Missionary Focus - 11 March 2026

Rev. Ronnie McCracken of Eschol Ministries read from Isaiah 41 verses 17 – 20. “When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree and the myrtle, and the oil tree: I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together; That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the LORD hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.”

Theme “THE HAND OF THE LORD HATH DONE THIS”

Ronnie had just returned from leading a tour to Auschwitz memorial Poland. What a sobering experience to witness the site where millions of Jews were murdered under the leadership of Rudolph Hess the Nazi Commandant. Rudolph’s grandson is now a Christian. He was freed from the Hess Curse by the Saviour. The Hess curse was cancelled by the cross.

The Hand of the Lord hath done this.

Not only did Hitler seek to exterminate the Jews he also ordered the murder of many gipsy families.

The Christmas 2025 Algarve Appeal for gipsies left for Rosslare on the 8th December. Very bad weather delayed sailing until the 9th at 1800 hours. It was a very rough crossing for Ronnie, Wesley, and Willie. They eventually reached the port of Santander after 28 hours on board. It was then on to Sao Bras Salvation Army base where 2000 Christmas shoe boxes were unloaded along with 500 pairs of new shoes. These had to be sorted according to age groups, boys and girls separately. Many food hampers were also given out before returning home on 18th December.

The Hand of the Lord hath done this.

Ronnie reminded us again of his meeting at Appleby Horse Fair on his “Keep on Trucking“ in June 2010 where he met Billy Welch the Gipsy King. By going up a private road to a barrier operated by a man. On telling the man he was going to give out Gospel tracts at the horse fair the man said, “if I say you can do it, you can and if I say you can’t you won’t”. He was the Gipsy King. That night speaking to Ronnie he got wonderfully saved. He has since accompanied Ronnie on several trips to the Algarve gipsy community.

The Hand of the Lord hath done this.

The Chinese church in Belfast gave Ronnie a gift at the end of a service he was speaking at, it amounted to £4064.00 which covered the transport costs to the Algarve for Christmas gift distribution.

Another friend, Black John from Darlington, gave Ronnie 40 tarpaulins to cover roofs of the shacks the Algarve gipsies live in. They have been on this site for 20years, and local government still deny them power and water supplies. The Algarve gipsies fondly call Ronnie “Senior Natal” Father Christmas.

THE HAND OF THE LORD HATH DONE ALL OF THIS. PRAISE HIS NAME!!!