The Stirling Bridgebuilder - February 16, 2008
posted in Missions, Europe |
39 Wishart Drive
Broomridge, Stirling FK7 7TR
Scotland, U.K.
Tel: 011-44-1786-816259
Email: mitchvick@btinternet.com
News From Scotland
We here in Stirling are off to a good start in 2008, and the past weeks have been very full as our work for the year gets underway. As we do so, we are very mindful of how important you are to us and to the work here. Thank you for your interest, prayers, and encouragement.
Congregation News
During January the main emphasis of our work has been on promoting the congregation’s development and unity as we have prepared for several events: the beginning of a new session of FriendSpeak, the restarting of our youth outreach, and our advanced Bible study seminar in March. The church enjoyed a fellowship meal in early January which was an opportunity to present some plans and take views from the church. Attendance in worship has been excellent over the past weeks, and we continue to enjoy good support in both Sunday morning and mid-week Bible classes. Tristan Block continues to do a great job with our regular Searchers’ class, and we have had at least one or two contacts from FriendSpeak present each week. John Renwick has now completed 29 chemotherapy treatments and is waiting for the results from MRI and CT scans to see where his treatment goes from here.
FriendSpeak Resumes
Our regular Sunday afternoon FriendSpeak sessions resumed last Sunday (Feb. 10th) with four readers. Jie, from China, has continued to work with Tristan and Leslie throughout the school recess, but now her husband Danny has also started to read with us (he is also attending church service and Searchers class). In addition, we have Cristina, a Marketing student from Mexico, and Ann, a finance student from northeast China. Our second week was even better, with another returnee (Carrie, from Taiwan) and three new readers from Japan, Ryohta, Yuri, and Yuni. We continue to hope for enrollments from others, including the local Polish community. Tristan and Leslie also continue to work with Jie during the week.
Youth Outreach
Plans for the resumption of Youth Club are almost complete, and if all goes well we plan to resume our regular Tuesday night outreach to local young people on Tuesday, February 19th (tomorrow night). We have had to renew our Police checks and go through other legal formalities, and some equipment will also need to be renewed, but we know interest is high among the local kids, and we look forward to restarting this valuable outreach.
Bible Study Seminar
The week of March 10th-13th will be the time of our annual Bible Study seminar, which is aimed at preachers and other interested brethren throughout central Scotland. This year’s subject is the Book of Hebrews, taught by Dr. James Thompson from the USA. We look forward to the rich time of Bible study and fellowship.
Family News
We are doing well personally. Both Isobel and I have survived the worst of the winter, though we have both fought off various colds and winter-related illnesses. Our kids are all well. Robin and Chrissy continue to make excellent grades at Sunset and are on a study week break as I write. Laura has started a job with Dallas Public Libraries, in addition to her job as a legal assistant, so she is staying very busy these days. Hannah is doing well in Searcy, also staying very busy, as usual, with her studies. My mother has had her ups and downs over the past weeks, and continues to battle persistent infections which seem reluctant to respond to antibiotic. Please keep her in your prayers.
We love you and ask you to keep us in your prayers, particularly as we begin these new phases of our FriendSpeak and Youth Club outreach. The weeks ahead will be quite full. We appreciate your interest, help and encouragement so very much and want you to know that you remain in our prayers.
Yours in the Lord’s service,
Mitch and Isobel Vick