Welcome to this edition of the Council Newsletter.

In this issue we introduce you to our work in Africa. Our earliest assemblies there grew from modest beginnings in places like Cape Town in South Africa, and then later in Kenya. More recent contacts have sprung up in Ivory Coast, Zambia, Botswana and Nigeria. As our dedicated workers have followed up these leads, small groups of locals have been saved. God has then provided the leaders from among the local converts. We show them how to set up assemblies and encourage them to seek more revival and growth in the Church.

It is the gospel message of the Lord Jesus and the miraculous outpouring of God's Holy Spirit which sets these folk free and gives them a new life - not the powerless, traditional religions of their former colonisers.

Please pray for continued revival amongst our assemblies in Africa.

We finish this edition with bits-n-pieces from around the world and a photo roundup of some of our Easter Camps held in places as exotic and as far away as Hungary and England, tropical Yeppoon and temperate Tasmania in Australia.

We encourage you to take advantage of your local Camps. There's always plenty of ministry from the Word of God, great fellowship and lots of fun wherever the saints get together. As the old saying goes, "Seven days in Camp is worth seven months back in town."

Map of Africa - The lightly shaded countries are those where we have assemblies or outreaches

Pastor Brian Allen is the Liaison pastor for Southern Africa

The assembly in Cape Town began in 1988 as a result of a visit by Ron Carslake, who later became its pastor. Pastor Ron is often on the plane these days helping up in Zambia or points further north.

He reports: "We have decided to run street outreaches every Saturday morning in Cape Town. So far we have had seven baptisms for the year. Great testimonies are abounding and the saints are rejoicing. We also have a number of other saints in different parts of South Africa, somewhat remote from Cape Town, who were saved in other parts of the world. Our sister Margaret was baptised and Spirit filled in Perth last year, and has now had to return to Johannesburg. Natalie and Xolani both came to the Lord in London and are living in Pretoria and Buttersworth respectively. Lydia was saved in Alice Springs and is now also back in Johannesburg. We are in regular contact with them and we record our meetings in Cape Town each week to send to them on DVD. Please uphold these saints, who are far from fellowship, in your prayers."

Some of the folk at a Sunday meeting Cape Town	Pastor Ron and his wife Helen
3 brothers have recently been filled with the Spirit in Malmesbury prison	Cape Town Christmas Camp

Bob Hutton, originally from Australia, was instrumental in beginning the Kenyan fellowship which now covers much of the country. Pastor Sammy Mwanzia is the senior pastor.

Kenya reports that the work is continuing to grow. All the assemblies are experiencing revival, and still more assemblies are being established.

The assemblies in Nairobi and Mombassa each number well over 100 saints. Their Christmas camp was well supported and we were able to arrange for Pastor Joseph and brother Eddie from Zambia to join them (see the Zambia report below). The goat project in Kivuti is flourishing and new land has been purchased in Kikumbulyu for the construction of a hall. The Mitsubishi Pajero which we purchased in July last year serves the assembly well, making Pastor Sammy's job much easier.

The saints at the Nairobi Fellowship	Pastor Sammy, sister Christine and their three daughters
Pastor Brian (top centre) Ps Sammy (middle centre, kneeling) and various pastors and leaders at Nairobi	The assembly outside their hall at Kasaala

The work established in Zambia only mid last year has now grown to over three hundred souls baptised in various centres.

They are located in the North Western "copper belt" of Zambia, spread out over a distance of some 400km. A number of other groups there have been in contact wanting to join us. Pastor Ron visited the assemblies a few weeks ago in March.

He experienced wonderful fellowship and growth while there. Here's an extract from his recent email:

"Our centres at Ndola, Kitwe & Solwezi are all well established & growing. Solwezi and Kitwe in particular are doing well.

At the centres in the Mwinilunga district we baptised a number of folk, most of whom received the Holy Spirit, and another 30 folk who had previously been baptised received the Spirit in the seekers' meetings. We spent time at each assembly to hold a communion meeting and operate the spiritual gifts [Speaking in tongues, Interpretation of tongues and Prophecy - Ed.]. We had to make do with what we could for the bread and cup - weak tea for the juice and in one case pieces of sweet potato for the bread!

