Christmas Update from the UK

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, I pray that this update from the United Kingdom finds you well. It was a blessing to catch up with some of you during my stateside visit this past May/June. 

Reflections

Time does not stand still as we are all keenly aware, but our great reassurance is that God is with us through the seasons whatever they may bring (Isaiah 46:4). I’ve been reflecting on God’s faithfulness, having just wrapped up my 10th year, 20th semester at Calvary Chapel Bible College York. When I left the States, I did not know that this was what God had for me. The door had opened to serve at the Castle (Calvary Chapel Conference Center in Millstatt, Austria) where I initially went on a one-year commitment in January 2015. Through that step, I had a strong sense that another door was going to open. The Lord had spoken to me through the account of Abraham in Genesis 12 where, to paraphrase, God would show him the place after his feet were in motion. Obedience first; details later. Toward the end of my year at the Castle, I received an invitation first to visit and then to join the staff at CCY/CCBCY. I had gotten to know Pastor Dave Sylvester, the pastor in York, while driving the Castle van during the missions conference that summer. So the door opened and I came to York and have been so very blessed to have been a part of the Lord’s work in this place and looking forward to whatever He has in the future. 

CCBCY 

The fall semester ended this past Friday. I was blessed to teach through the Pastoral Epistles and the Gospel of John. We had students from England, Wales, Germany, Mexico, Israel, Canada and the United States. For outreach week we did street worship and evangelism in York and also in the coastal town of Bridlington. There are usually many people out walking in the towns and cities of England; as such, there are some really great spots for outreach.

Aysgarth Falls, Yorkshire Dales

Christmas Market in York City Center

Street Outreach in York

As usual, the whole Bible college went to the Jonas Centre (a Christian conference center) in the lovely Yorkshire Dales for Speaker’s Week, a time of worship and teaching and getting out in nature to hear the Lord’s voice in the beauty of His creation.

     As I do most semesters, I took a group of students to London to see Biblical manuscripts from antiquity at the British Library and also to the world-class British Museum and then to see some of the highlights of London.  We covered 30,000 steps so it was a good walking day!

Hebrides

In July I did some camping up in the western isles of Scotland.  I drove to the beautiful Isle of Skye and from there took the ferry to the Isle of Lewis and Harris where there was a revival in 1949-53 connected with the ministry of Duncan Campbell (the Hebridean Revival).  I went to a mid-week prayer meeting at a church in the village of Barvas (Barvas Free Church) and was asked to open the meeting in prayer which was unexpected but a great honor.

 

York St John’s Christian Union

York has 2 universities: the University of York and York St. John University.  Most British universities have a Christian Union (CU) which is an umbrella type ministry representing various groups of Christians on campus.  I was asked to give a talk at York St John’s CU on how knowing Jesus helps us overcome loneliness.  I was able to give a very clear presentation of the Gospel with the great help of the Holy Spirit.

 

CC York

Calvary Chapel York is thriving with events happening nearly every day of the week.  We’ve had quite a few new people coming.  We had a baptism in the sanctuary after the Sunday service a few weeks ago; always an exciting time.  We also hosted an Answers in Genesis conference back in October.

Prayer Requests:

Please pray for those regularly engaging in evangelism in our city.  The city is quite packed with tourists over Christmas.  Also please pray for our Bible College students, that the Lord would open the appropriate doors for them and that they might continue in the things they’ve learned during their time with us at CCBC York.  Thank you for your prayers and may the Lord richly bless you!

 

 

About Me:

 

Prior to launching out into the mission field, I served at several Calvary Chapels in New Jersey for many years.  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'd like to follow my journey more closely, I have a blog (www.pfgoodwin.blogspot.com).  I can be contacted at pfgoodwin@hotmail.com.

 

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, PO Box 24174, Knoxville, TN 37933. Automatic EFT can be set up through Shepherd's Staff website: www.ssmfi.org. Prayers are also greatly appreciated.  May the Lord bless you!

Paul's Spring Update From the UK

Dear friends, I pray that this update from the United Kingdom finds you well.  It has been over 10 years now since I launched out in faith from New Jersey and the Lord has been faithful every step of my journey as the seasons have come and gone.  Some things are cyclical at the Bible College but the Lord always brings fresh opportunities and new things in the midst of that.  We’re down to our last 2 weeks of the spring semester here at CCBC York.  They go by so very quickly.  I am currently teaching through Acts and the books of Ezra and Nehemiah.  As usual, we were blessed to spend a week in the Yorkshire Dales for Speaker’s Week.  It was a lovely time with great Bible teaching in the midst of an idyllic pastoral setting.  Several students were baptized in the River Ure.  Pastor Dave has an old Land Rover so we did a bit of 4-wheeling also.

4-Wheeling with Pastor Dave

Lotherton Hall

I recently had the chance to speak in a 12^th century chapel at a manor house called Lotherton Hall about a half hour from York.   I gave a message on the God of all comfort from 2 Corinthians 1:1-11.  A woman from our church is the curator and she’s hoping to see the chapel used for the Gospel.  Several of us from CC York spoke there over the Easter holidays.

12th Century Chapel at Lotherton Hall

CCBC Jerusalem

I had the most blessed opportunity to teach a block class on the Life of Christ at CC Bible College Jerusalem this past March.  It was a door that opened quickly and coincided with our outreach week in York so I was able to go without missing any classes.  God does some of His finest work on short notice.  Pray for Israel during this difficult season.

CCBC Jerusalem

CC York

Calvary Chapel York remains a light in the midst of a beautiful but spiritually dark ancient city.  As a university city, people from around the world find their way to York and some of those attend our church.  I’ve been leading worship for several years at a Friday evening young adults Bible study and on an average night, nearly everyone who attends is from a different country.  I’m blessed with many opportunities to teach and lead worship and to serve in lots of practical ways. 

CCUK Conference at Oxford

In January I was able to attend a Calvary Chapel UK conference in Oxford.  Renowned Christian apologist and mathematician John Lennox was one of the main speakers; he gave a talk on AI and the implications of it for the church.  Thankfully the essence of what he said was that ministry must have the anointing of the Holy Spirit upon it. 

Upcoming Furlough

I will be in South Jersey from May 17-June 9.  Drop me a line if you would like to catch up! 

Prayer Requests:

Please pray for the City of York and its unique, diverse population.  A nearby hotel hosts quite a few refugees and asylum seekers.  Pray for open doors to reach the lost.  Also please pray for our students that they would continue to hear the voice of the Good Shepherd after their season at CCBCY is over; also that the Lord would send the students He desires to be here for the fall semester.  Thank you for your prayers and may the Lord richly bless you!

 About Me: 

Prior to launching out into the mission field, I served at several Calvary Chapels in New Jersey for many years.  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'd like to follow my journey more closely, I have a blog (www.pfgoodwin.blogspot.com).  I can be contacted at pfgoodwin@hotmail.com. 

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, PO Box 24174, Knoxville, TN 37933. Automatic EFT can be set up through Shepherd's Staff website: www.ssmfi.org. Prayers are also greatly appreciated.  The Lord bless you!