Well, folks, could I just warmly welcome you to Cumber Free Presbyterian Church, Northern Ireland. Not that you need to know that, it's for our internet listeners, those that join with us through the various social media platforms. But first of all, we warmly welcome those who have gathered in-house here in the House of the Lord. We're glad to see you. Tonight takes on a very special occasion in that it will be a farewell and our mission board On short notice have organized the meeting here along with ourselves and we have sought to accommodate as best we can. So we want to warmly welcome you in the Savior's name to those that are visiting, to members of the board, Reverend David McMillan as well, and many others who are listening on the worldwide web. We warmly welcome you in our Savior's name and we trust the Lord will be with us tonight that we will know as we have been encouraged with a sense of the Lord's presence and how thankful we are for that. and we're thankful to the Lord. He's been hearing prayer and answering our prayers and encouraging us and we rejoice in that and in these days, we're looking to him and like Jehoshaphat, while we may not always know what to do yet, our eyes are toward the lord. So, thank you for joining with us and we pray god will richly bless you. We're going to sing together. The words should come up on screen. Some folks use the hymn book when they're at home. It's 430 in the hymn book. One of Fanny leads me. We're going to stand as we worship and we'll sing heartily unto the Lord. my Savior leading, on a line to God's great sign. God, my God, is ever merciful, truth through life has been my guide, and in His divinest I'm making him to dwell. For I know, while e'er befall me, Jesus, who hath all things well. For I know, while e'er befall me, Jesus, who hath all things well. All the way my Savior leads me, Tis He's winding path I tread, Gives me grace for every trial, Feeds me with the living bread. O my weary, scented falter, And my soul athirst may be, Clashing from the rock before me, Though a spring of joy I see. Clashing from the rock before me, Though a spring of joy I see. All the way my Savior leads me, all the goodness of His love. Perfect bliss to me is promised in my Father's house above. When my spirit floated more to God, And we'll sing that first verse so we can have It flicked back a few verses. We'll sing that first verse all over again. The blind hymn writer. God willing, I'll be looking at the life of Fanny Crosby after this meeting with the young adults over in the church hall. and we're going to be singing some of her hymns and hearing her story and finding a little more about this lady of whom it was said she hath done what she could, Fanny Crosby. She also has some names, pseudonyms that she has written in her hymn book, Meet Me There. And you'll find there that it's a different name, Henrietta Blair. Well, it's Fanny Crosby, and she often used different names to put to her poems and hymns. and we have so many in our hymn book and some of the authors you may not recognize, but it's Fanny Crosby. We'll be looking at that, the life of God's servant tonight with the young adults. So we'll sing the first verse over again, 430 for folks gathering at home. My Savior leads me, on the high to God's beside. Now my life is tender mercy, and through life was made my guide. and in His divinest comfort, here my faith can live to dwell. For I know on earth before me Jesus, who hath all things well. For I know on earth before me Jesus, who hath all things well. Amen. That's good singing. We do appreciate that. We trust the lord will bless us and he'll have the praises of Israel. Let's just unite our hearts together in a word of prayer. We'll commit our way afresh to the lord. Father, we thank thee once again for a real sense of the divine presence through today. We thank thee, Lord, for help given through the meetings and the prayer meetings of this day. And we rejoice, our Father, that there is a remnant in this nation of ours, no matter how far gone it's gone from thee and thy word, that still hold to the sanctity of the Lord's day and see this day as special. And we thank thee, O God, for being with us on this thy day. We thank thee, Lord, that thou hast prefixed thy name to it. It belongs to thee, the Lord's day. and we rejoice in that and we thank thee O God that we have sought as best as we can to worship thee on this thy day and to set aside where necessary and where we can those works O God that we can rest from and be taken up, Lord, with the worship of our blessed Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, and thee, the triune Jehovah God of heaven and earth. And we continue in that spirit that we begun with this morning, and we thank thee, O God, for thy good hand upon us, for the ministry of thy word, for tokens for good in the congregation, for thy hand of protection and preservation. And we rejoice, our Father, that thou hast been one of our number, and we have had the sense of thy presence, and thy spirit has been at work. And for this, Lord, we return thanks to thee. We seek, O God, never to touch the glory, for the glory is the Lord's. And therefore, Lord, we acknowledge thee, and we come to thee once again. And we know, O God, that prayer is part of our worship, and yet it is a public statement of our need of thee. We are continually constrained to tarry before the Lord, to acknowledge thee in all our ways, and thou hast promised to direct our paths. And therefore, Lord, we seek to acknowledge the Lord just now and to ask humbly and beseech thee. that thou wouldst be with us in this meeting house. We thank thee, O God, for the special nature that this meeting has taken, Lord. We thank thee, O God, for this farewell, and we rejoice, our Father, that thou hast singled out from among the congregation here, Lord, a young person, and we thank thee, O God, for Andrew, and thou hast brought Hannah to him. And we thank thee, you have blessed them in marriage and the birth of this little child, Rachel. And we thank thee, O God, for a young couple that are willing, O God, to obey the Lord. We thank thee, Lord, just as you called Saul and Barnabas to Paul and Barnabas and separated them from the number and spoke to them, you've called them to the work. And then, Lord, the church prayed over them and sent them forth. And we thank thee, O God, that they went forth in the blessing of the fullness of the gospel of Christ. And we pray, O God, that tonight, as thy servants will be sent forth tonight by our mission board, that you'll encourage their hearts. We pray, Lord, that you will remind them that when he put forth his sheep, he goeth before them. And we rejoice in that. We believe that going in the will of God, going to the field of service to which the Lord has called and commissioned them, that they are in the safest place they could ever be, at the center of the divine will. They're in the sweetest place on earth, the soundest place they could ever be. Lord, even in the midst of turmoil, and should the nations, O God, fall and crumble, in the will of God, they will be safe. and they will be secure. And we thank thee, O God, for a young couple willing to leave family and friends once again and to abandon themselves to the divine will of the Lord. And we pray, Lord, they will know the experience of the words we were singing, all the way, my Saviour leads me. And we pray you will go with them. We pray for Andrew. We pray for Hannah. We pray for Rachel. We thank thee, O God, for them. We thank thee, Lord, for the hand of God upon them as they've been home on furlough. We thank thee, Lord, for the miles that they have travelled and the places they have been, and you've watched over them, you've preserved them, you've been good to them. We thank thee, O God, that thy servants have not only work spiritually, but practically. We thank thee, O God, they've used their time wisely. And we thank thee for that work ethic they have. And we praise thee, Lord, you're able to use that, and you have used it. And we thank thee for the asset they will be. And as they return to Uganda, We pray humbly, Lord, you'll remember Emmanuel Christian School. Remember the church there too. Remember the work that they're called to do. And we pray, Lord, you will encourage them. And as Andrew fills the gap for a little season, even in preaching, we pray, Lord, you will raise up a family, and you will send forth a pastor, a minister, out into the harvest field there. You've commanded us to pray. Lord, we can't say, we don't know what to say, but we do. You've said, pray ye, therefore, the Lord of the harvest. We heard that on Tuesday evening. And we pray, Lord, the Lord of the harvest, you will send forth labourers into the harvest field, and you'll answer this prayer that you've told us to pray. And Lord, we ask that you will encourage the labourers. And remember our sister Noreen. Remember, O God, all our missionaries and our mission board and missionary council. And we pray for the oversight and superintendence of the work. But we thank thee, O God, that it's under the lordship and governance of Christ himself. the soul king and the only head of the