Beach wedding with kilts

More news from the mission field in Spain

Spanish Steps (Daves mission to Spain)FacebookFacebook are changing there groups I am not sure the full implications but if you still want to be a member you may at some point have to indicate that you want to remain a member.

Well We had a busy weekend as always. I officiated at a wedding on the beach (it felt a long way cov) on saturday. A scottish man marrying a welsh woman i felt a little outnumbered however all went well apart from the wind blowing my pages and not to mention the mens kilts lol.

Yesterday we had our usual service in Benalmádena and then I went to preach in Calahonda a town further along the coast. the calahonda church meet in a catholic church building and we were warmly recieved.

We then drove to Malaga for our 20s and 30s group last night which was a great social time together.

I have a busy week working on the radio filling in for a presenter who is off this week.

well keep us in your prayers guys, thanks for reading this again.

Dave & Naomi

P.S Naomi is now 16 weeks pregnant and is doing fine!!
..

Still Hot on the costa del sol.

More news from the mission field in Spain

News from Spain

Hi guys, all the latest from Spain.

33 degrees not bad for september!

Last night we were privelaged to be part of an open air meeting in the middle of Torremolinos where many came to the Lord on the streets there. This is really unheard of in Spain but we praise God that the mayor of Torremolinos has given permission for this. We joined up with an Evangelical church to help them out.

We are currently doing a "way of the master" course on wednesday night in the church teaching our people how to evangelise effectively.

This september we will be starting a Zoe course this is a bible course that helps you to hear from God and tune into what he is saying more effectively.

I am currently writing a new newsletter that will be with shortly. If you dont already recieve it but would like a copy please reply to this message with your email address.

Thanks for your ongoing support.

Dave
..

August

More news from the mission field in Spain

Spanish Steps (Daves mission to Spain)Hi gang.Hi friends,

I have had a really busy few weeks, i have been covering radio presenters whilst on holiday etc. Doing this alongside my other commitments in the church, well lets just say it keeps me out of trouble.

It may well be that this will lead to a part time paid job in september, please pray that the Lord will give me wisdom in this area.

Hope you are all well. its very hot here the other night it was 32 degrees at 11.30 pm just to give you an idea. its not as hot as seville which reaches 45 on a regular basis. look at me I am very English talking about the weather.

Preached from james chapter 0ne using a mirror as an illustration (see if any of you bible schollors can make the link) and I felt the Lord was ministering to many folks in the room.

well better go now, miss all my Uk friends and family...

new website

More news from the mission field in Spain

Spanish Steps (Daves mission to Spain)My BlogMy spanish steps blog has recently been featured in this website

http://www.missionary-blogs.com/missionary-to-spain.html..

Party on!

More news from the mission field in Spain

Spanish Steps (Daves mission to Spain)Party time!Its a fine line between discontentment and feeling downright sad. Many of us from time to time feel frustrated that our ministry is not where we feel it should be, the church should be bigger etc, etc. A measurement of frustration is healthy because its that which will drive us on into all that God has for us. However we must also be aware that to much frustration can lead to feeling resentment.

Ask yourself one question today! Am I enjoying that which I am doing for God today. We won´t always enjoy every aspect of the call but overall there must be some satisfaction.

God instigated times in which Israel would celebrate and remember what he had done for them. This is what the Lord has been challenging me with lately.... "Dave you need to party more, celebrate and never forget what i have alraedy done for you"

its okay to treat yourself and celebrate what God is doing in and through you. you never know you may start to enjoy your life more and folks enjoyment is not a sin its a gift from God!..

More news from the mission field in Spain

Spanish Steps (Daves mission to Spain)Yes I am still alive.I had open wallet surgery this week at the dentists and it painful both in pocket and mouth. I had an extraction which took the best part of an hour anyway i have a radio show tonight so will have to play lots of music.

we had pastor Glyn Taylor speaking at church last sunday and he is due to speak this sunday too.

its starting to get hot here now, 36 degrees the other day.

Please pray for our 20s and 30s meeting tomorrow night (sunday) pray that God moves mightly.

better go now see you all soon.

Dave..

latest from Dave and Naomi

More news from the mission field in Spain

Dear friends,

We have just had a couple of busy weeks here in Spain. On a personal level my family from Derby have been out to visit me and i have been looking after them as well as my usual work in the church. It was great to host them and see them again.

