LONDON

VOL. Ill NO. 1 JAN. - FEB. 1982

MISSION

e Rulford Road, Streatham. London SW 16. England; Phone (national) 01-769-4563 (international) 441-769-4S63 American Oftlce: P.O. Box 383: Rutland, Vt. 0S701; Phone 602/773-7474; Bernard Doty, agent and secretary; F. P. Miller, director

wr
Nevilie Pink leads service of dedication for recently renovated store

room which is now a chapel and baptistry provided through the fore sight and generosity of Pearl and Neville Shaw.

DEDICATION OF BAPTISTRY
Debra Carlson of Streatham speaking with Mary Clouse of Spokane, Washington at Lee Turner's meeting. Also in picture is "Marge" Hail and her mom visiting with Les Herron. Les is from Edwardsviiie, Mi.

The Neville Shaw family has recently renovated a store

room into a small chapel and a baptistry has been installed

for use of churches of Christ in London. The addition of this

TURNER MEETING

Lee Turner, with his wifeGerry, stopped with the church

in Streatham on their way to Pakistan. Brother Turner graciously consented to hold a series of meetings for us. The meetings were well attended and the sermons were

facility will make it much easier to baptize converts. Up till now we have depended on friendly churches which are some distance from us and making arrangements in their schedule. They have been very helpful but it is so much
better to have our own facility so close. The dedication service was held with 50 Christians present. George Fletch er made encouraging remarks in a message about inviting
Jesus into our house. Neville Pink led the service of dedica

well received and appreciated by those attending. There were visitors present every night. Though no records were broken we did have 38 present the first night followed by attendances of 34, 20, 25 and 26. Over 50 different people
attended the services, many of whom were first-time con
tacts.

tion and Fred Miller led in prayer. As less than half of both
the Balham and Streatham churches were able to be pres

ent at the meeting it became evident from those who did

attend that the fellowship numbers close to 100 persons

VISITING ALSO

The Les Herrons from Edwardsviiie, Illinois. Don Scott, South Bend, Indiana. PURCHASE OF VAN NEEDED

T^e purchase of a Van to take the place of the one which has been in service over 3 years is still a very real need. $400 has been contributed for the Van purchase. The used Van we will shop for willcost 2,300 to 2,500 pounds sterling. That is close to $5,000. A full summer of work beginning May 15 is planned. For a good witness and other factors we should have a vehicle which is worthy of the Lord's work. Will you help us get this needed piece of equipment?

Pictured is part of a group present for the dedication of the baptistry

and fellowship room at 80 Balham High Road.

NEVILLE SHAW MAKE NEW CONTACTS Brother Neville Shaw has been a productive Christian before we met him and he has not let up his desire to see people accept Christ. He has recently taught several people
who have become Christians. Some of the new contacts

have come from the Gypsy community. Evangelical maga zines have been reporting a turning to Christ among the Gypsies. Thus it is with thanks to God that we see a new Sunday School started by churches of Christ among a com munity not far from here. Neville has been holding classes south of London with groups up to 20 attending. Six have been baptized thus far.

Angela, Priscilla, Lena and Debra Smith were candidates for baptism These four young people were baptized at the service of dedication.

[?[ra|] for !

WHEN SOCIALISM IS NEXT TO PAGANISM

Anyone who attempts to understand politics today without considering religion will fail. The fact is that Britain has undergone a religious revo lution largely unnoticed by commentators. Per versely it is this very religious revolution that will alter the world of party politics and has ah-eady
begun to do so.
The revolutiqn is threefold. First it is the de

All this is changing. RomanCatholicgrowth,

even if higher, has not kept pace with the increase in population: the 'pill' has had its effect. In the
seven metropolitan counties, the traditional homes

It is not surprising that there is a senseof hat red, envy and bitternessalien to the world of Cle

ment Attlw or Ramsay MacDonald. A party needs inspiration andwhen an old inspiration is
thrown off a newone must be found.The real in heritors of the Nonconformist Conscience must now be found on the Bishops* benchand in the
ranks of the Social Democrats.

of Catholicism, Catholic membership has de

clined. Thereare two reasons: mixed marriages

and movement into the suburbs. Roman Catho

cline of Nonconformity. Second it is the displace ment of the Nonconformists by the Roman Cath olics as the second most important religiousgroup in England and Wales. Third, it is the break-up of the once solid Roman Catholic community. The decline of Nonconformity has been grow ing sinM the 1920*s, in some ways, from before

lics may still promise to raise the children of a 'mixed marriage'as Catholics but there are fewer children to raise. Even in marriages between
Roman Catholics there are fewer children.

The second effect isthat Labour can nolonger

depend on the solid support of the Irish com

munity for there isno longer a Irish community.

A hint of this was seen in 1974 when Cardinal

Heenan urged Roman Catholics to vote against

JAMES MUNSON

Labour because of the party's support for abor

tion.

that. As Nonconformity declin^, Catholicism

believes the absence of

grew. If you take the 'adult membership' of the Churches today (roughly those who attend a ser vice at least once i week) at some 6.7 million, 3.5 million are Roman Catholics and only 1.2are Free Churchmen. At the turn of the century there were
some 2 million Free Churchmen who constituted over half Ifie total of active Church members.

religion and it's moral

obligations from modern

politics will be more significant than ever was its presence
Secondly, the old inner-city Irish Catholic neighbourhoods are disappearing. The Irish are

that obvious overtures are now being made to build upnew power blocs among, forinstance, the
loyalty substitute race interests andyouhave the
futureof a largesection of the Labourelectorate.

port forgranted it must lookelsewhere; it hasal ready begun to do so. It should surprise no one

IfLabour can nolonger take this bloc ofsup

ranksof liberated women,''one parentfamilies' or the colouredimmigrantcommunities. For class

While the population has grown by 1Smillion, the number of active Free Churchmen has dropped by
800,000.

The really crucial fact is that the Victorian

Nonconformists* obsession with Liberal politics did not pay off in the long run. The denominations most closely associated with political involvement have suffered the worstthis is especially true of the United Reformed Church, the old Congregationalists allied with the Presbyterians. Their de cline has been precipitate. The decline is considerably less among the conservative Baptists and the newer Pentecostal or "Independent" Churches, many of which were brought into England by coloured immigrants
from the West Indies. The obverse of this is that the decline of Non

The third effect isthatthefuture ofsome type of third party obsessed with salving their con science in the pursuit of 'doinggood' isassured. Whatever it is called, whether Liberal or Social
Democrat,the displaced consciences forcedout of
the Labour party must find a home.

slowly climbing the social ladder. Suburbaniza

tion three-bedroom houses, a family car, colour television and twice-yearly holidayis a way of life with little room for religion. With the decline of the tight-knit neighbourhood went the sense of cultural/religious loyalty. Not surprisingly therefore, in the West Mid lands, with its seemingly endless suburbs, mass attendance steadily falls. No longer can we say that Catholics are the most loyal ofall Christians in England: surveys now show that a higher per centage of Anglicans who are active members actually attend church regularly.

Perhaps the most frightening impact of these

changes is the gradual erosion of a once univer sally held public morality, based on a common Christianity. The evidence is all round us. Who

would have predicted 10 years ago that people

would openly debate whether or not parents and doctors had the right to decide whether a handi
capped baby lived? But, then, who would have

conformity has meant that the Roman Catholic community has stepped into its place as the 'other hair of English Christianity. Roughly half of the active churchmen in the country are Roman Cath olic. This is due not just to Nonconformist decline but to a higher birth rate and the traditional pro mise to raise children from a mixed marriage as
Roman Catholics.

But against this there is the break-up of the traditional Roman Catholic community in Engthe Catholic beginning of centred in the Save for the constituency since, roughly, the the 19th century has been Irish, larger towns of industrial England. recusants, race and religion went

The largely unnoticed revolution in English religion therefore has meant the steady decline in historic Nonconformity, the rise in the Catholic Church to fill the vacuum and a profound change in the nature of the Roman Catholic community, and a change which will only accelerate. The effects on politics will be and already are even more profound. The first effect is patently obvious to political
has thrown off its ~

predicted 20 years ago that people would debate whether or not pregnant women could decide, again with a willing doctor to hand, whether or not to abort an unborn baby?
It is now inevitable that this breakdown in

public morality will continue. This is because pressure groups that used to ply their trade in

dark comers have come into the open and been welcomed into the mainstream of the re-vamped Labour party. It is hardly surprising that Labour

is committed to abortion on demand. How long

will it be before it is committed to State aid to

hand in hand: to be Roman Catholic was to be

Irish and vice-versa, and to be Irish was to be

urban working class.

chapel connections. The present Speaker, Mr. George Thomas, a man of whom Cromwell might have been proud, may well be the last of a dying breed. The impetus behind the rank-and-file of Labour workers in now the semi-educated pro ducts of comprehensive and polytechnic educa tion in post-Christian England.

assist self-murder among the elderly? Is it not significant that the Leader of the Labour partyas far as it has a leaderisa long

time member of the Humanist Society, a body

avowedly atheist in its aims?

Ifreli^on was once a signiflcant factor inour

political life, its absence will be even more so. It is

not a bright future.

_ Reprinted from the

London DAILY TELEGRAPH

Free Church losses

Britain's Free Churches have lost a sixth of their adult mem bers and a third of their children

The total membership of the 13

churches affiliated to the council

The Methodist Church, which

Even more wonying to Free

Church leaders than these falls is

last year was 1,061,681 compared

with 1,273,365 in 1974, a drop of nearly 17 per cent
The United Reformed Church

only counts its membership every three years, has declined by 12i%
since 1975, from 557,249 to

487,972, the first time this century the figure has fallen below half a
million.

the huge drop in the number of children and young people on their books. The 1974 figure of 866,503
has now shrunk to 577,031, a dec

has lost nearly a quarter of its

members since It was fomned nine

line of 33 per cent.

CRUSADE, MARCH 1982

and young people In the last seven years according to fig ures released by the Free
Church Federal Council.

years ago by a merger between the Congregational and Pres byterian Churches. Its 1973 mem bership of 192,136 has now drop ped to 147,337. a loss of neariy
45,000.

The other large church belong ing to the Council, the Baptists, have not fared as badly. In the past seven years they have dropped
less than 17,000 from 187,144 to
170,338.

CHURCH OF CHIRST

LONDON lyiiSSION
P.O. Box 162

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LONDON
VOL. Ill NO. 2 MARCH - APRIL, 1982

MISSION

0 Ruttord Road, Streslham. London SW 16, England: Phone (national) 01-7S9-4563 (lntrnalional) 441-769-4563 American Ollica: P.O. Box 383; Rutland, Vt. 05701; Phone 602/773-7474; Bernard Doly, agent and secretary; F. P. Miller, director

LIFE IN

LONDON
By Charlotte Miller

Another part of my life is keeping up a corresf>ondance with those saints in America who keep us here with their prayers and financial support. This takes a great deal of time but we feel it is important to keep close to those who support us that they really know what we, and they, are doing here to gether. I wish I could do a better job with this. Of course as a mother I must make the usual trips to school

meetings, to dentists and doctors, shopping for needed shoes,

etc.

Charlotte Miller

My life as the wife of a missionary in London is probably not much different than that of any preacher's wife in a metro politan area where the church Is small, struggling, and un known or misunderstood by the neighborhood! The biggest obstacle to evangelism in England is the wall of reserve around the typical English person that must somehow be broken down before we can hope to win him for Christ. In London especially there is a deep-seated antagonism toward anything that sug gests "religion" or more specifically "the establishment". Therefore, our primary job is to make friends, and for that reason we continually hold open house! On any given day I might open the front door to a neighborhood mum who just
wants to chat-or to two or three little children who want to

In the summer our program alters quite drastically in that we have a summer intern program and we'll have anywhere from 10 to 15 young people (Bible college students for the most part) living with us for two six-week sessions, during which time Fred will direct them in calling door-to-door, preparing and holding several vacation Bible school programs here in our home, in the Clapham church, and throughout England in

some of the older English Churches of Christ. So for most of the summer my job is maintaining the fort - food, bedding,
supplies, counseling, running interference, etc. - for a household of 15 to 20 persons. On Sundays we usuallyfeed 20
to 25. The last two summers we've been blessed by having a

Christian women or two come and help with the_cooking.

