Well, here we are in England! Actually, after 3 weeks of searching for what is now our home on wheels and learning how to drive on the left hand side of the road with the steering wheel on the right and the stick shift on the left, we are making our way west across England headed towards Wales! We couldn’t find an affordable campervan or motor home yet, so we made our own out of a rented cargo van! Rick had a piece of 3/4″ plywood cut and made a platform in the back for our air mattress to sit on the wheel wells and therefore we can store all our luggage and things underneath so as to make a small bit of floor space. It’s really quite funny and interesting how The Lord has led us to various things to help make it functional and somewhat comfortable…as you see in the pictures, we found a small, what they sell as a “greenhouse”, but which we use for shelves for our clothes and things! The plastic covering that zips open and close actually helps to keep SOME of the dampness away from them and also keeps things from sliding off the shelves! (It’s so damp and rainy here all the time so everything feels wet!) We met some lovely Christians the first week we were in England and frequented there little church through the Easter season. They helped us in many ways, especially with their love and hospitality! After we got our van they also helped us with things like plates, pot and pans, pillows, towels, a comforter and my favorite, a small “single burner” camper stove that comes in it’s own little carrying case! That has truly been a “God send” since the evenings have been so cold and damp! I could go on and on about all the little things The Lord has provided to make our little house on wheels, a home!! No, it certainly isn’t easy but each day I remind myself of what Jesus said, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has no where to lay his head!”
The response to the Cross has been interesting here! They are so “rich and increased with goods” that so many have truly forgotten from where their blessings come! This truly is the dark continent! We are finding that there is a small remnant of believers but just that, “small”! Rick carries the cross almost daily, in between the rain drops as much as possible! lol! We’ve had many beautiful encounters and many opportunities to share with people on the street but overall the people seem indifferent, in fact, many share that they just don’t believe in God at all and 50% will not even receive a tract! It seems to be consistent, however, to the vision The Lord gave us just before we arrived here, that this trip will be more of an “encouragement to the saints” to pray for Revival for their country! Just the other day we met a delightful man in his late 70’s who was so thrilled to see the Cross being carried on the streets of his little village! He shared his discouragement too,of the lack of openness and receptiveness of this generation, though he forges on doing his part and being faithful! He and Rick bowed their heads together right on Main Street and prayed for Revival! In spite of his concern, he had a beautiful glow and joy of The Lord about him! We fell in love with him and took him to share a spot of tea together! Thank you Lord for that little solitaire light in the darkness!!
Ricks post…(May 9)
One thing that happened today that was quite interesting was that a truck driver saw me and just stopped in the middle of the highway, then pulled over to my side of the road, blocking traffic, and rolled down his window to find out what I was doing. I shared the message of the Cross and he did receive the witness very eagerly while seemingly indifferent to the long line of cars backing up behind his rig! We had a wonderful visit and he promised me that he would read through the tract that I agave him. Just as he was pulling away he said, “who knows, maybe someday you’ll see me carrying a cross down the road the other direction!” That was an encounter we both needed! Thank you Jesus!!….. I do want to share….. The Lord has given us a real Love for this country and it’s people. England and all of the UK has seen many powerful men and moves of God. The Wesley brothers, Charles Spurgeon, the great Welsh Revival under Evan Roberts and others. It’s time again for a New Work and move of God. Christians need to press on past the fear of mans opinion and take the gospel message into the market place and be lovingly bold. While we can… We need to work while it’s day, For the the night is coming when no man can work. The hour and time is urgent but many a church is not. They have become like people straightening pictures in a burning house, busy about the wrong things! We need to Repent! We are Gods children but we lack His heart! When was the last time you or your church genuinely saw a real convert come to Christ? Many of our messages lack the power to convict the heart. There is sin in our churches and therefore sin in our communities. We need to pray earnestly, Lord as you did it under Wesley, as you did it under Spurgeon, as did it under Roberts, Do it again, Do it again! Lord wilt thou not revive us again, that thy people may rejoice in thee? Psalm 85:6. As I walk and carry the Cross through this land, Jesus has burdened me to pray for a genuine Revival and to call His church here to prayer and I want to pray with as many believers as I can, right on the streets of their home towns and villages…
Yes, The Cross is a powerful witness and Testimony, all by its self. Without me saying a word, but when people see someone carrying a huge Cross it touches them deeply. The other day a young man who saw the Cross from a restaurant/pub window was so moved when he seen it he came charging out the door to hear the story, as he did, he was moved to tears as the impact of the Cross hit him squarely in the heart. I know to some the preaching of the Cross is to them foolishness but to others it is the power of God unto salvation. Please, if you can in anyway help us financially, it will help keep the Cross out here on the roadsides of the world touching lives of those who encounter it. If you can send a check to Rick Newton Evangelistic Ministries at PO Box 2 Lanesboro Ma. 01237. Do it right now. Don’t put it off, Or give through Paypal on the donate page of this website. Just so you know the Dollar is weak against the British Pound and it is hard on us. We share meals where we can and just sleep on the side of the road and not in campgrounds to cut corners and be good stewards of Gods money. But we are touching lives; be apart of it, however you can…. God Bless you, we Love you! From the Front-lines, Rick and Doreen
