Jim and Joyce Beattie

April, 2025

Recently we both have had some health issues. Mine were kidney issues that are largely resolved. Joyce was diagnosed with non-aggressive breast cancer. Last month she had a lumpectomy. Also a few lymph nodes were removed – one with cancer.  We are seeing oncologists for further guidance. This has kept us close to home in the Midland area but there a good number of assemblies in this general area that we are able to visit and minister too. Through the medical issues we have been able to contact health care workers withe gospel.  And there has been blessing in salvation because of this.

Additionally, being close to home has given me an excellent opportunity for me to write some booklets that had been put on hold – one for a long time.  I have finished a 70 page booklet on the Book of Ruth, two shorter booklets: one on the nature of gifts in the local assembly and the other on the seat of the unlearned of 1 Corinthians.  At the moment I am researching additional material to add explanatory appendices to the booklet on gifts.  Some have asked for further explanation for the rationale on my position on this subject.

I have also  finished revising the Gospel book, “Full Assurance” by Dr. Harry Ironside.  It went out of copyright earlier this year.  The language and style were dated, but the content is outstanding.  I am printing these myself. Joyce and others have been helping with editing.

Past Information

We were commended to the work of the Lord in 1969. Our exercise at the beginning was to engage in evangelism to establish new work in seeing new assemblies established. We teamed up with Bill and Janet Metcalf in Strathroy and Wallaceburg. Because the Wallaceburg work opened up, we concentrated our effort there and an assembly was formed a few years later. We also had weekly newspaper columns in the area newspapers around Bothwell, Ontario for over forty years until the local papers no longer existed or did not have writers’ columns any longer.

On October 1st, 2015  we sold our house in Bothwell and moved to an apartment beside the Newbury Hospital six miles away. Since then Joyce has taken courses in palliative care and we work together in the palliative care suite. Joyce understands palliative care much better than I do and has helped me in this work.  She also visits from room to room with patients.  I have been added to Pastoral Care at the hospital and Joyce has continued her work as a volunteer in the hospital gift shop using this opportunity to minister to the spiritual needs as she has opportunity comes. People visiting loved ones often come to the gift shop just for a break and it gives Joyce opportunity to minister to their needs.

I have also continued my Bible Teaching in assemblies of God’s people as well as evangelism both in public preaching and private visitation.

Present Needs – March 2022

Posted on March 19, 2022

I am continuing my writing and limited other activity because of COVID has made this possible. But I miss visiting people and sitting at a desk from 9 to 5 every day is not my favourite activity.

Joyce is also feeling the need of prayer.  She was active at the hospital in palliative care - sometimes staying nights with patients who were alone; at other times with the families needing comfort. By the grace of God, two women  were saved during visits with them.  It was a joy to see them at peace at the end of their lives.  Neither one had heard the Gospel before.   Joyce also visited patients in the ward and volunteered in the gift shop.  But all that stopped with COVID.  It is a very significant change and loss for her.

So prayer that we would find joy in serving the Lord in the present circumstances would be valued. With grateful thanks, Jim and Joyce

Strength and persistence

Posted on December 2, 2021

I am continuing my writing and limited other activity because of COVID has made this possible. But I miss visiting people and sitting at a desk from 9 to 5 every day is not my favourite activity.  So prayer that I would find joy in serving the Lord in this way would be valued.

With grateful thanks,

Jim

Work at the Newbury Hospital

Posted on January 25, 2019

Dear Partners in the work of the Lord,

For over three years now we have lived at an apartment that is part of the Middlesex Health Alliance where there are sixteen apartments and a small county hospital with 12 active beds and many other departments.  I am on the Pastoral Care committee and also Palliative Care Chairperson for the Pastoral care.  When I am home I visit almost daily even though there is a rotation schedule.  I also speak eight to twelve times a year at an Adult Day Programme where I can freely preach the Gospel.  This a regular event on Thursdays.

Joyce volunteers in the gift shop at the main lobby and uses this to chat with people herself, as well as seeing if people would like to talk with me.  Visitors often take a break from their loved one if they have an all-day visit at the hospital and Joyce will text me to let me know that someone would like a visit.  She also walks past the rooms, and especially palliative care to visit with the folk and ask if they would like me to drop in on them.

Through visiting the patients, we have seen one younger woman saved who lives in the area. I was asked to take the funeral of the mother who passed away at the hospital.

The staff of the various departments often chat and they have called to ask me to come over to visit because they thought a person seemed needy.  So it is wonderful to have this close relationship with the staff.  Recently one off janitorial staff too me she has questions and said she wants to visit.

So if you have an exercise to pray we would value it.  We know we all have much to pray for so this is not to put a burden on any.  But if you have a space in your prayer list, we would be glad to be slipped in.

With grateful thanks in the Lord,

Jim and Joyce