Yesterday we were delighted to interview former BBC world service producer Tim Coleman who is currently heading up a Christian Radio station in Coventry. you can listen to his story by visiting www.talkradioeurope.com click ondemand and choose sunday 8 am. You can also listen to the "big night in" with myself by choosing saturday 8 pm.

We were delighted last week to host Revelation T.V´s resident scientist, Dr Grady mcmurtry. He shared on sunday morning and was very interesting. He spoke about the evidence for creation and the lack of evidence for evolution and world aged at millions of years old.

Yesterday we had Elim Pastor Glyn Taylor preaching he was excellent and brought a very timely message for our church here in Benalmádena and San Pedro. Some of you will know his son alastair who is in the ministry too.

We are organizing a trip to Gibraltar for our older folks and a Spanish night with flamenco and paella. (no bull running though)

Thanks for your support

p.s if you have not recieved my latest newsletter please re-send me your email address.

love Dave and Naomi. Southern Spain

News from Spain

More news from the mission field in Spain

Spanish Steps (Daves mission to Spain)The latest from DaveHi friends, supporters and countrymen.

As you will be aware from previous messages that we have a new church now opened in San pedro near Marbella. It is going very well and the Benalmadena church has been very supportive in this new venture. Please pray as publicity goes out this week that we will see a noticable improvement in those attending the service.

I have started a live Radio show every saturday night 8pm -10pm listen live you can also phone in on air and email the show. you can listen to last weeks show now by going to www.talkradioeurope.com and choosing at 8pm saturday night in the ondeamnd section. Our 2 revs show is going from strength to strength to and we have just done a programme on creation, you can listen to this at the same website.

The Church in Benalamadena is going really well, we had our 20s and 30s night last night and 12 came to that this group is doing reallyt well praise God.

So have ya booked your summer holidays why not have a week on the costa del sol and visit us on the sunday.

thank you for all your support.

Dave and Naomi...

Earthquake in Spain

More news from the mission field in SpainYou may have seen on the news there has been an earhquake here in Spain. Lorca which is in the region next door to where we are was hit 5.9 earthquake. We didn´t feel anything here in Benalmádena and everybody is safe. please remember in Prayer all those who are effected at this time.

We had a 2nd week at our church plant in San Pedro 10 people from the local area came, all Christians as far as we can tell.

My first ever live radio show went out on saturday night on Talk radio europe. I am looking for any feedback both good and bad that you can give. you can listen online now by going to www.talkradioeurope.com click ondemand under the listen button and choose saturday 20.00 hours.
any feedback would be really helpful. This is voluntary work and a way of gaining training and experience.

We have a conference on creation this week on friday and saturday in the church we are believing for an informative time and it would be great to see non believers come too.

last night we had a bible study, this group has doubled in size in the last year, 24 last night came out of a church of 40 thats not a bad raitio.

Anyway thanks for all your prayers and financial support.
without which this mission could not happen.

Every Blessing, Dave and Naomi

Spanish Steps (Daves mission to Spain)English, French and Spanish .Its been a busy old weekend. Saturday was St Georges day and we decided that we were not just going to let the Irish have all the fun but we would celebrate being English. I was on the local commitee to help plan St georges day Benalmádena. the main squre was full of English st goerges flags and organizations like the British legion, RAF and of course the Elim Church were represented and had stalls. Take that tribute bands amongst other entertainment. The day was opened by the mayor of Benalmádena and the church band took the first half an hour on the main stage singing praise and worship to God. this until recently was unheard of in Spain.
This tuesday Luc Favre and a team arrive for a week of mission. here in Benalmadena. it also coincides with the opening of our new Elim Church in San pedro, Marbella. please pray that God blesses both these ventures.

We have been given permission to hold English pentecostal meetings in a phillipino church in San pedro about a 40 minute drive from here. Praise God this time next week all being well we will have 2 churches under our care.
please continue to pray for me and Naomi without your prayers and financial support none of thsi would be possible.

My Nan is regaining strength and is going into a rehab centre for a few weeks.
the Lord is good!.. news from the mission field in Spain

More news from the mission field in Spain

Bill shankley (Liverpool manager) once said football is not about life and death its more serious than that. Sometimes it feels like that especially being a Derby County fan, however lets face it, its still just a game. Christinaity is not just life and death its more serious than that its about eternity.
Last week i made a flying visit to the Uk to visit my nan who is 87 and currently in hospital. I really dont know what my nan believes so i asked God to give me an opportunity for me to talk to her about eternity. That opportunity came when i was left on my own with her and i asked her nan do you believe in God? yes came the reply and I asked can i pray with you she said yes, i then told her the gospel message and she nodded as i prayed for her, i´m not sure how much she understood only God really knows and i leave it in his hands but praise God for that opportunity. She is being assessed today to see if she should stay in hospital any longer or go to rehab she has parkinsons and is not very well at all. please pray for her, her name is Dorothy Hudson.

