More than 260 attend my lecture

Whenever I give talks to groups and societies on my two books, God’s Secret Listener, published by Lion Monarch, and Four Centuries at The Lion Hotel, I usually expect an audience of around 30-40.

So I was delighted on Monday this week when more than 260 people, pictured below, from the Shrewsbury University of The Third Age turned up for my lecture in the Walker Theatre at Theatre Severn.

The University of the Third Age, founded in Paris in 1979, is open to everyone and has become an international organisation.

Their objective is to advance the education of, and provide educational interest for, people aged over 50 no longer in full-time employment.

They aim to achieve this through monthly meetings and through members' involvement in their study groups.

The UK's U3A was founded in 1982 and has been a major success. Today there are over 800 branches and more than 270,000 members.

I spoke to the Shrewsbury U3A group, which started in 1992, about ten years ago when I was editor of the Shrewsbury Chronicle.

Then there were around 100 people, but the group has mushroomed to now having 425 members and become so big that they have had to change venues a couple of times.

At the rate they are growing they will soon be too big for the Walker Theatre which is a modern lecture room with all the high-tech facilities and helpful staff.

It was a delight to speak there, made even more pleasurable by selling a number of books afterwards.

I was amazed how keen members were with the theatre reception crowded at 9.45 with people ready for the 10.30 lecture.

I was also surprised at their full programme and all their many study groups on a range of topic from wine to bridge.

The annual subscription, currently £16 payable each September, covers affiliation fees to the national organisation, four 'U3A News' magazines posted to members, and local expenses such as the cost of speakers and room rental for monthly meetings, postage and the publication of a newsletter. It also includes membership of any study group or groups.

I wish the U3A continued success. I was so impressed that I might join – when I have more time!

Meeting murdered policeman's father

I had a fascinating and successful weekend recently talking about my two latest books, God's Secret Listener and Four Centuries at The Lion Hotel, Shrewsbury.

On the Saturday morning I was the invited speaker for the first ever men’s breakfast for the village churches around Shrewsbury.

The organisers were delighted that 30 men turned up at the Four Crosses, Bicton, and they are already planning another similar event at the end of June.

I never expected to find another author in the audience but I was privileged to meet Robin Oake, a former Chief Constable on the Isle of Man whose son, Stephen Robin Oake, was an anti-terrorism detective with Greater Manchester Police.

On January 14, 2003, he was murdered while attempting to arrest a suspected terrorist in the city.

Robin, pictured below, has written a number of books including Father Forgive, published by Authentic Media, which tells of his son’s death and the issues it raised for him and his family as he learnt to forgive his killers.

I was really moved by the gentleness, humility and godliness of this retired policeman who now lives near Shrewsbury.

Incidentally, I must mention the efficient service and excellent breakfast served up by the Four Crosses at Bicton.

Then on Sunday I was invited by the Rev Canon Dr Barry Wilson, vicar of All Saints, Madeley, and St Margaret's, Betley, on the Staffordshire/Cheshire border to speak again at the morning service where I received a really warm welcome.

Finally, on Monday I spoke to the Meir Heath Windmill preservation and local history group in North Staffordshire.

The organisation was set up in 2004 in an effort to save the windmill, pictured below, which had been abandoned after centuries of working life.

It received tens of thousands of pounds of investment and the landmark, next to the Windmill pub, is now classified as a grade two listed building.

Organiser Gillian Swift, who invited me, said they were now planning a book to coincide with the Queen’s diamond jubilee this year.

They meet at Sandon Business and Enterprise College in Meir and I was really impressed by the modern facilities there and the members’ interest in my books.

All in all it was a fascinating weekend – and successful as I managed to sell my books at all three events.

To buy a copy of Four Centuries at The Lion Hotel, or God's Secret Listener, published by Lion Monarch of Oxford, email John@jbutterworth.plus.com

Drought? Our problem is snow

In England we might be worried about the lack of rain and a drought this year with a hosepipe ban already in operation in parts of the country.

But in Kosovo the opposite is the problem. When we returned from South Africa we received a prayer letter from Gani and Adile Smolica, pictured below, whose story is told in God’s Secret Listener.

The couple left their Prishtina home in 1993 and played an important part in helping Berti Dosti and the young Albanian church.

Seven years later in June 2000 they returned to Kosovo to work for the European Christian Mission in Peja.

They wrote recently: “We have never seen more snow in our lifetime. It has been falling and falling for more than 10 days, and the snow layer has reached more than two metres.

