Learning to be joyful givers!

 

Guayaquil—Jim and Lori Rice are working hard to get ready for the arrival of Sheri Beck, who will join us in Ecuador on September 9.  They are also helping Liz Serrato, a GoNetter who will be joining our ETeam for a two-year stint as an intern. Liz has about half of her funds raised and is targeting her arrival for January of 2014.

Resignation—Tom Hines has informed GP that he will be resigning his position as mission director of Ecuador as of June 1, 2014.  We expect news from Dr. Jackson very soon on who will be appointed to that position.  This will give the new appointee about 10 months to prepare to assume leadership of the field. Tom and Lydia are due to spend a year in partnership development (deputational service) July 2014 to May 2015.  After that, they expect to return to Guayaquil, Ecuador for another term of service.

Cuenca—This month is stewardship month at El Faro.  We have a goal to increase our regular giving in tithes and offerings and present the idea of a building fund to finance a new multipurpose building for worship and other large events.  We will also prepare two food baskets for needy families of our congregation. This is a time to re-educate many of our new believers.  Most come from the area’s traditional religion.  That group charges set fees for almost all services such as baptism, confirmation, weddings and funerals.  They can also be very demanding about tithing.  This has turned many people off to giving to the church.  It is our responsibility and privilege to introduce these new believers to the privilege of joyful giving of tithe and offerings.  Pray for Tom as he preaches and teaches this series on stewardship, and for God’s provision for the church and those who worship there.

The Greatest of these is love!

GUAYAQUIL—Yesterday the first adult Bible study was held in La 21 community with Pastor Juan Carlos Cruz and wife Diana leading. Also, Fortin celebrated their seventh anniversary with Jim Rice sharing a message.

CUENCA—The Lighthouse Church closed out its “Month of Love” yesterday with a message from I Corinthians 13.  Tom challenged the congregation to be a church known for its love and by welcoming all who might enter or pass by our church.

PRISON MINISTRY—This week Ana O. again came to services with her three sons.  She has been in church 7 of that last 8 Sundays.  Praise God!  Also, Tom and Lydia looked up Telma, an inmate who was released a few months ago after spending 5 years in prison. She lives in Duran, a suburb of Guayaquil. Looking for someone in a town of 4 million can be difficult, but God helped us find her quickly. We had a great visit in her home.  We met her children and her mother and father.  And her mom fixed us a great shrimp soup—bless her heart!  Pray for these releasees as restarting life on the “outside” is very tough.

New converts, new ball courts, new home group....

Guayaquil—Pastor Juan Carlos Cruz and wife Diana launched the first in-home activity by holding a Bible Study in the La 21 community Sunday, July 21.  Tom and Lydia will travel to Guayaquil Wednesday to hold a monthly Pacifica pastors meeting with Jim and Lori Rice.

Lighthouse—Sunday Tom preached the third message in a four-part series about love and forgiveness. The response to these messages has been very positive with about 30 seekers so far during this month. A highlight of yesterday’s service was the presence of Rev. Zandra Anderson, who dedicated her new granddaughter, little Karis Abigail Thompson to the Lord.

University ministries—Surveys have been done at the University of Cuenca by the Thompsons and a visiting team from Lawrence, Kansas with the hope of beginning some kind of university outreach in the next year. 

Sports courts--Construction of a new concrete slab about 50’ X 80’ has been started.  The land has been leveled and actual pouring of the concrete will begin sometime around September 1.  The slab will provide basketball and volleyball courts.  When the time comes for the El Faro Church to build its new multi-purpose building, this court will serve as the floor of the new building and the area will be converted into an indoor facility for worship and sports and other events.

New converts/new home group in Cuenca—Beautiful testimonies are coming from a recently converted family of four.  Just yesterday, German told me that he is learning a lot at the newly established home group led by Marcelo and Nube Munoz.  German said, “The reality is that we are quite ignorant about the teachings of the Bible.”  A smile rolled across his face as he shared how knowing Christ has enriched his understanding of the Word.  Pray for this new home group of three families that is meeting weekly.

Thompsons are here!

RMC—Steady progress is being made on the RMC.  We are beginning to install windows in the first two floors.  The kitchen is getting its final coat of finish plastering.

New Missionaries—Isaac and Amy Thompson arrived in Cuenca yesterday.  Today they are house hunting.  Their first month will be used to get settled, finding a house, car, getting furniture and office equipment.

Kansas Team—Final plans are being made for the Kansas team that will arrive here January 26 and depart Feb 15.  They will be working on construction projects in Guayaquil and Cuenca. Ministry activities will include holding four children’s days and also two marriage mini-retreats, as well as meeting with leaders and holding prayer walks in a new church planting target area.

Prison—The Voices of Hope prison ministry has not resumed since last week’s rioting.  Hopefully the new warden will approved this very helpful ministry and allow it to resume very soon. BREAKING NEWS……A call just came into the office giving the VOH group permission to enter the prison TODAY!  PTL!

Lighthouse—Sunday was a great day at the Lighthouse with 92 in attendance.  Excitement is building as two of our Ecuadorian  couples promote the upcoming marriage mini-retreat. 

