Gareth and Malou

2019 July update

malouandgarethPosted on July 14, 2019 Posted in Default — No Comments ↓

Some of the young participants of a Vacation Bible School (VBS) run by SIKKAT, an AMEN partner in the Philippines

Gareth recently spent a week with Oak Hall in Lake Bled, Slovenia, a beautiful country adjoining Austria that was part of former Yugoslavia. One highlight was meeting with a lively, growing local church. This was particularly significant in a country that has the 5th slowest growing evangelical population in the world. Teaching through the book of Jonah to 40 folk each night was a joy. We have now arrived onboard MV Logos Hope after a 13 hour overnight flight from London Gatwick to Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, where it is currently wet, cool, dark & wintertime! More news next month from the ship.

God bless you,

Gareth & Malou Bolton
www.amentrust.co.uk

MV LOGOS HOPE

Jun 28-Jul 23 Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA
Jul 24-Aug 17 Mar del Plata, Argentina

Sharing the gospel with two German school boys in London as part of an Open Air Mission outreach

A breakthrough as a group of disunited Pakistani pastors are brought together by an AMEN partner and meet with God

Preaching in Temple Baptiste of Bruay-la-Buissière in the north of France

2019 June update

malouandgarethPosted on June 8, 2019 Posted in Default — No Comments ↓

A large pot of rice prepared to feed c. 500 people after a wedding in which we took part in South India

Tomorrow, (June 1), we will drive to France, a country closer to our home in London than Wales or the north of England yet, according to the 2010 edition of Operation World, while 80% of French people have never handled a Bible, there are 10 times more people earning a living in occult practices than there are pastors and missionaries. At the same time, 300 towns and cities of over 10,000 people have no evangelical presence. While a new congregation is planted almost every week, there is a need for thousands more churches. If you want to know how you could get involved, visit https://fr.om.org/en/

Thank you for your partnership. God bless you,

Gareth & Malou Bolton

www.amentrust.co.uk

Sun June 2 Temple Baptiste de Bruay-la-Buissière, Pas-de-Calais, FRANCE
June 1-8 Open Air Mission (London week)
Sun June 9 Wall Heath Evangelical Church, nr. Birmingham (am & pm)
June 11-16 Dorset with Mum Bolton (incl. 96th birthday celebrations!)
Sun June 16 STEPS, Sherborne, Dorset (morning service + evening café church)
June 18-25 Oak Hall in SLOVENIA
Sun June 23 Evangelical Christian Church, Radovljica, Slovenia
June 27 Logos Hope in Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA (onboard until August 19)

: Sharing a devotional message with the leaders of VMM which now has 693 full-time Indian workers. Santhosh is translating into Tamil.

: Some of the present and former OM members who participated in a prayer conference organised by OM’s founder, George Verwer

: Malou with Eben, VMM’s writer & compiler of their monthly daily devotionals. VMM (Village Missionary Movement) is an AMEN partner

: The Ford Taunus car which was driven many kilometres throughout France as OM summer teams were visited. (Archive Photo Aug. 1986)

: OM Philippines’ annual conference & outreach GEM (Go Extra Mile) held on Batanes, the island of Malou’s birth in the far north of the nation

2019 May update

malouandgarethPosted on May 10, 2019 Posted in Default — No Comments ↓

All the pupils of the school on Fisherman’s Island assembled under some trees to see a drama, sing some songs and to hear a message from the Bible

Greetings from Dubai which we leave in a few hours’ time for India, the 4th and final country of our 7 week ministry tour. We already have a kaleidoscope of memories and feel great gratitude to God for good health and safety plus many excellent opportunities for ministry, whether ‘one on one’ or corporately. Every taxi we rode in the Philippines provided a chance to share the gospel as well to often pray for the driver and leave literature. Similarly, our visit to Sabtang, the remote, unreached island with only a handful of believers, gave rise to some unexpected spiritual conversations. Gareth was usually the silent praying spectator as Malou engaged people in her own local dialect of ‘Ivatan’. Thank you for your interest and encouragement.

