David Hathaway

In this three-part series, David is reflecting on Mark 10. In verse 23, Jesus looked at his disciples and made a comment: “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter into the kingdom of God!” The disciples were so astonished, so surprised, that Jesus repeats the statement. They then ask, “How can anybody get saved?” Jesus gives a straight answer: “For men it's impossible, but not with God. For with God, all things are possible.”
Salvation is free, but Jesus is teaching that the way into the kingdom is not broad and easy; there's a price to pay.
The Impossibility of Self-Salvation (Mark 10:23–27)In Mark 10, Jesus challenges worldly assumptions about security and status by declaring how difficult it is for the wealthy to enter the Kingdom of God. When the disciples express shock, He clarifies that the issue lies in trusting in riches rather than God.
To illustrate this, Jesus references the "eye of the needle" – alluding to the narrow wicket gate in ancient city walls. A pack camel could not navigate this gate until its heavy cargo was entirely removed, and even then, passage required great effort. In the same way, entering the Kingdom requires shedding self-reliance, material pride, and personal status. When the disciples ask who then can be saved, Jesus offers an uncompromising reality: human salvation is fundamentally impossible through human effort. It can only be accomplished by God.
The Cost and the Promise (Mark 10:28–31)When Peter points out that the disciples abandoned their livelihoods and families to follow Him, Jesus does not dismiss their sacrifice. Instead, He promises a hundredfold return in this present life – restored community, provision, and spiritual family – culminating in eternal life. Crucially, Christ notes that these blessings will be accompanied by persecutions. Divine reward does not exempt the believer from suffering; rather, sacrifice and reward remain deeply intertwined.
The Mystery of Judas (Mark 10:32–34)En route to Jerusalem, Jesus pulled the Twelve aside to detail His impending betrayal, condemnation, and execution. Remarkably, Judas Iscariot was among this intimate circle. Christ knew Judas’s heart from the beginning, yet He washed his feet, commissioned him for ministry, and allowed him to witness and perform miracles. The inclusion of Judas serves as a sobering reminder that proximity to divine power and active involvement in ministry are not substitutes for true heart fidelity.
Watch the YouTube version https://youtu.be/ov5gJoK5K6M 
For more information on the Ministry of David Hathaway https://www.eurovision.org.uk 

Based on the Book of James, chapters 1 and 2, David highlights how God doesn’t look at our outward appearance, but our heart. God wants us to love one another, thereby fulfilling the royal law of Scripture.
God doesn't judge us by our appearance, and this is why James goes on to say – if you look at verse 5: "Hearken, my beloved brethren, hath not God chosen the poor of this world who are rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which He has promised to those that love Him?"
What James is pointing out is that, in God's sight, He is not looking merely at our outward appearance; He is looking at our heart. God judges us by what we do. He says that those of us who are rich in faith are heirs of a kingdom that has been promised. This is a promise – not a fantasy dream of a rich uncle in America, but a factual, evidential promise of the reward we have in the kingdom if we fulfil the royal law according to the Scripture.
The royal law according to the Scripture – and here it is very blunt – says: "You shall love your neighbour as yourself."

Thank-you to you, our supporters, who so generously gave towards the costs of SOZO, the All-Central-Asia Youth Conference held in August in Kyrgyzstan. Without you, we could not have done it. Only much prayer brought in the final finance to pay for it. I sensed so strongly, I HAD to be there!
We have a busy September planned. By the time you hear this, I shall have been in Poland – for evangelism in a 5,000-seat stadium in Wroclaw (there will be a full report in my next newsletter) – and away in Norway for a week of prayer and ministry. Although my main ministry has always been the former Soviet Union, Russia, Ukraine and now Central Asia, it does include Europe!
Delivering Relief, Restoring Hope, and Uniting in Prayer: Millions in Ukraine are facing ongoing displacement, trauma, and hardship. We partner with trusted local church networks on the ground to deliver emergency food, heating aid, and provide vital pastoral care. Your gift of any amount enables us to help those in need. Will you partner with us today? 
For more information on the Ministry of David Hathaway https://www.eurovision.org.uk
To make a donation to support David's ministry and vision: https://www.eurovision.org.uk/donation 
Timestamped Transcript0:00 – 0:17 | Introduction to Faith in Action and announcement of the song Our Nation by Vinesong.
0:17 – 1:04 | Music track: Our Nation (Fire of Revival).
1:05 – 1:34 | Opening thanks to supporters regarding the SOZO Central Asia Youth Conference in Kyrgyzstan.
1:35 – 2:10 | Context on attendance numbers, border vetting, and security clearance.
2:11 – 3:00 | Arrival, pastorship address, and observations on regional spiritual pressure.
3:01 – 4:05 | Special unscheduled leadership meeting and ministry address to the youth.
4:06 – 4:38 | Upcoming itinerary: Wrocław (Poland) and Norway.
4:39 – 5:48 | Tübingen awakening conference, ministry history with Eurovision conferences (1988–1992), fall of the Iron Curtain, and Eastern European broadcasts.
5:49 – 6:15 | Annual prayer retreat in Austria.
6:16 – 6:40 | Ministry update: Ukraine relief efforts and plea for support.
6:41 – 7:06 | Invitation for partnership and standing order contributions.
7:07 – 7:51 | Scripture reading: Colossians 1:3–10.
7:52 – 8:08 | Donation instructions: eurovision.org.uk/donation.
8:09 – 8:56 | Website resources, books, and closing ministry info.

