“But  to do good and to communicate forget  not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”

Thanks again for those of you who did communicate; your letters, cards and ‘phone calls are always an encouragement.  May we appeal to those of you who have not yet “been in touch” to do so;  let us hear from you too.

So very  much has happened since our last communique and we can certainly see things escalating on the world scene; troubles in the Middle East, and talks of dividing the City of Jerusalem, heading the list of current events.  We are living in troublous times and must heed the scripture “Now learn a parable of the fig tree;  When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see these things, know that **it is near, even at the doors” Matt.24:32  **James 5:9b.  I don’t want this letter to be all doom and gloom, but rather to be a stimulant for a greater awareness of the times in which we are living, and to see the need for ‘unity among the brethren’ that the Lord may pour out His Spirit upon us, enabling us to carry out the tasks that He has set.

Since we last wrote another great man of God has gone on to his reward; David Wilkerson of Times Square Church, New York. His memorial service was very moving and his labours and outreaches extended far beyond Times Square.

News here  on the home front;  we will be holding another P.C.A..Student Graduation on Saturday 2nd July and we thank God for the continued growth and development of Paragon Christian Academy.

From the 15th July a team of World Vision folk will be going over to Ireland for a fortnight of Open Air Outreach on the streets; both in the North and the South. We are really looking forward to it and trust  you will support us with your prayers and your presence if we are in your area.

In August we shall be holding a Salvation and Deliverance Crusade in Paragon Chapel and would ask that all of you within travelling distance of the Chapel will join us then.  Further details will be given in our next Keeping in Touch.

Once again we invite you to tune in to our weekend services, which are broadcast over the internet every Saturday and Sunday the 11th June service carried much blessing as Brother Chambers expounded on “being conscious of the Presence of God” experientially. By way of encouragement we give a brief extract from it, below.

“Being Conscious of the Presence of God”

“In my travels over the years, both at home and abroad, always the greatest burden of my heart has been to have the awareness of the Presence of God.  Friends, if we are believers, if we are Christians, we need to know that God is there because we are there. Now that’s a profound statement, because it is not generally ‘taken onboard.’ We know the Master’s statement I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee;  lo I am with you alway, even unto  the end of the world.”  So in a technical sense we know Jesus is here.  But there is a practical, experiential witness that the Lord is with us.

I read the story of a great man of God, who was to be the Speaker at a series of Meetings, and all were assembled, but he did not come. The Convener of the Meetings sent someone to the man’s lodgings, to check his room.  The messenger returned with the news that it appeared there was someone in the room with the Speaker, as  he kept saying “I am not going unless you come with me.”  The Convener, being a wise man, understood the situation and said, “We are in for a great Meeting!”  In due time the Speaker arrived;  he would not leave his room until he had an experiential witness that the Lord was with him.

I remember  a Meeting in Norwood, South London, where I preached about  being ‘God-conscious’ and the necessity  of having the witness of the Presence of God with us. But we are in good company when we take this attitude. The good man Moses spoke with God, and the Lord said:  I will send an angel.” But Moses said: “No, Lord send me not up hence except thy Presence growth me.”  You see, Moses knew he needed to know the Presence of the Lord –  to have the actual experiential knowledge of the very Presence of God.”

We shall be looking out for your ‘communication’ and we wish you every blessing in the Lord, until then.

Your for the Master,

Sister Ann

“Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Psalm 16: 11 KJV

Dear Friends,

We trust it’s not too late to wish you a very blessed New Year and a healthy one, although we have just entered February! Thank you for your letters and cards, following the December issue.

World Vision for Christ entered the year at the Annual Watch Night Service in Paragon Chapel and shortly after midnight we celebrated Communion and committed our lives afresh into His Hands and into His service. It was a special time. As Christians, this year we may have some unique opportunities to share God’s Word, as folk become aware that this is the 400th Anniversary of the printing the King James Version of Bible in 1611. Although there had been part-translations into English by Wycliffe, in the main the common folk did no have access to a Bible and only heard it read in Latin. What a tremendous break through – it began to shape our nation on more godly lines, and certainly altered the course of our history.

