22 to 29 January 2012

Thank you for your prayers for me and the team of musicians, (as well as all the other helpers) who worked each day at the Scripture Union Country Gospel Music tent at Tamworth, central NSW, Australia.

Thousands of Country Music fans invaded Tamworth for a week and a half drawn by their love of country music.  Scripture Union along with local Tamworth churches sponsor a Country Gospel Music Tent where good country Gospel music is played live for the whole week. Ladies from various churches in Tamworth make tea & coffee and lovely cakes for the guests to enjoy as they listen to the music, testimonies and Gospel preaching.

My job is to paint sketchboards and explain them (preach the Gospel) during the music breaks. Here are a few of the sketch-boards.

It was a lot of fun coming up with “Country” themes for my talks.  I got a lot of comments and questions during my time at the Gospel Music Tent and it was a joy to talk to many who showed a real interest in the Gospel after listening to the music, watching me paint and hearing the talks.

I spoke to many during the week.  The other night I had a half hour talk with David and Betty who asked lots of questions about heaven and what it would be like there.  Although they are “church-going” people I was not sure, from our conversation, that they were certain they would be going there!  Pray for them!

I am now in Brisbane visiting friends and relatives.  Went to a great Men’s Bible study on Monday night.  Will be involved at church services in Brisbane on the weekend. (5th Feb.)

Once again I travelled across the Tasman to join other collegues and evangelists in an outreach in the Bay of Plenty area.  Although we had rain some of the days we were still able to do outreach due to the great ingenuity of our Kiwi brothers.  We stood under street awnings in front of closed restaurants one day; another day we went to Rotarua and sheltered under the sails of their central shopping area. Another day we were in front of a closed bank in the Tauranga main shopping precinct.  It is great to work with such a dedicated team of evangelists.

As iron sharpens iron so our Kiwi brothers and sisters sharpen us all up for the year of ministry ahead.  We had some tremendous talks with people who visited the outreach sites and praise God for several who responded to the Gospel message.  Thank you for your prayers and support.

This year our theme was “The Prodigal” and we were privaleged to use the wonderful Australian outback paintings of Lynton Allan.

During the Melbourne Show Lynton was able to do sketches for the public which was a great draw card.

We had some wonderful and interesting discussions with many people who visited our stands.  Other shows were at Geelong and Whittlesea and we also spent a day at Ballarat’s Spring Festival beside the lake.  We are planning one more show outreach with “The Prodigal” theme at the Field Days event near Warragul in the Autumn.

Jim Bellas with Pastor Omer (Left) and Bishop Robert (Right)

17 – 18 Sep.  Weekend ministry in Ho – Eastern Ghana.  We were encouraged to see Pastor Omer from Kpalime with us for the morning service at Ho.  He rode over from Togo this morning on the back of a motor-bike taxi. Ouch and more ouches!  (It is a pretty bumpy and treacherous ride in a van let alone on the back of a motor-bike).  The exciting thing is that after Jim spoke on the character of Moses I taught the believers how to present the Gospel flip-chart.  The taxi driver was present in the service and after listening to the presentation trusted in Christ himself! How good is that?

Praise God for all He is doing here in West Africa to encourage the believers and win more souls for His kingdom.

Jim Bellas and I fly out of Accra – Ghana tomorrow (Monday 19th) for Australia.  Jim to Brisbane and I to Melbourne.  Please pray for safety as we travel and for the Lord to continue the work He is doing here in West Africa.

In Kpalime – Togo (7 – 15 Sep 2011)

The Lord is doing great and wonderful things here in Africa.  How grateful we are for His hand of mercy on the lives of His people here in Kpalime – Togo.  We have had a great conference for several long and tedious days.  Nevertheless the Lord’s hand upon us and this ministry has been loving and gracious and many souls have been blessed and encouraged.

I am excited to see hundreds accept the challenge to share the Gospel with their own “individual Gospel flip-charts”.  We gave out more than 160 in the French language and quite a lot in English as well.  About 120 left in English to be given to prospective “evangelists” in english speaking Ghana on the weekend.

Thanks for your prayers.

In the Saviour’s love…  Dave

EUROPE MINISTRY TRIP – JULY and AUGUST 2011

29July – 7Aug Alba Iulia, Romania.