church. The one who said I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Remember this service we pray and grant oh god that even among our young people and among lord those who perhaps feel themselves, that they want to do something more for thee, that thou will challenge them to service, to serve in the local assembly, and then in the larger church, and then to find the mind and will of God for their lives. We pray, O God, for our young people as they, Lord, seek thy will in the course of study, as they would think about going here, there, and yonder. We pray, O God, that above all, all these things, they will seek first the kingdom of God and thy righteousness, and all these things shall be added when they're needed onto them. We pray they'll set their affections on things above. Like Jeremiah, they will seek not great things for themselves, but to know the mind and will of God, and for some perhaps who may not be saved. We pray, O God, that even a young couple tonight, saved by grace, going forth to the land of their calling, that we'll speak to them and challenge them about their need to be right with God. And Lord, while we know we can go to the uttermost parts of the earth, we think, O God, of our own family and our own kith and kin. We think of this community in cumber. We think of the homes that are broken and destroyed with sin. We think of lives, O God, that need Christ. And we think of, Lord, hearts that need God's salvation. And we pray, O God, whether on the foreign field or on the home front, that we will be missionaries, and evangelists, and witnesses for our Savior, and that many, O God, will come to know Christ as their Savior too. Remember especially, our Father, the preaching of thy word tonight. We give thy servant into thy hand. Thank you for Tuesday evening and the faithful ministry of thy word. We thank you for the deputation and what a blessing that has been. And we pray, Lord, you will continue to bless thy servants, Lord, and the mission board and undertake for them. So be with us now. And loving Father, in answer to our prayer, be pleased to encourage our hearts in the salvation of the lost, the restoration of the backslider, the reviving of the church. And Father, in answer now to prayer, the glorifying of thy dear son, and the people of God said, amen, and amen. Folks, as you know, this service has taken a turn for the better, we'll say that. And at short notice, we've been asked to accommodate a farewell for our brother, Andrew, our sister, Hannah, and their little girl, Rachel Scarlett. And we trust the Lord will be with us tonight. We have some members of the mission board, and officially they are responsible for this meeting tonight. We're accommodating them in it. And while we can't have them all present, we're glad that we have some. And we're going to ask the treasurer of the mission board, Mr. Alistair Hamilton, he's along here with his wife as well. I'm going to ask Alistair if he'll come and he's going to speak and I think he may even make a presentation. So if you come over this side here, Alistair, that's fine. Thank you very much, Reverend Martin, for the words of welcome. It's a pleasure to be here tonight on behalf of the mission board. I see some members of both the board and the council here tonight. So it's a privilege to be able to be here at this occasion for Andy and Hannah and Rachel on behalf of the mission board. And I'm delighted to be here along with Reverend McMillan, who's going to speak later. He is the chairman of the Uganda Oversight Committee. And he and I have a bit of a reputation of traveling together as well, so it's especially a pleasure to be here with Mr. McMillan here tonight. I'm sure you've all, and I heard Reverend Martin talk about the deputation meeting, I'm sure you've all been impressed by the work that has been conducted over the last few years by our brother Andrew Foster out in Uganda. And I must say I've heard a lot of very, very positive comments from around our churches as Andrew and Hannah have gone around doing the deputation meetings. And I know it's a very practical work that Andrew's involved in, and therefore it's very interesting to see what he's been doing out there. But it is to the glory of God, the work that has been done on the compound there at the Emanuel Christian School and Church. And I want to pay tribute tonight to Andrew and Hannah for the work that they have done on that compound over the past few years. Andrew originally, yes, went out to do his work, and then Hannah joined him, and has got heavily involved in many aspects of the work there as well. So I want to publicly thank them both tonight for the work that they've been involved in over the past a few years. I must say from my point of view it's been a personal pleasure to be involved with them over those years as they have gone out and made many arrangements to live out there. All the practical matters around visas and all that goes around it and then the living accommodation And then all of the financing of the work that Andrew's been involved in there that you've seen, I'm sure, in the deputation video. And then, of course, the return back home here for a few months. And I'd like to thank Andrew and Hannah for the work that they've done with me personally to make those things work so smoothly. And the attitude and the approach that they've taken to the work of the mission board as we oversee the work there in the land of Uganda. And it is hard to believe that the time has come for them to return back to the mission field. Time passes so quickly. It only seems like a few days ago since we sat up in that balcony and recorded the deputation video. But time has flown by so quickly. And tonight, we are at a point of bidding them farewell as they return to the land of their calling. I suppose it's fair to say that everything has not gone just according to the plan that we would have had, and perhaps that's just as well, because it's the Lord's plan that we need to concentrate on. But firstly, all of the deputation meetings that were planned obviously were impacted by some of the lockdown provisions that came into place just after Andrew and Hannah came home. And I suppose that always puts a worry in your mind if they're not able to get around and do the deputation meetings, what will that be like in terms of gathering support to keep them on the field for the next term? But we shouldn't have worried about that because there's a greater hand at play in those matters. And then of course there are some other changes that have come into effect for Andy and particularly Hannah in relation to a change of arrangements that we've had to bring into place in relation to the amount of time that they're going to be able to spend in Uganda over the next four and a half years. And this relates to Hannah's position in relation to the residency status changes between the EU and the UK. But again, the Lord at a hand in those matters. In the providence of God, Hannah was here in Northern Ireland on the important date of the 31st of December, 2020, which allowed some of those provisions to take place. And equally, in terms of the deputation meetings, the Lord has oversupplied. And we rejoice tonight and thank the Lord for the supply that has come in that will the provisions of Andy and Hannah to come back and forth to meet those requirements over the next four and a half years. So tonight, on behalf of the Mission Board, I'd like to give a very big public thank you to everybody, both in this room and those who may be watching on across all of our churches, who have given so generously to support the work of Andrew and Hannah as they go back out to Uganda. Without that support, I'm sure they've told you, without that support they cannot return to the field, but the Lord has supplied beyond what is needed at this point, and we thank the faithful congregations and people across our denomination for their very generous and faithful giving to the work. It is remarkable, I suppose, to recall the last time I was here. It's a little bit strange for me tonight. I feel as if I'm sort of been let out. But the last time I was here was at Andrew's original farewell. And I'm sure many people have remarked at that stage he left here as a single man. He then returned here with a wife. And now he's leaving here with a wife and a child. So I don't know what that says about the future, Andrew and Hannah, but you've probably single-handedly done more to increase the number of people going onto the mission field than what the mission board has done in the past few years. But we rejoice tonight in the safe arrival of Rachel, and we rejoice that it is a first for all of us, a first for you, I know, but a first for the mission board to be sending out a man, his wife, and a newborn child, almost, onto the mission field. And it's something that we have thought about and prayed about a lot as a board over the past few months, but we know that you do go forth with the Lord's hand upon you as a family as you go out at this time to continue your work in the land of Uganda, as is your desire. So we would like to mark this occasion by, as we do, giving a small gift to