“People have been coming to the meetings on foot cutting the thick snow with their bodies.

“Two Sundays ago we expected about 15 people to come to the service, but the most devoted ones came and we had about 30.

“Last Sunday, because the snow was deeper, only 20 came. During our service we heard the church roof cracking and squeaking, so we just prayed for about 15 minutes and went out to clear the roof of snow. 

“The roof is damaged and, as soon as the snow melts, we will assess the damage and decide what to do.

“We will most probably have to build a new roof. We’ll need a lot of prayer and finances for this project. But, God will provide for it.

“Praise the Lord that the church activities have gone well so far, despite severe weather and heavy snow.

“We thank the Lord for commitment of church members and their help to run the meetings.

“Very soon the snow will start to melt and there are great risks of floods. Pray for God’s protection and for His hand upon all of us.

“Pray for the people we have spoken to recently about God, as they had different questions in this bad weather.

“Pray for us as family. We have been quite low in financial support and have tried to cut many things that we usually do.

“Please keep praying for us and remembering us and our ministry for Him.

“This year marks ten years since we moved to the premises we are using now, and in September we are planning to have a modest ceremony to thank the Lord for His faithfulness to us. Pray for the organisation of that event.”

To read more of Gani and Adile's story in God's  Secret Listener, published by Lion Hudson Monarch in Oxford, email John@jbutterworth.plus.com for a signed copy for £6 including postage within the UK or £7 anywhere in the world.

Joy as Berti is a grandad

We had more good news when we came back from our holiday in South Africa as Berti Dosti, the main person in God’s Secret Listener, announced on Facebook that he had become a grandad for the first time.

His daughter, Alta, gave birth to David Mene on at 5.15pm on Friday, February 24 in Albania.

A delighted Berti, pictured below with David, told me his grandson weighed 3kg 940grams which according to my reckoning is a healthy 8.67 lbs.

Proud grandparent Berti, who is pastor of The Way of Peace Church in Lushnje and principal of The Victory School, said Alta, her husband Lenci and David are all doing well.

Readers will remember the story of how Alta and Lenci met and their wedding on September 11, 2005, is told in God’s Secret Listener, published by Lion Hudson Monarch of Oxford.

Congratulations to all the family.

I'm celebrating 10,000 hits and 100 posts

There was good news waiting for me after I returned from a great two-week holiday visiting our son, Andrew, and his wife Michelle, pictured below, in South Africa.

We spent a few days in Johannesburg where the couple work full-time for the huge God First Church in Johannesburg. The pastor is P J Smyth and the church has 2,000 members, nine venues and 65 staff.

Andrew and Michelle flew down to Durban with myself and my wife Jan where we spent a few days in a spacious villa beside a lovely beach near Margate before all going to Mozambique visiting the capital Maputo and two resorts.

I had read that Maputo, formerly Lourenco Marques when it was a Portuguese colony, was a pleasant city with wide avenues.

I must say I was a little disappointed with the capital as there were so few historic buildings remaining.

However, one highlight was the railway station, pictured below, which still retained its historic grandeur.

Designed partly by Gustaff Eiffel, who also built the famous Eiffel Tower landmark in Paris, it is still an imposing building.

Incidentally, it was used as a movie set for the film Blood Diamond starring Leonardo Di Caprio.

The two resorts we visited, Portuguese Island and Barra Lodge, both had beautiful beaches and it was a pleasure to swim in the warm Indian Ocean.

Mozambique suffered a terrible 15-year civil war from 1977-1992 and it was encouraging to see that the country was returning to some stability and making progress economically.

We were lucky to see the country, which was once one of the three poorest in the world, in its early stages of development and we hope it isn’t spoilt by rich Westerners and a few Mozambicans who were charging sky high prices.

Getting used to cold England this week after the heat of southern Africa there was warming news about my book, Four Centuries at The Lion Hotel.

Firstly, I have just topped 10,000 hits and this is my 100^th post after only nine months of setting it up which I am really pleased about.

Secondly, Peter Trifunovic, from Yorkshire, read my blog and ordered a copy of the book which I sent him.

This week he replied: “Thank you for the book, it arrived over the weekend. I must say it’s an excellent read and well done on such a wonderful book.”

If you would like a signed copy of Four Centuries at The Lion Hotel for the special price of £6 including postage anywhere in the UK or £7 worldwide please email John@jbutterworth.plus.com

To read more see my blog http://thelionhotelbook.blogspot.com/