Open Doors and New Friends
First, I need to make an apology to our supporting churches. It has come to my attention that, due to an unavoidable mishap and misunderstanding, many of you have not received our printed letters in many months. This situation is hopefully rectified, but please contact me if you would like me to personally send past letters to you by mail.
“I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it . . . .” (Revelation 3:8) It amazes me when God’s hand moves and He opens unexpected doors. This has been the case this new year. The first open doors were our dual citizenship and God’s provision of the finances for it. Another situation of an open door began in February when I was told by another missionary that one of his members said that generally Irish people will not come to a church meeting at a hotel. I have looked for meeting halls and storefront buildings in the past. There are no local halls, and the cheapest storefront I found was €600 (US$700) per month (not including tax, insurance, and utilities) in a more secluded location. As we were searching for a new home, I enquired about an office space for rent on a main road that was used by a Baptist church four years ago. When I went to view it, expecting it to be €800, I was shocked that they wanted €500 per month. I offered them €400, and they accepted it. We signed the lease on May 1. God opened a big door for us and answered our prayer for a more suitable place to meet.
Update on Attendees and Contacts: Raymond, for the last three years, has been the epitome of faithful when it comes to Wednesday nights! He comes every week with his son. He will not come to a Sunday meeting, but I am not sure what the true reason is. I have asked him about starting a discipleship course with him, but he has not been so inclined. Please pray that he at least continues to be faithful on Wednesdays when we move locations. On March 22, we had 5 visitors suddenly come to the hotel. One family that night was from a Pentecostal church. They also came a few weeks later to a Wednesday Bible study and another Sunday night hotel meeting. They profess to be saved, but pray that I might be able to verify it. It just so happened that 2 of the other visitors that night used to be members of Limerick City Baptist Church, which formerly met at the same rental space (and has since dissolved). During a survey trip to Limerick years ago, we visited LCBC; and, providentially, this same couple had us over their home for lunch. They are saved and visited us looking for an evangelical Baptist church that uses the King James Bible. Needless to say, George and Irene have been faithfully coming ever since. There were 2 brothers who were coming, Oscar (18) and Connor (10). Connor has not come since Oscar began college, but Oscar did show up during his holiday break. A month after her first visit, Melanie, the Brazilian lady, came again to our Wednesday Bible study and brought her 2 children. They had a great time yet have not been back since, though she is still in contact. A man named Graham, whom I met in November, finally (after many visits) was home and asked me what took so long to come back! We met for tea, and I was able to answer many of his questions and concerns. He told me he would come to Wednesday Bible study, so we are looking forward to seeing him. Graham professes to be saved and seems to have a great interest in learning about the Bible. Another man in the same estate, Patrick, was thrilled to receive a Bible of his own, like many others to whom we’ve been privileged to personally give the Scriptures.
Please continue praying for these needs:
1. Our support level has maintained at 90% of what we need; please pray it might increase.
2. God’s blessing on our new meeting space
3. Furlough plane tickets
Also, I want to thank all of the individuals and churches who faithfully pray for us, those who faithfully support us, and those who send letters. I also want to give a special thanks to Curtis Corner Baptist Church, Bro. Tripp, Mrs. Holzbach, Park Avenue Baptist Church, and Faith Baptist Church for the special gifts toward our naturalization. Thank you for allowing God to use you to meet that need.
In the campaign for Irish souls,
Keith W. Hamilton
