by Peter Ruck | Oct 17, 2017 | Blog
Sometimes things don’t workout how you’ve planned, “do they?” Especially when your doing something that makes you feel good. Even after you’ve prayed and you believe your doing God’s will.
Liberia in West Africa was a mission trip I (Peter Ruck) was suppose to have gone in a team several years ago in a ministry team. George Osborn my colleague at a former ministry said, “the next time I go back are you up for it?” We prayed and decided to do a joint venture to Liberia we wanted go do open-air healing crusades, go into prisons, school and hospitals, start mission school training equipping pastors. George had always emphasised to me how poor and hurt this nation was to me our humble the pastors were.
We started our ministry campaign Zeal & Lumina Ministries. We began collecting Bibles and Aid we had our visas ready to go. Then Ebola struck the country the first time, it soon became evident that we would have to postpone our mission.
The response to our appeal was fantastic, Bibles, Theological books, desks, bookcases, tables and chairs all for the planned school that is to be converted into a mission school. Equipment for schools and orphanages, footballs bikes, nursery items, toys, push chairs, clothing, cots beds. Computers, generator etc. It was fully loaded, we were really excited remember we had paid and brought this container outright. So once Aid items had been distributed the container would be converted into a school room to teach God’s Word.
What happened next was unexpected ill health in both our families and me personally. Once more the visas weren’t used. I talked to George, “why don’t you still go?” “No, I believe God has called us to go together!” George replied. “Let’s concentrate on sending the container Bro”
Can you believe we spent over a year packing it, “jumping through so many hoops” finally getting the container sealed. It spent three weeks on the seas, then a year in Monrovia docks. We give all the glory to God for this amazing mission, we continued pray experiencing numerous obstacles, demands for money, storage, taxes on charitable donations all preventing the container from being released. We often felt exhausted and frustrated with endless conversations leading us up blind alleys. George and I continued to encourage each other praying together, praying with Pastor Amos Freeman our partner over in Liberia on line.
Then finally the MIRACLE happened we received a president’s waiver, on the import taxes of charitable goods. God overrules those seeking to withhold this consignment. We are so grateful for those who continued to stand with us in prayer. Our hearts are filled with joy as so many prayers have been answered. So blessed as so many gave gifts and finance others laboured tirelessly.
It has been a blessed time watching the photos coming through of Children in schools and orphanages receiving gifts. Young people and Pastors receiving Bibles and theological books, Evangelists receiving bikes to ride out and share the Good News. Do look through the attachment powerpoint slides these say a 1000 words!
We would have liked to make the trip, we continue pray for those who will make it to heaven as a result of this project, as people receive tracts or get taught from the Bible by other believers who are now equipped to teach others, in these vast nations who have suffered so much in the past. You’ve read this blog and previous posts do pray for this wave of grace and love to fill this nation. Thanking so many people who stood with us. So grateful to God and you.
What a lessons we have learnt, feeling truly blessed writing this highlights, reflecting on the importance of unity, patience, perseverance, prayer and faith.
Feeling blessed
Peter & George.
Click here to download the Liberia Presentation.
by Peter Ruck | Feb 27, 2017 | Blog
Wonderful to be back with my “Jungle Family” the Orang Asli tribe in the central peninsular of Malaysia. It is absolutely marvellous to see the way God’s hand has been upon this tribe who live deep in the Rainforest.
The outreach began in 2007 when my dear friends Bobby & Fiona Ho and my brother in law Sunny Ooi and others from their church began to make regular visits. They would bring clothing and food meeting their needs. Whilst on holiday with my wife Judy and my brother in law Sunny urged me to join them. This was in 2008 and were it began for me. God opened up the way miraculously through a little girl called Leb who had terrible skin diseases who crying and in pain.
I will briefly share how God spoke to me to bring a pint of milk, everyone questioned “why” it was a Word of Knowledge as I was praying to God please help me as “NO” one had shared the Gospel previously. God was speaking telling me we needed to bring “milk” Little did I know it was to feed a “bear cub” it gave me the opportunity to share the creation story as Ida fed the cub with the milk, she was Leb’s mother. I was left with only women and children to speak to as the men runaway scared of me as I was the first white man they had ever seen. Bobby was interpreting for me I asked if anyone needed prayer, we prayed for Leb at this time really believing God had touched her there were no visible signs other than she was not crying.
