On 18^th June, Andrea and Andy Warner and Jules Mercer-Wilson celebrated the completion of their biblical, theological and cross-cultural studies at Redcliffe College, Gloucester (see photo, with Sarah Hay our HR Manager on far right) . This was part of their preparation before going to Spain with ECM. Once their fund-raising is completed, they will travel to Spain for language learning. Andrea and Andy and their 2 children will then work with an ECM church planting project in the Valencia region whist Jules will be teaching R.E. in schools alongside a church planting project. 

MORE than 6,000 Buckinghamshire kids took part in the Lighthouse Christian activity program as the school holidays began. 

There are eight sites based in Princes Risborough, Great Missenden, Hazlemere, Marlow, Thame, Burnham, High Wycombe and Cressex.

The week-long program kept the children busy with pottery, painting and playing tennis and cricket just a few of the fun and games on offer.

There were 900 children taking part in Great Missenden, where the project began 24 years ago.

Site Caretaker Trevor Darley said Lighthouse, traditionally held on the first week of each school holidays, had become quite a generational affair.

He said: “Some who came as young people met at Lighthouse and got married and are now bringing their children.

“We have 500 helpers ranging from the ages of 13 to about 90-something. There are some approaching 90 and some founding members who still come.”

More than 750 children attended the Hazlemere Lighthouse week at Sir William Ramsay School. The week's theme was Madagascar which used the Dreamworks film to teach children about the biblical teachings of Peter.

Clips from the film were used to illustrate Christian teachings.

Chairman of Hazlemere Lighthouse, Peter Lock, said: “It has gone very well. We have had 750 children here. We have had up to 1,000 before but other Lighthouses have split off from us.

“A lot of the children who used to come now go to other sites, which was the idea as it is more convenient for them.”

He said all the children, who are aged four to eleven, had a great time and are now “Madagascar mad.” There are various activities on throughout the week, which is free, although donations are asked for towards running costs.

The Princes Risborough site has been running for ten years and this year was the last year for Ingrid Gardner as chairman.

She said they also had a Madagascar theme. She added: “It worked really well. The film clips are more accessible for the children.”

About 450 children attended and she said there were 220 helpers aged 12 to 18-year-old.

Ingrid said: “I had a 13-year-old who grew up going to Lighthouse say to me, 'This is the best week of my year. I wait all year for this.' That is something special.”

Despite Spain in many ways being closed to the gospel, incredibly a window is open in the form of the Education System as parents may now choose the religious education of their children from Catholicism, Islam and Evangelical Christianity! Their children can be exposed to the truths of the Bible and discover for themselves the living God. However with Evangelicals making up about 1% of the population there are just not enough teachers to meet the demands.

Julia Mercer-Wilson is a primary teacher who has just completed two years at Redcliffe College. She says, "I’m excited by this window of opportunity. After an initial time of language study, my role will be to teach Christianity in number of local schools. I also hope to work under a local pastor with a vision of planting a church nearby in a town with no witness."

Julia is currently looking for people to pray for her and financially support her. Let ECM know if you would be interested. 

Berti Dosti, whose story is told in the recently publised book “God’s Secret Listener ”, will be interviewed on mainstage at this

year’s Keswick Convention.

Albania's Communist dictator, Enver Hoxha, proclaimed his country to be the world's first truly atheistic state. Under Hoxha's rule, Captain Berti Dosti was one of the elite who served on a communications team monitoring Albania's borders for American incursions. However, this diligent soldier left his country unguarded for 15 minutes a week as he regularly tuned into Trans World Radio's broadcasts, ultimately becoming a believer. Had he been discovered he would probably have been shot. Yet this young man with a growing faith continued to listen and would later pioneer the rebuilding of Albania's wrecked society.

There will also be two book-signing events at the Keswick Convention, where Berti will be joined by the book’s author, John Butterworth, MBE, a highly successful regional newspaper editor and author of four books.

 For more than 8 years now a group of brothers from churches in Holland visit us to faithfully help with the olive harvest. They are now experts in olive harvesting ! They treat the residents of the centre with love and care and demonstrate that the love of Christ has no barriers.

We thank God that the government has approved 4 salaries for two monitors, a cook and psychologist to June 2011.