Published December 9, 2016
La Fuente Church, Quito, Ecuador
Juan
Ministry Highlights
It is said that the wedding is just one day, but marriage is what matters. It feels that way with my installation as lead elder this last month. It’s been a joy to see that the transition went successfully and that the church is in an exciting season of growth. People are really engaging with our series in 1 Peter.
We had our first meeting with various leaders in the area about starting a Biblical Counseling Coalition. God is bringing together a cohort of people from different areas of the country and even some other countries to get trained.
This month, we got to see a glimpse of the importance of faithfulness over time. Some dear young saints of the church that have struggled for a while are learning how to overcome those issues, pouring into others and understanding the tools that God has given them to grow.
Willow (our daughter) is awesome! Being a dad is great!
Key Prayer Requests
Please pray for wisdom in my new role as lead pastor of La Fuente. I want to be faithful to 1. Pursue holiness and love my family well, 2. Preach the Word, 3. Train men and equip the saints, 4. Love people deeply.
Please pray as this is a new season of ministry. We are learning how to be faithful in the church and see how some areas of our ministry in the church can be of blessing for the larger evangelical community.
Pray for Marissa and I as we travel for the first time with our 5-month-old baby. We get to go to the U.S. for Christmas for the first time since being married. Pray for a sweet time with family.
Prominent Lessons
This past weekend, the church sent a team to the jungle to help with a daughter/sister church that we helped plant. I have been an open encourager and voice for this project and for the church to be involved. I think that any church needs to make part of their DNA an outward vision from an early stage. At the same time, I have not been able to go. Seminary, preaching, a sometime full-time secular job, a new baby, other responsibilities and other things have always kept me from being able to take the trip. This time, I was really excited to go and planned to make it, but I got sick. I started to wrestle with fear of man and guilt. My readings on time management and time in the Word helped me see and gave me hope that I have been faithful in what I needed to do. Moreover, that I don’t need to be involved in EVERYTHING as much as showing that I care. God is working in my heart in this area. I could easily want to be involved in EVERYTHING and that is not wise, nor realistic.
A major lesson this month was to learn to trust the Lord and be reminded that He is the one building HIS church. This is an exciting season, but a season with many changes. I could easily trust in other things other than God in building His church.
Key Goals for the Next Month
Disconnect from my phone as much as possible while I am with family in the U.S. Enjoy seeing our family in the U.S. interact with our little girl, and praise God for the opportunity to be with family for Christmas.
Have (myself) and help our team have clear goals and objectives for the first quarter of 2017.
Finish two of my internship projects and have a clear goal for the other two.
Be faithful to encourage and show my appreciation for our leadership team while in the U.S.
Marissa
Ministry Highlights
A girl that I’ve poured into in the past is now part of the Biblical counseling class that my husband is leading,and I not only see her growing, but also wanting to help others.
I have been able to be in community group with the baby almost the whole month. Ecuadorians hang out late, so it has been challenging with her bedtime on Tuesdays, but it seem that it’s working well now.
Key Prayer Requests
We are heading to the U.S. for about two weeks. It’s the first time that we have been able to go home for Christmas. Please pray for this time with family.
Please pray as I am trying to disciple a few ladies in our community group as well as the wife of an elder in training.
Prominent Lessons
Previous to this month, the missionary ladies would get together every Monday for several hours. After receiving counsel and as a result of the internship, I saw that this was not the best use of my time. I’ve been able to see my priorities in the church as being the women in our community group and those whose husbands are in leadership. This has been freeing and giving me clear direction.
I’ve been reading “One with the Shepherd” by Mary Somerville, and it has really encouraged me (the above situation) and how to love and support my husband and my role in the home.
Key Goals for the Next Month
Enjoy time with the family in the U.S.
Keep in touch with those that I am meeting with during our time in the U.S.
Continue to read the book, “One with the Shepherd” by Mary Somerville.
Recent Comments