Henry & Maria Louie
A.I.M Missionaries in Central Western NSW
A.I.M Postal Box 13, Gilgandra, NSW, Australia
Email;
January - March 2018
Dear partners in Christ’s mission,
It is a year since we shared about the ministry the Lord has entrusted us with amongst our own people. Thank you so much for all your prayers, gifts of support and emails and phone calls. They have greatly encouraged us as we have seen God do beyond what we could have imagined. We have seen people saved and others grow and develop their gifts. Doors have opened that previously have been shut and sadly some doors have closed. We have felt God’s protection in danger and we have seen the power of His Word melt hearts in the preaching of His wonderful and saving Word.
The Year Past
Answered Prayer
For a number of years we have been pleading with the Lord to confirm His leading in a new area; the Pilliga. This is our native country and we know many people there and have many relatives. Our pray has constantly been that we would begin in our Jerusalem and this is happening. God has opened the door for a new ministry in the Pilliga for Church planting in 2018.
With the prayers of you our partners and numerous visits in recent years– i.e. Kids clubs, and meeting community needs the Pilliga is now waiting for a local gospel Church. We are humbled at the way the Lord has softened hearts and put a deep desire in the community for the regular teaching of the Bible and gathering around a meal and loving and serving one another. God has provided for Henry to use the Pilliga Anglican Church to hold regular gospel meetings. This has happened because the local Anglican Rector at Wee Waa is very supportive of this new initiative. Also the local Presbyterian Church at Wee Waa is now pastored by our good friend Steve Bignall who has also agreed to support us in many ways. We have been invited to preach at His Church and already we have opportunities to reach our people in the Wee Waa community also. Earlier this year a caravan became available and this was able to be purchased with the love gifts many of you kindly sent. This provides cheap accommodation when we visit the Pilliga as the local campsite is prohibitive. Thank you so much, it is proving a real blessing.
I had many more opportunities to preach in 2017. I spoke at some large Churches in Sydney, Newcastle and Maitland. I also spoke at Sydney Missionary Bible College to future missionaries, challenging them about mission to Indigenous peoples. I had the privilege of speaking in the Northern Territory at a large Indigenous convention at Tennant Greek. I visited regularly the Central Coast where a Christian School is very supportive. Once again another Christian School on the far NSW South Coast visited here and did valuable ministry in the Community. A Number of Sydney Chinese and Korean Churches visited and did Kids clubs in Gilgandra and the Pilliga. Also individuals support us in prayer and financially as does a Church in Auckland New Zealand. We are so thankful for the Churches that support us regularly in prayer and financially. God has used all your calls, visits, missions, prayers and gifts to soft hearts and bring the savour of Christ to those who so desperately need Him.
We continue to hold our annual Rivers Convention on the October long weekend. This year the Lord’s obvious presence and blessing caused us all to worship Christ. The subject was unity and each speaker opened up the Word in a challenging way. It was a rich time of wonderful fellowship.
On a sadder note, after much prayer we have decided to stop services at the Gilgandra Church. A.I.M are keen to retain the property and happy for it to reopen when the Lord opens doors again for ministry. We would often be very small in number and there are a number of good gospel churches in Gilgandra and Dubbo we have fellowship with and have attended in recent months.
This year we hope to see the local fraternal restart for indigenous ministry workers. There are now 12 men and women engaged in various ministry to our people in Central Western NSW. This covers a large area and is reaching growing numbers of children, youth, young Adults and Adults.
The Year Ahead
Prayer points
- Praise God for many answers to prayer and financial support.
- Praise God for his blessing, grace and provision in 2017 through faithful partners (Churches and individuals)
- Praise God that he has opened a door for Church planting in the Pilliga in 2018
- For spiritual protection as we daily battle satanic forces and often very difficult domestic situations.
- For open hearts for the gospel to penetrate deep and bring conviction and regeneration.
- For ongoing discipleship of new converts – that they will grow strong and mature
- For emerging leaders in Kids, Youth and Adult ministry. Pray for those training and preparing for pastoral and evangelistic ministry at Dubbo under Brother Dave Cox.
- For regular cottage meetings and services as they begin in the Pilliga.
- For the Fraternal to restart and praying and planning for more Church Plants and conversions in the central West.
- For strength and good health to serve as our ministry grows and is more demanding.
- For safe travel over often rough roads and dangerous conditions.
- For our boys – that God will draw them to close with Christ and make Him Lord.
- For increased financial support – especially for fuel and car repairs as we travel long distances visiting remote communities.
Once again we can’t thank you enough, you have been amazing partners in so many ways. This ministry is Christ’s and we have the privilege of joining Him on His glorious mission of making disciples who make disciples in the central west of NSW.
Every blessing
Henry and Maria with Josh
If you would like to join other faithful partners in supporting Henry and Maria financially please
send you gifts to A.I.M at the below link.
Please mark your donation as OTHER and in the comments box put for Henry and Maria Louie
https://australianindigenousministries.org.au/donate/
Henry preaching in the Northern Territory in August 2017