you, a personal gift to you, Andrew, Hannah, at this time and in these days of COVID safe contactless environment, I'm not going to ask you to come up and receive anything. I guarantee you will receive it tomorrow morning. And we hope it is a little bit of a blessing to you at this time as you do go forth and return to Uganda. And we do wish you Lord's richest blessing. as you step out and leave home here again and go back to that land of your calling. We pray the Lord will bless you, bless you as a family, bless you individually, and bless the work that you're involved in there in the land of Uganda. And I close with the words of Scripture. that are painted there, with the text that's painted there on the back wall of your room in your apartment in Uganda. And it's those words, trust in the Lord with all thine heart, lean not onto thine own understanding, in all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Amen. We'd like to say a personal word of thanks to Mr. Hamilton for those very kind remarks to Andrew and Hannah. And just on behalf of our church, if you could pass on to the mission board our sincere thanks for the deputations. They have greatly encouraged our hearts and the work and the professionalism in the presentation and on Tuesday evening we perhaps had one of the best deputations we've had for a very very long time and many of our folks remarked on those deputations and we want to acknowledge the great work that has been put in to the presentation of the work and the creation of prayer interest in that work and raising some support to keep missionaries on the field. So we do appreciate that. If you could just convey to the mission board our thanks and our sincere appreciation for that labor of love. I'm going to ask our brother, Andrew, if he'll come forward. He's going to say a few words just now. And if you could use this lectern here, Andrew, if that was OK. And straight after that, we'll ask our clerk of session to come, make a few announcements, and he will say a few words as well. Thank you. Well, good evening, everyone. It really is lovely to see so many out and, of course, to be here in person. I really won't keep you very long tonight. I really just want to thank everyone for their love, for their support in recent months and over recent years. We really are thankful and grateful for all the love that has been shown to us and especially for all the support that there has been in recent months during the first few months of Rachel's life. Your support and kindness has really touched us both, and it really just reminds me how much we are a family in the body of Christ. I especially want to thank you for your prayers and for all you're giving to help send us back to Uganda. Mission work really is teamwork, and we really can't do what the Lord would have us do without all of you behind us. So we thank you very much for your part in service of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. It says in the Psalms, oh, that man would praise God for his goodness. And tonight, I want to briefly acknowledge that God has been good. He is good. And I have no doubt that God will continue to be good to us because he is ever faithful. We often sing the song, count your many blessings and name them one by one. But I know if I was to try and do that, I couldn't possibly list all the ways that I know God has taken care of us in the last year alone, never mind a longer period of time. But what I can do is praise him for his goodness. I also want to thank God by thanking all of you. I know many of you pray for us, and we greatly appreciate that. It is our hope and plan to leave tomorrow around 5.15 p.m. Hannah is looking forward to spending a few days with her folks in the Netherlands en route to Uganda. And so as we leave tomorrow, we would appreciate your prayers that all would go smoothly, both for the flights and then once we do arrive in Uganda, especially for us as a family, that we would settle in well and quickly. It really is our burden to see souls saved and those that are saved growing stronger in their relationship with the Lord. So please pray. for great opportunities, one, for us to be a witness to the Lord, for the Lord in Uganda, and two, for those who are saved, that they will grow in grace and continue faithfully in their walk with the Lord. Please also pray that with each and every day, that we will get more and more of the local language. It really is going to be an uphill struggle, but it really is so important. So please pray that one day soon we will have a great grasp of Luganda. Lastly then, pray for us as a team in Uganda. Pray for Miss McAfee. Pray for us as a trio, that we would be able to work together well. And please pray that the Lord will burden and send a person or people of his choice to Uganda to help us. I can tell you that Hannah and Noreen are easy to work with. Myself, maybe not so much. But hey, two out of three isn't so bad. So if you feel led to come, or if somebody's watching online and you feel led to come, please don't let my lack of good humor stop you from coming. As I finish, I want to just really thank the mission board for all that they do. They really are so busy behind the scenes. And so thank you all. all of you for all that you do in the saviour's name. I especially want to thank the board and for all the help really in the last few months. I never would have believed that because of Brexit Hannah would no longer be able to come and go freely to the UK. I never realised that she wouldn't be covered by the NHS as well as a few other things. So whenever We got a shock, I guess, a few months ago that something had to be done. The mission board arranged for us to get some legal advice, and we really are extremely grateful for that. The outcome of that meeting ultimately meant that for, I guess, us as a family, we need to be at home for half a year, every year, for the next four years. And we were utterly disappointed, bitterly disappointed whenever we realized that we couldn't serve the Lord as we had hoped. But you know, we believe that God is sovereign. He makes no mistakes, and he is in complete control. And so we will endeavor to serve him here or there the best, whatever way we can, in whatever way he has planned for us. Lastly then, I just want to thank the church and the committee here, the elders here, and for Reverend Martin for your support as well. And we just pray that the Lord will bless you here in these days for his great namesake. Thank you very much. Could I just add my words of welcome? to everyone who's been able to gather with us tonight for this special service. Good to see you all here, especially those who are visitors and wouldn't normally be here. And you're very welcome indeed to Cumber. And we do pray that the Lord's blessing will be with us throughout this evening. Do remember, young adults, that the Young Adults Fellowship will be meeting over in the church hall. at half past eight, so keep that in mind. Then the meetings during the week, our prayer meeting and time of Bible study as usual on Tuesday evening at 8 p.m. Friday at eight, the youth fellowship will be meeting, and then at 10 p.m. on Friday, the men's prayer meeting takes place as usual. Next Lord's Day, the services at the usual times, quarter past 10, the Sunday school over in the church hall, The two services, half past 11 and 7 p.m., and God willing, the Reverend Martin will be with us next Lord's Day for those services. And do remember, of course, the seasons of prayer over in the church hall in advance of those services. It is the last Lord's Day of the month, so we will be meeting around the Lord's table after the morning service. And as has been our practice since the COVID strip, all of those COVID secure measures will be in place, both in the preparation of the elements and the distribution and in the holding of that service. So you can feel confident in remaining with us around the Lord's table. As I mentioned this morning, I'll mention perhaps more briefly this evening, and that is the season of prayer that's being held next Saturday, the 24th of April by Zoom. It's been organised by the Government and Morals Committee of our denomination. And as we said, the focus will be very much on the moral issues. and the manner in which there is such an aggressive attack upon the morals of the Scriptures in these days, and especially of late in relation to abortion. So do remember, it's not restricted to Presbytery members. It is for all of our congregations. And as we mentioned, there is a link which we can provide to you so that you can go in and register and tune in to that meeting. So do keep that in mind. And then can I just, before I sit down, I know that there's quite a full programme tonight, so I won't take very long. But nevertheless, what we have to say will be from the heart and sincere. It has been a blessing to have Andrew and Hannah with us over recent months, and we've got accustomed to them being part of the furniture, as it were, within our fellowship here over these months. And it is going to be different when they leave us, but we know that they have to do the Lord's will But we do wish them God's blessing