European Monthly Report January 2021
Medway, UK
What did January 2021 mean to you? For some of us it marked the start of a new chapter or even a whole new life, the end of a race well-run, or another month walking on towards the goal (rain, shine or snow!). Also inside this report - the latest news from the saints in Liberia, and part 2 of our series on « The Early Church » Clockwise from top le : ‘JustPs Married’ Paul Nobel in Hungary, Bap sm in Almere, Snowy walk in Czech, Sunday mee ng in Liberia
Server News, Looking ahead: January 2021 Newsle er Crew: Ne y, Heleen, Meg There is s ll a spring camp planned in Hun- All the talks and items from and local contributors. gary, dates: Apr 01— Apr 05. We will see the end-of-year conference Editor: when the date gets closer how the current can be found on our Pastor Pieter Visser travel restric ons will be then. servers at: Kromhout 95 There are two summer camps planned, one live.revivalfellowship.nl 3311RE Dordrecht in Holland, July 31—Aug 07 and one in Eng- mail me for a username The Netherlands land, Aug 14—21. Telephone: +31 78 6146173 An Autumn camp is planned in Czech Re- and Password. Mobile: +31 (0)6 22 808 977 Have fun. E-mail: [email protected] public, Oct 29—Nov 02. Ps Pieter Visser Website: www.revivalfellowship.nl Czech Kids Camp 22-25 July 2021
Mark 16:15-20 John 3: 1-8 Acts 2: 38 www.revivalfellowship.nl January 2021 Page 1 of 8
Editorial: The Early Church part 2
Introduc on: because they were Jewish It’s nearly a year since we published part one. troublemakers inspired by Christus. Here is part two of an historical overview, Clement, an early bishop of Rome researched by Ps Warren Sharrock from the wrote a le er to the Corinthian North London RF assembly. church dated to around 96 AD, It explains how and when the Catholic Church repor ng the execu on of an became the official “face” of Chris anity. apostle by Nero. Bishop Eusebius of Caesarea, a During the height of the Roman empire, the prominent church historian (c. 275- authori es encouraged ‘loyal ci zens’ to 339) was the first to record that the betray and handover anyone they suspected apostle Paul was executed in Rome of being a Chris an. People iden fied as during the reign of the emperor Constan ne’s Vision of the cross , Giovan Francisco Penni Chris ans could be ‘let off the hook’ if they Nero. venera on of dead saints, idolatry, incense agreed to betray fellow Chris ans and/or It is important to point out that that these burning, and mother goddess worship. hand over Chris an scriptures for burning. writers were not always in agreement as Public bonfires of scriptures were Cau on! regards details, but they were very o en in commonplace. Local killings of Chris ans, and Always, it is wise to be aware of the mixing accord on the basic informa on. For example, sca ering of their communi es were seen as together of history, legend and myth when while there is disagreement as to how Peter a necessary part of the persecu on. Of trying to trace the true stories of these post- and Paul were executed, there was course, if you were brought before a local Bible characters. Man has an almost widespread agreement in all these le ers magistrate because you had been accused of inexhaus ble tendency to ornament, during this period that both Peter and Paul the criminal act of prac sing Chris anity, you exaggerate and even fabricate a piece of had been executed during the reign of the could be set free if you made a public sacrifice genuine history. But this does not mean that emperor Nero. to the emperor as a ‘god’, offering burnt we discount or ignore any stories about the So who were these writers and early church incense in his early church which appear outside the Bible. commentators? It is a flexible list, but most name etc. The The scripture within the Bible is safe. We o en included are early leaders in the church. persecu ons know that. It has been tried and tested over reached their peak They did not write inspired Scripture. Their at least two thousand years. It is our ‘need to under the Emperor wri ngs are not included in the Bible. They know’ manual for salva on. Diocle an, whose wrote le ers, commentaries and histories. We will con nue this at another me where reign ended in 305 Later historians like Gildas and Maelgwyn of we will see that nothing has really changed AD. Llandaff wri ng in the fi h century also have and that the living The le ers of the some useful things to