Israel is important to the fellowship as it is central to the message of the Bible, so the pastor started Sunday evening's service by summarising a speech given by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the UN General Assembly:

"The Jewish people are not foreign conquerors in the Land of Israel. This is the land of our forefathers... 'Nation shall not lift up sword against nation. They shall learn war no more.' These words were spoken by the Jewish prophet Isaiah 2,800 years ago as he walked in my country, in my city - in the hills of Judea and in the streets of Jerusalem. We ask the Palestinians to finally do what they have refused to do for 62 years: Say yes to a Jewish state."

Netanyahu had protested against the Goldstone Commission report, which accused Israel of committing war crimes in its invasion of the Gaza Strip earlier this year in response to years of Hamas rocket fire. He also strongly condemned the UN for providing a podium to Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad a day earlier, despite Iranian leader's repeated denial of the Nazi Holocaust and his open desire to destroy Israel.

There was an extended time of prayer and some praise songs on the theme of 'The Lord is my Rock.'

Then Rev. Peter Richmond concluded his series of talks on the book of Acts.

After the shipwreck, Paul and the entire crew of survivors found themselves welcomed at the many-harboured island refuge of Malta.

The devil seemed to have tried every attack on Paul; now, collecting firewood, a viper attached itself to his arm. When he did not die from the bite, the natives started to think he must be a god.

While faithful service to Christ by no means guarantees a trouble-free life, here Paul was demonstrating the truth of the prophecy that said that Jesus' disciples would put their hands into vipers nests or drink deadly poison and not be harmed; not that this is an invitation to test God and court danger deliberately!

More miracles ensued, but Paul and the crew were still prisoners and had to set sail for Rome. Near Naples they disembarked and continued on foot. On the way Paul must have been greatly encouraged to see many Christians greet him on his journey.

The book of Acts leaves him under house arrest in Rome, using the scriptures constantly in explaining the gospel to whoever would come to listen. It is likely that Paul was released after two years or more, but in AD 67 he was arrested again, this time kept in chains and without friends. Tradition says he was beheaded in Rome the following year.

"What was begun with so much heroism ought to be continued with zeal," Charles Spurgeon once said. And Christians in the west might be very surprised to know that the church is growing at a rate of 100,000 converts a day worldwide, according to 2006 figures.

Services are held at 6 pm in the Avenue Centre, Tenby. Telephone 01646 681805 or visit http://www.hesed.co.uk">www.hesed.co.uk for more details.