Even though some of these aspects of my life might be a little more intense, perhaps, than they were when we lived in the States, it still boils down to the fact that winning souls for the Kingdom is still done largely through one-to-one relation ships. That is, as a woman I will stillwin ONE friend at a time. Therefore my chief responsibility as wife and mother is to maintain a Christian witness by my life, and to love, care for and be supportive toward all those people that the Lord sends into my home. Also, the most mundane daily task, such as shopping for bread at the corner store, becomes a time of opportunity to stop and chat with a neighbor with the hope that one day, hopefully sooner rather than later, she will trust me enough to let me share my faith in Christ with her. It takes time and effort and patience to make friends for Jesus, but Jesus gives the strength and rewards with joy when one of
these friends becomes a sister as well.

play in our garden or "help" me cook, in exchange for some orange drink and "biscuits"-or three teenage boys who have come to summer Bible school in the past but who have more recently been glue-sniffing, and who stop in to see Fred, talk about the summer American interns they have met, drink some tea and maybe "nick" something on the way out! (Things constantly turn up missing after they have been here for awhile playing darts, etc.) A little old lady from up the street comes down almost every evening and sits in "her" chair, drinks innumerable cups of tea, nods and dozes and is escort ed back to her flat at nine or ten o'clock. (She'd stay all night if we'd let her.) She is just lonely.

On Sundays we have "proper" services, also here in the

house. Fred makes a ten-mile circuit with the mini-bus to pick up children. We never know until they clamber on the bus how many children we'll have for classes-we just have to be pre pared. After the morning service we serve tea and biscuits to everyone before they go home because some come from across London and have an hour or two to journey back home. Then I'll get the noon dinner on (we may have as many as 18 for Sunday dinner-depending on who decides to stay for the day.) In the evening we'll have another service here at the house, or load up the van and go to Clapham or Balham to fellowship with the church there.

I would like to say that one thing has changed, in me, per sonally, since we came here. I have felt a much deeper sense

of urgency-a need to be fruitful, to redeem the time-than I've

had for many years. I am sure that this "pressure to produce"
comes from the realization that so many good souls are sacri

ficing to keep us here. But when I think that Jesus sacrificed everything for me, Iam ashamed that I have not always had this feeling that every day must count for the Lord. I remember feeling this when we moved to New England years ago-but
somehow in the business of day to day living I let it slip-leaving evangelism up to others, I suppose. As women we can serve Him joyfully and effectively if we think of every task at home or in the church as "for the Lord." And every day as being another opportunity to sow the seed, to influence someone for Jesus by our words or just our actions. Your home is so much'

During the week we have an informal Bible study in our home with a couple who are not ready to leave their Catholic faith but who seriously want to study the Bible. One or two of our Christian adults join us in that study. Each evening of the week we either call on people we are teaching or hope to teach. And I study with a new Christian in her home during the week since she can't get out evenings and runs an answering service from her home during daytime hours, but wants to learn more
than she can get just on Sundays.

like London, and people are the same everywhere. All lonely, all needing friends, all needing love, and desperately needing
our Lord in their lives. God bless you all.

An additional ministry, which has been a great blessing to our family, is providing a stop-over for missionariesand others who have had to pass through London en route to some field of
service, or home on furlough. We have kept familiesgoing to or

returning from China, Pakistan, Zambia, Australia, Japan, or

from as close as Scotland or the Midlands. I would say that

hardly a week goes by that we don't have house guests, and

maybe even two sets of guests at the same time.

iD'ditGDO'goDj, [ppai [?r B

PLANS FOR THE SUMMER OF 1982

Each summer has seen an increasing number of hours given to evangelism. This coming summer will prove the same if the prospects developing materialize. Twelve people willbe here on short-term in May and a longer-term is being planned by 12 other young people. Work is being planned in the Mid lands and in Scotland as well as in London. Our hope is to do
less outside of the London area this summer. A calling cam

paign using film strips and home studies is planned although 20,000 pieces of Gospel literature will be handed out door-todoor as well.

Helping in the program will be a group of 12 young people led by Gary Barnes of Illinois. They will be the vanguard for
the summer and will have made preparations for the rest of the workers later in the summer. Those arriving later include Greg Horral, Princeton, Indiana; Mark Wright, Stillwater, Oklahoma; Scott Taylor, Ivyland, Pennsylvania; Tim Turner, Ahoskie, N.C.; Linda Lee Cameron, Northglen, Colorado; Anita Battergeiger, Parker, Colorado; Donna Turner, Muncie, Indiana; Mary and Frankie Faull, Bloomfield, Illinois; Jolynn Stinshagon, Lexington, Nebraska; and Phil Harding, New
Castle, Indiana.
Brother Reld Is one of the good men of the Clapham Church he Is a gifted musician and a committed Christian.

In former years the summer program has produced con verts through the efforts of those who give their time to be a part of the teams. Our prayer and expectation is that this coming summer will be as fruitful or more so. There is no reason to believe otherwise. Join us in prayer that those plan
ning to be here will be used effectively.

Neville Shaw baptizes Priscllla Smith. Priscllla Is from a Gypsy com munity. Brother Shaw has recently baptized several others In the com munity and a Bible School has been started. Neville Pink Is now teach ing a group of Gypsy children classes in reading.

REVIVAL AMONG THE GYPSIES

Sunday evening, March 21, 19 of us went to Balham for a service to celebrate the baptism of five people. What a joy it was! Neville Shaw has been working for some time with a Gypsy community. A revival is springing out among them. Ten have been baptized so far! The chapel where the baptism took place was crowded with 70 observers. Neville Pink and Paul Miller did the actual baptizing of four gypsies and a young woman who belonged to the Church of England. She had heard of the preparations of the Gypsies for baptism, asked if she could obey the gospel, so she too was baptized into Christ. This young woman, dressed in black leather {the emblem of her youth culture or sub-culture) made a beautiful confession of Jesus as Lord. Then the group, all from near Epsom, assembled among the 70 spectators to take the Lord's supper. There were ten people in the group from Epsom to take the Lord's supper. We need to thank God for the out break of this revival and pray for further fruit which seems not too far off as there are several inquiring among the Gypsies about baptism and obedience to the Gospel. Let us pray for this continuing work being led by Neville Shaw.

The Millers and the Herrons, Les, Dorrls and Jull. The Herrons visited the London Mission on their return from Australia to Edwardsvllte,
Illinois.

Ziggy Soblewskl, Fred and Lee Turner visit after one of Lee's sermons.

CHURCH OF CHRIST LONDON MISSION

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Iowa 52577

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DRESS ALL CHANGE OF ADDRESS

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Paid

at

Oskaloosa. lA 52577, Vol. Ill No. 2, March -

April. 1982.

1^:5

p.
^/or

r"fhcR-s"^
' ; W>\ . ^ fe'Won 'Mf ^'. ; s>' fi'kM

KA M
l'X)R CHRIST

t^

if"*'V

rjxj
t RuKord Road. Strvalhim, Londun SW tt. iinoUnd: Phon (nalionsl) 01-76il-4S63 (tiiliiijilii>iil| 44I'.'CW : Amatlcan Ollkr P.O. Box 363; Ruliand, VI. OS701; Phon* 002/773-7474: Brnrd Ooly. agcrti and (cctUiy: f. P MiiUi, .ll<

April 5, 1992

A NEW movement among "gipsys in and around London

^pTf\ 13 '1^81
Jamesina's own interest
were soon

Several weeks ago Jamesina We^erhjuri;^/

woman's shelter where she lived,? from

ung son came home to the

(church of Christ* the first church started by Church of Christ London

ay school of the Clapham

Mission^ now being ministered to by Neville Fink.

Jasper Smith and Jaspe^Jr.) to be interested.
baptii^ed as New Testament Christians.

in the ^criptures v;as begun and she then led another lady and her son (Mrs
These people

the g^psy camp.

the teaching sessions.

Mrs Smithwas then estranged from her gj^psy family, but after her conversionshe ao:ted the same part of th-C woni^ at the well and led many to
tcacning the young people reading classes.

Since the children do not go to school^ev Pink was soon

Neville Shaw began weekly teaching sessions at

Smith family attended the meebing being he!i^at the Streatham churchj^by
Log Turner of Seattle Washington).

About this^time the reunited

patriarch of the gipsy clanVThe next week 6 more were baptised, this time

danc^Grandfather Smith attended the meeting. The first 6 baptisms soon resul ted .with the consent of Grandfather Smith (l/ho is something like the

On the second occasion of their attcii-

v/ith Grandfather Smith present. The next week following 5 more were found accepting Christ and being baptised AWfvidst the corltinuing teaching.

-ffe buy of 10-)WQ. begin a week of meetings,. Grandfather Smith d^s made his decision to be next to accept Christ and to follow him in obedience beginning with Christian baptism,

The

we^k^on ^^_ril

^a^9ther gipsy, Wester Smith/^ was baptii;e3

(a

'"f"

A planning session was recently entered into by Fred Miller;Nev Shaw aM Nev Pink to plan the further teaching and shepherding of the new converts in this unprecedented revival which has not petered out yet. Several
programs have been begun as a result.

A Vacation Bible School b"eifi^ led by the Streatham church for ui ^ill lead children the spring 10 to 15. Fred the group during of teachers with holiday the helpApril of Diane Blow,who is Miller coordina

Epsom.

establishment of a local church in ^eenlanck iihe gipsy coimuunity near

Hopefully this will lead to the

ting the other youth, George Miller, Fred Miller^ Jr, Derek 31ow, Debbie Carlson^and Rosena Marshall.who will teach VES, do puppets, and direct
crafts aimed at teaching the Bible.
Fred Miller -wi.

Grandfather Smith's baptism

k-Ars/ ^ ^ -UULSJI JQ st-sart i-v-4.|-] r ii'i revival -mo/a-t-? r\<-f ^ . ut of^^ meeting 80 Balham High Road and have tjie concluding message on Thurs(?ay.

he is the respected leader of the \-7hole gipsy clan . his conversion will

scheduled to start the meetiny.

Since-; -

further open the v/ay to the spfeading of the gospel in the many other
f F.P.^Miller , -^epui Lex' '

gipsy communities v/ith whom these folks come into contact.

Epistle from England

. . . A report from ministries challenging a post- Christian nation with the claims of Christ.
March 1982
ERDINGTON REPORT

Vol. 9

No. 6

(Birmingham) UNLESS THE LORD BUILDS THE HOUSE . . .

Roger & Michille

Ednngton

, woULD THINK EVERYONE HAS DONE IT-just gone on doing what there is to do just because it's always been done. What we are as a church can often be that way. We think of ourselves in a static way. just maintaining the status quo -even if the status quo is apparently quite good.
The cure, of course, is not the common American disease

of changing the seats, building a new building, buying new song books, using a guitar instead of the organ, starting a new Sunday School class or fellowship group, beginning a new calling programme, using a new glossy set of materials, the latest fool-proof stewardship campaign, or the apparent ultimate
panacea of having an outsider in for a revival meeting.

Although very commendable by human standards, my guess is that God often terms them as nothing. Cosmetic changes don't impress a God who penetrates to the point of dividing soul from spirit, and seeing
the most inner part of our body, the bone marrow. He looks at the heartbeat not the suntan. I've been a specialist in human effort far too long to condemn other people. And I'm not out of the forest yet myself. My own work is far too often centered in my own ideas and abilities than in the nature of

God and His Life lived in me. I'm rarely open to a complete change in my thinking and my heart is often
closed to God touching the source of both my joy and pain. When one of our younger leaders suggested a series of messages on the nature of the church, it sounded good. But radically re-thinking what we really are as the church has been a bit of a blow to me. As always when God reaches us, cherished ideas have to go out the windowno matter how well devel oped and firmly established they are. Foundational to a radical shift in my seeing are Jesus' words, "I will build my church." We leaders are so afraid that if we don't do it, it won't get done. Liberated leaders are released from the pressure of building the church. Jesus takes the responsibility. We are the building material, not the builders. Materials are what they are--no more or less. They are
valuable yet have flaws. Most of us are re-claimed bricks and need old bits knocked off to see the real

thing. We need reshaping and to simply co-operate with the builder by allowing ourselves to be built into
the building.

