Wednesday, January 28, 2009
What's been happening?! It's been more than a month.
* Christmas and New Years celebrations. There were lots of loud fireworks, good times with friends and lots of hallacas to eat! We missed our family but thank the Lord for Skype and video. We were able to talk and share a bit with each one. It sure helped the lonliness one can feel not being able to be present.
*Our youth Bible studies are almost finished. We feel the Lord has used these and we were prepared and shared in the best way we could. The Holy Spirit is the one who changes lives and we know He is working. The outward results are perhaps not what we hoped for but we are so glad for the opportunity we had to share what it means to be obedient and committed to the Lord.
* An all night prayer vigil for Venezuela, AVIB, our churches and personal requests. This was a new experience for Lynn. She wasn't sure she could stay awake all night but she made it. It really was a neat experience as we shared, listened and prayed together in small groups mixed with music, devotionals and other interactive dynamics to keep us all awake.
* Harry has started teaching a class on personal finances in the Center of Ministry Development. The teaching of the prosperity gospel here in Venezuela is quite strong and a good balanced Biblical approach to finances and stewardship is needed.
* We took a few days off and enjoyed the Andes Mountains in the southwest part of Venezuela. It was a 12 hour, all night bus ride to get to Merida. This is a very beautiful area and a great opportunity to learn more of Venezuela history and culture
Prayer requests:
1. Our pastors: That they would continue to remain pure and steadfast to the Word of God and give good leadship and vision to their churches.
Jorge Barrada and his wife Ludi
Jaime Torrealba and his wife Ruth
Armando Diaz and his wife Carolina
2. The house church in Guatire (Pastor Armando): That the church will continue to grow. We are just excited how God is changing lives there and the committment of these new believers.
3. We just heard yesterday of a Family from our Macaracuay Church that is interested in starting a church in Guarenas. This is a city between Caracas and Guatire. Pray that the Lord will guide in this possiblity. We have been praying for another couple interested in starting a new church. It will be neat to see how the Lord brings all of this together.
4. Harry's class on personal finances that it will be Bibical and practical for all taking it. The class is Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings for 6 weeks.
* Christmas and New Years celebrations. There were lots of loud fireworks, good times with friends and lots of hallacas to eat! We missed our family but thank the Lord for Skype and video. We were able to talk and share a bit with each one. It sure helped the lonliness one can feel not being able to be present.
*Our youth Bible studies are almost finished. We feel the Lord has used these and we were prepared and shared in the best way we could. The Holy Spirit is the one who changes lives and we know He is working. The outward results are perhaps not what we hoped for but we are so glad for the opportunity we had to share what it means to be obedient and committed to the Lord.
* An all night prayer vigil for Venezuela, AVIB, our churches and personal requests. This was a new experience for Lynn. She wasn't sure she could stay awake all night but she made it. It really was a neat experience as we shared, listened and prayed together in small groups mixed with music, devotionals and other interactive dynamics to keep us all awake.
* Harry has started teaching a class on personal finances in the Center of Ministry Development. The teaching of the prosperity gospel here in Venezuela is quite strong and a good balanced Biblical approach to finances and stewardship is needed.
* We took a few days off and enjoyed the Andes Mountains in the southwest part of Venezuela. It was a 12 hour, all night bus ride to get to Merida. This is a very beautiful area and a great opportunity to learn more of Venezuela history and culture
Prayer requests:
1. Our pastors: That they would continue to remain pure and steadfast to the Word of God and give good leadship and vision to their churches.
Jorge Barrada and his wife Ludi
Jaime Torrealba and his wife Ruth
Armando Diaz and his wife Carolina
2. The house church in Guatire (Pastor Armando): That the church will continue to grow. We are just excited how God is changing lives there and the committment of these new believers.
3. We just heard yesterday of a Family from our Macaracuay Church that is interested in starting a church in Guarenas. This is a city between Caracas and Guatire. Pray that the Lord will guide in this possiblity. We have been praying for another couple interested in starting a new church. It will be neat to see how the Lord brings all of this together.
4. Harry's class on personal finances that it will be Bibical and practical for all taking it. The class is Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings for 6 weeks.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Christmas in Venezuela, 2008
What a week this has been. Christmas in Venezuela is just as busy as at home in Fort Wayne. We've had Christmas parties, Christmas play practice every night, sewing costumes for the play and our regular work and activity as well.
The Macaracuay and Guatire churches both did Christmas plays of the Christmas story,the birth of Jesus. These were both outreach events into the communities of the churches, a first for this kind of event since we have been here. The Lord worked in really neat ways by bringing the church people to work together and have a great time in doing it. As well as a great way of sharing the gospel story with the community.
The Macaracuay church did the play in the mall area where the church is located. The shoppers and store owners seemed to really enjoy the play and requested that the church do it again next year.
