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We have attachment the following letter in .pdf file that contains pictures of the people mentioned here and you can print it out. Cross Purposes 10-08 letter.pdf

Dear Purpose-filled Partners

A Short Story

As background to this story I should tell you that When Barbara and I went to Australia in 1970 we had never visited there. We had never even left the USA before that—not even to Canada! That kind of missionary hardly exists anymore.

Several years ago I was asked to lead a prayer group of about 7 or 8 men at one of the Retreats MTW does for its missionaries. To introduce the men to each other I asked each one to tell what led them to their field of service. As they went around the circle the opening words became almost monotonous, “I went on a short term trip to…” I was the only one who did not use those words. It made me aware of how important short-term missions is to the process of recruiting new people.

One Year and Eight Weeks

Joshua Jacobs finished high school three years ago. He decided that he would give one year to mission work before he entered university. He chose a mission group that had a program in England. They sent him to work in one of the worst areas of Manchester, England’s 3rd largest city. His living and working conditions were terrible. Friends of ours, who belong to Joshua’s church, asked us to invite him to Worcester for a weekend break. We did and showed him a side of England he had not yet seen. As we heard his story we were impressed. by a serious minded young man. We stayed in touch and Joshua chose to apply to MTW for the 8-week Summer Intern program. We arranged for him to work at Immanuel Church, Cardiff with Dr Peter Naylor. At this point Joshua believes God is leading him to prepare himself for ministry in the UK.

Exploring Options for the Future

In our last Cross Purposes we wrote, “Tom and Melody Hartman, will be coming to Cardiff (Bethel Church) at the end of June for an eight-week summer ministry. This time slot fits into Melody’s summer break as a school teacher. Tom is an ordained Lutheran minister who is in process with the PCA. He is also a musician.” When we visited them the weekend after they arrived in Cardiff, we found that they were well on their way to a busy and useful summer. Tom had learned enough about the city that he was telling me how to find the restaurant we were looking for in center city. Tom was leading an Adult class in the Sunday School hour (adults don’t usually have Sunday School in Britain.) Tom has been leading a mid-week time for learning new hymns—remember the Welsh SING, loudly and well! They have also to worked with a Holiday Bible Club.

Eleven Month Adventure

Megan Hodge is a member of Peace Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Cary, North Carolina. while at university she attended another PCA church and in that time realized “how counter cultural following Christ is and how it brings together many diverse people.” When she thought about missions, MTW was her natural choice. Since then her hallmark has been flexibility. England did not appear in her list of country choices on her application. Since accepting an invitation to the UK the location of her ministry has had to change location from London to Cheltenham. – She arrived in July and will be here 11 months, mainly working to build relationships with students and young adults.

Personal Notes

Barbara and I are not sure what happened to the “quieter June” we mentioned in the last Cross Purposes but it came and went and so has July. In August Barbara plans to focus on her writing ministry—articles for two magazines, a contribution to an MTW training program and some biographical sketches for our church in Cheltenham. My usual preaching, mentoring and administrative tasks remain.—We close with the same words from the Apostle Paul as last time—a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me. [1 Corinthians 16:9] – Pray For Us!

With Thanks for your Prayers and Support—David L Cross

Support Donations should be sent to: Mission to the World, PO Box 116284, Atlanta,, GA  30368-6284 and marked for the
Account of David Cross, A/c # 011126  —  Please Note: this address is only for donations.

David L Cross

_______________

MTW – Country Coordinator for England & Wales

15 Key Avenue

Worcester WR4 0LT

United Kingdom

Tel: (01905) 612-830

Mobile:07908 677009

Skype: david_l_cross

Email: D.Cross@talktalk.net

______________________________________

A Bio by Barbara Cross

As you know from previous reports, Barbara writes historical (biographical) articles for 2 magazines. Below is one that was recently published in The Messenger in Australia. We hope you find it encouraging.

___________________________

DANIEL JAMES DRAPER – “In Peril at Sea”

The Apostle Paul knew what it was to suffer “the perils of the sea” (2 Corinthians 11:25-26) when in his sufferings for the sake of the gospel he tells of twice being shipwrecked as well as often being “in danger at sea”. He was not the only one to face such terrorizing nautical dangers when bringing the gospel as a missionary to foreign shores.

Daniel James Draper was born in 1820 in the village of Fareham in Hampshire, England. Though he came from a family solidly committed to the Church of England he would often find himself drawn to listen at the door of the local Methodist chapel where the local preacher was unhesitating in proclaiming to his listeners of their need of salvation. Knowing his parents’ opposition to the chapel and the message preached there, Daniel was afraid to go in, and yet he could not stay away. Once after listening, he vowed to himself, “I will not go there any more” and yet one day as he heard the gospel being proclaimed he found himself entering the chapel door. Inside, like the founder of Methodism, John Wesley, he found his heart “strangely warmed” and he came to a solid faith in the Saviour. He was warmly welcomed into the fellowship of that little congregation.

