July 2014 Report

¡Saludos! Thank you for your faithful prayers, interest, and financial support toward the work in Uruguay. We appreciate each one of you and know that your partnership is sometimes a significant sacrifice. We hope that the Lord is giving you much grace during these summer months. At this latitude the days are shorter, and the sun hangs in the northern sky above Brazil—where most of the world’s attention has been fixated on the World Cup this past month.

 

FEBU. During the last full week of June, FEBU students took first-semester exams in six classes: Principles of Bible Study, Fundamentals of Speech I, Biblical Foundations (Genesis 1-11), Spanish Grammar and Composition I, OT Survey, and Christ-Centered Life. Classes resume in August for second semester: Evangelism and Discipleship, NT Survey, Introduction to Music, Spanish Grammar and Composition II, Fundamentals of Speech II, and Life and Ministry of Jesus Christ.

 

FEBU students, enjoying an outing: a pre-World Cup
friendly match between Uruguay and Northern Ireland

 

July. This month we host a friend from SC and prepare for upcoming classes. JM will work as a counselor for a 3-day winter youth camp at Camp Emmanuel (July 3-5). We expect up to 12 teens from Iglesia Bíblica Maranatha in Pando to attend. Some of these come to meetings throughout the year, others occasionally or never. Undoubtedly many are unsaved.

 

 

 

Winter Bible School at Iglesia Bíblica Maranatha in Pando

 

We plan to take part in the first of a series of pastors’ classes offered by FEBU. This program is projected to offer 10 basic theology and ministry courses over a period of several years, and is designed to supplement previous experience and Bible-institute training that pastors and leaders have already acquired. The July course (July 28—Aug. 1) deals with Local Church Administration and will be offered at a camp in Paysandú. Ron Self from Buenos Aires, Argentina, will be the teacher.

August. The Bible institute follows roughly the same schedule as FEBU. Beginning in August, JM will help teach a music class, particularly in the areas of congregational song leading and philosophy of Christian music. Some of this overlaps another project with which the EMU churches have asked him to help: Later this same month the pastors meet for a retreat in the department (similar to county) of Treinta y Tres, where they hope to develop some guidelines for music in the churches connected to the mission. These churches have long maintained a conservative worship style and desire to continue this pattern. Please pray for wisdom for JM to know how to provide appropriate encouragement, caution, and tools.

Later in 2014 Uruguay holds national elections. For almost 10 years (2 presidential terms) a third party made up of a collection of socialists and communists has been in power. In recent months the government has officially legalized abortion, legitimized homosexual marriage, and sanctioned the use of marijuana (and at the same time taken salt off restaurant tables).

 

 

We believe not only that Christ will reign in a physical, visible way in the future, but also that He is reigning now over the affairs of men and nations, be it the realm of soccer or that of politics. Certainly it is appropriate for us to pray that He—the ultimate “blessing” of Psalm 67:1—will continue to save, so that the nations of this earth might glorify God for His mercy.