Easter Monday 2009
Since the first issue of Cross Purposes we have also sent out a general update by email. I want to update both of those reports.
The New Job
Many of you have asked, “How is the new job [as Country Coordinator] going?” – As reported in the last Cross Purposes, January was busy with travels and the first few weeks of February continued that way. At the end of February we had a delightful week of holiday which was followed by my knee surgery. That went very well, so well in fact that I probably did a little too much spring cleanup in our garden, and set it back. Since then I have been more cautious and staying close to home. As a result I have not been doing as much getting around to contact people as I hope to do between now and July.
Gateshead
The “daughter church” being planted out of the Durham EPCEW church has gone amazingly well. It is not like any other church-plant we have worked with here in England. About half of the people attending the Durham congregation came from the Gateshead area. Some of them started at Durham because of the plan to do a new work in Gateshead. As a result there were 46 people at both morning and evening services the first Sunday and it has grown since then. Pray for the outreach through things like Christianity Explored and pray for the sharply diminished congregation in Durham.
Canada Water
The Canada Water Church has been going through some changes. How should it continue to minister to Afrikaans speaking South Africans while continuing to build a ministry to English speakers being reached by South African Christians? Not an easy question! The number of South Africans coming to London has declined, in part due to changes in immigration laws. (See more on that below). The Bears are continuing to have a great influence on the development of the church and also have travelled to Chelmsford (the church Barbara and I stared in 1992) to help them with their worship music. – they are due to deliver a second child (another boy they are told) in a few days. Pray for them.
A Building in Cheltenham (?)
Talks continue with the small (6-member) independent church we mentioned before. Combined Easter Services were conducted in the building with the two churches together. There is still a long way to go to make this work—if it can work at all. Will you pray for the discussions between both churches?
Problems for Short Term Workers
You may have seen in the news a report that 12 men (mostly students from Pakistan) were suspected terrorism and arrested two days before Good Friday. The British government is trying to control the entrance of people into Britain and has therefore set new immigration laws in place that affect our work. Tourists still have free access, but people who want to stay for any other purpose have to have a visa. The visa application must be sponsored by a licensed sponsor. Both the denominations MTW is working with in England have begun application for such sponsorship licenses, but the process is long, complicated and expensive. It means that several short-term teams that planned to come under tourist provisions are uncertain that they should come. They could be turned back at Border Control if the agent decides they do not have the correct papers. Two short-term “Interns” who plan to help churches here, must have visas that cannot be issued until the licenses are agreed. The EPCEW will not even get an interview until April 30th and then there is no certainty about how soon after that some decision to grant the license will come. Pray for that license and the one for the IPC to be granted swiftly.
Promotional Video in Production
Another short-term helper was almost stopped at the Birmingham Airport three weeks ago. When Immigration Services called Barbara must have given them the answers they needed to hear. It may have also helped that he had been working in an EU country (Germany) before coming here. M has been making promotional videos for MTW Teams in Europe since January. He spent 2 weeks with us before going on to Scotland. While he was here he was able to lay down the voice track for an 11 minute video which we hope all of you will get to see before too long. He took a lot of film footage and has many hours of editing to do before it will be finished. We look forward to sharing it with you. Pray for M as he completes this video and its usefulness in advancing God’s Kingdom.
Financial Notes
Several have asked about our support. The increased value of the Dollar ($) against the Pound (£) has helped our account to remain pretty stable even though giving has declined some. Actual gifts for the first 3 months of this year averaged $550.00 less than our budget as set by MTW for 2009. Thank you for your concerns for our welfare in the midst of a time when many of you are facing economic uncertainties.
Thank you for your prayers and every encouragement you give us in this work for God’s Kingdom.
Support Donations should be sent to: Mission to the World, PO Box 116284, Atlanta,, GA 30368-6284marked for the account of David & Barbara Cross, A/c # 11126
- David & Barbara Cross
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