as they go forth once again to the land of Uganda. And I can assure them, as I think they already know, that the congregation here in Cumber will be faithful in holding the ropes for them here at home over the period that they're away from us, and we will be remembering them in prayer and supporting them in whatever way we possibly can. But we will be sorry to see them go, and yet happy in another way that the Lord has given them this call and that they are willing and submissive to His will. Thank you. If you could just remain there please just for a few moments. I would ask Andrew and Hannah please just to come to the front and the elders present here in Cumbra if you'd just like to make your way up to the front. If you could keep your mask on and socially distance and whatever board members are present as well if you'd like to join us please. Maybe there's only just the one if that was okay. I do understand there's some maybe missionary council members here present, and we would warmly welcome you as well in the Savior's name. I'm going to ask the Reverend David McMillan just to lead us in the prayer as we would send forth this couple to the Lord's work. It is the mission board that are sending forth tonight, but the local church has an involvement as well, and I feel it's always appropriate to have the folks prayed over I believe it's scriptural. We're taking ourselves back here to New Testament biblical Christianity and the sending forth, this is an old-fashioned service in that true sense, the sending forth of those that God has saved and that God has called, and they know God's call, to the field of service. So we're all going to ask the Reverend David McMillan, the chairman of the subcommittee for the work in Uganda, just to lead us in that prayer, please. Perhaps we'll ask the congregation to stand, please, just for the prayer. Heavenly Father, we seek thy face. Thank you for the access we have. We praise thee for the throne of grace. We pray, Father, for the Spirit to come down upon us now, upon this special part of the service. We do want to give thanks to thee for your servants, Andrew and Hannah. Thank you for little Rachel, too. We do thank you, Father, for being with your servants over this period of furlough. They can testify, like Nehemiah of old, of the good hand of their God that has been upon them. We thank you, Father, for the birth of little Rachel, for watching over all that took place. We thank you for your hand of providence that has been upon many circumstances during the furlough that we've heard about tonight already. We do thank you, Father, for their surrender to the work of God, even on the foreign field. We rejoice tonight in their obedience to the heavenly vision. We're glad of this opportunity just to meet together to strengthen their hands in God as they take their leave office again. And Father, we're thankful that we're able to commit them into your hands and into your care. We are conscious tonight that we are not able to go with them, not able to be present with them at all times in their labors. But Lord, we remember that great promise. Lo, I am with thee always, even on to the end of the world. And Lord, we rejoice in that knowledge. We pray that even now, as we're bowed in prayer, we'll be conscious of your presence. We ask that you'll draw near especially to your servants, that they will be very conscious that the Lord is with them at this time. We commit them into your hands. Lord, we pray for safekeeping. We pray that you'll give them journeying mercies. We thank Father just of the added danger of traveling at this time of pandemic. And our cry, Father, is that you'll keep them in health and strength. We do pray in the words of the psalmist that you'll preserve their going out and their coming in. Lord, we want to thank you for all that they have accomplished. in Uganda already, we can say it's the Lord's doing, and it's marvelous in our eyes you've blessed and prospered their labors. And Lord, as they return again, our prayer is that you'll show them tokens for good early in this term of service. We want to pray that you'll make their way prosperous. We pray that you'll give them good success. We want to pray that you'll give them the wisdom that is needed. We pray that you'll be their shield, Father. And we want to ask that you'll use them mightily in the winning of souls for the Master. We want to pray that there'll be many in that land of Uganda that will bless the Lord for the day that your servants came to spread the gospel amongst them. We think of taking leave, Father, of family members. mindful of Andy's mom especially. Pray that grace will be granted for the parting. We pray for that time in Holland with Hannah's family. Thank you, Father, for those days. We pray that they'll be special, even though that they're short. We pray that there'll be days full, that they'll be able to enjoy much time with the family and friends there. And Lord, we pray that Hannah's family, too, will know the grace that is needed for this time of parting. Remember, the psalmist said, we're to commit our way unto the Lord. We're glad, Father, we can do that. Gathered here in thy house, thank you for the elders, board members present. We thank you, Father, for the congregation. We're gathered here, Father, in your presence. And we commit this young couple and little Rachel into your hands. Our times are in thy hands, Father. We do think of the application for settled status. Lord, prosper that application. Lord, we acknowledge even in the words of the hymn that we sung at the start that we know whatever befall us. that Jesus doeth all things well. Help us, Father, just to surrender to your sovereign hand, even in all of these things. Give our brother and sister help in every part of their labors there. We think of what Andy has mentioned about the language studies, how difficult, how challenging that can be, even finding the time. to engage in that study. Lord, we pray that you'll help them. We're glad that we can lift their hearts to thee and cry for the help of God, even in all of these things. We pray that you'll give them the ability, Father, to be able to speak this language fluently, even much sooner, much quicker than expected. And Lord, we ask thee to undertake in every part of the work in which they're involved, the building projects, But Lord, we remember the outreaches, the meetings at which they will speak. Hannah, as she's involved in the work of the office and the OVC program. Lord, we give all of these things into your hands and we pray that as they will return to Uganda, that they will do so, Lord, as Paul desired when he was going to Rome, that they'll go in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. Remember the mission station there? Lord, preserve that testimony. We ask thee to watch over it. Even in these days, we commit the entire work, Father, into your hands. We thank you for the great door and effectual that has been opened to our denomination and mission board there in the land of Uganda. And Lord, we want to pray that the work will advance. We want to pray that it will go forward. We want to pray, Father, that it will please thee to prosper that work and to give the increase in coming days. Remember the vacancy in the pulpit. Even as your servant prayed earlier, we pray the Lord of the harvest, that he'll send forth laborers. You've told us, if two of you shall agree an earth is touching anything, it shall be done of your Father, which is in heaven. And Lord, we recognize the need of laborers. even for the mission station there. And we pray that it'll not be too long until we'll be sending forth more missionaries out to the land of Uganda. We're mindful of Miss McAfee tonight. Lord, be with her sister. Pray that she will especially know your presence, your nearness. We think of all the work that she's involved in, the heavy workload that she's carrying. We pray that you'll strengthen her. We pray that you'll encourage her, keep her in health and strength, and watch over her, conscious of how much she's looking forward to the return of the Fosters just in coming days. And Lord, we want to pray that together, Miss McAfee and the Foster family will accomplish much for God in that very needy land. So Father, hear these, our prayers. under Christ, and abide with us in the remainder of this meeting, and we pray that the sense of your presence will intensify amongst us. We ask it all in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. It's just unfortunate we're not able to give you the right hands of fellowship, but you know that our hearts are with you, and our prayers will be with you as well, and we wish you Godspeed as you take your journey, and no doubt we will see you soon. and we trust you'll be able to tune in at times, even through the ministry here in Cumber. So every blessing to you, Andrew, Hannah, and also to Rachel. Thanks to the elders and the mission board members. Appreciate that indeed. Thank you. Just before we come to the ministry of the word, we're going to sing another hymn. We'll just sing a few verses of this hymn. There's a call comes ringing, o'er the restless waves. Send the light, send the