Kevin and Anna Ruwersma

Oh To See the Dawn

2010-07-09T14:12:00.002+01:00

I first heard the song, "Oh To See the Dawn", sung in an English chapel. I was so moved by the words, that I wrote the title down that evening and later listened to it on the internet. This week the lyrics keep going through my head.....

Oh, to see the dawn,
Of the darkest day,
Christ on the road to Calvary.
Tried by sinful men,
Torn and beaten, then,
Nailed to a cross of wood.

This, the power of the cross;
Christ became sin for us.
Took the blame, bore the wrath -
We stand forgiven at the cross.

Oh, to see the pain,
Written on the face,
Bearing the awesome weight of sin.
Every bitter thought,
Every evil deed,
Crowning Your bloodstained brow.

This, the power of the cross;
Christ became sin for us.
Took the blame, bore the wrath -
We stand forgiven at the cross.

Now the daylight flees,
Now the ground beneath,
Quakes as its Maker bows His head.
Curtain torn in two,
Dead are raised to life,
'Finished!' the victory cry.

This, the power of the cross;
Christ became sin for us.
Took the blame, bore the wrath -
We stand forgiven at the cross.

Oh, to see my name,
Written in the wounds,
For through Your suffering I am free.
Death is crushed to death,
Life is mine to live,
Won through Your selfless love.

This, the power of the cross;
Son of God - slain for us.
What a love! What a cost!
We stand forgiven at the cross.

BY FAITH

2010-07-08T16:33:00.001+01:00

Yesterday at church a missionary spoke on Hebrews 11, often this passage is called the Hall of Faith. As Mr. Trometer was reading the passage a flood of memories filled my mind. While I was teaching third grade at a Christian school I had my class memorize most of Hebrews 11. As I followed along in my Bible, I remembered the hand motions I taught my class, the voice inflection I insisted upon, and how we worked on breathing and pausing as a class while reciting the verses from memory. I was ashamed I couldn’t still quote Hebrews 11 without looking occasionally. The Lord really used the message last night to remind me how necessary faith is for the Christian life.

There is one specific verse in that passage I am claiming until I see the Lord fulfill His promise in my life. I realized last night I needed to have more faith if I was to see God answer my prayer. There have been many times I have worried, been fearful, and doubted. Jesus said to Peter in Matthew 14:30 “But when he saw the wind boisterous he was afraid: and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” As I was typing those verses, I was struck that Jesus immediately stretched forth his hand. Jesus is waiting for us to call out to him in faith. A promise we can claim to remind us He is there is, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee (Jeremiah 33:3)."

What is faith? Hebrews 11:1 defines faith for us. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” I have an area in my life I am constantly giving to the Lord; it seems to me I beg Him for mercy every hour in this area. It is something I am hoping for….longing for…..right now there is no evidence – but by faith I know the Lord will answer my plea.

This is such a powerful passage. As you read on it says,

By faith…we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God.
By faith…Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice.
By faith…Enoch was translated that he should not see death.
By faith…Noah prepared an ark.
By faith…Abraham went out, not knowing whither he went.
By faith…Sara received strength to conceive seed.
By faith…Abraham offered up his only begotten son.
By faith…Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
By faith…Jacob blessed both the sons of Joseph.
By faith…Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. Gets this…Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.
By faith…Moses forsook Egypt
By faith…Moses passed through the Red Sea
By faith….the walls of Jericho fell.
By faith….Rahab perished not with them that believed not.

Through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions. Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword…..

Oh, that God would grant me that kind of faith! I was challenged as I read through Hebrews 11. If I am to see God answer prayer, I must pray in faith. Mark 11:24 “Whatsoever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”

A couple months ago, while we were packing to return to the United States from England, I looked at my FAITH plaque. I have put FAITH up in every home Kevin and I have lived. There really wasn’t room to take FAITH with us, but I didn’t want to leave it behind. I know it was a little silly, I could have bought another one at Hobby Lobby no problem, but this FAITH was special to me. So often, I would look at that plaque and be reminded of Hebrews 11:6. We did find room in our suitcases, and FAITH is back out and doing the job it always has, reminding me to have faith.

"But without faith it is impossible to please him, for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Hebrews 11:6

BY FAITH…

HUNGRY FOR RAIN

2010-07-07T19:00:00.006+01:00

The other day I was driving down the road… alone. I always enjoy driving down the road by myself because it’s a good time to think and speak to God. I started thinking about the trials God has brought us through and some that are still very much real. I sometimes just want to throw up my hands at God and say, “Lord, I need you!” I had quite the discussion with God, even though it seemed so lame. I am so weak, sinful, and full of selfishness…God who created and holds the universe is perfect. Who am I to think I know of a better way for my life? Is it sometimes painful? Yes. Do I get tired? Yes. Can it hurt? Oh yeah!

Then I thought of RAIN! So often when it’s just sprinkling we just stay outdoors or continue about our business. The same when God begins his training with us, He sends a little hiccup in our schedule and we think, “Oh, I can take care of this.” Then the rain starts to get a little harder and we may say, “Oh, it might stop…it will just pass.” Lord, I can take care of this trial – I still have control. It isn’t until the rain becomes harder, bolts of lightning light up the sky, and we hear the crashing thunder that we run for shelter. Why is it that it isn’t until God sends storms in my life that I run to the Shelter? God in His wonderful grace sends me trials to bring me closer to Him, that I may run to Him. When I see my need for Him, then He can do the work in my heart that He knows is best for me. So I think….am I hungry for rain? Do I seek the trials of life that I may run to my Shelter? May I always take the trials of life and thank God. No matter how difficult it may be, even when I am blindly following my faithful, heavenly Father may I be hungry for rain.

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

Psalm 91:1-2

A Father's Love

2010-06-20T05:31:00.005+01:00

Little Girl

Every little girl seeks the attention of her father. I was the same. I would do anything for my daddy. One of my favorite places to be when I was a child was on my daddy’s lap. I always felt loved, accepted, and understood by my father. I never had to worry when daddy was around; he was there to protect me! He carried me when I was tired, held my hand when I got a bit scared, took me to special places, and when it was just the two of us he often would get me a treat.... ice-cream!

Childhood

Many times children who grow up in the ministry can easily become bitter or let resentment cloud family relationships. I have never felt that way. I always knew my dad was available. My dad always made sure he spent time with his family. We went on fabulous vacations and often times would go on little day trips. He never made us children feel like a burden. He affirmed us of his love and often said how we were such a necessary part of the ministry. I just thought it was normal for children to tag along on visitation, or make hospital visits. What I never realized until now, is that whole time we were "tagging along" he was reproducing himself in us. He gave us his heart for missions and most importantly, His love for the Lord. As a result my dad has given all three of his children a desire to follow and serve the Lord. The amazing part of it all is that my dad taught us through his example. He didn’t tell us to do anything that we didn’t see on display in his own life. I have watched my dad have towering strength during very difficult days. I have seen my dad ridiculed, mocked, and dishonored because of his passon for truth. Yet, he possesses such grace and humility. I will never forget all my dad invested in my life.

The Awkward Years

Then came the day I sheepishly walked out of my bedroom orange from using cheap sunless tanning lotion. The sad day my mom found out I had red highlights in my hair. The day I was learning to drive and got confused between the brake and gas! I can always remember my dad being so wise. I was intensely watching his reactions to my fight to grow up and spread my much too weak wings. I always felt I could speak to my dad openly and honestly without him getting overemotional about my poor choices during those crazy years. I can remember him forgiving and forgetting my foolish little mistakes, but always being firm on the choices that really mattered. He wasn’t one to bring up the stupid decision I had made last week, everyday was a new day with my dad. Everyone needs compassion, and my dad was full of compassion and forgiveness.

I was fortunate I was my father’s only daughter. We were always very close and I never had to fight for his attention. That is why the day I married Kevin was a day filled with much emotion. My rehearsal was difficult. As we rehearsed for the wedding that Thursday evening, I can remember trying to be so brave but as I walked down the center aisle I fell apart…..the tears, sobs, and emotions overwhelmed me. My dad just patted my hand, and we eventually made it to the end of the aisle.

I am grateful my dad agreed to marry me and Kevin. It was special to have my dad perform the ceremony. To this day I’m not sure how he managed to make it through the ceremony without crying. Actually, I think he did when he said those words a father never really wants to say, “Her mother and I”. Before the wedding, there was a quiet moment before the photographer arrived and I escaped the busy room where all the girls were primping and walked into the auditorium to get my thoughts together. I know it was the Lord, but my dad happened to be walking through the auditorium too. In the quiet and still auditorium, I sat wearing my big, fluffy dress getting ready to make a life changing decision…..and there was my dad. To me that moment was so personal; I don’t even want to write about it. The sweet words my dad spoke to me were so special. I will cherish that unforgettable moment forever!

Since I have been married, I have a much deeper appreciation for my dad. I can see the sacrifices he made for his family. My dad is absolutely brilliant, he could be working somewhere earning the big bucks, but instead he has chosen to serve and follow the Lord. Although we didn’t grow up wearing the latest fashion or driving the nicest cars, we were so overwhelmed by happiness we didn’t even realize that we were “lacking”. I would take learning to drive on an 89’ Crown Victoria with the pale, blue paint chipped off any day for a father who truly loves me. A father who has chosen to lay his treasures in heaven, rather than on earth. A father who has truly been a father in the deepest and truest sense of the word.

Last Week in England

2010-05-19T18:17:00.000+01:00

Dear Friends and Family,

Hello from the U.S.A! We made it safely back to America despite all the ash over the United Kingdom. God has been so good to us. It has been a time of transition, but God is ALWAYS there. We rest in the promise of Hebrews 13:5, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” At times we may not understand God’s amazing plan, but in Isaiah 55:8 it says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.” Those words have been a comfort to us during this time of change.

Since we have returned, we have been busy getting settled into a “new country”. God has provided us a vehicle and has given us temporary employment. We have been in contact with several churches and are seeking the Lord for further direction. During this period of transition we desire to serve other churches and learn from local pastors. We are excited for the new opportunities God is giving us as we trust Him with our future. Lord willing, this will be a temporary situation and soon we will be settled into a church.

Anna was especially blessed before we left the United Kingdom. We had been earnestly praying for a young girl’s salvation for nearly two years. We asked the Lord if we could please see her trust Christ as her Saviour before we returned to the United Stated. I’m not sure what we were thinking, but three days before we were due to leave we held a sleepover. Six children came with their sleep bags to an empty home. It was an emotional time for everyone because the children had been quite accustomed to coming to our home and spending many hours in Bible study and sometimes just having fun! Knowing that would be the last time we would have those teenagers in our home was heartbreaking. It was getting close to midnight and Anna went into the girl’s room to read scripture and pray with them before bed. The young girl who we had been praying for looked up and said, “Miss, I need to talk to ya….yeah miss, can I?” Looking into her eyes Anna had an idea of what she wanted to ask, but wasn’t going to push the issue of salvation with her. Anna went downstairs with her and the young girl said, “Miss, I know I’m not a Christian. I am going to hell. Could I ask Jesus to forgive me?” Warm tears fell down Anna’s cheeks as they read from the Bible that night. God heard and answered our prayers!

Our Farewell Service was a bitter-sweet time. There were many people who came to say goodbye. That night we were humbled as we saw how God could take and use us to bring glory to Him. It was a difficult night, as we said our last goodbye and walked out of the chapel we loved so much. The Lord gave us two magnificent years of serving Him at Beeches Road Baptist Chapel. We learned many great lessons, many of them we couldn’t put on paper. They are buried in our hearts, but will never be forgotten. We are thankful for the goodness of God upon our lives.

We would like to say thank you for your love, prayers, and support during this amazing journey of our lives. You have shared in our joys and trials. And the Lord worked through you to encourage us and keep our eyes focused on Christ.

“God will never lead you where the grace of God cannot keep you.”

Weekly Update

2010-04-05T10:37:00.011+01:00

Hello Friends and Family,

Hope you are well. We are blessed as we reflect and celebrate our Saviour’s resurrection. We are encouraged as we remember His death on a cruel cross, and how He triumphantly conquered death and the grave. What a powerful Saviour we serve!

Resurrection Sunday
Yesterday was a busy day filled with many wonderful blessings. Kevin was able to preach at a church in the local area. On the weekends we host the Crown College students in our home. We were able to take some on the students with us to testify and to sing. The church was greatly encouraged and helped. In the afternoon we returned to our own Sunday School at Beeches Road Baptist Chapel. It was great to hear the children sing songs of our Saviour’s Resurrection and to see many parents attend the church service. Later that afternoon, we once again returned to the same church we attended in the morning to minister and encourage other believers.

Oxford Baptist Chapel

The Lord enabled Pastor Derrick and Julianna Morlan and Cathy Henschen to start Oxford Baptist Chapel on Wednesday, March 31. Kevin and I were able to bring many people from Beeches Road Baptist Chapel to attend this special service. The Lord is blessing and working in a great way in the Oxford area. We would ask you keep this work in your prayers.

Baby Dedication

On Sunday, April 28, Kevin was able to conduct his first baby dedication. The couple invited many of their friends and family. It was thrilling to see over 100 visitors at Beeches Road Baptist Chapel! The Lord helped Kevin as he spoke appropriately on The New Birth of Nicodemus. We are prayerful the Lord will bring many of those visitors back.

Visit from the Ruwersmas
It was great to have Kevin’s parents come and visit us March 18-March30. We had a wonderful time together and were able to visit many places. The most special thing we were able to share with them was our work and ministry at Beeches Road Baptist Chapel. It’s one thing for people to hear about our work, but it was illuminating for them to see our work and meet the people we love so much.

