A group of young people prepare to evangelise

 

 

We sent one evangelism team home and picked up our next evangelism team of young people.  North Carolina Baptist Men and Women are so blessed to have young people coming down to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.  This group came in on Saturday which means they had to come in prepared for the worship service on Sunday.  This group came from all over North Carolina and did not know each other except two knew the team leader, Lindsey.  God ordained this group just for this time and this location to share His Word.  On Saturday evening, after eating their chicken tacos compliments of Jose's wife, they dived into learning some songs in Espanol.  They spent well over two hours preparing for Sunday morning.  It is such a blessing to be young and able to stay up almost 20 hours without sleep.  They broke up into two groups with Egla and Meida prepared to share the gospel through their words.  Thank you God for putting together such an amazing team.  Each morning they would meet have a devotional with their group and pray for their day ahead.  One of the team members Zach shared they never got beyond the first street of the village.  God placed them  there and they have met numerous folks hungry for the Word or curious of what these young people are doing in their community.  God is good all the time. 

 

"Now HIM who is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine,according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus, throughout all generations for ever and ever, AMEN."

Ephesians 3:20-21

A Day of Worship on Mother's Day

 

Sunday morning arrived with the anxious but excited team ready to go worship with the village called Colonia Samaritano at the Iglesia Bautista Gloria de Cristo.  This church is only a year old with an amazing humble man named  Paulino Gonzales as their pastor.  We arrived a little early so the group was able to visit with the church family and get to know some of the ladies who would be going out to evangelise with them.  The team shared their song they had learned in Espanol.  Zach, Megan and Mackenzie shared their personal testimony of their walk with the Lord.  It was a first time for a couple of these young people.  But you would have never known they had not done this before.  The Holy Spirit was carrying each of them through with every word parting their lips.  A job well done my friends.  To God be the glory.  Pastor Paulino then got up and preached from Ephesians 6:1-8.  "Children obey your parents" After his sermon the Honduran young people did a skit for Mother's Day.   Then the children came back from Sunday School and shared their memory verse.  After worship the ladies of the church were asked to stay and be recognized with a drawing of two gift baskets.  Mike was honored to give one of the ladies her gift.  It consisted of toilet paper, beans, rice, soap,etc.  All the necessities for everyday living.  It was a beautiful Mother's Day morning in Honduras. 

 

"Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men."

Ephesians 6:7

Helping a church in need on Mother's Day

 

 

After lunch on Sunday we paid a visit to another village who we find needed some helping decorating for their Mother's Day Banquet.  The Honduran churches have a huge banquet for all the mothers of the church on Mother's Day.  This particular church family was spending Sunday afternoon putting out their decorations which consist of blowing up numerous balloons,  cutting out hearts and circles.  Our team pitched right in and assisted the church family with getting the sanctuary ready for the evening ahead.  The program is the church band plays music for the ladies while they sit around decorated tables.  There are prizes given to certain mothers.  The men of the church provide a hot meal which they served the ladies at the end of the evening.  After the hot meal there is a cake for dessert.  This is such a precious way to say thank you to all the mothers in Honduras who work so hard for their families as well as for their church families.  

Feliz dia de Madre!!!!!

 

"Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you.  I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now"

Philippians 1:2-4

 

"Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

I Corinthians 13:4-7

Sharing God's Word and VBS

 

Each day I looked forward to the stories the team shared about who God placed in their paths.  It is amazing how we are all the same.  Our only difference is the language.  The same reasons, the same excuses and the same problems which we all have in North Carolina.  The most important common denominator is our Lord Jesus Christ.  We all have the same Holy Spirit we can receive through God's Son Jesus Christ.

One of Lindsey's first visit she asked a lady was she scared of Hell.  The lady shared she would go to church.  Lindsey shared with this lady it is not about going to church but to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ is who she needs to have assurance of not dying and going to Hell.

Zach shared how excited he was to go out and share the gospel with others on the first day.