In His Grace,

Gareth & Malou Bolton

www.amentrust.co.uk

SCHEDULE

May 1-8 AMEN visit to south India: youth camp, couples’ camp and workers’ retreat
May 9 Fly from Dubai to London (arrive May 10)
Sun May 12 10.30am: Vine Evangelical Church, Sevenoaks
Sat May 18 Melbury Men’s Breakfast, George Albert Hotel, Evershot, Dorset.
May 17-19 Oak Hall Summer Team weekend
May 21-23 Prayer Conference at Oak Hall with George Verwer
Sun May 26 10.30am: Brownhill Road Baptist Church, Catford, London
6.30pm: Cannon Court Evangelical Church, Fetcham, Surrey

Another spectacular sunset in the port of Basco Batanes

This warning sign at the airport in Batanes was needed as we experienced two earthquakes during our visit – one in Batanes and one in Manila

Lucille, a disabled young lady of 27 with a sad history, listened carefully as Malou shared the gospel to her on the island of Sabtang

Our two tricycle taxi drivers who took us around the island of Sabtang also listened to the gospel

Our first close up view of Fisherman’s Island which is located off the coast of Papua New Guinea and only reached by boat from the capital Port Moresby

2019 April update

malouandgarethPosted on May 10, 2019 Posted in Default — No Comments ↓

Greetings from Lae in PNG (Papua New Guinea), a Melanesian country of about 8 million people. With approximately 830 languages (20% of the world’s total), it is the most ethno-linguistically diverse nation in the world. Last Sunday, at the Lutheran Church, c. 400 were present at their monthly missions service. After an appeal for cross-cultural workers, a number came forward (see below). The church leadership has promised to follow them up. In Batanes, Malou’s birth island, Gareth will speak at OM Philippines’ annual conference and outreach. The island, accessible only by plane, is located in the far north and is known for its natural beauty and typhoons. A neighbouring island, Sabtang, accessible only by boat, has no evangelical church and only a few believers. A small team has a desire to see the gospel being preached there and will visit to pray and seek God’s will. Our 7 week ministry tour includes PNG, Philippines, UAE and India and comprises 12 flights. Your prayers are much appreciated.

From the ends of the earth,

Gareth <>< Malou Bolton

( www.amentrust.co.uk)

SCHEDULE

April 5 Fly from Manila to Basco, Batanes
Sun Apr 7 Word of Truth Church, Batanes
April 10-13 Twice daily teaching at OM’s GEM (Go the Extra Mile) annual conference and outreach
Sun Apr 14 Jesus is Lord Church, Batanes
April 16 Fly from Basco to Manila
April 17-20 With Malou’s family in Baguio
Sun Apr 21 Combined churches ‘Sunrise Easter Service’ at Great Redeemer Christian Fellowship, Manila
April 22-24 Visit AMEN partners: SIKATT & CWTP (based in Manila)
April 25 Fly Manila to UAE
April 26-30 Based in Dubai
April 30 Fly from Dubai to Madurai, INDIA

: The PNG children of some of the church members’ families

: ..and this was the scene behind the camera (in the first photo) in Our Saviour’s Evangelical Lutheran church

: The HUB worship band leading the monthly Sunday service at the Bible School in Serbia earlier last month

: The response to the missions’ challenge. This church currently has one member serving on board Logos Hope…..

: For the first time, these ladies engaged in prayer for the least reached 100 people groups in the world

: The stunning Bird of Paradise flower that grows throughout PNG

2019 March update

malouandgarethPosted on March 5, 2019 Posted in Default — No Comments ↓

The wonderful pastor’s family with whom we stayed in Santiago, the capital of Chile, after we left Logos Hope and before flying to the UK

‘I am not afraid of failure; I am afraid of succeeding in things that don’t matter’. William Carey (1761-1834)

The end of the coming month will see us ministering for the first time in Papua New Guinea (PNG). A visit has been on the radar for many years. Pray for those involved in lining up our programme that we might maximise the 10 days we spend there. Before that, we return to Serbia where, as well as ministering at the International Christian Fellowship from the book of Isaiah, Gareth will be teaching 2 Samuel, Obadiah and the Song of Solomon. We are very grateful to each of you whether you are moral, practical, prayer or financial supporters.
God bless you all,
Gareth <>< Malou Bolton
( www.amentrust.co.uk)

Sun Mar 3 11.00am: Brewham Chapel, Somerset
Mar 9 Fly London to Belgrade
Sun Mar 10 ICF, Belgrade, SERBIA
Mar 11-17 Belgrade Bible Sch. (HUB)
Mar 18 Fly Belgrade to London
Mar 20 Fly London to Manila, PHILIPPINES
Mar 22 Fly Manila to Port Moresby, PNG (until Apr 3)

Some other Logos Hope crew, who were also leaving the ship, joined with us at a special onboard farewell breakfast

A warm welcome awaited us at Ryde Baptist Church on the Isle of Wight
Every night on Logos Hope in Chile we seemed to have another spectacular sunset

Malou teaching a young brother and sister in a pastor’s home in Chile how to use ‘Evangecube’.

