You could start with the bones of the mission – the facts and figures:

• It ran from Tuesday 17 October to Sunday 1 November
• 2,500 news sheets with local testimonies and invitation cards were distributed
• There was a programme of meetings specifically for men (speaker – Norman Gilbert), for women (speaker – Rhiannon Harries), as well as three activity mornings for children and two family events.
• There were three evening preaching meetings and free literature available.
• There were nineteen people in the mission team – ages ranged from early twenties to eighty and included Welsh and English speakers.

But the data only tells part of what the mission meant to us as a small fellowship situated just south of the Landsker line that divides the predominantly English and Welsh speaking parts of Pembrokeshire. It’s easy to feel isolated; the nearest gospel fellowship is nineteen miles away. One Narberth chapel closed last year and the parish church does not hold Sunday evening services.

The mission team joined our weekly prayer meeting, our small numbers were swelled and it was so encouraging to unite in prayer. We were very grateful for each team member who gave time to work with us, helping us accomplish what we simply do not have the resources to do. For the first time the locality was saturated with Christian testimony via the news sheets, and the chapel was put on the map. The preaching meetings were stimulating and heart stirring. Opportunities for team members to give their testimonies spoke clearly of conversion and the Lord’s keeping power throughout life.

Of course we long to see fruit following from the mission in terms of conversions; meantime we have been encouraged by the concern of others for Narberth.

Jo Thomas

It was an absolute privilege to be part of the team serving in Narberth. Each of us found it a wonderful experience and would do it again if the opportunity came up again. What really hit us was the love shown to us by the other team members and the church in Narberth.

As soon as we arrived we bonded as a team and felt very blessed to pray and have fellowship with one another. It was great to see God making use of us despite our limitations. Being part of a mission in a small town was very different than anything we’d experienced in larger cities and we learnt a lot by doing it.

We each took part in different activities such as helping run the children’s Holiday Bible Club, delivering newspapers and invitations, and being around in the church to talk to people who dropped in. It was encouraging to see a mix of ages on the team and the way God guided us as we went into completely unknown situations.

We didn’t know anybody else before going but we went as strangers and left as friends. God is faithful and worked through our weaknesses and it was such an encouragement to see people come into the church meetings as a result of the invitations.

Ken and June Lewis, Armin Omidi and Libby Harris

During the week the church was open and it was good to see some people went in and spoke with the people who were there. There was a bookstall outside the church and in the local market in the town also made our presence known. The numbers in the Holiday Bible Club varied but it was encouraging to see the way they listened and responded to the stories. The Family Fun day was enjoyed by those who came. It was encouraging to see parents bringing their children to these events. On Wednesday, a ladies’ meeting was well-attended in the afternoon, and an encouraging number of men came to the evangelistic meal in the evening. A number of people also came to the three other evening meetings and the Family Service on Sunday. It was good to see people there who do not usually attend church.

One of the most encouraging times was the church prayer meeting on Tuesday. It was so good to be united in prayer for the Lord’s work in Narberth. When the team met for prayer each day we were blest by being aware of the greatness of our God and that the work was His. It was a blessing to be part of the team, to experience the love and care shown to us by the church in Narberth and see how they were encouraged by God’s work through the mission.

Lil Lewis

Not having been on an EMW mission before, we did not really know what to expect, and what we would be asked to do. Many were retired folks like us (one couple in their eighties left London at 4am in order to be at the first meeting!) and everyone volunteered to do what they felt able to. It was a delight to work together and share fellowship with people from other churches, all there for one purpose – to make the gospel known.

The weather was kind to us, and the rain held off till the end of the week. When we did some door-knocking it was evident the pastor had done a lot of visiting in the past, and was held in high esteem. His enthusiasm and heart for the lost was infectious.

Since returning home we showed a short video we made and shared an account of the week’s activities with our church. As a result some have shown a desire to help in future missions. We pray that the Lord will continue to draw sheep into the fold.

Angela Evans