CAM INTERNATIONAL – NEWSLINK – 31 December 2019
Dear Prayer Partners,
‘Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need’ (Hebrews 4:16).As 2019 draws to a close and a new year begins, we send you our best wishes for 2020. May it be a fruitful and blessed year for us all, full of God’s presence and goodness! Here are some items for prayer and praise.
Just after Christmas we had sad news of the passing of two people associated with the CAM family:-
David Womersley died peacefully on 27 December (as mentioned in my extra Newslink message, sent out that evening). David was a veteran missionary who had given his whole life to serving God in Congo and then, back in UK, as Home Representative and as a trustee. His last visit to Congo was in 2011, just before his 80th birthday. After a bad fall last March, David spent a long period in hospital and rehab before going to his home in Rushden at last a few months ago. His son Stephen was his main carer. Pray for Stephen, Pat (David’s sister) and Peter and family.
Laura Stephenson quietly slipped away on 28 December in her parents’ house in Preston. Her in-laws, Paul & Jan Stephenson were CAM missionaries at Lwamba (Congo) and Paul is a trustee and has done several Bible/Relief trips to Congo in recent years. Laura, married to Mark Stephenson (who spent some years as a boy with his parents and two brothers in Africa), had been battling bravely with terminal cancer since April 2018. Pray for Mark and their 3 young daughters – Heidi (6) and 2-year-old twins Sophie and Naomi.
Carol Seymour and Ginny Perkins have been able to enjoy a good break in Zambia, after a harrowing time recently in Lubumbashi. Praise God! They went first to Nyangombe, spent Christmas with friends in Musenga and are now relaxing in a small game park to see in the New Year. After returning to Lubumbashi, they will be preparing to go to Likasi on Sunday, to visit the high-security prison there. They heard that in one of the prisons, there has been no food for 8 days! Pray for them as they take food supplies and also the message of life, that their visit will bring encouragement and blessing to the prisoners.
Gordon & Sybil McKillop and Sam Livingstonhave had a joyful time over Christmas at Nyangombe. The children were involved in lots of activities and their presentations (songs and memory verses) went very well. Sam wrote, ‘We had great feedback from all the people. Everyone appreciated the work of the kids and their talents and we had a blessed Christmas altogether.’ Praise God! Pray for His direction and anointing on all that is planned for Nyangombe in 2020.
Daniel Habtey was in Stoke on Trent last Sunday to see two Eritrean fellowships reconciling and uniting as one church. Praise God for this happy occasion. Pray for God’s blessing on this church, that it may be powerful in its witness to the local community. On Sat 4 Jan, Daniel will be in Leeds for a Community Leadership Seminar. Pray for a good number to attend and for Daniel as he ministers.
Thank you so much for your prayers, which encourage and bless our workers.
OUR MISSIONARIES AND MINISTRY PARTNERSMuch missionary work is routine and repetitive, but prayer support is still needed for our personnel in their regular ministries:-
Carol Seymour and Ginny Perkins, based at the Living Waters Centre, Lubumbashi, CONGO, work together in prison ministry, village church evangelism and media broadcasting. Ginny works with children and young people at the Lighthouse Project.
Lloyd & Sandy Rowlands are based at the Living Waters Centre, Lubumbashi, CONGO. Lloyd helps with maintenance of the Centre and has developed the orchard to teach grafting and other skills. He ministers in local churches and conducts Development seminars. Sandy teaches English at ISTELU Bible College and looks after hospitality. (Sandy is currently staying in Adelaide, Australia, for 2 years, because of pension regulations. Lloyd is going between Congo and Australia, and is now in Australia for the rest of the year.)
Gordon & Sybil McKillop, based in Nyangombe, ZAMBIA, minister in Bible School teaching, youth and children’s work and church visitation. Gordon specializes in farm supervision, skills training, and maintenance of buildings, vehicles and machinery. Sybil does medical and pharmacy work and Sunday school ministries.
Sam Livingston, based in Nyangombe, ZAMBIA, is a youth worker evangelizing through Christian clubs in schools, football coaching, sport and computer skills.
Wanderley & Rosaria da Silva, based in Chimoio, MOZAMBIQUE, are setting up a Vocational Training Centre (VTC), running a pre-school and evangelizing in a deprived area of the city. (Currently on leave in USA.)
Daniel Habtey (CAM partner), based in Huddersfield, UK, is an Eritrean pastor who arrived as a refugee and is now committed to helping Eritreans and other displaced people with integration in churches and communities. He has been commissioned as an Elim missionary and CAM partners with him in his ‘Joseph Project’.
CAM supports Church Planters in ETHIOPIA, helping them take the Gospel to unreached areas.
Thank you again for your faithful prayers, which are greatly appreciated by all our personnel.