May News 2025

 

May 31, 2025, 12:16 PM (2 days ago)

Dear Ones, We thank you for the month that passed, and for making our ministry here possible. We are learning the benefits of developing a closer walk with the Lord and the satisfaction and assurance it provides. And you are all in our prayers and we are assured that we are all on this journey together. We hope and pray that it will inspire you to see what the Lord doing though our united efforts. Once again we THANK you from the bottom of our hearts. NEWSLETTER CONTENTS: 1.          BIBLE STUDIES 2.          OUTREACH 3.          MARKET 4.          STOP FOOD WASTE 5.          THEATER 6.          THE VINEYARD           7.          WHATS APP MESSAGES 8.          PERSONAL 9.          A WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT BIBLE STUDIES: We are happy to report that we have had two new students join our Bible study group this month. (Not everyone is pictured here). This photo was taken as we celebrated Philip’s birthday together the day after his birthday! OUTREACH: It is a joy to be able to freely spread the good news of the Gospel. Not everyone will stop to talk, but when we leave them with a tract our hopes are that they will read that later on. We had a sweet encounter with a young man. We sat down on a bench next to him while waiting for a bus. He was very occupied on his phone, but finally Philip nudged me to start talking with him. I had been concerned to not interrupt him. But I am glad I did as he turned out to be very receptive and he received the Lord. MARKET: We volunteered to help A. with an outdoor market she had been allowed to hold in support of the various charity events in our local area. It was on the local church ground and the janitor was there to help us with tables etc. When we arrived however he insisted that we set up behind the small wall (in the photo). A couple of ladies started pleading their cause pointing out that we would not be visible there, etc. I was about to get involved with the conversation when the Lord gave me a check not to but to rather pray and ask him to get involved. I had hardly finished praying before I heard the janitor suddenly agreeing to us standing outside the wall (as seen in the photo). It pays to let the Lord fight out battles. Praise the Lord! STOP FOOD WASTE: Volunteering for “Stop Food Waste”, here we are seen preparing baskets of food for the families expected to show up. It turned out not to be enough baskets as many tend to show up last minute (we usually try to close at a certain time) But thankfully we somehow always manage to find something for the late comers as well. Praise the Lord! THEATER: I, Rita, was invited to come along with a group of women, to a theater play called, “Women, know your history”. It was based on a  historical account from the mid 1400’s to the mid 1900’s (approx..) of the most outstanding influential Danish women that fought for and affected changes for the equality of women. After the play there was a 30 minutes “interview time” and the floor was opened for questions from the audience. It was an interesting and stirring play. We all have a responsibility to do what’s right. THE VINEYARD: Before each service the people leading the Kids church will give a brief summary of the what the kids will be learning and the activities they will be doing that day. Here Joan is telling out the kids program for the day. Joan joins us at our home once a month for Bible study. She usually lets us know in advance what she would like to learn about, i.e. speaking in tongues, hearing from God, etc. She usually comes home with us after church on a Sunday! BABY DEDICATION: We have had an amazing “baby boom” in our church. It is inspiring to be part of a church filled with new and fruitful families. Here we had a baby dedication for a young family who just recently had their first child. MOTHERS’ DAY: We have had an amazing “baby boom” in our church. It is inspiring to be part of a church filled with new and fruitful families. Here we had a baby dedication for a young family who just recently had their first child. HALF-YEAR CELEBRATION: We also celebrated our half-year event. This is a time where new members are introduced, the financial standing is shared, a nice meals and a “cake table” is offered. It is a time of fellowship and enjoying each others company. There was also new business on the agenda as all the Vineyard churches in the area are being restored, boards set up, leadership teams established, etc. All that to say that there will be a lot of upcoming changes and we are looking forward to all that it might entail. WHATS APP MESSAGES:   R. wrote: I am doing well, a little tired but otherwise well. God is good.  Things are I full swing in my life and here at the school. I have just caught up and read the messages. Wow, they are strong! I want to meditate over them and integrate them in my life. Thank you so much! I am also sending them on to my friend. May the Lord bless you guys! V. wrote: Please pray for me. My partner of 14 years passed away ! A couple of days later we received the following: Hi Rita. A miracle has happened.  