Our latest newsletter

We only do a print newsletter a couple times per year due to the cost and thankfully so many of our supporters are online. Here is a PDF of the latest one.

Lynch Family Newsletter – Sept. 2009 click to download PDF

A Few isn’t really a BAD thing

Teaching a memory verse game

We took another journey along with 2 SEMISUD students to visit an indigenous church for training children’s ministry workers. This was supposed to be a district-wide training with representatives from 8 different churches. However, we have learned to expect the unexpected and be prepared for anything.

First of all, we arrived and no one was to be seen. A quick phone call revealed that the pastor thought we were coming later in the day. No problem! We took off to a neighboring town that has a famous Catholic church and we played tourist for a little bit.

When we returned to the church, we realized there were only children’s workers from THIS specific church. Another conversation revealed that somehow communication with the other churches didn’t take place.  I’ll admit, I was a little frustrated. I mean we had traveled over 1 hour to get there, prepared for a large group with handouts and gifts, etc.  What is it the Bible says about this attitude of mine… hmm… not good!

Object lesson about God's tools for winning against sin

So we proceeded with our training session and a funny thing happened. This “small” group was REALLY into what we had to say. You see, for many of them, our previous district trainings had been too far away for them to travel. They were hearing these ideas for the very first time and scooping it up like it was gold!

Once I got mySELF and my attitude behind me, we had an amazing time of God blessing and annointing. These dedicated, young Christians are truly hungry to know how to teach their children. How to help them apply God’s Word to their lives so that they CAN say no to the lives of sin they see modeled all around them.

As it turns out, this intimate time of training was ordained. I KNOW that the few simple things we brought to them, with the power of God behind them will change their whole ministry. They are now inspired and confident as ministers in Christ. I am thankful that God uses us human vessels even though we are often cranky and frustrated when things don’t go the way WE “thought” they should.

One Billion More Souls

This week over 300 leaders, mostly from Ecuador, converged on Quito to learn how they can be a part of Billion Soul Network. Currently there are around 1 billion Christians in the world (including Catholics). Next year the world’s population will top 7 billion. Do you see the problem? 6 out of every 7 people do not know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Personally this breaks my heart … and I think it breaks God’s also.

The billion soul network is committed to changing this statistic. Through the strategic networking and equipping local churches, they are looking to plant over 5 million (count the zeros 5,000,000) new churches over the next few years and add another one billion(more zeros 1,000,000,000) converts to the church. With the passion and enthusiasm that the leaders of this effort have I think that they might just pull it off.

As we’ve shared with you before, Ecuador is evangelically starved. The current statistics place less than 5% of the population as evangelical Christians. But those of us laying claim to this mission field have decided it’s time that these numbers change by the power and grace of God. During the course of these meetings we learned church planting strategies and how to apply them to our context and together we set a goal to plant 5000 new churches in Ecuador! And I was asked to lead an initiative to use our students at SEMISUD in planting 50 new churches in Quito!

I am humbled to be asked to take on this project but I know that my God is more than able to make this happen. I ask that you join with us in prayer as we set out to win Ecuador for Christ and also ask God how he would want you to be a part of this plan to plant these 50 new churches. Planting churches is not easy or cheap … but we know it can be done and will be done for the Glory of God.

- Bobby

Preach the Word

Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage–with great patience and careful instruction. 2 Timothy 4:2

Students From Intro. to Missions Class

You never know when opportunity will come knocking on your door; therefore, you must always be prepared to present the gospel. My students and I found out how true this was last week. For the last month I have been teaching an Introduction to Missions class at the seminary so I decided to get out of the classroom and visit some local ministries to learn more about mission efforts on the front line.

First we visited HCJB. For more than 75 years, the HCJB radio station has been sharing the gospel message. Let me just say this radio station is HUGE! And it is so powerful that its signal is heard throughout Latin America. I thought we would get a simple “dog and pony show” and then move on … but the radio station had other plans. They were in the middle of a live radio show focusing on teenagers with problems and they were more than happy to have special guests … in fact they insisted on it. Of course they had a little fun with me as the professor of the class at first but then the audience started asking questions.

Radio Stars

I was so proud of the students as they jumped right in and began fielding tough questions from these troubled listeners. Through the gentle guiding of the Holy Spirit and careful application of God’s Word they were able to offer hope and help to many people. It was really cool to see the students use the tools they had learned in class to make a difference in the lives of others … and gave me the peace and satisfaction of knowing that our ministry is accomplishing exactly what it is supposed to … ministers who are prepared in season and out to offer God’s love to a hurting world.

- Bobby

Children’s Outreach in Saquisili

We were invited to lead a children’s outreach service in a small rural community. When I say rural…. I really mean it. We drove 1 hour south of Quito, and then after we got off the highway, we drove another hour over the mountains and through the woods.  But right in the middle of nowhere, a community popped up.

This church has been around for 35 years and they have one of the most successfully discipleship programs of any of the rural churches we’ve seen. There were approximately 120 children in attendance. They were so excited and engaged in every part of the service. This is a really great group of kids – eager to worship and learn more about God.

The kids loved the clowns and games and songs. Jaciel, one of the SEMISUD students who travels with us, taught an interactive lesson on the Fish & Loaves miracle. We were blessed by how intently the children were listening and soaking up the Word of God.

After the service, the community honored us with a special meal. They served us chicken soup, then a plate of potatoes with guinea pig, lamb and rabbit. To us, this meal seems hard to stomach, but they were giving us a royal feast in their terms. This was such a sacrifice for them to bless us so richly. We always feel awkward in these settings, because just outside our building, all the kids were sitting in the dirt eating just a bowl of soup while we were presented with this feast. We would so much rather give the food to them, but at the same time we would never want to offend these precious, generous people … so … we eat.

I mentioned earlier, how this church has one of the best discipleship programs we have seen. This event was a special, extra outreach because we were coming. But, they do have a children’s service EVERY Saturday. A former community member travels from Quito each weekend to teach the children. It shows! This group of children already knew more of the Word than we expected. We are so encouraged and hopeful for this generation of children who are growing up with solid guidance and teaching. Please pray for this church and consider helping them provide food on Saturdays or expand their building with classrooms.