say. church s ll faces the early church The end of the era of persecu on should have same challenges and Marble head of Diocle an writers describe brought in a period of peace and great revival. con nues to operate this series of persecu ons. So do Unfortunately, the emperor Constan ne who the same way. contemporary Roman records, and le ers stopped the wholesale a acks on Chris ans, from Roman governors and officials. by recognising Chris anity as a ‘legal religion’, Ps Warren Sharrock Some Chris ans, no doubt terrified by the took the opportunity to select the Roman prospect of torture and a violent, shameful Catholic church as the future model for death, did ‘recant’ and deny their faith. Some religion across the Empire. This meant that Heard from the pla orm: betrayed fellow Chris ans and handed over the bishop of Rome had to buy into the hard- • God can do absolutely anything. The only scriptures for burning. They were called edged poli cs of the Roman imperial system. thing that stops Him is how we limit him in traditores, or the ‘ones who hand over’. We Trade offs were required. The symbols, forms, our understanding. get the word ‘traitor’ from this term rituals and beliefs of other religions under • God is good. God is faithful. God will Again we know about this situa on because Roman sway, such as those found in Babylon, ALWAYS come through for you. • of wri ngs contemporary to the period. The began to be introduced into Chris an forms of Experience, learn, be focused • Do not be too busy with this world’s affairs non-Chris an historian Tacitus writes that the worship and belief. This was meant to keep • A great day awaits us Emperor Nero began an official persecu on of the peace. On a superficial level it did. • What is your plan and purpose? Chris ans a er the fire which devastated However, the churches that wanted to s ck • We are now God’s children—we let Him Rome in 64 AD. with a pure gospel, and a separate Chris an teach us, not any of our old influences The Chris an writer Tertullian ( ca. 155 AD to faith were quickly sidelined, and /or expelled. • Build what God asks us to, according to 230 AD) claims that Nero was the first ac ve When Theodosius made Roman Catholicism His blueprint persecutor of Chris ans. Lactan us ( c. 240 the official religion of the Empire in 380 AD, • The Church is a place of safety, like being AD to 320 AD) confirms this. the process began in earnest. Soon the behind a sea wall. Don’t be wandering Suetonius, a non Chris an historian, says that ‘official’ church, based at Rome, and headed on the beach when the big waves come! • the emperor Claudius, who reigned before by the pope, slipped into a series of pagan If we put the whole armour of God on, we’ll never fall. Nero, expelled the Chris ans from Rome beliefs including shrine worship, the
Mark 16:15-20 John 3: 1-8 Acts 2: 38 www.revivalfellowship.nl January 2021 Page 2 of 8
Revival Across Europe and the UK Bap sms in January: 2 in Hungary, 3 in the Netherlands
Nachedska, Ro erdam Meinjanine, Almere Mariama, France Afori, Dordrecht
2 COR 6 : 2 … behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation Andras, Hungary Benji, Hungary
Photos from around the work
UK / Hungary UK
France
Holland
Holland Holland Holland
Mark 16:15-20 John 3: 1-8 Acts 2: 38 www.revivalfellowship.nl January 2021 Page 3 of 8
News from the Fellowship in Liberia
Hello all. The Covid -19 virus obviously has come to live among mankind, we are not surprised because the good Lord told us about it in the Bible. When we were hit with this pandemic the Government of Liberia declared a state of emergency lockdown and curfew. All social ac vi es were effected by this lock down but we are s ll a ending mee ng without worrying about nose mask or observing, so called, social distancing. All around us, many church people were arrested by the government for not abiding by the protocol from the government. But the security people did not stop us from mee ng, it was then we know that it is the Lord’s doing,
However, we cannot travel to other countries and people from other Sunday mee ng countries cannot enter Liberia. The borders are closed and these restric on are now in force over the last five months. We have healthy mee ngs des- pite our brethren the good Lord has called home. Today we removed the body of Sister Yassa Kollie from the funeral home to her hometown for burial, we s ll rejoice in the Lord not minding the natural challenges.
