Winter 1996

Thank you for opening the pages of our quarterly newsletter.

During the past few weeks, over the Christmas holidays, you have possibly opened many parcels and presents,—some of which filled you with joy and appreciation, others with amazement and wonder! But as you open and read this magazine we trust it will help you prepare for 1996 as it stretches Out before us.

Let me begin by drawing your attention to PSALM 137: 1&2.

The Children of Israel had been taken into captivity in Babylon, they had been uprooted, and deported, and taken far from the land God had given to them, They felt like the Prodigal of Luke 15, in the far country, longing for the Father’s house. Their captors wanted them to sing, to entertain, but their hearts are too heavy. They had their harps on the willow branches, saying “How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?.

Maybe you read this Psalm and think, how awful for the Children of Israel, so many problems, and in a strange land! Can I remind you that the Born-Again Christians of 1996, are in a strange land. Peter says in 1 Peter 2 V11 “Dearly Beloved, I beseech you as strangers and Pilgrims “. The Country Gospel hymn writer put the sentiments this way:­

“This world is not my home, I’m just apassing through, my treasures are laid up, somewhere beyond the blue, the Angels beck on me, from Heaven’s open door, and I can’t feel at home in this world anymore”.

May I also remind you, that not only are we in a strange land, but many of God’s people are going through great trials and difficulties,— maybe you are reading this magazine and you have lost your song, and your joy, like the Children of Israel of old. I wonder where you hung up your harp? I wonder where you lost your song? Let me suggest some of the “trees”, where you could have left your harp:-

(1) THE GRIEF TREE ---- This is one tree where it is easy to hang up your harp and never sing again! The Children of Israel knew all about the Grief Tree. When the Babylonians attacked Jerusalem the men fell by the sword, their mighty in the war (Isa 3:25), the dead bodies were like refuse in the streets (Isa 5:25). Maybe as you read, this is where your harp is! But if we do not sing the Lord’s song in a strange land, who will? The unsaved can’t sing the Lord’s song. The ‘Babylonians’ around our doors, in our community need to hear the song of the soul set free.

(2) THE GUILT TREE ---- This is an annual tree, it keeps coming up year after year. We don’t question God’s forgiveness, we look at Calvary, we measure God’s love, mercy and grace, we acknowledge that he died in our place, as our substitute, we know and enjoy His peace, forgiveness, and salvation. The big problem seems to be tack of ability to forgive ourselves. We carry that heavy burden of guilt around with us—and it robs us of our song. Listen to”Psalm 103:12 “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.” Also, Hebrews 10:17 “And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” Once you repent of sin and confess it to God, it is a sin to insist on carrying that guilt around with you. Take your harp off the GUILT tree today and sing unto the Lord.

(3)THE GRIPE TREE ---- I know this tree always affects other people and never ourselves! We have concerns, but never gripes! But if you have a grumpy, critical, complaining spirit, you’re not going to be singing any songs. It is not always easy to follow Paul’s exhortation in Philippians 214 “Do all things without murmurings and disputings.”

(4)THE GULF TREE ---- Whenever a distance develops between you and your Saviour, between you and God’s people, between you and God’s word and the place of Prayer, a breakdown in communion, a grieving of God’s Spirit within us robs us of spiritual song. No wonder the “Babylonians” around us doubt the reality of God, and the Truth of God, when we have hung up our harp, and they never hear” the Lord’s song in a strange land.”

(5)THE GRADE TREE ---- The insatiable longing for educational success has caused many of the youth of our generation to hang up their harp on the grade tree. “You’ve got to get A’s”, “It’s essential you get A”s”. My logic works like this—If you are an “A” student, you’ve got to get “A’s”. But if you are a “B” or a “C” student, and God has made you like that, you do not have to get “A’s”! In fact, If you get “B’s”, and you are a “B” student, that is an “A” for you! Is that good news? However that is no excuse for those who are “A” students! And I will be in all kinds of trouble from irate parents if I do not say, God expects us always to try our best.