Thank you very much for your prayers and support! May God bless.

Oxford Baptist Chapel

Opening Service

Pastor Derrick, Julianna, and Micah Morlan

Cathy Henschen outside of the Chapel

Baby Dedication

Visit from the Ruwersmas

Weekly Update

2010-03-18T12:02:00.000Z

Thank you for your continued prayers for the ministry in Birmingham, England. The Lord has been very good to us in the last several weeks. Each day we are reminded of God’s amazing presence as He has given us just what we needed.

Recently at Beeches Road Baptist Chapel we held a Testimony Service. Many people who have made a profession of faith during this past year and some who have been saved for several years gave their salvation testimony. There was a very special spirit during the service. We saw several visitors attend and show interest in the gospel. Please continue to pray for those that heard the gospel for we know that “it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.”

This past Sunday was Mother’s Day in England. During our afternoon service, the children sang and quoted scripture. We have been encouraging the Sunday School children to bring their mothers. It was great to see ten mothers attend and hear the gospel during this special service! Please pray as we visit each of these mothers and invite them to the upcoming Easter Service.

Kevin’s parents will be flying in on March18th and will be staying with us for nearly two weeks. It will be nice to see family again and spend some time with them. Most of all, we are excited to have them see our ministry at Beeches Road Baptist Chapel.

Thanks for your love and prayers. May God bless you!

Weekly Update

2010-03-09T15:33:00.001Z

God has blessed us beyond measure this month. What a joy it is to serve our heavenly Father who sacrificially gave us eternal life through His Son, Jesus Christ! As we reflect on God’s goodness, we realize afresh and anew His constant love and grace.

First, we would like to extend an apology for not communicating with you in nearly a month. This was not our intention, but God had a different plan for us. We praise Him during the valleys, and we praise Him while we are on the mountaintop! God’s ways are always perfect.

A couple weeks ago we held a Holiday Bible Club (Vacation Bible School) at Beeches Road Baptist Chapel. This club was mightily used by God as we saw seven children make a profession of faith. Many of them were children who have been coming for quite a few months. They were children who we have sought the Lord in prayer time and time again. What a joy it was to see God answer our prayers! We are actively discipling them and helping them grow in their relationship with the Savior. We would ask that you pray for the families of these children. Many of the families do not attend church anywhere. Our prayer is that God would use the newly converted children to show their parents their need to repent of their sins and put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone.

We have been involved in many state school assemblies this month. This is truly a work of God. So many people have told us this could not be done. What a privilege it is to have an open door to enter into many state schools and share God’s love.

Last week we assisted Derrick and Julianna Morlan and Cathy Henschen in Oxford. We painted and prepared many things for the future opening of Oxford Baptist Chapel. While we were in the city of Oxford it was a reminder once again of the desperate need of a gospel preaching church. Please pray for this new church plant and for the laborers in Oxford.

Thanks so much for your prayers and support. May God bless you!

Holiday Club

2010-02-26T22:01:00.000Z

Here are some pictures of our recent Holiday Club (Vacation Bible School). I can't wait to share all the good news!!! I'm exhausted right now, or I would be writing pages...If I tried to write about it tonight I wouldn't do it justice. I hope I will have time soon to share with you how God is working! God is answering our prayers...

Ryan and Mr. Ruwersma are good buddies!

Showing off their fancy crowns they made at craft time

Evil Haman conspiring evil.....

Look at the good crown! We had great attendance!!

Snack and Memory Verse Time

Game Time

One day it was even warm enough to have games outside. The next day it snowed!

Facepaint

Looks like Ryan is an American fan :)

Bible Lesson Time

Not so Good Valentine Party

2010-02-26T21:21:00.000Z

Hello Everyone! I wanted to post some pictures of our fun Valentine Party. Unfortuantly, is wasn't the best night for Kevin and I. Right before this youth rally our computer was dropped.....yes, DROPPED! So, needless to say - I haven't had computer access until now. It's never a good night when you see your computer have the green screen of death! Anyway, it's fixed. Enjoythe pictures. I love, love, love these girls! Please keep them in your prayers. Thanks!

Weekly Update

2010-02-10T22:05:00.000Z

As we reflect on all the Lord has done for us, we can only think how he has blessed us beyond what we deserve. As we just held our Stewardship Banquet about a week ago; we have thought about all that God has done in the last year, the people that have been added to the church, and the ones who made a profession of faith.

This past Saturday we were able to have a Winter Party for the Sunday School children. Several children came and had a great time playing games, enjoying snacks, and watching a Christian video. It was a way of rewarding the children who have been faithful to Sunday School and have earned enough points to attend. We took the teenagers laser tagging in the evening and had some snacks and a video. It is encouraging to see the children memorizing Scripture, being faithful to Sunday School, and learning more about Jesus Christ.

In this coming week the children will be out of school for their Mid-Term Holiday. We will be having our Holiday Bible Club from Monday thru Wednesday. We look forward to highlighting the life of Queen Esther throughout the club. In the past several Holiday Bible Clubs, it has been a time where many of the children have either made a profession of faith or have wanted to follow the Lord faithfully. Please pray that God will use this Holiday Bible Club this year.

Thanks again for your prayers and loving support. May God bless you…

"Snowman Construction"

Snowball Blow

Redeeming Tokens at the Token Table

Facepainting

Winter Blizzard Game

January/February Prayer Letter

2010-02-02T08:22:00.002Z

Dear Pastor and Friends,

Stewardship Banquet
Last Saturday, we held our annual Stewardship Banquet. It’s exciting as we look forward to 2010 and see the direction of Beeches Road Baptist Chapel. How thrilling it is to be part of a thriving, growing ministry! This year we have taken I John 5:4 as our theme verse, “This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” We are prayerfully looking to God to accomplish many things this year. We are seeking the Lord in faith to provide for the needs of our church and the beginning of Oxford Baptist Chapel.

Crown College
The eleven students who are studying in England for a term from Crown College in Powell, Tennessee have arrived safely! The students seem to be adjusting very well. They have eagerly jumped right into the ministry of Beeches Road Baptist Chapel and assisted during the children’s clubs, Sunday School, and door to door visitation. They have also started traveling to different churches in England to help with visitation and Sunday School. Please pray the students will look to the Lord for their strength and guidance.

School Ministry
The Lord has continued to open more doors to both primary and secondary schools. This past week we were able to teach in St. Laurence Junior School for the first time. Over 350 children heard the gospel clearly presented during the assembly. The principal was very receptive and even asked if we could hold a Bible club afterschool once a week. During this month alone, we have taught over 600 children during school assemblies. Our next assembly is February 9. The school has specifically requested that we speak on the love of God. We praise the Lord for His enabling power.

Oxford Baptist Church
We thank the Lord for bringing Derrick and Juliana Morlan safely to England just before Christmas. They were able to move into their house in Oxford and had almost four weeks to settle in before Micah was born. They will be receiving the keys to the chapel in the next few weeks. In the next few weeks, we will be taking several people from Beeches Road Baptist Chapel down to Oxford to go door-to-door and invite people to the new church plant. Please pray that God will work in the hearts of the people in Oxford.

Sunday School Winter Party
We are looking forward to having a Winter Party next week for the children and teenagers who attend Beeches Road Sunday School. From the beginning of the year, the children have been earning points to attend this event by attending church, bringing their Bibles, memorizing Bible verses, and bringing visitors. For the younger children, we will be having winter game booths, an ice cream parlor, and popcorn and a film. Following the party for the younger children, we will be taking the teenagers laser tagging. We are thankful to see a growth in our Sunday School. We had over fifty children in Sunday School this past Sunday with a couple of first time visitors. Please continue to pray for the children who attend Beeches Road Baptist Chapel.

Holiday Bible Club
We are looking forward to holding a Holiday Bible Club (Vacation Bible School) on February 15-17. This will be another good opportunity to reach out and evangelize the community. It’s nice to have contacts in many of the primary schools so that we can hand out invitations and post brochures in the hallways. Please pray that we will see children trust Christ as their Saviour during the Holiday Bible Club.

In Christ,
Kevin and Anna Ruwersma

Weekly Update

2010-01-26T12:05:00.002Z

Dear Praying Friends and Family,

We are rejoicing at all the Lord has done this week. God has given us so many opportunities to witness and share His wonderful love and sacrifice to those who need to hear.

Crown College
The students are doing well and adjusting to the British culture. We have enjoyed getting to know each student and teaching them in our weekly Practicum Class. We are excited to see how the Lord will use each one! Please pray that the students will touch lives for eternity.

State School
It is thrilling to be part of something so exciting! This ministry is just expanding and growing. Anna was able to enter two schools for an assembly and speak with two principals of other primary schools this week. There is a primary school that is just down the street from Beeches Road Baptist Chapel. Please pray that we will have wisdom as we approach the principal about a special Christmas Carol event at our church. In the past, some of the primary schools have walked to nearby churches to sing Christmas songs. Often, parents attend this special event. It would be great to have a church full of school aged children and their parents. It would be good exposure to the community and also a nice way to give them Christian literature and an invitation to attend church. Please pray the Lord will give us favour with the administration.

Family Devotions and Bible Studies
We continue to hold family devotions with two families from our church. We also hold many other individual Bible studies. Last week was the first week of a girls group Bible study in our home. We had nine girls; there have been five more girls who said they are interested. There are plenty of opportunities to share the gospel. Pray that God would give us strength, time, and resources to share the life changing power of the gospel.

Thanks for your prayers. We also want to thank several of you who wrote us back last week. What an encouragement you are, thank you!

Weekly Update

2010-01-13T12:59:00.002Z

Dear Praying Friends and Family,
Once again we are reminded of God’s goodness as we strive to serve Him in the United Kingdom. We hope that you not only take the time to read this letter, but please take a moment to pray for those the Lord has given us a burden for…..souls we have grown to love.

As I sit here writing this update, I have so many thoughts swirling in my mind, “Who am I? I am so small in the big picture….I am nothing without Christ. I want to love and serve the Lord Jesus with my whole heart. What will my legacy be?” My mom recently reminded me that we are living in the “dash” of life. She was referring to our gravestone. Time is short. God has given us all 24hours in a day – how will you spend your precious time? I know this may seem a little random, but I am overwhelmed how good God has been to us. I never want to forget the moment Lizzy and Shannon trusted Christ as their Saviour, the burden I had in my heart as I walked down the lonely halls of schools where I would eventually teach Christianity, or the way my heart broke when my neighbor slipped into eternity, all the laughs I have shared with the children, the tenderness of a child’s genuine interest in the gospel, the quiet moments the Lord and I have shared. My heart’s desire is that I never forget God’s leading hand in my life! He has guided and lead me every step of the way….may I trust Him with each day of my life.

Our everyday life has been busy. To give you a brief update; the Crown College students arrive on Thursday. This will require a tremendous amount of time and effort on our part. Besides the load of the church ministries and school outreach, we will be assisting with the college work. The students are such a blessing to all. Please pray that God would provide and help all eleven students.

We have challenged our young people to read the Bible in a year. I can’t quite describe the feelings I have had as young person after young person have whipped out their Bible reading chart out of their Bibles to show me. I was shocked, happy, thankful….and just wanted to praise them for their hard work and diligence. The Bible says that God’s word will not return void. May God do a great work in each of their hearts. Please pray for our young people, we had 24 girls and 11 boys at youth rally this past Saturday. Pray that they would see their need of salvation, and that Satan would not get a stronghold on their lives.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your love, prayers, and support. We serve a wonderful Saviour! He knows our every need before we ask Him. May God bless you this week!

A friend of ours snapped a few pictures while we were out in Cambridge.

Weekly Update

2010-01-05T22:05:00.002Z

Dear Praying Friends,

We are eager to see what the Lord has planned for 2010!

A couple days ago we were able to move Derrick and Julianna Morlan and Cathy Henschen into their new home in Oxford. We look forward to assisting them in starting a new church in Oxford. Please pray for this new ministry opportunity.

School is now back in session and we are praying the Lord will allow us to enter some new schools and hold religious assemblies. Anna will be going into a middle school and speaking to 200 teenagers next Tuesday. Please pray for wisdom and favor with the administration. On Wednesday, Anna will be meeting with the principal of a local primary school where many of our Sunday School children attend. Please pray that God would open doors during this meeting.

This week we will be preparing for the Crown College students who will be arriving in England next week, Lord willing.There is much to prepare as we anticipate a new semester. The Lord is moving and working in a great way.

Tonight Kevin posted some books on the internet about the Bible and was contacted by a man who was just released from prison. He seems to be searching for the truth and knows nothing of God or the Bible. Kevin is sending a Bible and some other literature to him to help him know the truth. Pray that God will work in his life and he will follow in the right direction. He lives in London, and we will do our best to remain in contact with him.

Thanks so much for your prayers and support. We enjoyed receiving Christmas cards, updates, and pictures from several of you. Thank you for thinking of us during this holiday season. God bless!

Weekly Update

2009-12-29T13:27:00.001Z

Dear Friends and Family,

As we look ahead to the year 2010 we are eager to see what the Lord has planned. We look forward to serving Him in whatever capacity He would have for us. We have much to pray about and seek the Lord’s face as we enter this New Year. May God give us grace and wisdom.

We had a wonderful Christmas morning celebrating the birth of our Saviour with our church family at Beeches Road. We had a lovely Christmas morning service together. Following the service, we had a delicious Christmas dinner and some good Christmas fun with our American co-workers.

