Summer 2004 Prayer Letter

Our dear praying friend,

"Thank you for preaching as you did.   We all need a sense of affirmation, especially as we get older".

I was standing outside a church on a beautiful, sunny morning when a lady, who was almost 80 years old, came up to me with these words.   She had just trusted Christ and that was her response.   How lovely for her to discover the personal love of God in her old age, with sunshine in her heart, too.

This encounter has been multiplied many times in these last few months.   I cannot remember a time in my ministry where the word of God seems to have gone forth more wonderfully.   Rejoice in great days of harvest, and in times of both sowing and reaping.

NORTH TO SOUTH

Don't believe all the scare-mongering of the prophets of doom, God is still at work!   Of course I am concerned about the apparent godlessness of Britain.   But it is my experience at present that there is a spiritual hunger in many and that, if we share the Good News of Jesus, there will be a positive response.

Part of the problem of writing at a given moment is that bookings come in too late for inclusion in the diary.   Newcastle-on-Tyne was a case in point:   instead of two meetings I ended up with five, including two big Invitation Services.   I expect you were praying anyway, as we saw a fine number of people respond to the call to meet Jesus.   While there, a man and his wife came up to me.   "I trusted Christ in 1972 at the Polzeath Covenanter Camp when you were Padre", he told me.   'Fruit that lasts' - that's what we want!

Moving South, the church at Guisborough wrote a letter after my visit to say how remarkably God had spoken into their situation through my talk.   Of course, it was really God's talk:   all of us need to know the Holy Spirit's touch on our preaching and speaking.   Pray that this may be so.   At a new church in Stokesley a quarter of those present responded to Jesus Christ one evening.   At Stoneleigh we saw a similar response at a morning service.

The ongoing mission at Ipsley is seeing great things happening, with nearly 50 having responded so far:   do pray for this and all the other opportunities ahead in the next Diary.   My lectures at Ellel Ministries in Farnham encouraged some open-air evangelism, and I heard good reports of the success of that.   Finally, to go way down South, we have just received an email from Lomalangeni Dlamini, head of Trans Word Radio in Swaziland , Southern Africa, which reads:   "Ian Knox programmes are still on air and are continuing to change people's lives for the Kingdom of heaven".   Praise God!

EASTWARD BOUND

March saw Darren and me in a very cold but delightfully welcoming Slovakia .   The aim was to meet and encourage those helping with our radio work and to preach round the country.

Radio   Banska Bystrica is in the very centre of Slovakia, home to Radio Lumen - the biggest FM station in the country, broadcasting throughout the Slovak-speaking world (as far as Spain and the former Yugoslavia).   Its Director and his deputy welcomed us warmly and spoke with great enthusiasm about our programmes.   Not only have they never had a negative comment, many positive responses are received from listeners.   Many thousands tune in each Sunday at 10 am.   We discussed the possibility of a midweek evening slot.   Only cost seems to be the obstacle:   £100 per week is needed.   Would you pray for this to become available?

It was a great joy to meet up again with Ondrej Betko, my Slovak 'voice'.   His magnificent bass voice brings me close to breaking the Commandment about coveting!   Trans World Radio broadcasts our programmes on their wavelengths each week.   They also need funds to be able to continue these.

Preaching   Our tour took us to each corner of the country and to almost all the leading cities.   There was huge interest in our radio work and, although we went specifically to encourage the Christians, we saw a large number trust Christ as well.   Among those who did were

A priest, who said that the evening had been one of the two most significant days of his entire life in response to God (the other when called to the priesthood).

A woman who was in tears throughout the talk when I spoke of the light of Jesus shining in our darkness.   She clearly responded to Christ at a point of deep need.

A man said his girlfriend wanted to tell me she had responded.   He brought her and she said it was the first time she had been to that church, as she gave her life to Christ.

Many bought tapes of our programmes.   Very many Roman Catholics, including priests, are wanting these for their lives and their ministry.

Darren says of our visit, "It was a real thrill to see the joy on the faces of people when they had responded to the challenge they had been given.   The people were so warm and welcoming to us throughout our trip and, once again, God showed that language is no barrier when it comes to hearing His Word".

  Lubomir Vyhnanek, head of TWR Slovakia, emailed us, "We share the same feeling that your visit was both busy and blessed.   Thank you for your effort to reach people in Slovakia".   Perhaps we will return?  

MEANWHILE, BACK HOME

... Everyone is busy!   Di Newhouse has good speaking opportunities - she has a Mission in Ongar in October, as well as joining us in Disley in November .   Sylvia Johnson continues her faithful work in Macclesfield , while John Price does a remarkable work with people who are, literally, "on the street" in Manchester as a Trustee of the Barnabas Trust.   David Lopez values prayer for a new business he's set up to help finance his evangelism, and Mark Brown is extremely busy in his role as Canon Missioner in the Southwell (Nottingham) Diocese.

For some time we have been working closely with the very gifted evangelist Mark Greenwood.   Living in Huddersfield (the best things are from Yorkshire!   But then, I'm biased ...), Mark shares in many of our Missions, and will be with us at Lea in October and Disley in November.   We are looking to God as we forge firmer links here.

Please pray for Darren, Sue and Julie in the Office, especially as we help Mark by taking on his admin. work as from October 1 st .   We evangelists do need this 'behind the scenes' support, so we can be freed up to preach and teach.   Darren is often on the road as he plans and sets up our work.

KEEP US GOING!

By your prayers and support, your love and encouragement, we are strengthened to be about the Lord's work.   May He "strengthen you with might", with His Spirit filling your heart.

Drop us a line or an email.   Log on to our website.   Thank you for being you:   you are precious to us!   The whole team join me in sending our love and greetings in Jesus -