Embracing Change...
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
 
Hello Team!! Change. Change. Change. Many things are changing, and we need to see change as an opportunity to get better, to be more effective, to grow, to learn. I know lots of things just changed in the U.S. I saw our new president Barak Obama’s discourse last night and it was quite impressive. He talked about making the most of every opportunity and embracing change. I think we need to do that in all areas such as personal, vocational, family, ministry, etc. We also need to trust in God’s sovereignty and that He has the ultimate control. Speaking of change, our local church continues to grow. So new faces have been coming and staying at a steady rate. The church has almost quadrupled in the last seven years. In 2001, our church had the following: 50 adults, 10 children, 4 deacons, 1 pastor, now, in 2008, we have 195 adults, 40 children, 8 deacons, 2 pastors, 11 discipleship groups, and 25 baptisms. Church growth means that the church’s staff, programs, and organization also needs to grow. And what does growth imply? Healthy church growth must embrace change. Our church moved locations from a rented house where we had both the offices and church services in 2007. Now, on Sunday, we meet in a facility called FEPADE which is a business auditorium and complex. This facility seats 300. We also rent a house for our offices and church administration during the week. We have BIG plans for 2009. Because the church is growing, we are growing in staff also. In 2009, “we will hire more staff and be intencional in evangelism, assimilation, follow-up, communication, quality of programs in our services, and helping the poor,” says Pastor Turcios. In 2009, we will have 2 pastors (one full time: Victor Turcios, 1 part-time: Nelson Morales), 1 full-time Coordinator of Evangelism and Discipleship: Jorge Solórzano (my fiancé), 1 full-time accountant: Gabriela Mezquita, 1 part-time Production and Technical Resources Coordinator: Ernesto Urroz, and 2 full-time missionaries: Christina Nieman and me. We plan to have a second service in mid-2009 “as another option to evangelize, assimilate, and make disciples, in order to continue promoting church growth,” Turcios adds. If you would like to additionally contribute (you already are helping because you support me) in helping us meet these goals, please contact me. As I mentioned, we have had 25 baptisms this year. Praise God for this! On October 25, a group of six were baptized: four guys (Moris Adolfo Santamaria, Daniel Alexander Santamaria, Ariel Santos, and Ricardo Lainez Hernandez) from a town called El Prado, who came to faith through the summer mission groups, and a new couple to the church (Tony and Marlene Aparicio). The picture above shows a few of the local Iglesia Gran Comision leaders with the people who were baptized. After each person was baptized, they gave thanks to God as a group. Ministry Prayer Requests: 1. Mission Groups of 2009-I’m starting to promote the 2009 Groups 2. Manuals for the Mission Groups-I’m developing manuals for both the missionaries and the local volunteers and leaders who will work with the mission groups 3. CIU Classes-I’m finishing up 2 classes in early December-10 page Exegetical Paper, and another 3 page report for the other class 4. CIU Class-Starting work for CIU class in January Personal Prayer Requests: 1. Wedding Plans 2. Jorge’s Visa to visit in December and January Thanks again for all your love, support, and prayers. See you in December. In Christ, Sarah