“Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” (Psalm 107:8) Four times this verse appears in Psalm 107, clearly indicative of God’s cry for us to acknowledge Him and His working in and through our lives. My wife and I want to acknowledge our great God and thank Him for all His goodness to us in the past year.
In November, the Lord allowed us to visit Israel and Bulgaria. I had the privilege of preaching in a Baptist church in Jerusalem, and we handed out tracts in Joppa and Jerusalem. One Sunday we asked the Lord to do something special for us that day. At church there was a man visiting who offered to give us a personal guided tour of the garden tomb, though it was closed that day. Wow! That was something “special” the Lord did for us. It is difficult to describe the emotions one feels when catching a glimpse of Calvary for the first time or standing in the EMPTY tomb, knowing that was likely where the Lord had been. Our time in Israel helped us have a better appreciation of the Bible and the events described therein.
We also visited missionary friends in Bulgaria. Again, I was able to preach in his church as he interpreted. He gave us a tour of his city, showing us the abject poverty of the gypsies living there. Everywhere, the results of decades of Communist rule were very evident. It is as if the very soul of the people has been ripped out. This man and his family are being greatly used of God to get the Gospel to the whole of Bulgaria, a very “dark” place.
When we returned to Tasmania, we found our Vanuatu friends were back. I met one of the new men, Cheeko, as he was finishing up his supper. What a delight it was to show him from the Bible that he could know with 100% certainty that he could have a home in Heaven. He was quick to acknowledge he was a sinner and humbly bowed his head to receive the greatest gift offered to mankind. There are several new people arriving in the next few days; we are praying for opportunities to reach them. They work long hours seven days a week, making it difficult for them to get to church.
Please pray for more souls to be saved, a new property for the church by this month, continued growth for the church, and the prospect of the church taking on its seventh missionary. Please pray for Laura’s health as well.
Thank you for your support throughout 2018. May Christmas bring you joy in remembering what Jesus did for us at Calvary!
Sincerely, and all for His glory,
Bro. Andrew Steers
