Dear Friends,
"The last time I heard you speak, you started me thinking about God in a way I hadn't thought about him before - I am a Christian now". "I prayed the prayer this morning" and at the same church a Church Warden said, "I listened to what you said this morning and I asked my self the question, 'Why am I coming to church, I realized again this morning why'" You explained Jesus to me in a way I could understand. It makes sense to me now". Last time you preached here you prayed for my back, I have had no trouble since". "Thank you for helping me understand my ministry, I have been very confused".
These are some of the encouraging things that have been said to me over the past few months. They keep you reminded that God is using you and that your ministry is valuable. Please join with me in thanking God.
Welcome to our new look newsletter, I hope you like the new style? Each issue will keep you up to date on news from my bookings, Goings Trust family news as well as an up to date diary for your much needed prayers. It has been a busy summer and autumn, so make yourself a cuppa, sit back and enjoy the read.
Preaching news
July
July started with a great weekend in the Elim Church in Caerphilly. Then, unfortunately, there was space in the diary due to the second of three missions that had been cancelled this year. Whilst the cancellations were through reasons beyond our control it is discouraging and we do miss the finance they generate which contributes to our day by day costs. We praise God for a timely and kind gift of £500 from another evangelistic organisation, but do ask that you will continue to pray for our financial situation. A seminar on reaching young people, Mission preparation talks in Southey Green Elim and a talk in Halifax Central Church made up the rest of the preaching slots in July. Add to this preparation for 12 talks and that made it a very busy month.
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August
As many of you know, each year I speak at Fraisethorp Camp, an Elim camp on the North East coast. I was particularly encouraged with the number of people who told me of how they were helped and inspired by the talks I had given the previous year, with one person saying how it had kept them going during six month's of hardship. Talks on 'How to handle your talents' and 'How to cope with daily grind' were some of the talks I gave this time, which proved again to be of great help to many who were there. It is good to know you're helping people through the word. The arrival of a gift of £1000 was a great boost to the funds as we had no means of paying the expenses of the previous 2 months. Emma and I then had a break visiting family and friends and then tried to sort out some household DIY.
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September
Mission preparation with Wrenthorp Elim was the first bit of ministry this month, helping them to be ready for their huge Mission next year - visit their web-site at ww.wrentorpmission.co.uk and click on reality events for more details on their amazing plans. A blessing from God in the form of a new car, an old but low mileage Mercedes 180 for only £1800, means that I already feel less tired from journeys. Derby City Church was next with evangelism training in the morning as part of the build up for a Mission next year and an opportunity to speak evangelistically in the evening. Southey Elim was the main Mission this month where I was able to speak at many events with many visitors present, a real time of blessing. The month finished with a booking at Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International in Mirfield.
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October
As October kicked in a new phase in the life of The Goings Trust was to start with the 40:3 Trust team taking on our administration needs. Whilst this will be slow at first as I get used to the situation it will mean that I will be released from all the admin. pressures so that I can concentrate on my preaching and teaching opportunities. Please pray for these links to really bond over the coming months.
The first event this month was in Wiltshire where I joined Ian Knox and David Crout (40:3 Trust) on a weekend mission, it was a really good time with people responding to the gospel. Then it was to Wrenthorp again for the next in the series of preparation meetings. A cafe style event called 'The Brink' at Bradford University was another great opportunity to speak to a good number of Non Christians. I was also able to speak at a harvest festival and dedication service; once again there were a good number of visitors in. Sunbridge Road Mission in Bradford was my next port of call where many people said they had found the talks helpful. This was followed by a full day in Gloucester where I preached evangelistically in both meetings - the evening being a dedication service. Buttershaw Baptist church was the next preach - apparently the congregation are "annoying" the minister as they speak so positively about the talk I gave. It was good to see a good number of visitors at the Alpha course being run at my home church where I had a chance to speak twice this month which brought to an end both a busy and rewarding month of speaking.
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November
As November started we knew that we would be minus another mission - the third this year to be cancelled, still work to be done anyway. It was off to Westcliffe chapel for an evangelistic talk, Clayton gospel hall, and the final visit to Wrenthorp for a Mission preparation meeting and then the last appointment, a Loughborough University CU meeting which went very well as my ministry seemed to be appreciated. This also meant another program in the 'Reason to Believe' video series was filmed. I also had chance to meet up with J. John and Andy Economides.
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Future bookings
Many bookings are already in the diary for next year. Please pray for these as we help many churches with their outreach. There is still space for next year so if you would like us to come and speak then contact our office manager Darren Burgess. You can see the dates we already have in the diary till the end of March by looking on our diary dates on the back page. Please do pray for us. Could you also pray for the financial provision for each month, it is literally and month by month thing. We have enclosed a prayer card from a Mission I am going on with Ian Knox - 40:3 Trust at in Bury.
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Goings Trust Family News
Emma and I are happy to announce that Emma is pregnant. The baby is due on the 8th May. Please pray for us as we start to prepare for life with an addition in the Greenwood household. Please pray for Emma as she has to travel to Southampton to work and is not feeling well with the pregnancy. Please also pray for a major increase in support of the Goings Trust as we have always relied on Emma's income to make up the shortfall in our living expenses.
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Office News
You will remember that in our last newsletter we informed you that 40:3 Trust have encouraged us by taking on our administration needs. This started at the beginning of October. We now have a web page (please pay us a visit), a new ministry address, email and phone number (check out the front page) and this new style newsletter. The Goings Trust office will now handle everything to do with the ministry of Mark Greenwood. Please could you send any communications, gifts, and invitations etc to the Trust office. Our Trust Office Manager is Darren Burgess who will head up the admin team. We are very grateful to all at The 40:3 Trust for their support. We are also grateful to David Crout who has produced for us our fantastic web page.
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Finally
Emma and I and the trustees of The Goings Trust would like to take this opportunity to thank you, our valued supporters and friend for standing with us this year. Your prayer and support have mean that many people have heard and responded to the gospel. We would also like to wish you a very merry Christmas. Until 2005, God bless you.
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