Os hoffech dderbyn copiau o'r e-bost yma yn Gymraeg yn y dyfodol cliciwch yma.

This Month:

	Dear friends
	Mission Wales
	Other EMW Ministries
	EMW Welsh language work
	Bookshops: a brief update
	Please continue to pray for revival
	Partnership in the gospel

Pass it on

Know anyone who might be interested in our newsletter? Click here to forward this email to up to 5 friends at once.

Printable versions:

You can download a PDF copy of this prayer letter in English or Welsh - perfect for printing. Why not print a copy for your church prayer meeting, or to keep in your Bible?

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. 1 Peter 2: 24 - 25

We have a wonderful Saviour! Our prayer letter this month concentrates on many people and organisations who are actively involved in supporting Christians and churches in Wales to grow in their knowledge of Christ and to share the good news of his death for us on the cross with others.

Therefore, please join us in praying for ...

Mission Wales

• The mission in Lampeter (end of January) was encouraging with almost 4,000 specially-produced large-format evangelistic publications were distributed (in a seven mile radius) – farms, farmhouses, and villages around. A team of eleven folk worked happily with the church and the gospel was spoken about, preached and discussed with Welsh and English speaking locals, UK and international students and pupils from Lampeter primary and secondary schools. The seed was sown. We do not know of any conversions at this stage.
• The continuing work of Lampeter Evangelical Church under the leadership of Gareth Jones. The church uses the Mustard Seed Cafe daily in town to help the church to reach the community of this small university town and its environs.
• The preaching meetings with Chris Rees in Mount Elim, Pontardawe 7-10 April.
• ‘Bridgend Christian Festival’ with Roger Carswell 27 April - 1 May.
• The mission in Narberth in October half term. We need the right team and literature, and also the leading and empowering of the Holy Spirit.

Other EMW Ministries

• Camp work Please pray for full, God centred camps as the brochures go out in February.
• Ministers’ Day Conferences Thank God for a profitable gathering of pastors in the North and the South – despite very difficult weather conditions.

EMW Welsh language work

Steff Job writes: Our Welsh language work continues to develop and grow. There are over 600,000 fluent Welsh speakers in Wales. Our aim is to support and encourage Christians and churches through our conferences, courses, fraternals, fellowships, camps and literature, whilst also providing resources, training and opportunities for evangelism. There are many encouragements in the Welsh side of the work:

• Christianity Explored (Evangelistic course) – Gethin Rhys (our press officer) has been preparing the Welsh translation with help from some of our volunteers. We hope to launch it in the next few months through a number of meetings around Wales. We will also be providing training on how to run the course through a number of people including Jonathan Thomas (Ammanford).
• Evangelism – We will be continuing our mission work this year in the Eisteddfod and agricultural shows (with the EMW trailer and Roger Thomas). We are also producing a number of Welsh language and bilingual evangelistic resources that include tracts, CDs and a Christmas newspaper, not forgetting Welsh language contributions to Mission Wales.
• Welsh theological training course – We are encouraged by the uptake of people on the new course. The course offers theological training and practical support for Christians. It’s ideal for Christians who are working full time in secular work but are also involved in church ministry. As well as the ‘core’ modules in biblical theology and church history, it also offers modules in preaching, evangelism and children’s work. Lecturers include Derrick Adams, Gwyn Davies, Gwynn Williams and John Treharne.
• Conferences and camps – There was an increase in the people who attended many of our conferences last year, we are grateful to God for this. We continue to run two Welsh summer camps and an Easter retreat a year and are constantly amazed at the testimonies of the young people who attend. Pray specifically for Emyr James who will be leading his first camp this year.
• Llwybrau magazine – This is our youth magazine. It is produced by a team of young Christians in their twenties. It’s great to see the magazine being used by churches around Wales. My personal highlight has been hearing of young people using the Bible study notes to help them with their quiet times with God – it’s such a privilege to encourage and equip young people to read God’s word. The magazine also provides another opportunity - in the first two issues, over ten new writers have contributed to the magazine.