We are still endeavoring to encourage local churches by assisting them with their needs. On Sunday, Kevin was able to fill the pulpit for a church that is without a pastor. We are happy to help and support other churches that are striving to serve the Lord Jesus Christ.

Traditionally, the Sunday following Christmas is very poorly attended. We are grateful to the Lord for bringing 35 children to Sunday School. It was lovely to have a good group of children at church so soon after Christmas!

We are looking forward to helping our friends Derrick and Julianna Morlan and Cathy Henschen move into their new home in Oxford. Lord willing, Oxford Baptist Chapel will be starting in the near future. Derrick Morlan will be pastoring and starting the work there in Oxford. Please keep this new work in your prayers.

May God bless you during your New Year! Thanks again for your love and prayers.

Our Christmas Eve Walk in the Park

It was lovely to have snow during Christmas Eve. It melted on Christmas Day, but it was great while it lasted! Hope you all had a lovely Christmas....

Weekly Update

2009-12-23T14:16:00.008Z

Hope you all have a lovely Christmas and a very happy New Year. We have enjoyed this Christmas season and the fun that it brings! We are pleased to say we had just enough snow to blanket the sidewalks and roofs of houses. I am hoping we will have another snowfall on Christmas Day!

Kevin and I plan on attending a special Christmas service at Beeches Road Baptist Chapel on Christmas Day. Following the church service we will celebrate Christmas with some close friends. We are looking forward to celebrating our Savior’s birth. Isn’t He wonderful, to come to earth to die for our sins? Let us not forget Christ on this meaningful day.
This holiday time comes with many activities for our children and youth at the church. I have posted a few pictures for you to enjoy.
Thank you for your prayers, cards, and gifts. We appreciate you keeping in contact and letting us know you are thinking of us. God is so good! Happy Christmas…

Caroling in an Elderly Care Home

Our church family Christmas dinner last Sunday

Special Christmas lessons in Sunday School

My Little Lambs Sunday School Class

This class seems to be growing. I LOVE teaching the preschool children. They are so full of wonder and excitement!

November/December Prayer Letter

2009-12-15T13:46:00.003Z

Christmas Carol Service

Ladies Christmas Banquet

Girl Fun!

Yummy...

Dear Pastor and Friends,
Merry Christmas! We hope you all have a wonderful Christmas season filled with many blessings. God has been good to us during this holiday time and given us many opportunities share the gospel. The Christmas season brings many opportunities to share the wonderful news of Christ’s birth, death, and resurrection. We are looking forward to having a Christmas Day Service at church and quietly celebrating together.

School Opportunities
Teaching the Bible in public schools and sharing the gospel has been a thing of the past, a door that had been closed for the most part in England. Amazingly, the Lord has given us favor and we have had several invitations to share the good news of the gospel. Anna has been asked to enter several classrooms and teach a Bible lesson. At times we hold assemblies with the entire school. Please pray we will continue to have favor with those in authority. Also, pray the Lord will do a work in the hearts of the children.

Blackheath “Christmas Light Swith-On”
We were invited by the Blackheath Counsel to sing during the city’s Christmas lights ceremony. We sang several Christmas songs and James Zenker gave a brief message of the true meaning of Christmas. It was a privilege to pass hundreds of gospel tracts and invitations to our Carol Service. Several parents of our Sunday School children attended and we were able to get to know them better along with seeing their children there too! This gave us good exposure to those in our neighborhood.

Ladies Christmas Banquet
We hosted our first ladies banquet last weekend. It was wonderful to see over 40 ladies attend. We encouraged the girls from our Sunday School to invite their mothers, grandmothers, and aunties. It was nice to see many visiting mothers having fun playing Christmas games with their daughters. We were blessed to have a pastor’s wife from another church clearly present the gospel to the group of ladies.

Christmas Carol Service
On Sunday we held a Christmas Carol Service at church. All the Sunday School children sang and quoted scripture. It was good to see many visitors and parents come to this special service. We broke our Sunday school attendance that Sunday with 55 children attending!

Thank you for your prayers, support, and love. We enjoy hearing from many of you. May God bless you this Christmas!

Love,
Kevin and Anna Ruwersma
http://www.beechesroadbaptistchapel.com/

Everyday Views

2009-12-09T16:31:00.003Z

Thought you might want to see views of our downtown. This is where it all happens; shopping, witnessing, and well....everyday living! Welcome to our neighbourhood...

Weekly Update

2009-12-01T14:23:00.001Z

Hello Friends and Family,
Hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving! We celebrated with the other Americans who work with us. It was a nice day of fun and relaxing. I must admit, it felt a little funny celebrating a holiday that nobody around you was celebrating. We enjoyed a turkey dinner with all the works. Anna made some pumpkin and apple pies, ummm…..delicious! After stuffing ourselves, we all went outside and worked off our food by playing both American and European football. We were sore for the next couple days…a great reminder of all the fun!

Blackheath “Switch-On” Christmas Lights
Friday night was absolutely amazing. Beeches Road was invited to go to the town center of Blackheath and sing carols and give a brief devotional. It was great to pass out literature and invite many people to our special Christmas Carol service on December 13. It was a wonderful opportunity to reach our community!

Sunday Services
Anna has been visiting a lady named, Charlene, for the past couple weeks. On Sunday, Charlene and her son came to church. Please pray the Lord will continue to do a work in her heart. She is searching for the truth. Please pray Charlene will come back to church next Sunday. We also had four other first time visitors attend on Sunday. God is blessing! We had quite the exciting Sunday School with 44 children attending! What a privilege it is to serve the Lord.

State School Opportunities
Anna is enjoying every opportunity the Lord gives her to enter the schools and teach. Nearly every week we meet a new contact within the school district who seems interested. Anna will be teaching a year 6 and 7 class next week. Please pray she will have wisdom as she prepares to teach the true meaning of Christmas.

Visitation
Kevin is busily preparing the Christmas literature for this month. Lord willing, we will be passing out hundreds of invitations for our Carol Service. In the next couple weeks we will be spending many hours visiting and dropping leaflets through doors. Please pray we will have a good response. Traditionally, the Christmas Carol Service is the highest attended service of the year and attracts the most visitors.

Thank you so much for your prayers! May God bless you this week...

Christmas Caroling

2009-11-30T23:07:00.004Z

Wow.....it worked! I was trying something new. I will write all about this and MORE on Wednesday. Have a great day. :) Enjoy the little slideshow...

Weekly Update

2009-11-26T09:11:00.002Z

Thank you for your many prayers and support. We hope you enjoy your Thanksgiving weekend. As we reflect on God’s goodness today, we have much to be thankful.
Yesterday Anna was able to go into a local high school and teach in a Religious Education class. It was a class of about twenty- eight year 7 students. She was able to teach them about God and creation. Two of the students already knew Anna because their siblings attend the chapel. They have invited us back to teach in other classes and also some assemblies. It is great to see how God has opened a door for us to teach the Bible in a state school. Here are a few thoughts from Anna…

“Have you ever done something half-hearted? Knowing God could open this door, but not having faith? Sadly, that is how I walked into the local high school a couple weeks ago. Why was I so shocked when God opened a door for us to minister to this needy school? We serve a powerful God! As I sheepishly walked around the school searching for the people I needed to contact, I felt out of place. “Lord, please help me” I muttered. This seems to be my frequent prayer, since I often feel inadequate. After speaking to the head of the Religious Education department, she asked if I could start teaching in the school. Since God had given me an opportunity to teach before, and I had the necessary essentials to teach in a state school, they warmly welcomed me. Their religious education program is broken into the five main religions of the world; I am able to freely speak about Christianity. I went on Tuesday to observe, I sat on my seat completely stunned! The teacher was speaking about the Islamic prayers. My heart was touched as I walked away with an enormous burden to pray for our young people. WE MUST PRAY SATAN DOES NOT CONFUSE THEM. They are searching for the truth. Thanks so much for your prayers. Please continue to pray the Lord will enable me and give me wisdom. The school offered to gather over 200 children for me to hold an assembly. What a privilege!”

God has also given us a great opportunity to reach the community this Friday, November 27th. The city council has asked us if our church could lead the Christmas carols at the Christmas Light Switch On and also give a ten minute message about the true meaning of Christmas. We will also be passing out many gospel tracts and invitations to our Christmas Carol Service on December 13th. This was a real answer to prayer for them to contact us. Please pray that God will work in people’s hearts and they would be receptive to the gospel and join us at church.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

(sorry no pictures this week!)

World Mission Conference

2009-11-19T14:42:00.002Z

Thrillling. Encouraging. Challenging. Those are a few words to describe our first ever Mission Conference at Beeches Road. The week started with building a Mongolian Ger and French Café in the Sunday School room. The youth rally girls made flags from around the world, and the children decorated a banner. The room was transformed into an international display. We even made passports for each of the children! Every night the children could enjoy visiting the ger and café, getting their passport stamped, write to a missionary, receive a toy, taste international food, play games, and meet the missionaries! We also were able to hear a different Sunday School class sing and quote scripture every service! What a blessing. There is so many exciting things ahead in the near future. This conference was used to prepare many people for the future work God has for us. We hope and pray God used this conference to show believers their need to surrender their life to the Lord. The gospel was clearly presented each evening, pray for those who have not yet accepted God’s gift of salvation.

The French Cafe

The Mongolian Ger

What a blessing it was to hear over 40 children sing "Be a Missionary!"

Each evening a different Sunday School class sang....

Meeting the Missionaries

The children really enjoyed having a passport! :)

We had their picture taken in a "photo booth" and every evening they received a stamp!

Writing to the missionaries...

Playing "Pin the Tale on the Reindeer" (Mongolia)

Fishing on the coast of France

Tasting French Crepes

International Banquet - We had around 70 people attend!

We had over 50 different children during the conference and 60-70 people attend each of the services!

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the unttermost part of the earth." Acts 1:8

We now have a church website if you would like to visit, http://www.beechesroadbaptistchapel.com/

It's slightly under construction, but is nearly finished. We have already seen people visit our church through the website. Enjoy!

Thanks for your love and support! God is our strength and help.

GOD IS SO GOOD!

Weekly Update

2009-11-11T14:23:00.001Z

TREASURE CLUB

During Treasure Club we memorize the greatest treasure, the Bible! Last week we had a special Awards Ceremony rewarding those who have worked hard memorizing!

AFTERCHURCH

On Sunday, we had all the long people over in our home for an afterchurch. It was an exciting time of singing, testimonies, Bible quizzing, and snacks!

DINNER CLUB

Dear Friends and Family,
We are eager to share our good news with you! God has blessed abundantly above what we could ask or think.

On Thursday we were able to visit eleven schools and give them information concerning our Bible Clubs. During the holiday season schools are looking for assembly speakers to share how Christians celebrate Christ’s birth. This is a great opportunity for us to enter schools and share God’s message of love. Please pray many schools will be interested.

Throughout the week we have several Bible studies with many individuals who have not yet made a profession of faith. This week during a Bible study with a young girl, she asked if we would pray for her salvation and the salvation of four other individuals. She looked up with a sorrowful face and said, “And that’s not all, so many people in Blackheath and around the world need to be forgiven of their sins!” What a statement for an unsaved, searching girl to make! She closed by saying, “Miss, if I become a Christian, could I do what you do and tell others about Jesus?” My heart was overwhelmed by her questions. Please pray the Lord would continue to do a work in her life.

We had ten teenagers come to the Heathfield dinner club today. Seven of them were unsaved, and four of those it was their first time coming to the club. During the Heathfield dinner club we enjoy a home cooked lunch and then close with a Bible study. We were able to clearly share the gospel today with many who have never heard. We asked, “What is sin?” The girls who had never come before couldn’t answer that question. The Lord has given us this time to reach those who have never heard. What a privilege!

This week we are gearing up for our first Mission Conference at Beeches Road. We are looking forward to starting on Saturday night with an International Banquet. Please pray the Lord will use this conference to speak to the hearts of people about sharing the gospel and being a bold witness.

Thank you for your prayers. None of this would be possible without your love and support. May God richly bless you!

In Christ,

Kevin and Anna Ruwersma

Update

2009-11-02T20:48:00.025Z

Dear Praying Friends and Family,

We have much to share with you this week. God’s goodness has been evident these past several days. He has showered us with many blessings…

Angler's Dinner

Last Friday we held an Angler’s Dinner at the church. This was to reach men from our community. We had fish and chips, fishy stories, a great devotional, and prizes! It was great to have eighteen men come and hear the gospel message. Several of them do not attend any church. God used this dinner to reacquaint one of our members with the man who invited him to church fifty years ago. They had lost contact for thirty years!

Visitation

We had our record breaking attendance at visitation last Saturday – there were seventeen people present! We were able to knock on many doors and visit with several people who need the Lord.

Autumn Party

Saturday, October 31, we had an Autumn Party at Marsh Farm. We played fun autumn games, ate delicious food (including pumpkin pie – a novelty for the British), and had a bonfire. During the bonfire we sang songs and listened to a powerful devotional about making wise decisions. Following the lesson, three teenagers raised their hands and mentioned their need for accepting Christ as their Saviour. Please pray God would continue to do a work in the hearts of these young people.

Cathy Henschen

Cathy, a young lady who will be assisting with the chapel in Oxford, arrived safely in Birmingham on Wednesday. Cathy plans on assisting at Beeches Road temporarily to train for her upcoming work. Please pray for Cathy as she works and prepares for this exciting extension work of Beeches Road.

Thank you for your faithfulness to pray for us. We are happy to be serving the Lord!

