MARACAY MESSENGER         

05/13/08

MS Word file for printing       News letter Index

TEAMS TARGETING PROFESSIONALS PLAN RETREAT

Presently there are teams working among the professionals in 5 urban areas of Venezuela. These teams consist of IMB missionaries and nationals who have a desire to reach their colleagues for Christ.

In February Mike attended a conference in Mexico City where strategy coordinators from the largest cities in the world came together to discuss how best to disseminate the gospel in urban areas.

On April 12-13 more than 25 people  from across Venezuela will meet for a weekend retreat in which Mike will share some of the ideas that he learned at the conference.  Among the topics to be addressed are the following: How To Keep Our Spiritual Life Vibrant, Why It Is So Difficult To Reach Men, The Methodology of a Simple Church, and Planting Churches Within The Marketplace.

 Please pray that all who have expressed interest in the retreat will prioritize this date, will set aside the necessary funds to attend, and will arrive on time for the program. Pray that Mike will present the material in an exciting manner and that it will challenge the participants to evaluate their current strategies. Ask God to give us a new vision on the most effective way to do ministry among professionals.

Teachers at School for Disabled Children in Paya

For over a year Mike and Jan have  worked with the teachers at a school for disabled children in  Paya.  The teachers have listened to talks on teamwork and how God can help us to love, forgive, and work more effectively with one another.  Mike serves as chaplain and attends special events to give a devotional for the students and their parents.

The school lacked a kitchen where lunch could be prepared for the children, but there was an empty classroom available.

In February Macedonian Ministries in Rogersville, Arkansas sent a 5 person team to install cabinets, ceramic tile on the floor, and electric outlets. The teachers were amazed that someone would use his vacation to go and help someone he had never met.  This gave the team a chance to share about the love of Christ, and the director of the school received Christ as her Savior and Lord.

CONFERENCE ON MAINTAINING GOOD RELATIONS

 April 3 is the date for our first conference of 2008 to reach professionals in the city of Maracay.  This conference will be by invitation only, in an effort to reduce publicity costs, and will focus on the theme, Maintaining Good Relations.  We will talk about good relations in the home, in the workplace, and with our God.  Pray that our team members will invite many to come, that those invited will attend, and that those who attend will have interest in attending a weekly cell group to learn more about how to develop their spiritual life. 

CHURCH IN CORO LOOSES SPACE

 The Love of God Church in Coro has been meeting in a teacher training center for more than three years.  They recently received notice from the government that they would have to vacate the facility which is going to be remodeled and converted into offices for the fire department. 

Finding rental space in Coro is difficult, but the church has procured space in the Italian Social Club.  It is strategically located, but its price is four times what the church was paying at the old location and far beyond its existing budget.  Pray that the members of the church will accept this challenge and give generously.  Pray as well that the church will grow with members willing to support the work of the Lord financially. 

How YOU Can Pray For Our Ministry

 1.      Pray that we will have more opportunities to meet professionals and interact with them.

2.      Pray for faithfulness among our group members, that work commitments will not keep them from coming, and they will not be tired after a busy day at work.

3.       Pray for the baptism of those in our groups who have accepted the Lord.

CELL GROUP TRAINING

Since January we have done cell group training four different Baptist churches in the area that want to use small groups as a means of extending their outreach.  This concept is new and sometimes difficult for traditional members to accept.  Pray for the pastors of these churches that they will perseveres despite obstacles and that the new cell groups will be effective in reaching new folks with the gospel.

CELEBRATION SERVICE

 April 20 we will gather our four cell groups in Maracay for their first collective worship experience.  Pray that all will attend and the service will be a blessing.