Many believers assume that accepting Christ and receiving water baptism represent the entirety of the Christian spiritual experience. Scripture in Acts 8 reveals otherwise. When the believers in Samaria received the Word of God and were baptised, the apostles Peter and John still had to be sent so these new converts might receive the Holy Spirit. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is not merely an optional addition; it is an essential, distinct endowment of power for every believer.
Salvation and the baptism of the Holy Spirit are distinct milestones. Jesus instructed His disciples after His resurrection to wait in Jerusalem until they were endued with power from on high. Just as the fire on the temple altar in Leviticus 6 was commanded never to go out, the fire received through the Holy Spirit is meant to remain ablaze, evident through supernatural power, bold witness, and transformed lives.
Watch the YouTube version: https://youtu.be/uFBeG-vsWCE 
For more information on the Ministry of David Hathaway https://www.eurovision.org.uk 

In today's episode, based on the book of James chapter 1 and 2, David says that every good gift comes down from God, the Lord of glory, who shows no partiality.
Every good gift comes from God, described in James as the Father of lights, in whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.
James contrasts this with the sun. While the sun follows an orderly cycle of rising and setting, its light shifts and produces shadows; we cannot remain in its full brilliance twenty-four hours a day. God is not like that. He does not rise and set, nor does He wax and wane. His presence, character, and faithfulness remain constant 24/7.
James then urges believers not to hold faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favouritism. This isn't merely instruction on how to treat others without prejudice; it is a profound declaration of who Christ is – the Lord of glory. When we reflect His nature, we live out that same consistency and impartial grace.

In today's episode, based on the book of James chapter 1, David says, there is a blessing on those who endure. Even in your hardship, God is constant in His care of you.
Scripture plainly tells us that the one who perseveres under trial is blessed; having stood the test, they will receive the crown of life. While the Bible speaks of various crowns – such as the soul winner’s crown – the crown of life is reserved specifically for those who remain faithful to the very end without yielding to hardship.
It is easy for believers to feel overwhelmed and want to give up when confronted by trials, temptations, accusations, and relentless opposition. Yet, a special reward belongs to those who refuse to quit – those who persevere and stand firm until the finish.
God is entirely consistent. When He blesses you, His hand is on you, guarding and protecting you 24/7. In Him, there is no shifting shadow or hidden compromise. While human nature is often flawed – filled with conflicting shades of good and bad – God’s character is pure, steady, and unchanging.

So many people ask the question 'why'. Why the problems? Why the tragedy? There have been times when I have questioned why. Why did I have cancer? Why was I in prison for Bible smuggling? We all ask: why hasn't God delivered me? In Mark 5 we have this Jewish ruler. He had pleaded with Jesus to come to his house. But it was too late. In the delay between asking Jesus and Him arriving, the girl had died. The house was now full of mourners. - Have you ever mourned over lost opportunities? Has Jesus ever turned up too late?
'The storm around me rages. My peace has been denied. There's One that I can turn to, His arms are open wide. Oh I'm sheltered in the rock of ages. You hold me in Your arms and You tell me that You love me. I'm sheltered in the arms of my Lord.'
'The Living Word' and 'Sheltered in the Rock' used by kind permission of Vinesong
For more information on the Ministry of David Hathaway https://www.eurovision.org.uk 

