chief.org » Isaias & Ginny Colop-Xec

Blessings from the Quiche of Guatemala

chiefinc — Tue, 01 May 2012 22:21:43 +0000

Dear Brothers and Sisters, Supporters of our ministry:

It is always a joy to give you a good report of how the Lord is blessing the ministry that we are able to accomplish here among the Quiches of Guatemala.

Our best students call us from far away to tell us about a success they just have had or to ask a Bible question in regard to a passage they’re dealing with. They also call to ask how to go about preparing a subject that they were asked to teach or to ask for prayers because they are going thru persecutions by their own families. We are always glad to take the opportunity to teach them the Bible and to help them to write their outline so they can teach the subject according to the Word of God and not according to the traditions of their own denominations. I had one of such call last week, the student told me that his pastor asked him to teach about tithing because the members are not tithing enough for the pastor to survive without working outside the ministry. I told the student that this is a touchy subject especially because the Bible does not teach that the tithe is for the pastor. Nevertheless, I took the student thru the different passages in the Old Testament where this practice began then I taught him what the New Testament teaches. At the end I told him that I would be praying for him at the time of his teaching. The following Monday I called him to see how it went. He was so happy. When I asked him how the pastor responded, the student reported that the pastor was so thankful because he learned that tithing is “a sacred thing for the Lord”. The student continued telling me that the best thing that happened with this teaching was that he learned that tithing is not optional but a command and is a practice done unto the Lord. He said, ”I was one of the members that was not tithing because I did not feel like giving it to the pastor, but now that I know that it is not for the pastor, but for the Lord, I have decided to begin tithing as one of my responsibilities before the Lord”. The congregation was also thankful for teaching about the subject according to what the Bible teaches. What a powerful testimony of how the Word of God changes people’s hearts!

Luke 15:7 says: “I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance”. Well, this is what happened last Saturday at the afternoon youth activity. David was used mightily by God as he presented the Gospel message to 22 young men and women. Eight of the 22 present committed their lives to the Lord! We rejoice over this spiritual victory. As Ginny and David minister to the Quiche youth, they have discovered the sad situation of many of these young people. In the Quiche culture it is not surprising to find large families with 9 to 12 children. Often this situation makes the kids feel that they are not loved because there are many to take care of and some are favored over others. Consequently, a lot of these young people do not feel loved and even feel despised by their parents or other siblings. In light of the situation, Ginny started a hugging and listening ministry and it is interesting to see the people appreciating her a lot. Some have expressed to her that they wish they had a mother like her. As David also has shown interest in them by listening, praying and spending time with them, they have responded well.

There is so much to do so we are all doing our part. In the midst of it I see how the enemy has attacked our family, mainly thru sickness and discouragement. David and Ginny are the ones who have suffered the most. David for example has suffered with an infection that has made him miserable since January. He was better, but the infection returned. Please pray for his healing, pray also for encouragement. As his parents have done everything to see him well. Currently a urologist is treating him with another set of antibiotics. We are praying that the treatment will take care of his problem completely.

Lastly, it looks like the New Christian Radio station will officially asked me to be the supervising director for the Quiche programming. It will be a great opportunity but also another big ministry to take on. Please pray for wisdom. We will do our best to serve our King.

To all of you who pray for us consistently, thank you. For all of you who give financially, may the Lord bless your effort to minister to the Quiche people. We are working in a group that the enemy has a strong grip on, but we know that the One we serve is stronger than our enemy. Please continue to stand before the Lord on our behalf.

A. MINISTRY OBJECTIVES FOR APRIL 15 THRU MAY 15

1. April 16, for Isaias to meet with Danica, our secretary and librarian to plan for an evaluation of the first quarter and to plan the ministry activities for the next quarter.

2. April 18, for Isaias to meet with all the pastors, who work in the general area where the New Christian station has been built. This is to encourage them to take advantage of the new opportunities that the radio is providing for them.

