MBC Mission Trip to London!
UPDATES:
April 30th: Today was our final full day in London. We did some training and vision casting in the morning and were able to to do some street evangelism at St. Luke's with many of the people we met last year. It was an encouraging day and we were able to get into conversations with many people that Ben and Judy will follow up with.
In the evening we were able to visit Metropolitan Tabernacle where Charles Spurgeon pastored. Coincidentally, there was a Bible study going on and we were able to attend it. Though separated by over 100 years, it was encouraging to worship in the same place he ministered.
April 29th: Today was a really good day of ministry. We were able to get into conversations with several people that Ben and Judy will be following up with. One lady, Sujiwa, who is a Buddhist, will be joining a Discovery Bible Study group to learn more about the Christian faith. Please pray for her. One of Pastor Dave's students from Metro Baltimore Seminary was in England for a family celebration. She has always felt called to street evangelism, but has never practiced it. She joined us and was a natural. Hopefully the experience will propel her forth into greater ministry.
In the evening, we met up with the rest of Team London for some fellowship. Please pray for Ryan/Katie (Red shirt), Sam (back right corner)/Caitlin (behind Ryan), and Terry (back left corner) as well as their families as they minister in London. It is a dark place, but God continues to pour His grace on the city.
April 28th: Today was jam-packed! We started out early to do some sight seeing and got to see Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and spent a couple hours at the British Museum. They have a whole section on Assyria and Nineveh which brought back the story of Jonah and all that he would have seen and experienced traveling the city.
In the afternoon we met up with 2 pastors - Donald and Tony - who were sharing with us some ideas and principles about mobilizing Christians to reach their community for Christ. It was a powerful time. In the evening we went over to visit with a retired medical doctor and went out with he and his wife, Chinelo, to meet people in the neighborhood and pray with them. We made some really good contacts and Wole and Chinelo plan to follow up with them. He is a natural evangelist and genuinely loves everyone he meets. Please pray for them as they minister to their community.
April 27th: Today was a great day of ministry. Martin shared his testimony which really resonated with people and Pastor Dave preached in the morning service. We went to lunch with a family from the church and then were invited to afternoon tea with another family. We were able to build relationships and encourage them. All of us had spiritual conversations with people we met on the street and while we didn't see any big changes, we were able to hopefully "nudge" people closer to the Lord. Pray for us tomorrow as we will meet with a local pastor in the afternoon and prayer walk/street evangelism in the evening. Thank you for your continued prayers and support!
April 26th: Well, we made it! Today we got acclimated to the country and the time change. The goal was to stay awake all day and crash, so we kept pretty active. We visited Buckingham Palace and walked around the neighborhood where Ben and Judy live. We met up with some of the people Ben has trained in evangelism and those he is reaching out to for Christ. Please pray for Bobby and Sue to come to know the Lord and for Dave Wilson (you might remember that name as we met him last year). We finished out the evening with some Turkish food and are going to bed early. Please pray as Pastor Dave brings the message tomorrow at St. Luke's.
April 25th: Well, we made it through security. As a side note, make sure you check ALL pockets of your bag BEFORE you get to security. Apparently they don't like it when you have a hidden pocket knife. Please pray for a safe and uneventful flight. Ben Armacost will be meeting us at Heathrow to pick us up in the morning as we get underway. Thank you all for your continued prayers and for Roger Volpe who graciously drove us to BWI. -DS
April 23rd: I was reading though Colossians 4 in my daily Quiet Time and Paul gives the Colossians a great list to pray for evangelism. If you don’t what to pray, I encourage you to pray Paul’s desires over us (except hopefully not the prison part!):
“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.
Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” Colossians 4:2-6
Thank you so much for your partnership in the Gospel - DS
April 22nd: Today, I was invited to preach at St. Luke’s Parish Church this Sunday. It is a 200 year old church and I am very excited for the opportunity. Please pray that God moves forth and those who come will see God more clearly. -DS
April 21st: Happy Easter everyone! We hope you had a restful and meaningful day yesterday as you focused on the greatest event in history. We are just a few days away from our trip! Please pray that we and our families stay healthy (spiritually, mentally, physically and emotionally) as get all the details finished to leave on Friday night. Thank you for your partnership. Many of you have reached out to let us know you are praying for us daily and it is SUCH an encouragement. We are getting excited for the trip and look forward to what God will do! - DS
April 10th: We are only 2 weeks away from heading out! We are getting excited for the trip, but also, we ask for your prayers as often times distractions come up in the final couple weeks that try to take our focus off of Christ. Please keep our families in prayer as well as this will be a big deal for them too. Please pray that, even now, God would be preparing the hearts and minds of those we will talking with. Thank you all for your partnership! - DS
WHAT: MBC is heading to London!
WHEN: April 25-May1
WHY: We will be heading to London to partner with our IMB Missionaries Ben and Judy Armacost as they serve South London. This area has a population of over 8 million and yet only has 240,000 evangelical Christians. The vast majority have no idea of the amazing love that God has for us nor the sacrifice of Jesus Christ which has given us peace with God. We will join with Ben and Judy as they plant micro-churches and house churches within the neighborhoods of South London.
Our primary roles on the trip will be to encourage the new church plants and join with them as they share the Gospel with their friends and neighbors. We will be connecting and reconnecting with churches to foster partnerships with MBC.
WHO: Martin Chamelin and Dave and Sam Scafide
HOW To Support: Two ways…
The first way: Please pray for us! What we need more than anything is prayer coverage. Pray as you feel led by the Spirit, and here are some prompts you can use:
Travel mercies (health, safety)
Open hearts for those we will be ministering to
Wisdom/Discernment as we witness to Londoners
Ben and Judy Armacost and their leadership
Boldness to show grace and truth to others
The second way:
We would love your financial support as well. Fortunately, we will be staying with the Armacosts, so the costs are kept pretty low, but with travel, food, and incidental costs, we need to raise $650 per person. If you feel like God is calling you to support us, you can donate through online giving or simply earmarking a check and putting in the offering plate.
Thank you for partnering with us as we spread the Good News around the world!