached to this email, along with the 2013

Accommodation options and price list.

For those who have already sent an ‘Expression of Interest’ to

attend, please see the revised 2013 Accommodation options and

price list and confirm your choice on the attached Registration

Form.

DEPOSIT

Please secure your accommodation and registration with a

$AU50 deposit.

Payment Methods:

1. Cheques made payable to Fellowship of Congregational

Churches. Post to:

PO Box 47s,

Bexley South,

NSW 2207,

AUSTRALIA

2. Direct Deposit to:

BSB No: 062 253

Account No: 0090 1607

Title: Fellowship of Congregational Churches

Identify the transaction with ‘WECF Deposit’ and your name.

3. PayPal

Send to: [email protected]

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VISA

Overseas visitors will need to organise their visa prior to

travelling to Australia. You can do this through your travel agent

or online by visiting the following:

http://australia.gov.au/people/tourists/visas

REGISTRATION FEE

A Registration Fee of $AU40 per adult to help cover the Meeting

expenses, is payable at the Registration Desk on Monday 23

September, 2013.

THEME: NO OTHER . . . (Evening Sessions)

Monday - No Other Gospel

Rev. Alan Best - WECF President

Tuesday - No Other King

Rev. Dr. Stephen Gammon

WECF Vice-President

Wednesday - No Other Power

Rev. Mike Plant - WECF Secretary

Thursday - No Other Life

Rev. Matthew Murray

Engadine Congregational Church, Australia

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1813 - 1873

by Arthur Fraser Evangelical Fellowship of Congregational Churches (EFCC), UK

Dr David Livingstone has had bad press of

late. He has been accused of hypocrisy, self-

righteousness and ruthlessness in pursuing his

own aims; in short, a man with whom it was

almost impossible to work. Are these charges

justified? And did he, as some claim, abandon

true missionary work to become an explorer?

It must be conceded that Livingstone had

difficult, even turbulent, relationships with

fellow missionaries, not least his in-laws, Dr

Robert and Mrs Mary Moffat. In one strongly-

worded letter to her son-in-law, Mary signed

off “in great perturbation.” When his sending

body, the London Missionary Society, would

not support his plan to pioneer a new route

across Africa, he resigned from it “without a

pang.” On his own admission, Livingstone was

fiercely independent. Perhaps this trait owed

something to his native Highland stock, for

although he was reared in the Scottish

Lowlands, the family’s ancestral home was the

small island of Ulva just off Mull. Whatever the

explanation, his independence, coupled with a

strong visionary spirit, made him the

exceptional man he was.

FINNEY’S INFLUENCE

Blantyre, his birthplace, was where he worked

from the age of 10 in the local textile factory.

Books placed on the spinning-jenny were read

through for no longer than a minute at a time,

a feat of patience and perseverance which

foreshadowed his exploits in later life. Soon

after his conversion to Christ at the age of 20,

his father Neil, in protest against the patronage

system, led the whole family out of the Church

of Scotland to join the independent

Congregational Chapel at Hamilton. The move

was a mixed blessing for Livingstone. Several

of the educated members of the chapel, who

were in touch with theologians in America,

introduced him to the writings of Charles G

Finney whose Arminian views coloured his

own reformed outlook. In a letter, he once

urged a minister friend to read Finney’s works,

adding that “ministers . . . must adapt . . . to

save souls, and if sinners are not saved the

blame is theirs.” It is salutary to note that he

himself could claim only one conversion in the

whole of his time in Africa.

ACHIEVEMENTS

What then of his achievements? Was he the

failure that some have made him out to be? It

seems appropriate in this bicentenary year (at

the time of writing) of the abolition of the trans

-Atlantic slave trade to focus first on his crucial

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role in ending the African slave trade. Nearly

50 years before Livingstone went to Africa (in

1841), William Wilberforce recognised that

legitimate commerce would be the most

effective way of stamping out slavery in Africa.

Thomas Buxton, Wilberforce’s successor,

sharpened this conviction in a speech made in

London at a meeting which Livingstone himself

attended prior to his departure for Africa. The

much criticised and misunderstood remark he

made in a speech at Cambridge University,

that he was returning to Africa “to make an

open path for commerce and Christianity,” has

to be read in that light. From his standpoint, it

was emphatically not a reversal of his priorities.

He was simply stating the accepted thinking of

the time. An immediate effect of his

explorations was to expose to the world the full

horrors of African slavery, especially as

practised by the Arab traders. In one terrible

massacre at Nyangwe, some 400 people,

mostly women and children, were slaughtered.

This dreadful event gave him “the impression

of being in hell.” His firsthand accounts made a

profound impact on opinion back home, and

soon led to the stamping out of this hideous

trade on the African continent.

AFRICA OPENED TO THE GOSPEL

But his achievements go very much further.

Through his pioneering travels, he truly opened

up Africa to the Gospel. Within a decade of his

death, mission stations were established in

present-day Malawi at Livingstonia and

Blantyre. The opening up of Christian work in

Uganda, Congo and elsewhere, plus the

planting of medical missions, can all be traced

directly to his inspiration and influence. On

reading the words, “Other sheep I have which

are not of this fold . . . ” engraved on his tomb,

Peter Scott was profoundly moved, an

experience which proved to be the seed of the

African Inland Mission.

Livingstone died a lonely death in an attitude of

prayer at his bedside in the heart of the

continent he came to love. Figuratively, the

seed fell into the ground and died, but it

produced much fruit in accordance with the

words of Christ. Whatever the failings of this

great man – and, yes, he had many – this is

how he is to be ultimately judged. When the

servant follows his Master, a harvest is sure.

A NOBLE WORK

This truth was beautifully expressed in a

message to Livingstone’s daughter by Lord

Polwarth: “His memory will never perish . . . his

prayers will be had in everlasting

remembrance, and unspeakable blessings will

yet flow to that vast continent he opened up at

the expense of his life. God called and qualified

him for a noble work, which, by grace, he nobly

fulfilled, and we can love the honoured servant,

and adore the gracious Master.”

This brief biography is taken from the

WECF website

www.wecf-cong.org

Follow the Link:

We Stand on the Shoulders of Giants

It was first published in the series,

‘Congregational Worthies’

in ‘Congregational Concern,’

Magazine of the EFCC

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MEMBER COUNTRIES

OFFICERS

ASSOCIATE MEMBER COUNTRIES

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Our Congregational World is a publication of the World Evangelical Congregational

Fellowship. Its purpose is to provide articles to challenge and encourage both our corporate

and individual Christian witness, share news and keep member countries informed of WECF

happenings:

www.wecf-cong.org

The views expressed in Our Congregational World are those of the contributors and are not

necessarily those of the Editor or the Executive Committee of the WECF.

All rights are reserved to edit any article submitted for publication.

Please forward articles, news items or prayer requests for the next issue of Our

Congregational World to the Editor, Kerrian Cartledge, by Friday, 19 April 2013.

[email protected]

If email access is unavailable, please forward to:

Kerrian Cartledge

23/78 Hotham Road

Gymea NSW 2227

AUSTRALIA

WHAT CAN I DO?

PRAYERFULLY CONSIDER WAYS

TO SUPPORT THE WORK OF WECF

If you feel led to help any of our member fellowships, or provide scholarships to assist delegates to attend

the next Triennial Meeting, please forward funds designated for these purposes to the WECF Treasurer.

You can send your donation to:

Bill Brandon

WECF Treasurer

2354 Kimberly Court

Carlsbad, CA, 92008, USA THANK YOU FOR YOUR GRACIOUS CONSIDERATION