Thank you for keeping us in your prayers. We have weathered a very busy summer filled with work and blessings. Our Christian school was able to acquire better desks for the students from another school which no longer needed these furnishings. We had to make five trips across town to move everything. The heavier furniture had to be lifted by forklift to the second floor. Those were exhausting days, but the Lord brought us through them without injury. A new coat of paint was needed on many of the walls, so that occupied several weeks.
In late June we held our Vacation Bible School. We set attendance records nearly every day and ended with a good crowd on Friday evening. Four children professed faith in Christ, and others spoke with their teachers regarding questions and decisions they needed to make.
July 5 through 9 was the week for youth and children’s camp. Churches from around the island brought over 100 campers. At least 6 salvation decisions resulted and a number of other decisions were also recorded. Praise the Lord for continuing to touch young hearts.
Our outreach program has moved into a new neighborhood, Santa Teresita. We are trying to make sure that every home in this area is contacted, so the effort will span several weeks. Some excellent contacts have resulted. Erick attended on a Thursday evening just after we spoke with him in his home. He claims to know the Lord, but he needs to grow in many areas. Sharon listened attentively as the Gospel message was explained to her. She is very open but has not yet trusted Christ.
This past Sunday morning (Aug. 15) I changed the format of the morning service to be more interactive. We had a “conversation” regarding the excuses we often present for not being involved in fulfilling the Great Commission. It was encouraging to hear people honestly express their concerns and then answer each of these from the Word of God. Our desire is to energize the church to be faithful in giving out the Word so that others may find Christ through us.
Our support has been steady until recently. Our school has been helping us financially, but the enrollment will not allow this any longer. The church continues to do what it can for our family. Also two churches that played a significant role in our support have had to discontinue their support due to financial pressures of their own. As a result our support level has declined to below 90%. Pray with us for the wisdom to adjust to these changes. We have no personal debt other than our home mortgage. Our car, though 10 years old, continues to provide faithful service. It needed several repairs over the summer, but that is much better than a car payment. These are trying days, but the Lord often works most amazingly when the needs are most pressing. May each of us be faithful to our Lord and not complain about the difficulties.
Thank you for standing by us in love, prayer, and support.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
Spring Stirrings
About 6 weeks ago the Lord took an 85 year old saint to Himself. María came to know her Savior in the final years of her life, but she gave a great testimony to a life redeemed from sin. Most of her family has followed Catholicism just as she did for many years. However, the death of María started something special. One of her believing daughters came back to the island to speak with each member of her family regarding salvation. She and her son saw two family members trust the Lord in the week of their visit. Those who believed brought the rest of the family to our church, and in recent weeks two more have trusted Christ.
We will soon start a discipleship class to instruct each of these new converts. Pray with us for Iris, Ana, Elba, and Virgen as well as other family members who still need to trust Christ for salvation. Jorge is one who needs the Lord. He is 86 years old and is still trusting in his own good works. Pray that the Word which he heard will enlighten him to his true need of a Savior.
Pray also for our school. Our numbers are very low so we need to see the Lord provide students for the upcoming school year. Also pray for Teresa’s recovery from a burn she recently received. It is a first degree burn, but it is on her right foot. The location makes healing problematic.
Nathan is finishing his second semester at Bob Jones and is doing very well. He plans to work at the school this summer, so we probably will not see him until Christmas. Everyone else is doing well, and we thank you for praying for us.
We will soon start a discipleship class to instruct each of these new converts. Pray with us for Iris, Ana, Elba, and Virgen as well as other family members who still need to trust Christ for salvation. Jorge is one who needs the Lord. He is 86 years old and is still trusting in his own good works. Pray that the Word which he heard will enlighten him to his true need of a Savior.
Pray also for our school. Our numbers are very low so we need to see the Lord provide students for the upcoming school year. Also pray for Teresa’s recovery from a burn she recently received. It is a first degree burn, but it is on her right foot. The location makes healing problematic.
Nathan is finishing his second semester at Bob Jones and is doing very well. He plans to work at the school this summer, so we probably will not see him until Christmas. Everyone else is doing well, and we thank you for praying for us.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Prayer Letter Spring 2010
It may surprise you to learn that colds and the flu affect us in the tropics, but such is the case. Bill has been fighting a cold for the past 3 weeks with coughing spells interrupting the preaching. However, some of our best attendance numbers have occurred during this past month. Our goal for the year is to be over 70 on Sunday mornings. We started the year with about 45, but have climbed back into the 60s and hit 72 on one Sunday.
In recent weeks we have added 3 new members to the congregation. They have attended for a time, but now wish to take a more active role in the ministry. This is encouraging since other members seem to have tired. The faithfulness of other members is exemplary. One of our ladies participates regularly in door-to-door visitation inspite of a serious heart condition. Praise the Lord for each one who does their part to move the ministry forward.