On this trip a total of 81 were baptised & 55 filled with the Spirit (speaking in tongues).

As I left Ndola I received a message to say that another 25 were expected to be baptised this Sunday at Chipulukusu and 5 more at Mushili. At the time I left, our assemblies and their leaders in Zambia are:

Overall Liaison pastors : Pr Joseph Mukanda & Pr Eddie Kamavu

Ndola District
Mushili - Pr Ben Njapawu
Chipulukusu (new meeting) - Pr Christopher Chimanda
Kitwe District
Chemwemwe - Pr Henrick Chilufya & Pr William Mulenga
Kwacha (new meeting) - Pr Harold Mulenga
Solwezi District
Solwezi - Pr Millan Nduwa
Mwinilunga District
Lumwana West - Pr Ledson Kasalumuna
Kabombu - Pr Fordson Katoka
Kasampula - Pr Alex Kakoma
Njilamtambo - Pr Godwin Mubidima & Pr Henery Chikomeno
Kanyikeji -
Chitungu (new meeting) - Pr Mbuya Winus
Kabompo District (new district)
Br Sergio Luzendu & Hezen Machayi

In summary, it was a very good trip. We have a lot of good saints there, and considerable opportunities for growth in the immediate future. The brothers are talking of numerous other contacts which they have, even across the border in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

It is difficult for the pastors from each assembly to travel around and keep in touch. We bought a bicycle for one pastor and paid bus fares for another. We are looking for ways to help the churches establish projects similar to those which we have begun in Kenya, so that they are able to support the work in their own areas.

The Lord is blessing the work and some good testimonies are emerging.

Pastor Ron Carslake

Pastors, leaders and wives outside Pr Joseph's home at Chemwemwe	Newly minted saints - Chipulukusu
Baptisms at Chipulukusu	Saints in the kitchen at Kabombu
Some of the Zambian saints outside their hall in Kitwe	The assembly and their meeting hall at Njilamtambo

We now have a small handful of saints in Botswana. Two local ladies were Spirit filled in Geelong in 1998. After spending 5 years there and in Melbourne, they returned home in 2003. Last year a doctor from Gaborone was baptised and Spirit filled while visiting London. During a recent visit in November another lady in Gaborone who had recently received the Holy Spirit, was baptised.

We have a small but faithful assembly in the main city, Abidjan. Despite war nearby and upheaval in the country, they have regular meetings and conduct outreaches in town. They commonly baptise new folk who come along as a result. They are led by Brother Wellington Joway. The assembly is very excited as they recently conducted their first two wedding ceremonies.

Fellowship after the Thursday evening meeting	Brother Wellington Joway cleaning the hall

Another new group that has started up is in Lagos, Nigeria. Lagos is a huge thriving metropolis of 18 million. Contact came to us through one of the brothers saved in the fellowship in Ivory Coast about 3 years ago.

Saturday afternoon meeting in backyard courtyard in Lagos	Jan Pieter from Holland baptising brother Kelechi in Lagos

Pastor Godfrey reports that the three camps conducted during the Chrismas and New Year period resulted in over 650 baptisms (yes, you read the figure correctly). Praise the Lord.

In addition, the PNG Easter Rally held over the long weekend in March resulted in some wonderful blessings around Popondetta. By the time the 12 Australian visitors left 100 locals had been baptised.

There were several notable healing miracles. A lady was in extreme pain in Popondetta as a result of an excruciating back disorder (she could be heard screaming from outside the hospital). She was unable to walk and was carried to the Rally, and later down to the river for baptism. After baptism she was totally healed. She got up out of the water, walked up the 5m steep embankment, and then climbed onto the back of the truck! (She also received the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues.) Another man, David, below, was healed of deafness in one ear; a condition he had had for 9 years.

Lame lady healed	Outreach in Pt Moresby before Popondetta Rally
Brother David healed of deafness

Some photos from the new extension meeting at the northern end of the Gold Coast region at Helensvale. A new pastor has been appointed, John Joske. He has been a member of the assembly most of his life.

The assembly is looking forward to more revival with this step of faith.

Don't forget Convention 2005 is just around the corner. This year it's in Perth, Western Australia. If you're going over why not take a few days extra at the start and join in the Outreach starting Tuesday 7th June.