Page 21 - News Spring-Summer 2025

I ASKED FOR A TRUE
PURPOSE FOR MY LIFE

can attend. These are beautiful villages, but I could
see during Covid how lonely the residents might have
been, and I wondered if any of them knew the Lord. For
months I thought of how I could reach these people? I
didn’t know them, but God did. I asked God for guidance
about what I could do. I’ve discovered that God uses
both our strengths and weaknesses – there was me, 33
villages and over 3,000+ houses.

I love being encouraging, methodical and organising
but I’m not great at communicating effectively and
sometimes I am timid in situations. I’ve had to work on
these! I saved enough funds to do our village first during
lockdown. I ordered 365 Mark’s Gospels; ‘Where is God in
a messed-up world?’ leaflets and hand-made bookmarks
with a John 3:16 text. I asked God to help me write a
note to introduce Jesus to be placed in the packs. I loved
making up the packs and putting them into envelopes.
However, I asked my husband to come with me because
I was so scared to deliver them. ‘What if someone comes
out and asks an awkward question?’ I didn’t knock on the
doors, I just put them through the doors and prayed that
someone would pick up and read it.

I did a couple of prayer walks around the village after, SOMETIMES I AM TIMID
just wanting someone to know Jesus as their Saviour.
When I had completed about 16 villages, delivering IN SITUATIONS
them or sending them by mail due to some places being
difficult to get into, I heard an announcement in the
church; there was a meeting on a Saturday for anyone The Explore booklet was shown to me and the layout of
interested in an organisation called ‘GOOD NEWS for the Gospel is perfect for encouraging others to read God’s
Everyone!’ Word. I asked the leadership team if I could have 5-10
I normally work every other Saturday but this one I minutes during a Sunday to give these out. I made bags
wasn’t. I told my husband that I felt I had to go to this out of fabric, put in an Explore magazine, a bookmark
meeting but was not sure why. I prayed all the way there and a chocolate bar. I gave my testimony of why I was
that if there was a purpose for this then for it to be giving out these bags, explained that I wanted them to
made known to me very clearly. It was made clear, as I read Explore for themselves, then pray for one person
had a wonderful welcome (even though I was a little late to give it to. All who were interested were to come and
and walked right in front of the screen). I knew that this receive the gift - there were no bags left at the end of the
was indeed from God. meeting! I pray that they digested God's Word as quick as
they ate the chocolate!
Shortly after an informal annual barbeque for members,
I was asked if I would like to join and be a member. I have often despaired at the state of our church in this
There was no hesitation to saying “Yes!” To meet with country, and it may not be long before giving out the
others and be encouraged in giving out the Gospel was Gospel will be much harder. However, I have realised that
joy in my heart. I could now learn from others who God has given every one of us a purpose to fulfil His will
had been doing this work for many years and value and to be obedient to what He asks us to do. I thank the
their experience. I’d been thinking for a while of giving Lord every day that He has opened my heart and mind
a Gospel to all the staff at a Christmas Party I was to a life worth living for Him, and the joy He has given
organising. Once I had become a member, a box of 12 me and privileges of giving out the Gospel today. Please
Personal Worker Testaments was given, along with a encourage the team at National Office that all of us value
couple of books about witnessing. It was the best timing everyone on the team for their unique role in helping
as I needed 12 Testaments to give out at the Christmas people like me in fulfilling their purpose. They may not
Party. Thank you to whoever thought of that idea! initially see the fruits of their labour, but I can assure you
there are many people out there like me, who reap the
Shortly after, I’d been thinking about how I could in benefits of prayers and encouragement.
turn encourage people in the church to witness to “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as
others. I was thinking back to the time when I was in the you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by
congregation and not participating in anything. What the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13
could I do to make people get up from the comfort of
their armchairs and encourage them to do something? Adapted – with thanks - from the Region 7 Newsletter.

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