The police told me to consider my partner dead after he disappeared in tge sea for 5 days. Yesterday after lunch they found him floated ashore. Very bad condition, dehydrated and unconscious. Please pray for him. His name is Joel. — A. who was/is  part of the church we planted in Sir Lowry’s Pass wrote the following after passing an outreach course: Please tell Philip we miss you guys so much. This is the seed you guys planted along the way. Because you guys never give up, but you have kept the faith and the hope. A good lesson for all of us! N. Wrote asking us to please pray for her to get a job. About a week later she wrote saying she had a job and  was weeping for joy. A. Asked us to pray for her baby that was sick and didn’t want to drink, etc We prayed and the next day we heard back that the baby had slept though the night and had nursed well the following morning. E. I must say Rita the studies help a lot . It actually help me to make sure that l am on the right path. Thank you for not giving up on us as students T. Wrote, “Thank you so much for your daily messages. I want to translate them and pass them on to a friend. A.I have started reading my bible for the first time in my life. It is amazing. I love it. I am  also going to read the last messages you sent me as I am learning so much from them, and I am forwarding them. However, at the moment I am consumed with the Bible!   PERSONAL: This month we celebrated Philip’s birthday. We found a small back street and ended up at a small Greek pie shop. The place was run by a Greek, and Italian, and a Ukrainian. It was a nice and unique experience. And we are looking forward to many more years going strong for the Lord! WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT: We had an unexpected visitor this month. This young hawk landed on our balcony. We did not see when it first arrived but later on Philip noticed is leaning up against the glass fencing. Because of the way it was sitting we were not sure at first whether it had broken a  wing. Thankfully this was not the case and so when Philip approached it to try to help it stood up. It was obviously a young bird Obviously the bird made some serious mistakes in its flying abilities, which is what landed it in this predicament, but the Lord showed us that just as we never considered its mistakes or even thought to hold that against it, but rather had pity on the bird and desired to help it,  so the Lord pities His children and only seeks our best. We are richly blessed in His love. Psalm:46:1-3 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. Psalm 103:13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.  14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 2 Corinthians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, Psalm 86:15 But You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, Slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth. Psalm 103:8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness. Isaiah 46:15-16 “Can a woman forget her nursing child And have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you. “Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me. Psalm 145: 8-9 The Lord is gracious and merciful; Slow to anger and great in lovingkindness. The Lord is good to all, And His mercies are over all His works. PRAYER REQUESTS: As mentioned earlier our work here would not be possible without the partnership of each of you who not only support us financially but also through your prayers, and encouragement. Thank you! FOR THE MINISTRY: We want to thank you for your prayers for our ministry. This month two new students joined our Bible studies. We also heard testimonies of how some had begun to implement what they have been learning and the wonderful fruit it has born in their lives. We ask you to please keep the increase of our ministry in your prayers We have also a student that comes once a month as she lives a distance away. She usually let us know what she would like to know more about and we try to  prepare accordingly. We have also started praying together and taking time to hear from the Lord and share the words and impressions we receive while taking time to hear from Him. OUTREACH: Please pray with us to meet people during out times of outreach that will receive the Lord, join our Whats App ministry and join our weekly Bible studies. Thank you! A VEHICLE: We are still in great need of a vehicle and so we would like to ask you to please continue to keep it in your prayers. While we were in South Africa the Lord miraculously provided two vehicles for us and we are persuaded that He is fully able to provide us with a vehicle once again. We bring this need before the Lord often thanking Him that He has heard our request and praying for the people involved in our miracle (as the Lord works through people). GREECE: Our tickets for our visit to Greece are booked. We will be leaving on the 11th of June and returning the 7th of July. We thank you in advance for your continued prayers for safe travels, all our legal work that we have to take care of there to work out, our stay, etc. We look forward to telling you about the trip next month! In closing we want to once again THANK YOU for your love care and participation through your partnership in our ministry here.  Much love,  Philip and Rita Please remember our new details are as follows: PayPal: force4good.fvs@gmail.com NordFyn's Bank Rita Olsen Reg. #: 6869 Account #: 0001058710 BIC/SWIFT Code: NSBKDK21 IBAN DK2168690001058710 PS: If you are in the European union you can transfer funds vis SEPA with very minimum or no fees. For another easy and simple way to transfer money internationally please visit: https://wise.com/