Spanish steps online

2012

2012-01-04T10:36:00.002+01:00

More news from the mission field in Spain

Update from Dave.

Hi guys, I hope you all had a great Christmas. We had a mixed emotioned Christmas. We had the jy of all the Church celebrations and attending a Joint church venture Carol service in the square in fuengirola.

We also had a small family bereavement. One sunday before Christmas I was taking the rubbish out and I caught our Cat Demian (not named by us) being attacked by 5 loose hunting dogs. I managed to get the dogs off him and got him to the vets asap. It looked like I had saved his life but a just over a week later he died. He had an underlying disease that we were unaware of which attacked his inmune system. Normally this would go unoticed but with the extent of his injuries his little body could not cope.
I have been shocked as to how upset i have been of late i was obviously more attached than i realised.

As hard as it is we have to carry on, there is a gospel to be preached and people to be reached.

Please continue to Pray for myself and Naomi and the little baby on its way.

Dave & Naomi xx p.s Happy new year!
..

Beach wedding with kilts

2011-09-26T10:22:00.000+02:00

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.

2011-09-05T10:07:00.000+02:00

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

2011-08-22T10:58:00.000+02:00

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

2011-07-21T13:11:00.002+02:00

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!

2011-07-11T11:13:00.002+02:00

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!..

2011-06-25T12:19:00.002+02:00

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

2011-06-20T10:53:00.000+02:00

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

2011-05-23T11:38:00.002+02:00

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

2011-05-12T10:00:00.000+02:00

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

2011-04-25T09:29:00.000+02:00

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

2011-04-18T11:09:00.002+02:00

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

2011-04-04T12:02:00.000+02:00

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)..

2011-03-28T10:01:00.001+02:00

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..

2011-02-18T12:15:00.000+01:00

More news from the mission field in Spain

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

adding photos

2011-02-18T12:02:00.001+01:00

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

2011-02-14T16:46:00.001+01:00

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.

2011-02-04T15:23:00.001+01:00

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

2011-01-27T11:04:00.000+01:00

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

2011-01-24T09:51:00.001+01:00

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

2011-01-17T10:04:00.001+01:00

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

2011-01-06T11:12:00.001+01:00

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

2010-08-16T13:16:00.001+02:00

Dave Hodgson 16 August at 13:12 Hi friends and supporters or both.

Last week God really blessed myself and Naomi with a really cheap holiday in benidorm. We originally wanted to got to the Elim festival (fraisthorpe camp) however we quickly realised that this was not financially posssible. I missed camp so much this year.

Whilst in benidorm we stayed at our friends Tim and helen cobhams house to them we are really grateful. One morning we went to an English bar for a healthy full english breakfast. The woman who served us asked us where we were from and we replied Costa del sol. ohhh she said i listen to a radio station from there called talk radio europe. i replied by saying i presented the 2 revs show on that station. WOW she said and became slightly starstruck (no i haven´t experienced this before) she said i have loads of questions for you. I asked her "what is the biddest question" she replied "WHY?". She explained many of her family have died at a young age and wanted to ask God why. i sensitivly said to her to not allow her questions to hinder her finding God. i said God loves you and she began to cry, we didn´t get much time with her as other customers came in. she said i wish you lived on the costa blanca i would love to talk more. then i was reminded of my friends Tim and Helen fellow elim missionaries who live just 15 minutes away. i asked if i could pass on her info to them so they could talk to her. she said yes by all means.
As i was leaving she turned to me and said "out of the 2000 bars in benidorm you came into mine, God sent you to me.

please pray for barbara and the many others that God is using us to reach out too.

its because of your giving in prayer and finances that wea re able to minister here in Spain to a dark continent.

We are currently running on a monthly defecit and really need regular sponsors how ever small amount a month. I am looking for 10 familys who can give just 20 pounds a month. this will give us more security and the freedom to work full time in the church here. I am believing that one day the church will be able to support me until them i continue to rely on my friends and partners in the ministry. if you feel you can give whether a one off gift or a monthly gift please contact Elim missions in malvern or reply to this for more info. thanks to those who are faithfully supporting us, time doesn´t allow to share with you all that God is doing, just be aware that God is blessing as a result of your faithfulness.
p.s i hate asking for money i have always worked to earn it, now i feel very humble in asking.
Love in his service, Dave and Naomi xx

doughnuts

2010-08-03T12:35:00.002+02:00

getting back on the doughnut of life
To members of Spanish Steps (Daves mission to Spain)
Dave Hodgson 03 August at 12:33 Getting back on the doughnut
I have a new tradition that has started in my life since moving to spain (a year and a half ago)it is to visit one of our local aqua parks at least once during the summer it’s a day of fun and frolics and getting sun burnt (must get a higher factor next year). One of the water slides involves you sitting on what can only be described as an over sized doughnut made of rubber and air. The object of the slide is to get down the flume and stay on or at least with your doughnut.
About half way down the slide there is a pool which you land in and this is where the problems arise well for somebody of my build anyway (lets just say I am no twiggy) I landed and came right off the doughnut (rubber ring thing) I tried to get back on and I couldn’t the water was to deep and the sides were too slippery (I actually paid for this experience) I tried again and what seemed like an hour later (just a few minutes in real time) the attendant who was helping people get through this bottleneck came over and helped me get on my way again, my wife and friends certainly had a chuckle at my expense after that one. I resolved never to go on that slide again. A few minutes later I was back on (the power of peer pressure and not wanting to look like a weakling) I was determined to hold on and this time I made it all the way down sitting in my doughnut and at the bottom I got out of the water to cheers from crowd and euphoria at my achievement, ok it wasn´t quite like that but I was relieved.
In life we can be happily moving along when smack! Something hits us from out of the blue, our health, family issues, bereavement or loss of a job. Its at times like this that we need to know that we can turn to God in prayer and that he hears us. I use to think that God was just a man in the sky who wanted to tell us off and beat us with broom (bit like a neighbour i had when I was a child) but that is not what the bible teaches, Jesus said “Come to me all who are weary” sometimes the last thing we think to do is to cry out to God for help, but it can be the most productive action we will take. You see the attendant (on the waterslide) had a stick not to tell us off for getting into trouble but a pole that I could grab hold of to pull myself through. God leads and guides if only we can swallow our pride and say Lord I need help. On many occasion God has helped me get back on the ride of life again. Its because of his grace that I want to know him more personally.

2010-07-26T10:44:00.001+02:00

To members of Spanish Steps (Daves mission to Spain)
Dave Hodgson 26 July at 10:43 Hi friends,

well its been a busy ole week here in Benalmadena. let me begin by giving you a little back ground.

In Spain the prime authority in any municipality is the Ayuntamiento (town hall) led by the mayor. for many years Evangelical churches in Spain have been frowned upon and the Catholic Church being the only state recognised church. consequently evangelical churches have been tolerated to a degree. they to this day are not allowed to use council buildings to meet in ie town halls and schools. before arriving in Spain i was reading about evangelical churches being closed down by the mayor for simplie being too noisy (this by the way is one of noisiest nations in the world second only to Japan).

