Firstly, let me begin with an apology for letting too much time get past me since the writing of my last newsletter. We have faced many changes, circumstances, obstacles, and—praise God—victories since the writing of our last newsletter back in April. Though many situations come and changes of circumstances arise, we praise God that “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23) COVID regulations and mandates have brought many challenges, and life in the Powless family itself has faced many recent changes. Praise God, through it all . . . GOD IS FAITHFUL!
With the typing of this letter, we have recently seen three of our children leave our home, as they are all growing up now. Our son Jack has now moved Stateside to Michigan, where he is settling in and preparing for his soon upcoming marriage to a fine young lady that he met at Bible college last year! Just yesterday, September 1, 2021, Luke and Savannah started their new semester in Bible college, Luke for his third year and Savannah for her first! For the first time in over two years, we are presently Stateside for a couple of weeks to get to see family and to help Savannah get settled in at college!
The last months of ministry have been a whirlwind of challenges, opportunities, and blessings! May and June saw us locked down again in COVID mandates that only allowed 10 people at a time to gather for church services. To accommodate this limitation, we held three back-to-back one-hour services on Sunday mornings and then our Wednesday evening Bible study.
Another tool that we have been “forced” to learn better and use more is the tool of “virtual discipleship.” We have been using virtual platforms such as Zoom, Messenger, Duo, etc. to encourage and engage people in virtual discipleship. Recently, one of the young ladies we have been discipling was concerned for her best friend’s salvation. As we discipled on soul winning, I challenged her as a “course requirement” to ask her friend to join her for a virtual lesson in which she would be able to be help her friend with the assignment of sharing the Gospel. The friend agreed to join in this, and at the appointed time, we met together virtually. I shared the Gospel, the young lady taking the discipleship had her friend Renee at her house. She would look up and read the next verse of Scripture to Renee, and then I would explain. Then the next verse would be shared, and so on, until we presented the wonderful message of salvation through Jesus Christ alone. I then led in a word of prayer, and the discipling young lady prayed after me. I then gave Renee the opportunity to pray, and ever so sweetly, Renee prayed to receive Jesus Christ as her Saviour!
At the end of June, things began to open up a little bit.. Churches could meet in more numbers outdoors, so we took our services outdoors on Father’s Day Sunday. God blessed us with a beautiful day to accommodate the service. We had a good attendance and three who obeyed the Lord in baptism. Recently, we had a family visit with us on a Sunday night, and we were able to set up an appointment with them to share the Gospel on the next Saturday. Nico and Marie both accepted Christ together!
Lastly, as we entered the month of August and just before our family would leave to go away for several weeks, we decided to use our Wednesday evening service time for a three-week Wednesday Evening Teen Revival. The goal was to see it grow week by week and to see some young people reached for Christ. The first Wednesday, we had 10 young people in the service, and the second Wednesday, we had 14 young people present. On the last Wednesday, we had 26 young people attend, and 4 of them accepted Jesus Christ as their Saviour. To God be all the glory!
Thank you for your faithfulness, which helps us faithfully serve our FAITHFUL GOD in the field of London, Ontario, Canada. God bless and keep you all!
The Phil Powless Family
Galatians 6:9