Another exciting factor has been the number of folks who have responded to recent invitations to be a more consistent witness for Christ. Certainly this is the key to any significant growth. If everyone waits for the pastor to “bring them in,” little will be accomplished. It is refreshing to see God’s people become more aware of their need to serve the Lord in a tangible way. Many are taking tracts and returning with testimonies of God’s using them in others’ lives.
On March 13 we visited a public housing complex to share the Gospel. Several extended conversations concerning the Gospel resulted. Though no one made a profession of faith at that time, we trust that some will do so soon. Pray especially for Abraham, a young man of about 15 years of age who was very close to making a decision.
The church and school continue to be as frugal as possible since funds are down. Still, we have been able to help some missionaries in Haiti, a member with medical needs, and several other special projects. We have a few folks who are out of work and would appreciate your prayers for this important need.
Pray also about the upcoming school year. It’s always an adventure of faith as we wait to see how many students we will have. We really need to improve from the 53 current students. Our low enrollment has been a trial for us, but the Lord has allowed us to faithfully meet our obligations inspite of the delinquency of several accounts. Pray that these will be caught up soon so that improvements can be made to the students’ work area.
The Gospel is going out faithfully. Pray with us for the results that only the Lord can give. Our heart yearns to see the “fence-sitters” turn to the Lord in faith and receive forgiveness and new life. Prayer is the key, and we count heavily on your prayer support.
In recent weeks we have added 3 new members to the congregation. They have attended for a time, but now wish to take a more active role in the ministry. This is encouraging since other members seem to have tired. The faithfulness of other members is exemplary. One of our ladies participates regularly in door-to-door visitation inspite of a serious heart condition. Praise the Lord for each one who does their part to move the ministry forward.
Another exciting factor has been the number of folks who have responded to recent invitations to be a more consistent witness for Christ. Certainly this is the key to any significant growth. If everyone waits for the pastor to “bring them in,” little will be accomplished. It is refreshing to see God’s people become more aware of their need to serve the Lord in a tangible way. Many are taking tracts and returning with testimonies of God’s using them in others’ lives.
On March 13 we visited a public housing complex to share the Gospel. Several extended conversations concerning the Gospel resulted. Though no one made a profession of faith at that time, we trust that some will do so soon. Pray especially for Abraham, a young man of about 15 years of age who was very close to making a decision.
The church and school continue to be as frugal as possible since funds are down. Still, we have been able to help some missionaries in Haiti, a member with medical needs, and several other special projects. We have a few folks who are out of work and would appreciate your prayers for this important need.
Pray also about the upcoming school year. It’s always an adventure of faith as we wait to see how many students we will have. We really need to improve from the 53 current students. Our low enrollment has been a trial for us, but the Lord has allowed us to faithfully meet our obligations inspite of the delinquency of several accounts. Pray that these will be caught up soon so that improvements can be made to the students’ work area.
The Gospel is going out faithfully. Pray with us for the results that only the Lord can give. Our heart yearns to see the “fence-sitters” turn to the Lord in faith and receive forgiveness and new life. Prayer is the key, and we count heavily on your prayer support.
Monday, January 25, 2010
News to Pray About
The Lord continues to work in hearts. On Sunday (Jan 24) I preached on the "God of all Comfort" from 2 Corinthians 1:1-5. The text presents the truth that trouble comes our way in order to drive us to the source of true consolation (encouragement, help, strengthening). From there the comfort spreads from the comforted believer to others who are troubled. However, the process depends on the willingness of comforted believers to reach out to their hurting brethren. Too often the comfort is interrupted by our unwillingness to invest in others. A good number of folks responded to the appeal to seek comfort in God, instead of seeking it in man-made substitutes. Others vowed to make themselves available to God to comfort others with the same comfort they have already received. Praise the Lord for the power of the Word.
Anita is still awaiting heart surgery. The insurance company is stalling the paperwork, but we still believe God is in control and that the delay serves a purpose. Pray with us that the surgery will become available at the right moment. Her brother Jesús (or Chu) is still in therapy for his cancer. He is feeling well in spite of the fact that the cancer has spread throughout his body. He is still joyful and awaiting the Lord's continued goodness. Both of these dear saints are a blessing to our church.
Pray for the unity of our congregation. There are many issues that the enemy would like to use to divide us, but greater is He that is in [us] than he that is in the world.
Anita is still awaiting heart surgery. The insurance company is stalling the paperwork, but we still believe God is in control and that the delay serves a purpose. Pray with us that the surgery will become available at the right moment. Her brother Jesús (or Chu) is still in therapy for his cancer. He is feeling well in spite of the fact that the cancer has spread throughout his body. He is still joyful and awaiting the Lord's continued goodness. Both of these dear saints are a blessing to our church.
