YEAR IN REVIEW

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits” (Psalm 103:1-2 ESV).

I’ve been meditating on Psalm 103 lately, which challenges and encourages me. We’ve lived almost six months in Tenjo, and I resonate with the words of the psalmist: “As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field” (v. 15). Given this fading reality, how should we live?

 

We have been seeking to serve the Lord here in the seminary, in the church plant in Tabio and from a distance in Santa Marta.

 

We ended the school year here with a banquet for our seven graduates and their oral exams. It was encouraging to see how God has worked in these students over three years. Please pray that God uses them in great ways!

 

I’m currently working on courses for next semester (Eschatology!), and I just finished writing an evaluation for each teacher in our seminary. This is one way I’ve been able to help us continue growing in what we do as teachers.

 

Colombia Baptist Seminary Banquet

YEAR IN REVIEW (CONT’D)

We enjoyed  Protesta 20:24, (based on Acts 20:24) at the end of November. Our coworker Daniel designed this intense 3-day training to stretch our students. They slept little, worked on several projects that led to nowhere, and prayed. The last morning we rose at 3:30 a.m. to climb the mountain. Daniel put it this way: “We want to raise up an army of servants who are willing to go counter culture, servants who are willing to sacrifice all for Christ!”

 

We continue to have fruitful Bible studies with Diego, and Roberto and Olga. Pray for their salvation and that they would become a part of the church plant in Tabio.

Merry Christmas from the Boyds!

The Impacto Bíblico church in Santa Marta received seven new members on Sunday and continues to impact the city with the gospel. Thanks for praying for Pastor Alfredo. He’s doing a lot better in his health, and the difficulty caused him to evaluate how he was serving; he’s now involving more people in leadership and the administration of the church, so God has been glorified!

New members in Santa Marta with Pastor Alfredo

CULTURAL NOTE

We’ve enjoyed getting to know Tabio, the town in which we are helping to plant a church. This town of 26,000 is known for it’s mountain scenery and hot springs. I’d never seen a town with so many beautiful murals, painted on many walls throughout town. Pray for the growth of the church here in Tabio, especially as we will have four Christmas outreach meetings between now and Christmas.

MISSIONS TRIP TO CALI

We’ll be traveling as a family to Cali with the missions team from the seminary (Jan. 8-15). We look forward to renewing our friendship with Pastor Ricardo Moreno, his wife Adriana and sister Maria Eugenia, who are church planting there. Cali is the third largest city in Colombia and has a great need for the gospel.

May you have a Christ-centered Christmas and Happy New Year!

 

Jonathan, Holly, Marcos, and Jason Boyd