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The Frequency |
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April 2008 Year 7
No.3 |
Newsletter of the Amateur
Radio Christian Fellowship (N.Z.) |
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Greetings
to all members, families and friends, wherever you may be. We trust that you have
been blessed and challenged by yet another Easter season. When the whole body
of Christian believers around the world unite in remembering the most
significant event in mankind’s history, this is a witness to an unbelieving
world which is difficult to ignore. How thankful we are that Jesus Christ is
alive today!
NEWS OF MEMBERS
Gordon ZL1WGA – Many will be aware that
Gordon passed away on Saturday 22 March 2008 at 5am in Waikato Hospital.
Gordon, who lived in Tokoroa and was well known to Kelvin ZL1LY, joined us
frequently on Sunday nets. His funeral service was held in the Salvation Army
on 27 March, where a tribute was prepared and read by Kelvin’s XYL Penny on
behalf of ARCF, and a written card and message were sent from us here. The
well-attended service was a tribute to Gordon, who was involved in numerous
organisations. We shall miss Gordon very much, but with a live Christian faith,
his eternity is assured.
Kelvin ZL1LY – Sunday 23 March saw the
dedication of Kelvin and Penny’s little Grandson Jordan, in Tokoroa: a celebration for all, including son
Patrick, his wife Judith, with Judith’s Mother from New Delhi. May God bless
this new little life, and all his family.
Trevor ZL2TN and Eric ZL1ASI – Had a good time of fellowship
when Eric and Rowan visited Trevor and Ruth during their time in Palmerston
North.
Gary ZL3SV and Keith ZL3AHL also had an enjoyable
meeting when Gary and Christine called on Keith and Grace during a recent
Christchurch visit.
PLEASE REMEMBER IN PRAYER
Several
of the following folk are facing very serious health challenges, and the
sincere prayers of as many as possible would be much appreciated by them. STAN
ZL4OW (daughter Jennifer); ZL4AZI ( RA Boivin from Oamaru-came on net 5/4/08);
DAVID ZL1UTS; CECIL ZL1BXT and Mavis; PETER ZL2CDF; ALAN ZL2TAG and Averil as
they continue home leave. We give
thanks to GOD for miraculous improvement in health of Clinton, Pastor son of
HANS ZL1JA and Colleen (Australia). They wish to thank those in Fellowship who
have prayed, and Hans hopes to be back on air when time allows. We are also
thankful for a good outcome following tests for KEITH ZL3AHL. We realize there are others with ongoing
need for prayer with regard to health, and we do pray that these will know the
daily presence of God in their lives, and His control over every situation.
WEBSITE
The
entire site has had a makeover, and grateful thanks are due to GARY ZL3SV for
this, and for his sponsoring of the site. No worthwhile thing is achieved for
God’s Kingdom without considerable challenge, and constantly we need God’s
wisdom when working on such an important assignment. This site will be “out
there” for all to see, so we commit this site, its webmaster/sponsor, and the
advisory committee to God’s wisdom and power, that it will become a tool for
Godliness in this increasingly secular society. The URL for the site is www.arcf.co.nz
PERSONAL PROFILE – Bob Grey ZL1BMA (Hamilton)
Bob was born in Wanganui in October
1933, and lived in Marton for the next 22 years. He attended the local Primary
and District High School and served a 5 year Electrical Serviceman’s
Apprenticeship at Electro-Magnetic Products Ltd which was completed in 1955. He
was raised on the local Fire Station where his father was the Chief Fire
Officer, and where Bob started his Fire Service career, firstly as a volunteer
and later joining the permanent staff in Wellington early in 1955. He joined the local Amateur Radio Branch
23 Club in 1948, his first amateur band radio being a war surplus ZC1
transceiver.
Bob was married to Mary Ann in 1955. Both were members of St
Andrews Presbyterian Church. Five children were born over the following twelve
years, the eldest being DAVID ZL1UTS. Following marriage, Bob transferred to
the Palmerston North Fire Brigade where he served until leaving the service in
1960, when with his family he moved to the WEC Missionary Training College
outside Launceston in Tasmania, from where both he and Mary Ann graduated in
1962. Moving back to NZ they spent 2 months at the missionary headquarters
where they were expecting their third child.