But God is changing this nation bit by bit. I am hearing of church leaders in estepona being given a chance to pray for their mayor. The church in torremolinos being given a public square to hold a 3 day evangelistic crusade. Just this last week here in Benalmádena i was given confirmation that the Mayor would hold Q and A session in our church building, a time where he can reach out to the English speaking community.
now this is common place in the u.k but let me assure you this was unheard of Spain just a few years ago. this came about as a result of me building up a friendship with one of the councillors in the town hall.

Spain went from dictatorship to democracy over night in 1976 and now i believe its changing spiritually too.

thanks to all of you who support me financially you are making this mission possible and a special thank you to my sending church coventry elim for investing in this much needy nation.

I need more sponsors how ever small amount a month, please prayerfully consider our mission here. for more info email me davehodgo@aol.com or contact Elim missions in malvern.
may God richly bless you as you bless others.

i will have more news next week, p.s i need to go on diet any suggestions i have tried eating less but thats too hard!

2010-07-05T11:31:00.003+02:00

To members of Spanish Steps (Daves mission to Spain)
Dave Hodgson 05 July at 10:28 Last week was a fantastic week here on the coast in Spain.

El Dorado, i know what springs to mind when i write this word either the failed BBC soap opera about british expats (which was filmed about 20 k away from where i am sitting now) or the fantastic John wayne western. Its also the name of one of newest newspapers on the costa del sol.
last week i met one of the editors for a coffee as a result of that, we are now their religious section. the paper is quite eclectic it features tarot reading, a diary of a single gay guy, as well as the news etc and now it will have a thought for the week from yours truly and the rest of the leadership here. so praise God for that.

Later on this week i will inform you about our brand new television programme acts4today which will be going out on the believe channel.

last night myself and Naomi attended an outdoor concert/outreach of the church in torremolinos. I was honoured when witha n hours notice the Pastor in charge (Bernard) asked if i would close the 3 day event in prayer for the nation of Spain. alongside Spanish pastors and a nigerian pastor i prayed for Spain in english and declared to the streets of torremolinos and all those listening that God will break through and move mightily in this nation.
I felt so privaledged to be up there praying with local pastors, God is good all the time.

well there is loads more to tell you but i don´t want to peek to early.

Prayer request: I have a friend in the U.K who has just been diagnosed with breast Cancer, i´m not giving her name just yet but God knows who she is. plaese can you pray for her complete healing.

also i have been taxed wrongly this month and i would value your prayers that the inland revenue would see this error and rectify it as it has left us very short financially.
thank you for your ongoing support. love Dave & Naomi

VERY ENGLISH

2010-06-28T09:40:00.001+02:00

I feel embarressed to be English this week having wasted a lot of time following a shambolic performance. all i will say is come on Harry redknapp now is your time, lets have an English manager again.

I also felt very english this week i went to a fiesta called San Juan, where all the Spanish go to the beach and at midnight they all run into the sea for good luck. During the night they make fires on the beach where the young men run through the fire apparently to impress the young ladies. the reason i felt English was because that would never happen with our health and safety pc brigade. So i was wincing at the possible danger, but then reminded myself they have been doing this for hundreds of years.

i also felt very english at a friends wedding, for a few reasons 1. the language barrier although my friends are good at keeping me informed (thanks ismael) 2 i did not know any of the songs and the traditional "dexys midnight come eileen" song was not even played once.
and finally our English weddings end early compared to Spanish ones, we arrived back home at 6 in the morning. i felt all of my 34 years that morning.

The catholic ceromony (which i am told can be quite tedious) was very good the deacon spoke about giving up on your pre-concieved ideas of church and that the most important thing is to know God. quite refreshing and i certainly was not expecting such an informal and warm service.

thats what its all about for me and Naomi, to make people know that it is possible to have a relationship with God.

May you have a great week in your relationship with God. He wants to know us to know him personally this week.

Love Dave and Naomi

ही friends

2010-06-21T10:35:00.001+02:00

Hi friends and supporters.

To all those who follow this blog on Facebook you might be wondering where the video is. Well i have been told that my face is more suited to radio and i´m scareing little children (only joking)
i thought i would go back to typing for this week. It was great to see so many friends at conference and to find out that so many were following all that i am doing via facebook and twitter etc. a special hello to David and Pia Woodfield whom i respect so much thanks for reading these updates.

God really blessed me at conference i really enjoyed the dary northrop sessions and keith was great not to mention sy. it was a great conference. I also spent some time with family in Derby and preaching in Coventry. It was great to see all my friends and sharing a chalet with Iain and Rachel Hesketh along with Sean Charlesworth and Mrs C. thanks for that.

As you look to the future it can be quite fearful sometimes. No longer guaranteed a stable salary and pension and i always find it hard weighing up the balance of living by faith with your finances and also being a good steward of them. I realise i am completely dependant on the generosity of my friends and family, that too can bring feelings of guilt like am i acheiving enough for the Lord in order that their giving is justified.

However when i look back over this year i can truly say i have seen God do some amazing things and in spite of me sometimes, he is great. we have more people attending the church, more publicty and better relations with the town hall.

Faith and fear have the same definition "seeing those things that are not as if they are already" its what you choose to believe, radical faith or irational fear.

this i find hard to do, i find it really difficult to ask for support financially. prayer is fine, talk about money thats harder.
the truth is i need to be bolder in this. so here goes...

i need more sponsors. those who have caught just a wiff of the vision to see this nation changed. if you can support me with a one off gift that will be great if you can support on monthly basis even just 5 pounds a month then fantastic. there is security for me and Naomi when we know a certain amount will be there it helps us to budget better. if you would like to support than either message me back or contact Elim Missions
www.elimmissions.co.uk for contact information. you can remain private in your giving if you wish.
thanks to those including my sending church coventry who are already faithfully supporting me.

if finance is not an option i dearly value your prayers again this is the most powerful way of supporting me.

thanks for taling time to read this longer usual update.
lots of Love from the Hodgsons

2010-06-01T10:47:00.002+02:00

Well all set for my trip back to blighty and i am preaching at coventry Elim this sunday and then off to conference for a week. This will hopefully be a time where i can catch up with friends and family back home and publicise all that is happening here in Benalmádena, España. see you soon

2010-05-10T10:02:00.002+02:00

Next week i have organized for the town hall of Benalmádena to come and do a seminar about living in Spain and in the municipality of Benalmádena. this is part of our ongoing relationship with the ayuntamiento (town hall)-

please pray that we have a great turnout. Wednesday 19th of May 2010.

thanks

2010-04-26T10:53:00.002+02:00

a few weeks ago i emailed the ayuntamiento thats the local goverment as a result of that initial email i secured a meeting with a representive of the foreigners department. Myself and Howard met with them last week to highlight the community work of the church. all went well and looks as if a good working relationship may come blossom. the ayuntamiento (town hall) hold all the power in the municiplality so its vital that as a church we can build up strong relationships with them.

please pray for Gods ongoing favour in this area!

you may like to support me in prayer and finances you can do by contacting

0845 302 6750
Direct Telephone Line: 44 (0)1684 588 940
Fax: 0845 302 6752
Email: missions@elimhq.net

2010-04-23T18:40:00.002+02:00

Well the flights are booked and i´m starting to pack, well maybe not yet. I fly into the UK on friday 4th of June and preach at coventry Elim Church on 6th of June. its then onto the Elim bible week for a week of seeing friends and recieving great ministry. so if you are around i will see you in Coventry in a few weeks time.

