God Is Raising Up Servants for His Work

Mission Report | April 1–October 31, 2026

Carlos and Roxana Ulate | Heredia, Costa Rica

Dear brothers and sisters at Bammel Church of Christ,

Greetings from Heredia, Costa Rica! Roxana and I thank God for your faithful partnership in the gospel. Your support continues to help sustain our ministry of preaching, teaching, discipling new Christians, and strengthening the church.

During these past seven months, we have witnessed encouraging developments. Some are visible, such as baptisms, a new church building, and the appointment of elders and deacons. Others take place quietly, around kitchen tables, during personal conversations, and through visits to people who need encouragement.

One lesson connects these experiences: God is accomplishing His work by raising up people and equipping them with the gifts needed to serve His purposes.

1. Twelve New Lives in Christ

Between April 1 and October 31, 2026, twelve people were baptized into Christ: Byron, Isaac, Fátima, Angie, Abraham, Carolina, Rodrigo, Andrea, Keitlin, Bastian, Jimena, and Johnattan.

Each has a different story, reminding us that evangelism is much more than encouraging someone to make a decision to be baptized. These conversions reflect patient Bible teaching, personal relationships, and the faithful witness of many members of the congregation.

Angie first contacted us because she was concerned about her marriage. She found our telephone number on the sign outside the church building. Roxana and I began studying Scripture with her and her husband, Abraham. As our conversations progressed, they came to understand that their deepest need was reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ. Both were baptized on May 10. We have continued studying with them, and it has been a joy to witness their growing commitment to Christ and the restoration of their marriage.

Another encouraging story concerns Andrea and her children, Keitlin and Bastian. Roxana and I had studied with this family for approximately a year and a half. Each person needed time to understand the gospel personally. Their questions were different, and we tried to address them patiently rather than pressure them into a decision. On October 18, all three were baptized. Their experience illustrates the importance of patient discipleship, family relationships, and faithful Sunday school teachers.

Our responsibility does not end at baptism. We continue walking alongside new Christians, helping them understand their identity in Christ and what it means to live for God's glory.

2. Three Remarkable Blessings

Looking beyond these seven months, three developments stand out as particularly significant in the recent history of the Heredia congregation.

A Building Made Possible Through God-Given Gifts

For nearly ten years, the congregation had saved approximately $40,000 toward a new building but had been unable to move the project forward. Then Juan Carlos Hernández, a brother gifted in organization and administration, volunteered to lead the construction effort.

He coordinated workers, materials, finances, and volunteer labor from church members. Today, we have a building with an auditorium seating approximately 150 people, six classrooms, a baptistery, and other essential facilities.

The building is not simply a construction achievement. It is a place where people can hear the gospel, grow in faith, and serve one another. We thank God for providing a brother with the gifts needed to make this long-awaited project possible.

A Congregation Preparing People to Establish New Churches

For many years, I personally tried to begin new congregations in surrounding communities. Those experiences taught me valuable lessons, even when they did not produce permanent congregations.

More recently, we have seen something different: disciples who grew spiritually in Heredia have taken the initiative to establish congregations themselves.

In Ciudad Colón, Mauricio Jiménez, his wife Wendy, and other family members have helped develop a congregation of approximately 15 members. Their work grew naturally through family Bible studies and relationships with neighbors.

In San Pablo de Heredia, Didier Rojas, his wife Ericka, and other believers began a new congregation on March 15, 2026. Approximately 60 people attended its first gathering. Before they began, the Heredia congregation prayed for them and commended them to the Lord.

These developments are teaching us that a healthy church does more than gather members; it prepares disciples who can carry the gospel into other communities.

Elders and Deacons Established to Serve

On July 26, 2026, after months of biblical teaching, prayer, and congregational participation, the church recognized Carlos Delgado Ulloa and me as elders, together with six deacons.

God used our brother Kenneth Matarrita in a particularly meaningful way. We have known Kenneth since childhood and watched him grow into a mature Christian husband, father, and student of Scripture. Having earned a degree in Biblical Theology through IBIT, he took the initiative to move this process forward with determination.

This was not simply about filling positions. It was about recognizing men who were already serving and encouraging them to use their gifts for the good of Christ's church.

3. Shepherding God's People

Since being recognized as elders, Carlos Delgado and I have been developing a more intentional approach to pastoral care, working alongside our wives and other faithful members.

Our work includes home visits, telephone conversations, prayer, personal Bible studies, and encouragement for those who have become discouraged or disconnected from congregational life. We also spend time listening to people who are grieving, struggling with family relationships, or facing difficult circumstances.

Some conversations require several meetings. Others involve simply being present, listening patiently, and reminding someone of God's grace.

These activities rarely produce impressive statistics, but they are essential to the spiritual health of the congregation. Shepherding is not primarily about managing an organization. It is about caring for people who belong to Christ.

Another encouraging development is our Monday evening fellowship, attended by approximately 25 people. We share food, discuss Scripture, ask questions, and reflect together on what it means to live in Christ.

These gatherings are helping us understand that fellowship and worship are not merely religious activities but expressions of the life we share through the Holy Spirit.

4. Preparing Workers Beyond Heredia

The Heredia congregation has also become a place where Christians are equipped for ministry beyond our community.

Víctor Araya and his wife Aura, who served alongside us for several years, are now missionaries in Querétaro, Mexico. Juan Carlos García and his wife Heidy completed a missionary internship in Heredia and now serve in Managua, Nicaragua. Other former members and collaborators serve congregations in the United States and elsewhere.

My work with Estudios Bíblicos Internacionales en Línea (EBI Online) extends this commitment to training. Each week, I prepare approximately five to ten pages of biblical teaching material, which we discuss during Saturday Zoom sessions. Typically, 20–30 participants join from several countries, including Cuba, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Honduras, Costa Rica, and the United States.

These sessions involve gifted teachers from different congregations and provide opportunities for mutual encouragement and biblical growth.

In October, we also welcomed Ronny Amán Cerrato and Yariel Olivera from Baxter Institute in Honduras. Their visit included fellowship, teaching, and conversations about preparing future Christian workers.

5. Thank You for Sharing in This Work

Dear Bammel family, these developments remind Roxana and me that missionary work is not primarily about what one preacher accomplishes. It is about what Christ does through His people as they grow in faith, discover their gifts, and serve one another.

We continue to face challenges, including the financial realities of maintaining our ministry and household. At times, I have supplemented our income by driving for Uber. Nevertheless, we remain deeply grateful for your faithful support and for the opportunities God continues to provide.

Your partnership has helped sustain a ministry that reaches beyond Sunday preaching. It includes discipleship, pastoral care, leadership development, the preparation of future workers, and the strengthening of congregations in Costa Rica and elsewhere.

Please continue praying for the twelve newly baptized Christians, our elders and deacons, the emerging congregations, and the families we are accompanying. Pray also that Roxana and I will remain faithful servants, sensitive to the Lord's direction.

The church belongs to Christ. He is its head, and He continues to provide the people and gifts needed to accomplish His purposes.

With Christian love and gratitude,

Carlos and Roxana Ulate
Heredia, Costa Rica