When he was twenty-two he moved to Brecon, Wales where he again joined the local Methodist fellowship, “giving attention to reading, exhortation and doctrine.” One of his favourite songs sung in the chapel was by Charles Wesley:

Jesus! The name high over all,
In hell, or earth, or sky,
Angels and men before it fall,
And devils fear and fly.

O that the world might taste and see
The riches of His grace!
The arms of love that compass me
Would all mankind embrace.

His only righteousness I show,
His saving truth proclaim,
’Tis all my business here below
To cry, “Behold the Lamb”!

Happy, if with my latest breath
I may but gasp His name;
Preach Him to all, and cry in death,
“Behold, behold the Lamb!”

As he sang that hymn he was not to know how true the last verse would be of him.

While at Brecon, he was put forward as a candidate for the ministry, and was sent to minister in a Methodist circuit in Cambridgeshire. However, God had other long-term plans for him. The Colonies in Australia had been established and there was a call for men to come and help to meet the spiritual needs of those who had settled there. Men who were physically and spiritually strong were required. As he considered this challenge he was encouraged by a leader who said to him, “Years of labour may be before you, but success is certain; it must come!”

In October 1835 Daniel, his new wife, Elizabeth, and other Christian workers sailed to New South Wales. Near the end of the voyage the boat came into great danger. In a letter to the mission committee back in England, one of the Draper’s fellow travellers wrote, “Our passage round was attended with great danger. We experienced a heavy gale from the east. … It was indeed an awful night, and brought us all carefully to examine the ground on which we hoped for heaven, having eternity in view. It was now that we felt the infinite value of the gospel, and the exceeding preciousness of Jesus, our glorious Redeemer. Such was the state of things from the violence of the ship’s motion and the sickness of most of the party that we could not be together; but all were engaged in continued prayer… We did not pray in vain. About one o’clock a.m. our kind captain came round to our cabins and said, in a full voice, “The wind is changed, and is blowing us off the land, and all danger is over.” An unutterable sensation passed through our minds on finding that the Lord had heard our prayers and rescued us from destruction and death.’ It was not God’s time for Daniel to draw his “latest breath.”

Draper was used by God in a great way during his thirty years of missionary work in the Colonies. He was involved in planting a large number of churches. During his time in South Australia he was active in the development of 27 chapels. It was partly a result of his work that Adelaide has the reputation as the “City of Churches.” During the gold rush in Victoria he sent men to care for the spiritual needs of the “diggers” – a ministry he often went to help himself. He took an active part in the construction of a number of church buildings. His days of working with his carpenter father as a young man was just one of the ways God prepared him for his time of ministry.

A missionary life was not without heartaches and trials. Another “storm of life” occurred when in 1838 his wife became ill, had a premature birth and within a few days the tiny baby and his wife were both dead. However, God later led him to marry another godly woman, Elizabeth Shelley, daughter of a former missionary to Tonga; she had been born in Australia in 1808 which made her one of the earliest citizens of that new country. There were other discouragements through disagreements over whether the church educational work should accept State aid to religion. This caused some of Draper’s best co-workers to sever their connection and form their own association. Sometimes disappointments came when the sending organization in England did not provide new workers that were so desperately needed.

After all most thirty years in Australia Daniel Draper and his wife wanted to go back to England to report on the progress of the work to which he had been sent. He wanted once more to see the little chapel in Fareham where his walk with the Lord had begun. He spoke to churches across England but the most meaningful time for him was when he saw the chapel in Fareham and visited the graves of his father and mother. He remarked to a friend of his time in his homeland, “I could spend another year in England very pleasantly and should like to do so if my conscience would allow me, but I feel that I must get back to my work.”

Early in January 1866 they boarded “The London” – a ship bound for Australia. As they began their travels the sea and the skies were calm. However, two days later the wind began to increase but not enough to cause great worry. However, within 24 hours much of the ships rigging had been blown away. The winds became a hurricane causing the ship’s captain to try to escape by turning the ship back toward Plymouth from which it had sailed. The problems became worse when a “mountain of water” fell on the deck and completely filled the engine room which put out the engine fires.

At midnight Draper called a prayer meeting for all the passengers to gather together. He challenged the people to accept Christ as their Saviour just as he had done years before in the chapel in Fareham. By morning the captain told both the passengers and the crew that all was lost. Draper, with tears streaming down his face said. “The captain tells us there is no hope; that we must all perish, but I tell you there is hope, hope for all. Although we must die and never again see land, we may all make the port of heaven!” Over the next few hours Draper continued to pray and continue to exhort people to come to Christ. The survivors reported that the last words they heard him speak were “In a few moments we must all appear before our Great Judge. Let us prepare to meet him.” As the few survivors left the ship they heard the people singing, “Rock of Ages.”