Little Update & Prayer Letter

2009-10-22T15:39:00.004+01:00

I am now half way to fifty! I had a great birthday on Sunday. :) I celebrated my birthday by attending the first morning service and Harvest service at Beeches Road. God really blessed! It was so exciting to see so many people come to praise God! After church, we hosted a special dinner in the Sunday School room. Here are a few photos...and yes, Kevin spoiled me and made me breakfast in bed!

The Children Singing
---
We had seven teenagers attend the Heathfield Dinner yesterday. Every week it seems to be growing. Several of those who attend do not go to church anywhere. This has been a great way to share the gospel and invite teenagers church.

--- We are always busy with children who stop by and visit us in the afternoons. One day we made homemade hot chocolate. This was a new experience for them - they loved it, of course! :)

I can feel my heart love these children more and more with each passing day. I think of them while they are in school, pray they will make wise decisions, and encourage them to never be ashamed of Christ. I hope and pray they will always be faithful to Christ.

Dear Pastor and Friends,

“O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.” (Psalm 118:1) This has been our theme during the months of September and October as we have rejoiced in the goodness of our great Saviour! So much has happened since our last letter! We hope you will be encouraged as you read the many blessings God has given us during these past few months.

On Saturday, September 12, we hosted our Thanksgiving Service at Beeches Road. This service was intended to dedicate our new extension on the chapel. It was amazing to see people come from far and near to take part in praising God for providing for our needs. This extension will enable us to expand our ministries and provide services we haven’t done in the past.

The afternoon of Saturday, October 3, was truly special as we witnessed the baptism of Simon Jakeman. It was on a cold, February evening that Simon trusted Christ as his Saviour. Many fellow Christians have faithfully prayed for Simon to follow the Lord. The Jakeman family was overjoyed to see their son make a public decision to follow Christ.

The morning of Sunday, October 18, was a beautiful sunny day! During our first morning service it was just as bright and cheerful inside the chapel as it was outside. Everyone was so encouraged and positive to have another opportunity to worship our great God! We had forty people attend the first morning service. Lord willing, the Gospel service and evangelistic Sunday School will still continue in the afternoon. We are eager to see the spiritual growth of believers who attend this new service.

The Lord gave us the incredible opportunity to go to a state (public) school and freely share the gospel with over 170 children. My heart broke as the children sat on the hard, gymnasium floor intently listening to every word as if they had never heard the good news of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. This is a generation who has never heard God’s wonderful way of salvation. Please continue to pray as we endeavor to reach the next generation with the gospel of Christ.

We are grateful for the opportunity to serve other churches in the local area. This month Kevin has been able to preach at several churches that are without a pastor. During our time together it has been good to encourage fellow believers to keep following Christ and fishing for men!

If you would like to receive our weekly email updates, please email us at “theruwersmafamily@yahoo.com”. We do our best to send either a weekly or bi-weekly update. We hope you will join our prayer team of believers who have committed to pray for our work in Birmingham, England.

Thank you for your prayers and support. We are happy to be serving the Lord in England. God is so good!

Weekly Update

2009-10-12T11:25:00.000+01:00

Dear Friends and Family,

How great is our God! We serve the Almighty God of the universe. The God who made the mountains, made the blind to see, and best of all – a God who has made a way for us to be forgiven of our sins. This is our hearts cry…that all the earth may know God’s wonderful plan of salvation. God has changed our lives by His saving power, He has given us a desire to share His love to all those who have never heard. Thank you for taking the time to read about our endeavors to serve Him this week.

The Lord has continually blessed the church and we were able to see Simon Jakeman baptized this past Saturday. We had a special service Saturday afternoon where the gospel was clearly presented. Several people came from across the country to see the baptism. There were nearly one hundred and forty people in attendance, many of them were unbelievers.

We thank the Lord we have been given another opportunity to hold a religious assembly in a primary (elementary) school tomorrow. During the assembly we are able to teach Bible songs, memory verses, and have a short Bible lesson. Please pray that the children will listen and understand their need to know Him as their Saviour.

In the past week we have had a few visitors stay with us for a several days. One was from London and the other from Tennessee. It was great for them to see the day to day ministry and to see the faithful children who come week after week! We have several exciting days coming in the near future. On October 18th we will be celebrating our Chapel’s Anniversary, this will also be the start of our morning services. We will still have our Gospel Service at 3:00 every Sunday, but will also have a morning service at 11:00. We thank the Lord for another year God has allowed the chapel to keep the doors open and look forward to the many wonderful works He will do in the coming years.

Lord willing, we will have a website for Beeches Road Baptist Chapel up and running soon. We hope this will be a help to those praying for the chapel and also be a tool to spread the word about Jesus Christ and the work in England.

Treasure Club

My dear friend and sweet helper, Sue Jakeman. Sue helps during our Friday Treasure Club. When children come to Sunday School they are rewarded by being able to attend the Treasure Club on Friday. During the club we play games and spend individual time with each child quoting scripture.

Discipleship and Bible Studies

Kevin and I have many Bible Studies throughout the week with families and individuals. We are discipling several of the young people as well. I would ask that you specifically pray for a young lady named Sandy this week. Sandy has made a profession of faith, she needs victory over many habits. Please pray God will continue to work in her life and give her the strength she needs.

Castle Bromwich Hall

Please keep the Castle Bromwich Hall in your prayers this week. Pray that God would provide and give us wisdom for the many upcoming decisions.

State School Bible Clubs

This morning we were able to share the gospel with an entire primary school! The Lord blessed and the administration asked if they could call and schedule another assembly. Praise the Lord!

Visitation

Every Saturday morning we go on visitation. We go door to door, visit prospects, and visit to those who haven't come to church for awhile. The faithful children enjoy coming with us. What an encouragement it is to see young people want to please their Saviour and share the gospel with others.

Simon's Baptism

2009-10-05T20:34:00.001+01:00

On Saturday we were blessed to see Simon follow the Lord in believer's baptism. What a blessing! It is exciting to see his life change and see his desire to obey the Lord. It was a very encouraging service. Praise God for His goodness. I will do my best to post more information later. Sorry so short - life is a little busy at the moment. God bless you! Please continue to pray for Beeches Road...

Weekly Update

2009-09-26T10:38:00.000+01:00

Dear Friends and Family,

We trust the Lord has given you a good week filled with many blessings. This week has been amazing! We are sad to see it end. Anna’s parents came for a short visit this week. They spoiled and pampered us all week long. It was lovely to see them again and share our burden for England with them. They were able to visit our church and meet several of the people we write about every week. The children at Beeches Road were thrilled to meet them! This morning, as I drove them to the airport – the magnitude of what we are doing hit me once again. Yes, it is worth leaving our homeland and families to reach a people in need of the gospel. Yes, we are happy and enjoying our work, but it is SO difficult to say goodbye! My heart ached all the way home as I drove in the silent car. God never gives you a trial that He does not give you the strength and grace to persevere. I would love to say to all the families reading this, love your families. Love them intensely. Time is so short, and family means so much! While you have your family together don’t waste a day, make each day special.

The work at Beeches Road is doing very well. We are busy preparing for our Baptismal Service on October 3rd. Lord willing we will be baptizing three people. It is exciting to see how the Lord has worked in their hearts and shown them their need to follow the Lord in believer’s baptism! Please pray we will see several visitors attend this special service. Also, pray the Lord will continue to work in the lives of those being baptized Mic, Simon, and Lizzy.

This week was our first week hosting a lunch and Bible study in our home for the children who go to the high school down the road from our house. We had five young people attend. It was great to have Paige, a girl who hasn’t been to church in a couple weeks, come and hear the truths from God’s Word. This unique opportunity has been a great way to reach children who are on the fringe. They are more likely to come to a lunch then a church service. Please continue to pray the faithful children would invite their friends and hear the gospel.

Thanks for your prayers. We love you all very much! God bless!

Painting with Mr. Ruwersma

Simon and Ryan came over and helped Kevin paint our fence. Thanks guys for your hard work! It looks great!!

Public School Lunch and Bible Study

We love these children! It's amazing how God can give you a love so strong for souls that need Him. We enjoy every opportunity we get to spend time with them!

Visit with Anna's Parents

Our visit to Cadbury World - delicious!

Our hike in the Clint Hills Thank you mom and dad for your love and encouragement! You are the best parents in the whole world. Thanks for loving me dispite all my flaws and short comings. Thank you for always putting God first in our family. Thank you for all our wise words and counsel. I love and miss you so much!

Weekly Update

2009-09-21T14:22:00.000+01:00

Sorry this is a little late this week. I thought Kevin was taking care of it, and he thought I was taking care of it.....ooops! We had a slight communication breakdown. :)

Dear Friends and Family,

Hope you are doing well. We would like to thank you for praying for us this week. Many of you have written and mentioned how you pray for us daily. It is such an encouragement to know that we have many people praying for us every day! Thank you for your faithfulness.

The Lord provided for us to build three new bathrooms and a kitchen inside the chapel. The chapel was in desperate need of updating since the only facilities were outside. Also, having a kitchen will be a huge help to our future ministry. Saturday, September 12, we had a Thanksgiving Service at Beeches Road dedicating the new addition of the chapel. God blessed and many visitors attended the service to see the updated building. It was such a special day as we gave thanks to the Lord for all He has given to us.

Anna’s parents have come for a short visit. They are staying with us off and on as they spend some time traveling and taking a much deserved vacation. They brought us over many surprises from the States. It’s always nice to enjoy the little pleasure of American culture. Many of the women from their home church made gifts to give to the children at the chapel. The children will be delighted to know that people are thinking and praying for them in a different country.

It was neat to have a school contact us this week in regards to having a Bible Club. Anna has spent many hours on the phone contacting schools. Several schools so far seem interested, but at the moment we only have one scheduled.

Here are a few snapshots from the week....enjoy!

An English Wedding

Kevin and I were invited to a sweet friend's wedding this week. It was so lovely and we had a nice time. We brought along a few children from the chapel. For most of them is what their first wedding ever! It was a great time for us to explain the principles of a Christian marriage to them.

Sue and Dan Jakeman - don't they look smart?

Annalee with my hat on!

Ummm....trouble!

The whole gang

This week I spent some time babysitting the Jakemans. It was a beautiful evening outside....I grabbed my carema and ran outside to snap a few pictures of the girls. They are SO sweet....how can you help but love them!

Annalee

Annalee and Sarah Jane

Toni Lou

Thanks for taking the time to visit with us! Until next time...

Thanksgiving Service

2009-09-16T22:00:00.000+01:00

On Saturday, September 12, we had a special Thanksgiving Service at Beeches Road. We were dedicating the new extension on our building. Praise the Lord we had many people visit and God blessed the service. Thank you to each of you who have prayed faithfully for our ministry. You have touched many lives through your prayers.

Kevin, Pete, Tim, and Pastor Zenker

Tim and Pete were the builders who added on our extension.

It was great to see the church full!

A view from the balcony...

Chapel Construction

2009-09-16T18:51:00.000+01:00

Great news - the Lord has blessed and given us the time and resources to do a little renovation on the chapel building! The building was in desperate need of updating. So many people have been kind to give of their time and money to help with this project. It looks so nice and feels like a new place! We are grateful to the Lord for all He has given us. Many of the students who have helped us in the past would be shocked to see the changes. I hope you enjoy a few of the before and after pictures....

Sunday School Classroom - BEFORE

Sunday School Classroom - AFTER

Classroom - BEFORE

Classroom - AFTER

We had an outside kitchen BEFORE

Kitchen - AFTER!

Outside Men's Restroom - BEFORE

Outside Ladies Restroom - BEFORE

We now have THREE restrooms INSIDE!

New carpet on all stairways....

We have spent several late nights and early mornings getting the chapel ready before the special Thanksgiving Service last Saturday.

All the floors in the classrooms are wood - we worked really hard to scrub them and get them all clean. They look great now and even smell better! :)

Kevin did lots of painting!

Many church members came out to help during our chapel work day.

The students last term helped in painting the Sunday School Classroom! Wish you could be here to see the fruits of all your labour. Thank you!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THE WORK OF BEECHES ROAD BAPTIST CHAPEL!

Weekly Update - September 10, 2009

2009-09-10T11:26:00.000+01:00

Dear Friends and Family,

“This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 We are praising God for the beautiful sunshine He has given us today!

Kevin is working very diligently in preparing the chapel for our Thanksgiving Service. There is much to finish for the building; much painting, cleaning, and many other tasks. We will be dedicating the new extension and hosting a special service on Saturday, September 12. The Lord has blessed Beeches Road Baptist Chapel. We have seen several people make a profession of faith, and many who are interested in baptism. Lord willing, we will be having a baptismal service in October. The church is also looking forward to our first annual Mission Conference in November. It’s so exciting to be a part of a new work that is moving forward and growing in Christ!

Anna is assisting with the Teaching English as a Second Language program. This is a great ministry to reach international people who are seeking to improve their English. We have seen several people visit our church who have been reached through this avenue. Most of our students are from a Muslim background. Please pray we will break through their hardened hearts with the gospel of Christ.

School is back in session. This means we will once again be able to have a girls lunch and Bible study in our home with the high school girls during their lunch break. The girls seem very eager to come back to our home and try some more American food! In the past this has been a good way to reach the high school girls with the gospel. We will also do our best to enter many primary and secondary schools this term to hold religious assemblies. Last year we were invited to attend over seven schools, Lord willing we will be able to go back to those same schools and also reach new schools.

