I'm not apologizing for communicating with you in this form because at my age it's simply the easiest! However I trust I am not offending any one of you just the same because all I desire is for you to have a most wonderful Christmas and New Year time hopefully being spent with your loved ones and friends. Celebrating Christmas is really quite simple, it all about Jesus who "came into the world to save sinners", which obviously includes every one of us and for that we are most thankful.
Doreen and I have a family that just keeps on expanding and you wouldn't want to know about each one life's story! We have five married children, nineteen grandchildren (two of them in heaven) and eight great-grandchildren; yes, we are a tribe and when we are able to get together it can be a circus of fun, much noise, gamesmanship, food and a lot of happiness. This Christmas is predominately with in-laws so Doreen and I are therefore able to spend Christmas with our American daughter (Jennifer) and her family in Copperas Cove Texas where it will be much cooler (praise God) to be away from this heat!
Even though officially we have handed over Vision Ministries Inc. to Rev Jeffrey and Rebecca Evans (our son-in-law and daughter), life and ministry has been as busy as ever. Here at "Mamre Farm" we enjoy playing fullback and hopefully being of assistance to Jeff, Bec and all involved with "Mamre Fellowship" which has amazed us with its constant growth and outreach. When we had the "Go Forth Faith Arena; Australia's Bush Cathedral" dedicated 12 years ago the last thing on our minds was expansion!! Well believe it or not, we are about to expand and build a new "Learning Centre" to cater for the ever increasing children and young people who now need a separate building for their ministries. When Archbishop Benson Idahosa dedicated the "Go Forth" and he saw that it was built on a farm 31 klms (20 miles) from the nearest populated town of Parkes, his word to everyone about me was; "Well, he's either heard from God, or he has a mental problem"!! The auditorium alone can seat over a thousand people, so we do live in an exciting age where our vision remains: "Mobilizing Australians For Jesus".
A real highlight for Doreen and me this year has been a time of ministry in New Zealand at the ICFM (International Convention of Faith Ministries) which had us ministering in Auckland, Wellington and Whangarei. To share with Pastors Bob and Joy Nichols of Calvary Cathedral in Fort Worth Texas wonderfully blessed Doreen and me. Truly we were revived all over again as we experienced a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Signs, Wonders and Miracles that we hadn't witnessed for over twenty years. Doreen was challenged to rewrite an expanded version of her book "You Are Someone Special", this occurred after Doreen spoke at the "Women's Meeting" and the President's wife (Pastor Elaine Miller) was so impressed that women everywhere need to read Doreen's story and it has actually happened and the Book is due in from overseas this week!! So if any one would love a copy then let us know, they will be available in the New Year
May the Gracious Love of God Almighty lift, strengthen, heal, provide and encourage each one of you now and forever more. Amen<
In His Grip
Bishop Harry and Doreen Westcott