We had a very good day at the GBM area 2008 mission meetings. About 100 people were present altogether.

 

In the afternoon Jean Ellis spoke about her work amongst the deaf in Klagenfurt and her pioneering work in putting the bible into Austrian sign language. Derek French then spoke about GBM radio work and the opportunities that they have to teach people through the questions that are sent in to them. Many of these relate to the struggles people face with the idea that there cannot be a God if there is suffering in the world. We listened to a programme that is about to be aired in which an 18-year-old Christian who has cystic fibrosis shared his testimony.

Whilst this meeting was being held the dozen or so young children who were present had a separate meeting. They greatly enjoyed the bible story that Derek French shared and being taught sign language by Jean Ellis.   

After a tea the evening meeting heard from John MacDonald on his recent trip to the Philippines. It was wonderful to see the variety of the work and to have our hearts touched by the great need and the great gospel that can meet those needs. Derek French bought the day to a close by preaching from Ezra. Ezra was a man who was devoted to God’s word; who was devoted to obeying God’s word and who was devoted to teaching God’s word.

We were also able to take time through the day to pray for the GBM missionaries who have been sent out from Association churches.

Our thanks go to the church at Ramsey, Great Whyte for hosting the day

 

Those taking part were

Jean has given her life to work in Austria. She is based in Klagenfurt working alongside the Free Evangelical Church. Her ministry today is almost exclusively among the Deaf and their families. She has contact with many people by this means and a small number have come to know the Lord. Jean attends a Deaf Club and regular meetings for the Deaf are held at the Evangelical Church. This has developed into a very significant ministry. There have been a number of conversions and baptisms recently for which we give thanks to God. Her main project at present is to produce the Bible in Austrian Sign language. This is a vast undertaking and is Jean's vision for the future development of the work. Help is needed to move this project forward but Jean hopes to have more time to spend on this as the Deaf believers take more responsibility for their own meetings.

John is GBM mission co-ordinator. He will speak about GBM work in the Philippines. This work has been ongoing since the 1970s and sees missionaries involved in pastoral work, literature ministry, the training of pastors, church fellowship, work amongst street children and the homeless, and church planting. Read more about GBM work in the Philippines here.

Derek produces and presents Sound Words and Serving Today. Derek’s background is in electrical engineering. After theological training he served the Lord as a pastor in two churches over a number of years. In 1992, he joined the GBM Radio Team. He will talk about the the GBM radio work, which sees the gospel being broadcast into many countries. He will concentrate on GBM’s involvement in helping the training of African pastors. Derek will also be bringing the day to a close by preaching at the evening meeting.