This last week or so has been challenging and exciting!  We have seen God at work in our lives and through our ministry.  Praise God for souls encouraged by hearing the Gospel message of Salvation!

We had 3 Children’s meetings – 2 in a town nearby called Daia and one at the OAC base in Alba Iulia.

It is so much fun with the kids but also serious as we share Gospel truths with them all through games and activities, ballooning, clowns, Gospel Magic and Sketch-board messages.

We also had a teen meeting one night at the OAC centre with Gospel magic and sketch-board.

During the day each of us on the team have taught the Romanian youth ways to share the Gospel using these above methods.

In the evenings we have been out in the city park sharing the Gospel with Gospel magic, flip-charts and sketch-boards.  We have been encouraged to see great responses at most of the open-air meetings with many taking literature and lots of discussions afterwards.  It was great to talk right through the Gospel with 3 young women last night who stayed for both meetings and to hear them say they would pray to trust in Christ for salvation when they went back home. Join us in praying they have or will do this!

Tonight (Sunday 7 Aug) I am travelling by train back to Vienna and then flying back to Australia around midnight Wed 10th Aug. Please check the “Calendar” page for my schedule of coming events.

Thanks for your prayers, encouragement and support.  Dave.

25 – 29th July – Alba Iulia – Romania.

We have enjoyed great weather every night until tonight (rained out) and have had some good teaching & training sessions and also outreach in the city park in the evenings.  Here are some pics to show you what has been happening…

21 – 24 July – Training and Outreach in Vienna.

The ministry in Vienna went really well.  Although we had a a bit of rain some evenings we were able to still hold street meetings and have good crowds at most of them.  Here are some pics that will no doubt speak louder than words.

15th July – “Baden in White” day. Lots of people dress in white and join in celebrations.  We dressed in white and used it as an opportunity to share the Gospel.

Here are some more pics that show you how the day went.

14th July   Outreach in Baden – Austria…

We had 2 outreach times.  Just before the lunch break and just before the going home time.  These were good times when there are more people on the streets.  This evening a group of around 20 teenagers from Singapore stopped to watch and listen to the Gospel presentation. They even videoed the message!  Afterwards 2 of them told me they are Christians and they stopped to cause their group to stop.  It worked! How amazing!  The Gospel message has no boundaries!

“REACH the VALE” – Working with OM and OAC in the UK.  July 2011

7-9 July  Our small team – (Left to Right) – John, Jerry, Megan, Carrie, Dave (& Gareth not in picture) – are part of a very large team working together with Operation Mobilisation and Open Air Campaigners UK.

We have had great opportunities to share the Gospel in various streets and towns in the Vale of Glamorgan – South Wales – United Kingdom. Open-air in Bridgend, Penarth, Barry and Cardiff streets. Plus door-knocking and surveys for a local church in Cosmeston, near Penarth.  We also shared the Gospel at a children’s meeting, a Bbq and a youth event. Praise God with us for the lives that have been touched.

3-7 July – Have been doing outreach in various places around the Vale of Glamorgan – near Cardiff.  (Pic above was taken in the main street of Barry on Monday afternoon 4th July).

2nd July – Stayed overnight with friends in the same street where we lived in Gloucestershire England.  Having an “Aussie BBQ” in their back garden for lunch. Then it’s off to Wales for a week and a bit of ministry in “Reach the Vale” with OM and OAC.  (More news and pics soon).

30th June – In Hong Kong airport for the 2nd leg of my trip to UK. Next stop Frankfurt (overnite) and then arriving UK on Friday to start ministry in Wales on Saturday. No in-flight movies (as machine broken) so $100 duty free voucher from Qantas instead + I got to sleep 6 hours! How good is that! God looks after His staff. But please pray for this six week ministry and follow my blog on www.teachandtell.org Thanks.

Hong King airport… 

I am on my way. Check the “Calendar” page for itinerary.

TAMWORTH COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL – January 2011

From 17 – 23 January I was encouraged to be able to minister at the SU Gospel Music Tent in Tamworth. Lots of people came to hear the great music and periodically (as the musicians needed a rest) I painted and preached a short Gospel Message to those in attendance.  Below are a few of the finished sketchboard “paintings”.

For further details please email…     dave@teachandtell.org