Victoria Update

Dear saints,

Greetings once again from the west coast. I just wanted to write and share an update on how things are going over here in Victoria with the work of the Lord. As you can see from the above picture, Greg and I have experienced a little bit of police trouble at the Parliament building for our preaching. Every day during the week we preach a short 10-15 sermon at the steps of the building to the people gathered there. So far things have gone smoothly, and we ask for your prayers that the door would remain open for Gospel to go forth, and that the devil would not be allowed to shut it. Believe me, he has been trying... the spiritual darkness here is intense.

Here is Greg and I on the streets of Victoria. After Parliament, we spend a few hours witnessing and handing out tracts downtown. Thousands and thousands of tracts have already gone out: the Word is spreading throughout the city! Already many people recognize us as the Christians who preach downtown, and we pray this familiarity will help open doors to share Christ with them. Please pray for us as this is a difficult and dangerous time of battle right in the enemies territory. Even today Greg and I were threatened to be beaten up by some drug dealers who didn't like what we were doing, and last week a busker actually took a swing at me unexpectedly for offering him a Gospel tract!

Every Sunday evening the church I attend holds a service at the Bishop Cridge Senior Center here in Victoria and I've been helping out at that as well, ministering music and preaching. It's exciting to see what God is doing in that place. The Gospel is boldly being proclaimed and God has given us some fresh strategies as to what we should be doing there for the elderly. Please pray for this outreach at the Senior Center and that the whole place would be radically impacted by the Gospel.

Tomorrow is actually the 120th anniversary of the Salvation Army beginning it's activities in Victoria in 1887, as shown by this plaque. We preach at this very spot downtown every day.

"Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of... the LORD." (1 Chronicles 28:20)

God bless you dear saints. Thank you so much for all your prayers and loving support toward this ministry. Our precious Lord Jesus bless you and keep you all your days. Until we meet again,

Your brother and fellow labourer in Christ,
-Eli