My point is this, do not let your legitimate desire to do your best academically rob you of your Spiritual Song

(6)THE GIRL/GUY TREE ---- Don’t laugh—-It can happen! And I’m not just thinking about young people. Sometimes it is the pain of loneliness, sometimes it is a fear of being” left on the shelf’. Whatever the reason, the God given blessing of marriage becomes the number one aim in life. That not only robs them of the equally, God given gift of singleness, but also robs them of Spiritual Song. In the perfectly human desire and longing to be loved, accepted, even desired (all of which can be found in Christ) the harp gets hung up, and our song stops. Finding God’s partner for you is a bit like finding “peace” — go looking for it and it is almost impossible to find, but concentrate on getting to know God, and living for God, and “peace” creeps up on you from behind!

(7)THE GERIATRIC TREE ----I think this is the tree that I’m at! Age can bring with it disappointments. The “what ifs”. So often looking back, on what appears to be wasted years, can make us hang up our harp- our song is silenced. Age brings with it pains, health problems, that make it hard to use our harp, to sing unto the Lord. Some reading this article are confined to home, and there was so much you wanted to do for the Lord before you saw him face to face. It will have to remain undone! Can I encourage you—Stop looking back, look forward. Lift that harp off the Geriatric tree, and sing with Isaiah 40:31 “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

(8)THE GLORY TREE ----Have you ever hung up your harp on the Glory Tree? You must be recognized;

You must be thanked and appreciated; It is essential that somebody notices what you are doing for the Lord.

Hanging you harp on this tree will give you popularity, applause, and a pat on the back, but no song.

Maybe I have not mentioned your " tree", but I am confident the Spirit of God will reveal to you what it is. And remember,— it is impossible to have a Spiritual Song at all, until you repent of your Sin, and rest on the provision of the Lord Jesus Christ at Calvary, thereby knowing his cleansing, forgiveness, and salvation.

May God grant all our members, adherents, and newsletter readers a happy, peaceful, and God glorifying 1996.

In Alastair Cooks letter to America on Radio 4 he depicts some unusual aspect of U.S life that never reaches the tabloid press in the U.K. I feel a bit like Mr Cook in that my first impressions of Manaus are still fresh and therefore deemed news worthy.

The heat is unrelenting 35-40c each day, this has the effect of tiring us quickly and making us feel sticky both day and night. The language is coming along slowly, in one sense we are encouraged by our progress in another frustrated we can communicate in any meaningful manner. The people in Manaus are racially a mixture of Indian, white and black, but all in common are loving and caring especially towards Sarah-Jayne, because she's white and fair. The locals all want to touch, hug and lift her, she's better known than we are! and lapping up all the attention.

The church we attend is Hebron rather like Ballee an Independent Baptist Church, it was founded by Fred On (N. I. missionary) 10 years ago and now has over 200 people attending each Sunday. Most of these people have been converted under the ministry of Fred and his associate Pastor Jose Carlos. There is a Y.P.F. choir of 40 all of whom have been saved during the last 4 years.

The Jones’s are surviving, we take one day at a time and thank God for our safe arrival and that of our barrels and thank you all for your prayerful support over the last few years and look forward to our partnership in Christ in the future.

*************************************************************

Our lives are like a river of clay, in the middle it is soft and on the outside hard. If you walked through a dried-up river, you would that not everything is as it looks, For the further towards the centre of the river bed you go, the softer the clay bottom becomes.

Just like the learning of God’s word,

The more you hear, the softer your heart becomes towards your fellow Christians.

(Not soft as in ease)

Just like the dried up river of clay has hidden stories, so has the Bible

But the Bible can be found anywhere, and it is easy to find its soft centre.

Bob Dwyer

******************************************************************

IS ASSURANCE OF SALVATION POSSIBLE?

On outreach work we are frequently asked this type of question: Can one know he is going heaven? Is salvation clear in the Bible? Can you know now that you are saved?

This increasing problem today is like what God said of Israel long ago “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” Hosea 4v6: Being a Christian does not mean doing our best to follow the Lord but never knowing if we are nearer heaven or hell; Does the Bible depict a Christian groping through life in darkness and uncertainty never knowing until they die whether they are saved or lost? Is that the best God offers us? Is that the best Gods word promises us? Is that the best message a preacher of the gospel can bring to hopeless men and women or that our missionaries can offer in other countries of the world - a message of doubt or uncertainty. If the Lord Jesus Christ asked people to trust Him and follow Him but in return gives no assurance of eternal destiny would he really be a Saviour?