As one who has been involved in children’s work for over fifty years, I have never deviated from sharing the KJV Bible with children, (and many-a-time have been criticised by others for being old-fashioned and out of step with the times) However, just last weekend, at our Annual Sunday School Prize-giving, at least eleven children were awarded KJV Bibles for good attendance – and to my joy, one mother present asked if they were KJV. She was very glad to hear the affirmative. To me copies are like gold-dust, you may not find one in a state school from Lands End to John O Groats, and sadly you may not find one in a church either. Why should we deny our children access to the unadulterated word of God, especially as they are growing up in an increasingly hedonistic society, where “every man is a law unto himself.”

On Saturday 29th January the Annual Meeting of Presenters and D.J.s of Radio Star Country was held in Mountain Lodge Church in N. Ireland and Bob and May Ford were our World Vision representatives. Brother Chambers broadcasts regularly, ministering the Word, and Bob has a regular Tuesday morning slot. We have received a good and very positive report from those who attended. The gospel is going out over the airwaves seven days a week from our transmitters, and reaches Ireland, Scotland and parts of the Isle of Man, though not to England – at present.

However, you can tune in: wvfc.co.uk/tv on this website and see and hear Brother Chambers’ preaching, first hand. The good thing is that once captured on internet you can tune in any time. It’s accessible when you come home from your own church service, or anytime during the week. Feedback thus far has been very good.

To maximise our ability to Keep in Touch, beside this monthly letter, we would like to send you emails, with up to the minute news; when you get this communication would you email me at ann@wvfc.co.uk. It is appreciated that not everyone has internet facility, but those of you who have let’s keep in touch this way as well.

Before closing may I share some thoughts on the power of corporate (communal) prayer. The scriptures lay great emphasis on the importance of prayer and many of us have experienced the tremendous difference prayer has made in our own lives. We are exhorted to “pray without ceasing” to “pray for those in authority” to “pray for the saints and the household of faith” and right now we are thinking of the effectiveness of corporate prayer too.

For over forty years, we have held church prayer meetings every Tuesday evening and, as a result, we have grown closer in affection one for another. As one has put it; it does not mean that we pressure God to do something He doesn’t want to do! Oh no! It is rather the essence of what the psalmist wrote – “Where the brethren dwell together in unity, there the Lord commanded the blessing.” When folk in a prayer meeting are of one heart and one mind (for the glory of God) something is accomplished that otherwise would not be. May God receive all the glory for the many answers to prayer over those forty years and for the increasing number of folk that know we hold it still. Prayer requests come in from different parts of Britain and indeed of the world. Every request if precious to our prayer warriors and treated as such. They are placed in a private envelope and names are noted and the needs mentioned, where wise to do so. Everyone is created in the image of God and the salvation of their souls is of paramount importance to God.

We just want you to know that any prayer requests you may wish to send in, will be brought before the Throne of Grace week by week by people that love and serve the Lord with all their hearts.

They share a deep yearning for our nation to turn back to God in a time when Christianity is being sidelined, politically, socially, and even religiously, where compromise with worldly ways are encouraged. It is possible to see the world inside the church and Jesus knocking to come in. Brethren, may we be among those who are “sighing and crying for the abominations in our land.” May God bless your church and prayer meeting too, and together may we pray fervently for a divine visitation in our time.

Take care, and keep well and warm, in spite of winter winds! Wishing you every blessing and looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours for the Master,

Sister Ann

I have just been looking at Abigail’s wonderful collection of African photos on her ‘facebook’. She is following in the footsteps her father, Dr. Albert Chambers, who has ministered to multitudes of African, men women and children during his Crusades in Kenya. Pastors and laymen from Tanzania, Mozambique and Uganda travelled many miles to attend those meetings too.

It was good to see Abi’s smiling face among the many children, both at the Orphanage in Ogbomoso and among the families in outlying villages. Her brother Alexander, friend Angela Owusu and Gerry Blezard were also good companions to travel with and together they accomplished much in the short time there. The trip was a great encouragement to Sister Lara, the Founder and Administrator of the Orphanage.