Nicole was in awe of Meidi, our translator.  Meidi carried Nicole through a couple of opportunities which passed her way while sharing the gospel.  Nicole was very grateful to have Christ first by her side and then Meidi.

Jose shared it was a great first day also.  He did not want to take over the young people's job of evangelising.  We were all getting on the same page on the first day.  We blended well with how we shared the gospel.  While the young people shared Jose would spot someone close by but not with family and spoke and shared the gospel with them.  Jose allowed God to use his team of young people to share HIS good news.

Megan met a lady named Anna.  Anna was on the edge of accepting Christ but did not.  But Megan said she was grateful to see Anna at VBS that afternoon.  Pray Anna will accept Christ.

Mackenzie met a mother  with two mentally challenged children.  The mother seemed broken and tired.  Mackenzie was able to share the plan of salvation with her and the broken mother was made whole that day when she accepted the greatest gift of all, Jesus Christ, eternal life.

Lindsey shared with a lady who received Christ.  The awesome part of this story her husband was already a Christian.  Now he and his lovely wife will share their Christian journey together.

Lindsey's team went to Dolce and Jose home for their devotional time on Tuesday morning.  Two people who came to the devotional accepted Christ, Hermina and Celestine. The entire group felt the Holy Spirit move in this situation.  Maria was one of the church members with the group invited the couple to come to church and worship with them.  God is good all the time.

Nicole was able to put her medical skills to work when she went to check on a lady with a broken leg and hip.  She was able to remove the stitches from her previous surgery.  She felt like this was more of a ministry than a job.  Thank you for using Nicole's medical skills to provide health care for this lady at this time and this place.

On the second day Mackenzie shared she was more  bold in sharing the gospel and praying for the people.Thanks to the Holy Spirit and the gentle and kind spirit of her sister, Meidi.

Lindsey and group visited two ladies who were eagerly awaiting their visit.  They wanted to hear God's word and were ready to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. AMEN

Egla had the opportunity to touch and pet a lamb.  This has been a childhood dream for years.  God answered her prayer on Tuesday.  She compared to Jesus being our sacrificial Lamb.  Jesus protects  his sheep, our Shepherd. 

Megan shared how they were at Blanca's home and Blanca's daughter accepted Jesus as her Savior.  Blanca cried tears of joy for a prayer answered.  We need to continue to pray for Blanca's husband who is not saved.

Hermina and Celestine accepted Christ on Tuesday.  Zach saw them on Wednesday morning and he asked them how they were.  They shared, "We are joyful"  How beautiful to hear new Christians full of the Spirit and full of the true joy you can only receive through Jesus Christ.

Nicole was sharing a bible story with a lady named Martha.  As she was sharing Martha's son was coming down the street.  He is 19 years old and the group shared the plan of salvation in the middle of the street with this young man.  Praise the Lord he accepted Jesus Christ.  Please pray for the father and husband of Martha who is a devout Catholic.  He did not want to accept Christ.  We are not promised tomorrow.

Lindsey, Zach and Megan visited a lady who said she helped physically build the church a year ago.  But she did not want to go to church.  You cannot work your way into heaven.  The only way to heaven is through accepting the free gift of Jesus Christ.

Egla shared a man named Jose was eagerly awaiting for their visit.  Jose was hungry for the word.  There was another group who said they could see Jesus in this group of people.  They wanted what they saw in the group which is  joy in Christ.  The group said you could have this if you say yes to receiving Christ into your heart and into your life.  They did not this day.  The group planted the seeds and watered it.  Hopefully these people will not wait until it is too late. 

 

 

Lindsey invited all the families they visited to come to the church on Thursday morning for a devotional before heading out to evangelise.  They came and shared in the morning devotional.