A careful look at Ephesians 2:19-22 shows us several other points. Jesus is not only the builder but the
vital part of the foundation. And shaking many beliefs, Jesus does not just build us as isolated individuals

in "our spiritual life." We are being built together. The church is a unit, which necessitates relationships
with one another. Many of us don't want to be built to one another-and we won't be, because we have too

much pride. But we are a true Christian Church only as we are being built together by Jesus. Would it be too strong to say that most churches are isolated stones scattered all over the building site? Jesus not only builds His Church together, but He becomes the mortar between the living stones. Many churches work on the basis of human relationships or break up on the basis of a break down in human relationships. This is not the way the church is to work. It is only when relationships are bound together in Jesus that the building rises to be come a holy temple in the Lord. And God lives in the temple. He not only builds us, becomes the chief cornerstone, builds us together, and keeps us together. He also lives in the building-US. As we are together (nothing to do with our place of worship), we house the Holy Spirit. We in Erdington are still in the process of becoming a stable place for the Holy Spirit to live and work and move. But we know that Jesus Himself is building the building in His own good time, so we're not too
worried.

HINCKLEY REPORT

(Leicestershire)

Pebble in a l^)sJD
A word of joy comes from a frustrated
Hinckley Christian

Tony &
Angela Calvert Justin & Gillian

I was baptised in November, 1979 and ever since that day Satan had been

getting at me. Satan has tried every trick in the book and just before Christ mas, 1981,1 thought he had won. I gave up. "You've won, Satan!" 1said. But then through my tears of frustra tion and despair, the words of "What a
Friend We Have in Jesus" echoed, i

The Deadline
lines. Getting the magazine pasted up and to the printers, planning the next
cular project out on time.

started to sing, "Oh, what needless pain

we bear, all because we do not carry

My life seems to be made up of dead

everything to God in prayer." Then my own words, "Oh Lord, I am a fool, i-lelp me, Lord, HELP ME! I put all this horri ble mess in your hands. Take it!"
He did! Within a month, a miracle

issue, Epistle article due, etc. 1have to be ready or it is too late to get the parti

when a parable which Jesus told popped

vants. Happy is the servantwho is found
master will delay just a little longer.

TOO LATE! I was thinking of this

Into mind. In Matthew 25 Jesus talks about the faithful and unfaithful ser
was trusted to do-no more and no less. Bad news for the servant who thinks his

had happened! My husband decided to accept Jesus as IHis Lord and Savior. Mick is going to be baptised on Valen tine's Day. And what LOVE. Not the silly love of cards and cardboard hearts, but a glorious love, overflowing with
God's tremendous power! it's like a

by his master to be doing the things he

pebble dropped in a pond, the ripples

flow out even to the edge of the pond. So many people are being touched, so many friends can see the change in
Mick.

irrelevant to them. "I am a follow^ of

Jesus, what a good girl 1 am!" How
who don't realize the hope, freedom,
time to get careless-there are many

I have found that Christians, myself Included, tend to think of this parable as

And best of all, I feel as if I'm on the

Together we can go so far. "Praise the Lord, the King of Glory. At His feet we
all should fall. Crown Him, Crown Him
Lord of All."

smug. Jesus will return and this is no

JULIE SALTER

as servants, expecting a living Master s

imminent return.

joy, love, peace . . . which Jesus could bring to theirlives because we don't live

happy servant was having a roaring suc cess, but only that he was found to be
about his master's business. Deadhnes
lose the reality of the final deadline.

Note that Jesus doesn t say this

In everyday life are familiar to us. Don t

JANET BAINES

TUNBRIDGE WELLS REPORT

(Kent)

THEY HAVE TAKEN OVER!

One of the most unnerving exper

iences 1 have had was a recent Youth

(Len In riKhll

Linda Nordhielm

Club! We let the club plan a party all on

their own-food, decorations, music,

Curt Nordhielm Donetta Nordhielm Gail Burns Rita Ide

invitations, the lot. The party started slowly, but midway through our noisy
group were enjoying themselves greatly. It was worth letting the kids

have a free hand (basically) in planning their own party. We will probably let them do it again later-after Rita and I
recover from the first one! GAIL

A VERY GOOD PLACE TO START

MEANWHILE, BACK AT
ST. ANN'S. . .

Where do we begin? What does God

want first?

She had been attending services for

about a year. Repeated attempts to talk to her about committing her life to
Christ were met with resistance. After

Everytx)dy in the church seems to desire growth, but there are a variety of opinions on how. And if new people come into the church, what would they find that would help them seek Jesus as their Savior? Would they find Love? Joy? Peace? After struggling for years to just keep the church doors open, the nerves of the few Christians who met only once a week were frayed and their spirits were low. The burden they have been carry ing is very heavy. In order to build up the members, a fortnightly Bible study has been started. Only five came to the first study, but at least it is a beginning. More encouraging however, is the second Bible study which has started with three Christian young people. This too will meet every other week. We did not know what to expect at our first meeting. We found that we could not assume that they even know the basic
doctrines as the older ones did. These 18

watching

her

father

immersed

in

watching her father immersed Into Jesus she said that she could never go through such a humiliating experience. And yet, the Hound of Heaven was not through pursuing her. During her Christmas holiday from school, I asked again if it would be pos sible to talk abut making a commit ment. This time Rose agreed. We talked
for an hour and at the end, she was still not sure about becoming a disciple. I gave her a book about following Christ
and asked her to take her time in read

ing it. The next day she came to our house asking to be baptised. She, too, wanted the humbling experience of baptism.
This now means that there are two

and 20 year olds were starved for Biblical knowledge and after two and a half
hours of discussion, WE had to stop. THEY wanted to keep going! That is very encouraging.
RITA

believers in her family. Her mother is the only one who has not made any decision. And yet, it was this mother who was beaming with happiness on the night her daughter was burled with
Christ. The Hound of Heaven is after her as well. CURT

WEST BROMWICH REPORT

(West Midlands)
Pete &

Jan Bowen and Gareth

pRqGrEsS
In these early stages of the West Bromwlch ministry, we have struggled to make progress. There were only a
' handful of us In the church and when it

came to proclaiming God's word and liv* ing it out we were limited in many ways. Recently God has answered our cries for a larger core group from which we can build things up. Three Christians in their twenties have joined us. Two of them, Phil and Helen Walker, were members of the Coventry church but are now living

and studying in Birmingham. The other person is Bill Weekiey, a student from the
U.S.A., who is here for a semester studying and also getting some practical exper ience in ministry with us. These additional workers have enabled us to develop our ministry in a variety of

ways. Our children's Sunday School has been extended from two to four classes. Our worship has been enhanced by the new gifts that these people bring. Helen is musically talented, Phil and Bill will share in the preaching ministry. Bill and I have begun a door-to-door calling program to reach out and share Christ with new
people. seeing God at work in our situation has brought encouragement to us. There Is a deeper longing for knowing Him and serving Him. Our love for one another is grow-

ing and we feel we are making some useful contacts and inroads in the community
around us.

Having said this, there is a long way to go. Please pray that our foundational work will be clearly directed by God-that we may be firmly building on THE founda tion - Jesus Christ - and that the church will rise up to be a solid and powerful witness to Christ in this place. God is so good to us. We rejoice in what He is doing here. We rejoice that He has been with us in our past struggles and led us through. We know that He will be with us in our future struggles too. We are confident that He will fulfili His purposes here in His time. For us, it is a joy and a privilege to be co-workers with Him.
PETE

EPISTLE FROM ENGLAND Northwest Christian Church

TUNBRIDGE WELLS MINISTRY

Non Profit 0p9.

1700 Anthony Drive Champaign, IL 61820

U.S.A.

c/oGarden Cottage,
Ston Street

U.S. Postage
PAID

Tunbridfe Welli. Kent

TNI 2<)T England
HINCKLEY MINISTRY
1 Cheaaher SiKCt

Pemit No. 28

Ctia^Mlgn, 111.

Hinckley. Lcicntenhire

LE 10 OAH England
ERDINGTON MINISTRY

144 Gravelly Lane Birminfihani 923 6LT

England
WEST BROMWICH MINISTRY
'2S Oiford Road

.'i33Lons Cervices
Box 177

AMERICAN CORRESPONDKNTS

Tim & Ntncy Btrber

603 Cudeton

Weat Bromwich, Wnt MidUndi B70 8PE

-cinpton,

46049

England

Chimptign. IL 61820
U.S.A.

^/oS^

Epistle from England

. . . A report from ministries challenging a post- Christian nation with the claims of Christ.
Vol. 9
ERDINGTON REPORT

No. 8

(Birmingham)

WAY 19 1982
Roger & Michille Edrington

>^listening to others on
"the church"
"The aim of God in history is the creation of an all-inclusive community of loving persons, with Himself included in that community as its prime sustainer and most glorious inhabitant."
-Dallas Wlllard

JSiKi"9^usiC
in your
year for us in Erdington, and In the Birmingham
area general ly. One particular project is the new SPRINGDALE COLLEGE, opened 18 months
ago to enable British people to train in areas of

The last year has been a very busy, growing

"If you cannot listen to your brother, you can not listen to the Holy Spirit." -Virgil Vogt "We must pray for eyes to see that even if the salvation of our God is intensely personal, it is never private. . ."
-William E. Pannell

Christian service. Besides training people with high qualifications, it has offered an amazing
opportunity to people who would othervise have

never entered, nor would they have been quali

fied by strict British standards to enter, a

further educational institution.

I was recently approached to teach a class in

"How vigilant we are! Determined not to live by faith if we can avoid it!" Henry Thoreau Description of being a Christian: "A condition of complete simplicity (Costing not less than everything)."
-T. S. Eliot

Church Music there, so during the spring term of this year, I have with some trepidation tra
velled across our city to lecture a two hour class

in the basics of music history, theory, and prac tice. Apart from my unorthodox methods {which
cause much hilarity among the students!), I

have thoroughly enjoyed watching a growing

Interest and awareness of the possibilities of music in worship, as a teaching tool, etc. My hope is that, in the long term, this very impor
tant element in our church lifewhich in the

churches here has been dying a slow and pain

ful deathcan see a new and relevant rebirth.
Michelle

"The best argument for Christianity is Christ ians: their joy, their certainty, their complete ness. But the strongest argument against Christianity is also Christianswhen they are sombre and joyless when they are self-righteous and smug in complacent consecration, when they are narrow and repressive, then Christian ity dies a thousand deaths.
Sheldon Vanauken

HINCKLEY REPORT

(Leicestershire)

Tony & Angela Calvert

Justin & Gillian

"0 DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O GRAVE, WHERE IS YOUR STING?"

1 Cor. 15:55

A FATAL VICTORY

"I've never been to a funeral like that

NOT MY FATHER, NOT MY MOTHER,

BUT IT'S ME OH LORD..."

before. Are all Church of Qhrlst funerals like that one?" inquired the factory worker. This was one response to attending the funeral of Connie Robinson, the wife of my
boss, Alan Robinson. Because of their faith

DAVID CAUDRON comes from a long line of his family who were founders and long-standing members of our church in Hinckley. He had put off his decision for Christ for years. After talking one evening

In the Lord, Alan and Connie together coped bravely with Connie's oncoming death through cancer. Alan was able to witness to the private nurse just how they
could face death and what it was like to feel

to our temporary minister, Tom Gibson,

David realized that" If he didn't take the

the support they received from many

"brothers and sisters."

step now, he never would. So he did! He was baptized along with MICK SALTER (mentioned In last month's EPISTLE.)
Janet Baines

I mention Connie and Alan because of

their witness, their love of the Lord, and the far reaching effect a Christian funeral

has on many non-Christians. The joyous hymns of victory and the testimony of real hope and peace at not fearing "what comes after" prompted the factory worker to Inquire more. The clear testimony to
Connie's life was the fact that over 200

people from all over the country In many walks of life came together to pay their
respects.

I pray, with Easter approaching, that the gospel message will stir the minds and hearts of many to consider their position if they should die. Could they face It with
hope of "the after"? In life and death, Christians can witness
for Jesus!

Janet

Janet Baines

"Janet working at her new job, printing the 1981

Yearbook!"

great expectations!
Do you live in faith expecting God to do wonders in your midst? Those of you who are involved In some aspect of the Sunday School, do you come each Sunday expect ing more than the week before? Or do you only set out enough workbooks and songbooks for the faithful who come each
week? Gail and I found out how much we had

TUNBRIDGE WELLS REPORT

I(Left o rifht
(Kent)
Rita Ide

Linda Nordhielm
Donetta Nordhielm

Curt Nordhielm Gail Burns

slipped into this type of easy faith-we really did not expect God to provide the
Increase. If we had been asked if we

thought God could have brought more children, we would have said that we did expect God to work and bring more. However, through one small event, we
found out that we did not believe what we

PRAYEf^INK
Without a doubt, one of the reasons God

thought we did. The event? Five new child ren in Sunday School and we did not have the necessary materials for them. On that particular day, we were in God's Sunday
School.

is moving and bringing growth among the

Churches of Christ in Great Britain is

How often do our expectations of God in every aspect of our Christian lives come out in the routine happenings? How easy It
is for all of us to lose the wonder of God's

because of your prayer. Could we please ask you to remember these in particular:

Glyn, Suzanne and Janet-young adults

trying to gain a more solid under standing of their God, especially as He acts through Jesus.
Ken-he needs to realize the freedom
Christ Jesus has for him.

power and reduce it to our own small expectations.

