March 2023

Greetings! I hope you each are doing well. Please continue to pray that the word of Christ would speed ahead and be glorified, that the gospel would advance unhindered, and that many would come to trust Jesus. Thank you for praying for me and for the work God is doing among the indigenous peoples of Colombia.

Please continue to pray for the thousands of displaced indigenous living in Bogota. They are living in very poor conditions. Over the past month, we have been conducting a relief project for the displaced Embera (Katío, Chamí, and Dóbida) who are living in a park and a shelter. With the project, we were able to provide some food, blankets, towels, toilet paper, and soap for each family. Bethany Baptist has been a big help with this project.

Pray that our weekly visits would go well and be fruitful. Pray for clarity as we communicate the good news of Jesus with them. Pray for "Josh" (a Chamí living in the shelter) and his family. They have started to attend church at Bethany Baptist. There is also a lot of conflict, jealousy, and distrust among the indigenous (between different groups and even within the same group). Pray for wisdom and that such divisions does not hinder our work Pray that the gospel will move among them and give lasting hope, peace with God, and peace among each other.

Continue to pray for the Wounaan work. I have been meeting with one believer and his family. I have been studying the Gospel of Mark with them. There is a small Wounaan church in Bogota, but many of the Wounaan are still unreached. Pray that the Wounaan believers can reach out to their own people in Bogota with the gospel. Also pray for the Wounaan in western Colombia that they too might be reached with the gospel.

Also, continue to pray for "Mike" and his family. Life is hard as he struggles to make ends meet with temporary jobs here and there. Pray that I can clearly communicate the gospel with them. Pray that they would come to believe the gospel and hope in Christ.

Continue to pray for Daniel and his family from Bethania Church as they minister in their neighborhood Las Cruces. On Saturdays, they have classes for the kids in the neighborhood. They are in the process of planting a church. Pray for them as they continue to reach out those in Las Cruces.

Thank you again for your prayers and support. Prayer is crucial to the missionary task. As we go forth proclaiming the gospel of Jesus throughout the world, we are utterly dependent upon God to work in people’s lives. So we pray for his mercy and grace. May God’s grace and peace be with you all.

After the feeding of the 5,000, Jesus withdrew to the mountain by himself. When evening came, his disciples got into a boat and began to cross the sea to Capernaum. It was dark. And Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea became rough because of a strong wind blowing against them. When they had rowed out to about halfway across, they saw Jesus walking on the sea coming near the boat, and they were terrified. But Jesus said to them, “I am! Do not be afraid.” And the were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going (John 6:15-21).

In this event, Jesus is revealing himself to his disciples. He is revealing himself as God. We see his divinity in several ways. We see his divinity as he walks on the sea. Job 9:8 tells us that God, the Creator, tramples on the waves seas (cf. Psa 77:16, 19). Jesus is doing what only God can do. We also see his divinity when he, while doing what only God can do, identifies himself with “I am.” Jesus is the Great I Am. He is God. As John has told us at the beginning of his gospel. In the beginning was the Word. The Word was with God, and the Word was God... All things were made by him, and without him, nothing was made that was made” (1:1-3). But not only is Jesus God; he is also man. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (1:14). He is true God and true man in one person. And this is the Jesus whom we proclaim among the nations and the Jesus in whom is life, the light of men that shines in the darkness 1:5).

Jesus also comforts his disciples, saying “Do not be afraid.” Jesus, who is God and the Holy Judge (5:22), has a word of comfort and peace for the world too. For Jesus is also the lamb of God who takes away our sins through his vicarious death on the cross (1:29). This Jesus will forgive all of the sins of those who believe so that they have no reason to be afraid. Anyone who looks to Jesus by faith alone and trust in him will be saved (3:16). And just as he brought the disciples in John 6 safely to their destination, by his mercy and grace he will be faithful to lead us home. It is this Jesus who is truly God and truly man and full of mercy and grace for sinners that we must preach and teach to the nations so that all who believe may not perish but have eternal life. That is the light that shines in the darkness of this world.