New Church Plant

In my last newsletter, I shared with you changes in our ministry focus: moving the church plant from the sugar cane village of Concho Primo to the town of Ramon Santana and bringing our work under the direction of our local church (the church Richard grew up in). 

On April 11, we kicked off the new church plant with evangelistic meetings Friday and Saturday night and our first service on Sunday.

Since we merged the church from Concho Primo with the new church plant, we didn’t start completely from scratch.  We currently have 24 members: 10 from the church in Concho Primo, 7 that are connections made through Richard’s work at Freedom Christian School, 2 new believers the Lord has allowed us to reach, and 5 between Pastor Franklyn’s family and ours. Several Sundays, we have packed out the small building we rent with visitors. 

Our current ministry schedule includes:

• Sunday morning worship services
• Wednesday evening prayer meeting/Bible study
• Friday evening collective men’s and women’s discipleship groups
• Saturday evangelism
• And we plan to add a Saturday children’s ministry in the coming weeks.  

Last week we held our first VBS! We praise God for the privilege to have shared the Gospel with over 80 kids and a few parents too (not to mention those from the community who were able to listen thanks to new speakers)! But the highlight of the week was seeing 4 children decide to follow Jesus! Pastor Franklyn has already spoken with their parents and we look forward to walking with them through discipleship. After seeing how many kids came out (without going door to door to invite), we realize that a children’s ministry has the potential to help us reach a lot of new families.  Pray for wisdom for us as we navigate beginning this important ministry.

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Family Updates

Aside from ministry, here are a few family updates.

1.)   On April 21, we welcomed Elijah Robinson into our family.  We praise the Lord for a safe delivery and healthy baby!

2.)   On May 15, my residency process here was approved and I turned in all the paperwork.  Now I am just waiting for an appointment to pick up my residency card!

3.)   We are still in limbo, waiting to be scheduled for an appointment at the consulate for the last phase of Richard’s visa.  We are hopeful that we will hear something in August so that he can travel to the States with me this fall.

4.)   With or without Richard, the kids and I will travel to the States this November, Lord willing, to visit family and give updates at supporting churches.  

PRAISES and PRAYER REQUESTS

We praise the Lord for

• the birth Elijah Robinson!

• the birth of a new church in Ramon Santana!

• the faithfulness and excitement of the church members that have joined us from our church in Concho Primo!

• progress in my residency process!

• 6 new believers: 2 adults - Margot and Belkis, 4 kids - Marlenis, Mariano, Alexander, and Dean

Join with us in praying for:

• spiritual growth/maturity in each believer

• opportunities to reach parents, spouses and children of each of our members

• endurance for the long days of ministry (driving to Ramon Santana and then to Concho Primo to load up the bus - and then repeat after each service)

• ministry and family life balance for us

• wisdom for me as I head our new kid’s ministry

• that an appointment for Richard’s visa would be scheduled this month

• that my residency process will be completed and Elijah’s passport will arrive before we travel this fall

• wisdom for how to make travel plans with the uncertainty of Richard being able to join us.

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