light. There are souls to rescue. there are souls to save. Send the light, send the light. We could just sing the first verse and the chorus of this hymn, standing as we sing. As the fog comes raining on the restless wind, send the light. There are souls who say, send the light. Send the light. Send the light. The blessed gospel light. Let it shine for sure. Send the light. And let its radiance be like the world forever. We are delighted to have as our guest preacher this evening. He's back again. I think he's taken up membership in this church. He was with us on Tuesday evening as well. And we're delighted to have the Reverend David McMillan. His wife, Roberta, is here as well. And we warmly welcome you in the Savior's name. Unfortunately, we're not able to have the customary cup of tea and the extended sense of fellowship. And we miss that dearly. And I know, I know there's a temptation for us to do that, but we have resisted it, and we understand the regulations, and we're just not able to do that at present. But maybe better days are ahead, and be able just to have fellowship afterward. And I know we miss it, we really do. On a night like this, our hearts are in the house of God. And in this measure, we don't want to go home. If you want an introduction to preach, you'll never get anything better than that. But there's no cup of tea to dangle at the end to keep you awake, but God's servant filled with the Holy Ghost will do that. You're very welcome, brother. We trust the Lord will bless you as you minister the word. We're going to turn together in the scriptures to the book of Philippians. Chapter 4. Philippians Chapter 4. There's a section there we want to read together. We do thank the Reverend Martin for the kind words of welcome. And we want to thank the church here in Cumber for hosting this sending forth service at very short notice. We do appreciate your willingness to accommodate that. And we want to take the opportunity as well to thank you for all your financial support of the Fosters, of the work at Emmanuel, the work in Uganda. Be assured that we're very encouraged by all that you have done to support that work. The Reverend Ian Harris, the Chairman of the Mission Board, is unable to be here this evening. He's asked me to send his apology to this meeting and especially to the Fosters, and has asked that we would pass on his sincere best wishes to Andrew and Hannah and little Rachel and his prayerful regards for the days that lie ahead. And he will be in touch with you directly in the not too distant future. We just want to add to what Mr. Hamilton has said a little earlier. We do commend the Fosters for their work at Emmanuel. They have accomplished much already. in a very, very short space of time. And we believe, we're confident that the Lord will use them in an even greater way in the days and years that lie ahead. One of those journeys that Mr. Hamilton mentioned in July of 2019, he and I traveled out to visit the work at Emmanuel. And just as we came through the gate, You could see, even from the gate, how much work Andy had accomplished from the last time that we had visited. It was very evident to us. In addition to all of the building work, remember that there's the studying, the speaking, the leading of meetings, the outreach. Think of the work that Hannah's involved in. Incidentally, the first time that Hannah met the mission board was on a Skype meeting. So imagine that, you think of first impressions, we had a very good first impression of Hannah, but you imagine all of those faces, people that you've never known before looking at you from a computer screen. Well, Hannah has spent a lot of time preparing reports, There's a very detailed report that she provided for us that has been a great help. It gives us details of every family that has children at the school in Uganda. So you imagine the time that it would have taken to have gathered all of that information, let alone type it up. She's also planned and has established for us an OVC program. We have an Orphan and Vulnerable Children program run in connection with the school. That's to help the families in greatest need there in the community. That has been carried on, started again this year. even in their absence. All the work that Hannah does in the office, working with Miss McAfee, with our social worker, Mr. Augustine. So just to give you some idea that together, Andy and Hannah are a great missionary team. They've accomplished an amazing amount already, and we do rejoice in that. Just to ask you to think of the circumstances in which they live. There's actually no mains electric at Emmanuel. I know that some of you are aware of that. When we took over the mission station there, there was no electric at all. We installed solar electric. Whenever we took over, the only source of power, there was a little generator, the sort of generator the tradesmen would use. And they started it up a couple of times a week. And there was a whole line of electrical gangs attached to it. And that's how the children charged up their mobile phones and their torches and so on. So you think no mains electric, just solar power. In the school there you think of when everybody's in, 400 children, all the staff, the missionary accommodation, the demands on that solar power and all the frustrations and challenges that go with that when it cuts out and so forth. We're working on the mains. The project is well advanced. A firm just up the road from here, R&R Electric at Money Ray, manufactured a switchboard for us. We're preparing to ship that out. The school was rewired. Last February, Kyle Wenlock from the MacDuffell Church has undertaken that for us, leading that team. He's hoping to take another team out in the summer to complete the work. So pray the Lord will prosper that for us. Remember too, there's no hot water in the apartments. Keep that in mind. Tomorrow morning when you turn on the tap and you're getting ready to wash and shave, that out there at Emmanuel in Uganda, there's no hot water. Now when the electric goes in, the hot water will follow. We're hoping that it will follow very quickly. So just a little insight for you. Only a couple of matters there to give you a little insight into the living conditions of our missionaries out in Uganda. We want to thank Andy and Hannah for working so well with us. in the Uganda Oversight Subcommittee. We rejoice in that. It has been a blessing to us. We look forward to working with you more in the months and years that lie ahead in the will of the Lord. Just to mention our sister, Miss McAfee. She has a very heavy workload. Remember, she's our only missionary there on the field at present and has been the only missionary since the Fosters left last August for furlough. If she's watching in tonight, we want you to know that we're thinking of you. Do pray for her sister, that she'll know the strength and help that is needed for all of her labours. And I know that she is looking forward very much to the fosters returning, and she's especially looking forward to seeing little Rachel. So we do want to assure the fosters tonight at this special Sending Forth service of our support, of our prayers. We will do all that we can here in the province to support you and encourage you in your work. And we're hopeful it'll not be too long until we're able to come out to Uganda and visit with you again. Just Philippians chapter four, please. We're going to read a section toward the end of the passage. We're beginning at verse 10. Philippians 4 and verse 10. Let us hear the word of the Lord to our hearts tonight. The apostle says, but I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me have flourished again. When you were all so careful, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in respect of want, for I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Notwithstanding ye have well done that ye did communicate with my affliction, Now ye Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. For even in Thessalonica, ye sent once and again unto my necessity, not because I desire a gift, but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. but I have all and abound. I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory. by Christ Jesus. We'll just finish there tonight, the end of the 19th verse, and we are assured that the Lord will add his blessing to this, the public reading of his word. Let's just bow briefly in prayer, please. Father, we ask thee to still our hearts. Thank you for the meeting. Thank you for your presence with us already. We've sensed the Lord in our midst. We want to pray, Father, that you'll speak to all of our hearts. We pray, Father, that even now, as we come to consider the scriptures, that we'll know the Lord is in our midst, speaking to each one of us. You've said, be still and know that I am God. We ask, Father, for a stillness just to come upon the remainder of this meeting. We pray for a real sense of the Lord being in our midst, working amongst us, Lord, we want to cry that it might please thee, even in this meeting tonight, to touch the hearts of some young people, that they will surrender their lives to the Lord, that they will