Please continue to pray for the Castle of Bromwich Hall project. The Lord keeps opening doors for us to proceed. Please pray the Lord will provide for this project. The Castle of Bromwich Hall will serve as an English Christian Heritage Center, Conference Center, and also be a home for Crown College United Kingdom.

Thanks so much for your love and support. Without your help we could not continue our work. Through your prayers and support you are touching many lives with the gospel of Christ. Thank you.

Family Devotions Ministry

These children are full of life!

Kevin teaching us the Bible lesson...

Hanging out with Mrs. Ruwersma

Getting a little sleepy...

We love to sing Bible songs and learn the Ten Commandments!

Thanks for stopping by!

Promotion Sunday

2009-09-09T16:18:00.000+01:00

Sunday was a very special day! Beeches Road Sunday School celebrated Promotion Sunday. The Lord blessed with 43 children attending! We did several fun things for the children. We had been learning about faith in Sunday School so we held a little faith program for the parents in the main auditorium. We sang Hebrews 11:6, quoted Ephesians 2:8-9, and then sang Ephesians 2:8-9. Following the program, Mr. Zenker gave the children their promotion certificates. We also awarded the most faithful, the person who brought the most visitors, and an outstanding students in each age group. Everyone was given a gift, it was an age appropriate CD of christian songs. The children had a fun day and we were able to see several parents attend the service. Praise God!

The parking lot was full!

I LOVE these children!

Award Time

Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world!

Weekly Update

2009-08-31T12:29:00.000+01:00

Dear Praying Friends,

God has been ever so faithful to us this week. He has allowed us to have Bible studies with many people. It has been good to visit again with the Plant and Jakeman families this past week for family devotions. We have been working on memorizing the Ten Commandments in family devotions. It was exciting to see the older children quote the Ten Commandments from memory! It’s encouraging to see the families grow together spiritually.

Last week we attended a Christian conference near London. Attending this yearly conference gives us the opportunity to meet several English pastors and make contacts with a variety of people. This year we were given the opportunity to present our work for the Christian Heritage Center which will be housed in the Castle of Bromwich Hall. Please continue to pray the Lord will provide for this endeavor.

We had a lovely surprise at the Youth Rally on Saturday. Our neighbor, Toni, attended the rally. She had a good time and promised to return. You never know when the seeds you plant will bring forth fruit. We had spoken to Toni months ago, with seemingly no interest. And then out of nowhere she now wanted to come to church. God’s timing is always perfect.

Please pray for Sunday, September 6. This is our Promotion Sunday for the Sunday School ministry. We will be promoting some of our students to a higher class level, and recognizing some of the outstanding students. We hope this will once again give us an opportunity to invite the parents of our Sunday School children to church.

Thank you for your prayers.
Kevin & Anna Ruwersma

My Mother's Wisdom

2009-08-29T14:46:00.000+01:00

Recently, my mom was asked to write a couple of devotionals for a book. These are her two entries that will be published in a daily devotional book. They are both quite good. I hope you enjoy!

Trusting or Fearful?
Are you fearful, anxious, fretful, or worried today? Regretfully, I have been so often.
There are so many things that call us to fear. We are fearful about the future, health, relationships,death, safety, being alone or unloved, being hurt, our jobs or our faith. Then, there are fears of cancer, heights, dentists, flying, needles......the list just seems endless. I know someone who has a terrible fear of caterpillars and our children are often afraid of the dark.
But, I am so grateful that God has not called us to a spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind! (II Timothy 1:7). More than 62 times God tells us in His Word not to fear. The shepherds were told by the angels not to fear for there was good tidings of great joy. Mary and Joseph each were admonished not to be afraid. Joshua, Isaiah, Jeremiah,and so many more were all told not to be afraid,but simply to trust. And, the reason we need not fear is that we can trust our Heavenly Father who loves us. What a wonderful encouragement that He is always with us in our trials and in our joys!

His presence near to us is our sustaining strength and peace. How good it is when we have an awareness that He is with us always. As we communicate with our loving Shepherd daily through prayer and His Word He draws near to us. (Psalm 145:18) It is amazing to me that the wonderful and great God of the universe cares and hears me when I call out to Him. He who in infinite, unchangeable,wise, holy, full of truth and goodness remembers us! We are so very blessed.

During this past year Isaiah 41:10 has been such an amazing comfort to me. It says “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee;yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” It is true that we do not know what the future holds, but our total confidence can be placed in the one who holds the future. We can place every fear in Him who never leaves us or forsakes us.
So instead of all the fretting and worrying or even counting sheep----we can talk to the shepherd!

Empty Nest
When our children are small and around our feet, we are so very blessed! The Bible tells us that they are a heritage of the Lord. Yet, many times our vision is blurred through busy schedules, sickness, and sleepless nights and so many other things. We sigh with relief for just a few minutes of alone time, just to take a shower or have a devotional time. We work very hard being a mother—loving,teaching, striving to set a good example, nurturing them in every way possible. The goal being to help them become useful , compassionate, godly servants of the Lord.
Then, almost without realizing it our children are developing and maturing. It is a special bond that happens when you are not only teaching but ministering together! What a wonderful joy it is to see them making wise decisions (of course making mistakes along the way) but sincerely taking good steps to please and honor the Lord.

During busy teen years you continue to polish and shine all the rough edges of those wonderful blessings the Lord has given. You just continue to pray and encourage. It is almost like you wake up one morning and realize that really your child is an independent adult lovingly serving the Lord. Then, we are faced with what is commonly called the “the empty nest”. No, it is not a disease but sometimes you surely do have a hard time figuring out how you arrived where you are now.

For me, this season is soon arriving as our youngest son is in his final years of education. My heart has so many different emotions ranging from proud and happy to sad and emotional. It is hard not to wish for the years that are forever recorded in our photo books. I have so much seen my need of examination and wondered what do the “empty nesters do?” These are just four conclusions.

Begin with gratefulness---what a wonderful joy to be able to thrust forth arrows into the harvest field for God. It is so precious to see our children carry the torch of loving Jesus with all their hearts.

It is a great time of renewal and enrichment with your husband. You can now have a date every night! After all you have weathered many storms together and so now you can enjoy and nurture companionship.

Examine your walk with the Lord. It can be a time of knowing Him in a much deeper and close way. Now is time for more prayer, expressing greater gratefulness and yearning for the nearness of the Saviour.

Evaluate your ministry. What new and exciting challenge does the Lord have for you to do? We get accustomed to doing the same old thing---have a sensitive and available heart to follow whatever He would have you do.

God is so very good to us! Embrace and enjoy the richness of this season of being an “empty nester!”

My mom, my best friend

My mom is the ultimate example of self-sacrifice. She always puts my dad first or any us children. She always breaks my heart when we go shopping. She would rather buy me something than get something she really needed! I have seen her pour out her heart to the Lord, and seen her broken spirit as she cried out to her Saviour. I love to hear her really laugh, she has the cutest chuckle! Anytime I think of ice cream, I think of my mom - she LOVES ice cream. She loves little notes, anything little. Her favorite gift to give is pretty dishtowels. She is a very practical person, everything she buys must have a variety of uses. She always cleans when she needs to burn off worried energy. She always told be to keep my hands busy - an idle mind and body is the devils workshop. She supports my dad in all of his adventures, even when it's difficult for her. She always listens to us children, no matter what time we call! She loves no matter what we do - she is always our #1 cheerleader. She also once told me that while I iron Kevin's shirts to use that time to pray for him - I still practice that habit. I have seen her love people unconditionally, even when they treat her unkindly. She is the funniest person on Sundays, so hyper! She would give us the "talk" in the car to church. Mom would say, "I want you to smile and encourage as many people as possible. When we get home, I want you to tell me every person you spoke with." That is my mom - an encourager! I wish everyone could meet my mom. So full of patience and compassion. Mom, thanks for training us to follow the Lord Jesus Christ. I love you!

My Week at High Leigh

2009-08-28T17:32:00.000+01:00

This past week Kevin and I attended a Christian conference near London. It was a lovely, uplifting time. One special reason why I had such a good time was because my brother, Andrew, was there! We had several very late nights catching up on each other's lives. It was so nice to see him again. I have missed him so much!! What a blessing it was to spend some time with him.

The conference was very encouraging! It was nice to see many believers have a desire to follow the Lord Jesus Christ and serve Him. During the conference the special guest, Lonni Shipman, played many beautiful hymn arrangements. The Lord has given him a great musical talent. This is truly an exiciting time to be alive and serving the King of kings and Lord of lords. I have much to share but will have to wait until another time.

On Thursday evening all the young people sang, "How Great Thou Art!"

Naomi and Andrew

Me and my "little" brother! :)

Please watch this!

2009-08-27T00:40:00.000+01:00

This short video clip is shocking. Please take the time to watch this.

Muslim Demographics
Source: www.youtube.com
Islam will overwhelm Christendom unless Christians recognize the demographic realities, begin reproducing again, and share the gospel with Muslims.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-3X5hIFXYU

Daniel Firman's Obituary

2009-08-26T07:20:00.000+01:00

Daniel William Firman, 25, of Gaylord, went home to be with his Lord on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009, as a result of injuries sustained in an auto accident.Dan was born in Flint on Nov. 17, 1983, the son of Dennis and Tammy (Wiles) Firman. When Dan was 4 when the family moved to Petoskey. He graduated from Petoskey High School in 2002. He began his college career at Crown College in Powell, Tenn. After 2 years he transferred and graduated from Grace Baptist College in 2006. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Pastoral Theology. This past summer Dan was ordained and was able to perform the wedding of his younger brother.He was an active member at Grace Baptist Church, including being a Sunday school teacher, bus captain and soccer coach. He enjoyed playing and watching hockey, snowmobiling, jet-skiing and loved woodworking and carpentry.On June 15, 2007, at Grace Baptist Church in Gaylord he married Erin C. Hawley. Dan was excited for the upcoming birth of their first child due in January 2010.Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25, at Grace Baptist Church. Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery in Petoskey. Visitation at the Nelson Funeral Home in Gaylord will take place 4-8 p.m. on Monday and at the church on Tuesday beginning at noon.
Dan is survived by his wife, Erin; his parents, Dennis and Tammy Firman of Gaylord; grandparents, Richard and Shirley Wiles of Clio and Bill and Alice Firman of Vanderbilt; two brothers, Dave (Esther) Firman of Petoskey, and Chris (Jill) Firman of Boyne City; one niece, Katie Firman, and two nephews, Luke and Jesse Firman.Contributions in memory of Daniel Firman may be made to the Baby Firman Memorial Fund C/O Fifth Third Bank, 300 E. Mitchell, Petoskey, Mich. 49770.Friends may offer their condolences online at http://www.nelsonsfuneralhome.com/

Shock, Sorrow, and Sadness

2009-08-21T10:11:00.000+01:00

Early Friday morning our American phone rang - my heart pounded. I knew it must be in the middle of the night in America - worried thoughts ran through my head. I thought to myself, "Is our family alright?" as Kevin ran in the living room to answer the phone. Kevin's mom did her best to share the difficult news with Kevin. Her voice quivering, heart breaking, and everything inside her was having a difficult time sharing the dreadful news with Kevin. I took one glance at Kevin, saw the tears roll down his cheeks and knew something was wrong. In shock, he hung up the phone and told me his best friend, Dan Firman, had been killed in a car accident. We both just froze. Dan was such a loyal friend, they had been in each others weddings, Kevin and Dan worked together during college, and shared so many good times together. I thought of his wife, Erin, who is expecting their first child. It's such a tragedy. I find it difficult to understand - I know God has a perfect plan. I know that God has a plan for each and everyone reading this. He loves you and has made a way to forgive yours sins and give you eternal life. What a comfort it is to know that Dan is in the presence of the Lord. He had recently been ordained and performed his brother's wedding. We would have never expected this to happen. Life is so short. We truly must have the urgency to tell others about Christ as if it were our last day on earth. I hope you will pray for the family of Dan Firman. The funeral is today at 1:00. The three other young men in the truck attended the same church as Dan. This has been a very difficult time for the church. As for Kevin, today his thoughts are preoccupied with memories of Dan and wishing he could be at the funeral. Dan truly was Kevin's best friend - it's a difficult loss to handle, especially when you are not there to have closure. In closed is the article from the newspaper.

PETOSKEY -- Four people have died in a multi-vehicle collision in northern Lower Michigan. The Petoskey Department of Public Safety says three people in a pickup truck -- 25-year-old Daniel Firman, 18-year-old Christian Hunley and 17-year-old Aaron Hunley, all of Gaylord, died at the scene Thursday. Another passenger, 17-year-old Andrew Erickson of Elmira, died Friday afternoon at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City. Police say a semitrailer was headed south on U.S. 31 when a passenger car crossed the centerline. The truck veered to avoid the car before it jackknifed and collided with the pickup driven by Daniel Firman. The passenger car then collided with a second semitrailer, leaving both truckers with minor injuries.

Ice-hockey was a favorite past time for Dan and Kevin.

I first met Dan at college. This picture was taken at Sadie Hawkins 2003.

Crown College Valentine Banquet 2004

On our Wedding Day - 2006

Mr. and Mrs. Dan Firman 2007

Ironbridge

2009-08-18T08:41:00.001+01:00

On Monday Kevin and I took some time away from our busy schedules to spend some time together. It was such a lovely day! We had a peaceful walk from Ironbridge to Buildwas Abbey. Ironbridge was built my Abraham Darby and was finished in 1779. This Ironbridge is very significant because the beginning of the Industrial Revolution took place while it was being built. We walked across the bridge, through a little park, across some fields, and towards the Abbey. We walked about 4 1/2 miles. It was good fun!

