News Update

We have been experiencing some very low temperatures here in recent days and our picture shows the Todtnau Waterfall, which is familiar to most of our guests, almost completely frozen. To inexperienced eyes the man seen climbing up it seemed to be seriously risking his life, but he appeared to know what he was doing!
We enjoyed fellowship today, in our morning service, with two British guests and two American families the wives of whom originated from the Black Forest and were visiting their now aging parents here. Our sermon took up the text in the Daily Manna readings below. The reminder of God's presence with us in the Person of His Holy Spirit, our Comforter, Teacher, Guide and Advocate is a tremendous blessing and encouragement as we go into another week.

News Update

We, Phyl & Len, have had an interesting and encouraging time in UK. It has been lovely to see so many of our friends and family. Our London reunion at Stanmore brought friends and past guests together from as far afield as Brighton, Essex and Hertfordshire and it was great to catch up with each other's news and to share our on-going vision for the ministry of Haus Barnabas. It was also good to spend some days in our home region of Hampshire and also to visit Suffolk for the first time. Last Saturday we had been invited to renew friendship with both children, parents and friends who had spent time with us in Utzenfeld in the Pitsea Family Week holidays and the venue was the church hall of Waldringfield Baptist Chapel in Suffolk. It was a very encouraging time and particularly to see Richard and Michelle who were converted through a holiday with us in 2009 going on well spiritually. An even larger group from Pitsea are planning to come back to us in the Black Forest this August. The next day in the Sunday morning service in the Waldringfield Church, Pastor Steve Wyncoll, who had been with us for ministry in 2011 enthused about his visit to us and gave us opportunity to report on our work and ministry. The picture shows a service in the chapel in this picturesque Suffolk village of Waldringfield.
Although January is a quiet month for us in Germany, Tim and Deb have been keeping the 'home fires burning' and Deb has also had a good schedule of English teaching. Sadly Tom has gone down with chicken pox and quite likely Esther will follow suit. We expect to be back home there at the end of this week.
We have been very appreciative for the kind hospitality we have received during our travels and particularly for our 'home base' with Margaret and David Harman in Ashford.

News Update

Our Christmas carol service last Sunday evening proved to be an occasion that brought together many of our friends and personal contacts over the years we have been in Utzenfeld. It was also good to have one or two new faces. The weather was snowy but in contrast with Britain, somehow our Black Forest folk seem to feel that the worse the weather the greater the challenge to venture forth and face the elements.

Our programme of Scripture readings and carols lasted about an hour and in the concluding 'meditation' Len emphasised that without receiving the Lord Jesus with a personal faith it is impossible to worship Him with the shepherds and wise men or to experience the real joy of Christmas. We pray that this Christmas may prove to be the time that many all around the world worship the Son of God with a believing mind and a true heart. He is no longer a baby in Bethlehem, no longer the suffering Saviour on the cross, but the risen and ascended Lord Jesus who through the Gospel message is calling men and women everywhere to turn from a selfish and sinful way of life to enjoy 'without money and without price' all the benefits He has purchased for us at great price.

"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich." 2 Cor 8:9

1. Thou who wast rich beyond all splendour,
All for love's sake becamest poor;
Thrones for a manger didst surrender,
Sapphire-paved courts for stable floor.
Thou who wast rich beyond all splendour,
All for love's sake becomest poor.

2. Thou who art God beyond all praising,
All for love's sake becamest man;
Stooping so low, but sinners raising
Heavenwards by thine eternal plan.
Thou who art God beyond all praising,
All for love's sake becamest man.

3. Thou who art love beyond all telling,
Saviour and King, we worship thee.
Emmanuel, within us dwelling,
Make us what thou wouldst have us be.
Thou who art love beyond all telling,
Saviour and King, we worship thee.