In today's episode, speaking from the book of James chapter 1, David encourages you to count it all joy when you experience many trials. Don't be afraid in your uncertainty to ask God for help, but ask in faith.
We should never be discouraged when trials and hardships come our way. Instead, we must recognise that these difficulties serve as a testing ground for our faith. Never hesitate, even in times of doubt or questioning, to bring your needs directly to God.
I find myself doing this constantly – in truth, I must. Most mornings before even getting out of bed, my prayer is: "Lord, take charge of today and guide my steps." The older and busier I become, the more reliant I am on this prayer. With a full schedule ahead, I prayed that very thing this morning: "Lord, take care of this day and carry me through every responsibility."
Scripture reminds us to ask in faith, consistently and without wavering. As James 1:7 cautions, those who lack consistency and doubt will receive nothing. Often, people do not receive because they harbour doubt that God is truly able. Trust Him, ask with certainty, and know that He can do it.

In today's episode, David speaks on the importance of prayer. If you have enough faith to believe that you are saved, then put that same faith into believing God answers every other prayer.
The fundamental question when you pray for something significant is this: do you truly believe that God has the power to do it, and do you believe He wants to do it? If you do, command it. We have been given authority and power in prayer.
In my own walk, whenever I bring requests before the Lord – whether in deep conversation or daily prayer – I ask Him for an answer. How does He reply? Not through spoken words or personal prophecies, but directly through the Scriptures. The Holy Spirit brings God's Word to mind, revealing the exact path to the breakthrough. The answer is found right there in the text, and when it is anchored in His written Word, God always fulfils what He has promised.
I can tell you with certainty: God has never failed. Whenever He has given me a promise, He has kept it. If you have enough faith to trust Him for your eternal salvation, put that very same faith to work in your prayer life today.

In Acts 2, Peter described Jesus as "a man approved of God among you by miracles, wonders, and signs." From the very beginning – throughout the life of Jesus and in the early Church – miracles served as the undeniable evidence of divine power.
This presents a vital challenge for us: we must return to the evidential reality of the Gospel. The Gospel demonstrates the truth of everything Jesus lived and died to accomplish. He came to break the curse of sin, forgive our guilt, and set us free.
Some teach that one automatically receives the fullness of the Holy Spirit the moment they accept Christ. Scripture shows otherwise: these believers were truly converted and baptised in water, yet had not received the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is not merely an optional, secondary blessing; He is the essential blessing. Before His ascension, Jesus commanded His disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they were clothed with power from on high. That outpouring launched the apostolic church. Today, we still need to experience that authentic baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Watch the YouTube Version: https://youtu.be/UJa__HpCjdU 
For more information on the Ministry of David Hathaway https://www.eurovision.org.uk 

In today's episode, David speaks on the importance of prayer. If we have the faith to believe, God will give us what we ask, so long as we ask in accordance with His will.
For many of us, prayer begins with the model Jesus gave when His disciples asked, "Lord, teach us to pray." Yet the issue is that too many believers never move beyond that initial step of the Lord’s Prayer. It is profoundly important – God miraculously revealed its depth to me while I was in prison – but we are called to go further. We must actively combine our prayers with faith and true belief.
Often, when praying for the sick, I have felt an inner certainty that God was going to heal them. It was in that place of praying with absolute conviction that the miracles truly happened.
In my book, Why Siberia?, I share how, despite having dedicated intercessors supporting our teams and me personally, the breakthrough answers consistently came when I prayed in faith. Miracles followed – including the unexpected provision of transport and airplanes. God not only answered, but He gave specific instructions on what steps to take to receive that answer. It demonstrates what is possible when we simply trust that He has the power to fulfil what He has commanded us to ask.