God bless. Brother Jude C. Nwachukwu Sunday mee ng RFL Hungary : Benji and Kata’s Wedding
The wedding of Benji and Kata Tes mony from the Bride’s mother, took place which, because of sister Angéla living in other countries and The wedding venue was closed due university commitments, they to COVID and they could not find had waited for for three years. another. The Lord provided one In January the day came to through a person they had not even start their walk together as asked. husband and wife. They had a contract with an event It was unfortunate that be- organiser company according to cause of Covid Benji’s family which they'd have had to pay the could not come from Australia, full price even though only a very and it could be a ended by a few people could actually a end few of Kata’s rela ves. Howe- because of COVID regula ons. ver the day was a wonderful Praise the Lord the price of all un- tes mony for the Lord and for used the couple. It was streamed worldwide to the whole family of services were refunded. the Lord. The weather on the wedding day was overcast which they did not mind and was perfect for photography. It was a truly blessed day with the saints secretly decora ng the hall, and placing photos of every person who would have Non fellowship guests of the wedding were worried about a a ended on the chairs which the couple really appreciated. "Zoom wedding" but a er seeing how the saints made it spe- A er the service many saints waited outside the hall to wish cial, their posi ve feedback was a great tes mony for the Fel- the happy couple a wonderful future. lowship.
Mark 16:15-20 John 3: 1-8 Acts 2: 38 www.revivalfellowship.nl January 2021 Page 4 of 8
The Revival Fellowship in:
Almere, NL Through a family member of sister Angelique from Ro erdam a young lady was born again this month in Almere. She lives in a province called Groningen which is about 2 hours away from Almere. She came together with a friend, her brother and his girlfriend, a car full of souls to visit our mee ng. They were all impressed by what they saw and heard, we s ll hope that they take ac on. This month we also went out to preach the gospel in Amsterdam, nearby where sister Marsha and brother Making cards for the mission fund, Almere Armand live. Sowing the seed over there resulted in a few contacts and another. Everyone is welcome to join in, hepa s C, he survived an opera on to some even prayed to receive the Holy please contact us for the connec on remove the tumour and the doctor gave Spirit. details. him only 2 weeks to live. The Lord We are happily carrying on having Early in the month, we went for a performed a miracle and gave him 2 fellowship and encouraging one another Fellowship walk, accompanied by a years instead. Nikolay went to sleep in to be posi ve and trying to contact visi ng family. We also received spiritual the Lord on the 10th of January 2021. He people wherever we are. We see many encouragement during our online Prayer was a great husband and father, forever mes that people are more and more and Fast. loved and missed by his family and the crying out to the Lord, trying to find Our children have enjoyed their online saints. answers and there we are, put in front of Sunday School and Bible Class lessons, them by the Lord. At the right me and with topics such as Adam and Eve, the Dordrecht the right place to pass on the Word of importance of the Holy Spirit, and how to We started the new year with a 'Get to God. make good decisions. They also prepared know us' evening with musical items, Items evening, a weekend of prayer and and shared facts about amazing animals, tes monies and a short talk. We saw an fast, presenta on of the book of made by God the Creator. interes ng presenta on about the seven Revela on in the Bible and about 'Who feasts in the Old Testament and how they we are!' were the topics and ac vi es in Brother Nikolay’s tes mony are a foreshadow of Jesus' first and the past weekends. We praise the Lord second coming. We enjoyed the company that we can s ll come together and share of saints visi ng from our assemblies in all the things with each other we learn in Ro erdam and Almere. The last Sunday these mes. of the month a few saints went outreaching in between the mee ngs. Czech Republic They spoke to a lady who came along to This month, we prayed for the last me the mee ng that day. She received the with our Ukrainian brother Nikolaj over Holy Spirit and got bap zed. She feels Zoom, but con nue to pray for his family very happy about her new life with the and many other saints in our weekday Lord. Zoom prayer sessions at 7pm (except Wednesdays). The regular prayer France sessions have been a good way of uni ng This month we resumed street us together during the current lockdown, outreaching again at the local market, and keep us focussed on praying for one a er a prayer Nikolay was born again in January 2016. and fast focused Long me of searching for the right on revival. At church and true Gospel, he finally heard the end of the the Truth from his daughter. When he month a sister received the Holy Spirit and was bap zed brought along a by full immersion, he was healed of bad friend to the habits. God has done a lot in his life Sunday during these 5 years in the Lord; healings, mee ng, who miracles and provision. Nikolay received then realised a job miraculously when it was impossible she had already to get one without a registra on. When received the Czech he was diagnosed with liver cancer and Holy Spirit. She New musician, France
Mark 16:15-20 John 3: 1-8 Acts 2: 38 www.revivalfellowship.nl January 2021 Page 5 of 8
The Revival Fellowship in: was encouraged to start praying in tongues to get used to using the Spirit and was bap sed the following week. It’s nice to know that the virus isn’t the only contagious thing in the air at the moment, the Gospel is catching too! Many tes monies of blessings were shared : a sister needed a specialist appointment and Liverpool couldn’t get one before April at the earliest. A er prayer God fearing man all his life and been together at the midweek mee ng, she to many churches but had never been told - A sister was having issues at work and had an appointment the following week. of full bap sm or speaking in tongues, but really needed to forgive someone but Another sister tes fied of how her child a er the bap sm he was prayed for and found it difficult to do so. There followed was having some trouble interac ng with immediately received the gi of the Holy a number of talks about forgiveness and the other kids at school because of the Spirit and spoke in tongues. A very happy being convicted she prayed about it and language barrier and bullying. A er man. withing a few hours met the person and prayer the situa on changed—her Another new brother had split up from his spoke to them personally and forgave daughter is speaking French and is happy recently born again wife and got divorced. them. The Lord helped her to do the right to go to school with her new friends. A Yet through the drama c changes that thing. couple who recently moved back to happened in our new sister’s life he came Australia tes fied of all the miracles the to a mee ng or two and then realized he We held outreaches in Budapest and in a Lord did for them along the way. For had been wrong with his Pentecostal ideas town 150km away called Soltvadkert example, even though only 26 people and all the teaching he had previously where a number of people have been were actually allowed on the flight out of received and was bap zed once more. He interested and some spirit filled and about 100 booked, they made it through is a ending mee ngs and knows that bap zed. without any trouble. Praise the Lord. there is a lot to change but that the Lord will help him do so. Ireland Hungary - The fellowship prayed for a boy with Gree ngs from Ireland. Gree ngs from Hungary where two large tumours and they have started to We have been on different levels of lock people were bap zed and three received shrink which the doctors did not believe down throughout the month and we are the gi of the Holy Spirit. possible having given up on the boy. back on Zoom for our mee ngs. On One new brother was walking around - One very daughter of a sister had a wart Fridays we are having “Knowledge Talks” wan ng to find the Lord and feeling on her finger which went away a er on zoom, whereby someone can speak unhappy with life when a brother in the prayer. on a topic they’ve researched or have an Lord told him the full gospel. He was - Another spirit filled couple asked for the interest in. Topics covered to date: the immediately convicted and we went to Lord’s protec on on their son during his book of Revela on, As birds flying, The the hall and filled the bath with boiling surgery and he came out really well for aboli on of the Slave Trade and The ke les and lots of cold water to bap ze which they are truly grateful. Stars. We also have an informal “Q & A“ him by full immersion. He had been a session a er each topic. We have found it to be very informa ve and upli ing. On another posi ve note, we have had two people come back to the mee ngs who were missing for awhile and they also brought another new observer with them. All in all, it has been a good month despite what’s going on around us. Praise the Lord. Outreaching in Soltvadkert, Hungary Outreaching in Angers, France