Frank Houghton (1894-1972)

News Update

Today Phyl celebrates her 65th birthday! Wow, where have the years gone? We are still in the UK and are just completing an interesting and helpful tour visiting several Churches and friends in the north and east of Britain. After many years we met up again with one of Phyl's earliest friends. They started school together in 1950! Here they are together after more than 60 years. We were very pleased with the 'reunion and information meetings' we had both in Yorkshire and Essex and it was so encouraging to find that some friends motored more than 100 miles to see us again! We also thank and praise the Lord for the kindness of those who have given us such generous hospitality during our time here.
We've still got room in Haus Barnabas over Christmas! Why not come and join us.

News Update

For some, Sunday afternoon walks in the autumn can be just as enjoyable as in the summer if you are dressed appropriately! In fact October this year has given us some wonderful sunny days with only a blip one weekend when snow fell and settled down to a height of 800 m. Guests returning from a visit to Titisee commented that the view of the lake was blanketed out by large flakes of driving snow. Although in general it has been a mild autumn.
Phyl & Len are at present in UK and have set up office in the dining room of the kind and longsuffering David and Margaret Harman in Ashford. We head north and east in the middle of next week for visits and meetings in a number of places including an open 'reunion and information' afternoon in Otley, Yorkshire. Join us if you are able at Bethel Hall, Myers Croft, Otley LS21 3JG at 3.30pm on Sat 12th Nov., or if it's closer in Basildon, Essex on Sat 19th at Kingswood Baptist Church SS16 5DH again at 3.30 pm. On this afternoon you are invited to join us in a bring and share tea followed by an evening session with missionary reports by both Len and also David Quin from Asia Link Ministries. Don't hesitate to email us if you want more information about these meetings.

News Update

Autumn is here again and the maple tree opposite the house, as seen in the picture, is in full colour once again. Phyl & Len are frantically finalising a year-end news report and a calendar/brochure and numerous other things ready to leave for UK in the last week of October.

Those of you in the north and east of Britain may be interested to join us at "Reunion and Information" meetings we are arranging in Otley, Yorkshire and Basildon, Essex. It would be lovely to see as many of you as possible.

Saturday 12th November - 3.30pm in Bethel Hall, Myers Croft, Otley LS21 3JG - We plan a fairly informal time when we talk about the work and bring you pictures, mostly taken by our guests, leading into a short devotional time with opportunity for prayer and concluding with refreshments. Any queries please contact Mrs Elaine Wilkinson on 01943 461367

Saturday 19th November at Kingswood Baptist Church, Codenham Straight, Basildon, Essex SS16 5DH

3.30pm – 5pm We, Len & Phyl share the vision God has given us for Haus Barnabas with up-to-date news

5pm Bring and share tea with fellowship

6pm – 8pm Worship and news about Gospel outreach from both Len & Phyl in the Black Forest of Germany and from David Quin from Asia Link Ministries. David Quin will bring a closing message.

Any queries please contact David Barnes 01268 475297

We are pleased to have a continuing stream of guests during October with one or two giving of their time to help in practical ways too. Also a young Christian man from St Petersburg, Russia was able to obtain a visa and is now with us probably until the end of the year. It's encouraging to see the house a hive of activity and our morning prayers when we can commit everything to the Lord's control, over-ruling and blessing is so very, very important to us all.

News Update

Tom and Esther are an integral part of the team in Haus Barnabas and play an essential role in keeping the house young! Their involvement in the children's part of our Sunday worship and Bible ministry is also greatly appreciated. Tom doesn't yet lead any of the songs with the guitar, that's still his mother's gifted contribution to the worship but as the picture shows it doesn't look as though it will be long before he can play his part too. Phyl is also teaching him the key board and violin!
Esther started 'proper' school this week and here she is with her school bag and the traditional German 'Schultüte'. This is a similar idea to a Christmas stocking. In it the parents give the child on his/her first day of school presents of both things for school such as exercise books and coloured pencils etc and sweets and other little gifts.
September has been a quieter time for us as far as guests in the house is concerned, which is a pity as the weather was been for the most part sunny and warm and as we come towards the end of the month the leaves are beginning to turn to display their beautiful autumn mode of dress.
We have so much reason to join the angel in singing their song of Isaiah 6:2:

"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
The whole earth is full of His glory!"