Update

2010-04-13T09:20:00.003+02:00

Well thanks for your prayers guys, i am currently recovering and i have an xray on friday morning to see if my enflamed kidney has gone down. value and thank you for your prayers.

June the 6th a little behind schedule, i will be preaching at Coventry Elim my sending church all day on the sunday. then i will be spending the week at the Elim conference in Prestatyn

we have seen quite a few new people coming to our new midweek meetings, some have come as a result of listening to our weekly radio show. A woman called Anne who is into escoterical stuff came along and has been coming to our sunday services through listening to our radio show.

thanks for your prayers and financial support without which the ministry here would simply not exist.

2010-04-05T10:02:00.002+02:00

Three Days in an English Hospital.

Well we were all set ready to go and see friends and family in the UK at Holy week and it being a school holiday in Spain it was to be a break for Naomi too. We arrived at East midlands airport and went and stayed with my Brother, so far so good until a kidney stone re-occurred and severe pain with it. I spent monday night in agony and was hoping the pain would subside, it didn´t and so the next day i went to the hospital where they admitted me. for the first time in my life i was to stay in Hospital over night and in fact it would be for three days. this was quite distressing for Naomi who came each day to visit me in Hospital.

I passed the stone on the wednesday, at the exact same time the prayer group back in Spain were praying for my healing. i was discharged on thursday night under the orders to rest once i get back to Spain. the following day we flew back to Spain, unfortubatly missing opportunities to meet with friends in England, i never got around to calling anyone.

I am on the mend now and thank all for their prayers, i apologise for not being in contact earlier i have not had internet access.

it has been quite a week but hopefully i will be back to normal soon and get on with all that God has for me here in Spain.
thanks for your ongoing prayer and financial support.

In his service, Dave x

2010-03-25T15:49:00.002+01:00

Feeling Sick

i would really value your prayers as i have had continued urine infections. the only way i can describe it is by reminding you what it feels like when you are on a long journey and nature calls. there are no places to stop so you think i will hold on till i get home and then the pain well its like that for me all the time at the moment. i am awaiting results from the hospital in the mean time will you remember me in your prayers.

sorry hope i wasn´t too graphic.

since being in Spain i have had one infection after another and feeling sick on a regular basis. i am not normally a sickly person so i would really value your prayers for complete healing.

on a better note, God is really blessing the church and all the midweek programmes.

thank you for your ongoing support. Muchas gracias y adios from a wet Spain.

Dave

2010-03-15T11:49:00.003+01:00

I am currently shifting all my files onto a different computer so i apologise for the hold up on the newsletter in will be out soon. meanwhile you can keep upto date by staying logged on here.

This morning

2010-03-09T16:00:00.002+01:00

we started our brand new alpha course this morning. with 2 non believers on it, we had a great discussion time and i think we are in store for a good course. i love doing alpha its a chance to speak to people before they become all religious.

thanks for all your prayers for my ministry.

2010-03-01T10:20:00.002+01:00

Great to hear that the young people in the Uk had a great weekend at the Gathering, that brings back memories of myself and Jeremy kipping on a church a floor in Birmingham.

We had a great sunday yesterday, i preached on making the right choices from Joshua 24 and Naomi spoke in the evening meeting about decerning Gods voice amongst all the other voices we hear today. Gods presence was so strong in the meetings. so we are grateful for all he is doing there.

We are starting an alpha course next week with 2 non christians already signed up for that. please pray they will remain with us and come through to faith.

as a result of the radio show a lady called anne turned up at church a few weeks ago searching for answers, so God is really stirring people at the moment.

please continue to remember Naomi and myself in your Prayers, many thanks

its my birthday today!! 34

2010-02-18T10:11:00.001+01:00

wow never thought i´d make it and i have survived living away from the UK for a year now.

hope all my friends and followers are blessed, see you all soon.

Good News

2010-02-13T15:36:00.002+01:00

Good News, over the last 3 weeks i have been in consultation with the casa de la cultura about using there building for a joint worship meeting and we have got it, Praise God. churches up and down the coast will be coming for the first joint worship time together.

Luc Favre from thonon Spain will be preaching here next sunday.

oh and its my 34th birthday on thursday and a curry is on the menu.

please pray

2010-01-18T11:46:00.001+01:00

a pastor friend of mine from Torremolinos has set up a website asking people to commit to praying for Spain. if you are gaining a heart for Spain like i am will you please have a look. it also gives some useful information about the country too. please have a look and register.

http://www.prayingforspain.com/index.php

another entry in my online diary

2010-01-18T10:36:00.000+01:00

Dave Hodgson 18 January at 10:34
we had a great time in church yesterday. I have started a 2 week teaching on the life of Joseph and Naomi did a talk in our evangelistic service on "the day after tomorrow"hope all my partners are well both in Spain and those back in the motherland. i'm currently arranging for a time to come back and remind you all of who i am.see you soon and up the Rams

2010-01-14T10:41:00.000+01:00

Dave Hodgson 14 January at 10:40
Hi friends, many years ago the Spanish tourist board had a slogan saying " Spain is different" they dropped it after the term was used against the country too. however there is no getting away from it Christmas in Benalmadena is different to Derby or Coventry.the Spanish have always celebrated the birth of baby Jesus on 6 January otherwise known as Three Kings Day. This is the day that the three kings arrived overnight in Bethlehem and also the most important day for the children as the kings (not Santa Claus) leave presents for the children. The night of 5 January is a time for cavalcades with horses (and occasionally camels) where the three kings throw sweets to the children. In small villages, parents give named presents to the kings which are in turn presented to the children . Families gather together to have a big feast on The Three Kings' eve. For dessert they have the Roscon de Reys, a ring of cake inside which is hidden figures of the three kings or tiny toys. Children put out water and greenery for the camels before they go to bed. They also leave their shoes for the three kings to put a present in. Modern Three Kings Day celebrationThat was before. Nowadays The Three Kings, although still celebrated, has lost much of its significance to Christmas. Children from more traditional Spanish families still receive presents on The Three Kings but these are small gifts. Instead, their major presents are given at Christmas. Spaniards say this is because the children go back to school on 7 January and if they get their presents at Christmas they have a longer time to play with them. Christmas celebration in benalmadenaChristmas is still quieter in the Spanish community than in the British community; the family meal is on Christmas Eve and there is midnight Mass (Misa de Gallo)so yes Spain is different, its a shame that they are loseing some of their traditions to more american ideas. however i benefitted because the three kings parade went past my flat sothere i was collecting the sweets they were throwing.God bless from a wet Spain

2009-12-01T11:17:00.002+01:00

Many of you will be aware that on sat 21st november myself and Naomi got married and it was a fantastic day. we do not have the official photos as yet but there are some available on my facebook. if you are not a friend of mine of facebook yet then please search for me and i will add you.

thanks to all of you who sent cards and gifts myself Naomi really appreciate it.

watch this space for news from the mission in Spain, as i continue walking my spanish steps

Remebrance sunday

2009-11-10T10:58:00.002+01:00

This last week i heard the sad news that my old friend Kev Painter from Burton on trent had gone home to be with the Lord. i think he was in his forties a great genuine guy with a great heart and love for the Lord and his family. Myself Ron G, Cath (kevs wife) Lizzy Davo and the Late Chris hunt use to sing in a choir together in Derby we had some great times and they will be with me all my life. although i hadn't seen him in a long time, i will miss Kev my thoughts and Prayers are with Cath, Robyn and his family at this time.

