He's Off Again…
Those of you who read our last newsletter (The Elvenking's Blessing) will remember Jim's request, “Please pray that what we teach in our upcoming teaching and discipling time in Nicaragua and Guatemala will be what's “most needed,” and, in the sense of deep heart needs, “least expected.”
National Palace, Managua, Nicaragua
The urgency of the needed prayer is now upon us. As this arrives in your inbox (May 5th) Jim is en route to Nicaragua. There he will be part of a team ministering to pastors in two out-of-the way locations, Quilali and Ocotal. But before the rest of the team even arrives, Jim will be making some strategic connections, solo, in Managua. Please pray with us for divine appointments, for facility in Spanish, for sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, and for ministry in and of the Lord – He is the one who touches hearts and lives with the reality of His empowering and life-giving Holy Spirit.
“Home” Defined by Mark 10:30
Map of Guatemala
Nicaragua is a fruitful field with many new friends, yet it isn't quite “home.” But in two weeks, we can say, “Estamos en casa” (“We're home”) — in Guatemala.
In Mark 10:29-30 Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel's sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children….”
Gladys & Atilio Chavez
On Wednesday, May 17 Jim flies “home” to Guatemala for the eighth time. I will join him there on Friday, May 19, for about 10 days of ministry, including a pastors' and leaders' conference to be held May 22-24. Pastors and wives will be joining together from churches in many different locations to dig deeply into the Scriptures with us and seek God for a deeper understanding of Him and His Word. It is these leaders whom God is using to plant new churches, and to send teams to Honduras, Peru, El Salvador and elsewhere to provide basic pastoral and Bible training. It is so exciting to see the outworking of the principle in 2 Timothy 2:2 – And the things that you have heard me say among many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be qualified to teach others as well. The Lord is at work, and we are delighted to have a part in it. What a blessing to see this fruit from our years of teaching and ministry in Guatemala!
Lilian, Rut, and Fermin with their adopted relative
Over those many years, the Guatemalans have become like family to Jim, especially, which is why he feels like he'll be flying “home.” In fact, he has become an honorary member of the Chavez families. Atilio and Gladys Chavez, and Fermin and Lilian Chavez pastor the churches in Guatemala City, and Coatepeque, respectively, and they have hosted us in their homes on many occasions. Their hearts beat as ours with passion to serve pastors and leaders, and to be part of reaching out with love to share Jesus with the many people who do not know Him yet. And they are wonderful, giving brothers and sisters! They are part of our hundredfold “houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children.”
You Are Part of Our Hundredfold Family
We are thankful for all of you who labor with us, praying for and supporting us. You are part of the fulfillment of the promise, “a hundred times as much now in the present age…brothers and sisters and mothers and children….”
Denise (part of Jim's family for 45 years)
We very much need the prayers of you, God's people, to undergird us on these trips. The teaching times are intense and busy; times of ministry in churches require complete dependence on the Lord, as we seek to be sensitive to Him for revelation, for leading, for the power of His Spirit to be working through us, to speak a word in due season to hungry and sometimes hurting hearts, and to open to these dear people the wonderful truths of God's Word. In between the teaching times, we want to be available for God's divine appointments, and be ready to be used of God to bring encouragement and help to needy, hungry people.