Praise God, Assurance of Salvation is possible: Saved and Salvation are Biblical words:

The Lord Jesus said “God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved”:

Peter said: “Neither is there salvation in any other for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved” Acts 4v12

Paul said: “For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God” Ephesians 2v8.

John said: “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God” 1 John 5v13

The Lord Jesus Christ promises eternal life as a present possession to all who sincerely turn and trust in him. Many who ask this type of question have never come to Him in this way: Let me say a Christian is— anyone who; comes to God as a lost sinner; accepts Jesus Christ as personal Saviour; surrenders to him as Lord ; confesses Him openly and strives to please Him in everything we do: Is that your position?

It is the believer’s privilege to know that we have eternal life. The Apostle John wrote his first epistle for this purpose. We have quoted chapter 5v13 above, look at vii and v12 “And this is the record that God hath given to us eternal life and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son, hath life and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life”. Please look also at John’s gospel 1v12: 3v36: 5v24: 8v12.

To doubt that you eternal life after you have truly believed in the finished work of Christ is to consider Him untrue in all His promises.

A New life is assurance of Salvation:

When a person comes to God as a lost sinner and accepts the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Saviour, a divine transformation is brought about in his life. He is now divinely indwelt, The new nature of Christ is imparted to him. “Partakers of the divine nature” 2 Peter lv 14. This new nature produces new affections, new likes and dislikes a complete change, a turn around takes place. The things we once loved we now hate, foul ungodly language etc. This change at first is very apparent to the individual and then will soon appear also to those around us. >From then on there will be a great desire to be in church, to be with God’s people; to enjoy singing the songs of zion, to learn God’s word and to be in the place of prayer; All of this means we are making new Christian friends and moving away from previous worldly company. All this was foreign before conversion. Many of us in our old life were enslaved by a bad habit - drinking or smoking but at conversion God gave us help to overcome the craving. Could I say here that the old nature is still there and will always seek to trip us up. ‘The flesh lusteth against the Spirit’ Gal 5v1 7. In the old life we sinned as a matter of course in the new life sin is like an accident - no desire or intention to do wrong. The conflict itself is proof of new life in Christ.

Not only does proof of salvation come in being Divinely indwelt but also in Divine Assurance. At the moment of salvation we become the inheritors of the promises of God. We are enjoying the promises from God’s word Lords day by Lords day in the present series at Ballee.The Lord Jesus said “I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. John 10v28

The Bible from cover to cover is the word of the living God Himself. It is the sure; true; infallible; dependable; word. This word states clearly that everyone who receives Jesus Christ and believes on Him for salvation becomes a child of God, and justified from all things. To be justified means to be free from the guilt of sin. What better assurance could one have than that. ‘Lie that heareth my word and believe etc. John 5v24 hath everlasting life and shall not come unto condemnation but is passed from death unto life. If you have placed your faith in the Son of God and His finished work, you have eternal life. Sometimes you might not feel saved or the devil whispers, “You are not a child of God”. Dear friend what you might think, this does not matter, what counts is what God’s word says; you can always trust God’s word but you cannot always trust your feelings. Many doubt their salvation on the basis of personal feeling. A lovely example of this is the sinful woman in Luke 7. She came into Simon the Pharisee’s house in a deep state of repentance. The Lord Jesus told her “Thy sins are forgiven, thy faith hath saved thee, go in peace”. These last words mean, go into peace, go into freedom; from all the distress of a sinful past. Can you imagine this woman saying “I wonder are my sins forgiven”.

If Satan causes you to doubt, point to the word of God: “In whom we have redemption through His blood the forgiveness of sins”. “Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved”. “He that hath the Son hath life”. The blood of the Lord Jesus Christ makes us safe and the word of God makes us sure, that we are the Children of God.

David Mitchell (Outreach Team)

*****************************************************************

Whatever you think, both in joy and in woe

Think nothing you would not want Jesus know.

Whatever you say in a whisper or clear

Say nothing you would not want Jesus to hear,

Whatever you sing in the midst of your glee,

Sing nothing God’s listening ear would displease.