Rita

Colin and Judythey have a hard time

accepting the fact that God has their
best interests in mind.

Carol-trying to build up the courage to return to church after a long lapse.

Gail will be In the States on furlough March 26th through May 9th. She may be contacted through her personal correspon dent: Mrs. John Burns, 100 NW 2nd, P.O. Box 96, Abilene, Kansas, 67410.

WEST BROMWICH REPORT

(West Midlands) u
Pete & (jan Jan Duwen Bowen

Where is Love?
V^Bh
'i j '
I

and and Gareth Gareth

They want to be loved. They want to share in

someone. But ali around people are failing to find true love because they are not

People all around are wanting to find love,

going against His ways. A teenage girl that we know hoped to find

looking to the God who is love and they are

they had known God's love and put Him at the

^ relationship with a boy she met. If

centre of that relationship, there might have developed a growing love between them.

Rather they sought to find love in the way the world says It Is to be found. Their relationship Is shattered. She is pregnant and hurt. The baby will come into the world with no father to raise it.
Instead of love, there is pain and emptiness.
God wants us to be loved. He loves us as no one else can or does. He wants us to share life in a

loving relationship with Him and through Him be drawn together In meaningful and loving relation
ships with our fellow men.

Reflecting on the kind of relationship God wants us to have with Him, we see several ideas in the Scriptures. God wants us to know Him - not just know about Him. This Is eternal life - to know God personally. He wants us to know Him as children know their father. Though we see many imperfect examples, we can visualise a good and perfect father/child relationship. God wants to be our Father. He wants to pour His love out on us, guide us in life, help us In our problems, share His life
with us. He wants us to trust Him, obey Him, and enjoy Him. God wants us to be friends with Him. Abraham was a friend of God. Jesus called His disciples His friends. Good friends share deeply together. They share their joys and sorrows, their hopes, doubts, and fears. They share their goals and plans. God wants us to be In the kind of relationship where we share our feelings with Him and He with us. God wants us to share like husband and wife. Paul ties together the relationship of husband and wife to that of Christ and the church. As husband and wife should be bound together in oneness, love, committment, and total openness, God desires this for our relationship with Him. When we consider those around us who are seeking love in all the wrong places we cry out with Charles Wesley in his hymn, "0 that the world might taste and see The riches of H is grace; The arms of love that compass me
Would all mankind embrace.'

Yes, God wants to embrace us all in His love. Pray for those like these teenagers that they come to know His love. May we too know Him more and more.
Pete

EPISTLE FROM ENGLAND Northwest Christian Church 1700 Anthony Drive Champaign, IL 61820 U.S.A.

TUNBRIDGE WELLS MINISTRY

c/oGardcn Cottage,
Stone Sirwi

Non Profit Org. U.S. Postage

PAID

Tunbhdge Wells, Kent

TNI 2QT Enfland
HINCKLEY MINISTRY 1 CheMher Street

Penilt No. 28fi

ChMpaIgn, 111.

Kinckley. Leireslenhiiv LE 10 OAH England

ERDINCTON MINISTRY

M4 Gravelly Lane Binningham 623 6LT

England
WEST BROMWICH MINISTRY
25 Oiford Road

AMERICAN CORRESPONDENTS

Wett Bromwich.
Wot Midland) B70 BPE

-horizons Miasiona '3rvic-:3 Assoc editorial Dept.

BOx 177

Tim & Nency Birber

603 Caatlelon

England

Champaign, IL 61820
U.S.A.

.'ie.npton, liJ

46049

JUL

22 1982

Epistle from England

. . . A report from ministries challenging a post-Christian nation with the claims of Christ.
May 1982 Vol.9
ERDINGTON REPORT

No.8

(Birmingham)

Roger & Michille Edrington

CARRYING CROSSES

ONE-MAN BANDS

One man, independent ministries are rarely

God's way. Churches have seen it so often that it becomes commonplace. A new minister comes, full of good ideas and takes the church into some
program (or pet peeve) and then another one

Good Friday is a normal working day for most people and a busy day at that-preparing for the "bank holiday" on the Monday after Easter and as many more days as they have been able to get off work. With many unemployed mothers, and vacationing children shop ping, Good Friday is a good day to
witness to Jesus' death.

comes to head in his specific direction (often the

opposite one). The congregation is left reeling

and wondering what God is really about. Ministers really need an interdependence on other gifts besides their own. Surely no one man {or very few) is gifted in all those areas a modern church seems to require-preaching, discern ment. counselling, vision, administering, pastor-

And that's something all Christians agree is essential-the death of Jesus. In Erdington, we joined together for a Walk of Witness through our local shop ping area streets. 700 or so people walked through the streets (with police escort) to let people know the signficance and relevance of Jesus' death.

ing, promoting, building, teaching, visiting,

leading into new areas, intercession, practical work, insight, etc. And surely every man's per
spective is colored by his own special interests, background, education, and blind spots. Ministers (and all Christians) really need the perspectives of others. The ministry teams in

"When I Survey The Wondrous Cross"

sang the theme and crosses-full size

and miniature-visualized its reality for

onlookers.

Birmingham get together to,share perspectives

and give balance to one another. Because we

know we go wrong alone, we need God's Spirit in

others to help.

We still have a long way to go to even under

stand and accept one another. We are different in

nationality, class, family and church back grounds, and how we approach ministry. But we are united in knowing that we can't go it alone
and need one another. Even if we didn't see it from the Bible, we should have known that a

The Church of England (graveyard and all) dominating our main street was the natural setting for a short open-air meeting. I spoke the message, trying to relate the apparent craziness of carrying hangman's nooses in present day society. But many things which seem crazy are later proved extremely true. Or as one early Christian described it, "For the message of the cross is foolish ness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power
of God."

symphony orchestra is always better than a

one-man band.

ROGER

ROGER

HINCKLEY REPORT (Leicestershire)

Tony & Angela Caivert

Justin & Gillian

THEINDEQUACIESOF
TIME & SPACE!

"HIS SHEEP AM I..

In writing articles for the Epistle I find myself in continual turmoil. To share in a few paragraphs the experiences and
events of one whole month can be fru

"Oh, I'm horrible. . . I have no vision. . . ali Is lost. . . I'll just stay here
and die. . Heather sat on the floor

strating. Some months it seems as though there Is very little to report-not because God isn't working (or us for that matter!). But because to share the weekly ' meetings and conversations which we take part in and at which we see God developing, maturing, and con

wailing dramatically and then flopped across a pile of chairs In a wave of selfpity. No,Heather has not given up-she was being a sheep! The teens were present

victing people, where we learn the pro gress of ones' search for truth, ones' newly learned lesson of God's faithful
ness and love is all so difficult to put on

ing a sketch which portrayed sheep fol lowing the shepherd and the various
attitudes and decisions which hindered

paper. So many "little" things happen ing to so many people. The result is we end reporting only "the result" or shar
ing our plans.

their progress to the "finest richest pas

ture land in the world!"

Sunday night centered on sheep, fol lowing Jesus, the Good Shepherd, and accepting Him as Saviour and Lord. The service led up to the baptism of Richard
Welghtman. Richard, husband of Beverly Weight-

1 wish many times you could share in all these stages of our lives here. To be
involved makes communication so much easier. However, I realise all the

Impracticalities of such a wish.

Know that we share with you as best we can. Know that I am grateful, very thankful for the opportunities of working here and learning of God and serving Him. Know that someday the communi cations of such things won't be a diffi-

man baptized last year, had come from a position of hostility towards God to sub mission to His love. It was a joyful occa sion. The angels In Heaven, I know, re joiced with us over this one who was lost
but now is found!

culty~we shall not be bound by space

and time but shall
Heaven.

share freely

In

JANET BAINES

JANET BAINES

TUNBRIDGE WELLS REPORT

AT LAST!

(Kent)
<Lrt (o right I

After many months of waiting and despite high interest rates and unem ployment, Curt and Linda have finally sold their house. They hope to be In Tunbridge Wells by the end of April. So by the time you read this, the old team
of St. Ann's will be the new team of

Linda Nordhielm Curt Nordhielm

Donetta Nordhielm
Gail Burns Rita Ide

Tunbridge Wells.
CURT

RULES! RULES! RULES! We have been set free in Christ) We have become like Christ and have been

given His Spirit to live a life of love. Each of us has the gift of the Spirit with in us which gives us assurance and guid ance in our Christian lives. "The only

MOM One of the differences between

thing that counts is faith expressing Itself through love" (Gal. 5:6). Is this not the teaching of the Gospel
of Christ?

England and America Is the day set aside for Mother's Day. Here It Is In
March.

Our church did not really celebrate it this year, but it was still in my mind as
it is well advertised. I realized that in

Yet I have seen Christians set down

rules and regulations like the Pharisees of the New Testament, burdens which few or no person can possibly carry. I have freedom in Christ, yet I strug gle to understand how other Christians have such a difficult time in taking hold
of the freedom in Christ. In order for non-Christians to see the love of Christ

our little congregation of 17 people, we

have only two mothers-and one of those is 80 years old.
In churches it is often taken for

granted that most women are mothers. But with so few in ours, I began to real ize the poor potential for additional chil
dren to be added to our church by our

shining through us, to see in us some thing they desire, something different from the oppressions of the world, we Christians must begin to express the freedom for which our Lord died to give
us.

families.
children families.

All

of

our Sunday School

from "non-churched"

come

The new generation of Christians within theTunbridge Wells church must

come from outside of the church. What

RITA

an interesting challenge!
RITA

WEST BROMWICH REPORT

(West Midlands)
Pete &

Jan Bowen and Gareth

3US5W6M D/S^U/SE

"We are sorry but you cannot use the building on Palm Sunday as we are having our annual general meeting that evening." With these words from the people whose church building we use,
God blessed us. Yes, blessed us, for instead of

having our normal evening meeting that day we did something different. We held our morning

came overto our housefor a mea!. Seventeen of us shared a very helpful time of fellowship to gether which we concluded with some songs of praise and reflections on Jesus' entry into
Jerusalem and the week that followed.

house meeting as usual and then everyone

miL-

How important it is that when wesee our plans upset we look to see what blessings God has in
store for us. In all things God is at work for the good of those who love Him.
PETE

J^J4^

SLOWLY BUT SURELY. THE TIME IS COMING

Britain is no longer a nation where most people know the basic beliefs of Christianity. If it were, proclamation would merely involve applying the truth to people in a personal way, calling them to respond to Christ. The reality is that with a large number of people, there is a great ignorance of the Christian message, so much misunderstanding, so much prejudice. Only God can open people's eyes to see the glory of Christ. We move forward as His servants praying for
His working as we serve.

We have been doing door-to-door evangelism in the area where we hold our morning meetings, This gives us some opportunities to share the gospel, but for the majority of people the main
effect is to get the church known in the area. But that is a start and we know God is at work even
in that.

He also gives us other ways of sharing His love in practical ways. For example, neighbours of
one of our people was ill and in the hospital. We visited and the love shown was appreciated. The

family concerned is quite large and relatives live in the area. One relative runs a local newspaper shop. The word about the church is getting around. God is making His love known through His
people and the time will surely came when the message too will be heard and believed.
PFTF

EPISTLE FROM ENGLAND Northwest Christian Church

TUNBRIDGE WELLS MINISTRY

Non Profit Org.

1700 Anthony Drive Champaign, IL 61820

U.S.A.

c/oGarden Cotuge,
Stone Stml

U.S. Posuge
PAID

Tunbrldge Welli, Kent TNI 2QT Enftand

HINCKLEY MINISTRY I Chnihcr Strett

Peralt No. 286

Chaapaign, 111.