Although there are many encouragements in the work, we are very aware that we are living in a very difficult time for Christianity in Wales. Gospel work is hard, and we are completely dependent on God. Therefore, we would encourage you to pray for:
 

• Developments – Please pray for the developments and encouragements in the Welsh work. We are very aware that unless God blesses the work, it will be in vain.
• Staff and volunteers – We currently have three members of staff working part time on the Welsh side of the work. These are Gethin Rhys (press), Lowri Iorwerth (admin) and myself (development). Please pray that God would strengthen us and give wisdom and a burden for His glory. Pray also for the countless volunteers who help and support as they are vital to the Welsh side of the work.
• Pastors and churches – Pray for the pastors who preach and serve through the medium of Welsh. The work is hard and often discouraging – they need our support and prayers. Welsh language churches often have a small membership. Please pray that we would see these churches grow through conversions to the glory of God.

Bookshops: a brief update

Our bookshops not only provide a very important service to Christians, but they are also beacons for the gospel in Wales. Every day they are in contact with local people sharing the gospel. Please pray for the managers and staff of our shops:

• Neath (Gaynor Lewis) The future of the shop is under a major review.
• Cardiff (Stuart Arnold and Hywel George) An action group, headed up by Peter Milsom and Howard Bilton is helping develop the shop by linking more closely with local churches and Christians - watch this space!
• Bala (Ann Davies) The preparations for a move to a vastly improved new shop, kindly provided by a Christian.
• Wrexham (Dave and Angela Gee) Julie McIntosh has taken voluntary redundancy. Please pray for her as she seeks new employment.
• Llandrindod Wells Following lengthy and serious consultation with local churches, it was decided not to continue with the shop. However, a book ministry will continue within a local Garden Centre, owned by a Christian. Please pray for Gill Davies and Audrey Ward who used to work in this shop.

Please continue to pray for revival

Neville Rees writes: On Monday 12 January, about fifteen of us were at the Ministers’ Morning of Prayer for Revival. We shared about recent happenings over the Christmas period. We then read Isaiah 44:1-8 with reference to the Lewis Revival of 1949 when the two sisters latched on to this passage. This led us to consider our own spiritual dryness and question our own thirst for God. God promises to meet the greatest degree of both. Prayer flowed freely, and the two hours passed quickly during this profitable time. Oh, that men would praise the Lord and would seek Him far more! There is much more to be known and seen. We meet again at Bryntirion on Monday 30 March. Will you join us?

Partnership in the gospel

Affinity
Affinity is an association of approximately 1,300 Bible-centred churches throughout Britain and Ireland. It embraces a very high proportion of the sound evangelical churches in Wales through its Corporate Partners (e.g. EMW, AECW, FIEC). It produces excellent material for churches through its various teams. Please pray for the Bulletin which is produced by the Social Issues Team and brings vital political, ethical and social material to the attention of churches in a unique and easily accessible form – for prayer and action as the churches see fit. It may be freely downloaded in booklet form on a regular basis from the Affinity website. Many churches print off copies for their members.

WEST (Wales Evangelical School of Theology)
Principle Jonathan Stephen writes: Following a rigorous inspection last semester, we are very thankful to God for having fi nally received formal accreditation as an independent higher education (HE) institution from the British Accreditation Council. We are now ready to obtain a licence from the UK Border Authority, which will enable us to sponsor visa students. There are so many hoops to jump through these days! Please pray for continuing student applications for next year. Pray also for the ‘Summer Season’. This is a major initiative for WEST. We believe these events will be extremely helpful and practical and are very much open to all Christians in Wales. See website for details.

AECW
Pastor Graham John writes: AECW continues under the chairmanship of Peter Milsom. Pray for churches and their clusters across Wales as they grapple with the latest Charity Commissioners’ expectations after their meeting with FIEC expert Brian Matthews in January. Also the more regular aims as they work together towards church planting and strengthening. Remember too, the various AECW conferences across Wales such as the Ladies’ Half-Day Conference in Swansea on 25 April and the main annual conference in Newtown on 16 May, entitled, ‘Applying the Bible - church & tradition in a changing world’ - Ian Parry.

Waleswide
Waleswide is a new church planting and strengthening network for Wales. They are organising a day of prayer for Wales on Sunday 1 March 2009 - might you join them? There is a bilingual package of resources available through the website. They are also organising a Church Planting and Strengthening Conference in Newtown on 12 March. Pray for the conference. For full details and to register, please visit the Waleswide website.

May the Lord bless you over the next few months.
In Christ alone,