We have all been reminded of the sacrifice i service men and women have paid over the last century and on sunday we had a 2 minute silence and i preached about denying ourselves and taking up our cross, many responded. i used some accounts of people like dietrich bonhoeffer who gave there lives for what they believed.

we are still in the early stages of the youth group and have just recieved back from the printers a whole load of leaflets to give out.
I am also pioneering an older peoples group called Golden Hour on november the 18th this is for those of our community of a certain age and maturity. i am to young and wrinke free but i might still get in.
please pray for these ventures.

and on a personal note....... i am soon getting married to my lovely fiance Naomi in castillo de monda. on Nov 21st please pray that it will be a great day,
any cards etc can be sent to

Calle Galicia, s/n Parquemiel 1-C
Arroyo de La Miel
Benalmadena
Malaga
Spain
29631

your ongoing support is vital and much appreciated

love Dave

2009-10-13T12:50:00.002+02:00

My lap top computer is not working and is currently being prepared, please pray i can afford this as the computer is essential to my work in the church.

We now have a table tennis and a football table for the youth club all we need now is young people.

Berenice from france is doing really well and is a blessing to us here.

value your prayers and support.

Dave

2009-10-08T10:41:00.002+02:00

hi friends and supporters,

just to let you all know that a new newletter has been published and will be available soon. for those in coventry there will be some available shortly. if you would like an email copy please and you are not in coventry elim then please email me.

Davehodgo@aol.com

thanks

last sunday

2009-10-06T14:51:00.000+02:00

Dave Hodgson 06 October at 14:50
Last sunday Howard brought some awesome teaching about end time prophecy. This teaching i believe is vital to the body of Christ today. as always in chrisendom whenever there is any flaky teaching on a particular subject we don't counteract it we ignore it (in general). Maybe its good to take a break from "lifestyle preaching" as good and as valuable that is. the other excuse i have heard is people saying "i just don't know enough about it" if i was to follow that logic i would never preach again. On the radio they are talking about it, there is a new movie about it, maybe we should open revelation again and allow ourselves to be stirrred and excited about Christs 2nd coming. your comments are welcome....

Pain in Spain

2009-09-28T09:22:00.002+02:00

Please keep praying for me, last week i was diagnosed as having a kidney stone. i know i am a man and in general we don't do pain very well, but this is very painful. i am on anti biotics and pain killers. it has come at such a bad time, because we have just welcomed berenice to our team and she is helping me to set up a weekly youth club. please pray that God heals and we can get on with the task in hand.

The Radio station are pleased with our show, its the first time they have really done anything like this before. they judge popularity by response so i am asking all my friends and supporters to email in and of course listen to the show. you can download it at www.thefamilyfellowship.com or listen live every sunday 7 am uk time on the internet www.talkradioeurope.com . we are recording somemore so if you like to send us an email to 2revs@thefamilyfellowship.com we will include you in our show. we believe this show will highten our appeal as a church to the local area.

We are really sensing God in our meetings and are believing that God will continue to show us success.

please keep praying for me that financial provision will increase and i don't have to eat any savings i have left. thank you so much to all my existing supporters i am so grateful that i can be released to work in this church.

now don't forget to email your request now!!

Elim family fellowship and the 2 revs

2009-09-07T10:35:00.002+02:00

both the elim family fellowship and 2 revs radio show can now be found on facebook search for us and become a fan and that way you can keep upto date with all that is happening at the church and on the show.

today we will be holding a pastors meeting to plan out the next season of ministry in the church. please keep us up lifted in prayer.

also please be aware that for the foreseeable future the radio show will not be repeated on a sunday evening. we will however shortly be available on demand, info to follow, watch this space.

Renovations, Radio, wedding, Newsletter and Berenice

2009-09-01T10:56:00.002+02:00

Hi guys, thanks for reading this blog i will endeavor to keep you upto date as best i can.

we are currently having our community renovated (area where the church is located) with new tiles and railings. which mean't for the last few weeks we have not been able to access the building which mean't no church. we attended a spanish speaking church in fuengirola and although it was hard for me to understand all of it, i certainly felt Gods presence in a tangible way. we are hoping to be back open this sunday 11 am.

the Radio show is going well with lots of good feedback, we had an atheist contact the show asking if Jesus was circumsized then how come you Christians aren't required to be, well if you wanna know how we answered it you should have listened to the show. every sunday 8 am and 9pm online at www.talkradioeurope.com

rest assured there will be a newsletter shortly.

A young lady from elim church in thonon will shortly being arriving to do 3 months work experience with us here in the church. her name is bernice she is 17 yrs old i met her whilst involved with a mission to her church last year please pray for her during this time.

on a personal level Naomi starts her new job today at the british college, please pray that she settles in well and is a great witness to God there.

well bye for now, i'm missing you all but not the british weather.

E-News

2009-08-25T10:22:00.005+02:00

Hi friends, i haven't blogged for a while so i thought i'd let you know i am still alive. I am back in Spain now and raring to go. I had a great time back in the UK and it was nice to wear a jumper again. it was great to catch up with friends at fraisthorpe camp, myself and duncan partook in the wendy waffle experience again (oh how i will miss those waffles but not the after effects). it was great to see Iain and Rach again and my new friend Rusty. it was great to see the cov lot aswell, including claire roberts whom still to this day will deny ever putting eggs in my wellies, she wasn't to know i borrowed them from the Rev Gordon Neale. along with a sprinkling of jokes from Andy Lenton it was a great week.

God did some amazing acts in peoples lifes i feel honoured that he allowed me to witness great transformations.

Back in ole espana now, this morning i popped down to the casa de cultura to see about doing some spanish lessons in september, i will need to go and sign up on september the 2nd i'm praying that there will be room, as spaces are at a premium.

A young lady called berenice will be coming to do work experience with us at the family fellowship for a few months. Berenice heralds from our elim church in thonon, i know her pastor Luc and i met her last year on mission to france. please pray for her as she arrives in spain early september.

Our church building is currently out of use due to renovations taking place in the local community. it has been strange not having any sunday meetings, however this last sunday myself and the Coley clan went to a spanish church in furengirola, i really enjoyed it and they certainly know how to worship.

