Ray and Lynne Hall - approaching retirement, Ray was seeking a ministry that could put
to use his theological training and the gifts he had developed over the years. A long-standing interest
and involvement with Hungary brought a possible new venture. Ray is working with ‘Cornerstone’ Baptist
Church in Pápa, Hungary to help develop a ministry amongst English speakers in the area. The town is to
host a new NATO airbase – the church has been selected as the ‘nominated church’ – and there is an interest
amongst Hungarians who want to speak English. Apart from study groups and preaching engagements Ray is also working with the worship band.
Jo and Wendy Chapler - Jo became a Christian in Melton, and he and his wife Wendy were baptisted
in the church here. They now serve the Lord in Hungary - the country where Jo was born.
Following a move to the town of Pápa, Jo was called to plant a Baptist church there. The
church has grown significantly in recent years and now Jo and Wendy are looking to God for
their next move. Jo writes "The Lord has blessed us greatly in the years we have worked for him.
We had seen people come to faith, new churches born, lives changed and Hungarian and British
Baptists sharing fellowship, their experience and expertise. I love the Lord and preach His
good news whenever and wherever I have chance. I will do that as long as He allows and
gives me strength to do so". Please pray for Jo and Wendy as they seek a new path for the future.
Mary Pearce - Until July 2002 Mary was working in Chad among the Kera people.
She was a member of a team translating the New Testament which is being published.
She has just completed a PhD in Phonetics and Linguistics at University College London and
continues to teach phonology in the UK. She is hoping to return to Chad in January 2008
to be a linguistic consultant - teaching mostly in French. She will also be mentoring
individuals and language groups as well as continuing to carry out further research.
To find out more about Mary visit her website
home.btconnect.com/mary_pearce/
John and Sue Wilson are working as full time Christian workers in France and are supported by
BMS World Mission. John is only one of over 280
personnel working in more than 35 countries who are supported by the BMS. John, Sue and their
family are living and working in Lyons where John is pastoring a church. John has visited Melton
and taken part in our Sunday morning services telling us a little of his work and the work of BMS
World Mission.
BMS World Mission works with the Fedédétation des Eglises Evangeliques Baptistes de France (FEEBF).
BMS worked in Britanny as far back as the 1800s but, in more recent times, started sending workers to the country
in 1988. Evangelical churches are very unevenly scattered across the country and are usually quiet small, averaging
around 50 people. There are 111 Baptist churches. There is growing secularism in France, and an opposition to
non-majority denominations like Baptists is also evident - many fellowships are regarded as sects.
John and Sue produce a regular prayer letter detailed up to date news of their life and work in France.
To find out more about them, email them through
www.bmsworldmission.org/jswilson.
Dennis and Janet Bishop, members of MMBC, have links with a church in Mazabuka, Zambia.
They write:
" Grace Church in Mazabuka, Zambia, is pastored by Rev. Nathan Simwanza.
He and his wife Joyce, are in the process of building up the church, and its buildings, as well
as establishing several satellite churches around Zambia. As well as helping with finance, a
team went out last summer, led by Christopher and Jonathan Bishop (pictured left) with people from their own
churches in London and Coventry, to help with the construction project in Mazabuka. They all
say it was a life changing experience, humbling, but also uplifting.
Nathan and Joyce stayed with church members here 3 years ago, and met many of our church folk as
they visited housegroups and were invited for meals. Nathan preached at one of the services. Money
is being raised to help with building construction, and also to initiate self-help projects to
provide income, since unemployment is widespread ".