Whatever you write with haste or with heed,

Write nothing you would not want Jesus to read.

Whatever you read, through the page may allure

Read nothing unless you are perfectly sure.

Consternation would not beseen in your look

If Christ should say, Solemnly Show me that book

Wherever you go, never go where you would fear

God’s question being asked you “What doest thou here”

Moody Press By J L Brumfleld. Bill Nesbitt.

************************************************************

Dear Friends at Ballee,

Just a brief update of our 2 weeks in England. Preaching in Grace Baptist Church, Andover, Hampshire, was a very worthwhile experience. The people were very hospitable and the fellowship was precious. Andover would be equivalent in size to Ballymena. However, there are only two Evangelical churches in the town i.e Grace Baptist Church and a Gospel Hall called Silverbirch. There is a large Baptist Church but sadly it is extremely charismatic.

My ministry in Grace included three Sundays and two mid-weeks. Attendance on Sundays averaged between forty to sixty people. In the evening the attendance dropped to about thirty. The mid-week Bible Study was somewhat disappointing. Attendance would be about fifteen. The Pastor of the church was in Canada to be with his father who was dying of cancer. I did not have the privilege of meeting Pastor Smith as his Father died and he had to remain in Canada for a further week until after the funeral.

There are areas in the Church that would give cause for concern. These were brought to the attention of the deacons. Since arriving home, some have asked if Grace Baptist is going to issue a call for me to be their Pastor? I do not know. One of the things God has taught me through Bible College and concerning the future is patience. God’s timing is always right. One does not force a door open. To be in the centre of God’s will is so important for Ann and myself One of our favourite verses of Scripture is Proverbs 3.6 “In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths “. We leave everything in the master’s hands.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support. This has been a real encouragement to us. It is a great blessing to know that our God is a Sovereign God. Ann and myself rest in that assurance, that God is in complete control.

Yours in His Service

Thank you, God for Grandma’s,

And Grandpa’s too, as well.

They’re specially for children,

And what stories they can tell.

Grandma’s and Grandpa’s,

Know how to hug you tight;

They don’t mind if you jump in bed

And sleep with them all night!

Grandma’s and Grandpa’s,

God gave to me and you.

And ifyou do not have one,

You should borrow one or two!

************************************************************

To our forefathers, our faith was an experience.

To our fathers, our faith was an inheritance.

To us, our faith is a convenience.

To our children, our faith is a nuisance.

***************************************************************

Ladies Fellowship

As 1995 draws to a close and 1996 begins it is hard to believe we are halfway through our programme already. In September we had a visit from Billy & Agnes Jones just before they left for Brazil. In October we had a visit from Pat McCracken who showed us the woman’s role at Passover, and in November James McKeown spoke to us not only about Belfast Bible College but our faith in God and how he can use us no matter how useless we may seem or feel. Each of these evenings was followed by supper and plenty of time for chat. As we recommence in January 1996 we look forward to a visit from the ladies of Hill Street Baptist. It would be lovely if you were able to join us for a time of fellowship together. I think all our ladies look forward to our evenings together. It has been encouraging to see some new faces amongst us this season. May I take this opportunity to thank all our ladies for coming so faithfully month by month. Thank you for your support and also your generous giving month by month.

Our prayer meetings have also been well attended this year which is excellent news, especially when we have so much to thank God for. It is I know a great encouragement to not only Billy & Agnes , Geoffrey & Gillian but Ruth in Edinburgh also to know that on the last Wednesday of each month they can faithfully count on the prayers of the ladies of the fellowship on their behalf Surely this should encourage more ladies to come and join with us in prayer when we realize that God has given us the responsibility to pray for those of the mission field, the elderly, those who are sick, our loved ones and especially those that are yet unsaved. Perhaps at this busy festive season we can take a while to remember those ladies who haven’t been with us due to ill health or family reasons. We are remembering you ladies and looking forward to having you back with us as soon as possible. May I also take this opportunity to wish all our ladies a very happy Christmas and a happy New Year. We look forward to seeing you all in January 1996.

Psalm 46v 10. Be still and know that I am God

Where can I hide when the way is rough,

When Satan would tempt, and the going gets tough?

