Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Greetings from very hot and humid New England. The heat index last week reached 110 degrees and it was oppressive even in the shade. We where blessed to have slightly more moderate weather on July 16th one of our biweekly work days at Blessings Farm Charlton MA (link below). Blessings Farm is a horse ranch dedicated to serving underprivileged children/youth by teaching them how to ride/care for horses and teaching them the gospel of Christ. We where introduced to this good work by our sister Elizabeth McNeil who is an instructor and Farrier at the farm. This work was started by a local Baptist group but has been floundering over the last 18 months due to lack of man power. Brothers from Ware, Southbridge, Putnam have identified this ready made good work as an area of long term need. After meeting with the owner Jack Scott we have purposed to serve at the Farm on a regular bases. To that end on July 16th a group of our men helped unload and store approx 800 bails of hay. It was hot work but a great of fellowship and help to Jack and his handful of worn out helpers. This coming Sat. a group of brothers will be starting a project to split and stack wood which will be sold for heating fuel. The profits will go to support the farm. We’re also putting together a team to clear some land for a fenced in pasture. Our work days will be start and end with prayer. We also purpose to have a devotional time for the brothers and those working with them. We’re seeking to reach out to Jack and his family and the god fearing folks working at the farm. On Thurs I’ve Bible study at the Farm with John McNeil a recently immersed disciple of Christ. We meet in the observation room that over looks the riding ring in an effort to reach out to the families of the children attending the farm. We’ve had some feed back from visitors to the farm but nobody has joined us yet. Please pray that the Christ blesses this preaching of the gospel. Please pray that we might reach those who fear God and unbelievers who visit the farm.

When Connie and I arrived in New England roughly 12 years a go we met a sister with a 4 yr son John McNeil. In April we saw this young man immersed into Christ approx 3 weeks later we gave him the opportunity to guide the assemblies thoughts towards Christ at the supper. He delivered a powerful and encouraging Christ centered message. July 31st he’ll be delivering his first “full length” sermon in Southbridge. We seeking to give him the opportunity to fan into flame the gift that the Lord has given him and we’re also planning to give John opportunity to speak in Putnam CT and Ware MA. Please pray for this young man that the Christ might guide, guard and protect him as he sets out on what seems to be the road to ministering the Word amongst believers and unbelievers alike.

During our a recent “family reunion” fellowship meal in Southbridge our leadership team took the opportunity to remind the disciples in attendance, (approx. 40) mostly from Southbridge and Ware MA that are central focus is Christ crucified and raised from the dead. We reviewed our efforts to preach Christ from town to town. Preaching Christ crucified and raised from the dead from town to town, planting churches as the gospel bears fruit. We heard an encouraging report of the Lord blessing His work in Ware MA We reviewed are ongoing effort in Putnam CT. It came to light that the Lord has seen fit to increase the number of disciples/god fearers worshiping on the Lord’s day from 35 worshiping in Southbridge 2008 to 60 worshiping in 3 congregations 2011. We where reminded of our fellowship in Christ, that are joint effort to spread the gospel as one family in Christ. We spent time in prayer and committed our ongoing efforts to glorify Christ into the hands of our Father.

In regards to this effort in Putnam CT Connie and I have been given opportunity to share Christ with god fearing folks in our home and in the assembly. Friday 22nd we invited Christine Aston to our home for lunch. Christine and her sister Deb grew up in and are members of the 7th Day Adventists movement. They fear God and have an intense interest in His Word. I've dialogued with them both on Christ and the scriptures for a number of years and Deb has worshiped with us in Putnam on a couple of occasions. Christine seems to be in the process of rethinking some Adventists doctrines that detract from Christ and encourage a more sectarian approach to the faith. We enjoyed spending time with her and her openness regarding her search for truth. She indicated that she would like to visit with us in Putnam and we hope she will do that in the near future. Connie has also being ministering to a local family of seven. Lisa, Peter and their five children have been impacted by the economic down turn in the country. Lisa graduated from college and can’t find a job, Peter is a plumber who can’t find work. They are close to losing their home and are going through a lot of other turmoil. Connie has met with Lisa for coffee and talked boldly about Christ and Lisa has talked about visiting us in Putnam. Again prayers are needed for the family that they might receive the life that is truly life in Christ.

Lastly Connie, Calum, Morwenna, Iona and Bethan want to thank you all for your continued faithfulness, and generosity towards us. We are encouraged by your partnership in the gospel of Christ. We pray that who He who provides all good things will bless you all as you share these good things with His people to His glory.

He is risen, He is coming,

Ian

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

I’d like to start by asking you to pray for some people. Sgt Paul Ceppatteli Dudley MA . We trained together from 02-04 at the Webster Institute of Karate (owned by our brother Bill Gaudette). On a number of occasions after training we discussed Christ and Christianity. Paul didn’t seem ready to open the scriptures together but our relationship continued to grown bringing his family to our home for dinner etc We lost contact when he stopped training in 04 but early in March this year he contacted me and we met for coffee. Paul’s been through a lot over the past 5 years and as he said “lost his way”. We had a very frank and open discussion about the Christ, God grace, the new birth and eternal life revealed in the scripture. An offer of a Bible study was put on the table and Paul seems to be giving it serious consideration. Recently both Bill Gaudette and I had breakfast with Paul and he continues to show interest in learning more about Christ. Please pray that our Father opens Paul’s heart and mind to hear more of the gospel message and he become a disciple of Christ.

