WATERING THE CROPS
March 30, 2022

“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth” (1 Cor. 3:6 ESV). This verse reminds me of what we’re doing in the ministry here in Colombia. The first three months of 2022 have given us time to evaluate the ministry, and Alfredo and I have concluded that we need patience to continue to water. We believe God will bless if we continue to persevere in the following areas:

1. Our Bible institute (Fundación de Estudios Bíblicos Alfa y Omega): We had 11-12 students in the first two courses of the year and have 17 in the expository preaching course that started last night. The question is what God can do with these students. We need perseverance to see the institution grow and see our students do great things for God.
2. Colombia Baptist Seminary: I will be traveling to Tenjo to teach courses in May and July. God is already using the students from the seminary. One of my students, Daniel, came to Santa Marta for vacation. In three days he made friends with about 15 young people in La Rosalía. I’ve continued to visit the neighborhood, and four of the young men have continued to want to study the Bible. Pray for Jorge, Julian, Felipe and Alvaro, and pray for this institution that is training men and women to impact their world for Christ.
3. Coworkers in our church. Alfredo and I have been working with a group of eight men in our church, and Holly has been working with the Sunday School teachers and women’s ministry. We believe that several of the men have pastoral potential.

ODDS AND ENDS

We’ve been preaching through the book of Isaiah for almost a year now. It’s been one of the greatest challenges in preaching I’ve ever faced. We’re looking forward to preaching Colossians next, in a series in which other brothers from our church can preach (probably at least three from the group of eight I mentioned).

Sebastian has been doing better. Keep praying for God’s guidance in his life. He is planning to return to Bogota in May.

I still haven’t been able to visit the kogui community in Trompito Alto (an indigenous group up the mountain)  because of scheduling difficulties on their end. We are planning to take our first trip on the 9^th and 10^th of April. Pray that this would be the first of many trips to teach God’s word.

We still haven’t begun work on the new church plant this year. We’re planning on starting a prayer group in the neighborhood in two weeks, so pray that this would be the first step of many towards seeing this dream a reality.

Holly is overseeing a new initiative we started with all of our church members. Each one is scheduled to teach the children at least once in the next few months. The trained teachers are working with them to help them prepare their lessons each week. It’s been a challenging process but may allow some to discover a new ministry.