My uncle has written several books over the years about walking through various European countries. Recently we ordered his book, "The Independent Walker's Guide to Great Britain" written by Frank Booth. I am not writing an article promoting his book, but if you are traveling through the country it's a handy book to own. The walk we finished today was walk 19 from his book. GREAT WORK UNCLE WAYNE! :) Here are a few snapshots from our day...

The River Severn

Get ready, set set, GO!

WOW

Nice jump!

A Little Update

2009-08-15T15:14:00.000+01:00

Dear Praying Friends,

God has been so good to us this week. We would like to share a few praises with you. Last Saturday Anna was able to speak to two girls who have been faithful in coming for quite some time, Leah and Shannon Hill. The Holy Spirit was working on their hearts during Sarah Jakeman’s testimony and after Youth Rally they wanted to know more about becoming a Christian. Anna was able to give them the plan of salvation. The Lord has been dealing with them and they are understanding what God has done for them.

Also, two girls who have not attended church in a long time came back this week, Lauren Churchill and Sam Phipps. Please continue to pray that these girls would continue to come and learn more about God’s wonderful plan for their lives.

We had the privilege of taking seven of our young people to a Christian camp this week; Rai-Ann Koos, Shannon Hill, Sophie Plant, Sarah Jakeman, Ryan Khan, Jamie Plant, and Simon Jakeman. The camp is a ministry of a church south of London which was started by an American missionary. Camp was a great experience for our young people. The Lord used this week to work in their lives spiritually and to help them go forward for the Lord. On Wednesday morning, Jamie Plant, realized his need for salvation and made a profession of faith. The following day, Shannon Hill, once again approached my wife concerning salvation and also made a profession of faith. What a blessing! Praise God for His wonderful work!

Thanks for your prayers and support. May God bless you this week!

Our friends - The Harvey Sisters

Kevin and Ryan have become quite the buddies!

Anna and Shannon

Group Photo at Camp

Rai-Anne

I love these girls!

Chapel Services

Learning Bible Verses

The boys really enjoyed camping!

Happy Campers :)

Getting ready to go to camp despite the rain!

July/August Prayer Letter

2009-08-08T12:59:00.000+01:00

Dear Pastor & Friends,

The engines roared as the plane lifted off for take-off. Our hearts sank. We were about to leave our home in England to go to our native land. Could one year have gone by so fast? As we sat in the plane surrounded by many people we felt mixed emotions. We were happy to see our friends and family in the States, but sad to say goodbye to our work in England.

The Lord blessed our time in the States. We were able to attend two family weddings, an ordination service for Anna’s brother, and spend some time with family. During our four week stay we were in several churches to give an update of the ministry and to raise additional support. All too soon it was time once again to board the plane and come back to our home in England. God was good to protect us during our many travels.

Upon arrival, we hit the ground running with much catching up to do. We had people to visit, lessons to prepare, Bible studies to arrange, and Children’s clubs to plan. The list is never ending.
During the month of August we have seen a slight decline of attendance due to the summer school holiday. The children have a six week break from school and during this time many go on vacation or visit with family. Please pray that after the holiday we will see all of our children return and be faithful. Kevin is working fervently to finish the building project in time for the grand opening in September. Please pray we will see several parents of our Sunday School
children attend this special day. We have added on bathrooms and a kitchen to the Sunday School room. This has been a huge asset since the building is quite old and the facilities we had before were entered from outside – which may not always be convenient.

Please continue to pray for our future church plant in Oxford. The Lord is preparing three people to come this fall and assist with the starting of this new work. Please pray that the Lord works out the details for their visas, financial support, and safety as they travel. Lord willing we will be starting the services in September. Please pray for the people in Oxford that their hearts would be receptive to the gospel. There are over 150,000 residents that live in Oxford and over 20,000 students attending Oxford university. There is a great need for the light of the gospel to shine on this city.

We will be taking our faithful Sunday School children to camp next week. This will be their first time ever attending a Christian camp. They are very excited! Several of the teens have made a profession of faith, but a few of them are still unsaved. Please pray the preaching of God’s Word will convict them and that this week will be one of spiritual growth and victory in their lives.

We are making plans to enter many more public schools this fall. Please start praying the Lord will soften the hearts of the administration so that we are allowed to teach the Bible in the local schools. Last term we were in seven different schools and we are praying to be in several more. Anna will need much grace and wisdom as she makes contact with over 50 schools this year.

We appreciate your prayers and support and are grateful for how the Lord is blessing His work here in England. May God bless you for your labors.

In Christ,
Kevin Ruwersma

The Waiting Room

2009-08-05T08:59:00.000+01:00

Ever feel like you were sitting in a waiting room? The outdated magazines. The looks on peoples faces. The uneasy feeling in your stomach. Kevin and I have been in the spiritual waiting room for a couple weeks now - waiting on God. Praying. Hoping. Waiting...the hardest part. God does not operate on our time, but in His providential time. Our flesh gets impatient, we want to know NOW! Oh Lord, who am I in your eyes? Humble me. Break me. Mold me. Yes, we have several decisions to make but I have full confidence that the Creator of the universe will guide us to the right path.

We arrived back in England on Friday. A sweet couple who have taken on the title "Rent-a-Parents" picked us up from the airport. They were ever so kind, even bringing us dinner to heat up after our nap. :)

It has been great seeing everyone again. I honestly can say I feel as if I have come home. Our time in American was good for us in so many ways. It showed me personally that I am not missing out on anything. Yes, of course we miss our families. But the lifestyles are filled with so much material goods. There is nothing wrong with that but how fulfilling it is to live your life for Christ. Christ alone can satisfy.

Here are a few pictures of my family. We were only all together for three days. My mom desperately wanted family pictures. They turned out very well and we are all thankful for mom's persistence.

This is my brother, David and his wife, Sarah.

They are on deputation to go to Portugal. I am so proud of them. They have been on full time deputation since January and are already at 40%. Praise the Lord!

All of the children!

I never realized how much shorter I was than my brothers!

The two best people in the world!

My parents have sacrificed for us so much. They are always there with an encouraging word, wise counsel, or a simple prayer. I thank the Lord my Christian upbringing.

The Familia

My grandmother has been living with my parents during her ill health. Thankfully, she is recovering and getting stronger everyday. She hopes to go home sometime next month.

Ministry at Beeches Road

2009-07-24T17:39:00.000+01:00

Thank you for praying for us while we have been in England this past year. This is a short video about the ministry at Beeches Road Baptist Chapel. We are flying back to England on July 30th.

Views from our Travels

2009-07-10T20:39:00.000+01:00

THE ENGLISH INN Recently, Kevin and I celebrated our third wedding anniversary. As a special gift my parents gave us a gift certificate to the English Inn. It's a beautiful Bed and Breakfast decorated in the Old English style. It was nice to get away and have spend time together. We really appreciated their generosity and thoughtfulness.

FRANKENMUTH, MI

My Dad and Mom

The world's largest Christmas store!

SOUTH HAVEN, MI

Kevin and I spent our first year together serving the Lord in a church in South Haven, Michigan. That church has been a real encouragement to us through the years. Kevin preached a wonderful message there and presented our work in England during the service. The church has been very supportive. It's great to see how the Lord is blessing the work in South Haven.

ANNA'S BRIDAL SHOWER

Sarah and Anna (Kevin's sisters)

They are both getting married this month!

Independence Day

2009-07-07T20:04:00.000+01:00

Hello from the good ol' United States of America! We were able to have a fun filled Fourth of July with all of our nieces and nephews (and the insignificant others like brothers and sisters). We had so much fun! It was great to see them again. They are growing up SO fast! We had three beautiful nieces born while we were in the United Kingdom. Family is so precious. What a special time we shared together.

Maddie is now walking everywhere!

My Maddie Girl

"Big Boy" Levi

Yumm.....roasting hot dogs!

Lil' Charity

Kate and Gwen

Mr. Tough Guy

I LOVE this cake!

Hanging out with Uncle Kevin

Caleb had a little too much Mountain Dew!

American Spirit

Proud to be an American!

Precious

Sleepy Girl

Matthew was a great score keeper

John, the oldest of the bunch!

Fishing with Uncle Kevin

Uncle Kevin taught the older boys how to make a torch!

I made an American cake for our picnic, but don't worry my English friends - I thought of you too!

We are having a nice time visiting churches and spending time with family, but we sure miss all of our friends in England!

Third Anniversary

2009-06-24T22:51:00.000+01:00

On Tuesday Kevin and I celebrated our third year anniversary. I cannot believe God has blessed us with three years of life together. Time goes by so fast! God has brought us through many different circumstances to bring us closer to each other, and most importantly to Him.
Kevin surprised me with a day out together the day before our anniversary - he didn't tell me where we were going or what we were doing. I am terrible with surprises -I always have to know! He did a great job - we had a wonderful time just being together. We were able to have a nice lunch out and visit Blenheim Palace, the childhood home of Winston Churchill. It was refreshing getting out alone and being able to really talk.
The evening of our actual anniversary I had stayed up quite late working. When I finally was able to sneak up to bed Kevin had candles lit everywhere with the sweetest card on my nightstand. I cried! He wrote this amazing poem to me and wrote a heart wrenching letter. God has been so good to me to give me a wonderful husband. Kevin is amazingly patient and kind to me. He is always so helpful - almost to the point of making me feel bad. I don't ever need to say anything - if he knows I'm very busy and stressed he just washes the dishes or takes the clothes off the line. Amazing. I am very fortunate to have such a thoughtful, caring husband who leads our home spiritually. He always has time to listen and help me when I get all flustered.
These three years have been the best years of my life. It is so wonderful to know someone loves you no matter what. He loves me during the worst of times and loves me during the peaks. He is my rock - steady.

LOOKING BACK Engagement

Wedding Day

First Anniversary

Second Anniversary

Chapel Anniversary

2009-06-23T10:54:00.000+01:00

Sunday was Father's Day and the Chapel Anniversary Service. God really blessed and gave us a good number of people in attendance. The children sang and quoted Bible verses during the service. After the service, we took this beautiful picture of everyone and had a lovely tea. What a testimony of God's power! Three years ago this chapel hardly had anyone attend, and certainly no children - God has proved Himself and blessed His work. Praise Him!

Falling into the Almighty's Arms

2009-06-11T11:38:00.000+01:00

Do you ever feel unqualified? This morning I woke up with 101 things to do - feeling oh so weak! Here is an excerpt from my journal.

"Oh Lord, I need your strength today. Help me not to even utter one word that is not of You. I love you Lord...I want to serve you with my whole being today. Not out of vain glory, but a sincere desire to glorify YOU! I'm falling at your feet, humble me...mold me.

I have looked in my diary and know I have not spent adequate time in prayer and in God's Word to face the challenges of today. I am so ashamed...Lord, help me! I am not what I long to be for You."

Sometimes when my heart gets so empty I think, "how am I to go on" - just than, God reveals Himself to me in such an unexpected way. I love you Lord - thank you for being my Almighty Saviour.

This morning I had time to get fliers made, letters written, and prepared for the many lessons I am to teach this weekend.

I grab the flashcards and run to Cherry's home for another reading lesson. Cherry, is my sunshine. I have been helping her learn to read. In one month she knows all the sounds and can now read three letter words! We both have had times where we just laugh at all funny things we do. She is so full of life! Thank you Lord for this blessing....

Stop in town - mail my letters, pick up invitations for my neighbourhood ice cream party - rush home.

Meet a couple who is aching for their children. Cry out in my heart to the Lord "Oh, - what can I say to help them?" We had a lovely visit, my heart is hurting for the many people who need the Bread of Life. Many people who just are searching - who is going to bring the Light to them? I am one person...help me never to waste time, but always look for opportunities to serve You.

Say a quick goodbye to the couple, jump in my car to pick up three beautiful children from school. They have just finished a day at school where they have been indoctrinated with the false teaching that Jesus is not the Son of God and that we all came from a big bang. I smile at them, hoping they will see the difference Christ can make in a life. Bring them home, enjoy a cup of tea and have a time to study Scripture. "Lord, help me not to weary in your work" I whisper as I take them home.

Arrive at home only to leave again to have family devotions with our adopted family. Once again, I am so blessed to see the miracle God has done in this family. God, you are amazing! Thank you for leading me to England.

Open my front door after a busy day and think, "God, thank you for another day to serve you. Help me to trust you for what tomorrow brings." I am weak, You are strong. When I am faint, you are there beside me. God is good.

My grandfather's favourite verse: "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. I Corinthians 15:58

Jesus Loves Me

2009-06-10T11:06:00.000+01:00

I teach the Little Lambs Sunday School class at the chapel. They are children from 2-6 years old. I really enjoy teaching this age group - they are like little sponges taking in everything you teach. They are so precious. None of them have trusted Christ as their Saviour, but I am doing my best to teach them the truths of God's Word. I have around 8-10 children who faithfully attend every Lord's Day.

But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 19:14

Jesus loves me this I know...

for the Bible tells me so...

Little ones to Him belong....

They are sweet but He is strong ...

Yes, Jesus loves me...

The Bible tells me so!

Interesting facts:

85% of people became Christians between the ages of 4-14

There are 13.1 million dependent children living in the UK

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15

Our First English Wedding

2009-06-08T10:07:00.000+01:00

On Saturday we had the privilege to attend our first English wedding. Our friends, Dan and Zoe, were married in a country chapel. The setting was beautiful!

