Greetings from the UK

Dear friends, I pray that this update from the United Kingdom finds you well.  The rhythm of life in York continues by God’s grace as I wrap up my 8^th year serving the body of Christ here (and 9^th year on the mission field).  The autumn semester is well under way; I am teaching II Corinthians and the Gospel of John.  As usual, we’ve been to the lovely Yorkshire Dales for Speaker’s Week (with 2 students baptized in the chilly River Ure) and the students have just returned from Outreach Week.  We sent teams to Romania, Belgium and Austria and there was also a team that remained in York to help with the normal weekly ministries happening around here.  I led the Austria team as I have been doing for the last several semesters.

Austria Team

We have Thanksgiving to look forward to in a few weeks at the Bible College where we prepare an American-style meal and serve the staff and students in our main sanctuary.  It’s always a fun time.  Next week we are doing our London trip to the British Museum and library.

Israel

I am sure that many of you are already praying for the situation in Israel in light of recent events there.  The conflict is especially close to us in that we have had many Israeli students pass through the Bible College over the years who have now been activated and are directly involved in the conflict.  One of our current students is an ambulance driver in the IDF and he returned to Israel a few days after the initial attack on October 7.  Another of our former students is a bomb defuser.  Please pray for their protection; also, as they are believers in Christ, pray that the Lord would use them as witnesses before the many soldiers in the IDF who do not know the Lord. 

Scotland

This past summer I drove up to Scotland to visit a friend and former Bible College student and he lent me a tent so I wound up doing a spontaneous driving/camping trip in the Scottish Highlands.  I spent a day on the Isle of Skye simply marveling at the beauty of God’s creation.  I also climbed the highest peak in the UK, Ben Nevis (the other Big Ben).  It was quite a workout at 4413 feet, but like the Christian life, slow and steady wins the day.

View from Ben Nevis

 

Summit of Ben Nevis

On the way back I stopped for the night at Lockerbie; many of you will remember Pan Am flight 103 that was blown up in 1988 over this Scottish town with a number of US servicemen and women aboard.  I was able to visit the memorial garden.

Lockerbie Memorial Garden

CC York

All is well at Calvary Chapel York; it’s an oasis in the midst of our unique and ancient city.  It’s quite an international church with many nations represented.  I’m blessed with the privilege of teaching in the church from time to time and leading worship and serving the body of Christ in general.

 

River Ouse in York

USA Visit

I had a very blessed time back in the USA this past May and June.  It was great to see some of you and to those I missed maybe we can connect next time around as the Lord wills.

Prayer Requests:

Please pray for our students that they would finish well as the semester is wrapping up quickly; also that the Lord would send those that He would have to be here for next semester.  Please also pray for divine appointments as I share Christ with the people of York.  Thank you for your prayers and may the Lord richly bless you!

About Me:

 I have been serving at Calvary Chapel York, England since 2016.  I teach at the Bible College and serve at the church in a variety of ways including teaching, prison ministry and leading worship.  If you wish to support this ministry, contributions can be addressed to "Shepherd's Staff" with account #1454 in the memo section of check and sent to Shepherd's Staff, 6739 Academy Road, Suite 320, Albuquerque, NM 87109. Automatic EFT can be set up through Shepherd's Staff website: www.ssmfi.org. Prayers are also greatly appreciated.  The Lord bless you!

 

 

Calvary Chapel Bible College York

Dear friends, greetings once again from across the sea.  Spring is shaping up nicely and things are greening up.  It’s been yet another great semester at the Bible college.  I count myself exceptionally blessed to be able to do what I do here.  We’ve basically got one week left; graduation is on May 19.  This semester I have been teaching the books of Acts and Joshua.  We have students representing England, Finland, Switzerland, Israel, Mexico, and the United States.

      In March we took a group of students to the British Museum and also the library in London.  London is about a 2-hour train ride from York and there is so much history that is readily accessible.  The British Library has a number of important Biblical manuscripts on display including an original Gutenberg Bible, a Wycliffe Bible, Codex Sinaiticus, and many other items.  The British Museum also contains a wealth of items that support the Biblical narrative.  It’s a great resource that adds to the Bible college experience.

Cyrus Cylinder

The Bible college is quite routine in some ways but always different at the same time.  Every semester we take the students to the Yorkshire Dales where we stay in cabins and spend a lot of time out in nature on walks and listening for God’s voice.  I was walking one morning and met a shepherd named John who was feeding hay to the sheep because the ground was frosted with a bit of snow.  We had a nice chat and I shared the Lord with him.  He said there used to be a real sense of community and spoke of the influence that the Methodist churches used to have but much of that has died out and many of the young people have moved away in search of other opportunities.  Pray that the Lord would send His Spirit and revive these places!

Shepherd John

Austria Team

Every semester our students spend a week on outreach where they come along side another ministry to assist and encourage.  This semester students went to Spain, Italy and Austria.  I led the Austria team.  We led worship at CC Spittal on Sunday and I was able to teach for the mid-week service.  We also did some painting and a spring cleaning at the Castle (Schloss Heroldeck) in preparation for their summer conference season.

CC Bible College York

Prison Ministry

As some of you are aware, I recently went through the application process for a chaplaincy position at a prison that we have been doing ministry in for a number of years.  I did not get the position but before going through the process I had a strong sense from the Lord that He wanted me to apply so I did in obedience.  Part of the interview process included giving a 10-minute sermon before a panel that included the Muslim Imam and some other prison officials so it was a great opportunity to clearly present the gospel to them.

CC York

Our church is doing well; it is a blessing to fellowship with brothers and sisters from a number of different nations.  Heaven is going to be amazing.  Pastor Dave just returned from leading a tour to Israel; people from our church went as well as from a church in the USA.  CC York will host a UK Pastor’s conference in just a few weeks.

Prayer Requests:

Please pray for the UK and King Charles III as he has just been coronated this past week.  Much Scripture was used in the ceremony; pray that he would truly honor the words that were spoken.   Please pray for our Bible college students as the semester ends and they seek the Lord for the right way to go.  Thank you for your prayers and may the Lord richly bless you!

USA Visit

I will be in the USA (New Jersey) from May 20-June 8.  Please pray for traveling mercies and the Lord’s hand upon the time.  I will be speaking at my home church (CC Gateway) on Sunday May 21 for the 9:30am service.  It would be great to connect as the Lord wills!