News Update

Our 'Carol Service' last Sunday evening directed our thoughts, hearts and voices to our Lord Jesus and to God's love and grace in sending His Son to be our Saviour. We were encouraged that several from the village joined with us, as well as a number of Christian believers from at least three local Churches. Bible readings, carols and songs were centred around 4 key words of Christmas; love, joy, righteousness and peace. Our picture shows Tom accompanying his mother Deb in a recorder duet of the German carol 'Freude, freude'. (Joy, joy). Geoff Holder, our son, gave a concluding Bible message from the praise of the Angels - "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace" The whole service was conducted in German although some appreciated singing occasional verses in English.

We wish all our readers a very happy and blessed Christmas.

This picture of Phyl with our nephew's children was taken during our recent itinerary around parts of UK. It's a great privilege to have contact with so many lovely people who come and stay with us in Haus Barnabas. Before we gave up our home in Yorkshire and went out to Basel in 1983 one Scripture verse with a promise which spoke to us was Mark 10:29-30:

So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time — houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions — and in the age to come, eternal life."

Through our ministry in Haus Barnabas and through our children and grandchildren we are certainly seeing the fulfillment of this and praise God for His goodness. The promise however also mentions 'persecutions' and we are beginning to recognise that many of our daily struggles arise from spiritual 'persecution'. Satan is extremely frustrated by every true believer and follower of Jesus Christ, his arch enemy, and it's quite amazing what difficulties and opposition to a smooth and comfortable life he can bring to all of us who love Jesus. Thankfully we can rejoice that through His death and resurrection Jesus has defeated Satan and these struggles are only for a short time. The promised goal is eternal life in the age to come.

Phyl and I are now back in Utzenfeld for Christmas and and New Year but would invite anyone reading our blog to come and meet us in Stanmore, Middx for a reunion and information afternoon on Saturday 22nd January. Details below:

Saturday January 22^nd 2011
Stanmore Chapel
Marsh Lane, Stanmore HA7 4HP
3.00pm – 6.00pm
(More information: Tel: 01227 363857)

News Update

Phyl & Len have been motoring around the UK with meetings in various places on the eastern side of Britain. The picture was taken in Durham of our friend Helen demonstrating skillfully her latest musical instrument. Providentially we have been one step ahead of the snow, leaving Durham the day before it arrived there and then after the weekend in Basildon escaping from there the day before the heavy snow hit the southeast. We are now safely tucked away in Ashford, Kent and trusting the weather will improve to allow us to motor back to Germany at the end of next week.
Although both struggling with one or two ailments we have had an encouraging time. Between meetings we have prepared a brochure/calendar for 2011 which we would like to circulate to all past guests and interested friends but this is rather dependent on the finance being available.
A scripture that has blessed me in the past weeks is the promise from Isaiah 58:11. “The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.”