Hinckley, Leiccttcnhir* LE 10 OAH Enftsnd

ERDINGTON MINISTRY

144 Crsvelly Lane Birmingham 823 6LT

England
WEST BROMWICH MINISTRY 25 Oiford Road

Missions Services
Box 177

AMERICAN CORRESPONDENTS

Tim & Nnry B4rber

603 CMtlfton

West Bromwich, Weat Midlanda B70 SPE

England

Kempton, Ii-i

16049

Chimpaign, IL 61820
U.S.A.

Mi
VOL. Ill NO. 2 MAY - JUNE 1982

LONDON MISSION
8 nullord Road, Slreatham, London SW 16, England; Phone (national) 01-769-4563 (International) 441-769-4563 American Office: P.O. Box 363; flutland, Vt. 05701: Phone 802/773-7474; Bernard Doty, agent and secretary; F. P. Miller, director

ANNOUNCING
Resumption of College Level Training

JUL G1982

The Dorr Drive Church of Christ School of the Ministry at 67 Dorr Dr., Rutland, Vermont, announces the resumption of
training classes under the leadership of Fred P. Miller and a staff of 8 faculty members associated with several other staff mem
bers.

Freshman and advanced classes will be offered. Registration Day is scheduled for September 6, 1982.

FRED P. MILLER - Administrative Advisor - BSL, MSL, MSB. Nine years experience in public education in Vermont, New York and Massachusetts. Established the school of the ministry in 1970. Administered and taught until spring of Z978. Has directed the Church of Christ, London Mission since then in London, England.

RAYMOND LYON - BSL. Well

known evangelist in Iowa and the Midwest with vast experiences in a wide and varied ministry in the USA, Europe and the Carribean.

RICHARD MERRILL - BSL. Graduated Door Drive School of the Ministry. Was first student to
register. Established church at

Enfield, New Hampshire and active in youth work, camps, and

rallies. Established and admini

stered Enfield Christian Academy.

Is administrator of D.D.S.M. and

Academy.

JAMES A. LANE - BSL, MS.

Graduate of the Dorr Dr. School

of the Ministry and Master in Psychology, New Haven Univer

sity. Well known and in wide

DENNIS JOHNSON - BSL, DDSM. Many years experience in all levels of leadership of elem
entary and secondary education. Currently superintendent of Dorr

demand as a speaker on problems

in Urban America.

Dr. Christian Academy.

DAVID SWANSON BSL. Graduate of Dorr Dr. School of

MARETTE CAMPBELL - BA

the Ministry. Established evangel

ist, established churches in New

in music, former DDSM student and graduate of William Penn

Hampshire and Arizona.

College with degree in Music. Song writer, expert at piano,

trumpet and organ, other instru ments include violin, guitar, per
cussion and drums. Will teach

music and organize gospel music

teams among students.

BYRON ELROD - BSL. Is a

graduate of Local Training at Lake Lynn, Penna. Has worked in

PHOTO NOT AVAILABLE

LINDA McDANlEL - BCS. From Nebraska Christian Col

lege. Long experience in Chris

tian benevolent institutions.

Europe and has background in Evidences and Apologetics.

Raised in Children's Homes ad ministered by her parents. Intern

ed in London, England and Eur

ope.

CLASSES BEING OFFERED THIS YEAR:

1. Acts of Apostles 2. Life of Christ 1, II 3. Beginning Greek

4. Christian Institutions of care and education. An intro duction. 5. Homeletics 6. Genesis

9. Christian Education

10. Child Psychology n. Song Leading

12. Penteteuch

13. History of the Bible Text

7. Bible Geography 8. Creative Writing

14. Preparation for internships in New England and Europe 15. Music, instrumental and voice by arrangement 16. Teaching Methods in elementary schools

A special arrangement exists between the Dorr Dr. School of the Ministry and the College of Education of St. Joseph the Provider which is adjacent to the Dorr Drive property. It is possible to do some of your work (Bible) at the Dorr Drive School and take classes at St. Joseph leading to an accredited degree in education while livingin the Dorr Drive School's dormitorys. Another special arrangement can be made with the Dorr Drive Christian Academy doing practice teaching and taking the train ing necessary to qualify for the different levels of responsibility in the Christian A.C.E. School system. Transfer privileges exist between the Dorr Drive School and many Bible Colleges - Colleges and Universities.
EXPLANATION

In a recent letter to the states Fred wrote, T plan to be in Rutland for one or two months. My family will remain in London. I would hope that people helping us would see the need for support whileI help the church inRutland regain the training program. I believe they deserve a helping hand to get going again. They are as truly a mission as anywhere else."

A NEW MOVEMENT AMONG GYPSIES IN AND AROUND LONDON

Several weeks ago Jamesina Wedderburn's young son came home to the woman's shelter where she lived, from the Sunday School of the Clapham Church of Christ, the first church started by Church ofChrist London Mission, now being ministered to by Neville Pink. Jamesina's own interest in the Scriptures was begun and she then led another lady and her son (Mrs. Jasper Smith and Jasper Jr.) to be interested. These people were soon baptized as New Testament Christians. Mrs. Smith was then estranged from her Gypsy family, but after her conversion she acted the same part of"the woman at the "weir and ledrfTaiiy To the teaching sessions. NevilleShaw began weekly teaching sessions at the Gypsy cSTip.Sirice'the chiiafeh'

do not go to school, Nev Pink was soon teaching the young people reading classes. About this time the reunitedSmith family
attended the meeting being held at the Streatham Church by Lee Turner of Seattle, Washington. On the second occasion of their attendance Grandfather Smith attended the meeting. The first six baptisms soon resulted with the consent of Grandfather Smith who is something like the Patriarch of the Gypsy clan. The next week six more were baptized, this timewithGrandfather

Smith present. The next week following five more were found accepting Christand being baptized amidst the continuing teach
ing.

The following week, April 4, another Gypsy, WesterSmith, wasbaptized (aboyof18) andthiscoming week when webegin a weekof meetings, Grandfather Smith has madehisdecision to be nextto accept Christand tofollow him inobedience beginning
with Christian baptism.

A planning session was recently entered into by Fred Miller,Nev Shaw and Nev Pink to plan the further teaching and shep herdingof the new converts in this unprecedented revival. Severalprogramshavebeen begunas a result.Hopefully thiswill lead to the establishment ofa local church inGreenland, the Gypsy community nearEpsom. AVacation Bible School isbeing ledby the Streatham Church for the Gypsychildren during the spring holiday April 10 to 15. FredMiller will lead the groupofteachers with the help of DianeBlow, who is coordinating the other youth, George Miller, Fred Miller Jr., Derek Blow, DebbieCarlson and Rosena Marshall who will teach the VBS, do puppets, and direct crafts aimed at teaching the Bible.

Fred Miller will be speaking at the start of a revival meeting at 80 Balham High Road and have the concluding message on Thursday. Grandfather Smith's baptism isscheduled tostart themeeting. Since he is the respected leader ofthewhole Gypsy
clan his conversion will further open the way to the spreading of the gospelin the manyother Gypsy communities withwhom
these folks come into contact.

CHURCH OF CHRIST LONDON MISSION

P.O. Box 162

Second Class Postage

Paid at Oskaloosa,
Iowa 52677

Oskaloosa, Iowa 52577

CHURCH OF CHRIST LONDON MISSION

is published bi-monthly by the Oskaloosa

Church of Christ, A Ave. W. and N. B St., Oskaloosa, lA 52577. POSTMASTER: AD
DRESS ALL CHANGE OP ADDRESS

NOTICES TO BOX 162. OSKALOOSA. lA

52577. Second Class Postage Paid at Oskaloosa, lA 52577. Vol. Ill No, 2. May June, 1982.

0 1982

Epistle from England

. . . A report from ministries challenging a post- Christian nation with the claims of Christ.
JUNE 1982

VOL.9

N0.9

ERDINGTON REPORT

(Birmingham)
next to men who executed people like me took a

lot of trust in the Man who brought us together. And it's not surprising that I wasn't appointed

Roger & Michille

Edrington

treasurer.

It took a Man like Jesus to bring us together. His teaching hit straight at the core of our various prejudices which kept us apart. When He taught us to love our enemies, we had plenty of people in our group to practice on. And when Peter finally asked me to clothe him with the garments of my understanding, I thought I'd die inside. How

HC

oWiiSkUfi

could I! But I did. And we did learn, through Him, to accept each other as we were and to love

each other deeply, seeing that our various dif ferences were strengths to bring us together or
weaknesses to divide us.

Mind you, there were a lot of things Jesus said

that we didn't understand. In fact, we seemed to

be confused most of the time. Jesus always seemed to be turning our "normal" attitudes and values upside-down. Living the right way up (as He saw it) didn't come quickly for us. We made
loads of mistakes-even after He left and left us

the Holy Spirit-but learn we did. And sooner

than we expected, we were helping to turn our

world upside-down-or right side-up, depending

on how you looked at it. I was playing Matthew, the rich political traitor
and social outcast who Jesus called to follow Him. ROGER

There was much to leave behind for me-money,

power over the masses, being served by inferiors,

and feared by nearly everyone. But Jesus' eyes had met mine. He had seen into my manipulation

and exploitation, which frightened me, but He

also saw me, the man who could be re-created in heart, renewed in mind, and restored to fellow

ship. That freed me to follow. But I had much to deal with as a disciple. I was

aloneisolated by collaboration with my people's enemies and alienated by the very extortion which brought me wealth. Even the other disci ples hated me-Simon the Zealot who cut tax col
lector's throats as a matter of course, Peter the

iij
reconciled.

't '

hot-headed reactionary, and more. They were bound to see me as an outsider-l

had cheated and robbed them all, under the guise of the Roman Empire they hated. How could they trust me? And me them for that matter? Sleeping

Peter and Matthew - opposites who need to be

HINCKLEY REPORT

(Leicestershire)

Tony & Angela Calvert Justin & Gillian

DERRING-DO

During our recent furlough, I took the

time to reflect on what I had learned dur

TO THE RESCUE

ing my first three years in full-time mini stry. Because that ministry took place in a society where the Church has been in decline for half a century, I found myself inevitably thinking about what I had
learned about the reasons for such decline.

The conversion fo fvlick Salter has al

ready been reported in the Epistle. Now

we are able to tell you that his brother Don and Don's wife Lynne have become
Christians.

Their lives were typical of so many of the

people we see all around us. Neither had any living faith: Don was a self-declared atheist; Lynne "believed", but that belief

One lesson I've learned has a simple theme: Where daring stops, death sets in. At the heart of our faith is a personal relationship of loyalty to and trust in God. And because we must be loyal and trust
ing, the need to dare, to take the risks Jesus calls us to take, is an Integral part of
our faith. This is one of the lessons of the

was not informed by the Bible. She really

didn't know the God in which she believed.

In the past both of them had dabbled in

occult phenomena, Including using the Ouija board, attending spiritualist seances
and consulting clairvoyants. These experiences allowed Satan to tighten his grip on them. When Don and

Parable of the Talents (Matt. 25:14-30).

The servant who buried his talent in the

ground is chastized because he would not risk in order to profit, while the two who risked losing all to gain were rewarded for their daring. "Whoever does not have trust enough to dare, even what he has will be
taken from him."

Lynne became interested in following Christ (as a result of the radical change
they had seen In Mick), they found them selves under strange compulsions which they could not understand. Lynne found

And so it is In the life of any Church (or any Christian). God's way Is a risky way. He does things in ways we would never
choose. Often when we start down the road

that she could not read the Bible properly:

whenever she saw the word "God", she
could not read it as such. She was com

of faith we don't know where it ends. But

we dare not refuse to dare.

Where daring stops, death sets in.

pelled to reverse the letters, reading "dog" instead! Yet because God is both gracious and powerful, we have seen Lynne and Don "rescued from the power of darkness and brought safe into the kingdom of his
dear Son" (Col. 1:13) Praise the Lord!
TONY

TUNBRIDGE WELLS REPORT (Kent)

ST. ANN'S IN HINDSIGHT

(Left to hKhll

It Is always difficult to evaluate a three year ministry. From what perspective do you analyse it? From your own hopes? Hopes of others? Success (or lack of it) of
other churches in the area? There are so

Linda Nordhielm Curt Nordhielm Donetta Nordhielm Gail Burns ^ Rita Ide

many factors to take into account that a fair

evaluation is difficult. But, perhaps I could summarise what I saw take place under four headings. 1 The Community and The Ministry. When the team arrived just over three years ago the building which the Church of Christ met in was new. It had just been built following a massive governmental redevelopment project which razed liter ally thousands of old houses. During this four year redevelopment period the church met in another building and her identity with the people was lost. It seems to me that during our ministry the community
has become much more aware that the

may be freer to change. I must say, however, that If change does not take place
in the next five years, the future of the church is in serious question.