The Guatire church preformed for a Christmas dinner for about 50 families in the urbanization where one of the church families live. This afternoon they did it again for our La Urbina Church Christmas dinner and did an excellant job.
For us it was just really exciting to see these churches reaching out to their communties with the Good News of the Lord Jesus in a different way. At the end of the plays, the pastors were able to give a devotional on the meaning of Christmas in our lives.
Check out the pictures of these events (to the side there is a link to Pictures of the Association of Bible Church ministry in Venezuela).
Something that happened this past week that we really praise the Lord for, is that we received our new visa for another year so we can continue to live here. Over 6 weeks ago we turned our passports in to the government. This has meant 3 trips downtown on the subway at 5:30AM to wait in line till the offices open at 8:00AM. Things don't move here by appointments but by who arrives first. Fortunately for us, we are Senor citizens and have a special line and are allowed to go in first otherwise we'd be outside waiting for many more hours as others have to do.
The Macaracuay and Guatire churches both did Christmas plays of the Christmas story,the birth of Jesus. These were both outreach events into the communities of the churches, a first for this kind of event since we have been here. The Lord worked in really neat ways by bringing the church people to work together and have a great time in doing it. As well as a great way of sharing the gospel story with the community.
The Macaracuay church did the play in the mall area where the church is located. The shoppers and store owners seemed to really enjoy the play and requested that the church do it again next year.
The Guatire church preformed for a Christmas dinner for about 50 families in the urbanization where one of the church families live. This afternoon they did it again for our La Urbina Church Christmas dinner and did an excellant job.
For us it was just really exciting to see these churches reaching out to their communties with the Good News of the Lord Jesus in a different way. At the end of the plays, the pastors were able to give a devotional on the meaning of Christmas in our lives.
Check out the pictures of these events (to the side there is a link to Pictures of the Association of Bible Church ministry in Venezuela).
Something that happened this past week that we really praise the Lord for, is that we received our new visa for another year so we can continue to live here. Over 6 weeks ago we turned our passports in to the government. This has meant 3 trips downtown on the subway at 5:30AM to wait in line till the offices open at 8:00AM. Things don't move here by appointments but by who arrives first. Fortunately for us, we are Senor citizens and have a special line and are allowed to go in first otherwise we'd be outside waiting for many more hours as others have to do.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
VIEWS FROM VENEZUELA
CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS
1. God became one of us. He came to earth as the baby Jesus. Today, He can come to live in people’s hearts. One day He will come again in all his holiness and power and glory to reign over the whole world. Let us celebrate with joy this Christmas season!
2. We are thankful for our ministry here in Caracas, Venezuela.
For teaching ministry leadership classes.
For the Youth Bible Study series we are writing and teaching.
For the discipleship of new believers in the house church in Guatire. We were 21 for the Thanksgiving service and luncheon.
For leading the Bible study at the women’s prison half-way house.
3.The three Venezuelan Bible Churches that we relate to are growing and effective ministry is happening! Praise God.
4.Our family is again increasing. We’re looking forward to welcoming Jeremy and Gwen’s baby boy, Daniel, in January and Jonathan and Abby’s baby in February. Granma is very much looking forward to coming home in February for a couple of weeks to do some bonding with these two new blessings as well as with our 7 other grandchildren.
NEW YEAR CHALLENGES
1. That the Lord will use the youth Bible study series to be a challenge to commitment and obedience to Him. That lives will be changed.
2. Planning for women’s, men’s, youth, children’s and marriage retreats.
That these retreats would continue to be outreach, evangelistic tools in reaching family and friends for the Lord.
God would lead us to a retreat center that is reasonable in price and easily accessible.
3. That God would lead a couple committed to persevere and work in starting a new house church or church plant.
1. God became one of us. He came to earth as the baby Jesus. Today, He can come to live in people’s hearts. One day He will come again in all his holiness and power and glory to reign over the whole world. Let us celebrate with joy this Christmas season!
2. We are thankful for our ministry here in Caracas, Venezuela.
For teaching ministry leadership classes.
For the Youth Bible Study series we are writing and teaching.
For the discipleship of new believers in the house church in Guatire. We were 21 for the Thanksgiving service and luncheon.
For leading the Bible study at the women’s prison half-way house.
3.The three Venezuelan Bible Churches that we relate to are growing and effective ministry is happening! Praise God.
4.Our family is again increasing. We’re looking forward to welcoming Jeremy and Gwen’s baby boy, Daniel, in January and Jonathan and Abby’s baby in February. Granma is very much looking forward to coming home in February for a couple of weeks to do some bonding with these two new blessings as well as with our 7 other grandchildren.
NEW YEAR CHALLENGES
1. That the Lord will use the youth Bible study series to be a challenge to commitment and obedience to Him. That lives will be changed.
