66 Anniversary of Guatemala Baptist Convention

In 1946, Guatemalan pastors from the Independent Evangelical Mission joined with Baptists from Panama and Costa Rica and began the first Guatemalan Baptist churches in San Pedro La Laguna constituting 10 churches.  Together the 300 members of these churches formed the Guatemala Baptist Convention.  Then in 1948, they began relations with the Southern Baptist Convention instituting the theological seminary, the Baptist bookstore and other programs of the convention. Each year the Convention celebrates this milestone.  Recently our association held their celebration for the 66th Anniversary of Guatemala Baptist Convention.

After about an hour of praise music, our association convention man,

a friend of ours, Román Lázaro, gave greetings and ccontinued the program order.

Recognition was given to the attending group from each attending associational church

and their pastor..

 

One of the higlights of this portion was the music presentation from four churches.

Nothing short here - each group sang four songs -

all stanzas accompanied with the chorus.

After the music and recognitions, the convention leader preached,

and no abbreviated sermon either.

Followed by one of the groups returning and singing three more songs.

And at the close, a business session was held.

 

We were thankful that we weren't children's leaders that Sunday.

Instead of their usual 45 minutes of children time,

it was extended to two and a half hours!

Church began at 9:30 and continued until 1:30 -

now that's a service!

 

This group of ladies sang one of favorite songs.

  

 

No One Ever Cared for Me Like Jesus

 

I would love to tell you what I think of Jesus,
Since I found in Him a friend so strong and true.
I would tell you how
He changed my life completely;
He did something no other friend could do.

No one ever cared for me like Jesus;
There's no other friend so kind as He.
No one else could take the sin
And darkness from me;
O how much He cared for me.

All my life was full of sin when Jesus found me;
All my heart was full of misery and woe,
Jesus placed His strong arms about me
And He led me in the way I ought to go.

No one ever cared for me like Jesus;
There's no other friend so kind as He.
No one else could take the sin
And darkness from me;
O how much He cared for me.

Ev'ry day He comes to me with new assurance;
More and more I understand His word of love.
But I'll never know just why He came to save me,
Till someday I see His blessed face above.

No one ever cared for me like Jesus;
There's no other friend so kind as He.
No one else could take the sin
And darkness from me;
O how much He cared for me.

 

Yes, indeed Jesus is the ONLY ONE!

Prayer Covering Needed

We ask for your prayer covering this week.

Bull Street Baptist from Savannah, GA arrives tomorrow to begin their first ministry team in El Porvenir II in Cantón San Lorenzo, San Andres Itzapa. 

There will be house to house visitation and family activities. 

The team is excited. 

They are ready to minister. 

YOU can be a major part of their ministry this week by your PRAYER COVERING. 

Will YOU become a member of this team

as they launch out into an unreached area

with the freeing GOSPEL of Christ?

 

We'll be counting on YOU!

 

La Iglesia Dios es Amor, San Andrez Itzapa, Chimaltenango, Guatemala

Bull Street Baptist, Savannah, GA

Partners to reach El Porvenir

 

Won't it be exciting when you enter heaven and see those for whom you prayed?

A Month Filled with Guests

We have had a fun time this past month with friends visiting.

Our first partnership team arrived on May 19.  The dedication service on Sunday at church knitted the hearts of the team from Brainerd Baptist in Chattanooga and the church in Chimaltenango as we launched out for the first vision/planning trip.

 When we returned from the Chorti area, we had a day for a little fun and sightseeing.

We took the boat ride over to Santigo; the guys did a little shopping.

After lunch at El Pescador, we rode the boat back to Panajachel.

And before our ride back home, we stopped at one of David's favorite places.

This is my favorite spot to wait...

 the flowers are so pretty,

 while we wait for these guys to do their thing...

 I think it was Todd and Jonathan's first time to zipline...and what a place to do it!

We did a little traveling after the team returned to their family in the states,

visiting in two different areas of the country and

laying the foundation for two more partnerships.

Then on the 31st, we were thrilled to have Bert and Rod

and their daughter and her husband join us for a few days.

Bert and Rod are "long time friends" from early in our marriage. 

We served at their church back in the 70s and 80s.

They had married the week before us and so we both celebrate 35 years of wedded bliss this year.

For their anniversary celebration, they wanted to be involved on a mission trip together.

They joined a team coming from their home area to Guatemala. 

 It was a success and life impacting trip for them. 

On the plane to Guatemala, Bert led a young man to Christ. 

Then the team, working with another IMB missionary here,

worked in an area south of us and made eternal investments there as well.

They joined us onTthursday, and we threw in a few special treats as an extra celebration.