respond, even in this service, and say, here am I, send me. So, Father, hear our cries. Come now by your spirit, grant anointing for the preaching of your word, and make us a challenge of blessing. that all assembled here in this meeting, we pray in Jesus' name, amen. We're going to take that 16th verse just as our text tonight. The apostle says to the Philippines, for even in Thessalonica, ye sent once and again unto my necessity. The theme I want us to think about for a little while as we consider the scriptures together tonight in this special sending forth service is this, the needs of the missionary. I'd like you to take that to heart this evening. The reality, of course, is we all have needs, needs that are many, needs that are varied, sometimes needs that are great. That may be your condition as you come to the meeting this evening. That is true of all Christians. It is true of all of God's people. But what I want to stress and impress upon your hearts in this meeting and in this message is the fact that that is especially true of the missionary. It's especially true of the full-time worker, the person who's engaged in the Lord's service. You think tonight, thinking of missionaries going to the foreign field, you think of those who have left their job those who've left their home, those who've left their family, those who've left their own land. They have gone to serve the Lord overseas. They've gone to live and labor in a different land, in a different language, in a different culture. Well, brethren and sisters, they have great needs. They have needs that sometimes we don't realize, needs that we don't even comprehend. Needs that, at times, we don't even understand. But they have many needs, and what I want you to see tonight is that we can help. We can help to supply those needs. We can be laborers together with the Lord's servants. We're thinking especially of the fosters going back to Uganda. What I'd like you to see before you go home tonight We can all be laborers together with Andy and Hannah, Miss McAfee too. We can all be laborers together with the Lord's servants there in that very needy land. The Lord can use you in that work. Pray that you'll see that tonight. The Lord can use you individually. The Lord can use you collectively as a congregation. in this vital ministry, helping to supply the needs of the missionaries. That's really what Paul is speaking about here in the words of our text. He records that in his missionary work, in his missionary journeys, that the believers, the church in Philippi, they had been diligent, they had been faithful. In fact, it would be true to say that the church at Philippi had led the way. in supplying his needs to support and encourage him so that he could continue on the mission field, so that he could keep on with that great work. He says in the words of our text, ye sent once and again onto my necessity. So I want us to think of the needs of the missionary, and especially let us consider what are the needs of the fosters, as they return to the mission field, as they return to Uganda at this time. Remember, first and foremost, they're in great need of prayer. Can I remind you, brethren and sisters, not all our needs are material. Sometimes we make that mistake. Not all our needs are material. The greatest needs we have in this world and in this life are spiritual. And missionaries need your prayers. I pray you'll take that to heart tonight. They need you to pray for them regularly. They need you to pray for them even on a daily basis. You think of the apostle Paul, perhaps the greatest missionary ever to live. In the New Testament scriptures, he often appealed for the prayer support of the Lord's people. You think of the words that he penned to the church in Thessalonica. Brethren, pray for us. There's a short little statement, but what strength of feeling and appeal there is in it. He needed continuous prayer. Do you remember what he wrote to the Corinthians? Ye also helping together by prayer for us. Did you ever notice that before? You can help the missionaries. You can help the entire missionary work of the church. by your prayers, by kneeling down at the throne of grace. So what I want to do in this meeting tonight is make a plea for prayer. I want to appeal for prayer for our missionary work, for our missionaries, and especially for the fosters as they return to Uganda at this time. Remember, they're returning with little Rachel. That has been highlighted in the meeting. They're returning still with the circumstances of the coronavirus pandemic. They're returning with all of the new challenges of the settled status application and all that that will mean for them. So they have new and great needs. And I want to urge you, brethren and sisters, to pray earnestly for them. If you read the story of Major General Charles George Gordon, It is quite a story, sometimes known as Chinese Gordon, because of how he was used with the British army out in China. He's also referred to, or that part of Jerusalem is known as Gordon's Calvary. He discovered Calvary during a year that he spent in Palestine, as it was known at that time. He died in Khartoum. That is quite a story in itself. This is what he said. This is how he described the prayers of the Lord's people for him at that time. He said he valued the prayers of God's people more than all the wealth of the Sudan. And, brethren and sisters, it underlines for us prayer support is vital. Prayer support is of great value. Every missionary, every servant of the Lord, puts great value upon the prayers of the Lord's people. Remember this, we can do without many things in the Lord's work. We can do without many things that all of us think are important and essential, but we can never do without the prayers of God's people. And I want you never to forget that the longest day that you live. Missionaries can never do without your prayers. I remember almost 30 years ago doing deputations before we went to labor in Wales. I remember going to Armagh when Dr. Cook was still the minister then. Dr. and Mrs. Cook had me back to the manse for supper afterwards. We were sitting in the front room together, just over to the side, up against one of the walls, there was a little notice board. I came to learn that night That was the place where Mrs. Cook had her quiet time every morning. On that little notice board was the prayer card of every one of our missionaries. That's where she sought the face of God. That's where she remembered the missionaries and the missionary work of the church. It was a great example, a great challenge. It was something that I never forgot. So let me encourage you, brethren and sisters, Take the missionaries' prayer cards. Display them in a prominent place in your home to remind you of them and their needs, to remind you to lift them up at the throne of grace. Can I say to you tonight, be sure you have the foster's prayer card. Remember also to take their prayer letters. That will help to keep you up to date with all the latest needs, the latest prayer requests. You know a sad thing? I'm sure you've noticed it yourself, how many prayer cards, how many prayer letters can be left sitting in the churches, never thought about and never taken. I can encourage you as well, go onto the Mission Board website, sign up for update emails from the fosters. Every new prayer letter that they write it will be emailed to you automatically, directly. You can do the same for any of our missionaries on the Mission Board website. But brethren and sisters, take it to heart tonight, our missionaries, the fosters especially as we think of them, they need prayer. So I urge you, I urge you, brethren and sisters, don't fail them in the place of prayer. So here's a need, here's a need that Every Christian can help to meet. Doesn't matter what your age, doesn't matter what your talents, doesn't matter the state of your health, doesn't matter what position you hold in society or in the church. Here's a need the missionaries have that every believer in this meeting can help to meet. And I encourage you, pray for them in the prayer meetings. Lift them up weekly in your prayer meetings. Pray for them at home, in your own private times. Let us encourage you as well. Hold special seasons of prayer. Come together and hold special seasons of prayer for the Lord's servants as they labor there in the land of Uganda. So missionaries need prayer. Let me mention something else very practical to you. Missionaries need pay. Missionaries need to be paid. They need a salary, and they need expenses. Paul, writing on the subject of the church supporting God's servants, he did that in 1 Corinthians 9, and he used the soldier as one of the examples. He gives several examples there, but let me highlight the soldier. And what Paul said about the soldier was this, who go with a warfare anytime at his own charges? What Paul's teaching there is soldiers have their salary, their equipment provided and paid for, and he's arguing so should it be with the Lord's servants. Those that have devoted their life to the great spiritual battle, battling spiritual darkness in foreign lands, Brethren and sisters, missionaries need financial