The radio programme goes from strength to strength. last week we had an email from an athiest who said he would normally turn off a show like ours but continued to listen and liked so much he emailed us with a theological question. you can listen to the show in the Uk please allow for time difference, listen online at www.talkradioeurope.com "2 Rev's an hour" on talk radio europe.

wedding plans are going well all i need to do is find a suit of armour and i am ready. Naomi is about to embark upon a new job and we would appreciate your prayers.

financially: i thank God for his continued favour upon this mission. I am always looking for more support both in finances and genuine prayer. if you can help please contact me or elim missions. my Email address is Davehodgo@aol.com or to email the show 2revs@thefamilyfellowship.co.uk
my moblie number is 0034 695 115 496.

many thanks to my existing supporters without whom i could not be doing what i am doing here in benalmadena. may God richly bless you.

Fraisthorpe camp

2009-08-06T09:15:00.002+02:00

On wednsday i left the fraisthorpe field for the last time, after so many years of fun food and fellowship and so many memories of making lasting friendships and meeting new people every year. but fraistorpe is more than that, it has something no other camp has, something unique to fraisthorpe camp..... a kebab making machine!!! in all seriousness we saw God moving in amazing ways amongst the young adults and i'm sure we were not the only tent to have experienced it. I'm reluctant if i'm honest to move campsite but i'm sure the new place will be good, because its the people that make it. a special mention to Sandra hutchinson who mentioned that she is an avid reader of this blog, hi San.

i spent the middle weekend speaking at all three services in coventry elim, it was great to see you guys again. its my sending church and it feels like i have arrived home when i'm there.

I'm back in Derby today visiting my family, then i fly back to Spain on saturday to see Naomi whom i have missed an aweful lot over these last 2 weeks.

God is good

Radio programme

2009-07-22T09:51:00.002+02:00

Finally i can confirm the details of our new show on talk radio europe, you can hear my dulcet tones every sunday morning at 8am C.E.T and from august repeated in the evening at 9pm cet.
those listening in the UK please remember the hour time difference. i'm thanking God for a fantastic opportunity on a big secular station. dont touch that dial.

listen online www.talkradioeurope.com

or you can email the show: tworevs@hkint.co.uk

Talk Radio Europe

2009-07-13T17:58:00.004+02:00

Myself and Pastor Howard are currently in discussions with talk radio europe with a view to having a Christian Radio programme on every sunday. last week we recorded a pilot edition of the show which to our supprise was broadcast on the station last sunday morning. this is real opportunity to share our faith on a secular station. Spain is not tied up by rules and regulations on broadcasting and we are allowed to talk about Jesus as much as we want. this station is the most listened to english speaking station in Spain and is broadcast from as far as Cadiz right up to to benidorm and also over madrid. it is also available on the web. i will be hosting with Howard as the co host, we are very excited by this development and believe it will benefit the elim family fellowship in benalmadena. please pray for ongoing favour upon us as we continue to build relationships with this influential radio station.

for my story on my interest in radio schroll down to a previous blog post.

thank you for your prayers and financial support without which this ministry would not be possible. hope you feel a part of it.

have a look at the stations website http://www.talkradioeurope.com/

i will give you more info on when you can listen to the show online soon
Dave

wedding news

2009-07-06T12:24:00.004+02:00

I'm very excited about Marrying Naomi Jayne Coley this November on the 21st. well that is probably a bit of an under statement really. We are having a medievel themed wedding in the Castillo de monda in Monda near Marbella. hehe, excuse me for a minute while grin to myself and have a cheekey snigger. yes you heard it right Daves getting married in restored castle in Spain, i'm still coming to terms with itmyself, it has not quite sunken in yet. as you can tell i'm excited and you not mean't to be excited in library. hey why not check out the castle/hotel http://www.castillodemonda.es . we are asking our guests to dress in a medieval style and so to fully enter in to this wonderful occasion. there are numerous websites to view about medieval outfits, rumour has my dad is going as Zorro and Steve millward as dark tanian oh well we will soon find out. i would like to invite everyone i know but thats impossible so if you don't recieve an invite i still love you loads. please pray that God will continue as he has already to show us his favour, especially with those agencies that are processing our paperwork etc.

God is good, after all these years of waiting upon him he has brought a beautiful young lady into my life.

he is awesome

RADIO

2009-06-23T10:15:00.001+02:00

it appears that God has opened a door for us to have a show on an english speaking radio sation. more news to follow but please pray that this will happen and God will continue to make ways for our message to be spread.

Update

2009-06-18T10:25:00.003+02:00

Purpose driven life course:
after the alpha course, i decided to take the same group of people through a purpose driven life course, this has just come to the conclusion, next week we are going to have a chinese meal to celebrate the end of the course. we are going to continue meeting in this group, with maybe a small break over august.

Youth Group:
last week we had 4 young people in our youth house group they all seem to be enjoying themselves and learning more about their faith

Prayer Group:
yesterday we went and prayed around Benalmadena pueblo (village) this is a place further in land from Benalmadena Costa where the church is situated. Benalmadena pueblo is home to the area's Mayor and ayuntamiento (town hall) so we felt it was time we prayed for the authorities that govern Benalmadena and Arroyo de la miel.

Brand new Spanish lessons:
for those brits (myself included) who cannot speak the local lingo, there is now a Spanish class at our church. it all began with a conversation over a coffee with some of our congregation, Naomi agreed to be our teacher (a fine teacher she is too) i know she reads this blog. so from next week this blog is in Spanish (joking of course).

Wedding
God has really shown favour to myself and Naomi, without his help we wouldn't have got the wedding venue of the year. We are getting married in a restored medieval/moorish Castle in the Spanish countryside. We looked around knowing it was far beyond our financial capabilities, it was a bit like looking around harods and only having a fiver to spend. but God has blessed us and we still need more miracles but i'm so grateful to him for blessing Naomi and myself it such a lavish way. We tie the knot on 21st november 2009.

Back in the UK, i am flying back to the uk in a few weeks time for 2 weeks. i am resuming my role on the youth team at fraisthorpe camp and preaching in the 3 services at coventry elim on the middle saturday of camp.

Star trek: best star trek film ever, go and see it!!!

live long and prosper

not man flu again

2009-06-11T11:31:00.002+02:00

i would appreciate your prayers as i'm feeling ill a lot. i never used to feel ill quite as much in coventry, it may well be that i'm adapting to a new country, climate and different bacteria. i would really appreciate your prayers.

I'm meeting a man called maurice boreland who is C.O of talk radio europe, its discussion about the possibilty of having a religious programme on his network, i'm meeting him on monday at 12 pm C.E.T please pray for Gods favour on that meeting.

well i really missed conference and all my pals, hope to be there next year. please keep in touch its always nice to hear whats going on in dear old England.

Dave Hodgson, News at ten, Malaga

thanks for all your congratulations

2009-06-09T10:43:00.003+02:00

Myself and Naomi have been bowled over by the amount of congratulations we have recieved either by cards or facebook comments. We are still in the process of planning the wedding and loads of paper work has to be completed first, please pray that Gods hand and favour will be upon us both at this time.
you can keep upto date on our wedding website
and also you can leave comments.
Dave Hodgson http://www.ewedding.com/sites/Naomi81/
Naomi

thanks for your ongoing support

feeling hot! hot Hot!

2009-06-02T10:22:00.002+02:00

yesterday the temperature in benalmadena read 34 degrees, sweat was pouring off me. i have been informed that i haven't seen anything yet. maybe i shouldn't had worn my sheepskin coat.