 

Each afternoon the group planned VBS for the children.  God bless them with a precious and well respected group of children.  They sat tentatively while the bible story was told to them. The bible stories of the week were Noah and the Ark.  The group did a skit of Noah and his two by two animals boarding the ark.  The children imitated the sounds of the different animals.  Another bible story was the Parting of the Red Sea.  One little fellow was Moses and he led the Israelites through the parting of the Red Sea(two huge blankets), Jesus and the Children/Zacheuss.  They used Zach as the tree and placed a very small boy on his shoulders as Zacheuss and on the last day the group shared the plan of salvation with a huge evangi-cube.  The children learned a new bible verse each day and recited it back the next day.  The team taught them El Pollo.  They got Orfilio involved in the dance which sparked another Honduran brother, Virgilio, to get up there as well.  The children enjoy seeing men get involved with them.  After many songs and activities they were able to color a picture of their bible story.  The boys were able to play futbol while the girls enjoyed jumping rope. The group did an outstanding job of leadership this week with their evangelising and VBS.  Thank you for allowing God to take you out of your comfort zones and experiencing his power at work through each of you.

Zach shared a quote one evening, "You have to be a follower to be a leader."

This is so true.  You followed the best leader of all this week, God and followed HIM through Colonia Samaritano to so many new opportunities and journeys that will last a life time.  Thank you again for being the hands and feet of Jesus.

Also another quote was shared: "God does not called the equipped, but He equips the called." 

 

These young people and their Honduran brothers and sisters by the power of the Holy Spirit led 10 people to Christ this week.  To God be the glory!!!!! 

 

Lindsey shared this scripture with the team before their last day in Honduras.  She encouraged her team to do this for their last day.

 

"Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

I Thessalonians 5:16-18 

Antioch Baptist Returns to Honduras

 

On May 1, Pastor Joey returns with five people who came last year and brought six new team members to evangelise in a beautiful mountainous village called  Piedra de Agua.  The evening they arrived the team along with four amazing translators, Egla, Meidi, Gabby and a new friend, Carlos started preparing for the next day.  The team brought puppets to do during VBS and learned very quickly they had some very talented translators.  So instead of sharing in English and translating into Espanol the team unanimously voted for the translators to do the skits.  We were very blessed with our four translators this week.  Each of them had just the right gift from God to perform the skits.  They were given the material the night before and were ready to perform the next day.  Thank you for a job well done. 

On the first morning we arrived promptly at 8:00 to a church family ready to go door to door to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Darwin,  24 years old, was the pastor of Luz y Agua Baptist Church.  This is a sister church to Pastor G.  Darwin had several members from his church available to serve beside the North American Christians.  I was extremely excited to have Pastor G's wife, Iris, going out as one of the  Honduran volunteers.  Also a young man named Martez, another older gentleman named Jose, another young man named Gorge, another gentleman named Mario and a young lady named Cindy gave of there time to assist in taking the four groups throughout the community. The four groups started out each morning together sharing a devotional, sharing pray requests and starting their day in prayer.  Thank you God for providing just the right people for this week of evangelising.  God is good all the time.

 

Singing,Puppet Shows, Futbol, Crafts, Face Painting, Animal Balloons and Most Important Bible Story

 

This team came fully equipped with such awesome opportunities for the children of this village.  They did Zacchaeus, Feeding the Five Thousand, The Lost Sheep, The Creation and The Good Samaritan.  Each story had a puppet show, a craft of some sort and of course futbol.  Pastor Joey, Garry and Carlos shared the plan of salvation with the soccer ball before starting the soccer game each and every day.  While they were playing soccer with the older group the younger children were inside doing their craft or getting face painting.  Then they would switch out and each group would get a chance to do the other activity.  This was so well planned out.  It took all four translators to pull this off.  They averaged around 118-150 children throughout the week.  On the last day they did face painting and Lucy made 150 balloon animals to give out to each child.  She sat inside the a/c van to blow up the balloons and make the animals.  As the children were leaving on the last day they received an animal balloon.  Thank you Judy, Vickie, Martin, Nellie, Stacey, Alan, Tammy, Steve, Lucy, Nevele, Meidi, Egla, Gabby and Carlos for doing such an awesome job with so many children.  God always provided just enough materials each day for each lesson. 

