October 2018 Report

FEBU Pastors’ Program. In our last letter we were preparing for the visit of our pastor, Mark Minnick, who spent a week with us in late July. He visited our church in Pando and taught Romans for FEBU’s pastors’ program. He focused on the doctrinal section of the book, chapters 1-11, which tend to be the most challenging (and most controversial). His teaching was very well received by pastors, students, and lay people who attended the week of classes. FEBU has two more classes planned in this original five-year cycle: two blocks of Systematic Theology scheduled for November 2018 and July 2019. Please pray for wisdom concerning plans for next steps in 2019.

Second semester began the first week of August. JM is teaching Introduction to Music (Thursday mornings in FEBU) and OT Poetic Books (Monday mornings in FEBU and Wednesday nights in the EMU Bible Institute). D is teaching Spanish grammar in three venues: Bible Institute students meet one night per week in person; several others are following online; and FEBU students are using the online video format. Beginning this month JM is helping to facilitate an online Bible study course, which includes live video sessions with a pastor in Honduras.

Two mornings a week FEBU students attend a “chapel” service that consists of 30 to 45 minutes of singing and preaching. This semester some of FEBU’s first graduates have returned to preach in chapel. We ask you to pray for all our graduates, other former students, and current students. Among these there are both evident victories and bitter struggles. The need for both groups—and for our own hearts—is He “who is able to establish us according to the gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ” (Rom. 16:25). Please pray for wisdom in our ongoing relationships with current and former students and that we would accurately represent Christ to them.

The sometimes-subtle and often-blatant warfare against the biblical family in Uruguay and Argentina is disheartening; and it is tempting to think that the task of raising and educating godly children is impossible. Iglesia Bíblica Comunidad, a new work being started in Carmelo, on the river that divides the two countries, has as one of its core values “the family.” Last December Mariano had asked us both to prepare several sessions (held last month), for men and women, on the theme of family and current cultural issues, the second such conference the church has held. Please pray for the success of the Gospel in Carmelo.

Campamento Emanuel and Iglesia Bíblica Maranatha. Several times a year Camp Emmanuel meets with representatives of local churches to review previous camps and to prepare for the upcoming camp season. For now JM is representing our church, Iglesia Bíblica Maranatha, in these meetings. Our teen- and college-aged group has benefited greatly from the camp ministry over the years, and they continue to be enthusiastic about attending and supporting the camp. Twice this year they have participated in work days; and last month three of them spent a Saturday in the first phase of camp training, in preparation for possibly serving as summer staff. The next phase of training is in January. The camp theme this year will be “the church.” Please pray for those preparing.

We regularly find ourselves assessing which of many opportunities God would have us prioritize. We continue to believe that our role here—and the purpose for which you have sent us—is the training of current and future Uruguayan leaders and church members—in cooperation with their local churches—to follow and serve the Lord Christ in this culture. Please pray for wisdom to know how best to leverage resources of time and energy.

Thank you for praying for us!