News and Prayer Points from the Gillhams

Dear Friends and Supporters,

We said to some of you before we left that "If you don’t hear from us for a while, please pray harder". Well, you’ve not heard from us for the last few weeks! Please pray for us, as we pray for you, that we will not be discouraged by worldly trials.

NETS
Last Wednesday NETS was broken into, despite a back to base security alarm and many people living on the premises. Six of the computers were stolen and a lot of damage was done to the building. The robbery was done by a group of professionals who knew how to cut the alarm before it registered with security. A lot of data was lost from the finance and distance departments.

Please pray:
- for love and grace to abound amongst the staff as we work together to get things sorted out
- for the insurance company to pay out for the damage and computers without further argument or delay
- for the future as we have replaced the most essential computers (via a generous loan until the insurance money comes through).

Life
Please pray for us along with the other families here at NETS as the break-in has been only the start of the worldly trials. Many of us have had unexpected car troubles, from broken window mechanisms to fuel pumps. Our home computer has been infected with a virus twice, and had to be wiped. One of our students lost his wallet on pay day, another is anxiously awaiting news of his brother who is lost in Angola during major floods. Our church was broken into, and another student had his house broken into and his computer and reading glasses taken. There have been sewage backups flooding houses and a spate of close family members of staff and students dying. All of this in the last three weeks! The list is much longer. Suffice to say that we are very aware of the spiritual battle we are all a part of. Christ has won the way, but the battles rage on.

Please pray:
- that we will take the evil one’s attempts to discourage us as a compliment. The vibe and energy at NETS has been great. The student body of 2009 are very keen and godly people.
- that we will not be discouraged from teaching God’s word here in Windhoek.

God’s word
In the midst of all of these things which could so easily discourage us, I was given this passage (Revelation 3:7-13) to preach on in our weekly NETS ‘Devotions’ meeting:

7"To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 8I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. 10Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. 11I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name. 13He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."


The devotions are planned months in advance, and the letter was originally written nearly 2000 years ago addressed to a church in Turkey, not a college in Namibia … but the Word of God so clearly addresses us at our point of need!

Osire Bible Institute Graduation
Another wonderful encouragement was the trip I took last week to Isire Refugee Camp, to be a guest speaker at the Osire Bible Institute graduation ceremony. The Osire Bible Institute was established six years ago by a small group of men who, although having no formal training themselves, saw the great need for others to be taught how to handle the word of God properly as well. Since that time they have been seeking training themselves (one of them is currently in 3rd year at NETS), and offering a very basic one-year training course to their fellow refugees. It is such a privilege to be able to spend time with people so eager to know God better, and so thankful and joyful for even the little they have.

Simon, Margie, Maddie and Noah
smgillham@cms.org.au
www.gillhamgazette.blogspot.com