“Everyone put you hands together like this as we prayed the Lord’s Prayer especially for Leb and of course the whole tribe”
“This is amazing, seeing them copying you putting there hands together and repeating the prayer with me and you.” Bobby said.
I returned home to England Bobby sent a photo and messages telling me the skin disease had completely gone and she had no more pain!
Then my visit in 2009 the men did not runaway but called out the name Leb to me. It was time for a real breakthrough ten or so men accepted Christ another young man was healed. Subsequent visits God has moved each time. You can see other blogs of previous trips. I was really excited about returning again and contacted Bobby to see if he could arrange a day for me with Pastor Suri for us return. I had planned a message to share from Isaiah using the hand tract whilst at home in England.
The prospect of returning praying with anticipation for a revelation of God’s that the Holy Spirit will use me again as a messenger. We were out with my brother in law Sunny the day before God was speaking to me in my Spirit once more I needed to buy a “mirror” he took me to a mall to buy one, we eventually found exactly the right one it was a heart shaped frame with a mirror inset about 18 inches in diameter. God had planted a scripture in my Spirit “ But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit” 2 Corthinians 3:18.
I made some notes to meditate on here before speaking to the people I intended to let the Holy Spirit lead and gave Bobby the scripture and shared my theme of using the mirror, that’s all.
We should substitute “ reflecting “ for “beholding” Christians are represented not as persons looking into a mirror, but themselves as mirrors. They who uncover their own souls to the influence of Christ reflect and attain His glory.
The reflection of Christ is not for a moment but should be permanently stamped on them/us so they themselves/we’re. In other words we ourselves are the “MIRROR OF CHRIST” people we will see the reflective image of Christ in us. Just like seeing a reflection in the mirror. Just like we parents train our children, we have to grow in Christ to be more Christ like.
It’s along drive up from Kuala Lumpur, around three hours I was up at 5am Bobby was picking me at the gatehouse with Fiona in his four wheel drive. We had to collect another lady Mylene she is a member of his Church and was coming along to help serve the food once we arrive in the Jungle. The journey provided the time to catch up on so much that had been happening since my last trip in 2014. The last trip was so fruitful I got to meet Pastor Suri and minister in His Church baptising people together seeing people saved healed and delivered, in the two villages.
We saw many miracles on the last trip the one that last sticks in my mind was the man who had been attacked by a bear who had tore into his foot down to the bone. We had prayed together in his hut it was a ghastly wound, I remember thinking if God doesn’t heal him he will lose his foot or even die. I heard before I left Malaysia he was up and walking two days later. Bobby told me, he and Pastor Suri have both seen him amazingly he hardly has a scare! I was hoping to see “Halim” myself, but he wasn’t in the village the Orang Asli people are nomadic people. So the news of Leb and other miracles like this man “Halim” who was mauled helps to share the Gospel it is being spread through the Jungle villages. Pastor Suri ministry continues to grow because he is an Orang Asli himself.
Bobby shared with me about the building work going on in the village. How Pastor Suri was full time and had another full time worker working with the children. A new headman had been appointed “Batin Atong” he is Ida husband, the ministry has a counsel now to take them forward with Bobby Ho and Pastor Suri in leadership.
You can see God’s hand at work, first Ida feeding the bear cub, the daughter Leb’s miracle leading on seven year later the husband “BatinAtong” becoming the headman.
We made our way into the village slipping and sliding through the mud on the track into the village, it was quite different buildings were being erected amongst the traditional huts. We pulled up and immediately people converged on us.
Bobby said, “Peter use these footballs to keep everyone amused whilst we set up the food tables”.
It’s amazing how a ball and a smile works! I could recognise so many familiar faces, the faces I often think of when I pray for this tribe.
Bobby, Fiona and Mylene, soon began to serve everyone food, Rice, meat and vegetable, paper plates and a spoon in their hand they lined up for the food. Followed by coffee and banana cake!
Soon Fiona and Mylene were involved with the children, lovely to see them singing doing actions.
Fiona was teaching them words in English. Then they all prayed the Lord’s Prayer in Malay. I could have stayed watching them Leb was in the front despite her shyness. Bobby was calling me, “Peter come over with me we need you to share”,
It was time for open-air ministry under the trees, this time there were plastic chairs others sat on logs men, women and children nothing formal as they scattered around to listen. Bobby spoke first and then introduced me. “Do you remember Pastor Peter coming before, do you remember how Leb was sick and we prayed?” Bobby said.
