END OF YEAR REPORT 2011

 

It is an enormous pleasure for me to write this end of year report but even as I write these words I realise that these sorts of letters are supposed to be upbeat! However, I want to say that they are not mere words but truly express how I feel. I am enormously grateful to God.

 

The decision I made with my Accountability Panel in the summer to commit myself to three Eastern European missions in the autumn and in the spring has been totally vindicated. It is true that I have had my busiest autumn ever since I began this work and have got very tired at times (mainly due to travelling to and from Romania) but that is a small cost in relation to what has been achieved. The Aiud area, Northern Romania and Satu Mare missions were some of the best so far and I have invitations to return. I am seeing the realisation of my desire to build long term relationships with churches so that there can be some sort of continuity in discipleship making. I do not believe in ‘smash and grab’ raids!

 

I am aware that I have not yet reported back on my last mission in Satu Mare so let me quote a bit from Daniel’s own report from his perspective of directing the mission. First, I need to say that the bad news was that my flight was cancelled, which meant my missing the first event. However, this worked for good because one of the local pastors spoke with great effect. It was a youth meeting and I am sure he was better at it than me. I managed to fly on a Budapest flight after a delay of six hours and then drive across to my Romanian destination. The mission then got under way. Daniel summarised our time together when he wrote that the mission had its own challenges like: “the cancelling of Fane’s flight, the increased costs, more people coming to the events than expected, restaurant owners cancelling reservations two days before the events etc. But despite all this the Gospel was preached and people got saved!” Well, that is what it is all about. And it is representative of all missions.

 

The cream on the cake was the last event and again I quote Daniel: “Even before the last event where 10 families from one church brought more that 140 guests, Pastor Alex asked, ‘When can we have another mission? We want to reach out to more people.’ When seeing this kind of dedication, the grade of involvement and passion for the lost from one small church who really have a vision for their town, it is hard to say ‘no’. 73 people accepted Jesus as their Saviour at this event.”

This is why I intend to do six missions a year. It is unfortunate that they have to be concentrated into a relatively few months but that it is how it must be. And I want to express my appreciation for those who direct the missions for they are tireless in making as sure as possible that the churches are properly prepared and that each event runs smoothly with a menu at the right price.

 

In between these missions I spoke at Eleos events in Keswick and then Carlisle, which went very well. The last engagement was at a lovely evangelistic service in  the East End of London where I was given 45 minutes to preach (and it said so on the notice sheet). 

 

Now, I must mention finance because this too has been remarkable. My mission expenses this year have amounted to some £22,000 and 90% of all this has been met through the incredible generosity of my supporters. It has been the result of some amazingly large gifts and numerous smaller ones and I thank God for each one. To put this in perspective, I left for my final mission without any money to pay for it yet by the time I came to pay my account I had sufficient. Even then, an extra £1,400 was required and this was effectively given the same day I heard about this sum being needed. And I must add an enormous thank you to the person who anonymously donated over £1,500. I am very grateful. You know who you are!

 

I hope as you read this report you can see why I began as I did. Our loving gracious Lord has blessed this work in so many ways and we have been partners together with him in what has happened.

 

And next year? Only God knows but I trust him. I hope to start again in March with three spring missions and hope to return to some of the places I visited this year. I have already mentioned those I went to in the autumn but you might remember that in the spring I went to Targu Mures and also Campulung and Fagaras area. I shall not visit the first one again (unless there is a change of heart)because although it was a good mission, certainly one church failed to do proper follow up. However, I may well return to the second and I am still in touch with one of the pastors from there.

 

There is also one UK town which I am very excited about. I was brought up in Holyhead and when I was recently there on a Sunday I felt moved to ask the vicar if she would like to have an evangelistic meal event. Not only have I heard that she wants this but also I have been asked to speak about it at a Deanery Chapter as the Area Dean wants to include the whole deanery. Additionally, the Archdeacon wants to attend the meeting. To preach the gospel where I lived as a boy would be real privilege. And as I have mentioned before it is not easy to get events in this country, which needs to hear the good news so much.

 

This has been a long report but I hope it thrills you to read it as much as it does for me to write it.

 

Thank you so much.