Elizabeth Beman is a school teacher in MA. We met at the Victoria Station Café Putnam CT. Philosophically Elizabeth is the product of post-modern atheistic institutes of higher learning. Over the last 18 months we’ve discussed her philosophy, the scriptures and Christ at length. Sadly her Mother died unexpectedly from cancer at the end of March. This has rocked Elizabeth who has a life without foundation. Please pray that the Spirit of God open her heart and mind to hear the gospel of the Christ and give me the wisdom to know when to pursue our discussion on Christ.

Ian Mather is 19 years old. He works at the local KFC and is asking the right questions about life, “why are we here“, “what’s the point“, “what happens when we die”? We’ve been studying scripture together Thurs or Fri. morning at the local McDonalds. He’s intelligent, has a very good understanding of scripture, is grasping the size of the commitment that Christ is calling him too. When not working he’s been attending worship in Putnam Sunday evenings and Manchester CT Sunday morning. Please pray that God call him to repentance and life in Christ.

Allison Ratcliffe had been meeting in Southbridge and now is a regular at Putnam. We’ve been waiting impatiently for her baptism. Tues evening Connie and I continue to study with her when we open our home for Putnam’s small group meeting. Allison’s Father Joe is in the final stages of cancer and scheduled to go into hospice care please pray for her and the family. Please pray that in this suffering they might turn to Christ and have life.

The church plant in Putnam CT continues to meet Sunday’s 4:30pm Christ crucified and raised from the dead is preached and worshipped. After worship we eat a fellowship meal in the name of Christ. This assembly is regularly attended by Ian Mather, Bill & Kathy Radell, Gloria, Martin & Deliah Fey, Alison Ratcliffe and occasionally by Tyler Tebo. All are god fearing people who have not been immersed into union with Christ and are at different stages of understanding. Please pray that God open hearts and minds to the gospel of Christ and an invitation to study the scriptures with us. We’ve received great encouragement by from the church planted in Ware MA. Christian’s have been driving an hour to worship and fellowship with us in Putnam. Shannon Chaisson, Loraine Hurtabise has been regulars. Another source of encouragement is Bill Gaudette (Southbridge) James Chaisson (Ware) who are scheduled to preach in Putnam in the very near future.

My men’s Bible reading and prayer group continues bi-weekly Friday evenings . In attendance is a group of 4-6 god fearing men from local churches. The last time got together we read James and 1st John with a break between chapters for prayer. We then enjoyed a meal together and spent the rest of the evening visiting. It’s been a refreshing and educational to read large portions of scripture a loud. This has lead into Christ centered discussion latter in the evenings. Please pray that God open the hearts and minds of these men to learn more about the risen Christ and His work among men.

The Southbridge church is not without it’s struggles of late. We’ve had some dearly loved disciples move to SC and others who are preparing to move to FL. This is hard for a small body but we figure our loss is someone else’s gain. Ron Tremblay a fine disciple of Christ and recognized leader amongst the brethren in Southbridge has been struggling with ill health and wasn’t able to worship for a number of weeks but by God’s grace he’s making a recovery. On a more encouraging note our sister Elizabeth McNeill has secured an apartment in town. I local god fearing lady Nicki and her two children has been worshipping with us and a friend of our young brother David Tremblay “Kayla” who also lives in Southbridge has been attending a small group. This has increased our potential presence in the town and we’re now in the process of starting a small group in Southbridge, hoping to bear fruit locally.

Once a week I get together with Robbi Johnson a disciple who has bee showing ability as speaker, and evangelist, he has shown serious desire to study at Fall river Bible school and is looking into the possibility of VA funding. His god fearing wife Ezmerelda has attended worship in Southbridge on a number of occasions (including last week). We see her immersion into Christ as a critical step in Robbi’s progress in the faith please pray that this happen to the glory of Christ.

The church in Ware, continues to grow and bear fruit to the glory of Christ. James & Shannon Chaisson, Ben and Cheri Cooper are doing a fine job of leadership keeping the focus full-time on the crucified and risen Christ. Ben has taken on the weekly responsibility of leading Wed. evening small group. James is preaching and teaching Sunday, also giving able men opportunity to preach once a month. James and I have been getting together biweekly with another home-grown evangelist Aaron Tremblay (Leominister MA) encouraging each other in Christ we hope to see this develop into a closer partnership in Christ.

Lastly Connie and I wish to thank you all for your continued support of Christ’s work here in this dark part of the USA. We are encouraged by Christ’s work in you and are confident that He who gives seed to the sower and bread for food will also increase your store of see and in large the harvest of your righteousness in Christ Jesus.

He is risen

Ian