Mark 16:15-20 John 3: 1-8 Acts 2: 38 www.revivalfellowship.nl January 2021 Page 6 of 8
The Revival Fellowship in:
Liverpool in our zoom mee ngs and almost feel like have a future with Him and this goodbye We had a great presenta on by Pastor part of our Fellowship. Now we is a temporal one. Steve on the prophecies of Israel and a appreciate that we probably would not “For whether we live, we live unto the Bible quiz. We have been sharing some have met them had it not been for Covid Lord; and whether we die, we die unto proverbs outside our hall (see photos so some good has come from this the Lord: whether we live therefore, or page 8). The saints are just happy situa on. We also had a ques ons and die, we are the Lord's.” Rom. 14:8. mee ng together and our zoom follow answers night where we were joined by Friday night Zoom mee ngs started for ups con nue every week! We can s ll Brother Sco from Medway which was a the house groups. A wonderful meet at the hall on Sundays but we have great opportunity to explore and extend opportunity for those who are not been having zoom mee ngs on our knowledge and understanding of the a ending physical mee ngs, to interact Wednesdays. We have had Julie from scriptures. It is great that we can all s ll with their brothers and sisters instead of New Zealand and the Taylors form enjoy me together even when watching a live stream. Hungary visit us on zoom this month! circumstances keep us apart. God Bless un l next me. Switzerland & Germany Poole We started our month with a zoom Gree ngs to all our brothers and sisters Ro erdam prayer mee ng on a Wednesday night, from the saints in Poole. The month of together with our sisters from Germany. January has been a quiet one due to It has been really good to see each other being back in lockdown but we have a bit more o en throughout the month, con nued to enjoy great fellowship and even if it's just over zoom but we s ll get Sunday mee ngs at the hall. At the start to have fellowship with one another and of the month we had a prayer and fast share tes monies and the good things with several brothers giving upli ing talks the Lord does in our lives. on the theme of “Learn of Me”. One of We also held a zoom mee ng with our the talks men oned how pride gets in brothers and sisters from West London at and stops us learning from Jesus. A sister the end of the month. Brother Stephan gave her tes mony of how she suffered a gave a talk about “making decisions." major heart a ack and was taken to Every decision we make should be hospital. A er the doctors were no Sister Nini according to God’s will as our ac ons and longer able to do anymore the family and decisions will always influence our walk the church prayed and she was healed! Early in the new year we had to say and the church. Yasmine shared her God is our hope, not man! We were able goodbye to our sister Nini, who passed tes mony about how she came along to to enjoy a socially distanced walk in the away. Nini came to the Lord through her the Fellowship as a young girl and local area and make the most of blue sky sister Angelique and she has been a suffered persecu on from her mum for and sunshine albeit quite cold. An faithful servant to the Lord for many quite a while un l she was kicked out evening of Bible quizzes for our games years. At the funeral service her manager from home and started living with and cakes night gave us an opportunity to from work shared the tes mony she has Stephan and Zsuzsa, which was a big explore our Bibles from Genesis to been there. She was always working as blessing. Zsuzsa shared her tes mony Revela on and good fun was had by all. A for the Lord and has been an example to about how her marriage was healed by presenta on about ‘6th day man’ was many. Brothers and sisters remember her God, a er her husband Stephan came enlightening. This was a ended by as a happy, thankful and cheerful sister, along. And sister Margaret from Germany brethren from Cape Town, who also join always ready for a laugh. Praise God we shared her tes mony on how she came to the Lord in PNG. God has completely changed her personality and her life. Luise asked for prayer for her hip which has been hur ng and God healed her completely. There is a lot of wonderful miracles the lord has done and it's a great blessing to be able to share them with everyone. God bless
West London West London
Mark 16:15-20 John 3: 1-8 Acts 2: 38 www.revivalfellowship.nl January 2021 Page 7 of 8