The Lord then directed them to Wanganui where Bob rejoined the Fire
Service permanent staff. There he did a
considerable amount of lay preaching, and leading home study groups and
missionary prayer meetings.
In 1963, Bob transferred to Whangarei, being promoted to
Station Officer, and was again active in study and missionary prayer
groups. In 1966 he received another
promotion, to Deputy Chief Fire Officer in Hawera. Here Bob was invited to be
an Elder in the Prebyterian Church, while doing a fair amount of preaching in a
number of churches and following his main calling with study groups and
missionary meetings. In 1969 another promotion saw him move to Auckland’s North
Shore Fire Brigade as Third Officer. In
1970 Bob decided to take up amateur radio again, joining Branch 29 North Shore,
obtaining his grade 3 licence with the call ZL1TLR, and a year later obtained
his grade 2 licence and his present callsign.
As an Elder at Forrest Hill Presbyterian Church he continued
lay preaching, youth group leading, home study and missionary prayer meetings.
He also co-ordinated the WEC “Soon” gospel ministry in NZ, where groups around
NZ posted these broadsheet papers to addresses throughout SE Asia with the
Gospel in simple English for those wanting to learn English as a second
language – a role he filled for about 5-6 years.
With nationalizing of the NZ Fire Service in 1976, Bob had
added to his responsibilities that of Regional Communications Liaison Officer,
a role which was formed to standardise methods of fire station call-out and
fire crew alerting for all fire stations, and rationalizing radio
communications from Kaitaia to Mercer, along with planning the integration of
the Auckland and North Shore Communication control rooms. With the amalgamation of the Auckland and
North Shore Brigades in 1981 Bob was transferred to take the role of Divisional
Commander in West Auckland, then in 1985 transferred to the same role in South
Auckland; then in 1987 to Central
Command where he had the position of Deputy Chief Fire Officer. Bob retired
from the fire service in 1991 following 41 years of active service.
Upon retirement Bob accepted an invitation to become a member
of a team ministering as Associate Minister with the Massey Riverhead
Presbyterian Church operating from the Manse with preaching and pastoral work,
which both Bob and Mary Ann did for the next four years. Bob has since 1989
been the Convenor of the Presbyterian Missionary Prayer Fellowship and he
circulates a monthly e-mail Prayer Diary with news from missionaries serving
with both the Presbyterian and interdenominational missions worldwide. He is also
currently chairman of the Red Sea Team Mission (NZ) whose focus is primarily
outreach into the Islamic World.
In 2005 Bob and Mary Ann moved to Hamilton, where they attend
and are involved in the Nawton Community Presbyterian Church. They enjoy having
time with their 14 grand-children, keeping them “in touch” with the younger
generation.
David & Bob Grey
[Bob,
thank you so much for preparing and sending this profile, which we know will be
of much interest. May God bless yourself and Mary Ann as you continue your work
for His Kingdom]
A CONCLUDING THOUGHT
“For I,” says the Lord, “will be a wall of
fire all around her, and I will be the glory in her midst”. (Zechariah
2:5) In Zechariah 2, we read about
a wall of protection. Zechariah had a vision of a man with a measuring line,
who was trying to determine the length and width of Jerusalem. His intention
apparently was to begin rebuilding the fortified walls surrounding the city.
The man was told that this would not be necessary, because the number of God’s
people would be so great that Jerusalem’s walls would not be able to contain
them. Besides, they would not need walls, for the Lord promised: “I … will be a
wall of fire all around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.” If we are a child of God, we have the best
wall of protection possible – God’s personal presence. Nothing can pass through to us without first passing through Him and
His will. In Him we are safe and secure.
“Safety is not found in the absence of danger, but in the presence
of God.” [Daily Bread]
73,
and our warmest wishes to all,
Mary
ZL3MD and Graham ZL3NZ
Fellowship
Motto
To do good and to communicate
forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. (Hebrews 13:16)
Contact us: Graham or Mary Dacombe,
20 Allin Drive, Waikuku Beach 7402 North Canterbury
Phone: 03-312 7782 Fax: 03-312 7783 Email: arcf@xtra.co.nz
Nets: Saturdays 7.30 p.m. on 3.650 MHz – Sundays 4
p.m. on 7.050 MHz
Website www.arcf.co.nz