As we have done in the past, this entry will give a quick update of each church. In each church, there are changes and many needs. Listed below are some prayer requests for each church but first, we will list some universal prayer requests -
- In the Dominican Republic just about everyone believes in God and God is often mentioned ("thanks/glory to God" or "if God wills"). But for many these are traditional sayings. Pray that God would lead us as we help people discover Jesus anew and His importance in our lives.
- Pray for more Dominican leaders! Specifically, pray for those that have a heart for youth and children's ministry.
- Pray for missionaries to join us! We need help (be kind please!) and are praying for God to send us teammates.
- Pray for God to reach Dominican youth! We are praying that churches in the Dominican Republic will be more intentional about reaching youth. Two that we work with, are doing just that!
- Pray for the sick and injured! So many are sick and struggling in every community we work. This year Chikungunya has ravaged the country. The young bounce back quickly, but middle aged and older folks are suffering for months following the initial infection.
- Pray for stable jobs for so many! The majority in our churches work daily jobs, meaning they find a job for the day and then have to find another the next day. You can imagine the stress they live under.
With a new pastor - Pastor Francisco - there is a lot of change. Pastor Francisco Tejedas is a strong leader and preacher. He has many ideas and the energy to pursue them. One idea has been to have regular conferences filled with excellent teaching. As a result, they have begun to develop relationships with other churches across the island. Pray for Pastor Francisco and the church leaders as they continues to shepherd the flock and prepare the church for ministry.
Nueva Vida of Buenos Aires
The first church plant to have a official pastor! He is Pastor Alex Balbuena. 2014 began with Pastor Alex undergoing spinal fusion surgery. Praise God, the surgery was very successful. And as he was able, Pastor Alex and Carol began to minister as they did before. In 2014 the church started a youth ministry and in August a team from Chicago came to work with this group. With time, God has been restoring this church as a light in it's community. In addition, God has also brought some new families and while the church is small, they are a solid, faithful group. God has taught them much in these last years and they have been strengthened. Becky and I feel encouraged and look forward to see how God will work.
When we came, this church was filled with relatively new believers. Damaso, from the central church, volunteers as pastor. Today, many of those who were new believers, are key leaders in the church. Our focus in much of 2013-14 has been in helping them create a plan to disciple their children and youth. Rather than quickly offering a plan for children's, we slowly worked with them helping them think through and create a plan. Late 2013 they adopted the statement - "Our objective is that the children will know and love God. Also, we have the goal that our children will become Christian leaders, pastors and missionaries. Matt. 22:38, Matt. 28:19-20, Duet. 6:1-9." Now at the end of 2014, the formal trainings ended long ago and Praise God, they have started a Sunday school for the kids. Our role has focused on helping these new teachers be successful. Please be in prayer. Also in 2014, Rick started meeting with 4 young men that attend El Montaña, discipling them as present and future leaders. For years, we prayed for God to send some men to the church and God is answering that prayer! Praise God!!!
For the last few years, our ministry has focused on helping support the leadership by teaching on topics that they requested. In late 2013 and into 2014 we focused on developing a Sunday school. By spring of 2014, a plan for teaching children was formed and functioning. We also worked to start a Bible study with unchurched adults and youth. This seemed to be going well but then fell apart when key individuals moved away from Boma. In the last few months, we have not had regularly weekly ministry but have attended services and preached at times. We have had many discussions with the leadership of the church and are asking the Lord to give us wisdom as to what can be done for the church to reach the community of Boma with the gospel. Please keep Boma in your prayers.
As we shared in January, over the past 6 years, many that were attending in Los Calabazos have moved to Jarabacoa and are attending the church in Jarabacoa. As a result the church of Los Calabazos has very few people. Even Julito, the leader, often attends the church in Jarabacoa because his daughters live and attend school there. With few people in the church and infrequent services, we made the decision not to continue a regular ministry in Los Calabazos and to focus more time and energy in El Montaña, Buenos Aires and Boma. Nicolas from the central church continues to oversee the church in Los Calabazos. We hope to start working there again in the future and we continue to feel there are opportunities, particularly in the area of youth ministry. Our prayer for Los Calabazos is that God would draw people to Himself. Over the years, there has been a lot of evangelism with little results. Our prayers are that God would bring a revival in Los Calabazos.
Thank you for your prayers!
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