Update May 2007
The last Newsletter looked forward to an exciting quarter and went to press as Chris and June West were embarking on their first ministry trip together for Accts MMI. At the same time Simon Farmer was, with Paul Whitehead, completing his final trip. Headlines from these trips are below along with notes for your prayers from the Middle East Retreat in Cyprus, and recent activities in Europe. Full reports on all these will be in the July Newsletter but this Update provides additional prayer fuel for the next 6 weeks. Remember to pray for Jos McCabe as he completes his service in the Royal Marines (31 May 2007 is his last day) and Homfray Vines, as he looks forward to life after leading Accts MMI.
South Asia
Wests to Bangladesh, Nepal and Delhi:
· Bangladesh – A strong desire to establish a Chaplaincy and a prime candidate is identified.
· Nepal – MCF meets for Bible study once a month; the committee meet for prayer every Friday morning at 0700; fellowship groups in Bharatpur and Pokara as well as Kathmandu. Keen to run a discipleship course.
· Delhi – Visit to Pentecostal Church outside Air-Force base en route to Agra (Taj Mahal) and envisioning for work amongst other ranks; vision for re-birth of a Chaplaincy and contacts exist to pursue this. There is much here that needs prayer, please join us.
Chris West meets Indian naval engineer in USA. This was an opportunity trip to meet a faithful Christian officer in the Indian Navy who was on a short assignment in USA and to share about AMCF and the vision for such work in India. Pray as he returns home with his new ship and new vision for the Kingdom of God amongst the Indian navy.
Africa.
Simon Farmer’s final trip in Francophone Africa (with Paul Whitehead):
· Mali (3% Christian) - Mali authorities prepared to introduce Christian chaplains to the Defence Force and to acknowledge officially the MCF. - “We were free to pray with all the commanders.” -“The MCF were most encouraged by our visit”. Praise God!
· Burkina Faso (18% Christian). Met the Burkina Faso Chief Chaplain who said it was the first time he had met chaplains from any other nation in his country to discuss Chaplaincy issues. Simon was invited to preach at the church for the military.
Remember to pray for Simon and Rachel Farmer now with Mission Direct.
Europe.
Military Christian Conference in Romania organised and hosted by Chaplain Gabi Georghias, the sole non-Orthodox Romanian military chaplain - attended by Accts MMI supporter Mark Hibbert-Hingston: “The day seemed to be complete around 2030, when suddenly Gabi asked the conference ‘Does anyone believe we need a military fellowship?’ Every hand seemed to shoot up in unison.”
Lithuania Cadet Bible Camp - attended by Accts MMI Trustee, David Baldwin and supporter, Bob Elliott. About 45 delegates, including some from Latvia, Slovenia, Germany and Poland. “The youngsters were awesome!” Please pray for these “awesome” youngsters.
Polish Marriage Seminar - 26 participants, held in a church in Swinoujscie the very north-west of Poland. All the participants said they had received a lot from it and it would improve their marriages.
Middle East.
The Cyprus Retreat was perhaps a highlight for the whole period:.
· Four Countries were represented by eighteen delegates. Praise God all made it safely there.
· “He [a senior Egyptian officer] crossed the room and embraced the two young Israelis – there was hardly a dry eye in the room” - more about this moving moment in the July Newsletter.
· Country reports were most valuable as they enabled us to understand the unique challenges each country faced in promoting Christian fellowship amongst military personnel.
· Dinah (Sudan) had taken leave and on her own initiative spent three weeks travelling to one of the southern provinces in Sudan to explain to a senior officer about the idea of MCFs.