2019 February update

malouandgarethPosted on February 14, 2019 Posted in Default — No Comments ↓

Sunset in the Atacama, the world’s driest desert with Jon Helmsdal from the Faroes Islands, the Captain of MV Logos Hope

Feb 1-11 Logos Hope in Valparaiso, Chile (www.gbaships.org/en)

‘It is my chief duty every day to ensure that my soul is happy in God.’ George Müller (1805-1898). After collecting quotations* for almost 40 years amounting to over 38,000 words and 147 pages, this is still one of the most challenging of them all. I am writing this update from our cabin 744 having recently completed a 3 day voyage with OM’s ship Logos Hope travelling south in the Pacific Ocean along the west coast of Chile from Antofagasta to Valparaiso. It has been a privilege to minister onboard and onshore including having the role of chaplains.

May God bless you all,

Gareth <>< Malou Bolton

(www.amentrust.co.uk)

SCHEDULE

Feb 14 Arrive in UK

Feb 16 Couples Dinner Fellowship, Emmanuel Evangelical Church, Westminster, London (www.emmanuelchurch.org.uk)

Sun Feb 17 Ryde Baptist Church, Isle of Wight (https://rydebaptist.org.uk)

Feb 19-23 Dorset

Sun Feb 24 Ichthus Christian Fellowship, Belvedere, London (www.ichthus.org.uk/congregations/belvedere)

If you would like a copy of the indexed quotation book ‘Trawled Treasure’, click the reply button above, delete all the photographs, write ‘TT’ in the subject box and hit ‘send’.

La Portada is a specially protected unique rock formation in the sea off the coast of Antofagasta in Chile

Children from the Logos Hope school watch the arrival of the ship into another port

Our comfortable cabin no 744, complete with portholes, plus one of Malou’s friends waiting on the couch to ‘sing’ in the church later

2019 January update

malouandgarethPosted on January 21, 2019 Posted in Default — No Comments ↓

This gigantic mural greeted the ship’s company when they disembarked in Guayaquil, Ecuador

GREETINGS FROM CABIN #744 onboard MV Logos Hope where we are into the second day of a one week voyage from Guayaquil in Ecuador to Antofagasta in Chile. En route, we are sailing past the entire length of Peru’s coastline. As well as being onboard chaplains, we will be involved with a preachers’ workshop and a brief four session track summarising a history of Christian mission plus other onboard and onshore meetings. We would like to wish you, our friends and supporters, a very Happy New Year.

If you would prefer not to receive these updates, please write ‘unsubscribe’ in the subject box, delete the photos below & click the ‘Send’ button.

Gareth <>< Malou Bolton

(www.amentrust.co.uk)

SCHEDULE

Jan 4 Arrive in Antofagasta, Chile
Speak at morning devotions
Sun Jan 6 Onshore church
Sun Jan 13 Preach at LH morning service
Jan 25 Sail from Antofagasta
Jan 29 Arrive in Valparaiso, Chile

: Our final meeting in Serbia was with the youth of a local Slovak speaking church

: A local village baker in Ecuador removes fresh bread from the oven in his yard

: Ecuadorians buy papier mâché superheroes & burn them on Dec 31 hoping to remove bad things from the past year

: Delicious Christmas treats provided by our onboard hosts for each of their ‘family’

: A Korean Fan Dance performed during a Christmas programme given in the Malecon in Guayaquil by Logos Hope

2018 December update

malouandgarethPosted on December 7, 2018 Posted in Default — No Comments ↓

A colourful pastel mosaic of leaves in a wood near Sandbanks in Dorset

We returned late last night (Sat Dec 1) from Belgrade after another intensive fortnight of over 50 meetings/lectures, all delivered via Serbian interpretation. On December 11, we shall join MV Logos Hope in Guayaquil, Ecuador for 2 months. In addition to our usual ministry, we have been invited to be the ‘onboard pastors’, an important role and a humbling privilege. We plan to send you an end of the year retrospective from the ocean as we sail from Ecuador to Chile. Once again it is a joy to wish you, our friends and supporters, the blessings of joy and peace at Christmas.

Gareth and Malou Bolton

(www.amentrust.co.uk)

SHEDULE

Sun Dec 2 Oak Hall Expeditions (Otford Manor) morning service: www.oakhall.co.uk/browse/manor
Dec 4 Westminster Conference (www.westminsterconference.co.uk) (GB)
Dec 4-8 Dorset with Mum Bolton: www.winterbornehoughton.org.uk
Sun Dec 9 Darent Valley Community Church: dvcc.moonfruit.com
Dec 11 Fly to Logos Hope in Guayaquil, Ecuador: www.gbaships.org/en
(return Feb 14, 2019)

: A section of Tyne Cot, the largest WW1 Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery with 11,965 graves. Taken at sunset on the eve of Nov 11, 2018 in Belgium

: We came across this couple in Knole Park, Sevenoaks, one sunny November morning

: Christmas preparations are well underway at HUB (Belgrade Bible School) in Serbia

: Being interviewed at one of the three Sunday services in ChristChurch, Banstead

: The worship band at All Nations Church in London where we have ministered many times. The meetings are translated into Hindi.

