Dear Friends,
I wish to start this prayer update with a note of thankfulness and gratitude to the LORD and to those who have faithfully prayed for us. The beginning of a new period in our ministry and church’s work obliged us to look back and recognize that without the Lord’s help nothing can be done. As a church we have been seeking the Lord asking Him to show us the way forward. Over the last 6 to 7 years we have been working on reaching out to people, working with small groups of believers (Life’s Group) plus training those committed Christians into service through the School of Discipleship. Several generations of leaders have been taught in the principles of the gospel and leadership, and we have seen fruits in these labours.
As pastors in La Parroquia, we have been studying, praying and asking the Lord for guidance, and after months of consideration, we have come to a position of seeing the need for renovation. We have drafted a brief statement to make an affirmation of our VISION, at the same time; we have also worded a statement that describes the MISSION as to how we will accomplish that vision.
VISION: As a church we regard ourselves as a community of believers seeking to reach out to our city, looking for a spiritual transformation through the love, the righteousness and joy that the Lord Jesus Christ offers.
MISSION: The task of bringing men and women in our city to experience an integral salvation. Building them up in the faith to become disciples who will be collaborators with the Lord in restoring this fallen world.
We have spent time seeking the Lord, and the vision is just an expression of that goal of establishing God´s kingdom as defined by Paul in Romans 14v17… “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” This text is not the only one but gives a concise summary of how we arrived at this position. The mission has lots of activities in mind, but all of them guided with that purpose of making disciples. I am sharing this with you trusting you will pray with us and for us and share in the burden the Lord has placed on us.
On September 25th we shall have our Baptismal service. This time we will use the facilities of another evangelical church in the city. Pray for those who are taking this step of obedience to the Lord. We are looking forward to hearing their testimony making this event an occasion to encourage the church.
From September 12th to 18th we shall have (DV) a 24-hour week of prayer. Starting at 00:00h on September 12th, we will seek the Lord to bless the work of the gospel. Each day we will have short messages at key points to expound the Lord’s prayer for motivation and clear teaching. We shall conclude this week of prayer at 24:00h on September 18th. All church activities, apart from the services on Sunday will accommodate this time of prayer.
We also see the need to motivate the church to pray regularly. All the prayer meetings we had organized during the week will be unified into one church prayer meeting on Thursday evenings. On that same day, we will begin short and extensive Bible studies seeking to ground the church. On Fridays, we shall begin another dynamic of Bible studies or Bible networks where we will lay foundational teaching in doctrinal and practical matters. Please, pray for the Lord’s blessings and for maturity for each one of those who the Lord have entrusted unto us.
On September 6th the church will restart the soup kitchen. Pray for the Lord’s provision and for each one those who serve in this precious work. Some people came during August seeking help, so we recommence knowing that this help really counts. Pray for opportunities to show the Lord’s kindness.
Continue to give thanks to the Lord for his faithfulness providing for all our needs. Thank you to you too for all your support.
As a family we are all well. The boys will restart all their schooling next week September 14th. My health is good. Give thanks.
Our prayer meeting venue has been changed. From September onward, it will combine and meet with the France prayer meeting led by John Hughes. If you live in Cardiff, please refer to Mr. Graydon Oakley for details.
Thank you for being there.
Eddy
Valencia, September 2011