The message began by telling them we are bringing more “Good News” as I unwrapped the present I had brought for everyone in the “newspaper” It was a mirror in a heart shaped frame! The heart was to share the love I have for each one of them and more importantly the love Jesus their God has for them. “We all want to be loved don’t we? “Who wants to be loved” I asked asking them to raise their hands like me.
Bobby read the scripture to them 2 Corthinians 3:18 in Malay of course. I then revealed the mirror to them all passing around so they could see themselves as it reflected their own faces. It immediately brought smiles to many faces they were listening intently by now. Previous occasions they would have chatted amongst themselves. I then began to unpack the message that they themselves could be a reflective image of Jesus Christ when Jesus lives inside them. It was amazing their faces were shinning like bright lights as I asked if they understood. It was truly amazing how far these people had come I know Pastor Suri has baptised a great number over recent years the tribe are growing in their Christian foundation.
Bobby asked if anyone wanted prayer a few stepped forward first a young man will problem with a chesty cough and breathlessness so we prayed for him. Then a young lady came forward, she had pains in her chest, shoulders and arms. She began to stare at me looking surprised asking her to lift arms as we prayed, she began to smile as she moved. Bobby asked has the pain gone she said yes and walked towards Ida sitting on the log. God had really touched Ramlah she was smiling and looking really happy.
OK Bobby said, “can you walk up the mountain on the Jungle trail I want you pray for an old man who has had a stroke?”
“Let’s give it a go OK” I replied.
We walk down a hill crossing a ditch, then a steep climb up the other side arriving at the top were there were a number of traditional huts. “I went to the far end stooping down inside to enter the hut it was “Pak Siea” inside. he had a stroke it had effected his left leg and arm especially his hand. I spent along time praying with him and talking to him. I know exactly how frustrated he was feeling having had a stroke myself. I showed him a few exercises to help him with his mobility.
“Pak Siea was one of the first men to make decision to follow Jesus in 2009. I had been looking for him in the settlement all day because previously he had always followed me around on previous visits. I will continue to pray for his healing, he probably needs a more stable diet, but he is not keen on the medics who visited him. He reached forward with his right hand to touch me and smiled as I left.
The three of us trekked back down the trail, suggesting to Pastor Suri he follows up trying to get him to eat better and do exercises to bring more mobility.
It was time to make our farewells, take a few photos before a few more prayers for the future of the village they have plans to build a Church and a school for the children.
We waved goodbye, as they all waved and smiled us we drove out of the settlement.
Our three hour journey home we reflected on what we had seen today, it was a blessing seeing many of tribesman and women clearly having a relationship with God. We talked about
education for the children being a priority learning them to read and write. The picture Bible is a great tool I brought over in 2009 is used daily. My plan is to send a few more books for the school.
It wonderful to be back on mission, again I have few ministry engagement locally in Brentwood and surrounding areas coming up. Thank you everyone for your support and encouragement I hope you enjoy this story and the pictures.
by Peter Ruck | Feb 16, 2017 | Blog
2016
The prayer from my heart was, “Lord I don’t know how much longer I have on this earth, days, weeks, months, years or tens of years. Lord I want to use whatever time I have left to serve you.”
One morning soon after this prayer, during my quiet time with The Lord, I was reading Romans 8v1, a familiar scripture – but not this morning. The Holy Spirit turned this scripture on its head. ‘So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.’ Then I saw clearly, ‘but there IS condemnation for those who DON’T belong to Christ Jesus.’ I saw in a new way Jesus’ heart for the lost. I just wept for the lost souls under condemnation, “Lord as I look around I see many lost souls.”
I knew from that morning Jesus wanted me to serve Him in reaching lost souls with a greater urgency and in new ways.
One morning, I was listening to Premier Christian Radio as I travelled to work. The programme featured prison ministry, and as I listened, they spoke of a prison ministry conference taking place at Holy Trinity Brompton Church in London. My heart leapt and I knew I had to go. I booked myself a place and went along. Christians involved in prison ministry from all parts of the country attended. The speakers were Spirit filled and shared amazing testimonies of the work of The Holy Spirit in prison.
I came away knowing in my heart that God was calling me to be part of this ministry. My prayer became, “How Lord? When Lord?”
Eighteen months passed and then at a ‘Churches Together’ meeting, Ian, then pastor of an Elim Church, asked if I would join him one Sunday taking a Sunday Chapel Service at a prison. In my heart I knew this was God opening the door which I had waited eighteen months for.