3 The New Members and The Ministry.

Though we did not baptize a great num beronly fourthat number is significant in light of what has already been said. It is these members, along with the two or
three older members who have shown

little building at the bottom of the hill on

Melville Gardens is not a garden shed, but achurch building. This awareness, however, by the com munity goes beyond just recognizing the building for they also recognize her ident ity in the community. 2 The Original Church Members and

growth, who are faced wifh the challenge

of taking Christ to the community and helping the older members to change in
order to be more effective in the commun

The Ministry. A former archbishop of the Anglican Church said that it was necessary
for every Christian to be reconverted at the

ity. 4

The Team and The Ministry. Any

ministry one is involved in will change

him. This is especially true of a difficult ministry. The team has learned a number

age of 40 because by then they fear change. Unfortunately, that attitude Is

found in most of the Churches of Christ. I

of things which will make our ministry in

Tunbridge Wells more effective. These are things which any minister would learn as

do not say this in condemnation (I will be 40 some day and I might have to be recon verted), but asasataement of the way it is. This attitude presented a number of problems which were very difficult to over
come. There were some members who

he matured In the ministry.

In conclusion we can say this; Though

we did not accomplish in St. Ann's what

showed signs of growth and are genuinely sorry that our three year verbal contract
was not extended. It may be that our mini stry has made these older members aware

we had hoped for or even what we prayed for, God still worked among us. The com
munity is more aware of the church and a few have become Christians and identified

that some change is necessary if growth is to take place. Now that we are gone, they

with this church. We sincerely hope that the church will carry on from here.
CURT

WEST BROMWICH REPORT (West Midlands)

Pete &

Jan Bowen and Gareth

two wonds
A recent college class has led me to

, ;

reflect upon the Idea of Christians as bridges. A bridge joins two seperated
worlds. It is able to do so because it

touches two worlds, it is rooted in two worlds. If it were only rooted in one it would fall and it would fail to do its job. Jesus Christ is THE BRIDGE - (the mediator) - between God and men. He is effective

as the bridge because He is fully God and fully human. Through Him and His cross, the
human world is brought together with God's world.

The Church, Christ's Body, is called to the task of being a bridge. It is called, through Christ, to bring humans into touch with God. To be effective in this mission, we also must be rooted in two worlds. We can never bring people to a true knowledge of God if our lives are not rooted in God, if we are not dally experiencing His love and moving in
His leading.

Equally we will not reach people for God if our lives are not rooted In human life. Of course, we are human! But It is possible for us to be cut off from people, to stand apart from them and not share in their suffering and needs. We are called, like Christ, to be
incarnated into their experience {though obviously not participating in their sin) so that we might truly be a bridge for them to reach Christ and God. Lord, teach us to be effec tive bridges.
PETE BOWEN

EPISTLE FROM ENGLAND Northwest Christian Church 1700 Anthony Drive

njNBRlDGE WELLS MINISTRY

Non ^ofit Org.

c/oGarden Cottage,
Stone Street

U.S. Postage
PAID

Champaign, IL 61820
U.S.A.

Tunbridge Well. Kent TNI 2()T Engluid

HINCKLEY MINISTRY 1 Chessher Street

PsriBlt No. 286

Chwpalgn, 111.

Hinckley, Licelenhirc

LE 10 OAH England
ERDINGTON MINISTRY

144 Gravelly Lane

Birmingham 623 6LT England
WEST BROMWICH MINISTRY
25 Oxford Road

AMERICAN CORRESPONDENTS

West Bromwich,
We*( Midland! B70 8PE

Tim & Nancy Barber

603 Castleton

iopiions Mi33io;T3 -'arvicQ-s Asaoc fi^ditorial Dept.

BOX 177

England

Champaign. IL 61B20
U.S.A.

rve.T.pton, IN

46049

LONDON MISSION
NO. 4 JULY - AUGUST 1982
8 Rutford Road, Streatham. London SW 16, England: Phone (national) 01-769-4563 (inlernational) <J41-769-4563 AmericanOHIce: P.O. Box 383;Rutland,Vt. 05701: Phone 602/773-7474; Bernard Doly,agent and secretary: F. P. Miller, director

SUMMER OF '82
Along with the 10 interns doing the Lord's work came endless stream of visitors through the Miller's house. We

wnfi'lafe / j J

can't remember them all and some failed to sign the guest book. The Lewis Foster family visited from Cincinnati.

Lewis spoke for us several times. Charles Mills, president

if* ^ of Lincoln Christian College, with 10 or so students and ^ ^ t e a c h e r s on a humanities tour, used our home for
The Illinois evangellzers who were nicknamed "Heather Pickers". while in London. (There were 26 people overnight that weekend and we still had three or four beds unused.) Sarah McGuire of Portland, Oregon, visited for two weeks at the

,T?nT,r,Ti-nnn7''iTV"passed out 15,000 Individual pieces of literature.

T"' =1"

same and held the fort. Both Malt j ^ time i Matt Wentz , . . stayed ,
and barah joined in the door-to-door calling for a full week

ofsevento eight hours-per-day "cold-turkey" calling. BruceStevens,a "wandering archaeologist" from Portland, Oregon, stop ped for overnight coming and going from the Middle East.Francisand BettyRedenbaugh ofEdmonds, Washington, brightened our home. Alicia Vincent and Beth, students at Manhattan Christian College, stopped withus comingand going as they backpacked through Europe this summer. A real highlight was the visit of missionary family Mickeyand Joyce Smith and their two beautiful children on their way from Java to the USA for speaking and visits before returning to the mission field. Sam and Alatheia Burton are spendinga few days at our home beforedeparture to the USA. Others whomweremember, but onlyslight ly,are Mike from Boise and Cliff from Denver who were somehow lost in the changing scene at 8 RutfordRoad.Ah,yes.Paulina Chan and Alfa, members of the local body, stayed with us for a week on return from Hong Kong.

LONG-TIME FRIEND ACCEPTS CHRIST

After almost four years of knowing Yvonne Williams,
-and having her as a close part of our family of friends, we are happy to report she has surrendered her willto Jesus. On a recent trip to Buckie in Scotland, Sam Burton and Tim Turner took up with Yvonne the discussion that we had

long let alone. As a result Yvonne, who had been making her decision within her heart, responded to the care shown her. Incidentally, her decision was based on the validity of
the lives of Christians with whom she has come in contact.

She said, "Ifall of you can do it (live a Christian life) I guess I can, too." She also said that of all the things she had tried
hoping to lead to a happy life,this is all that is left that makes any sense. Yvonne has two children, Gary and Debbie.

These three have long been close friends of the family. We are happy to see them now as a part of the "Familyof God".
Fred baptized Yvonne Wiiiiams. The scene is in a local swimming
pool In Buckie, Scotland.

INTERNS WERE BUSY

Interns in the work this summer included Mark Wright, Tim Turner, Scott Taylor, Phil Harding, John Dittmer, Frankie Faull, Mary Faull, Donna Turner, Bonnie Tewell, and Jolyn Stinehagen. Beside the usual work in VBS in London and Scotland and visitation with the Gypsy Christians in Ewell, this group also majored in door-to-door calling two hours morning and afternoon

and two more in the evening. This stretched into seven to eight hours of actual visitation. Six teams did the calling and many teaching sessions were set up. About 40 people were taught good portions of the Jule Miller film series. We expect further results though baptisms have not yet materialized from these. Tim Turner and Jolyn-Stinehagen taught three separate Rastafarian groups. They are an anti-white, anti-establishment sect who accept the former emperor of Ethiopia as the Messiah.

PRAY FOR PROSPECTS

Close to accepting Christ are David and Pat Green. New friends who will be nurtured are Mrs. Caley, Mrs. Boyer, Alan and Ruth Marshall, Mr. Lewis and Jim Cooperall of whom attend the services (though irregularly).

rag [?[r luj,

EUROPEAN CHRISTIAN SERVICE CAMP

The old van (we've raised only $400 toward replace
ment) took 16 of us to Dover and cross chanel to Bouloinge at Midnight. We passed Paris to South France, climbed into Switzerland, camped that nite at Interlakenwhat a beauti ful place! Next day we climbed Grimsel Pass and on to Brig and over another pass into Italy and camped (tented) again in the hot night at Lake Luganon. Next day we passed Milan and Trent and arrived at the camp to spend a week with European missionaries at Molveno in the Italian Dolomite Alps. Fred preached and taught a class on Revelation, all the young men had opportunity to preach, and the ladies taught classes in VBS. The whole group effectively witness ed to Italian vacationers camped nearby.

The group of interns and our family enjoyed the fellowship and
preaching and opportunities of service at the European Christian Service Camp at Moiveno, itaiy.

FORWARDING AGENT REPORT

Bill Doty, our forwarding agent, has gone through three recent hospitalizations for a heart problem.He has not yet fully re covered . In the meantime, Mrs. Nalda Merrill has been forwarding agent. Bill writes, "As to continuing as agent, of course I am interested, but am I able? Physically, mentally? Ican't answer that at this time. Iwas surprised and saddened to know that sup port is down so much from last year. Greet all the saints in Streatham. I love you. Bro. Bill."

FALL HELPERS IN LONDON

Scott Taylor, graduate of Roanoke Bible College, is staying with the Miller Family while Fred is in Vermont. Jim French from Eugene, Oregon, is arriving in mid-September to help develop contacts. Dan Maupin of Henry, Nebraska, arrives in mid-November to take part in the work. Two others plan ning on long-term service arrive in January. They are Stan Rutledge and Linda McDaniel, who spent
last summer with us. Scott Taylor will spend this Fall filling the pulpit at 8 Rutford Road and following up contacts in Fred's absence.
SCOTT TAYLOR

SON GEORGE IN TEXAS

George Miller, son of Charlotte and Fred, is in Amarillo, Texas, attending a Jr. College. George finished in the English sys tem. He received 3 "A" level passes with two A's and a B. Anyone who knows the English system knows what that means. Most

people do not get to do "A" level and the number getting above "C grade is miniscule. We are very proud of you, George!

SUMMER OF '83 PLANS

A 10-week internship is being planned. We want to hear from interested, mature Christian young people. If you want to spend a summer of evangelism and adventure, which in a group will effect the lives of people forever for Christ, if you are a mature Christian and want to work in a group under leadership, then write for an application. Next summer will begin with a two-week working orientation in Vermont.

Then we fly toLondon for eight weeks in Europe. We will spend three weeks in

the continent where we will attend the European Christian Service Camp in

IHL

jp^

'

Molveno, Italy. We will pass through France, Switzerland, Germany, Austria and Belgiumon return. We will then spend three weeks in London and the rest

of the time in Scotland. The cost of $1,600.00 for the 10 weeks is exclusive of
airfare but includes channel crossing, all ground transportation for the whole

8-day 8-day trip trip to to Buck Buckie and

Ing plans pigns for the s ing for the summer program including an
return to London.

Fred and Sam Burton of Buckle, Scotland, mak

summer, camp fees, room and three meals a day. We do need a cook for next summer. And it is possible to come for half the session at a reduced cost. Write for details today!

CHURCH OF CHRIST

LONDON MISSION
P.O. Box 162

Oskaloosa, Iowa 52577

CHURCH OF CHRIST LONDON MISSION

is published by-monthly by the Oskaloosa Church of Christ, A Ave. W, and N. B St.,

Oskaloosa, lA 52577. POSTMASTER: AD
DRESS ALL CHANGE OF ADDRESS

NOTICES TO BOX 162, OSKALOOSA, lA 52577. Second Class Postage Paid at Oska loosa, lA 52577. Vol. Ill, No. 4 July - August,
1982.

Church of Christ
t'Tjxd
lllW

iJftl
SEPT. - OCT. 1982
8 Ruttofd Road, SIreatham, London SW 16, England: Phone (national) 01-769-4563 (Internalional) 441-769-4563 American Oltiee: P.O. Box 363; flulland, Vt. 05701; Phone 602/773-7474; Bernard Doty, agent and secretary; F, P. MNIer, director

S/on FOR CHRIST

ka, is to join us in the spring. Linda McDaniel of Oberlin,
Kansas, (with Stan was an intern in 1981) willarrive as soon as funds are raised. These young people need about $7,500 minimum annual support. Linda is presently teaching elementary school in the church in Rutland, Vermont.

