The 'Doing Something More For God' Campaign Fund has breached the £25,000-barrier.
This means we are one quarter of the way to our target of £100,000.
I am encouraged by this as offerings from only 10 churches are included in this amount. Others have taken up offerings but, due to holidays, etc., have not yet sent the cheques through.
Special envelopes have been circulated through our churches for the designated purpose of contributing to this fund. If you (or your church) have not yet received this, please be in touch.
A big thank-you to those who have already contributed ... keep watching this space for further updates.
The tract to be delivered by the Royal Mail to every household in Northern Ireland during the week commencing Monday, 7 September 2009, has cleared some important hurdles today.
• Final amendments have been made,
• A PO Box has been secured,
• The Royal Mail has received a copy of the tract and delivered a glowing approval on it.
It should be rolling off the presses of the Revival Movement Association any day now ... .
I was thinking about the Campaign today when Alan MacArthur sent me an email. In it he explained how he, "thought that I was reading the 17 July Evening reading of Spurgeon's 'Morning and Evening' when in fact I was reading the 17 June.
I was glad I did. It was a blessing. I thought that I would share it with you."
I too am glad that he read the 'wrong' devotional – and that he took the time to share it with me. I can now share it with you ... .
“Then Israel sang this song; Spring up, O well; sing ye unto it.”
Numbers 21:17
FAMOUS was the well of Beer in the wilderness, because it was the subject of a promise: “That is the well whereof the Lord spake unto Moses, Gather the people together, and I will give them water.”
The people needed water, and it was promised by their gracious God. We need fresh supplies of heavenly grace, and in the covenant the Lord has pledged Himself to give all we require.
The well next became the cause of a song.
Before the water gushed forth, cheerful faith prompted the people to sing; and as they saw the crystal fount bubbling up, the music grew yet more joyous.
In like manner, we who believe the promise of God should rejoice in the prospect of divine revivals in our souls, and as we experience them, our holy joy should overflow.
Are we thirsting?
Let us not murmur, but sing. Spiritual thirst is bitter to bear, but we need not bear it—the promise indicates a well; let us be of good heart, and look for it.
Moreover, the well was the centre of prayer.
“Spring up, O well.” What God has engaged to give, we must inquire after, or we manifest that we have neither desire nor faith.
This evening let us ask that the Scripture we have read, and our devotional exercises, may not be an empty formality, but a channel of grace to our souls. Oh that God, the Holy Spirit, would work in us with all His mighty power, filling us with all the fullness of God.
Lastly, the well was the object of effort.
“The nobles of the people digged it with their staves.”
The Lord would have us active in obtaining grace. Our staves are ill adapted for digging in the sand, but we must use them to the utmost of our ability.
Prayer must not be neglected; the assembling of ourselves together must not be forsaken; ordinances must not be slighted. The Lord will give us His grace most plenteously, but not in a way of idleness.
Let us, then, bestir ourselves to seek Him in whom are all our fresh springs.
PLEASE keep praying for the 'Consider Christ' Campaign each day @ 12 noon
I was sifting through material on my hard drive tonight when I came across an original concept sketch for the design work on our posters, billboards, etc..
Rather amazing to think that the artwork came from such poor beginnings. Many thanks to Jonny Aiken (Vision Solutions NI) for applying his expertise to this project. As you can see, he didn't have much off which to work!!
As many will know, Mr. Robert Campbell (a licentiate minister with the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster) is providing pulpit supply for our congregation in Kingston, Tasmania, for a 6-month period.
Prior to his departure for 'Down Under,' he was heavily involved behind the scenes in our Gospel Advertising Crusade. He retains a strong interest in the progress of this Campaign - in fact I was chatting to him for 1 hour + today, and a significant portion of our conversation involved me giving him further detailed updates on the Campaign.
Recently he has preached a message on the theme of our Campaign – 'Doing Something More For God.' Please listen in.
Over the course of the past few weeks, Rev. David Smith has been busy contacting ministers in order to ascertain:
a) What size of a banner they would like for their church/locality – small (16 feet), medium (24 feet), or large (30 feet), and what extra message, relevant to their own church meetings in the Autumn, they would like to advertise on one line of the banner;
b) The number of tracts they wish to have for their congregation for distribution during September.
With all relevant details now finalised, the banners will soon be in production.
(NB. The banner shown is the 'small' size – 16 feet).
I took this photograph of Naomi Baker and her daughter Lucy last Lord's Day evening ... but didn't notice until tonight that Naomi is holding a few copies of our bookmark for the 'Doing Something More For God' Campaign.
Have you got yours?
Please contact me if you wish to have some.