Daniel James Draper had literally done what was said in the words to the old song sung back in Brecon:

Happy, if with my latest breath
I may but gasp His name;
Preach Him to all, and cry in death,
“Behold, behold the Lamb!”

David L Cross

_______________

MTW – Country Coordinator for England & Wales

15 Key Avenue

Worcester WR4 0LT

United Kingdom

Email: D.Cross@talktalk.net
_______________________________________________

May  2010
Newsletter

Dear Purpose-filled Partners

REPORTS, Reports, reports…

Looking at my “To Do” list shows how many people and organisations I am responsible to. My current list includes both US and UK taxes. Mission to the World requires regular reports on work, plans, significant events and finances for work related expenses, housing and various projects. I am also responsible for reports from UK churches that receive grants from MTW so that MTW can comply with US tax and security regulations.

But the most important reports that we do are the ones we send to you so that you can PRAY and pray intelligently.

The Long War

Francis Schaeffer said that what motivated most people was the desire for “personal peace and affluence [things]”. People will do anything to get these qualities of life, no matter who else gets hurt in the process. (You can find Schaeffer discussing this on You Tube). But Jesus promised, “In this world you will have trouble.” Some are small irritations—a traffic jam because a truck broke down in the middle lane of the motorway and makes one fear he will be late for an appointment in Cardiff. Some are physical—a toothache that requires a root canal for Barbara. Some, and perhaps the most painful of all, are the result of sin that breaks relationships between Christians.– We, like everyone else, want peace and success, but we don’t get it for long in this life.

Over the past few months we have spent a lot of time trying to overcome one such breakdown. A ministry that was going well—lives were being changed by the gospel—that ministry was halted in its tracks and the apparent peace was shattered. The involvement of multiple organisations and several nationalities and cultures compounds the trouble and complicates the solution.

I realise that I have not given you names or details of location, but I have given you enough  for you to pray. Pray that everyone involved will grow in grace. (This conflict is between Christians). Pray that Satan’s effort to disrupt the church will be turned by a sovereign God into the advance of the gospel.—Do you remember what happened when Satan stirred persecution of the early church? The Christians were scattered and, Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. [Acts 8:4]

Coming events to Pray for regarding our Team

Merrily Richie has arrived in the Culcheth area and is in the process of getting settled and finding people to work with her in support group leadership with the IPC church there.

Sam and Elizabeth Goodwin are coming (May 27 to June 2) on a “site visit”. They will be explore the possibility of working with a small and struggling church to help them to grow. Pray for wisdom and grace for both the church and the Goodwins. (Not to mention my involvement as the Team Leader).

Joshua Jacobs, a university student, will be coming to Cardiff (Immanuel Church) at the end of May for a six-week summer work program. Joshua already has a long-term plan to work in England. Pray for this brief ministry to be used in the lives of people at the church and also to prepare Joshua for the future.

Tom and Melody Hartman, will be coming to Cardiff (Bethel Church) at the end of June for an eight-week summer ministry. This time slot fits into Melody’s summer break as a school teacher. Tom is an ordained Lutheran minister who is in process with the PCA. He is also a musician. Pray for their ministry to the church and the Lord to lead them regarding future ministry.

Josh and Gina Rieger, who were recently appointed to serve on our team, are expecting their first child in mid June. Pray for them as they are becoming parents and also transitioning from student life to support raising.

M.B. is planning a “vision trip” in July to consider the possibility of a call to serve in the UK.—Arranging trips like this is another part of our ministry as Team Leader.

Two couples, the Bears and the Schweitzers, are or soon will be on short Home Ministry Assignments in America.

The Donahoos continue to raise support to join the work in Culcheth.

Personal Notes

Barbara and I have had a vey busy spring with lots of ministry related visitors and a variety of speaking opportunities. We hope for a quieter June in preparation for another batch of ministry related visitors in July.

As we look ahead we feel that Paul’s experience is ours—a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me. [1 Corinthians 16:9]

With Thanks for your Prayers and Support

Support Donations should be sent to: Mission to the World, PO Box 116284, Atlanta,, GA  30368-6284 and marked for the
Account of David Cross, A/c # 011126  —  Please Note: this address is only for donations.

David L Cross

_______________

MTW – Country Coordinator for England & Wales

15 Key Avenue

Worcester WR4 0LT

United Kingdom

Email: D.Cross@talktalk.net

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