Today, I want to direct our attention to a pivotal turning point in Scripture: Acts chapter 8.
Up to this point in the Book of Acts, Peter and John have held centre stage, proclaiming Christ with bold authority throughout Jerusalem. But as chapter 8 opens, the narrative shifts sharply under the shadow of intense hostility, introducing a man named Saul.
Acts 8 begins with a sombre marker: Saul was consenting to the death of Stephen. Stephen, a spirit-filled leader whose martyrdom closes chapter 7, looked steadfastly into heaven, saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and prayed for his executioners with his dying breath: "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." Watching over the coats of the executioners stood Saul – a brilliant Pharisee trained under Gamaliel, born in Tarsus with Roman citizenship, and violently opposed to the Gospel.
Following Stephen’s death, a great persecution erupted against the church in Jerusalem. Verse 3 tells us, Saul "made havoc of the church," dragging men and women from their homes into prison. Yet, what the enemy intended for destruction, God used as an engine for expansion.
The believers scattered across Judea and Samaria – while the apostles remained in Jerusalem – and verse 4 records the astonishing result: those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. They refused to be silenced. Persecution did not extinguish the message; it dispersed the fire.
Out of this scattering, another leader steps into the light: Philip. He travelled down to Samaria and proclaimed Christ. The crowds listened intently, not only hearing his words but witnessing the undeniable demonstration of God's power. Unclean spirits were cast out, the paralysed were healed, and the lame walked.
From the ministry of Jesus – attested by signs and wonders – to the early church, the Gospel was never merely a philosophy; it was validated by the tangible power of God. Philip's ministry in Samaria challenges us deeply today: we cannot settle for mere words when the true witness of the Gospel has always been the power of God in action.
Watch the YouTube version: https://youtu.be/EaTZNbJUyZ0 
For more information on the Ministry of David Hathaway http://www.eurovision.org.uk 

In today’s episode, David continues his teaching on prayer, highlighting the key to seeing every divine promise fulfilled from Mark 11: “Have faith in God.”
Jesus declared: “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”  
Jesus is remarkably specific here: you can witness the most extraordinary miracles if you only have the faith to speak them.
In verse 24, He reduces the principle to pure, profound simplicity: whatever you ask for when you pray, if you believe that God will answer, it will be given to you.
While similar teachings appear in Luke, Mark’s account carries exceptional weight because Jesus unveils an entirely deeper dimension of prayer. For many believers, prayer simply means reciting the pattern Jesus taught when the disciples asked, “Lord, teach us to pray.” Yet here, Jesus invites us to take the next step: moving from routine petition into mountain-moving, faith-filled declaration.

David says the key to seeing the fulfillment of every promise is found in Mark 11: "Have faith in God."
If I turn you to Mark chapter 11, it's very interesting. Jesus was hungry – it's verse 12 – and seeing a fig tree having leaves, He came thinking that He would find some fruit, and there's nothing, only leaves. And Jesus cursed the fig tree.
But if you then turn to verse 20, the following morning as they pass by, and they saw the fig tree was already dead, Peter said, "Lord, how come?" This is verse 21: "That fig tree which You cursed is already dead."
And Jesus didn't answer him specifically on that question. But what Jesus says in verse 22: "Have faith in God."
Jesus said, "You say this and shall not doubt in your heart, but shall believe that those things which you have said shall happen, shall have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatsoever things you desire, when you pray, believe that you will receive them, and you will have them."
So Jesus is being very specific here: that you can see the most incredible miracles if you have the faith to see it.

There is a solution to every problem and crisis. In your struggle, in your battle for survival, reach out and touch Jesus. What mystery there is in touch. When a child is born, that first touch by the mother means so much. She has carried the child for 9 months yet has never touched him; in that first touch her hopes and dreams are realised. Do you realise how important physical contact is? The child falling over in the street cries out; there is only one comfort, when the mother comes, picks up her child and tenderly embraces him. Her gentle touch is an expression of a mother's love. It is the same with Jesus. His tender touch will wipe away your tears and heal your sick body. These two people in Mark 5 recognised that if they can just touch Jesus a miracle is about to happen.
'Angels beckon me to come a little closer. Then Lord You said to me, leave behind your problems. Fears and troubles, some untold, surrounded by Your love. My tears You'll wipe away. To lean upon Your promises, never turning from You away.' - (Lamb of God)
'Jesus Jesus Jesus', 'Dios es Amor', 'Lamb of God' used by kind permission of Vinesong.
For more information on the Ministry of David Hathaway https://eurovision.org.uk 

Over twenty years ago, David was diagnosed with lung cancer. God gave him a clear promise of both health and healing – a word confirmed in Jeremiah 33. As David explains, the key to seeing God’s promises fulfilled is found in Mark 11: “Have faith in God.”
I remember crying out in prayer, asking the Lord to heal me. In response, He gave me a very clear scripture promising not only healing, but sustained health.
Remarkably, God spoke that word to me before the miracle took place. That night, after praying and getting into bed – feeling as though I were at the very point of death – the cancerous growth came out of my mouth. That was over twenty years ago. God didn’t just heal me in that moment; He has preserved my health ever since. It was a wonderful double promise.
I want to encourage you today: God does not simply hear our requests; He makes the impossible happen when we believe. Consider Jesus’ words in Mark 11:22, where He gives us the foundational key: “Have faith in God.”