The year 2000 has come to a close – quite quickly if you ask me – and there is so much left to do for the Lord! Europe is rapidly unifying into a hungry world-power once again, and Rome is jockeying for the lead position as always. Don’t be fooled by the relative quietness of this massive transformation of Europe. The ‘god of this world’ (2Cor 4:4) has NOT disappeared, and the Bible’s assessment of the future is still going to play out, just as written – and I am excited to be a part of God’s program that rescues lives from the clutches of darkness and hell, and hinders the devil’s work - AMEN! Folks, Jesus is still the ONLY hope in this dark world, and what a sure hope He is! All of the world’s governments are looking for an amazing world leader to finally bring about “lasting solutions” to the ever escalating problems of life. Funny – the Leader that God provided (Isaiah 9:6,7) was rejected, and crucified on a cruel rugged cross. Thankfully, that Leader LIVES, and is coming back, very soon. Oh how the world, and especially Ireland needs to know that the reason for Jesus being BORN was not to bring “cheer and goodwill to men” but to bring salvation that results in real joy and a transformed life! God bless you all as you labour in our Lord’s business of winning souls, and maturing the saints this Christmas season, and throughout 2001!

Let me quickly tell you about just one recent event in Mallow. I met a 20 year old man named Brian door-to-door who listened as I gave him the Gospel, and left him with a Gospel tract. That next Sunday, walking up towards church a vaguely familiar face came up smiling, who said, “Is this the right place?” He held up a tract with a map giving directions to the church in his hand. I and a couple of other people there couldn't believe this guy’s excitement about coming to church – not a normal event yet in Mallow! In he came, and my, like a sponge, he soaked up the preaching, and bought himself a Bible, and has continued to come now for many weeks. I came to find out in a four hour conversation over coffee that he had thought of being a priest, and had just recently decided against it. Now get this, and get it good – as he talked with many priests about becoming a priest, he got the same message almost without exception from them all – the Bible is NOT God’s Holy Word – it is full of errors – it only confuses – it is full of genocide and injustices – and not even the Gospels are known to be trustworthy. Now, how about THAT!? Folks, pray for Brian, and for Ireland. That’s what goes on behind closed doors in this country.

I would ask that everyone please pray for the following needs in our ministry here:

• · For us to be able to buy property and begin building our own church building in Blarney soon!
• · For revival amongst the Christians here – that GOD to move and conquer some hard, hard hearts!
• · For a massive harvest of souls – this country is lost folks – lost! No amount of religion can save them. Please pray that all our plowing and planting would very soon bear much fruit!
• · That God would raise up strong, faithful, surrendered men and leaders in our churches in Blarney and Mallow.
• · That the Christian wives would gladly surrender their lives to follow their husbands as they seek to do God’s will!
• · That we would have help to finish our course here – the firm establishment of Bible-believing and living churches!

Those are surely big requests, that only a GREAT God can answer – thank God we serve THE Great God, “For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God.” Deuteronomy 10:17, AMEN!

See us on the Web! You can now see what’s happening here in Ireland by going to two sites! Our own family web site is http://indigo.ie/~craigled/  and our church has its own as well at http://www.biblebc.com  - let us know what you think! Our email is as always, craigled@indigo.ie  and nita.ledbetter@oceanfree.net 

• • These desperately need to get saved: Brian, Brendan and Catherine, Mary, Richard, Robert and Ann, Mary, Honour, and Isabella.
• • Pray for these dear folks to grow: Pauline, Denis, Marlene, Kevin, Ken, Pat, Dennis, Emmet, and John.