God had me there for other reasons too, I had an opportunity to visit Donna. Donna is 17 and the doctors have given her days to live because she has cancer. Donna is the grandaughter of 2 folks who visit our church in Spain. the family in Derby are not Christians and I was unsure whether they would except a visit. I rang first and they said a shy yes. I went to the house in Derby and met the parents first, put them ease by talking about Derby county etc. they asked why has God let this happen to our baby she is only 17, I said I dont have an answer for you but i do know that God heals and i do know he hears our cries for help. I re-assured her that the church in Spain was praying for their family aswell as recieving a visit earlier in the year from the pastoral team at Derby Elim. I eventually had a chance to pray for Donna who was heavily sedated I prayed that she would seek God and find him even as she sleeped. I also prayed for her parents who were in floods of tears. As a minister you try and dettached yourself, sometimes In can not do that and walking back through alvaston it hit me again just how important our work as Christians is, its heart breaking at times.

These situations are hard yet we must do all we can to be there and offer prayer and help.
Its one of the hardest parts of ministry for me yet what an awesome resposibility we Christians carry, its more serious than life and death.

They have requested prayer and that is why I am sharing it with you who support me as a missionary beacuse i know your faithfulness to me.

I am back in Spain now after a quick 2 day visit, sorry i couldnt get chance to see all my friends i hope you understand it was a family time and only a flying visit.

the apostle paul prayed that the obstacle to folks hearing the message would be removed and thats my prayer these 2 and for those in your family who do not know the Lord yet...

exciting news from Spain

More news from the mission field in Spain

Exciting news from SpainI thought I´d take this opportunity to tell you about all the latest happenings in Spain.

This Saturday just gone we joined up with the rest of Spain to pray for our country, around 1,500 evangelical churches joined in unison to pray. we linked via satelite to the Madrid in solidarity unity to pray together. Praise God for all he is doing in Spain. The Jesus film was recently shown in a cinema here in Benalmadena in Spanish with an appeal at the end. This was unheard of a few years ago especially in a public building. Thank God for this breakthrough.

We are taking part in the St Georges day Celebrations in Arroyo de la miel. Both Howard and myself are on the organizing commitee for this event. Its a great witness for the church to get chance to play praise songs on easter saturday in the centre of town. again unheard of before.

We are planting a new church in San Pedro near Marbella its first sunday service will be the 1st of May please pray for this venture.

There are loads more things happening but that will have to wait until next time.
please pray that we will stay in step with his Spirit on all we have planned.

In his service,
Rev. Dave (Elim Missionary to Spain)..

More news from the mission field in Spain.

Update from SpainWell there is another a dull moment in Spain. Last week I spent some time with a good friend of mine an Irish man Richie Allen who is the evening presenter on Talk Radio Europe. I had the chance to sit in with him and field questions such as where was God during the tsunami etc. I also later met his french bride to be later and we had a great time.
This last sunday i had the delight of interviewing a woman who impacted my faith as a young Christian. Jean Neil was healed at the NEC under the ministry of Reinhard Bonke, the BBC did a documentary on her at the time. you can listen online at www.talkradioeurope.com and click ondemand and then schroll down the page and choose sunday 8 am
Its exciting times here in the church and it seems God is opening up more doors for ministry. In all my time so far in Spain i have never felt so excited as do right now about all that is happening in the church.

2 people were healed in our Bible study last wednesday and incidently that group had 22 people in attendance this week. We also had our 20s and 30s group with 9 people there and its going great guns.

so loads of great stuff happening. thanks for your ongoing support

so please keep myself and Naomi in your prayers..

More news from the mission field in Spain

http://www.missionary-blogs.com/missionary-to-spain.html

adding photos

Does anybody know how to add photos to a google blog like this one. please leave your comments if you can help.

