Greetings! Grace and peace to each one of you. Your prayers on my behalf are greatly appreciated and are a crucial part of the work. Thank you for holding the ropes for me.
Over the past month, I was able to make a trip to Vaupés. I took a prop plane to Mitú. From there, I traveled an hour down river in a canoe and hiked two and a half hours through the rainforest before arriving at the indigenous community. There were people from seven communities and eight churches present. We spent our time helping to train the church leaders who had come. We taught some very basic hermeneutics and principles on how to apply God’s Word. We taught several Bible stories. There were two language groups present, so much of what we taught was translated from Spanish to those two languages. Bibles do already exist in those languages, but there are not many Bibles available and literacy in those languages is low. Much more training is needed. In May, we plan to return to the same community for further training. So over the next few months, I will be preparing for the training in May. I will be teaching basic principles for preaching and teaching God’s Word.
Please continue to pray for the work among the Embera Katio and Embera Chami. I am hoping to get a few Bible studies started among them. I am also wanting to include Colombian believers from Betania Baptist Church in the Embera work. Part of this may include some form of training for the work. There several who have already expressed interest in this and have begun to assist me a little. I had hoped to have done this last year, but the lockdowns prevented getting anything started. We had a few lockdowns in January, but they have subsided for now. So pray that there are not further lockdowns to impede the work.
Please also continue to pray for “Silas” and other Wounaan believers. I have been able to make a few visits but not as many as I would have liked with the lockdowns and the trip to Vaupés. Pray that I can make fruitful visits with the Wounaan believers to disciple them and mobilize them to reach other Wounaan with the gospel.
Last week, “Amy” passed away. She has had cancer for several years. Please pray for “Ted” right now. I was able visit with him the day after she passed and encourage him with the comfort of the gospel.
In a few weeks, I will be teaching a class on Ephesians at Betania Baptist Church. Continue to pray for Betania as they are still without a pastor.
Colossians 1:24-2:5
24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church,25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. 1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 5 For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.
Paul was determined to proclaim Christ, to preach Christ and Him crucified. That was the content of his message. Today, we must have the same resolve to preach Christ crucified for our sins. It is that message–the gospel–that is the power of God unto salvation. It is that message that the whole Bible is focused (Luke 24:25-27, 44-47). There is no salvation by any other name. And there is no faithful missionary endeavors that does not proclaim the person and work of Christ.
Paul was determined to proclaim Christ to the Gentiles, that is, to the nations. Salvation in Christ is for every tribe nation, people group, and tongue. Before Christ came, God’s redemptive work was centered on the nation of Israel. But even in the Old Testament, God’s promise of the new covenant included all peoples (Gen 12:3; Isa 45-22-25, etc.). Now that Christ has come, God commands all men everywhere to repent. And that is the commission our Lord gave us, His church, to do (Mat 28:18-20).
Paul was determined to present everyone mature in Christ. The Great Commission not only includes reaching people but also teaching people to obey everything our Lord commanded us. The same gospel faithfully preached not only evangelizes the lost bringing people to faith, but it also edifies believers producing their sanctification. Therefore, we must be resolved to proclaim Christ.
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