HOSEA NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2025

Dear Friends

I'm delighted to bring you more news of how God is continuing to bless our work.

One morning, when our pupils were gathered in the Hosea school hall, a child pointed to the front door and shouted, “Look! There's a man over there in a long shiny white shirt!” The teacher wondered if any foreign visitors had come to the school so he turned to look in the direction where the child was pointing. There were a few mothers sitting in the yard, but none of them could see the figure that the boy saw. But he assured them that there was indeed a man standing there in white, wearing a long, floor-length “shirt”. Quite a strange outfit!

Then it was recalled that a prayer team had been meeting at the school for two nights and had prayed for the children’s protection. So the teacher said that it must have been an angel sent by God to protect them, just as the team had been praying for.

The children’s revival continues in Hosea. Eight-year-old Rio holds daily meetings in the same way that adult meetings are organized: he has formed a children's praise team and they testify about what happened to them in the meetings. Rio also organises a collection, and this puzzled his mother so she asked him: “What are you going to use the money that you're collecting for?” He replied that he is collecting funds to start another church! Quite a surprise to us all -- I wonder where Rio gets these ideas from?

Hosea school begins with prayer

But something really seems to be happening. Mr. Sim is a Sunday school teacher and he understood that the children also need regular Bible lessons. So he decided to start a teaching session for them, which Rio attends with his own group. These Bible lessons are not meetings, but a study of the Word. Rio's idea of starting another church is becoming a reality.

Some have asked where Rio got the idea for the children's meetings. He was an ordinary little boy, and one morning he woke up crying. His mother asked what was the matter. The boy said that he had seen how Jesus would soon come to take his own away, and so he had to tell others about Jesus. Rio described how believers would be caught up into the clouds and what would happen next. Rio didn't know what the rapture was, because he hadn't been taught about it. Even adult believers aren't aware of what it means. We are focused on evangelism and the basics of the faith and there is a drastic shortage of Bibles available.

Rio's dream or vision that night started the children's meetings at his home. Soon the space became too small, so the group of children moved to the Hosea School in Aroma. Rio studies the Word of God and prepares the next day's sermon in the evening. In these meetings, the children testify of what God has done in their lives. After that, Rio preaches and prays for the children. On Sundays, he attends Hosea Sunday School and youth meetings, which are held after the adult meetings.

One Sunday, Rio came to ask Pastor Sonio: “Why don't you announce my meetings? You have to do that because they are Hosea meetings, and you announce everything else.” Similarly, a boy came to Rio excited about a sermon he had heard and announced: “I want to be a pastor and preach too!” Rio said: “That is possible, but first you have to repent of your sins and learn the Word of God.” Many may wonder how a little boy can be so ardent in the Spirit. The Lord gives the invitation and also the power for it, as we read in Joel 2: 2 “After those days I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions.”

Rio center left has received a bible

Hosea’s work is moving forward. We are distributing food in poor areas and preaching where others will not go. Young people are coming to faith; they have their own meetings after the main assembly, because the meeting room simply cannot accommodate all those who want to come. In addition, the number of church members is increasing.

Prison evangelism is moving forward too: even prisons that have been closed to outsiders have been opened. We also have permission to preach the gospel in all schools on the island.

Thank you for your donations and intercession! We are just the workers on the ground, for whom your prayers and other support are opening up new opportunities.

Blessings, Anne