Autumn in the UK

Calvary Chapel Bible College York

It has been a busy semester here at the Bible college.  I am currently teaching through the Gospel of John which has been a great blessing.  Last month we went away with the students to the Yorkshire Dales for speaker’s week, a time of reflection in a beautiful pastoral setting with green hills and many sheep.  In addition to spending time with the Lord, we enjoyed some great Bible teachings from guest speakers.  Peter Will from CC Hanover, Germany shared several messages.

We cooked on a wood-fired grill in the Dales; I got to split
some wood which is a great autumn pastime!

 CC York

Things at the church have been quite busy as well.  The church has a diverse makeup of university students (York University and York Saint John’s), Bible college students, and regular attendees from the community. This makes for a dynamic international fellowship.   There are quite a few university students from Hong Kong and China who come to the church and will at some point be heading back to their respective countries so it is exciting to ponder how the Lord might eventually use them.

I am still in the worship leading rotation at the church, which has been a blessing.  When I became a Christian, I didn’t play guitar and never intentionally set out to become a worship leader; it’s just something that God gave me over time for which I am grateful.  I am also still actively involved in the prison ministry.  At present we are going into HMP Humber Prison once a month on a Sunday to minister to the inmates.  We conduct a service which includes worship, teaching, prayer, breaking bread (or biscuits), and fellowship- sort of like Acts 2:42!

Hull Update: Bible Study

Through a series of events, the Lord opened the door to begin a weekly Bible study in Hull back in July. The study has been slow going with a small handful of people who come with me from York but it has been rich with the Lord’s presence.  We worship the Lord, have a Bible study, and spend time interceding for the city.  I usually come to Hull one other day per week besides the Bible study day and the Lord nearly always brings at least one person across my path with whom I am able to share the Gospel.  We believe that the Lord is wanting to do a work in the city but we are in a season of prayer and sowing seed wherever it has the potential to take.  We brought a team of Bible college students over last week and did an outreach with music and evangelism in the city center.  The Lord gave us perfect weather (for England; no rain!) and our group had quite a few conversations with people as Dave and I played worship music.  Please pray for the Lord’s will in Hull!

Homeless Encampment by BBC building in Hull

 UK Driving License

I recently passed the theory (written) test for my UK driving license.  I am scheduled to take the practical (road) test on January 11.  The test lasts forty minutes and I am told that it is easy to fail the first time due to technicalities; please pray that I pass it the first time around!

USA Visit

I will be in America from December 16 through January 3 and will be teaching Sunday morning (12/18) at Calvary Chapel Gateway in Northfield, NJ.

Sheep in the Yorkshire Dales

"For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come.  Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name" (Hebrews 13:14-15).

As always, prayers are greatly appreciated, particularly as the Holy Spirit leads.

Blessings,  Paul                                  

Paul's Update from England

Hull Update: Bible Study

The Lord has opened the door to begin a weekly Bible study in the city of Hull at the Victoria Dock Village Hall beginning July 20.  Lord willing I will be teaching through the Gospel of John.  Hull’s proper name is Kingston upon Hull but these days it is referred to simply as Hull.  It is the hometown of the abolitionist William Wilberforce and also the place where Hudson Taylor studied medicine in preparation for missionary work in China.  Hull is a city with a population of around 250,000 and is situated about an hour east of York on the Humber River which flows into the North Sea.  It has faced significant economic and social issues since the decline of the fishing industry in the 1970's.  About ten years ago it was ranked the worst place to live in the UK by a particular group of researchers, although not all would agree with this conclusion.  The city has received the designation “UK City of Culture” for the year 2017 and is currently getting a makeover in preparation for the forthcoming festivities.  Folks from Calvary Chapel York have been praying for several years for an outreach Bible study to begin in Hull and the Lord seems to be putting things together for this particular season.  I have been going there regularly for the last 3 or 4 months to simply walk and pray and the Lord has brought some people across my path and provided a meeting location.  Prayers are greatly appreciated as this is a step of faith.

Queen’s Gardens, Hull City Centre

Prison Ministry

Calvary Chapel York has an active prison ministry.  Twice per month on Sundays we go into HMP Humber prison and have a service for the prisoners.  I've had the opportunity to both lead worship and to give the message in this ministry.  We also have a time of fellowship at the end and pray with any of the prisoners who have needs.  The Humber prison is not far from Hull and a number of the prisoners are from Hull so it is interesting to be able to connect with them before they are released.

Coffee Shop

CC York operates a popular coffee shop (Gatehouse Coffee) right on the ancient city wall at Walmgate.  I have been volunteering in this ministry and getting up to speed on the espresso machine.  The coffee shop is frequented by church members and university students who study nearby as well as the general public.

Calvary Chapel UK Pastors and Leaders Conference

CC York hosted a conference in early June for those involved in ministry in various Calvary Chapels throughout the UK.  It was a wonderful time of fellowship and renewed vision in the Lord.  The theme of the conference was “Spring Up, O Well” (Numbers 21:17) with the teachings pointing to our need and desire for a fresh work of the Holy Spirit to spring up in our own lives and in the ministries that we serve in.

“Spring up, O well!  All of you sing to it—the well the leaders sank, dug by the nation’s nobles, by the lawgiver, with their staves” (Num. 21:17-18)

Brexit Vote

As you are likely aware, the United Kingdom has voted to leave the European Union.  No one is sure of what will ultimately happen at this point, but the Lord is in control and it presents yet another opportunity to trust in Him.  I will not be directly affected since I am a British citizen living in the UK.  It is interesting that the Lord moved me here from Austria ahead of the vote; British citizens will likely face greater difficulties living in EU countries once the terms of the withdrawal have been negotiated.