A trip to one of the top 10 lakes in the world, Lake Atitlán, was spectacular.

 We took the boat ride over to Santiago. 

The widow lady has become a precious friend of ours. 

We long that she become a sister too.

 Our terraza with Volcán Agua, was one of their favorites places.

Then on Saturday, Ed and Adrienne and their granddaughter,

who were also on the same mission trip, joined us. 

Ed and Adrienne met with Pastor Apolinario and his wife Maria.

Their church Bull Streeet in Savannah, GA is entering a partnership with

La Iglesia Dios es Amor in San Andres Itzapa

 to reach an unreached area with the Gospel of Christ.

 Partner certificates were given to each church

as the work began with vision-planning meetings.

 Ed, Adrienne, Kalee, Bert and Rod against the backdrop of Volcán Agua.

After we took the nine of them to the airport on the 5th,

we drove over the the national softball fields

where we met more friends who were visiting-working here.

Leigh and Will, friends of ours from Augusta,

 are coaches for a girls softball tournament team.

They brought a portion of their team, along with some of the parents,

and two assistants to Guatemala with Athletes in Action.

Their assistants were two young ladies who were youth when we served at their church.

They served the Lord ministering in schools and a children's ministry,

as well as played the National and Junior National Softball teams of Guatemala.

Wished we could have visited more with them during their time here.

 We did reminisce a little as we watched the girls play.

Oh the hours we spent at the ball fields when our kids were younger.

I still love the thrill of it.

On the 7th, off we drove again, this time with

 Pastor Victoriano and his wife, Cristi, to meet with some pastors. 

We are praying that more partnerships develop from these meetings.

And then we have another one tomorrow.

So it has been a busy almost month of visitors and traveling.

But we wouldn't trade this life. 

It is exciting to be a member of God's team.



A Final Look at Encuentro Indigena 2011

On Wednesday everyone was assigned a different K'ekchi' village and they traveled there to visit and be a part of the evening worship service. Some stayed overnight and others returned to Coban. Thursday as they returned, each person was given a chance to share about their experience.

K'ekchi pastors assigning people to the different churches.

Willie and Edgar, along with our pastor Victoriano and his wife, Kristy,

atteneded from Chimaltenango.  Both of the young men

were asked to preach in the evening worship service in the

churches they attended.  It was the first time for each but they

were rejoicing in the opportunity. 

It was a wonderful experience for each.

We expect to see God launch them out into the world as fulltime missionaries.

On Friday everyone was able to share personal/ ministry prayer requests and then the group as a whole prayed over them. It was an encouraging time for all.

Our group from Chimaltenango shared how God is using them to reach the Chorti in Nearer.

Pastor Victoriano shared how God began a new work in the life of the church

as they grasped the vision of what God had in store for them. 

Willie is holding a poster highlighting photos from

 the recent medical trip.

Edgar is holding a poster which details the Mission and Vision of

La Iglesia Bautista Canaan, Chimaltenango.

"Mission:  We are a church the glorifies God with

faithfulness, obedience, and commitment to the

five functions that are established in the Word of God."

"Vision:  To be a church focusing on the

proclamation, teaching, service, fellowship,

and worship of God.:

"This is my commitment."

David sharing how God is using Guatemalans as missionaries to the Ch'orti.

Each of the attendees received a diploma to commemorate their attendance.

They are always proud to receive their diplomas.

New friendships and relationships were formed which may lead to

shared working relationships in the future as they reach

Latin America for Christ.

Oh what a day of worship it was...part one

Sunday morning we arrived in Jocotenango to join the caravan to a river outside of town toward Esquintla. At the present time, La Iglesia Bautista Torre Fuerte has no pastor. Our friend, Luis Garcia, leads the group of believers but is not able to baptize because he is not ordained so he requested assistance from David.

We traveled about 20 minutes down the mountain from Antigua before exiting the main road to Guadeloupe. From here, we crossed the river Achiguate

one time

two times

three times

and arrived at our place, a mineral springs, only to find it was closed due to a lack of water. So we continued across the river 

one more time to a deeper area of the river where we could hold baptism.

                                      

Walking down the trail to the river

Praising the Lord

Devotional

First baptism

Second baptism

Third baptism

Fourth baptism (the man to the left is his father)

Fifth baptism

Sixth baptism (husband of the fifth person baptized)

Sweet precious couple with three young daugthers

David praying after the baptism.

David and Luis with people who were baptized.

This lady was overcome with emotion at times, the last young man was her son.

After the baptism, it was time to enjoy the swimming.

Obviously these young boys come to this place quite frequently...

because they climbed up the mountain backwardly and jumped into the water.

 We leave you with a portion of David praying with the roar of the river as the background.