Hayley's Bible Worker Report - August 2025

In Melbourne, August is one of the coldest and wettest month's of the year. Despite the cold and the rain Hayley has been out with her mobile book stand engaging with the folks who pass by and stop for a chat. Each time she goes out she does not know what to expect, who she will meet and where her conversations will lead. Please keep her in your prayers and thank you for your donations which makes her book sharing ministry through Steps to Life possible.

Over the last month God has continued to bless me with the book ministry in the city of Melbourne and at Warburton.

While on the train going home from Melbourne CBD one day after handing out books, someone I knew from church got on the train along the way. They asked if they could join me in the city the following week and of course I definitely said 'yes'.

The following week we met up at Lilydale Station and loaded up our trolleys with books and went into Flinders Street. Overall, this was a great day as it is always a comfort to have back up and support when talking with people who come to our book table. You can have many people looking at the books on the table at the same time. Having others with me allows us to talk to so many more people and give out more books. Having more than one person manning the table also allows me to have one person at the table and one person mingling amongst the passers-by. There are a lot of people that don't really notice what the table is about and just walk by, But, if I get a chance to speak to them, they show an interest in the books on the table.

While my new helper was manning the table, I was approaching the people around the front of the station, and I offered the Great Controversy to two young guys in their early twenties. When I asked if they would like a book, they asked if they could ask me a couple of questions. I said 'by all means that was fine', then they asked if they could record the interview. I was on the spot! I still continued because I wanted to give them some of the books. This was happening so fast, I was sending up prayers asking for God to direct my mind and words.

He was in full control. It turned out that these two young guys were Christians and wanted to ask me if I was a Christian and why I believed in God. As I was answering each question the answers were just flowing out and the two guys were nodding their heads and in full agreeance. We were all smiling as we could feel Gods presence with us. The amazing thing was while I was being interviewed, I was holding up two Great Controversy books and before they finished the interview, I was given a chance to talk about the books.

They both took the books!

God is always at work in ways we least expect. These two Christian guys from different parts of Melbourne were meeting in the City to try and influence people to reach out to God and then what they were doing their on social media platforms to continue the work of the gospel. Meeting these two young men was a real blessing to me and I am sure what I was able to share with them, will reach so many people from all walks of life that I could never had contacted otherwise..

Some weeks I can be in the City and handing out books and you have what I call 'a normal week'. Books are going out and small conversations happen but nothing of a 'wow factor' takes place. Other times can be very slow, so I am sending up prayers asking God to send the people He wants you to reach and I question is this what God wants me to do and am the right person for the job. Although things don't always happen the way we want or as quickly as I would like, it does happen in Gods time.

We always need to remember God has to make us stubborn people do the work and then to move people to be in the right place at the right time to be reached. Never forget God is in full control and will always bless even when we can't see things on the move every time. Remember that every book that goes out could be a soul won for God, which is a joy every time a book is accepted.

I would like to say a big 'Thank You' to Laura for her testimony a cupple of weeks back, now.! What an amazing example of how God does not give up on us.

While in the City a few weeks ago I had a man who came to the table and spoke for quite some time. It turned out that he was a Seventh-day Adventist. I asked him what church he went to, and he responded that he didn't have a church currently as he hadn’t been to church for at least 6 months. He wasn't able to go to his old church as his marriage had broken up.

After talking with him for a while he started telling me how his son was involved with drugs and things weren't great. I then was trying to encourage him to pray for his son and also ask his son's grandmother to pray for her grandson. There is nothing like a mother's prayer.

His reply really shocked me as it was devastating. He went on to tell me that he didn't think his own mum would actually pray anymore because his brother had committed suicide about 20 years ago and he thought she had given up on God. I won't go into the reasons why or what had happened, but I will say this, we may never know why we are put somewhere to have a conversation and then to encourage people.

I was a stranger to this gentleman and he was able to find someone to talk to who understood who God is and that God never gives up on any of us no matter what has happened along the way. Hopefully the words I spoke might give him peace and strength to go to God for help for him and his whole family.

One thing is for sure I am praying for him and his family.

There are so many empty seats in our churches. Family and friends that used to be at church that are not there now. I just want to encourage each and every one of you to please start praying for those souls who are not at church for some reason. Many are not there because they are hurting souls or have made a wrong decision. They need our prayers for God to woo their hearts back to Him who loves them.

May God bless you as you live and work for Him.

Hayley Phillips
STL Bible Worker.

Your donations supporting Hayley’s Bible Work through Steps to Lifework make it possible to fund the many books she is able to share each week. If you wish to contribute, could you please contact Cherryl on 0411 481 930.