Carol begins the day with a Bible story.
Exciting News:
A new ministry has started at one of the church plants. It was created after the church in Buenos Aires visited each house in their community. As they went from house to house, they found some consistent needs and developed a ministry to address those.
The boys are writing what Becky reads to them.
Why?
Because we are created to do good works (Eph. 2:10)
Because God told us to Love one another and we can do that by meeting everyday needs (1 John 3:11, 16-18)
Because as we help others with a selfless love, it is a service unto Jesus Christ (Matt. 25:31-40)
Because they want people to realize that God has met our need (John 3:16)
Reading the story of Creation.
What are they doing?
It's most visible ministry is to children but they have ministries to teens and adults as well. For the children, they have started an after school learning center. For youth and adults, they will be having classes on various topics that have been brought up in the survey. In addition, they will be inviting medical doctors and dentists to give the basic care that many don't get. Their dream is to address needs in 4 areas - Spiritual, Educational, Social, and Physical.
We are very excited about this ministry. It has been birthed and run by Dominicans. Becky and I have helped but the leadership has been Dominican. In some ways, it is a model for how we want to do ministry here. Many ministries are completely run by Americans. This one is not. The vision was developed by the Buenos Aires church while we were in the USA. They were excited to share it with us when we returned and when we heard their plans, we joined in the excitement.
Lots of smiles and kids to love.
This ministry has started. A few weeks ago some friends from Minnesota were here and we spent a morning observing and joining in where they could. This ministry has a lot of needs and for those who visit, there are lots of ways they can join with the ministry. For the children, the program appears similar to a VBS. But as you go and help, you will see that it's focus is much greater. We love that it is on-going and reaches people of all ages.
Please do pray for the ministry. It meets Monday, Wednesday and Friday, morning and afternoon. They are struggling to find workers in the morning. Please pray for this. Also, they are trying to build a support base by asking other Dominican churches to help. The response has been good but there are still needs. And when we were there, we saw that they have some space needs. Praise God, their vision is bigger than their facilities. Becky and I think this is something that the North American church can help with. A plan is being made for the property. Pray that God would provide the reasources for this ministry.