God is so good!

2009-06-01T11:57:00.002+02:00

Yesterday we really felt Gods Spirit so strong in our meetings, people were getting stuff dealt with that had been lingering in their lives for a long time. God is so good and has been meeting with us in dynamic ways recently.

On a personal level myself and Naomi are both very excited about getting married. there is a lot of paperwork to do and a lot of organizing which is not easy when you are on a shoestring budget. we are both believing that, if God is in this he will also provide in which ever way he so desires. please continue to pray for us both and in general for the ministry here in benalmadena.

prayer requests

Youth House group, that those who come will continue too and they will grow in God.
Purpose driven life course: that God will knit that group together
Church: Gods guidance and Gods provision.

Myself: that i dont get too homesick. (thats a preventive prayer) also for more monthly financial support.

i canny complain though God has been good, i´m enjoying getting to know everyone and of course i have a wonderful fiance! so hey "praise ye the LORD"!!!!

Oramos por Espana (we are praying for you Spain)

2009-05-18T12:33:00.002+02:00

On saturday we took 4 car loads of people to Spanish capital of Madrid. We attended and partook in a Prayer concert. it was great to see many denominational leaders pray for Spain. We know that God blesses unity and i'm excited as to all that God has for us here in Spain. there were a few thousand there, but when you think Spain has 4o million plus in habitants then you get the picture that there is a lot to be done, But God will have his way with us or without us. Spain is well overdue for a move of God, we musn't just view it as a place for fun and holidays its so much more it so rich in culture and tradition. but even more than that it's a nation where well over the majority of the people will be going to hell unless someone tells them. we don't like talking much of hell because it seems politically incorrect but maybe if we did have a concept of it we would have more urgency and conviction in our witnessing. anyway i'm preaching now better stop, although i plead with you, please don't stop praying for us that our message will be heard and understood and that God will move mightly en Espana.

rules of engagement part 2 scroll down for part one its back to front

2009-05-12T11:16:00.002+02:00

So we arrived in London, i don't think Naomi could really believe she was there. yesterday she had assumed we would have had drama group and then a trip to the local park and now she is next to big ben. i informed her we were about to take a boat trip on the thames.

we sat down on this big open top city cruiser, there must had been around 80-100 people on it. I then went off to ask the driver to help me in my quest for her hand in marriage. As we approached tower bridge naomi and myself and got up to get off at the next stop. the driver then said "and now for something special, Dave Hodgson (in an East end accent) has an important question for Naomi Coley" i then went and stood in the aisle and called Naomi to me she went very shy and froze to the spot. i asked her again and my heart felt like it was going to burst out my chest. thankfully she came and i got down on one knee opened the case of the ring and said Naomi will you marry me. she said.........................................Yes!!!!!!!!!!
i looked around at all the other passengers and i said "she said yes folks" and they all cheered and clapped. it was like a rom com film.

we had loads of nice comments from the passengers and the crew. we then bumped into around 20 spanish people who said congatulations, when Naomi replied in andalucian spanish they were amazed they made a big fuss. you can see the photos on my facebook page.

there was a lot more to the weekend but fingers are tired from typing, i will fill you all in. thanks for your prayers and support.

Rules of Engagement

2009-05-12T10:42:00.003+02:00

Well, well, well, i better you never thought it! its still hasn't really sunk in with me yet. But yes i am now engaged. So here is the full story on how it all happened from my point of view anyway. the most important aspect of the story however is that Naomi said yes and she didn't need any bribes. i warn you its a long story so why don't you grab a pot of tea and some biscuits, put your slippers on and maybe a nice relaxing John Denver album and chill out.

I booked the flights and arranged the accomadation at my brothers place, i bought the ring from a shop in Spain. i arranged also with Naomi's boss for her to leave work early on the friday. So myself and Naomi's Parents turned up at work place on friday night around half five, we asked her to hand her car keys over as she would not be needing them for a while (Her car was then driven back home for the weekend later on) we then took Naomi on a drive, she thought we were going to Malaga to a nice restaurant. She knew a proposal was inimate because we had both openly discussed it but she did't know the timing all the place, but as soon as we picked her up she knew it was the suprise i had planned.

We then arrived at the airport, myself and Naomi's parents all jumped out of the car and she said do you want me to get out? a resounding yes was the reply. she was then presented with her pre- packed case and her passport, as we said good bye to Sue and Howard i informed her we were flying to England and our previous plans of a picnic in a local park had gone for a burton.

So we arrived in England, we stayed the night at my bro's and then i as i was about to reveal to Naomi our destination for the day (London) Tony revealed a suprise for me, he and his girlfriend had purchased first class tickets so we could arrived at st pancras in comfort. (thanks Guys).

part 2 coming soon

Happy May day

2009-05-04T10:37:00.002+02:00

In Spain they take there may day holiday on may the 1st regardless of what day it falls on, this week we had a long weekend with friday as an extra holiday, so myself and Naomi went to ronda a lovely town in the mountains of andalucia. It has a gorge with an amazing deep bridge. i will post some pics soon. back to office today.

We had a fantastic service yesterday, God really met with us. Throughout the week i had a feeling that God wanted to move powerfully in the service, i was speaking from psalm 85 where the psalmist cries "Lord will you not revive us again" we prayed for people at the end and many felt empowered. please pray for more encounters like this.

last week we held a coastwide pastors meeting at the church, around thirty to forty leaders were there, this is kind of unprecedented, so praise God for what he is doing. We are hoping to organize a joint worship time where churches gather together. please pray for continued unity in these times.

Prayer requests: please pray for health and protection for our leaders Howard, Sue, Naomi and myself.
also for ongoing financial provision for the church and for my ministry. thanks for all your support it is very much appreciated. God Bless

feeling better

2009-04-27T10:38:00.002+02:00

I'm back! sorry for no posts recently, i have been laid up for a while. i went to the doctors and i have acute gastroan..... (severe stomach bug) it doesn't feel cute either. so i have been wallowing in moans and groans that can only truly come from a man when he is ill, i think Naomi must have a headache now bless her.
i'm starting to feel better now but its not giving up easy.

We did however manage to still do the youth housegroup this week we looked at Jeremiah and understanding that God has a plan for our lives.

tomorrow night we are hosting a Pastors meeting, for leaders up and down the coast both Spanish and english speaking, please pray that God brings much needed unity amongst us.

thanks for your ongoing prayers and support.

p.s my parents are attending the loughbourough elim church and loving it.

2009-04-06T12:44:00.002+02:00

It must be strange for my folks to have both of there boys abroad, me here in Spain and Tony is in the big apple, the big smoke or New york New york (so good they named it twice). Tony is celebrating his 30th this week so happy birthday bruv.

the 2nd youth housegroup was a success and i'm about to start preparing my sermon for easter sunday. hope you all got the message in coventry elim yesterday from me, miss you loads. please pray that many come and see the dramas we are preparing for easter sunday.

Naomi is the best, God is good and i have a head ache so all is ticking along. praise God

Great News!!!!

