We started the New Year all well and in great health. We are enjoying the warm summer weather. Deane, Ritchie and Joanna are back to work. In fact Deane started work on Boxing Day and so as Joanna a day or two after that. 

My major ministry involvement leading up to Christmas and after Christmas was preaching at our home church as well as another church here in Auckland, as well as sharing the gospel on a one-to-one basis with shoppers and shop-keepers and with people at the flea markets close to our home.

 

At the church services the messages were well received by those who attended the services. A few people commented positively about the sermons. It is always encouraging to hear positive comments but my hearts' desire is for GOD to do a lasting work in the lives of the people who sit under His word each week.

During my conversation with a good number of people prior to Christmas and even after Christmas I asked them, What Christmas is all about? It was good to hear people answered that it was a ‘celebration of Jesus' birthday' but very few of them believe that Jesus was born as their Saviour and died on the cross also as their Saviour. One of the market vendors told me that he is a Christian but he doesn't believe in Jesus.

The responses from the people that I spoke with certainly confirm again to me that we need to preach the whole gospel of CHRIST crucified because the danger today as I see it, is not that majority of the people don't believe nothing, it is that they believe just about anything.