Greetings! I hope everyone is doing well. Thank you for your gifts and support, for praying for me and the work God is doing in Colombia and throughout the world as missionaries go forth armed with the preaching of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Grace and peace to each one of you.
I have recently made a trip to Vaupés near the Brazilian border where I visited an indigenous community. We were able to do some basic training in biblical interpretation and preaching. Nine church leaders where able to attend. We were also able to speak with eight recent converts about baptism before they were baptized in the river.
Please continue to pray for these communities and their churches. The need there is great. There will likely be more trips later this year.
Continue to pray for Colombia. Some of the civil unrest that has been going on has simmered down a bit for now. Let’s pray that it remains peaceful.
Please continue to pray for the Wounaan. I have been able to make a visit last week. Pray that I will be able to strengthen them with the gospel and encourage them in the faith. “Silas” continues to have several medical problems.
The Embera groups (Katio and Chami) continue to have a hard time in the city. They move around a lot throughout the city, making it difficult to keep up where they are. Please pray that I will be able to minister to them and proclaim the hope that we have in Christ.
I have mentioned the “Corey” family in the past. I don’t work directly with them often, but a few weeks ago, I was able to visit them again and deliver some money that was send to me for them. I was also able to get them a few boxes of Bibles.
Please continue to pray for “Ted” as I visit with him each week. He continues to suffer depression. Pray that I can encourage him with the gospel.
I am currently in the process of renewing my visa which allows me to be in Colombia. Pray for all of that will go smoothly without any problems. Thank you for praying. May God bless each of you with the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 3:1-13
1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— 2 if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you; 3 that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. 4 By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; 6 to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, 7 of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power. 8 To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; 10 so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him. 13 Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory.
Paul identifies himself as a prisoner of Christ Jesus,—not of Rome or Caesar, but of Jesus. He is a servant of Jesus committed to doing the will of his Lord as an ambassador in chains (Eph 6:20). And though he is bond, the Word of God is not (2 Tim 2:9). He is willing to suffer hardship and persecution for his Lord (2 Cor 11:16-33). With a pastoral heart, Paul is also suffering for others (Eph 3:13) that the nations may come to know the Lord.
We also see that Paul is committed to making know the mystery of Christ. He is determined to preach Christ and Him crucified. “Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Cor 9:16). The cross of Christ was the center of his message, a message of salvation by grace through faith (Eph 2:8). In ministry, it is grace that will humble us (Eph 3:8), and it is grace that strengthens us to move forward with confidence.
We also see that Paul had a high view of the church (Eph 3:10-11, 21). In missions, we are to be about planting and strengthening local churches. The church is the center of what God is doing in the world. It is the church that is tasked with the great commission. It is for the church that Christ gave His life (Eph 5:25).
In Christ, we also have access to God (Eph 2:18; 3:12). In missions, we must be committed to prayer, utterly dependent upon God. We can come to Him with boldness and confidence to find grace to help in a time of need. (Heb 4:14-16).
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