Second Quarter, 2018

Juan Carlos and Family Finished Their Stay in Costa Rica

Juan Carlos García and family finished their six month stay in Costa Rica. They were here as a result of cooperation between the local church and the Baxter Institute in Honduras. This school requires from their students a six month internship in the mission field as part of their course program. Back in December 2017, the church leaders had discussed the possibilities with the congregation and then took a vote and a decision was made to support and mentor Juan Carlos García Valle and his family for the period from January to June, 2018. Local brethren moved fast to secure a place for the family. They also made sure that the home was furnished and equipped. Local members donated pieces of furniture and kitchen appliances and soon Juan Carlos and family were here fully supported by this church. This is great news because it means that now the church has experience supporting a full-time preacher. Juan Carlos and Heidy helped the church by providing leadership, insight, Bible teaching, and a lot of encouragement to families and groups which they ministered to on a regular basis. It was great to have them here, and the local church is seriously considering the idea of hiring them for good once they finish their training at Baxter in Honduras.

Speaking Engagement in Honduras

I was invited by the Baxter Institute in Honduras to be one of their speakers at their annual workshop. Roxana and I were there for five days teaching to a crowd of Central American church leaders. I was in charge of a lecture, a three days workshop, part of a discussion panel, and preached on Sunday morning to a combined worship service of Tegucigalpa churches. Other lecturers from Texas and Mexico were there too. The local church here funded Juan Carlos to go with us. Rocky and Alice, friends from Texas, joined us too. It was a great opportunity to share our approach to mission work, what really makes a church grow, the true role of an evangelist (work himself out of the job), etc. Baxter Institute had a surprise for me. The President of the Institute presented me with a certificate of recognition for the work I did in Honduras many years ago, and the work done in Hatillo and Heredia. I was able to fellowship with brother Howard Norton. He asked me if I would be interested in helping as editor of La Voz Eterna. I told him he could count on me until I retire from my half tenure as college professor at Universidad Nacional.