Biography

We live as a family in a part of Asia where, tragically, most people do not (and are not allowed to) know the Lord who died for them and wishes them to worship in spirit and in truth. Scripture says "How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?? "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!" (Romans 10:14-15)

But how can we bring the good news when it is forbidden to directly evangelise the local people and they are often reluctant to discuss religious matters?

Firstly, we believe there is a great need of prayer and intercession.. There are strongholds that need removing (2 Cor. 10:4). Breakthrough will not come with short simple prayers of petition. God has called us to raise up prayer warriors. People who believe that what God has done elsewhere He wants and wills to do here. Those who will prophetically declare His word over the nation.

We believe, as we intercede, God will draw people of peace who in time will lead others from their own community to Himself. To this end, we have been a catalyst to welcome several different teams from other countries who have joined us in prayer for the nation, region and its people. We have also started a regular intercession meeting and are preparing prayer-walks and prayer-drives to places the Lord leads us.

Then, secondly, there is the challenge is to be able to communicate with the local people. There are different ways we seek to do this. In order to be more effective in this calling we are learning the local language, building up relationship with the locals, and representing Christ by bringing biblical values and godly principles in the place of work within the community. Tamara in particular is well-respected among local people as she has brought much blessing to her place of work. We also go for ?divine encounter? walks and drives where God has remarkably opened doors for us.

Then, furthermore, recognising the restrictions, and that the gospel does not come in words only, but in demonstration of power (1 Cor. 2:4), we seek to bring the Kingdom through signs and wonders (healings, miracles, words of knowledge, dream interpretation and so on) before sharing it is the Lord who is working through us to bless and save them.

Recognising we cannot do this alone, we are in turn discipling others to do likewise, and wish to raise up a team of workers who will similarly bring the good news to the nation and the region.

For decades now God has been using Reuben in pioneering Bible Schools and equipping people for ministry. He has served in France, the Arabian Peninsula and recently a restricted access country in Asia. He has also travelled and taught in many nations and has also taken many short-term mission trips to nations for people to taste and experience mission. He has also written many courses and materials to equip people for mission. His purpose in going to the Philippines is to set up a training programmes and a training centre to equip the local people to reach out to the unreached peoples of their nation and to prepare them to go to the harvest field. 
 
Tamara has also served in local and overseas mission. She served on the OM ship the Doulos for a year and was trained in urban ministry in the UK to peoples of another faith. After working for eight years at the BBC’s early years nursery, she started her own nursery before heading to the mission field with her husband. Having received from the Lord the word "I want to restore back the childhood of my children", her desire is to start a Nursery School for younger children in the Philippines as well as mobilise senior citizens to work with a Literacy and Numeracy programme for unschooled poorer children.