That first Sunday at the prison service I felt I belonged straight away. Speaking and sharing with the prisoners came so naturally to me. It has been a true blessing to be able to share Jesus Christ in prison with such ease.
One day God spoke to me clearly, “Don’t judge these men.” I have never forgotten this wisdom, and I know that it is key in this ministry.
I have attended the prison chapel services with Ian and his wife for six years now. We have shared testimonies and the word of God. At the end of each service there has always been a wonderful time to share and pray with these men.
Preparation for these services for me would begin some weeks before in prayer and meditation, seeking God’s heart for what He wanted to impart. It was on one such occasion that The Lord spoke, “I have come to set the captives free.” I was also given the scripture John 8v36, ‘If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.’
I shall never forget what happened over the next two weeks. The Holy Spirit would wake me up and say, “Write these words down…..” This continued until I had a whole A4 sheet of words. I then asked The Lord to help me make sense of these words. It became clear that these words were for those suffering with addiction to drugs and alcohol.
The Sunday came to share this word in the prison service. At the end of the service, prisoners came forward for prayer, some were in tears. Sadly we ran out of time to pray for all the prisoners. The Chaplain asked if we could stay on and go to the drug addiction wing and continue to pray for those wanting prayer. I saw over one hundred young men aged between eighteen to thirty-five years caught in the power of addiction. My heart went out to these lost men as I stood at the bottom of the staircase in this cell block. I said to The Lord, “I don’t know how I can help these men, but if you are calling me into this ministry you will have to make a way.”
A month later I was involved in ‘On the Move’, a three day annual street evangelistic outreach. It was on Saturday, the last day of this outreach at 14.00hrs, that two men came up to me and asked, “What’s been going on?” I explained ‘On the Move’ to them and they said they were from ‘Teen Challenge’, based in London. They themselves were ex drug and alcohol addicts who had just completed the eighteen month Teen Challenge drug and alcohol addiction programme. They had both received Jesus as their Lord and Saviour during this time. Jesus had changed their lives.
“God,” I said, “these men are the answer to my prayer.”
I shared with them about prison ministry and those suffering from addiction in prison. They gave me their card and said to speak to David at Teen Challenge. I did so, and was invited to visit the Teen Challenge centre. I told David what was on my heart, and he said they would help and support me in this work.
I then arranged a meeting with the then prison Chaplain and shared my heart with him and how God had led me to start work with those who have addiction problems. He was fully supportive and has since helped me in every way.
I have now worked for the past two years, one day a week, assisting those who are seeking help with addiction problems. I also help men who are open to God and are seeking Him further, as well as supporting those men who have already had an encounter with God.
I have found there is a freedom to share Jesus in prison that I have not experienced outside prison. These men know they are sinners. They have time to read the scriptures and supportive Christian literature, and many tell me they pray and need His help to turn their lives around.
by Peter Ruck | Jan 28, 2017 | Blog
Athletes in Action started in Brentwood in the Summer of 2012 when a team from Athletes in Action, Holland stayed on after the London Olympics to lead a sports mission in the town.
Since then we have continued to play sport and share the Gospel with local youth.
Based at the Brentwood Leisure Centre each Tuesday evening during school term, 6-a-side football is the most popular activity with the boys.
We are an ecumenical group supported by many of the local churches.
For more information on playing or helping please click here.
Melvyn Cooper – AIA Team Leader
by Peter Ruck | Jan 2, 2017 | Blog
We took to the streets in Harold Hill on Saturday afternoon inviting people to Sunday evening in the diner in the middle of the shopping centre. The Zeal team gave out invites with Healing Bus group with the local host Pastor Niyi. We had opportunities to pray for “healing on the street” this brought several people the following evening.
Sunday evening it was a packed house, the hot chocolate, teas and coffee’s flowed the Carol sheet were distributed around the tables. Everyone was joining in folk from the Zeal team, others from my home church Trinity and Pastor Niyi’s Good News Church sat amongst the people who had responded to our invites.
The Good News of Christ’s birth with readings by members of the Good News Church, Stories were shared. It was a joyful time with moving solo’s, Several testimonies of God’s grace and love. It was “Great working together bringing the Gospel to the community.
Our message was “Love came down at Christmas a gift for everyone, Jesus!”
It’s been wonderful to hear Pastor Niyi has spoken to several people who responded following the evening.
