MARACAY messenger           

12/07/07

NEW GROUP IN EL BOSQUE

El Bosque is one of the most exclusive areas of Maracay where over 2000 professionals live in high rise condominiums.  There is no church of any kind in this area, and most of the people have little interest in spiritual things.  Thankfully God has given us a contact in this area, a believer named Osphyl Morales who owns a language institute in Maracay. She and her sister, Esmerelda, host a new bible study in their apartment every Thursday night.  Pray that their outreach among their neighbors and friends will be successful.

Osphyl Morales and Esmerelda Morales
Hostesses for New Group in El Bosque

PRAYERWALK TEAMS EFFECTIVE

 During the months of June and July prayerwalk teams from the First Baptist Church of Trenton, KY and Terrell Road Baptist Church in Scotch Plains, NJ came to give our ministry a boost.  Spiritual warfare is common in Venezuela due to spiritism, witchcraft and idol worship, and the only way to combat it is through fervent prayer and fasting.  Through the prayers of these faithful prayer warriors, the terrain was softened, and now we have the new group in El Bosque.  In addition, the prayer walk teams were able to see our ministry firsthand, and upon their return to the US they became more effective advocates for what we are doing. 

BEING MOBILE IN ORDER TO MOBILIZE

 In addition to church planting, one of our primary tasks is to train, equip and mobilize Venezuelans to carry on the work.  As a result, the Ford Ranger pickup has accumulated a lot of miles over the last four months traveling to Maturin, Ciudad Bolivar, Puerto La Cruz, and Caracas to conduct seminars on how to reach professionals using a small group strategy.  Already our efforts have borne fruit.  Last week a group of faithful believers in Maturin conducted an outreach conference that attracted 30 professionals.  In Puerto La Cruz two committed couples have opened a bible study in their home.  Pray that God will protect us as we travel, that Venezuelans will catch the vision and that their efforts will be successful. 

The Booklet On Ethics and Our Team Distributing

DISTRIBUTION OF SCRIPTURE

Trained professionals know little about the bible, and presently there is a need for ethics in the country.  Thus, due to a donation from the First Baptist Church of Trenton, KY, we distributed a booklet by the United Bible Society entitled “God Speaks So We Can Be Ethical” in Base Aragua.  Each of the 2500 homes received a copy of the booklet which contains scripture on how to be ethical in the home, workplace, and community along with an invitation to assist one of our small groups. Pray that God’s word will take root in their hearts and that they will seek out a group.

Conference on Stress Planned For November 8

Venezuelans are facing stressful times.  They are worried about inflation, insecurity, shortages of basic foodstuffs, and the fate of proposed constitutional reforms.    They are seeking peace but do not know that it can only be found in the Prince of Peace.  For this reason UPE is sponsoring a conference on stress – featuring a Christian psychologist, therapist, and counselor – who will help the audience understand that they can only manage stress effectively if they develop healthy physical, emotional, and spiritual disciplines in their life.  Pray for a good attendance and that those who attend will be interested in getting involved in a formation group where they can learn how to have a personal relationship with the Prince of Peace. 

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering 2007 Goal: $165 Million

Please don’t forget to give generously to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions.  Your generous funding is what makes it possible for us and over 5000 other IMB employees to stay on the field and do our work without having to worry about funding.  Between now and December 31, write a check to your local Baptist church and designate it for Lottie Moon Offering.  Every cent will go directly to the mission field without any overhead or administrative costs, and we will be able to continue to shine the Christ’s light in those areas where darkness continues to reign.

OUR GREATEST PRAYER NEED 

At present we have five  groups functioning in Maracy, but any given night there are no more than 2 or 3 people in attendance.  The people have not yet made the groups a priority in their life.  Pray that the people will be consistent in their attendance and make the group a priority.

THE WILSONS HELP US IN MINISTRY

 Laura and Richard Wilson serve with WEC and have been missionaries in Venezuela for more than 20 years.  Their emphasis is discipling and recruiting Christian youth to be missionaries in the 10/40 window. 

The Wilsons have made many contacts within the professional community over the years and have been eager to help us in our ministry.  We have already started one new group in the home of Pedro and Pamela, friends of the Wilsons.  Pedro is a former mayor and university official, and his wife is a conference speaker.  They are inviting their family and friends, and the group is growing.

Pray for the Wilsons who will leave Venezuela in March. Pray for them as they leave their “home” and transition to a new assignment.  Also pray for the group in the home of Pedro and Pamela that the people will accept the truth of the scripture, apply it to their heart, and become responsible disciples of Jesus Christ.

YOUTH RETREAT IN FALCON

 Due to a generous offering from the Red Lane Baptist Church in Powhatan, VA we were able to sponsor a retreat October 12-14 for the youth of El Amor de Dios in Coro and La Comunidad Caminando Con Dios in Punto Fijo.  28 young people attended from the two churches.  A team of three young people who are leaders of UPE in Maracay accompanied us to lead the sessions.  The youth were challenged to be Christ like in their thoughts, habits, language, and desires. 

SOCIAL OUTREACH IN CORO

In August Red Lane Baptist in Powhatan VA returned to Falcon for the fourth year in a row.  The team worked with the youth of the churches in Coro and Punto Fijo in conducting backyard bible schools in a local reform school and an orphanage.  At night the team led discipleship workshops for the youth of the church.