Sharing the gospel through Evangelising and Worship Service

 

Each morning the four groups would get together to share from God's Word and pray for their day ahead.  The Honduran church members led them to certain homes to share the gospel.  But along the way on some of the days God chose a different location for them. 

One location there were men digging a hole for a latrine.  Brother Steve and Honduran brother Gorge took the shovel and starting digging the hole so the men could hear the gospel being shared. 

Another location the lady owned a popurria and she did not have time to stop and listen to the mission.  Brother Gorge took over the popurria so the lady could hear the plan of salvation.  Because of Gorge being willing to take over her business for a while this lady came to know Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior.

This particular day was one of the two days this village received water.  So it was wash day.  This was the day if you had any chore involving water you needed to get it done.  But Lucy noticed one lady off at a distance washing her laundry on her pilla and listening to what Lucy was sharing with another family.  The lady took the time to listen to God's word being shared at some one's elses home.

     Garry shared one evening they were going up the rocky dry road towards their destination when a family stopped them to ask what they were doing.  This family was building a home.  There was several men helping this young man and woman build their home.  Garry shared how he took Steve's lead from the day before.   Brother Garry and Honduran brother Martez carried block to the job site so the men could hear the plan of salvation being shared with the husband and wife.  Three of these people were lead to Christ.  This visit was God ordained.  Thank you group for hearing God's call to stop here and share the gospel. 

Several people from different groups took over job duties so the people could hear the plan of salvation.  Tammy's devotion that evening reflected on the day.  The title of her devotion was "Invest in Others".  "Take the time" to share your time with others.  Share yourself by giving a hug, a kiss, a visit to a shut-in, drop a phone call to a friend, dig out a latrine or carry block to show Jesus' love for others. "My command is this:Love each other as I have loved you." 

Nevele noticed a lady crying along the way.  The team asked her was she okay.  Once again this is not a planned visit.  She said her daughter had left home and she was very worried for her.  The group stopped everything and gathered around the lady laying hands on her and prayed for her and her daughter.

Alan shared the gospel with a couple.  The husband's heart was very hard.  His wife desires for him to be in church with her.  Wife asked for prayers for them.  Husband's demeanor changed slowly as they prayed but would not accept Christ.  He heard God's word and now he is accountable for how he responds. 

Pastor Joey lead someone to the Lord before even praying with them.  They were ready to receive Christ.  While Pastor Joey was sharing he spotted a lady sitting over in the corner of the home.  Pastor Joey asked was there anything he could pray for her.  She broke down into a flood of tears because her son was very sick.  The woman accepted Christ as her personal Savior.

Carlos was sharing the gospel at one house.  There was a man who had a very angry face and left the house while Carlos and group were sharing.  After leaving this house they went to another home and guess who was there the angry man.  Folks you cannot run from God. God had that angry man at the second house to hear the Word a second time.

Stacy shared how she went with one of the Honduran volunteer's to a  high school friend's home.  She looked at him and said you were the man at the bar on Saturday.  Stacy shared the gospel at a local bar on Saturday.  This high school friend was there and heard it.  You cannot run from God.  This visit this day was definitely ordained by God.

Judy met a 16 year old young lady who had never heard of Jesus Christ.  Thank you God for sending Judy's group to this young lady on this day.  She did not accept Christ but now she is accountable for the most important decision of her life.  Where will she spend eternity?  Hell is very real.

One of the houses they visited the lady laughed at them and told them she was going to Hell.  Hell is no laughing matter.  Please pray for anyone you know today who does not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Martin asked one lady where she was going when she died.  She shared with Martin's group,"I am going in the ground."  Martin shared with her about heaven and hell.  Those were her choices after death.  Martin asked another lady did she know about heaven.  Her answer was, "No, I have never had anyone come back from heaven to tell me about it." 

Garry talked to a lady who worshipped the cross.  The team gave out crosses during the week along with a hygiene kits.  So Garry was able to share with her it was a symbolic gift of Jesus Christ death on the cross for our sins.  BUT the greatest gift of all was when Jesus arose on the third day and later ascended into Heaven. This is a free gift for those who chose to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. 