2. Planning for women’s, men’s, youth, children’s and marriage retreats.
That these retreats would continue to be outreach, evangelistic tools in reaching family and friends for the Lord.
God would lead us to a retreat center that is reasonable in price and easily accessible.
3. That God would lead a couple committed to persevere and work in starting a new house church or church plant.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Prayer Requests for November
1. Pray for the first Marriage Retreat that the Association of Bible Churches here in Venezuela is going to sponsor. The Retreat will be November 14-15, 2008. Pray that marriages and families will be strengthen in there faith. Plus, there are 6 maybe 7 couples going from our house church in Guatire for which we praise the Lord. Four of these couples are young Christians. The two other couples that are going, the husbands are not Christians but the wives are. Pray specifically that these 2 men might come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior and that these 2 homes might become united in faith.
2. Pray for the series of Bible Studies that Harry and I are leading for the youth in the La Urbina church. We are very much concerned for these youth and our desire for godly Christian leaders for the future of our churches here in Venezuela. Pray that we will speak to their needs, that we might love them and that the Lord's Word will penetrate their hearts and minds bringing godly changes to their lives and a renewed committment to the Lord.
2. Pray for the series of Bible Studies that Harry and I are leading for the youth in the La Urbina church. We are very much concerned for these youth and our desire for godly Christian leaders for the future of our churches here in Venezuela. Pray that we will speak to their needs, that we might love them and that the Lord's Word will penetrate their hearts and minds bringing godly changes to their lives and a renewed committment to the Lord.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Our Dominican Republic Trip
How does one describe a trip that was full of God's blessings, protection, fun and work! Harry and I arrived in Santo Domingo on Thursday, Oct.16. He went out to San Juan on Friday morning to begin his training seminar with the pastors and church leaders that evening. I stayed in Santo Domingo to wait for the Brookside Medical team. We arrived in San Juan, Sunday afternoon. The team asked to see needy people that don't generally get to see a Doctor. Dr. Canario, the medical director of the clinic and the one who arranges the trips, complied. For 4 days he took us to very remote areas, some of which even he had never been to before. We drove 2-3 hours everyt day with 4 wheel drive pick-up trucks on rocky, gullied mountain roads to little churches where we set up the clinics. The rolly coaster rides with breath taking mountain views (no guard rails up there) will never be forgetton. But even more important were the people in the areas of Montecitos, Las Lagunas, Macasia and Guaroa. They were given a chance to see a doctor, receive medicine and gifts of soap, shampoo, toys, toothbrushes, Bibles, clothes and what ever else we brought along to give away. While the medical team was busy seeing people, the local pastor as well as the pastor and child evangelism lady we took along with us, were busy sharing the Good News that Jesus loves us and wants all to know him and have eternal life. The medical team treated over 400 people in 4 days.
Harry's classes got off to a rough start but finally on Monday and Tuesday he was able to teach a group of over 100 Pastors and church leaders in the San Juan area about the social responsiblity of the church. He spent considerable time preparing and anchoring the studies to biblical teachings and examples. They would like him to return next year and teach about bibical stewardship.
Thank you for your prayers and support for this trip.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Praise the Lord with us.
We've been back in Venezuela for 3 weeks now. I think the thing that has thrilled us the most has been the new attenders and believers in our 3 churches. A number of men we have been praying for have accepted Jesus as their Savior and are being discipled by their pastor or another leader in the church. What an answer to prayer!
When we left last December the house church in Guatire was really struggling and not in any sense of the word growing. We left feeling somewhat discouraged, like we were leaving a difficult situation for Pastor Armando to go through alone. But Armando was not alone. His committment to the Lord, the support of his wife, perservance in sharing his faith and wanting to have a house church was blessed by the Lord. What a neat group are worshipping and studying God's word together! The picture at the top is of this group of believers.
Harry has gotten back into teaching church leadership seminars and is currently teaching "Church History". We will be team teaching an 8 week Bible study for the youth in the La Urbina Church on various themes.
Prayer requests:
1. Trip to the Dominican Republic for Harry to lead a seminar on "The Social Responsibility of the Church". Pray that the Lord will use him to speak His Words, that Pastors would respond and learn and that the church in San Juan de La Maguana area of the Dominican would be strengthened. Lynn will be part of the Brookside Church Medical project, reaching small villages with medicine and the Gospel. This trip is October 16-24 for Harry and through the 26th for Lynn.
2. Pray for safety and an encouraging time of ministry for Earl Cecil and Al Rupp as they come to Venezuela for the National Church Assembly, AVIB, representing FEC in the USA. It will be a special time for us to have them here, October 24 to 29, 2008.
3. Pray with us for a new couple with the committment to the Lord and to starting a new house church like Armando and Carolina have done.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
