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.
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.
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.
In July, the children and I were blessed with the opportunity to fly home and attend the Alabama Church of God Youth Camp. I had said this was something our children really needed for their spiritual growth since they are more often being the ministers than being fed here in Ecuador. However, I realized quickly that I needed it as much as they did.
I don’t know what it is about youth camp, but it is such a magical week of being changed by God. All my life, youth camp was always a life-shaping experience. There is something about being away from your “normal” and being surrounded by God stuff. It is almost impossible not to grow and be changed in this environment.
Thanks to our friends, the Patrick’s, I was able to be at camp that week too, hanging out with the staff. I was blessed, broken and filled up just as much or more than any of the children were. This reminded me of how important it is to refill ourselves spiritually on a regular basis. No matter what your everyday looks like, this is such an important part of our Christian lives that we MUST guard and make a priority.
So I challenge you guys – just as I am challenging myself, to be vigilant about taking a time of renewal. It is something we easily cast aside for “another time when we’re not so busy”. But it is something that if we don’t do, we’ll wither little by little spiritually. Obviously, we can’t all go spend a week at youth camp, but there are ways to make renewal time a priority. Here are some ways I am personally working on that:
Quiet morning or evening time – For me, I am a night owl, so I try to take advantage of that quiet time after everyone else is asleep to reflect, read the Bible and pray.
Family Worship – We have just begun adding some worship time to our family devotions. We don’t do it every day – but we are trying to do it weekly. We just play some worship songs on the computer and “stop the rollercoaster” for a few minutes to reflect on God’s glory. This has led to some beautiful moments for us.
Nature Walks – I am the type who always sees God in nature. I love to just walk and observe the beautiful rolling mountains, the fluffy clouds in the sky, the birds, etc. To me, this leads to time with God, reflecting on his magnificence.
I know we are all so busy and have so many things distracting us (like Facebook!). Try this week, to do one thing – even for a couple minutes – to help you find spiritual renewal.
Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary. Isaiah 40:31 (New American Standard Bible)
On June 27, the auditorium at SEMISUD was filled beyond capacity and then some as the proud parents, friends, pastors, and church members of graduating students watched on. Out of the eight different programs of study that SEMISUD offers, more than 70 students graduated.
We are especially proud of our students from the Transcultural Studies Program (the one Bobby directs) who graduated. Jeanneth of Ecuador graduated with honors and also received the prestigious Missionary of the Year award.
Jeanneth served her four month practicum in Mozambique last year where she worked with a local church in a desperately poor community in benevolence outreach ministries. Her heart and passion is to return to this community and poor out God’s love in visible and tangible ways for the remainder of her life. Please pray for her as she tries to raise her support to return.
A couple from Guatemala graduated with honors as well. They have studied and worked hard in preparation for their future work with the Muslims in Istanbul, Turkey. They have answered the call to go and labor for Jesus in one of the hardest mission fields imaginable. Please pray for God’s grace and mercy to be with them and their ministry as they go into the enemy’s territory to proclaim the lovely name of Jesus to those who have never heard the Gospel. (Due to the dangerous work they face in their future, we chose not to publish their names.)
Karina of Ecuador graduated and left immediately after graduation to return to Ethiopia. All I can say is that working with the women and children in a refugee camp Ethiopia “messed her up!” … but in a good way. Her heart has burned with passion to return and continue her ministry unto the least of these ever since she returned to Ecuador. Praise God, she was able to raise her support in short order and will be serving the King of Kings in a place as close to hell as one can get on earth. Please pray for God’s guidance and protections as she ministers to the women and children who have been displaced and who suffer violence, rape and other horrors on a daily basis.
PRAY for our ministry