Dave Hodgson 14 February at 15:50 One of the draw backs to living in Spain is being so far away from friends, family and my elim family. There are times when if i let myself i can feel quite upset and then i pull myself together and then something will happen that will remind me of why I am where I am. I remember Gordon Neale once saying "the safest place for a Christian is smack bang in the centre of the will of God" that is so true and at times we can feel vulnerable but we are quite safe. Its when in the natural we play it safe that we are most at risk of attack and at our most vulnerable.

So to all who like me kinda feel its all to overwhelming remember it beats the alternative.

My old youth pastor Steve Kempton (although he still looks younger than me) use to say you have only failed when you fail to try. So sometimes i feel down, big deal! I remind myself I am in Gods will and pick myself up. after all playing it safe can be boring.

why dont you commit yourself to doing something that if God wasn´t in it you would fail. its a bit nervey but bye golly it beats being safe.

Ironically its then we are at our safest.

One of my biggest weakenesses is that i get bored and inpatient way too easily. I dont really like meetings much and i can relate to Bill Hybels when he uses the term "death by meeting" but I am realising the great lesson of waiting for the promise. I ask myself would I had kept waiting in Jerusalem for the promise of Gods Spirit maybe i would have gotton bored after a few days and gone home and missed all that God was about to do.

There is no doubt about it sometimes there are times of waiting, times of just turning up and carrying on. but lets not estimate how important it is to be in the right place, because one day like the day of Pentecost God is going to do something awesome. One thing i realise is that life is what we make it. following God can lead us to places we would never of dreamed of visiting.

So next time when like me you are bored of waiting remember our life is a pilgrimage, if you are seeing the same scenery then you are probrably on a roundabout. Go and do something new for God, step out in faith and spice things up a bit. hopefully i will take my own advice and just maybe i will enjoy the wait.

News

this week we speak to Paul Taylor who is a creationist scientist from the organisation answers in Genesis. Do you believe in evolution? if you do tune in this week.

Sunday 8 am CET 7.am GMT

or listen on demand after sunday at www.talkradioeurope.com

Don´t miss this!!!!

latest

Hi friends,

just thought i´d bring you all upto date with what is happening down here in Spain.
God has been so good to us here. yesterday we had high numbers in the church around 60 people so praise God for that. We have seen new people join the church since summer last year. we have had a small influx of twenty and thirty somethings of late. So i decided to set up a ministry aimed at that age group. Our first meeting was saturday where 10 people came to eat drink and get to know one another. everybody enjoyed it and we are planning to do some more.

Radio
I was invited back to sit on the panel of the sports show on TRE so that was great talking about Rugby Golf football and tennis etc and after that i stayed on to do an interview on the Richie Allen "tonight show" . Richie the night before had interviewed David Icke and Pastor Jones from America (the one who wanted to burn the Korans). Richie wanted a balanced opinion on that so i answered his questions. Thank God for the door which he has opened for the message to go out right across Spain and the canaries. The 2 revs show is going well and i am currently lining up an interview with a creatinist scientist back in the UK

Bible study
I started a midweek bible study last summer with around 10 people we had 22 last wednesday so Praise God for the growth we are seeing.

Thank you for your prayers and financial support.
Every Blessing

Dave and Naomi.

रियल faith

Yesterday i was preaching on the shumanite woman. she recieve a miracle baby from God, a son. When her son suddenly is taken ill she acts in desperate faith and goes to Elisha for help. she is persistant and that faith is rewarded.
Elisha clearly sees the woman is in bitter distress yet she says everything is alright with me. clearly it isnt alright otherwise she would not had been there in the first place.

so is he decieving herself or denying reality, i believe not. She is exercising awesome faith. it takes real faith when the circunmstances around us become desperate. real faith doesn´t deny reality it recognises it, but when your trust is in God real faith recognises God is more powerful.

so whatever you maybe facing this week remember we can face our problems and challenges knowing that God is soveriegn and he can help us and is able to help us.

may you understand your circumstances and really comprehend Gods awesome power in the lives of those who trust and follow him.

just a thought i had to get us going this monday morning....

Every blessing, Dave

Newsletter

Well let me the 82th person to wish you happy new year etc etc.

We had a great time back in blighty seeing family and spending time in Coventry. To those i didn´t get chance to see well maybe next time.
Great to see my friends in Coventry Elim church and spend a day with you all.

if you would like a copy of our latest newsletter then please reply to this message with you email address and i will send you a copy asap.

Hope you had a great Christmas,

keep in touch,

Love Dave and Naomi. x