Where can I go a refuge to find,

When the storms of life, cloud over my mind?

Only you, my God, are a refuge for me,

In you I can hide, till the way I see.

To whom can I turn, when I’m all alone?

Where find the strength, when I’ve none of my own?

Where is my aid, in the battle within?

Where is the help that will conquer sin?

Who will assist when I’ve lost control?

It is you, My God, who gives rest to my soul.

If I would be strong in the weakness of flesh

Then, God you’re the one who can strengthen and bless.

You’re guiding hand is all that I need,

You are the only one who can lead.

The path that is crooked, you alone can make straight,

Guiding onward, and upward, till I reach Heaven’s gate.

God has the power over my stubborn will

Only He has the power His will to fulfill.

At His command, governments fall,

And those who make war must surrender all

This is the one who keeps my soul,

To Him be the glory while ages roll.

***********************************************************

Pastor Kennedy was seven years in BalIee on Sunday 3rd December 1995.The thanks and appreciation of the fellowship is extended to him for seven years faithful and dedicated service.

On that Lord’s day I made reference to 1st Timothy 5 v 17 “Let the Elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine “It’s a lovely verse to guide us. All the Elders are to be honoured for their responsibility and guidance of the flock of God over which the Holy Spirit has made them overseers, but the Elders who labour in word and doctrine are due double honour.

Teaching and preaching God’s word is most important. Fellowships come into being by the teaching and preaching of God’s word. Fellowships grow and are protected by the preaching of God’s word. It is a strenuous and difficult work. The tragedy of today is that less and less places are involved in this type of ministry, resulting in God’s people with little or no knowledge of spiritual things and open to every assault of Satan. The Lord Jesus taught ;The Apostles were teachers; The early Christians steadfastly devoted themselves to teaching; Barnabas sought Paul to come and help teach; Paul instructed Timothy to exhortation and teaching: Teaching is one of the greater gifts of Scripture. The Lord said on one occasion of Israel “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” Hosea 4v6:

To take the platform for a Lord’s day is difficult enough but to keep that up all the time is something else. It is a strenuous and consuming labour. The old saying is true, a little gift might get you unto the platform but it will not keep you there.

Pastor Kennedy is a great visitor of the sick and elderly of the fellowship; a great help to families in bereavement or other times of trouble. He missed Brother Alan Hoey after his year of assistantship. The loss of our Church building in the fire resulted in increased paper work and meeting:

Bro Robert Cameron’s illness: The recent two week mission in Glenarm Baptist: The present Bible study series— ‘Christ versus the cults’ involves a lot of research, all these resulting in a very heavy work load.

During the past seven years -people have been saved; membership of the fellowship has increased (70 called of God into membership in the period) and spiritual growth is evident.

We thank God for gifting him so well and leading them to Ballee.We owe Pastor Kennedy a great debt of gratitude for all his zeal, example and dedication. We thank Mrs Kennedy for all her help also: Her work with the leadership of the Ladies fellowship and Good News Club: May we as a fellowship encourage them, stand by them and never cause them any difficulty that we can avoid.

We pray that God will continue to bless them and their family - Geoffrey, Deborah and Naomi and that they will be long spared with us.

David Mitchell (Acting Secretary)

***************************************************************

A brother, frequently called on to pray at the Church prayer meeting, always concluded his prayer “And now, Lord clean all the cobwebs out of our lives “. The others knew what he meant -All the little unsightly words, thoughts, and deeds that we accumulate in our lives. Finally another brother who hearing this prayer for the five thousandth time could contain himself no longer, He jumped to his feet and shouted “Lordforget about the cobwebs- kill the spider!

*****************************************************************

He came from the bosom of the Father to the bosom of a woman,

He put on Humanity that we might put on Divinity,

He became the Son of Man that we might become Sons of God,

In infancy he startled a King, in boyhood he puzzled the learned doctors,

In manhood he ruled the course of nature.

