Greetings from Hadyn and Elizabeth Olsen.

You are reading the very first issue of a new publication entitled, 'NEW WINESKINS'! It is a real joy to send this out to you and we hope it will be a challenge and an encouragement in the days ahead.

For a number of years the Lord has put a burden on our hearts for this magazine - yet the timing has never been right. Not until now.

Anyway, some time ago the Lord brought us together with a very warm and inspiring couple of elderly teenagers by the name of John and Jan McGoram. And in a very short space of time we felt as if we had known them for years. God seems to have a way of bringing people together at the right time. Besides great fellowship together we have shared a joint passion in the Lord and a sense of direction. Hence this magazine now in your hands!

So what is it all about? What is the purpose of putting this together?

It is to speak something from the heart. To cry out from the depths. To drop a plumbline that is straight and true. To speak simply and clearly about things that are important in these last days for the church. What do we mean specifically?

Firstly, we believe the Lord wants people to get to know Him. To really KNOW HIM - and to be FULL OF HIM! Not traditions - or rules - or patterned religious behaviour. He wants a people who will get into relationship with Him and learn to walk with Him day by day. How the world longs today for those who truly know the Lord and "in whom is the Spirit of God". Secondly, we believe the Lord wants the church to belong to Him and to be under His rule. To be a body in which HE IS MANIFESTED! Through each part doing its share. Not just a building to gather in. Not a centre for religious organisation and activity! He wants something to live in - to live amongst. To be glorified through! "CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY" He wants the church to be a living organism - not a man-made organisation.

That is what this magazine is about. This is where our hearts lie. We trust it is where your hearts lie as well. God is searching for a people who want to love Him with all their hearts - and who want Him, and only Him to be glorified in the church.

So here it is! We hope to offer you, by this publica-tion, some thought provoking, spirit-strengthening arti-cles. The kind of things that you won't just be able to suck up with a straw - but will need to chew over.... And talk to the Lord about. - After all, that is the best way to get to hear from Him - and that is what's important after all !!! To HEAR the word of the Lord in your life, and act upon it.

Apart from having articles, we also would like to give some space for feedback - where you can write in if you wish. More on that later. We are also offering a book catalogue. It includes some of our own material and other writers as well. We hope that this may grow as time goes on.

Finally, I would like to say that this magazine repre-sents no specific church group, no denomination, sect or movement. Neither do we consider ourselves to have any monopoly on the truth. It is simply a voice from the wilderness crying out for the Way of the Lord.

We trust that you may hear Him and follow Him!