Sarah and Wes

Pete and Jo

Kevin and Pastor Burrows in a deep conversation

The Stonelake children

Stephen and Jess

Look at those hats!

Unexpected Blessing

2009-06-04T21:43:00.000+01:00

Yesterday Simon Jakeman and I pulled all the weeds outside of the chapel. By the end of the evening the chapel grounds looked great and we had enjoyed a nice conversation while getting our hands dirty. This morning I woke up thinking "Ugh, my nails! They look SO bad!" My cuticles are growing way over my nail, and I don't ever take time to really pamper myself. I forgot all about it during the busyness of the day. I dashed off real quick to visit my friend, Gracie, a manicurist from Vietnam to invite her once again to church. Well, we finished a nice chat and I was getting ready to leave the shop when she said, “Can I do your nails?” WHAT? I was thinking…..Can you do my nails? OF COURSE! It was so special….the Lord gives you the desires of your heart. He gives you things just to brighten your day. I wanted to just give Gracie a big bear hug. Please pray for Gracie this week that God would do a work in her life.

Today Kevin and I went to an English funeral. When you walked into the chapel the only thing that would have made you think you were at a funeral was that everyone was wearing black (including black hats for the ladies). I’ve heard they always have closed coffins here in England. Except sometimes when the family all gathers in a home before the funeral. It is their choice whether to have it opened or closed in the house. At the beginning of the service we all stood as they wheeled the coffin into the church - sort of like at a wedding. Following the service, they immediately wheel the coffin out with the family walking behind and then the guests follow. Once again we were reminded of the brevity of life. Life is short. What will I do with the life God has given me?

Tonight we had family devotions with the Plant family – loved it! They are growing and learning so much during this family time.We are touching one family at a time for the cause of Christ. God is so good to renew us day by day. Here are a few snap shots of our fun. We love and miss you all so much. Kevin and I are looking forward to seeing you shortly.

Each one is filled with plenty of personality!

Garden

2009-06-03T11:30:00.000+01:00

I LOVE spring and summer! I like the feel of warm sunshine on my skin. I like to sit and eat a whole bowl of fresh strawberries with cream - just beacuse! I like to eat melting popsicles on hot days. The breeze flying through my house as I clean with all the windows open. The smell of fresh cut flowers. And don't worry I haven't forgotten - sweet tea! Recently, Kevin started a vegetable garden in our back yard. It's doing very well...and it's nice to see the progress little by little.

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water,

that bringeth forth his fruit in his season,

his leaf also shall not wither;

and whatsoever he doeth small prosper.

Psalm 1:3

Girly Fun - Shopping!

2009-05-29T18:47:00.000+01:00

Today I took Lizzy and Shannon shopping. I had promised them if they memorized Psalm 23 then we could have a shopping trip. They took on the challenge and quoted it word perfect. For all their hard work we were able to enjoy a nice afternoon at the mall.

Ok - something rare in England is showing in this picture. Any guesses? Right! THE SUN!! Today was so beautiful, it was about 70 degrees or so and the girls were complaining about the heat! Oh...bring on the sunshine!

Remember, we are in England! Aren't these hats crazy!?

Ohh, the shoes! If you know me at all...you will know that I LOVE shoes! We tried on all the crazy, high, skinny, bright shoes around. Fun times! :)

Of course you can't have the greatest afternoon without good ol' Micky D's!

Thanks for stopping! :)

Church Picnic

2009-05-28T19:13:00.000+01:00

Yesterday we had a church picnic at a park nearby. It was lovely weather and a great day to relax as a church family! The emphasis was on family/church family - there was a devotional about the family unit teaching the responsibility of father, mother, and children. It's great to have good, clean fun - and show the new believers that Christians can have fun! :) There was plenty of fun and sunshine for all to share!

Three-legged race fun...

Ryan and Simon

The lady I am racing with is Sarah. It was her first time coming to the church. Please pray she will come to church on Sunday. It was great to have many new people at our picnic!

Anna Lee

Singing Happy Birthday to Peter!

Mr. and Mrs. Jakeman

Ellen, David (our neighbour), and Dan Jakeman

We had a good crowd come to the picnic and service! :)

Mr. and Mrs. Plant
We have a special Bible study with them on Wednesday morning and on Friday evenings we have family devotions with their entire family.

My sweet friend Beka

More fun...

April/May Prayer Letter

2009-05-25T18:27:00.000+01:00

Dear Pastor and Friends, April / May 2009

Yesterday at 8:30 our elderly neighbor, Freda, slipped away into eternity. Freda was one of those very independent neighbors that always stuck to herself and would turn her head when she saw you coming. Just days before her death, I shared the gospel of Jesus Christ with her. As the tears streamed down my somber face, my heart wanted to do something for Freda. I was feeling her desperate need of salvation in my heart. The Lord was gracious to me and allowed me to share God’s wondrous love to this lonely lady on her deathbed. As I walked away from her room, not knowing the state of her spiritual condition, I was reminded once again the brevity of life. Everyday there are people just like Freda traveling down the same path of despair. This country that once blazed with the power of the gospel needs people just like you and me to share the gospel with those who have never heard.
We have said yet another tearful goodbye to one more group of Crown College students as they returned home. The Lord used the students to be a light in this very dark country. Just before they left to return home, we had the opportunity to take them to the beautiful countries of Scotland and Northern Ireland to visit churches. It was a great way to finish a semester! We would ask that you would please pray the Lord will send us students for the fall semester.
Since the students have left we have been very busy with the ministry at Beeches Road. We have seen several visitors this month. Nearly every service God brings in a new little boy or girl who has never heard the gospel of Jesus Christ. During the Saturday night Youth Rally we are seeing between 30-35 teenagers faithfully attend. Many of them are not saved, and come from rough backgrounds. Please pray that God would work in their hearts and raise up young men and women in this country to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Last week we had the opportunity to once again hold a religious assembly in a State School. We were able to tell the story of David and Goliath to over 200 children. What a blessing it is that schools are still open for Christians to declare their faith!
We are nearing the completion of the building project at Beeches Road Baptist Chapel. The building has been under construction since last November. We now have hot water and bathrooms inside! The kitchen is still under construction and some painting still needs to be completed. The new addition has already been a great help and we are planning a special opening service in September.
God has been very gracious to the ministry and has given us favor with the people of England. He has opened doors and provided us a chapel in Oxford. The chapel is only a few blocks from the center of Oxford, which is a multicultural hub with students studying from around the world. Lord willing there will be another couple who will come and assist with the starting of this chapel.
Please pray for Mic and Linda who have been coming faithfully to the Sunday services. Linda has cancer and is a professing Christian, but Mic has grown up in the Church of England and thinks he is pretty good. Pray that God would continue to give her the strength as she continues chemotherapy and that she would be a witness to Mic. Please also keep Joseph Jones in your prayers. He is 87 years old and has come to the Tuesday services since last September. Recently, he said he does not plan to come back to church but does not mind if we visit him as a friend. Pray that God would work in his heart and he would see his need of salvation.
Thank you for your prayers for the ministry here in England. We are planning to visit America during the month of July. We will be visiting a few churches and presenting the work in England. We look forward to seeing many of you soon!
In Christ,
Kevin and Anna Ruwersma

Transportation

2009-05-25T15:26:00.000+01:00

Kevin and I both have a route picking up children four times a week; Sunday School, Tuesday and Friday children's clubs, and Saturday for the Youth Rally. Kevin drives the 17 seater yellow van and I drive our 7 seater van. It is amazing how much work it can be getting the children from the building to the vehicle. Sounds simple. Trust me - it's not! The second struggle is getting all the children to be buckled at the same time! Just as you buckle one in, the other jumps out!
God has blessed us with around 40 children in Sunday School. The majority of these children need lifts to and from the chapel. God has always been gracious to us and given us safety. Please continue to pray for this important part of the ministry at Beeches Road. Here are some pictures of our precious cargo. Bon voyage!

Getting ready to take this picture.....

Too many books?!?

2009-05-25T15:04:00.000+01:00

Last week Kevin was so proud of himself because he was able to buy all of the left over books from a book sale for only 20 pounds! Well, it sounded like a great idea until I saw the back of the car completely filled with boxes - one by one as the boxes came into the house it started to cover every inch of carpet in the livingroom. If you came for a visit this weekend - this is what would have greeted you! :)

These few treasues lay buried beneath all of the boxes.

School Outreach

2009-05-20T13:49:00.000+01:00

God has not only given us the opportunity to go into schools and hold religious assemblies but we also have the joy of living right next to two schools! One is a primary school and the other is a secondary school where many of our young people go to school. Once a week I prepare lunch for the high school girls and have a Bible study with them. At times, girls feel more comfortable going to someone's home for "American" cooking, rather than going to a church. It's so much fun to cook for them - they have never had sloppy joes or tacos! They absolutely LOVE the food! It's great! :) Today we had two first time visitors. It is just one more opportunity to reach souls with the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ! Have a good day...

Happy Tuesday!

2009-05-19T23:18:00.000+01:00

Hello Everyone!
Hope you are doing well. Yesterday, was such an encouragement as we worked from early morning to late at night! It is such a blessing serving the Lord...

Yesterday Kevin and I went to Glebefields Primary School. We were given the opportunity to have a religious assembly with around 200 children. I taught on David and Goliath. The Lord was good and blessed our time at the school. As we were leaving the headmaster invited us back to do another assembly in the near future.

This is the second week in a row where we have had around 45 children at the Sword Club. We also had three first time visitors! God keeps bringing in new children to hear His wonderful plan of salvation. Praise the Lord!

I thank the Lord for giving me such a wonderful husband. Kevin did such a great job preaching last night. I have really enjoyed listening to him preach.

A Day at the Park

2009-05-11T23:42:00.000+01:00

The sun was shining here in England today. It makes such a difference when the sun is bright! It was a beautiful day...

We had family devotions with the Jakemans today at the park. We all had fish and chips and played....and played some more - finally, just as it was getting a little cold we all sat down on the grass and had our devotion time. It always is such a blessing to hear the children answer questions, sing songs, and quote their memory verses. We had a lovely day today. Hope everyone is doing well. We miss you terribly - but God has given us such love for the souls in England.

Playing the favorite game - "football"

Our adopted family :)

Dan and Sue

The End

2009-05-06T17:29:00.000+01:00

We once again have had to say good-bye to another group of students. They have come and gone....where does time go? It was really sad to see them all leave. Everyone becomes so close as we work together. All the students were a big help to the ministry at Beeches Road. The children greatly miss them! They left last Thursday, I apologize for not updating sooner. Life has been a little busy since then.

The Highlands of Scotland

2009-04-25T12:26:00.000+01:00

Jordan

Alyssa

Can you spot the Loch Ness monster??? :)

The Highlands

Enjoying the Scottish Highlands

Kevin does a great job driving through the narrow twisting roads - this really gave me a scare though! Sometimes the roads are so narrow that if another car comes you have to back up until you can find a place to pull off.

Outside of the William Wallace Memorial

Edinburgh

2009-04-25T11:24:00.000+01:00

Great shopping on the Royal Mile

We watched them make wool blankets at the woolen mill where they can make a blanket for any clan

One of the many bagpipers - this one didn't make us pay to take his picture! :)

A view of the city

Edinburgh Castle

The home of John Knox - the oldest house in Edinburgh

Lake District

2009-04-23T23:23:00.000+01:00

Kevin and I have had the great opportunity to take the students to do a little sight seeing this week. On our way to Scotland we traveled through the Lake District in England. Oh, it was breathtaking! Driving through the peaceful scenery was beautiful. When you think of quaint England, think Lake District - the green sheep pastures separated by old, stone walls and a cottage tucked away here and there. My pictures could not possible do it justice. I have so many pictures...it was very difficult to narrow it down to just a few. I hope to put more pictures of our trip tomorrow. I hope everyone is doing well.

You see lots and lots of sheep....

Anna and Alyssa

Venessa
I love this picture, I just held my camera up and snapped it casually - and look how good! I guess I should stop trying to take pictures and just pick it up and snap it! :)

Brady, Brady - we had to keep a close eye on Brady. He was always running off, climbing, or doing something mischievous.

On of my personal favorite stops in the Lake District was the Beatrix Potter museum. She spent a great deal of her life in the Lake District. Since I have lived in England, I have become a big Peter Rabbit fan! :)

It has been so nice having this time with the students before they leave. They have been a big help and blessing to the Lord's work at Beeches Road. Please continue to pray God would stir their hearts and give them a greater burden to serve Him.

Baby Shower

2009-04-23T23:10:00.000+01:00

Last week Genevieve and I had a baby shower for one of our friends, Lotti. Baby showers are increasingly getting more popular here in the UK. Everyone seemed to have a fun time! Please pray for baby Josiah as he was born not breathing. There have been several serious medical complications because of this event. God has done a miracle already in his little life, please pray Josiah will continue to get stronger everyday.

Baby Josiah and Lotti

My sweet neighbour Sue and her daughter-in-law and grand baby

My very crowded living room!

The diaper cake that Genevieve and I made!

Easter

2009-04-16T22:30:00.000+01:00

I wish I had more time on Easter to take pictures. You know how you get so busy you forget to take a picture of the fabulous moment? Easter Sunday was so encouraging! The Lord really blessed. We had several first time visitors, and then many of the people who visited on Mother's Day returned on Easter. We also had six first time visitors in the Sunday School program. God is blessing in a powerful way. Please continue to pray for the Lord's work in Birmingham, England. Thank you! This is a cake that one of our friends made for the tea following the church service. Didn't he do a nice job?

