Church News - July 2023

July 2023

DNita and I celebrated our 38th wedding anniversary this past May and we are so amazed at God’s GRACE in our lives and family! There is no other word for God’s kindness towards us than ‘Amazing!’ We had Summer here for about three straight weeks in early June, but that was it! It has been back cool and and drizzly since then. But oh well… such is Ireland! We are praying for another Summer wave to come in time for our Children Summer Bible Club in early August!

Best News! A man I have asked you to pray for, for the past year GOT SAVED! His name is Robynson, and was such a thoughtful soul, coming to church and hearing the preaching much of this past year, and watching all the changes in his children and wife because of the Bible! Nita and I got to spend about 2 hours with he and his family, going through the Gospel, and he was so ready! His children said afterwards that they had never seen their Dad cry before!

Another man named Juan also got saved recently in Cork City, while we were doing our street evangelism! I told him he could settle his relationship with the God who created him and loved him, right then and there. And Juan said, “then I am ready!” And he bowed his head and asked Jesus Christ to save him right out in public! Hallelujah!

Our church just celebrated its 29th anniversary! It seems like so long ago, but 29 years ago, my young family and I started a Bible believing Baptist Church in Blarney, Ireland! One year shy of three decades of preaching, evangelising, discipling, and serving has been the greatest time of my life! Thousands of people have come and heard the Gospel, and hundreds and hundreds have responded by faith, so many of which still come and faithfully serve one another as a body of believers! We had a great day together! We even enjoyed a Horseshoe Toss game!

Victory Youth Camp was an amazing success! 85 teens, children, and helpers gathered for a week of preaching, team-work, singing, sports and activities! Every year I attempt to do the impossible by gathering together teens and children from several churches of like-faith here in Ireland, and then seeing who all will volunteer to help with cooking, preaching, sports and music…and God has just always provided! 39 of the total people came from our church alone! Two young people were saved this year at Youth Camp: Joseph and Alysia! It never gets old serving the Lord!

We are preparing for our big Children’s Bible Club, August 7-11! Would you labour with us in the place of PRAYER for the children who will hear the Gospel maybe for the very first time? Pray for young people to hear the Spirit of God speak to them about their souls, and about living a long life of Christian Service for Jesus! And please continue to pray for a young woman named Aishling to get saved, and for the wife of a dear Missionary friend of mine named Shiloh Beier (Missionaries to Australia) who is being treated for an aggressive form of Leukaemia. She needs healing, so she needs us to pray!

As always, I am so glad to serve the Lord Jesus with you!

Pastor Craig Ledbetter

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