Apologies for not updating more recently. I didn't realise I had gotten this far behind, but it has been very busy around here. Thank you for praying for Brother Steve Anderson. He continues with his hospitilization and therapy. Please pray for wisdom as the Anderson's seek a transfer in God's timing to a US hospital. Ben Anderson (son) arrived last Saturday and has been a source of great encouragement to Steve and Martha. God did allow him to get his ermergency passport for which we praise the Lord.

In building news, we were able to get the prophet's chamber finished and it is lovely. We're exctied about God's goodness. God provided a beautiful sleeper sofa which with the two other single futons allows us to have a family of four stay there if needed.

Yesterday I was able to get out street preaching. I preached in the heart of Edinburgh on Princess St. near the monument to Sir Walter Scott. William, who is a new Christian, joined me and it was fun having him along.

We had a good morning at church. In SS we are doing a doctirnal study and today was, "Anthropology," the study of man. Our world would be smart to get their understanding of man, marriage, and family from the Word of God.

In the morning service, I preached on, "Worthwhile Christianity," from 1 Corinthians 6:14-7:1. This is from Paul's admonition not to receive the grace of God in vain, but to make full use of God's goodness in our lives.

Our busy weeks continue as my second cousin, Aaron Roth, and his family arrive tomorrow. We are excited to see them and to have their help on the building. On Tuesday we will begin a week of work on the sanctuary. Please pray for God to prosper this renewed effort to move forward on the building project.

Thank you for praying for Brother Steve. Today was an encouraging day with many things for which to praise the Lord. Brother Steve recorded a video update for Baptist World Mission home office where he works. Martha has given us encouragement to share this video more broadly. I have posted it to our church facebook page (freebaptistlothian) and I'll put a link to the video itself here. I have enjoyed the privilige of spending several hours with Brother Steve daily as he has gone through this trial. What you see in the video is what he has demonstrated througout it, a burden for souls, and confidence in God.

Thank you for praying for Brother Steve Anderson. God's hand has been very evident and everyone is continually being reminded of the thousands of voices being lifted in a concert of prayer for Brother Steve.  

Please continue to pray for Brother Steve's healing and restoration. Please pray for good rest and strength. Please pray that he and Martha,  "will be strengthened with might by God's Spirit in the inner man." They both have had a very good testimony in very trying circumstances, but they do need your prayers.

Amanda Baker (England) arrived on Monday. She is close friends with our family and the Andersons and it is a joy and help to have her here.

Many have let us know that they are praying for us as well. We are thankful for all of your prayers. We are priviliged to be ministering to God's special servants and our dear friends. (The shoe has often been on the other foot as they are tremendous encouragers for us.) May God bless you with His enablement as you go to the throne of grace for Brother Steve.

Many of you will be aware that Brother Steve Anderson had a significant health emergency. Yesterday morning about 10:30, Brother Steve had a stroke. We spent the day at the hospital and we were back there this morning as well. We're heading back there this afternoon.

Thankfully, the hopsital is close to our home. Please pray for God's intervention and for all the symptoms to depart. Brother Steve had several good times yesterday when the symptoms would almost all go away. That has not been the case since last evening and into this morning. I last saw him around 9AM and Martha has been with him since then.

Please pray for God's incredible grace and strength. We're surprised, but God is not. Please pray for everyone's eyes to stay on Him and for His goodness and mercy to be seen in tangible ways. One of the ways God's hand was seen is that God put on my heart a very appropriate message which I thought I had prepared for next week. Brother Steve was going to preach our 3 services today. Instead I preached from 1 Samuel 30 on, "From Crisis to Conquest." Tonight I am preaching on the great faith healer, Jesus Christ as we continue our series in the book of Mark. 

It's good at a time like this to know the Shepherds loving care and that has been evident. No doubt, much of HIs grace being observed is due to the fervent prayers of God's people. Please raise your voice with  them and ask for God to do a powerful work of His grace for the Andersons. Your prayers and encouragement to them are much appreciated.

PS. Friday we enjoyed going with the Anderson's to the David Livingstone museum (birthplace.)