September has brought with it the beginning of our seventeenth (!) Autumn Term for Paragon Christian Academy and of course the beginning of the seventeenth Academic year of this great institution! We are so grateful to God for His guiding and guarding Hand all down the years and for the many students that have graduated and gone on to Universities and subsequently to fulfilling employment. Five of whom are now themselves either full time teachers in PCA or giving some of their time and expertise in the school curriculum. That’s good ‘seeding off’ friends. Keep this Ministry in your prayers; it really is a working one.

As Senior Pastor for the assemblies of World Vision for Christ and for Paragon Christian Academy I am very conscious of the great responsibility upon me.

Each day I talk to all the students of PCA. This new year their ages range from 31/2 to 16+. That is a vast difference in understanding and of course the ability of concentrate. But even children as young a 3 can remember and that is why it is good to instill in them the Word of God. Their young minds can and do retain God’s Word.

My theme to start the 2009/2010 academic year it: Christ the centre of the school. We are Paragon CHRISTIAN Academy. I then talked about the Spartans, the Greeks, and the Jews. How the Spartans developed their physical strength and might, they made this the centre of their society. The Greeks put philosophy at the centre of their society, both failed. However, we look at the Jews, a race of people we can recognise whatever nation they are in, a people that have been persecuted and almost wiped out, and say: what is it that these people have that keeps them? Theology – God at the centre. The Jews, in the main, recognise there is a Creator.

And so, each day since school resumed I have emphasised CHRIST is the centre of our school and our curriculum.

In my watching and reading of news I observe how sadly lacking our own society has become. Christ is no longer the centre of our education system (hence it being called ‘secular’). He is no longer acknowledged in our health & social care, our police and law establishments, parliament, our prisons and our financial institutions. In fact Christians, who work in these establishments, are being hounded more and more for sharing their faith and offering hope, by those above them. How strange this is, when all of the above were started by Christian reformers. It was when there was an acknowlegement of a Creator that these places were good and showed integrity.

Dear reader, made Christ THE centre of your home, your family and indeed your very life. Without Him everything will crumble and fail.

To follow in the footsteps of the Master is to obtain the same power that He Himself demonstrated. He has made it possible.

We, who were weak are made strong by His strength.

We who were sinners are made righteous by His righteousness

We who were sick are made healthy by His health

We who were afraid are made confident by His faith

We who were uncertain are made certain by the certainty of Him who loved us and gave Himself for us.

 

As for me, my aim is for the mansion in the sky and whilst I live and breath on this earth I will do as much as I can in the Kingdom of God.

Wimbledon Fever’ has gripped many, (including the writer) nevertheless we must never lose sight of the priority; seeking first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness. This very morning the post contained a newsletter from the Nigerian Orphanage that we sponsor, and blazoned across the front in large letters it read ‘KINGDOM BUSINESS’. It detailed all that has happened there since our last communication; it was full of news of work amongst the children and outreaches to many other children beyond the Orphanage.

Friend, what is your priority? Take time to answer that one. Remember only that which is done for Christ will last, everything else will be classed ‘wood, hay and stubble’. Friends, let’s keep our eyes on the prize, and ensure that we too are fully engaged in “Kingdom Business.”

Currently Dr Chambers is preaching on the following at Paragon Chapel, London E5

Psalm 5 “Give ear to my words, O Lord consider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my KING and my GOD for unto Thee will I pray. My voice shalt Thou hear in the morning, O LORD in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee and will look up”

GOD – our politics … My KING (ruler of our lives). GOD – our religion … My GOD (one God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ)

GOD – our occupation … unto Thee will I pray (pray without ceasing).

“This I recall to my mind,  therefore have I hope.

It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed,

because his compassion’s fail not.

They are new every morning:  great is thy faithfulness.”

The subject I have been focussing on is, “The Body without the Spirit is Dead.“ I’m giving special attention to the fact that the spirit inside a person is the thing that really is driving them…. the body is not the driving force in a person’s life – it is merely the vehicle. 

Personal Application? Your spirit is what drives you.
Wider Application? The Holy Spirit is needed in the Church (which is His Body) to enable it to function according to God’s Holy purposes.

Come and hear with more detail and it will affect your life for the good.