support. Can I ask tonight, will you help? Will you help with that? There's a story told of a man who's described as John Chinaman. He was asked by an atheist on one occasion with a sneer in his voice, what is the first thing you will do when you get to heaven? He replied, the first thing I will do when I get to heaven is go up to the Savior and speak to him personally and thank him from the depth of my heart for his love and for dying for me and saving my precious soul. The atheist said to him, well, what will you do then? Still with the sneer, the mock. John Chinaman said, the next thing that I'll do when I get to heaven is I will find the missionary that came to my land to spread the good news of the gospel so that I could be saved. The missionary, or the atheist, still wasn't satisfied. With a sneer again the third time, he said, well, what will you do then? Well, John Chinaman said, what I will do then is this. I will find the Christian that gave their money, gave their finances, so that the missionary could come to my land to spread the message of God's redeeming grace. Can I ask you men and women, will there be any person that will come to you in heaven from some foreign land and thank you for giving your money to send missionaries to their country, send missionaries to Uganda? You need to give, brethren and sisters, to the missionary work of the church. You need to give liberally. And that's what Paul is speaking about here. That is what these Philippian believers had been doing. Do you notice the words of the text? It says that they had sent once and again. They had given continually. They had given repeatedly. They had given sacrificially to support Paul, the great missionary of the cross. Can I stress this to you? Paul didn't always rely on tent making for his support and to pay the bills. It's a mistake to think that. You see here, he also relied on the financial support of the home churches to meet his needs. It says they sent once and again onto his necessities. In fact, I suggest to you tonight that one reason why Paul had to work for a living was because many of the home churches had failed in their missionary giving and their missionary support. You ask, where do you find that in the New Testament? Well, just take a look back up the chapter at the previous verse, verse 15. Now, you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church, think of what he's saying here, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving. but ye only." Isn't that sad? Isn't it shocking? Many churches didn't support Paul's missionary work. I'm sure you've never thought of that, maybe never contemplated that that was ever possible. But many New Testament churches didn't support Paul in his missionary endeavor. They failed in their missionary giving. He says at the start, the only church that supported him financially was Philippi. Not one other New Testament church sent him a shekel or a denarius, whichever currency you want to use. You just think of that. Is it any wonder then he had to make tents for a living? Did you ever notice the strong rebuke that Paul gave to the Corinthian church about missionary offerings. He said, I robbed other churches, taking wages of them to do you service. Notice just there in the middle of the verse, he says he was being paid a salary. He was taking a wage, taking wages of them. So he was getting a salary sent to him. Wasn't always relying on the tent making. You ask, what did he mean there by He robbed other churches. That seems a little strange, doesn't it? Well, the idea is that the Corinthians were not pulling their weight. The Corinthian church was failing in their missionary giving. And as a result, other churches, Philippi especially, had to give more to the missionary work than what was reasonably to be expected of them in the support of the apostle Paul. So I say to you, brothers and sisters, Let us see to it that our churches are never guilty of such a failure. I mentioned to you on Tuesday night Oswald J. Smith, the great missionary statesman. He said, if God has willed the evangelization of the world, and you don't give to missions, then you're opposed to the will of God. Can I ask you all tonight to consider your giving, to consider your support, of missionary work, consider it tonight personally, consider it tonight as a church. You know, sometimes as local congregations, we like to talk and boast about our seating capacity, the size of our buildings, how many people our church can hold. But you know something that's far more important in the life of the church, brethren and sisters, That is your church's sending capacity. You ever think about that? How many missionaries are you sending? How many missionaries are you supporting? You know, it has been suggested that every local church should pay at least two salaries. One is their own minister, their own pastor at home, and the other is a missionary, perhaps on the foreign field. So there's something for you to consider, something for you to aim at. What is your church's sending capacity? Just look there at the last word of verse 17. It's an interesting word. The word account, fruit that may abound to your account. In the mission board, there is an account for every missionary. All the funds that are sent in for each missionary, there's a careful record that is kept of it. But let me ask you, brethren and sisters, did you ever realize that God has an account and it has your name on it? God has an account with a full record of your giving, your giving to the church, and especially to missionary work. God keeps the books, God keeps the accounts. God keeps the records, the records that will be opened on the great day of judgment. It's not a sobering thought. And on that day, men and women, on that great day, every one of you shall give an account of himself onto God. And that includes an account of your giving to the work of God. So missionaries need prayer. Missionaries need pay. The final thing I'll mention, especially to encourage our brother and sister, missionaries need a promise. Hudson Taylor said, here I am with 25 cents and all the promises of God. You know, as missionaries, as the fosters in particular tonight, as they leave to go back to the work, they need a promise from God. some great promises to sustain and encourage them for the days ahead. You think of Paul in Corinth. He had fears about his labors there. Do you remember what he wrote in his first letter to the Corinthian church? He said, I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. Isn't that interesting? He experienced fears in his work for God. But at that time, the Lord gave him a great promise. It's found in the book of Acts chapter 18. Be not afraid, but speak. Hold not thy peace, for I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee, for I have much people in this city. The Lord spoke to him. The Lord spoke the word that he needed. The Lord encouraged him with a great promise. In this chapter, I encourage you to take the time to read it in full a little later, but in this chapter of God's Word, there are a number of precious, well-known promises. You look at verse 6, verse 7, verse 13. Paul is giving to these faithful servants of God the promises that they need for their circumstances. But especially tonight, in keeping with our theme, you look at verse 19. but my God shall supply all your need according to his riches and glory by Christ Jesus. Here, brethren and sisters, is a great promise. We say to the missionaries, we say to the fosters, the Lord knows your needs tonight. Not some of them, not most of them. He knows all of your needs. He knows even what others are not aware of. And he's pledged here to supply your every need according to his riches and glory. Remember, he's Jehovah Jarrah. He's the Lord that sees. He's the Lord that provides. You think of the feeding of the 5,000. He gave more than enough, 12 baskets left over, and you'd be assured he will do the same for you. J. Wilbur Chapman, was a famous American evangelist, served his time in evangelism under D.L. Moody. He also pastored a number of Presbyterian congregations in the United States. He did a tour around the world with Charles Alexander, great evangelistic tour. On one occasion, he and the family had suffered a very severe bereavement. His congregation gave him leave for a number of weeks to go out west in the United States so that they could have a little time to rest and recover from the great loss that they had sustained. Not long before he left, one of his elders came to visit with him. This particular elder was a banker. They spoke together for a little while in fellowship. The banker got up to leave. They were standing at the door of the house. Just before he slipped out the door, the banker pushed a piece of paper into J. Wilbur Chapman's hand. He took it and opened it and looked at it. To his amazement, it was a cheque, a blank cheque, his name written on it, signed, no amount filled in. Chapman said to the elder, you mean to tell me you're giving me a blank cheque to take with me on my travels? The banker said, yes, as we considered it, we didn't know what amount your travel expenses would come to. And we wanted you