Bulletin Boards

2009-04-16T22:22:00.000+01:00

We recently put up some nice bulletin boards at the church. I was so excited - strangely enough, I enjoy making bulletin boards. I guess you can't take the teacher out of me! Anyway, I hope the children can learn from the boards and enjoy seeing the nice decorations. Thanks for stopping! Have a good day....

A Special Gift

2009-04-02T22:07:00.000+01:00

I HAVE A GUITAR!! Some of you may remember my neighbour David from a previous post. He was in the hospital for nearly three months last year. While he was in the hospital Kevin and I would visit him and read the Bible, pray, and sing to him. Since then we have looked after him and brought over some food every now and then. On Tuesday he even came to church with us! Well, I had mentioned just in passing that I had made a new years resolution to learn to play the guitar. He called me up today and said he had got me a guitar!!! It's really nice and has a great sound - now I just have to learn to play! :) Please continue to pray for David. The Lord has done an amazing work in healing him physically...please pray David will see his spiritual need for Christ. What a wonderful surprise!

Great News!

2009-03-25T07:35:00.001Z

Thank you all for your many prayers concerning the public school Bible clubs. God is richly blessing this ministry. We have been in five different schools for assemblies, and enetered two classrooms so far in the month of March. Entering the schools is such an encouragement. I get so motivated to work harder when I speak about the Lord to around two hundred children. They are so well behaved and listen attentively. Last week I was in a classroom telling the children how Christians celebrate Easter. I was explaining that Jesus was beaten and mocked on the road to Calvary. As I was sharing God's love, one little boy caught my eye. He had tears swelling up inside of his eyes. The Lord can use this ministry to stir the next generation in England. Please continue to pray God will give us favour.
Good News! A sweet lady who faithfully attends our church is on the school board for one local school. She asked the principal if he thought I could enter the sixth grade and teach about Christianity. I had already been in this school a number of times, but only in two different classes. He said to Mrs. Tomlinson, I had been thinking that I would like Mrs. Ruwersma to come and teach every class starting with preschool and going right through to sixth grade. What an opportunity God has given us! We would like to be in each classroom on a consistent basis. We are hoping to have more of a Sunday School type class and even teach a Bible series in each class. Just think, the children will learn Sunday School songs and Bible verses - maybe the teachers too! The children will maybe go home singing these songs, and maybe even come to church someday! Praise the Lord!

Mother's Day

2009-03-23T08:05:00.000Z

Yesterday was Mother's Day in the United Kingdom. The Lord blessed us with several visiting mothers. The children had a special program of songs, poems, and scripture! The little children in the front are from my Little Lamb class. Yesterday I had eleven children. They are so sweet and precious....each child represents a family that needs Christ. Each one....must reach one!

Wales Trip

2009-03-14T21:53:00.000Z

Last week Kevin and I had the opportunity to take the students to Wales for a couple days. We had a great time! We were able to see where the Welsh Revival started and have a tour of the buildings that Evan Roberts preached. During our time in Wales we were able to help a local pastor with his outreach and encourage his family. On the last day we did a little sight seeing. Here are some pictures of the beautiful country of Wales!

During our hike we saw lots and lots of sheep!

We even saw horses along the coast!

This was a seal we spotted in the sea...

It's a good thing that the mom's of these boys weren't around....

This was a dark, damp cave we walked through!

Thanks for visiting! :)

Prayer Request

2009-03-09T10:05:00.000Z

Many of you contact us regularly to let us know you are praying for us. Thank you so much! What a blessing! I have two request that I would ask you to pray with us about.

1) My grandmother is doing poorly again. She was taken to the hospital late last night by ambulance because she is extremely weak. They don't know yet what the problem is, but please pray for my family during this difficult time. My grandmother has been living with my mom and dad since her surgery and has made remarkable improvement until now. Please pray that she will regain her strength.

2) Tomorrow we will be doing a Bible Club in another public school with around 200 children present. Please pray we will be able to present the gospel clearly and have favour with the administration.

Thank so much!

February/ March Prayer Letter

2009-03-09T10:01:00.000Z

Dear Pastor and Friends,

The new students have arrived and are adjusting to life in the United Kingdom. God has blessed us with nine new students; Anna Pallaoro, Venessa Naccarato, Megan Mishler, Alyssa Smith, Brady VanWinkle, Brandon Cook, Joseph DeSapio , Jordan Begley, and James Houghton. Please pray these students will have a desire to see lost souls saved and reach the families of the children who already attend Sunday School.

At the beginning of the New Year we started having family devotions twice a week with the Jakeman family. Dan Jakeman wants to learn how to lead his family in regular family devotions. It is great to see how God is working in their lives! They have a great desire to learn more about the Bible and to grow as Christians. We have been praying for their oldest son, Simon, to receive Christ as his Savior. He is fifteen years old and has been under conviction for a long time. On Tuesday, February 24th, we had a special testimony service which God used to work in Simon’s heart. That night he made a profession of faith! Please pray God will give him the strength to be a bold Christian.

We asked for prayer in our last letter concerning the public school Bible Clubs. We have the opportunity to conduct a religious rally in five local primary schools during the month of March. At each rally there will be around two hundred children present. We have also been asked to enter two classrooms and teach a special lesson about Easter. Lord willing, over 1,000 children will hear the gospel and the way of salvation this month through this ministry. Please pray for wisdom as we share the gospel. Also, please pray we will find favor with the school administration.

Last week we conducted a Holiday Bible Club during the children’s school break. God blessed us with 81 different children throughout the week and on Tuesday, our high day, we had 57 children! The theme this year was on the life of Moses and a special emphasis was given to the Ten Commandments. Please pray as we follow up the new prospects that we will see these children return to Sunday School.

We will be taking the Crown College United Kingdom students to Wales during the second week in March. During this time the students will see the beautiful Welsh countryside, minister to churches, and help with the local church outreach. We hope that through this opportunity we can encourage local, Welsh pastors and that the students will develop a burden for the lost souls throughout the United Kingdom.

Thank you so much for your prayers, support, and encouragement. It is so nice to know there are many people praying for the country of England. May God continue to bless His work!

Winter Party for Teens

2009-03-09T09:39:00.000Z

We had a separate Winter Party for the older children who attend our Sunday School. They too earned points by bringing their Bibles, memorizing Bible verses, bringing friends, etc. We had acitivities that were geared toward their age group. As you can see from the pictures they had a great time! Please continue to pray for the Sunday School at Beeches Road. We have around 35-45 children regularly. Please pray that we would see the parents of these children come to church. Thanks for stopping by to see the work in England!

Primary Winter Party

2009-03-08T21:33:00.000Z

As a Sunday School promotion we had a Winter Party on Saturday. The children had to earn their way to the party by bringing their Bibles, memorizing Bible verses, bring friends, etc. The party was so much fun! The college students planned most of the game booths and helped with much of the planning. We had lots of winter themed booths, ice cream, and a movie and popcorn! What more could a child ask for!? All of the children were well behaved and it was nice to spend some casual time with them.

Public School Bible Clubs

2009-03-04T17:57:00.000Z

God has given us an amazing opportunity to present the gospel in primary schools. We have been invited to five schools assemblies this month and several more are interested. All morning I was so nervous and on edge about my first real assembly. I had been in several school before but on a much smaller level. Today I was invited to speak to 200 children! I was trying to pull out all of the tricks I had learned in college and things I had done while I was teaching. I don't normally sweat working with children, but today I really was anxious. Kevin and I picked up Sue Jakeman, a member of Beeches Road Baptist Chapel, who is helping me in the School Bible Clubs. Before we walked into the school we prayed in the car. What an opportunity we had right before us. I knew if we did a good job, and God gave us favor in the Principal's eyes than we could be invited back and referred to several more schools - no pressure! :) It was so amazing - I have never seen such well behaved children. They sat on a gym floor for 30 minutes without moving or talking. I'm not sure if it was my American accent that scared them, but they were good as gold. All the teachers except for one walked out of the room and left us alone with these children. We sang songs, taught a Bible verse, and then I taught a Bible lesson. Every time I have been in a school, my stomach always turns right when I'm about to expound on the gospel. I need to pray the Holy Spirit will give me real liberty to speak about the way of salvation. As I was explaining we are all sinners separated from God forever - I shot a look at the only teacher in the room. I didn't have time to focus on her face, but I was praying she would be alright with the powerful message I was proclaiming. I always get nervous sharing the gospel at a public school because I think that maybe we won't be invited back. But I have to remind myself that is the reason why I'm doing the club. After the club was over, the teacher that was sitting in the room came to me and said how great it was and how she really would like us to come back. Praise the Lord! Please continue to pray for this new ministry. Thanks!

Cadbury World

2009-03-04T17:45:00.000Z

On Monday, Kevin and I went to Cadbury World. As you know, I LOVE chocolate. I had been wanting to visit the home of the best chocolate in the world ever since we moved to England! They didn't allow photos insides, but it was so incredible. You first start in the jungle with the cocoa trees and finish at the packaging of the final chocolate product. They handed out so many chocolates to us that we have been enjoying them all week! There were several interactive displays as well. We have a picture of what Kevin and I would look like if we were made into a solid chocolate mold. It was so funny that we bought it and had it made into a magnet. We learned so much about the history of Cadbury. The Cadbury family were Quakers and every time an employee retired or married they gave them a Bible. It was really great to see a spiritual fruit in the beginning of chocolate making! Next time you bite into a Cadbury bar please think of us and pray for the work in England! :)

Youth Night

2009-03-04T17:29:00.000Z

On Friday evening Kevin and I took the students to a Youth Night at another local Baptist church. We had so much fun! In England they celebrate Pancake Day! :) So during the youth night everyone had the opportunity to make their own pancake. The pancakes here are a little different - they are flatter and some people enjoy lemon juice and sugar on their pancakes. You ought to try it, it's a nice combination! We miss you so much...thanks for all your prayers and encouragement.

Hanging out with the girls

Well, we weren't able to fit the pancake in this picture but I love Ryan's eyes.

Kevin mastering his pancake!

Simon and Joe

This is Simon who I mentioned in a previous entry about his recent profession of faith. We can see such a difference in his life since his profession. He is much happier and smiles more often. Please continue to pray for Simon. He is such a blessing to us!

Simon, Naomi, Ryan, Venessa

Ryan made a profession of faith several months ago. It is so exciting to see him grow in Christ!

Simon's Profession of Faith

2009-02-25T16:42:00.000Z

Yesterday at Beeches Road Baptist Chapel we had a special Testimony Service. Several people gave their testimonies and shared God's plan of salvation. If you have kept up with the ministry here you know we have been faithfully praying for Simon Jakeman's salvation. Last night, as he was listening to others testify of the amazing work of God....he was convicted of his sin. He realized he was a sinner in need of the only Saviour - Jesus Christ. Praise God!!
Today, we had lunch his parents, Dan and Sue Jakeman. Following lunch, Sue and I went shopping while Kevin and Dan did some visiting. It is so encouraging to see God's work in their lives. Twice a week Kevin and I visit their home and have family devotions together. Please keep praying for the Jakeman family. Thanks....praise God for His amazing power!

A Little Piece of My Heart

2009-02-20T22:59:00.001Z

The other day I had a girl ask, "Why do you live like this....why are you away from your family living in a different country living by faith?" Well, the answer was simple. This is exactly where the Lord wants me. There is no happier place in all the world than right exactly where God wants you. Do I have lonely days? YES! Do I have days I just want to be with family? YES! Do I have days I just would love to go shopping and buy new clothes and things for my home? YES! Do I have regrets? NO! A life lived for Christ gives so much joy, real joy that nothing else can offer. So many people waste their life trying to find fulfillment in things, but nothing will bring peace until you know Christ as your Saviour. I would love to spend my life serving Christ as much as I can while I still have time. Rather than living a comfortable life....a life that is easy and convenient....I want to live a life for the cause of Christ.

Holiday Bible Club

2009-02-20T22:14:00.000Z

Hello Friends and Family! God has richly blessed us this week during our Holiday Bible Club. We had 81 different children attend, with 57 children attending on our highest day. The theme this term was about the life of Moses. It was great! The children learned a song about Moses, recited the Ten Commandments, played games, ate delicious snacks, made awesome crafts, learned an exciting story....had fun....giggled....laughed....smiled....and for the most part behaved! :)

As you browse through these pictures I know they will just seem like faces to you, but to me they are children I love....children I have spent countless hours with, children I go to sleep praying for, children I have shed tears over.....these children need to know that Jesus loves them and died for their sins. I ask as you scroll down that you pray for the ministry at Beeches Road Baptist Chapel.

Beeches Road Team

2009-02-02T22:42:00.000Z

Last weekend was the first weekend for the students to travel. We were blessed to host five of them in our home. We are excited to see how the Lord will use these zealous students for His glory! Please keep Beeches Road in your prayers!

P.S. It hasn't stopped snowing all day - we have about 4" on the ground!!! :)

Meet the Jakeman Family

2009-01-30T22:55:00.000Z

The Jakeman family are amoungest some of our sweetest English friends. Dan and Sue Jakeman were saved and baptized this past year at Beeches Road Baptist Chapel. They are growing in Chirst and are such an encouragement! Sue helps me with the State School Bible Clubs and twice a week Kevin and I go over to their home to have family devotions. Dan and Sue really want to teach their children the Bible. They asked if Kevin and I would go over and help them. While Kevin was speaking with the Dan and Sue - the kids and I had some picture fun!

The Whole Gang

Sarah Jane, Annalee, Toni Lou, Peter, Daniel, Simon, and Ellie