When we were moving into our house, an engineer told me while he was doing his inspection that there was a rare pine tree on the property. He said the tree takes 20 years to grow to full size. All plants are not the same. Soils can also affect growth, as we see from the parable of the sower. Some soils are more fertile than others, so there are many factors that affect a garden. Also, if a soil is flooded with contaminants, it will take longer and may result in an unhealthy crop. This is what I experience in this day and age, especially with the Internet and YouTube. As a new Christian in 1998, I did not have access to all the heretical Bible teachings that we have flourishing today throughout the Internet. While dealing with false teachings in the culture, we are also dealing with this new layer that the Devil has added through the Internet that’s just a click away. I am seeing this having a great effect in the lives of Christians (new and old), as well as potential Christians. I find much time is taken refuting false doctrines instead of people just learning and growing from the Word. This time was prophesied to come, and because of it, we know that the Lord is not far away. “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first . . . .” (II Thessalonians 2:3)
March
We have a DVD ministry at the church, and I finally figured out a way to simulate that ministry online where people can access videos with their mobile devices. It is a password-protected site, the videos are locked from being able to download them, and the site is only available in Ireland. The purpose is to help combat many of the corrupt online videos. This month we saw one young lady, who has been between churches for a year, finally leave. At the end of the month, we had our Mother’s Day meeting and honoured the mothers in the church. One of our children was sick, so Kelly ended up having to stay home; but I preached on the faith of Hannah, and we had a great Sunday meeting. We had 3 new visitors come to the church during March.
April
With the days longer and the weather warmer, we have been able to get loads of work done around our property. At the beginning of the month, I got to be a part of the ordination of Andrew Canavan. We filled in at his father’s church in Dublin nine years ago. He did well during our questioning and plans to start deputation soon to raise support to come back to Ireland. The door has completely closed here for all missionaries, and since he has citizenship and many of the missionaries here are getting old, he is vitally needed. At the end of the month, we had a special Easter meeting and gave away chocolates and a small book called Paid in Full to everyone who came. The day after Easter, we had a church clean-up day, and 8 people were there to help clean up the building. Then two days later was the annual Irish Men’s Camp, where we received the blessing of hearing several Irish pastors challenge their countrymen to go on for the Lord. I have continued my discipleship course on Thursdays with Ger, who is into the fourth and final book. He will soon be done and receive his completion certificate. Please pray that he has the courage to be baptised, which he has been avoiding for several reasons. The church saw 5 new visitors at the church this month, totaling 17 visitors for 2019.
Soul Winning
The Lord allowed us to get the Gospel to hundreds of people these two months, and I began a discipleship course with a man named Ronan. He prayed and made a profession of faith, and he has also attended the church for over two years with many witnessing opportunities; but when talking to him recently, I can see he is still not really trusting the Lord fully. He paid €40 for the discipleship books. At the beginning of the course, it really puts the emphasis on biblical salvation, and this has been a great opportunity to get to nail this down with him. Each week I reviewed all we had previously studied, and I could see conviction; but without notice, he stopped meeting me. Please pray for him that he would stop fighting against the Lord.
Please pray for these needs:
1. The church to grow together
2. New building
3. Co-laborers in Limerick
4. Protection over the ministry
I thank all of you for your continued prayers and faithful support. We can see the Lord’s hand working in our lives in many different ways because of your faithfulness.
In the campaign for Irish souls,
Keith Hamilton