VOL. Ml NO. 5

FINANCIAL HELP NEEDED

Brethren,

We are hurting. We have some faithful, never-fail sup porters for whom we are very thankful. However, our in come needs of a bit more than $36,000 annually (at the present exchange rate) ceased being met over a year ago. Since then our monthly income has progressively eroded from a minimum need of $3,000 per month to $2,000 per
month. The mission in London cannot survive at this level
of income.

Jim French of Eugene, Oregon, is spending six months in London to help new Christians with adjustments and with teaching follow-up contacts. RECENT BAPTISMS
TTjese now number five from the summer of activity in
London. Included is Yvonne Williams whom Charlotte re

Whatever the erosion is due to, it has put the work in a

desperate condition. Some churches have discontinued support with little or no explanation. Others have reduced

their monthly contribution with no warning and the end of the erosion is not in sight.
We are doing the work and the mission is entering a period of harvest after gruelling, patient seedsowing. It would seem like the wrong time to withdraw. Especially after permanent helpers have been recruited and five recent
baptisms in Streatham. But we must increase the amount

ports is a very dear sister indeed. Pat Green who (as Yvonne) is a mother of two and known by the church for one year-and-a-half. Mr. G. A. Griffith, a middle aged man who attends at Streatham with his wife. He, living in Mitcham Lane, was contacted through door-to-door work done by the group led by Gary Barnes and followed up with correspondence courses. Alan and Ruth Marshall, parents of two children, con tacted several months ago (Barnes again). More on the
Marshall's later. The Streatham Church now numbers 14 adult mem

being given. We need $12,000 in new support over the next 12 months or the equivalent of 12 churches or individuals giving $100 per month or 24 giving$50. And all who present ly support the work to keep supporting London Mission.
We've operated this way for over a year. Our summer program carried us through the summer months but we are now six months behind in our printing bill ($600). We've not been able to pay this quarter's Blue Cross insurance and must consider whether we should let it go. Our reserve
accounts are empty.

bers. With the Miller family added and the permanent helpers coming, the group will have over 20 adults. A meet ing place outside our home will be needed. This is a prayer
request.

The summer program has moved us further toward the spiritual goal of establishing a fellowship of independent churches in England. I am not happy about the fact that my family is the only family working in England establishing independent New Testament churches who do not make instrumental music a test of fellowship. We are not con demning those who work in the centralized organization of
the Conference. Our aim however is to start churches who

will associate with Christians but who will join no denomina tion. Won't you help this witness continue?

Yvonne Williams, who was recent*

ly baptized, and her children Gary (8) and Debbie (10).

FURLOUGH POSTPONED
This would have been our furlough year but we abso lutely could not afford to come as well as it being premature as far as leaving adequate leadership in charge. Allthe more reason to point out the need for increase in support. We have needs that are not being met. Won't you help us today
and each month?
Fred and Mark RIchey planning the December Issue of London Mission. Mark prints the bi-monthly copy
In Oskaloosa, Iowa.

ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER

This past May, Gary Barnes came with 10 university students from the University of Illinois Campus Ministry at Charleston, Illinois. As a result of their campaign (to complete directed work) Alan and Ruth Marshall were con tacted. Fred and Charlotte then developed a friendship centered around mutual learning experiences with Jesus as the goal and the need for personal obedience made clearer.
D

PERMANENT HELPERS
Three young people are scheduled to join the staff of London Mission for a minimum of one year and another
person for six months.

Don Maupin of Henry, Nebraska, plans to arrive in London by November 1. Stan Rutledge of Lincoln, Nebras-

ru

[V

ir

The Dexter Widener family of Winston Salem made a real impression on the Marshall's and so did this summer's team of interns. Later, Scott Taylor played a part in the regular teaching. In Fred's last meeting with the Marshall's before he left London he felt they were on the verge of accepting Christ. Later, in Lexington, Kentucky, in late September,
Fred visited with Lee Turner who was traveling to Pakistan via London. (Lee is often helped by London Mission to get

WESTON CHURCH OF CHRIST

October, 1982 Dear Fellow-Christians,

It has been a great privilege and joy to get to know Fred Miller and his family. The work he is doing in London, Eng land, is very important and well worth all of our support. We met Fred and his family in London on our way back
from Australia where we served as missionary-ministers for

around London particularly to get to F.E.B.A. whose offices are in Weybridge). Fred pleaded with Lee to take the time to specially teach Alan and Ruth. Lee had a two-hour teach ing session with the Marshall's at the Miller's home in
October. The result was their confession of faith and sub

the past ten years. Both my family and I were impressed with his sincerety and zeal for New Testament Christianity. We need more men like Fred who will present the message
and meet the needs of the lost in the ways he does.

sequent baptism! At that point Ziggy and Sophia Sobelewski came to the house and proceded with the whole group to the baptism, where Lee delivered another profound lesson on conversion; then the baptism. All of which has had a profound effect on Ziggy and Sophia our best friends. Alan and Ruth are rejoicing in the Lord. We give Him Thanks for all who worked together to "midwife" those being bom again.

The London Mission was a wonderful experience for us. Right in- the center of a city which effects so much of our world, this work is growing. It is hoped that a relationship between this independent work in London and similar
works in Australia can be fostered and developed in years to come. Work is already underway to bring this about.

SEPT., OCT., & NOV.

September: Fred spent the month of September work ing with the Rutland, Vermont, church. Scott Taylor, recent

It amazes me that works worthy of financial support are not receiving it. Such is the case of London Mission. I was saddened to hear Fred's support dropped from friends and churches to an all new low! I pray this trend will end. My wife and I give to London Mission on a regular basis and have decided to double our monthly gift. Also we are encouraging our local church to do the same. Yet even with out efforts Fred willneed much more. I encourage all of you who receive this newsletter to prayerfully consider increas ing your offerings to London Mission. Why not get your church, Sunday-School class or group to take a special offering to aid the London Mission? We are aware of their worthiness of support and the genuiness of this need. Please help now.

graduate of Roanoke Bible College, is helping the church in Streatham and staying with Charlotte and family while Fred is in the USA. New England is still a mission field. It is a real joy to work with the Rutland Church and to help
reorganize the school. The month ended with three resi

dent men students and six part-time students. Intensive classes have been structured. Fred taught Genesis for two weeks at six hours per day. Richard Merrill is now giving instruction in the book of Acts and surveys in O.T., N.T. instruction in the book of Acts. Surveys in O.T., N.T. and World History are offered through individualized A.C.E. College paces under supervision. James Lane will begin a
Homiletics class on November 17 with six men enrolled for

the class. In Rutland, the Main buUding was in bad need of

-paint and sLj

building looks much better now. While there, Fred spoke in other New England Churches in Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire and New York and later brought six messages at the Fall preaching retreat on Ezekiel and Jeremiah.
October: Attended the National Missionary Conven tion in Lexington, Kentucky. Held a Revelation Lecture for six nights with the Ardmore Church of Christ in South Bend, Indiana. A young Roman Catholic man, offended on his first night when the papacy was identified with Rev. 13, was back each night and was ultimately baptized before the meeting was over. Reported doing well in the Lord is Dermit Thiel. Also spent nearly a week at Weston, Ohio, with Darryl Krause family. Spoke at Bowling Green University
to about 150 students and will finish out the month re

I get many pieces of mail with appeals across my desk each day. I have been impressed by the fact that Charlotte Miller takes time each month to write a personal thank you. These folks are trying their best to do all they can. Our Restoration^churches and~direct-support missions"^re dependent on each other. These folks are spreading the Word of God in a place that needs it and is beginning to respond to it. Let's all try to give more direct-support to Fred Miller and the Lord's Mission in London. Let's begin today.
With Christian Greetings,

Darryl L. Krause,
Minister

13355 Center St., P.O. Box 344 Weston, Ohio 43569 (419) 669-3895

cruiting a team for the Summer of 1983.

November: Preaching in a School of Missions in South West Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas until November 19 when I will return home to London. Prayer request for allat home during this separation.

LADORERS TOGETHER WITH GOD

ICOR.3:9

CHURCH OF CHRIST LONDON MISSION

P.O. Box 162

Second Class Postage

Paid at Oskaloosa,
Iowa 52577

Oskaloosa, Iowa 52577

CHURCH OF CHRIST LONDON MISSION

is published by-monthly by the Oskaloosa

Church of Christ. A Ave. W. and N. B St.. Oskaloosa, lA 52577. POSTMASTER: AD
DRESS ALL CHANGE OF ADDRESS

SHARLOTTE RAY

mission services ASSN.

BOX 2427

NOTICES TO BOX 162, OSKALOOSA. lA S2577. Second Class Postage Paid at

KNOXVILLE, TN

Oskaloosa, lA 52577. Vol. Ill, No. 5, Sept. Oct.. 1982.

37901

JAN 5 ?383

Church of Christ

<^/0S'

bn FOR CHRIST
VOL. ill NO. 6 NOV. - DEC. 1982

LONDON MISSION
8 RuHord Road. Strsatham, London SW 16, England: Phone (national) 01-769-4563 (intematlonal) 441-769-4563 American Office: P.O.Box383;RuUand, Vt. 05701; Phone802/773-7474; Bernard Ooly. agentandsecretary; F.P. Miller, director

THE HAND OF THE LORD SEEMS TO BE WITH THIS OPPORTUNITY OF SERVICE

In the Fallof '80, Fred met Peter Sutjaibun of Chiang Mai Thailand. Peter, a Lisu tribesman, was converted under the ministry of the Morse family near the Tibet-Burma border,
has been educated and become a translator of the Bible.

the continent where besides attending the European Chris tian Service Camp in Italyyou will have the opportunity to preach or teach in one of the classes. Returning we will also visit cities in France, Switzerland, Austria, Germany and
Belgium. We willwork three more weeks in London and one
in Scotland with the final week used in travel to and from

Scotland and a fewdays for loose ends. The internship fee

of $1,600 for the 12 weeks is exclusive of airfare but includes

Peter has created a grammar for the Ngo Chang tribe and
is currently translating the New Testament into that lan guage. He also was involved in the recent Lisu revision of

allground,transportation from Rutland,Vermont, till return board, caravan rent in Scotland, and three meals a day throughout. No extra moneyis needed but pocket money is
advisable. (It may be possible to come for a half-session but the program is designed to benefit a single whole session.

the Bible of which 45,000 copies were printed at the S. London Trinitarian Bible Society. To expedite the shipment of those Bibles from London to Burmese tribesmen, Peter Sutjaibun visited London in 1980. Fred had the privilege of helping Peter complete his business much more quickly
than he could have otherwise done it. At that time Peter asked Fred ifhe could teach a seminar

Someone who wants to cook is needed.) Write for details.

INTERNSHIP DATES:

June 3 to August 24, 1983

June 3; Arrive at Rutland, Vermont, for orientation and evangelistic work in New England which will be used also in
England.

to 50 or so native evangelists in Chiang Mai. The format for two weeks would be teaching daily from eight in the morn ing to five at night for two weeks. Fred greatly desired to offer that help in the winter of 81-82 but found it impossible and later cancelled the appointment. Later in '82 the invita tion from Peter was extended again and the need explained
further.

June 17: Flyto London. Transport from Rutland provided. June 18: Arrive London for get acquainted with London churches. A round London tour is part of first day. We will
then begin further orientation and house-to-house visitation setting up home studies.

Further to this: Ed Tolosa heard that Fred had been invited to Thailand and asked him if he could include a two-

week seminar in Manila on Urban Evangelism. The pro gram, as explained by Ed, will include other speakers devel oping messages to train leaders for greater service. An opportunity for service like this is not lightly entered into nor lightly put aside. Itentatively accepted, ifthe $1,800
travel expenses could be raised.

July 1: Departure to Dover, cross to France, through Paris, south of France, Switzerland, Italy arrive Alpine
Dolomiti July 3.

July 3: Attend European Christian Service Camp where we will follow the camp schedule until return.

In the meantime, while Fred was in Lexington, KY, a family, recently retired from the USAF, stayed with Char lotte in London. From there they went directly to the Na tional MissionaryConvention in Lexington. They told Fred they wanted to stay at their home whilethey, Charlotte and Fred, got a holiday. Fred pointed out that long separations were not good for families and it would be good ifthey, the
Comptons, stayed in London (with Jim French and Dan Maupin and two other families living at 8 Rutford Rd.) while Charlotte accompanies Fred to Thailand the Phillipines. Charlotte would also teach seminars to preacher's wives. I noted that it might be doubtful since I could not afford the $1,800 needed to take her. The Comptons said, "Weare not rich but we will give $1,000 toward what is needed and will stay to oversee the mission whileyou are gone." I men tioned the same thing at two other places and one brother gave $500 and three others $300 to complete the needed
fare. Now my own cash needs to be raised. It would seem to me that the Lord's hand is on these plans. Would you help complete them? Scheduled time is January 10 through

July 11: Return through Austria, Innsbruck, Munich, Germany, Belgium, France and attend church on the con
tinent.

