NEWS 2004

We were recently privileged to enjoy the fellowship of a beloved brother and friend from Kenya , Pastor Washington Were, who is responsible for three congregations of the Africa Inland Church . Washington preached at Hebron whilst a mature student at ETCW in 1989, and we were able to continue and deepen our relationship with him during a church house-party later that year. Since then our only contact with one another has been by letter.

We were informed on 1/3/2005 that our dear brother was called home to his Lord and Saviour.

It is with great sadness and reluctance that we announce the leaving of our deeply loved and appreciated minister, Gareth Lloyd. Gareth has been with us for almost 5 years, first as assistant to Rev Sulwyn Jones, and then as our minister from the time of Mr Jones’ retirement.

ETCW Student Placement

We were glad to have with us from 8th - 29th February Gary McKee, a first year student at the Evangelical Theological College of Wales. Gary was involved in every aspect of the church's fellowship and ministry - preaching twice, leading the prayer meeting, etc., enjoying (we hope!) meals at members' homes, and spending a great deal of time with Gareth Lloyd. It was a privilege and a blessing to us, and we hope that it was for Gary also. We hope that Gary will visit us as much as he can, and  pray that he will know the Lord's rich blessing at the College and during his future ministry. 

For quite a number of years it has been traditional at Hebron to hold a ‘Welsh Evening’, as close as possible to St David’s day. The purpose is to remind ourselves of the wonderful works of God in the history of our greatly favoured nation – so as to be moved to pour out our adoration and thanks to Him, and to seek His favour for our own day. Previous speakers have included Dafydd P Morris ('Spurgeon in Wales '), Geraint Fielder (‘Four centuries of Welsh evangelicalism’, ‘John Pugh & the Joshua brothers’), Noel Gibbard (‘R B Jones & revival, 1904-5’), Gwyn Davies (‘A light in the land’, ‘William Williams, Pantycelyn’)

This year we were privileged to welcome Dr Eifion Evans, author of The Welsh Revival of 1904, Revival Comes to Wales, Daniel Rowland &c., and Fire in the Thatch. Dr Evans and his wife Meira had worshipped at Hebron until 1988, so it was a joy to renew fellowship with them. But it was an even greater joy to hear Dr Evans tell the story of the 1904-5 revival, with special reference to its beginnings and progress in Dowlais. Quotations from the Merthyr Express of the time, describing the remarkable work of God at Hebron in the autumn of 1904, revealed how widespread the revival was even in its early stages. Dr Evans kept us enthralled for a very swift hour, leaving us eager to hear more of the story - and much more eager to know similar blessings in our own day. It was entirely appropriate to conclude the meeting with a time of open prayer, when there was a measure of genuine, fervent desire expressed for God to glorify Himself in a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon Wales.

For further information on revival, visit Revival Library

The Commissioning of David Jones to the Work of the Ministry

Sunday 7^th March was a day of mixed emotions, as we were sending one of our families into a new work for the Lord. David and Rhian Jones, and their daughters Gwen, Kate and Jenni, were leaving us for Calvary Evangelical Church , Rhymney. We were loath to lose them, but glad to fall in with the Lord’s leading, and conscious that our loss is very much Rhymney’s gain.

David was brought up in Hebron from infancy, and has for many years been an elder and the church secretary. Many churches apart from Hebron have benefited from his preaching over the years, as well as from his wise counsel and encouragement. Rhian – attending for some 17 years – has been a very valuable member, not least as a pianist and organist. However, it is not only for their gifts that they will be missed, but also for their graces. Their Christian character, friendship, and devoted service of the Lord and His people have been a blessing and an example to us all. The girls too, though very young, have become very much part of our church family. In many respects, therefore, the day was a great wrench for us – and no doubt for them also. Yet how glad we are that the church at Rhymney has been given a new minister of the Word, a new organist/pianist, and a new family, including a nucleus of young children for future outreach to the community.

David, after preaching frequently at Calvary for many years, had in recent years been asked to take increasing responsibility there, due in part to the declining health of the minister, D J Williams. Finding within himself a growing desire to preach more, and a greater freedom in preparation and delivery, he was very glad to give whatever help he could. Then, at the beginning of this year he was asked by Mr Williams and the rest of the church to become their pastor, and after proper consideration he was convinced that this was the Lord’s will for him. Though very reluctant to lose David, the members at Hebron were glad to agree with him, seeing in this the answer to many years’ prayers for God’s blessing upon the church at Rhymney.

So it was that on 7^th March, after a church tea, when gifts were presented to all the members of the family and our best wishes expressed, the evening service concentrated on commissioning David to the ministry of God’s Word at Rhymney. Two brief but very stimulating and challenging sermons were preached, one by our previous minister, Sulwyn Jones, and the other by our present minister, Gareth Lloyd. The first was rooted in the description of God’s faithful messenger in Malachi 2.4-6, and the second in 1 Thessalonians 2.5-7, where the Apostle Paul writes of the need to fear God rather than men. The three ministers were then joined in the pulpit by Hebron ’s three remaining elders to represent the church as Gareth Lloyd called down the Lord’s blessing upon David and his ministry at Rhymney.  

New Year's Day Meeting

Every New Year's Day at Hebron we meet with friends from local AECW churches to listen to God's Word being preached. This year, as for many years, the preacher was the Rev Gwynn Williams of the Welsh Evangelical Church, Cardiff. He reminded us that this year is the centenary of the Welsh Revival of 1904-5 - the last widespread revival to take place in the British Isles - and warned us that during the year much nonsense will be spoken about it. Taking us to Isaiah 62v1, he showed us how we ought to respond as we remember that revival. There should be a passionate longing in our hearts for the felt presence of God, a longing that makes us constantly call out to Him to glorify Himself in our land once again.

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