Pray for the unity of our congregation. There are many issues that the enemy would like to use to divide us, but greater is He that is in [us] than he that is in the world.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Updates for 2010
Today, we had a good service. The message was taken from 1 Thessalonians 1:3 and titled, "What God Knows About You." The three main points were Your Work of Faith, Your Labor of Love, and Your Perseverance in the Hope of our Lord Jesus Christ. The message was a challenge to serve the Lord with all our strength in 2010. At the close of the service about 20 people came forward to consecrate themselves to serve the Lord! It was a good assortment of teens, adults, and senior citizens. We need a good boost to start this year off fresh. Pray with us that we will indeed see a revival in this important area.
Please, pray for our oldest son, Steven. He has had a kidney stone, several bouts of flu this Fall and in recent days a seizure. The Lord continues to provide for he and Diane, but they would appreciate your prayers concerning these health needs. Like so many who face repeated tests, they need to be encouraged to continue in well-doing without becoming discouraged.
Chu is responding well to chemotherapy. He finishes treatment on January 18 and will then face renewed testing to determine what he needs next. He continues in good spirits and is feeling well. His sister Anita is awaiting a doctor's appointment later this month to see when she will be able to have the surgery to open her clogged arteries. Some of her blood vessels have up to an 85% blockage. The church has been taking up special offerings to help with expenses. The next doctor's visit should help confirm the amount needed to obtain the necessary help. Your prayers are greatly appreciated.
Please, pray for our oldest son, Steven. He has had a kidney stone, several bouts of flu this Fall and in recent days a seizure. The Lord continues to provide for he and Diane, but they would appreciate your prayers concerning these health needs. Like so many who face repeated tests, they need to be encouraged to continue in well-doing without becoming discouraged.
Chu is responding well to chemotherapy. He finishes treatment on January 18 and will then face renewed testing to determine what he needs next. He continues in good spirits and is feeling well. His sister Anita is awaiting a doctor's appointment later this month to see when she will be able to have the surgery to open her clogged arteries. Some of her blood vessels have up to an 85% blockage. The church has been taking up special offerings to help with expenses. The next doctor's visit should help confirm the amount needed to obtain the necessary help. Your prayers are greatly appreciated.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Many Are the Afflictions of the Righteous
Three of our faithful church members are facing serious health concerns. Chu has been diagnosed with cancer in various parts of his body. He has begun chemo and radiation. This is his second time through this battle. He had previously faced a colon bypass but has been fine for several years.
His sister Ana has been having problems with high blood pressure. She has undergone a battery of tests and is scheduled for a catherization. Her husband Efrain is also facing problems with blood pressure. They are handling things pretty well, but it's hard for them to understand why this is happening to the three of them at the same time.
Pray also for Milagros who is in the 7th month of a high-risk pregnancy. She has followed doctor's orders as best she can with two small children to care for. Her husband Jorge has been without work for a while as well.
Our final request is for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on our outreach efforts and our church family. We yearn to see God work in hard hearts to the praise of His glory.
His sister Ana has been having problems with high blood pressure. She has undergone a battery of tests and is scheduled for a catherization. Her husband Efrain is also facing problems with blood pressure. They are handling things pretty well, but it's hard for them to understand why this is happening to the three of them at the same time.
Pray also for Milagros who is in the 7th month of a high-risk pregnancy. She has followed doctor's orders as best she can with two small children to care for. Her husband Jorge has been without work for a while as well.
Our final request is for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on our outreach efforts and our church family. We yearn to see God work in hard hearts to the praise of His glory.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Steven and Diane
On Friday, October 16, our son Steven married Diane Ashcraft. We were able to make the trip and be on hand from Monday (the 12th) until Saturday. Most of the preparations were done before our arrival, but we were able to help on some of the details. The ceremony featured Elwood Sr as the officiating minister. Teresa's aunt made a beautiful wedding cake and lots of sweets. Everything went well as we welcomed a second daughter into the family.
On Saturday morning, Steven awoke to severe abdominal pain. He soon realized that the pain was increasing, so he had Diane take him to the hospital. The diagnosis was a kidney stone! He has never had kidney stones before, but thankfully it passed and they were able to resume the honeymoon later in the day.
We enjoyed being with family once again and even got to see our 4-month-old nephew for the first time. Our return to Puerto Rico was a smooth trip with no unexpected difficulties. Praise the Lord for His goodness.
On Saturday morning, Steven awoke to severe abdominal pain. He soon realized that the pain was increasing, so he had Diane take him to the hospital. The diagnosis was a kidney stone! He has never had kidney stones before, but thankfully it passed and they were able to resume the honeymoon later in the day.
We enjoyed being with family once again and even got to see our 4-month-old nephew for the first time. Our return to Puerto Rico was a smooth trip with no unexpected difficulties. Praise the Lord for His goodness.
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