2009-03-30T13:06:00.002+02:00

Yesterday my parents came to church whilst visiting me here i s southern Spain, i am pleased to tell all my friends that my mum became a Christian and was baptized in the Holy Spirit. after 17 years of prayer and heartache she has turned to Jesus. Please continue to pray for my dad and also that my mum can receive some sort of follow up back in the UK. praise God from whom all blessing flow.

Update

2009-03-23T11:16:00.002+01:00

well this week sees my parents arrive here on the Costa, they are arriving tomorrow and they are staying for five days. i'm looking forward to showing them around and just spending some quality time with them. yesterday was really good we had a guest speaker Juanita Johnson from a spanish speaking church in furengirola, he spoke about living our live's whole hearted and making space for growth both in our own live's and the life of the Church.

On a worldly note it was good to see Ray win dancing on ice, he was the best by a country mile, i went to my lovely girlfriends house to watch it. Naomi is good by the way, she is awesome and God has really blessed me.

this thursday night i start the first ever youth housegroup at 7.30pm please pray that God will really bless that time together and that there is a real unity amongst the youth.

thanks for all your continued support miss you all loads and loads.

sharing on the streets of Benalmadena

2009-03-19T10:26:00.002+01:00

Yesterday i did something i haven´t done for a long time, i went out on the streets to talk with people about there faith and share the good news. Its always a challenge to me because i can get shy (believe it or not), and so i have to step out of my comfort zone and once i have done it once, i can talk for England or Spain. We had 4 great conversations and one lady in particular who said she would come to our easter service. i always get a buzz from doing this and i always wonder why i don´t do it more often.....

hi from España

2009-03-16T13:51:00.003+01:00

Hi guys, i´d love to report to you that its raining and cold but its Sunny and warm eeeekkk sorry bout´that. I´m currently covered in white paint from painting the office this morning so people are looking at me strangely in this internet cafe.

Things are good here, Naomi is well and so are the rest of the Coleys. Howard preached at a Spanish speaking fellowship yesterday and all went well there. I preached about the apostle Paul, past, present and future and recieved good feedback. its an issue that i have faced so i am sure others are in the same boat from time to time. its a real art to not allow your past to distract you from your God given destiny. anyway i´m going into preaching mode again.....

My parents are coming out to see me next week and i cannot wait to see them, its only been 4 weeks, what a big softie!! anyway keep up the emails and the calls and keep me in your Prayers.

p.s please Pray for our new youth house group that starts a week on thursday. will let you know how it went.

lots of love from Dave

Young & older

2009-03-09T19:56:00.003+01:00

Well today i started painting the office and manage to cover myself but nevermind. i also started work on a sermon for this sunday morning. i´m enjoying working here and trying my best to remember peoples names. You would think it would be easier considering i come from a church of over 500 people. but i still manage to get it wrong on quite a regular basis. We had a dedication yesterday for a little baby boy called Javier, he is so cute and didn´t cry! we had a faith meal after church in celebration. well i´m off to cell group now so no rest for Holy (joke) bye for now. Dave

practical stuff

2009-03-06T14:09:00.002+01:00

Well i finally have a phone now in Spain if you ring me i will give you my new number (joke) mi numero es 0034 695 115496.
i also have a bank account in Spain now and i´m currently waiting for my debit card to arrive. So thats all good.
I have been working in the church office this week, it a big change from what i´m use to but i am absolutely loving it, so no complaints from me. this last sunday i was inducted into the ministry of the Church by John Knox head of the federation of Elim churchs in Spain. God is so good even when i have a tinge of homesickness and missing my friends and family i know his presence helping me. i already have some really fgood friends here, Lucy, Sam and Alex, Howard and Sue, Senger and Jackie and of course Naomi who has helped me settle in so well. you could say God has blessed this boy and i´m very grateful for that. still have no internet access at home so unfortuantly my updates are a tad sparodic, but they should get more frequent. please keep me in your prayers and let me know whats happening with you guys too. Every blessing, Rev DJH

a new life

2009-02-23T18:45:00.002+01:00

i have been in Spain for one week now and it has seemingly flown by. I must be enjoying myself, well i am, to quote Macdonalds "i´m Lovin It". God has been good to me over this transitional period and i think there is still a lot more transitioning to do. i had my first service in the church yesterday and they put on a welcome lunch for me as well as a birthday cake which was a lovely suprise. i feel well and truly welcomed!
the strangest feeling i encountered was whilst waking up one morning last week the realisation hit me that i was living in a foreign land and i´m not planning on going back, that was strange and it took me by suprise. I also was taken back by the emotion i felt saying goodbye to my family i had the saddness of leaving entwined with the happiness of arriving in Spain, my head and heart have been all over the place, but i think they are both begining to settle down now. I also had the nice suprise of Naomi picking me up from the airport, she was allowed to leave work early, that also made things more easier when arriving.
so looking forward i am excited as to all that God has in store for us all here the elim family fellowship. next week i´m being officially inducted into the church when John Knox head of elim españa will be visiting Benalmadena. so i will sign out by thanking you all for your ongoing support both in Prayer and provision. watch this space for more of my Spanish steps.

focused advertising

2009-02-16T08:30:00.002+01:00

i know i should have other things to worry about today, but i find personalized adverts aimed at me about weight loss and regaining a full head of hair. if i wasn't insecure then i am now lol. anyway the sun might bring my hair back if not i will have to wait for heaven, until then i will be happy i mean it hasn't stop jean luc picard.

anyway catching a plane later you may have heard about it......

on the edge of the boat

2009-02-15T20:07:00.002+01:00

Well its the day before i leave, i can't believe its here, it feels so strange. i have been working upto this date for such along time at one point i thought it would never come. i have used the term mixed emotions so much this week. i said good bye to my dad today and my nan yesterday my mother and brother are taking me to the airport to make sure i leave the Uk and all her teritories.
There has been more than the odd tear and i think a few more are on the menu tomorrow tambien. i was thinking as hard as it is for me to leave everybody it would be harder to stay with the "what if i had tried it" thoughts.
i will be seeing my parents in spain in march so that will be nice.
On the other hand i'm really excited, i can't wait to see Naomi again, i can't wait to get into my new flat and i can't wait to settle into a new ministry. i just wish i could have the best of both worlds.
God has blessed me so much, please continue to remember me in your prayers.

will miss all my friends in the UK so much........

watch this space to find out if i sleep well on my first night in Spain!!

Back at Derby Elim

2009-02-09T08:33:00.003+01:00

its my own fault i should never had boasted! all winter i have been boasting about the fact that i have not had a cold whilst all in sundry suffered. i well and truly have one now and as you will be aware from medical science men tend to get a stronger strain than women, but far be it from me to moan, although i have been up all night with it!!!
i managed to get through my sermon on sat night at aog church in coventry. We had a great evening and many responded to the call to step out in faith. Yesterday i returned to my home church the City Church Derby. it was great to catch up with so many familiar faces from the past and share a challenging word about taking more risks in life. i get very reminicent when i go back to Derby elim and this was no different, plus it was good opportunity to meet with my friends Dan and Dave who pastor the church there.
i'm going to post again tomorrow and share with you just some of the thoughts and emotions i have regarding my move to Spain.
I'm missing Coventry Elim a lot and on the other hand i cannot wait to take the plunge more about that later......