New Missionaries Arriving

New Missionaries—Isaac and Amy Thompson have completed language training in Costa Rica and will be arriving in Ecuador Jan. 13.  They will living in Cuenca and will become part of the administrative staff with Tom Hines and will be participating in various other ministries as they get settled in.

Jim and Lori Rice will be arriving in Ecuador about Feb 20.  They have been delayed due to a knee surgery Jim will have this week.  They will be part of the Guayaquil team and will assist in a new church plant.

Sheri Beck continues her language studies in Costa Rica until August when she will join the Guayaquil team. 

Prison ministry—The Voices of Hope will begin Celebrate Recovery in the women’s prison tomorrow.  Please pray for the team as they embark on this very challenging addition to their present work there.

RMC—Much work has been done on the RMC in the past several weeks.  It’s looking more finished and we hope to have several rooms ready for a partial dedication of this complex on Feb 3.

Lighthouse—Ministries continue to go well at the Lighthouse.  The Christmas holidays always lower our attendance.  It’s ironic that the Easter and Christmas services that tend to be some of the most well attended services in the States are the opposite here. But we had 70 people on Sunday and things will climb back to normal as people get in the groove of the new year.  Many of the new believers are showing evidence of good growth as disciples.

Kansas Team—We are getting geared up to receive the Kansas Team on Jan. 26-Feb 9.  We will be doing construction projects in both Guayaquil and Cuenca, along with special children’s day activities and married couples’ events.

Guayas Plan 2013

Guayaquil—Tom met last week with Juan Carlos, Nino and Gustavo.  It was great meeting and we made much progress in planning.  Our focus has been to develop a new vision for the Guayas area that will include new target areas for ministry and a combined national/missionary team.  The Lord gave us a great time of prayer, evaluation and brainstorming, and crowned it all with enthusiasm and unity.

Since it is the first new ministry thrust for the current Guayas team, we are taking a basic approach to planning which includes the “what, where, when, who and how.” We worked on the “what and where.”  There was unanimous consensus that we will take a two-pronged approach that will include aggressively establishing cell groups based out of the Altar Cristiano Church (Gustavo) and we will plant a new congregation in a “virgin” area of Guayaquil such as a new housing development.  Juan Carlos and Diana will likely be our point leaders but that is to be determined. There was a lot of synergy in the meeting.

Costa Rica trip postponed—I was to be in Costa Rica this week with our missionary team, but was denied entry into CR for no certificate of vaccination for yellow fever.  This is not required for those who travel from the USA, but it is required for travel from Ecuador to CR.  I will reschedule my trip for a bit later.

Peru—I will be in Peru next week for a missionary conference where I will speak 5 times, then I will speak at the Trujillo churches on Sunday.  I will return to Ecuador October 8.

Prison ministry—God is doing awesome things in the women’s prison.  The Voices of Hope team which Lydia leads has a good trust relationship that has been built over the last two years.  Many inmates are now opening up more, being more honest about their needs, and actively following the teachings the team is providing.  Give God praise for this growth.

Lighthouse—Good things continue to take place in the congregation in Racar.  Average attendance for the last four Sundays has been 98.  New people are being saved each month and rarely is there a Sunday without 8-15 seekers at the “altar.” Sunday September 30, we will hold a baptism event at a family ranch outside of Cuenca.  Thirteen candidates have prepared themselves to receive this sacrament.  It is a wonderful evidence of their obedience to God’s command to “repent and be baptized.” Pray this will be a great experience for these new Christians.

Prayer needs:

        1) The nephew of a Lighthouse church family has been arrested and is being held on possible charges of accomplice to homicide.  Pray for justice and fairness in the judicial process, and for "J’s" newfound faith.  By God’s providence "J" is being held at the men’s prison and was place as a cellmate with the prison pastor!

2) Leaders. Tom is going to be working on building a team of dedicated leaders at the Lighthouse.  Many new ministry opportunities are before us, but it is necessary that national leaders be developed to lead them.

Father Saved, Son Plans For Ministry

Guayaquil—Tom travels to Guayaquil today through Wednesday to work on corporation documents, get supplies for the Celebrate Recovery program and hold an important strategic planning meeting with the pastors.

Lighthouse—We are praising God that Miguel Medina, father of the late Maycol Medina came forward to give his life to Christ yesterday.  It appears his son, Edison, may be starting his theological training this month to prepare to be a pastor/missionary.  Eighty-nine people attended the service yesterday and eight seekers received help at the altar. The youth gathered after service for a lengthy prayer time.

The advisory board of the Lighthouse met last evening to plan activities and review the five functions of the church.  From there we began to plan exactly what ministries we will develop to carry out those functions.  Although we did not finish our work for lack of time, we did determine that “Marriage and Family” will be one of the primary ministries. Included under that will be our marriage group as well as the Celebrate Recovery program we hope to start by October 1.  We will continue this strategic work in two weeks.

Costa Rica—Tom will be traveling to Costa Rica Sept 24-28 to meet with our missionaries who are in language school there. We will be evaluating their progress in language learning, reviewing and tweaking job descriptions and making plans for their arrival on field.