The Revival Fellowship in:
West London Sammy, brother Edouard and brother brother tes fied on ge ng funding for This month has seen the passing of our Joseph. Not to forget a combined prayer his studies which was not possible and dear brother Nicolaï from Ukraine. We and fast with Ireland and the UK. What a another sister tes fied of being healed of were blessed with his fellowship; his feast! We were well and truly fed. a scalp condi on before seeing a constant joy in the Lord and faithfulness A sister tes fied of her marriage being specialist. was a tes mony to us all. He is missed but healed a er coming to the Lord, a we look forward to that great day when our Lord returns. (see tes mony page 5) We have had visitors to our mee ngs mostly through personal witnessing. One man received the Holy Spirit and is yet to be bap sed. We had great fellowship with our brothers and sisters from India when we held a joint Q&A. This was followed by a talk on le ng the Lord be the driver in our lives from brother Vijay from Hyderabad. We also heard from brother Stephan, Pr Outside the hall, Liverpool
Tes monies
My family was a usual family in the world. But My tes mony starts we never spoke about the Lord. Somehow, I s ll when I was about 4 had a feeling about heaven and hell and I knew years old. At that me that wasn’t going to heaven because I was not a my dad was searching good girl. My rela onship with my parents was for the truth and a going downhill but neither me nor them knew meaning to life. He how to fix it. started taking us to churches. Even at that In 1993, I was 9 years old and my sister heard young age, I remem- the gospel from her teacher at school and spoke ber thinking that the about it at home. Later that year, my whole fam- catholic church at the ily came to the Lord. I enjoyed life in the fellow- end of the road was a ship. My rela onship with parents got be er very strange place. because they started dealing with things with Why so dark? Why all God’s wisdom. I received the Holy Spirit 2 years the statues and pic- later at the age of 11. But my walk with God tures? A er a while, started properly at high school where I really we started going to saw the world’s power. I realized that I don’t want to be a the Revival Fellowship and I could see the huge difference, even at part of the world and that I need to choose between God that age. and the world. When I made the right decision, I was very happy and God really blessed me and my rela onship with At the age of 6, I got Spirit filled, speaking in tongues, and was bap- my parents was be er and be er and now we have a great sed by full immersion. I’m very grateful to God that He arranged rela onship. that I could know Him from my childhood. Goodness knows where my life would have gone without Him! Since then, He’s been leading At the age of 18, I got mononucleosis and I was told that I me and teaching me, especially since the age of about 15, which was need at least 6 months of treatment. I didn’t want it and so when I really found the joy of praying in the Spirit and reading His the Fellowship and family prayed and I got healed within 2 Word. weeks. I also got married in the Lord and we have 4 kids. I had some serious complica ons and life-threatening situa- There are way too many healings, protec ons and blessings for me to ons of the babies with 3 of the pregnancies but God always list them all here. God saved us on the way to the camp from a po- had His protec ve hand over me and our kids and they were ten ally really bad accident when I fell asleep behind the wheel. born healthy. Three of our kids are now Spirit filled them- Praise the Lord, nothing serious happened at all. God has taught me selves. to rely on Him for provision. I’m so happy that I know that the bur- den is not on my shoulders, but if I keep doing what I should then Over the years we’ve experienced God's protec on in many God has got the future in His hands; he’s always provided. situa ons like travelling, health, rela onships. God healed my marriage, my broken heart, my rela onship with my kids. I’m most grateful to God for helping me grow into a be er person I have learnt that what I have in this life is not my credit, but and I’m really looking forward to how He will change me in the fu- God's glory and mercy and I can only thank Him for every- ture, becoming more and more like Jesus Christ; that’s the goal. I thing I have. hope we get the chance to meet you in person soon. Pavla, Czech Republic Daniel, Czech Republic
Mark 16:15-20 John 3: 1-8 Acts 2: 38 www.revivalfellowship.nl January 2021 Page 8 of 8