Back in Cov

2009-02-07T14:08:00.003+01:00

for one night only, i'm back in the sky blue city preaching at Christian life ministries (A.O.G) at an 18 -30 meeting. i'm still 32 until the 18th feb so i think i can manage to sneak in. although so called friends remind me i look 42. all i have to say is that i will look younger in heaven and a full head of hair.

Count down is on i leave a week on monday (16th) it feels so real now!!!

Good Bye Coventry

2009-02-03T18:13:00.002+01:00

Well, i can't believe it but i have left Coventry now. emptied my flat (which was no mean feat) filled the Car and headed down leicestershire way. Sunday was an emotional affair it took all my strength to stop myself from breaking down and becoming an emotional wreck on the floor. Even though the future is so exciting it doesn't make it any easier to say goodbye. its natural that your life becomes entwined with those around you (they call it loving community) and you do life together, my heart has something missing now. but i know with all my heart that i'm doing the right thing. a lot of my blog will talk about Spain so i hope you don't mind my indulgence in talking about Coventry for a moment.
I never really liked the city much at first but it grew on me, certainly i have made some great friends and i will look forward to keeping intouch over the years to come. I owe a lot to Cov-elim, you put up with my jokes and sermons and my mistakes, you gave me space to grow, to mess up and on occassions succeed. there always be a place in my heart for Coventry although you must realise i'm not talking football that place is reserved for the rams.

i'm in Kegworth for 2 weeks doing some itenerate preaching, then i head out to Spain on the 16th of feb, to start the next chapt of the exciting adventure God has called me on.

please keep me in your Prayers over this time of transition. P.S go and see Valkyrie its a great film.

sponsorship

2009-01-30T13:33:00.002+01:00

I have been overwhelmed by the support and best wishes i have been recieving and i'm really grateful to God. My aim is to work in the church in Benalmadena full time without having to aquire another job to supplement my income. I have attained half of what i need on monthly basis to live on and this stage i have been informed i doing well. please would you continue to pray with me that God will continue to provide, i know he will. again thanks for your ongoing support.
Every Blessing

its all a bit weird

2009-01-29T21:50:00.003+01:00

well i can't believe it i'm clearing out my desk and getting ready to move out of my flat on saturday, its all a bit strange. everything i have known for the last 6 and half years is about to change. Its very exciting too, i'm currently preparing a message for sunday night my final night at cov elim. please keep me in your prayers!!!!!!

thanks!!!

2009-01-26T13:38:00.001+01:00

thank you
I feel like i have been saying that a lot lately and i'm going to continue. As i look back on this last weekend i'm thankful, thankful to my beautiful girlfriend Naomi for journeying over from Spain to meet my friends and family oh and to see me of course (lol). i'm also thankful to all who took part in making my leaving concert on saturday night a great event.We took an offering and raised £1.048 pounds which will be winging its way to elim HQ shortly, again i'm thankful to all those who gave so generously.i'm thankful to all those who came to see me from Coventry and other parts of the UK, i truly am blessed to have some great friends and family.I, of course i'm thankful to God for putting his hand upon all that has happen this weekend, he has and is continuing to bless me in so many ways.if you are reading this blog and you want to know when its updated you can become a follower on the right of this page at the top. that way you know when a new blog has been released.and now into my final 3 weeks in the UK and my final week in Coventry, please keep me in your Prayers. thanks again, DaveDates: Sunday 1st feb: my final day in coventry, Chris Jones (speaking am) myself (speaking pm) will be preaching.Saturday 7th back in cov for a few hours speaking at an 18-30s conference at the assemblies of God Church.16th feb leave on a plane to Spain.

its an honour

2009-01-14T15:39:00.000+01:00

My colleague Helen Smallwood mentioned briefly in a prayer this morning, the honour it is to be in the ministry. just over 6 years ago i was working in an office in car dealership who would had thought that i would be here today. there is nothing wrong with working in the motor trade if thats Gods call for you and your passion is there. but i kinda felt unsettled for a while and i knew a change was on the cards, thats when i felt an unction from God about going to bible college.
As i look back on my years in Coventry i count it an honour to have been allowed the opportunity with Gods help to minister into peoples lives.
Now again i feel that familiar unction that its time for pastures new, its with excitement of all thats to come plus a tinge of sadness of all that i'm leaving behind that i take this next step. please continue to uphold me in Prayer before our Lord.
its truly been an honour.

Dates for your prayer diary

2009-01-12T15:59:00.000+01:00

24th Jan leaving concert/party: please let me know if you plan to be there.
1st Feb my last sunday at Cov elim: with guest speaker, Chris Jones from Elim HQ
7th Feb i'm speaking at an 18-30s conference at the A.O.G church in Coventry
8th Feb i'm speaking at Derby City Church at their Am service
15th Feb speaking at the elim church in Sheffield
16th Feb leave for Spain
18th feb my birthday: a Curry and a Cake. send your gifts early lol

Take it easyjet

2009-01-12T15:54:00.001+01:00

just a quick post to say that i have booked a one way ticket to Spain, yes you heard it right a one way ticket. it is a cheaper way of flying but not advisable if you are planning on coming back to the UK. So thats it no going back, i'm so excited but i'm going to miss all of my UK friends and family so much. please keep me in your Prayers, God has been so good to me.

Elim missions meeting

2009-01-06T16:52:00.000+01:00

Just a quick entry to mention that i met with Chris Jones (elims national missions director) in birmingham today. All went well and after the football chit chat we got down to discussing the mission in Spain. to sum it up Elim are happy and i'm Happy with the progress so far, so full steam ahead!!
look out Spain!!!

Everything's New!

2009-01-05T12:24:00.000+01:00

New year, New opportunities, New Blog.

Well congratulations you have found my blog called "Spanish Steps" well done!
in this blog i will endeavor to keep you informed with all thats happening with my ministry in Spain and also the Coley family whom i will be working with.

for complete background to my calling you can obtain a leaflet detailing the initial stages of my calling to Spain with all its twists and turns.

I spent Christmas day with my family in Derby and then flew out to spain on new years eve. this was a great time spent with my girlfriend Naomi who lives there in a Pueblo called Mijas. I preached in the church on Sunday morning about stepping into your dreams using the text from Joshua chapter 3.
One morning myself, Pastor Howard and Pastor Sue, spent some time looking at possible appartments to live in. I loved the first one i saw which can be dangerous but i knew straight away that this was the one for me. its in a place called arroyo de la miel, which is a spanish area closely linked to benalmadena Costa where the Church is. this will hopefully help me to reach out to the Spanish in my local area.

God has really blessed me with this provision. please would you join me in prayer for the finances to come in, i have about half of what i need to live on. i thank God for all that he is doing, for the people i have met and for all the opportunities that are coming my way.

Dates for your Diary: Farewell Concert Sat, 23rd of January 2009, 7pm @coventry elim.
please inform me that you are coming for catering reasons. email me Davehodgo@aol.com

My final sunday is the 1st of feb when Chris Jones will be speaking. Chris is the missions director for the Elim movement.

watch this space for more news!!