July 18: Resume calling and home study schedule in Lon don to August 4.

July 29 - 31: Three-day preaching rally in London.

August 5: Leave for Scotland to begin a week of calling and survey for the Buckie Church of Christ. Visit Oxford, Blenheim,Stratford on Avon, Scot Highlands,Lochs, Glen
Coe, etc., en route.

August 13: Return to London for last week and begin

preparations to return home after tying up loose ends and last minute sightseeing.

August 22: (and following) Begin return home to USA.

BASIC DAILY SCHEDULE DURING WORK WEEKS FOR LONDON INTERNSHIP 1983 .
7:00 a.m. - Rise 7:30 a.m. - Breakfast 8:00 a.m. - Devotions

February. Your prayers are requested. Will you help this teaching program to be accomplished?

LONDON & EUROPEAN INTERNSHIP FOR 1983

A twelve-week internship is planned for the summer of 1983. If you want to spend a summer in evangelism, educa tion in European backgrounds, and adventure if you want to be involved in a group work which will affect lives of people for Christ eternally if you are a mature Chris tian and desire to work in a group under leadership, then write for an application.

8:30 a.m. - Growth sessions, orientation, and group plan

ning.

9:30 a.m. - Individual planning 10:30 a.m. - House-to-house calling for two hours.
1:00 p.m. - Lunch 1:30 p.m. - Rest

2:30 p.m. - Two hours of survey calling

4:30 p.m. - Rest 5:30 p.m. - Supper 7:00 p.m. - Two hours call backs or further survey calling. 9:30 p.m. - Group devotions and Bible reading
11:00 p.m. - Bedtime

Next summer we will begin with a two-week working orientation in New England, then flytogether to London for two weeks, putting into practice what we learned in Ver mont. Our 10 weeks in Europe will inc ude three weeks on

f you are intent on doing the Lord's work, sleep at night

"o)rvi/-r\rt "t-\

is important. If you have a tendency to stay up late at night and sleep late in the morning, then your schedule will have to change or this internship is not for you. Ifyou actually can get along with five or six hours of sleep at night, it is recom mended that you get them beginning at 11:00 p.m. and then do the reading, writing, and other preparing and toiletries in the morning. Rise at 4:00 a.m. or 5:00 a.m. rather than going to bed at 1:00 or 2:00 a.m. Early morning hours are actually the best for study, prayer, letters home, etc. Saturdays are left open for sightseeing. There is much to see in London and time will be allotted for you to enrich yourself in the heritage of the English speaking peoples.

On Saturday, July 23, those wanting to go will be given the opportunity of travelling to the west country. Transport ation will be provided to Plymouth Harbor (from which the fleet sailed to the Falklands more recently and where the HMS Victory is in dry dock. The Victory is the flag ship of
Lord Nelson in which he died at the time of the battle of

Trafalgar). We will travel to Winchester which was the capitol of early Saxon England. It is really the beginning of the Kingdom of England. We will also visit Salisbury with its famous cathedral built almost 1,000 years ago. Finally, we will visit Stone Henge on Salisbury Plain and continue on
to London.

July 29 marks the beginning of a three-day preaching rally. We hope that this will be an evangelistic program as well as a time of fellowship for Christians in London and round about. The preaching rally is part of the program. Some of the interns may be asked to preach but we hope to get preachers from the USA and Europe to contribute to a well rounded program. We need to pray for these plans. And then pray again and again!

Piccadilly Circus and Statue of Eros in the heart

oi London's entertainment district.

APPLICATION FOR SUMMER 1983 INTERNSHIP IN LONDON AND EUROPE

I have read the internship schedule and guidelines. I want to be a part of this evangelistic effort and will to my best to followthe schedule and
keep the guidelines.
Signature. Phone (.
Address

Parent's Name.

Address

You must have a sponsoring church and a letter of recommendation from one of the officers of that church.
Sponsoring Church Address C

State

Zip

Minister

Can you honestly say that you have the Holy Spirit?

Will you make a sincere effort to pray every day for London '83?
Enclose with application a passport size photo.
What talents do you have which can be utilized?

1. Music, sing
2. Direct special crafts.

instrument

Can you bring it?

8. I like to cook

3. 4. 5. 6.

Art lettering or layout and design. Work wood machine tools. Recreation and games. Puppets, can you bring them? Or write skits and plays?

9, 10. 11. 12.

Dishwashing Housecleaning Experience with minorities? Lead in Jule Miller cottage meeting films.

7. Drive a "right hand" motor vehicle?

13. Other

What health problems do you havethat we should know about? (Fainting, epilepsy, allergies, heart problems, etc. explain or write, "none").
Parents permission (if under 18).

Endose $25 non-refundable deposit. Room and board and ground transportation fee of $1600for the 12-week program is payable on arrival at
orientation.

Send application to London Mission, Box 383, Rutland, Vermont, 05701.

There are 12 places available for this internship.Early decision is advisableto secure a place and to begin preparationfora full summerof work

CHURCH OF CHRIST LONDON MISSION

P.O. Box 162

Second Class Postage

Paid at Oskaloosa,
Iowa 52577

Oskaloosa, Iowa 52577

CHURCH OF CHRIST LONDON MISSION

is published by-monthly by the Oskaloosa

Church of Christ, A Ave. W. and N. B St., Oskaloosa, lA 52577. POSTMASTER: AD
DRESS ALL CHANGE OF ADDRESS

MISSION SERVICE P. 0. BOX 2427

NOTICES TO BOX 162, OSKALOOSA, lA

KNOXVILLE,

TN

37901

52577.

Second

Class

Postage

Paid

at

Oskaloosa, lA 52577. Vol. Ill, No. 6, Nov. Dec., 1982.

1 5 19,
ere's

Church of Christ

fl Rutlord Roid, SIreatham, London SW 16, England: Phone (national) 01-769-4563 (Intarnatlonal) 441-769-4563

FOR c:hrist

Amtrlcan Olllca: P.O. Box 363; Rutland. Vt. 05701; Phone 602/773-7474; Bernard Doty, agent and tecrelary; F. P. Miller, director

Dear Sharlotte,

Your suggestion that I visit you all and the Johnson Bible College this year is in mind. I will be speaking at
Bradenton Flotida (Tampa) Feb 11-13 and at Kentucky

Christian College March 6-8 and will thus have open time between. Actually the period of Feb 14, 15 to20 would
seem most convenient to me at this time. I will need to hear from someone before Jan 5 to finalise arrangements.

Charlotte and I are teaching in seminars in Chiang Mai,

Thailand Jan 10 to 20 and at Manila Jan 24 to Feb 4 and

with Gary Anderson in Hong Kong Feb 5 to 9.

In the event

that the Communists take over in Hong Kong.the acquaintance -of -the-London and -Hong^ Kong churches will ne of great

future importance. (One of our members here in Lonfion was Baptised by Bill and Melba Rees in Hong Kong) The Seminar

Sutl>aibun. The seminar^!s**in*"conjunction with Walter Biack

of SJBC and Gary Anderson of Hong Kong and directed by Ed Tolosa, Filipino missionary at large.
I will write to the Mission director a t Johnson Bible

in Chaing Mai is under tl^ direction of Walt Prevost and Peter S

College. But will appreiate your runnini^ interferrance for me. I don't like to go anywhere unless I am invited and I have previously sent material to the Mission department at Johnson indicating willingness to appear on their campas to inform young people of Mission internship opportunities in Europe. When someone does not know Jou personally i t is easy to let something slip by. Hense
the need for your attention to the matter. Can you

help?
I will look forward to hear from you by return mail. Perhaps a letter to my agent in Vermont if i t is late
in time. A copy to both places?

^ loS

LONDON AND EUROPEAN INTERNSHIP FOR 1983

DfC J

5 J982

A twelve week internship is planned for summer 1983. If you want to spend a summer in evangelism, education in European backgrounds, and adventure,- if you want to be involved in a group work which will affect lives of people for Christ etern^^lly,- if you are a mature Chris* tian and desire to work in a group under leadership then write for an
application.

Next summer we will begin with a two week working-orientation in

"include 3 weeks on the continent', where besides attending the European Christian Service Camp in Italy you will have the opportunity to
preach or teach in one of the classes. Returning we will also visit

New England, then fly together to London for two weeks putting into practise what we learned in Vermont. Our 10 weeks in Europe will

cities in France, Switzerland, Austria, Germany and Belgium.

We will
The

work 3 more weeks in London and one in Scotland with the final week

used in travel to and from Scotland and a few days for loose ends.
internship fee of $1600 for the 12 weeks is exclusive of airfare but

includes all ground transportation from Rutland Vermont, till return to the USA,- channel crossings, all camp fees, room and board, caravan

rent in Scotland, and 3 meals a day throughout.

session. Someone who wants to cook is needed)
June 3 to August 24

No extra money is
Write for details

needed but pocket money is advisable. (It may be possible to come for half session but the program is designed to benefit a single whole
Internship dates

June 3:

arrive at Rutland,Vermont,

for orientation and evangelistic

v/ork^in New England which will be used also in England.

June 17; Fly to London. Transport from Rutland provided.

June 18: arrive London for get acquainted with London churches. A

roimd London tour is part of first day. We will then begin further orientation and house to house visitation setting up home studies . July 1:
July 3:

of France, Switzerland,

Departure to Dover, cross to France, through Paris, south

Italy arrive Alpine Dolomiti July 3.

Attend European Christian Service Camp where we will follow

the camp schedule until return.

July 11: Return through Austria, Innsbruck, Munich, Germany Belgium

France and attend church on the continent.

July 18resume calling and home study schedule in London to Aug 4.

July 29 30 31: Three day preaching rally in London.

August 5: leave for Scotland to begin a week of calling and survey for the Buckie church of Christ. (650 miles) Visit Oxford, Blenheim,.
Stratford on Avon, Scot Highlands, Lochs, Glen Coe etc. en route.

August 13: retn^^n to London for last week and begin preparations to
August 22: and following begin return home to USA.

return home after tieing up loose ends and last minute sight seexng.

Basic Daily Schedule during Work Weeks For London Internship 1983

7:00 am

rise

7:30
8:00

breakfast
devotions

8:30
9:30
10:30 1:00 pm
1:30

growth

ions, orientation, and group planning.

individual planning
house to house calling for two hours. lunch
rest

2:30
4:30

two hours of survey calling

rest

5:30

supper

7:00 9:30
11:00

two hours call backs or further survey calling. group devotions and Bible reading
bed time

If you are intent on doing the Lord's work, sleep at nite is important. If you have a tendancy to stay up late at nite and sleep late in the morning, then your schedule will have to change or this internship is not for you. If you actually can get along with 5 or 6 hours of sleep at nite it is recommended that you get them beginning at 11 pm and then do the reading, writing , and other preparing and toiletries in the morning. Rise at 4 am or Sam rather than going to bed at 1 Or 2 am. Early morning hours are actually the best for study, prayer, letters home etc. Saturdays are left open for sight seeing. There is much to see

in London and time will be allotted for you to enrich yourself in

the heritage of the English speaking peoples.
On Saturday July 23 Those wanting to go will be given the

opportunity of travelling to the west country.

Transportaion will
sailed to

be provided to Plymouth harbor (from which the fleef.

the Falklands more recently and where the HMS Victory is in dry dock
The ViLtory is the flag ship of Lord Nelson in which he died at the time of the battle of Trafalgar. We will travel to

Winchester which was the capitol of early Saxon England. It is really the beginning of the Kingdom of England. We will also visit Salisbury with its famous cathedral built almost 1,000 years ago. Finally
we will visit Stone Henge on Saltsbury-Plain and~continue on to London.

July 29 marks the beginning of a 3 day preaching rally. We hope that this will be an evangelistic program as well as a time of fellowship for Christians in London and round about. The preaching rally is part of the program. Some of the interns may be asked to preach but we
hope to get preachers from the USA and Europe to contribute to a well rounded program. We need to pray for these plans. And then pray agafn and again.