The Lord has given us some encouragement lately. We enjoyed having 4 visitors at church last Sunday PM. We had 3 first time children and an adult join us. It was fun to have good attendance on a Sunday PM. We're also looking forward to having Steve and Martha Anderson with us starting tomorrow evening. Please pray for grace for the Andersons as they are in the middle of a long trip visitng many ministries in Ireland and the UK.

I was able to get out street preaching yesterday. I'm thankful for the enablement God gives and know that many are praying. Thank you for your support in that Gospel endeavour.

We added a Gospel flag in the front of our church with John 3:16 on it. Our location is on a busy walking route and many vehicles travel past as well. The vehicles often stop of necessity near this sign to allow for oncoming traffic. Please pray for God to use this verse in the hearts of those who see it.

Those who were able to attend church this morning enjoyed good fellowship and good time in God's Word. We nearly finished Dr. Ed Nelson's, "Growing in Grace" this morning during our S.S. hour. It has been a good study for us.

In the AM service I preached on, "Numbering Our Days" from the Psalm of Moses, Psalm 90. 

Thank you for praying for God's work at SFBC!

I don't always do a Wednesday update, but I have great news. A young man (27) whom we have known for 10 years attended church this evening and trusted Christ as His Saviour. He is excited and so are we. God is so very good! How we long for more people to know the joy of having Christ as their Saviour.

Our Wednesday study has been on 1 Peter. Tonight was trusting God through suffering. Thanks for praying for Southside Free Baptist Church.

God blessed our family with some really sweet times with all the kids home this summer. Kay Lee and Benson flew back on Tuesday to prepare for the start of the Autumn Semester at Ambassador Baptist College in NC. We'll miss them, but we are excited about how God is leading and working in their lives. 

On Monday, I did street preaching in Edinburgh with several in our family handing out literature. Today, Don Dillman and I met on Princess Street to do some street evangelism. Thank you for praying for the street preaching. It is Festival Season right now with several international festivals taking place. It is prime time to be in Edinburgh declaring the truth of God's Word.  I definitely need God's enablement that I may "open my mouth boldly" to proclaim the truth of the Gospel. I love doing this, but recognise my need every time for God's enablement. Thanks for your prayers.

Yesterday our ministry was helping someone catch up on their gardening after having a tough season of life. I'm thankful the Lord led us to help them and get a physical burden off of their shoulders. 

Also, Katie put together back to school gifts for kids and their parents as school resumed here today. She enjoyed seeing many that visited our NBT. Please pray for God's grace for these many families.

In other news, Katie is getting ready to start up schooling with the kids. Your prayers for her busy ministry as mom and children's teacher at church, church pianist, etc. etc. are much appreciated. 

We rejoice this morning that God's saving grace was received today at our church property. What a blessing to show someone from His Word how to be forgiven of their sins and to receive His gift of everlasting life. Please pray for this new born believer as they grow in the Lord.

Our door to door went well yesterday. Due to rain, we did instruction on door to door first and then were able to get out for a short while. The fruit today is a direct result of that effort and an encouragement to us to be faithful in the work God has called us to do.

I preached this morning on, "Spiritual Leadership Success" from the life of Joshua. We have reason to anticipate success if we follow the "way to success" which God gave to Joshua as recorded in Joshua 1:1-9.

Your prayers are much appreciated as we seek to further establish Southside Free Baptist Church. Thank you for keeping up and for praying.

God gave us some good opportunities to share the Gospel this week. On Monday Benson went with me as I preached on Princess St. in Edinburgh. On Wednesday, I joined Pastor Dillman in Livingstone to hand out tracts at the mall and do door to door. We're planning to do door to door tomorrow and have two who will be joining us for their first time. Your prayers are much appreciated for God's grace as they learn a new ministry.

We're excited to be moving forward on the building this week. On Tuesday we began the renovations of the santuary by having all of the wiring put in. The  electricians were there for four days and have nearly finished running the wires in the sanctuary.

Also, we were able to have new front doors installed. They are lovely and make our church so much more inviting. Since these are glass doors, we will be able to shut them and still have people aware that we are open. The previous doors were solid and had to be left open.

Today I began the installation of the floor in the entry. I was able to get it mostly laid, but have some finishing to do tomorrow. We enjoyed a good Wednesday night of ministry as we met again in the Activity Centre at church. I preached a message in a series on 1 Peter on, "How to suffer correctly when suffering as a Christian."