2018 November update

malouandgarethPosted on November 3, 2018 Posted in Default — No Comments ↓

The inspiring sight we saw from our room of the Himalayas towering over Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital (Psalm 121:1-2)

Viewing the distant Himalayas at sunrise from our bed in Kathmandu last week was an inspiring way to start each day. With 8 of the world’s 10 highest mountains found in Nepal, the nation is a magnet to mountaineers and travellers alike. Our times of teaching the Bible were greatly appreciated by the teams and very rewarding.

We recently welcomed some new AMEN partners. As we approach our 25th anniversary, we are looking for 25 people who can support £25 a month – could you be one of them? If so, visit www.amentrust.co.uk

Thank you for your partnership with us,

Gareth & Malou Bolton (with OM International)

Sun Nov 4 ChristChurch, Banstead (AM: Rom 3:1-8; PM: Rev. 17-19:10)
Nov 4-8 Dorset with Mum Bolton
Nov 10 Belgium Battle Fields with Oak Hall
Sun Nov 11 All Nations Church, Manor Park, E. London
Sat Nov 17 Fly (via Oslo) to Belgrade, SERBIA
Sun Nov 18 International Christian Fellowship, Belgrade (“Cultural conformity and non-conformity” from book of Daniel)
Nov 19-28 Belgrade Bible School (HUB). Teaching 1 & 2 Kings & Ezekiel
Sun Nov 25 Church Ministry with HUB students
Nov 28 Bački Petrovac Baptist church meeting. Nov 29 – Bački Petrovac Baptist women’s meeting (Malou)

: Photographed facing an old church, I was not sure if this Mantis really was praying!

: Malou with some of the Nepali girls she got to know over the week, teaching them crafts and enjoying fellowship together

: Children enjoying a well-made, improvised, swing in rural Nepal

: Our first church meeting in Nepal

: An ornate approach to a Garden of Remembrance near Hyderabad, India

: Exactly 50 years ago, in November 1968, I became a Christian here at Keswick Hall teachers’ training college near Norwich

: Having a great time teaching the OM teams each day from 2 Timothy Having a great time teaching the OM teams each day from 2 Timothy

: Bathukamma is a colourful annual floral festival celebrated by Hindu women in the state of Telangana, India

MISSIONS TRAINING EXPOSURE TRIP

APRIL 9-25, 2019, BATANES PHILIPPINES

Watch a short video on GO EXTRA MILE 2018

2018 October update

malouandgarethPosted on October 7, 2018 Posted in Default — No Comments ↓

During a break, we cycled around Bewl Water in Kent

In 10 days’ time, we leave for India and Nepal. Following an invitation, we have a number of engagements in India, including services in a church on Sunday and later with pastors and leaders. Malou will be involved in a ladies meeting. In Nepal, a programme has been arranged to speak over a number of days to the teams who are working there. Church services take place on Saturdays. As always, we are grateful for the prayers and interest of people; currently c. 2100 receive this email update and c.150 receive a version through the mail.

God bless you all,

Gareth & Malou Bolton (with OM International)

www.amentrust.co.uk

SCHEDULE

Oct 3-10 Oak Hall in Montenegro (G & M)
Oct 12 Fly to Hyderabad, India
Sun Oct 14 Peniel Ministries, Hyderabad (4 meetings)
Oct 15 All day pastors’ meeting (Gareth); Women’s meeting (Malou) 7
Oct 17 All Nations Church, Hyderabad
Oct 19 Fly to Kathmandu, Nepal
Sat Oct 20 Nepali church meeting
Oct 22-24 Teaching the teams
Oct 25 Prayer and Fasting Day (Teaching)
Oct 26 Teaching the teams
Sat Oct 27 Nepali church meeting
Mon Oct 29 Fly to London

: AMEN partners delivering urgently needed supplies to the neglected southern Indian interior

: Mrs Bolton (senior) enjoys part of Bluewater that probably relatively few get to experience

: Reunited in Paris again for the first time after 35 years with Pascal Vermes, Gareth’s friend and translator

: Caroline Reginald of VFC, AMEN’s first Indian partner, was invited to share at Rwanda’s 6th Christian Film Festival

: We later discovered we were less than half way up the hill we were climbing (Oak Hall on the Amalfi coast)