He walked upon the billows and hushed the sea to sleep,

He healed the multitudes without medicine, and made no charge for his services,

He never wrote a book, yet all the libraries in the country could not hold

the books written about him,

He never wrote a song, yet he has furnished the theme for more songs, than

all song writers together,

He never founded a college, yet all the schools together, cannot boast as

many students as he has,

He never practised medicine, yet he has healed more broken hearts and bodies

than all the doctors in the world,

He is the Star of Astronomy, he is the Rock of Geology, he is the Lion

and Lamb of Zoology,

He is the harmoniser of all discord, the healer of all diseases,

He was rich, yet for our sakes became poor,

He slept in another’s manger,

He crossed the lake in another’s boat,

He rode on another man’s donkey,

He was buried in another mans tomb,

He is the ever perfect one, the chiefest among ten thousand,

He is the, “Altogether Lovely One”.

************************************************************************

As the New year starts and the Old year ends,

There’s no better time to make amends,

For all the things we sincerely regret,

And wish in our hearts we could somehow forget.

We all make mistakes, for it’s human to err,

But no one need ever give up in despair,

For God gives us all a brand-new beginning,

A chance to start over, and repent of our sinning.

And when God forgives we too must forgive,

And resolve to do better each day that we live,

By constantly trying to be like him more nearly,

And to trust in His wisdom and love Him more dearly.

Assured that we’re never out of His care,

And we’re always welcome to seek Him in prayer

By Helen Steiner Rice

***************************************************************

ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING-THURSDAY 8th FEBRUARY 1996 AT 7.3OPM.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT ALL MEMBERS ATTEND THIS MEETING.

TUESDAY 2nd -SATURDAY 6th JANUARY  ---------SPECIAL WEEK OF PRAYER

(EACH NIGHTAT8.OOPM)

SUNDAY 14th JANUARY 6.3OPM ---------------------------- WOODVALE SINGERS

SUNDAY 21st JANUARY 11.30&6.30 -------------------------- SHERRARD McKAY

SATURDAY27th JANUARY -----------------------YVONNE KIRK& ALASTAIR DUNLOP

TUESDAY 20th FEBRUARY 8.OOPM --------------------------------- VICTOR MAXWELL.

Missionary Weekend  - Friday 23rd - Sunday 25th Febuary

FRIDAY 23rd 8.OOPM  ----------------------------- DR JAMES McKEOWN (BBC)
SATURDAY 24th 8.OOPM --------------------------LILY GIVENS (SIM)
SUNDAY 25th 11.30&6.30 --------------------------JOHN BROWN (STAUROS)

FRIDAY 29th MARCH 8.OOPM --------------------PASTOR SAM GORDON (GNB)
SUNDAY 31st MARCH 11.30 & 6.30 ---------------TOMMY ANDERSON(WGM)

********************************************************************************

7 Anna Irons

14 The Woodvale

21 Stauros Foundation

28 Mr & Mrs Matehett

4 Jonathan Logan
11 Mrs Elizabeth Steele
18 Ballymena Choir
28 Fellowship Choir

3 Beacon Choir
10 Neill &Kyra
17 Elaine Chambers
24 Philip & Dot Cameron
31 Testimony Meeting

NEW MEMBERS

Bobby & Gladys Johnston 26.11.95

Albert Moore 3.12.95

Gillian Moore 3.12.95

to Cohn and Elizabeth Alexander on the birth of Julie Ann 15\l0\95

to Graham and Hilary Kernohan on the birth of Philip David 24\1 1\95

Looking out across the world we see turmoil everywhere. It would depress us if we did not remind ourselves that it was exactly the same when Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Politics were cruel, religion was at a low ebb and its leaders more concerned with secular events than with leading people to the God who saves and blesses.

Wise men enquired where the King of the Jews was to be born, the leaders of religion to Bethlehem, but they did not go to see and worship. The Glory of God shone from Heaven and, although the busy town of Bethlehem did not see it nor were they aware of the happening, the shepherds saw, and went to see for themselves. Then, having seen, they went forth to tell. They had a message to proclaim. God had sent a Saviour who would save His people from their sins.

The first Christmas was very quiet, unlike today when the message of God is detracted from by increasing commercialism.

Before Christmas arrives it will be past for many a person. It will make no real difference. For those who believe the story as told in the Scriptures, the Light of the World has shone, still shines, and will shine for evermore and the darkness cannot ever put it out

[BACK]   [HOME]