Prayer Requests

Spiritual warfare particularly in relation to the Hull Bible study; that the Lord would both send in the right people to assist and also draw people from Hull to the study; the ability to effectively and simply communicate the message of the Gospel by the power of the Holy Spirit.

As always, thank you for your prayers and interest.

God bless-

Paul

Springtime in England

Hello friends, hope all is well.  Spring has arrived in England.  Lots of rain but the grass is usually nice and green and there are many flowers popping up.  It's a reminder that God is always bringing new life!

Calvary Chapel York

I have been serving in York (in the north of England) for just over three months and it has been a blessing to be here.  The church is a wonderful mix of Bible college students, university students, and regular attendees.  I've had some recent teaching opportunities at our men's breakfast and also for the Sunday evening service.  I have also been able to lead worship a few times for student devotions and for the Sunday evening service.

CCY Bible College

I've been blessed this semester to be able to fill in for a number of classes in the Bible college including Galatians, Samuel, Matthew, and Acts.  Between these, I nearly had a full teaching schedule.   It looks like I will have my own class for the fall semester.

Prison Ministry

Since getting settled in in York, I've had the opportunity among other things to be involved in the prison ministry.  Twice per month on  Sundays we go into HMP Humber prison and have a service for the prisoners.  I've had the opportunity to both lead worship and to teach in this ministry.  We also have a time of fellowship at the end and pray with any of the prisoners who have needs.

Hull Outreach

For several years folks from Calvary Chapel York have been praying about the possibility of an outreach Bible study in the city of Hull, which is about an hour east of York.  Hull has a population of about 250,000 and is the hometown of the abolitionist William Wilberforce.  Hull has faced economic and social issues since the decline of the fishing industry in the 1970's.  Pastor Dave and I went out there a few weeks ago and spent some time walking the streets and praying.  We're praying for an open door to start a Bible study if the Lord wills.

Teach the Word Conference in Oxford

The Calvary Chapels in England recently gathered in Oxford for a one-day conference in the university town of Oxford.  There were four teachings given by various Calvary Chapel pastors focused on Acts 2:42: "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers".  It was a great day of fellowship and a time of connection with others in the Calvary movement in England.  While in Oxford, we were able to visit the pub (The Eagle and Child) where C.S. Lewis used to gather with J.R.R. Tolkien and others from the Oxford literary group the Inklings.

Calvary Chapel UK Pastors and Leaders Conference

Please be praying for the upcoming annual Calvary Chapel UK Pastors and Leaders conference (June 6-9); this is a wonderful time where folks from the various Calvary ministries across the UK come together for teachings, fellowship, and to be refreshed in the Lord.  "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!  It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments.  It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord commanded the blessing— life forevermore" (Psalm 133:1-3).

Prayer Requests

Wisdom in buying a car, a man named Hussein whom I shared the gospel with on a recent trip to Hull, and also a homeless man named Leo.  Additionally, the UK will be holding a referendum (vote) on June 23 on whether or not to remain in the European Union.  As the outcome of the vote will have significant ramifications either way, pray for the Lord's will regarding this.

As always, thanks and God bless-  Paul

Update From Europe: 2016

Wrapping things up in Austria

After leaving New Jersey in January I headed back to the Castle (Schloss Heroldeck) in Austria to serve for a final two weeks and wrap things up before transitioning to England.  We hosted the Calvary Chapel European Pastor’s Conference the last week of January which was a wonderful, busy time.  My time at the Castle over the last year has been a blessing and it was hard saying goodbye, but good things lead to other good things as we follow the call of God upon our lives.

Transition to the United Kingdom and CC York/Bible College

As many of you know, I am in the unique situation of having dual citizenship (British and American).  This has been a blessing at a time when many missionaries are having a difficult time getting visas to stay in the country.  So with passport in hand, I arrived at Manchester airport in early February and got on a train to York, England for the next season of my walk with the Lord.  York is an ancient walled city in the north of England with history stretching back to the Romans and Vikings.  The church is just outside the city wall at Walmgate bar and actually runs a coffee shop (Gatehouse Coffee) on the wall itself.

God is doing a great work here at the Bible college and the church.  If there is a collective desire on campus and in the church it is for the well of God to “spring up” (Num. 21:17).  There is also a corresponding element of perceived spiritual warfare.  There are numerous outreaches into the community and beyond.  The other day we knocked on doors and talked to people in the neighborhood and invited them to some of the church events.  England is definitely more secular at this point in time than the United States, but people are still open and hungry.  In the end, we are called to be simple vessels of His love and “ministers of reconciliation” (2 Cor. 5:18).  More often than not this happens in a supernaturally natural way as we are going about our business.  A few weeks ago a woman named Eunice from the city of Leeds knocked on my door representing the UK Cancer Charity (basically soliciting donations).  I had the chance to share a bit about the Lord with her.  Pray that she would come into a real relationship with the living God!

Concerning the Bible college, I am currently filling in for some of the teachers.  I taught a Galatians class this past Friday and am scheduled to teach several classes in the Gospel of Matthew in the next few weeks.  We have about 35 students this semester representing a handful of countries.  It is a blessing to be involved with this ministry.  In other news, I have applied for a national insurance number which is similar to a US social security number.  With this I will be able to work; I am prayerfully considering getting a part-time job in order to connect with the community.

Outreach Opportunity

People from the church in York have been praying for several years about a possible outreach Bible study in a particular community about an hour away.  It looks like this might be coming to fruition in the near future.  Please pray for that, particularly in regard to my potential involvement with a team that undertakes that ministry as the Lord wills.

Prayers are greatly appreciated.

God bless,

Paul