One excuse someone had was they were not good enough to accept Christ.

Another excuse was it was too much work to be a Christian.  What did God do for us? He sacrificed His one and only Son for our sins.  Jesus suffered a brutal  and agonizing death for each of us.  We are sinners saved by grace.  We are but filthy rags and Jesus died for us. 

Mrs. Nellie shared one day how Satan was trying hard to keep them from sharing the gospel.  It seem like every time they were prepared to share the gospel the vegetable truck came through selling vegetables.  The small problem here is there is a man with a loud speaker shouting what he has to sell.  It is a very loud noise even when you are not wanting to share the gospel.  Also they were in a home where they were cooking with their wood stove and the smoke was blowing right on them.  But they did not stop.  Behind me Satan as they continue to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Vickie shared one lady was waiting for her entire family to accept Christ.  Christ is an individual decision.  It is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

In saying this Alan shared how Satan had the father's phone rang while he was sharing the gospel.  The man excused himself to take the phone call.  While he was gone his son and daughter accepted Christ.  So now pray the children can lead their father to Christ.

Martin and Judy climbed to the top of a mountain to visit an elderly lady who shared she was too poor to accept Christ. She said she does not believe in Hell. When she dies she will go in the ground.  The group shared the gospel and told her she was not promised tomorrow.

Thank you Alan and Steve who helped the Hondurans clean out a local's home for worship service.  The 100 plus children stayed in the church as the 25 adults carried chairs up the road to the local's home for worship service.

 

Pastor Joey preached on the book of Jonah Sunday. Jonah tried to run away from God.  He did not like the people of Nineveh and responded with anger and indifference.  God loves all people and wants all people no matter who they are to hear the good news.  Jonah learned quickly God was in control. Thankful God is a patient and compassionate God who loves us all. If you have not read the book of Jonah.  It is an awesome book in the bible.

 

Lucy shared how one lady prayed the team would come to her home.  She was not one of the families on the list.  But God led the team to her and she eagerly accepted Christ.  She was waiting.  She knew she needed Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior.  AMEN!!!

Vicky and several others shared how the Holy Spirit was truly at work on Monday and Tuesday when they Hondurans were given the evang-cube and they practiced on the North Americans.  They adventured out and the North Americans allowed the Hondruans to share the gospel with their community.  They did awesome.  Thank you Antioch for giving them a chance to use the cubes and share with their community.  God is good all the time. God also provided a good scripture for the group when they were approached many times by Satan's words.  God's timing is always so beautiful.  Lucy's devotional on Sunday night was from Ephesians. She shared how God gives us all we need in His Word to fight off the evil one.  He gives us the boldness and strength we need to go out and share the gospel. 

What is your excuse today not to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?  We all have them.  We are too busy with work whether it be building a house, running a popurri, working to climb the corporate ladder to have more, busy serving the Lord in church instead of spending time with HIM, your children have many extra activities outside of school keeping you out of church or are you a self made person who does not need Jesus.  Or are you like Jonah and running from God?

Please do not wait another day if you are reading this and you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior.  You are not promised tomorrow. The team was blessed to be a part of 21 salvations this week.

 

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."

John 3:16

 

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of the evil in the heavenly realms.  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything to stand.  Stand firm then with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition  to all of this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." 

Ephesians 6:24

Families serving together

 

We once again praise the Lord for bringing couples together to share in the gospel.  We were blessed with three lovely couples this week: 

Martin and Nellie

Pastor Joey and Stacey

Garry and Tammy

Also the lovely Honduran couple:

Pastor G and Iris.

There was a mother/ daughter team

Judy and Stacey

There was a mother-in-law and son-in-law

Judy and Pastor Joey

Thank all of you for working beautifully together as a family.

 

"Wives submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleases the Lord."

Colossians 3:18-20

 

 

Happy Birthday to Lucy and Jose

 

On May 3rd we celebrated Lucy and our employee, Jose's birthday.  The team bought a cake and we all got to enjoy in the celebration.

 

Psalm 139