to have enough to be able to draw all that you needed to cover every expense. It's not quite an experience. Do you know the very significant thing or interesting thing about that story is Wilbur Chapman never used the blank check that was given to him at that time. But brethren and sisters, that's what the Lord gives here, Philippians 419. He gives you a blank check. because he says that he will supply all your need. And I pray that that will encourage Andrew and Hannah tonight as they return to the mission field. Can I stress to everyone in the meeting that the verse says that he will supply your needs, not your grades. Sometimes the things we want the Lord to give us and to provide for us are only the desires of a lustful and a greedy heart. he will supply your needs. Notice the words of our text. It says once and again on to my necessity. The things that are necessary to live, the things that are necessary to labor for the Lord. Be assured the Lord will supply every one of those needs. Another promise we leave with you tonight. Galatians six verse nine. It says in due season we shall reap if we faint not. As you preach the gospel, as you sow the seed in the land of Uganda, God promises that in his time, there will be a harvest. In his time, souls will be saved. It may be years ahead. It may even be when the Lord has called you home to glory. But you be assured tonight that God will give you fruit for your labors. You know, many years ago, In Hungary, there's a man called Rabbi Isaac Lichtenstein. A missionary came into that area, distributing copies of the Word of God. A teacher that Rabbi Lichtenstein was friendly with came very excitedly to his door with one of those copies of the Scriptures. The rabbi was quite annoyed. He was very worried, didn't want a Christian missionary. working among his people, he took the Bible from this teacher and he told him to spread the word among the people, the Jewish people, not to take any more of those Bibles from the missionary. Whenever he went into the house with the Bible in his hand and he opened it and he particularly saw the words New Testament, his anger rose up within him. He took that Bible and he flung it across the room, across a study. It hit the wall and it fell down behind the bookshelf. And it lay there for 32 years. 32 years. One day he pulled out the bookshelf and behind it he saw this book. And he lifted it, remembered it was the Bible. In the providence of God, it was just the right time for him to find it. Events that were taking place, there was a lot of anti-Semitism, a lot of anti-Jewish feeling going on in his life at that time. He thought maybe the New Testament might give him the answers to that. And he started to read it. And it was the means of bringing him to Christ. And you know the missionary that distributed those Bibles at that time? The Lord had called him to higher service. You think of the story of Luke Short, What a story that is. Luke Short, as a young lad of 15 years of age, went to a gospel meeting one night in Dartmouth. The great Puritan preacher, John Flavel, was preaching. He preached a very solemn message. If any man love not our Lord Jesus Christ, let him be maranatha. Very solemn meeting. Some people deeply moved in the service. but young Luke Short sat through that meeting on move that night. Short time later, his family moved to America, and he lived a very long life. We think of the Duke of Edinburgh dying at 99. Well, when Luke Short was 99 years of age in his 100th year, he was sitting one day looking back over his very long life, pondering some of the very significant events And he thought about that meeting 85 years before. John Fuldale too was in the glory. But 85 years after that sermon was preached, the Spirit of God applied it to the heart of Luke Short and brought him to Christ through it. Isn't that tremendous, men and women? A man almost 100 years of age, I heard in the news that the oldest person in America has died over this weekend, 116 years of age. Luke Short lived to be 116. He joined the Congregational Church in Middlesbrough in Massachusetts, and he bore a clear testimony of God's saving grace until his dying day. So the promise is, in due season, we shall reap. if we faint not. Isaiah the prophet says that God's word will not return unto him void, but will accomplish the thing whereto he sends it. Solomon says in the Ecclesiastes, cast thy bread upon the waters, for thou shalt find it after many days. Missionaries need promises, the promises of God. So we say tonight to the fosters as they return to the mission field, you be encouraged by these promises, be encouraged by these promises that your work, your labor is not in vain in the Lord. So here, brethren and sisters, are some of the needs of a missionary, some of the needs that Andy and Hannah Foster have, the Foster family. that we as God's people can help them with, can help supply for them. Let me just say this in closing. Let me remind you, we've been thinking of the needs of the missionary. Let me remind you, brethren and sisters, of the great need of more missionaries for the work of God. The Savior said, the harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers, the laborers are few. There's a great need tonight of missionaries. There's a great need of missionaries for Uganda. That has been highlighted in this service. Great need of missionaries for Kenya, for Africa, for the world. Can I ask you, will you go tonight? Someone in this missionary meeting? Will you give your life to serve the Lord in the foreign field, as the fosters have done, to meet that great need? Paul said to the Corinthians, they first gave their own selves to the Lord. Isn't that a challenge, brethren and sisters? We're thinking tonight of what you can give to help the needs of the missionaries. Well, don't overlook it. The first thing you can give tonight is yourself to go and labor with them. to go and strengthen their hands on the mission fields of the earth. I'll close with this. Many years ago, there was a missionary to Persia called Dr. Donald Carr. Remember that Persia is modern-day Iran. Dr. Carr was once asked the question how he got the call to serve the Lord as a missionary in Persia. Listen carefully to the answer that he gave. He replied, I had no call to stay at home, but I had the command to go. Can you say tonight, brethren and sisters, honestly, in your heart, before God, that you do not have a call to stay at home? Think of that, do you? Do you have a call, a very definite call of God to stay at home? If that is not the case, remember the command. The commission of our Savior is still to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Will you go, my brother, my sister? Will you obey the call? the call of God, the call of Christ to your heart tonight, the needs of missionaries, and the great need of missionaries. I pray the Lord will write those truths on every heart tonight. For even in Thessalonica, you sent once and again unto my necessity. May the Lord bless His Word with every heart. Let's pray. Let's bow together, please. Father, thank you for this meeting, the blessing of being here. Thank you for the blessing of God that we've known. Thank you for your presence in our midst. Thank you, Father, for your speaking voice. We want to pray that you'll speak very definitely, powerfully, at all of our hearts. We pray, Father, that you'll help us all to set our affections on things above, not on things on the earth. Help us, Father, ever to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, knowing that all these things will be added on to us. We want to pray, Father, we'll be those that are sold out to God. Remember, Paul said that he would spend and be spent. We thank Father of the regions beyond. We thank tonight of untold millions that are still untold. Help us never to lose sight of that vision. We pray that the burden for souls will never diminish. We pray, Father, that it might increase. And we want to cry that even from This meeting tonight, there will be those that will go forth to serve the Lord with all their hearts. Remember that great appeal of the apostle, that you present your bodies as a living sacrifice, wholly acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. We do pray, Father, for Andy, Hannah, little Rachel. We commit them to thee. We pray, Father, at every step that they will know the Lord is at their side. And Lord, we do ask thee tonight, fulfill for them the great promises found in this chapter. We can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth us, that you'll supply our every need according to your riches in glory. In due season, we shall reap if we faint not. Lord, our cry earnestly, collectively, unitedly, in this thy house tonight for your servants, as we send them forth, as it will please thee to fulfill these promises for them abundantly during this term of service. So hear our cries, Father. We commit ourselves just into your hands now. We ask thee to part us in thy fear and with thy favour, and spread your covering wings around till all our wanderings cease. And until our fathers love their boat, our souls arrive in peace. We ask it all in Jesus' name. Amen.