3. April 23, for Isaias and the Ministry Board to hold their bimonthly meeting at the office.

4. April 27, for Isaias to participate in the dedication of the building of the Radio Station.

5. May 5, for Ginny and David to take the youth group to a near mountain for their annual outing.

6. May 9-10, for Isaias to hold a teacher training session for our new itinerant teachers.

7. May 15, for Isaias to organize the local pastors of the area to support the new Radio station.

B. PROGRESS OF MINISTRY GOALS FOR MARCH 15 THRU APRIL 15, 2012:

1. To complete the evaluations of our five libraries. Ruth Kennedy evaluated three of them while she was here and Isaias will finish evaluating the last two this month.

ACCOMPLISHED SUCCESSFULLY

4 of the 5 libraries are serving their community really well. At the evaluation we found out that the local church people are involved in the ministry. We are encouraged.

2. To open two new Panorama classes—one at our headquarters taught by Isaias and one in the rural area taught by Manual Guarcas.

ACCOMPLISHED SUCCESSFULLY

In Isaias’ class there are two pastors and a 62 year old brother who decided that at this age he has not done much for the Kingdom of God so he is studying the Bible so he can teach it to others.

In Manuel’s class there are 5 church leaders who are thankful that our ministry is helping them to learn the Bible and to teach it at their local churches. Manuel, our teacher, is also excited and thankful for the opportunity which has been challenging him.

3. For Isaias to hold another training session for our new itinerant teachers.

NOT ACCOMPLISHED

Since Jorge left the ministry, Isaias had to pick up more administrative responsibilities that have kept him busy at headquarters. This goal has been postponed for this month.

PRAISES:

1. We praise God for the 8 young people who committed their lives to Jesus Christ, last Saturday.

2. We praise God for the new centers that were opened last month. We are reaching new people with the Word of God.

3. We praise God for the new ministry opportunities that have come our way.

4. We praise God for how the ministry is doing really well in all areas.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

1. Please continue to pray for David. The prostatitis infection is still not healed.

2. Please pray for Isaias’ strength as he is doing more Administrative work due to the fact that we have not found anyone to replace Jorge.

3. Please pray the Lord bring someone to help us as Ministry Administrator.

4. Please pray for all of us; it seems that the Enemy is attacking us thru our health.

6. Please pray for Annie’s future. She is evaluating her opportunities.

Praises from Guatemala

Admin — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 04:49:04 +0000

Dear Brothers and Sisters, Supporters of our ministry:

It is with great pleasure that I write this report to share with you all that God has allowed us to do here in Guatemala. I want to thank you for the time and the resources that you invest in the work that God has called us to carry out here. May God bring joy and encouragement to your heart as you participate in the enhancement of God’s Kingdom among the Quiche people.

Although the Lord has graciously blessed our ministry this period, we also have encountered some opposition from the enemy, mainly thru health and extended family issues. In relation to health, David and Ginny are the ones who have suffered the most, especially David. At his age, he has dealt with so many health issues. It seems like it has been one thing after another. We are thankful to report that he seems to have recovered for the most part from the stubborn infection he has had since January (thank you so much for your prayers for him). But last week we discovered that he has dental problems—cavities and problems with his bite that will require orthodontic procedures. Last week our dentist worked on his teeth for two and a half hours! Needless to say, that procedure was painful but also it was a very discouraging experience for him. On the other hand, Ginny is battling with stomach problems as well as muscle pains. She doesn’t think that are not serious problems, but they zap the energy she needs for her daily responsibilities.

Seeing my son and wife in pain has made think a lot about suffering. I think the Lord is helping me to understand its role in our Christian walk. As much as I want the Lord to remove it from my life, I have come to accept it as part of our human experience and I have tried hard to look for what the Lord wants to teach me thru it. This is one of the hard lessons to accept in my spiritual development. As I have come to understand its role, it has been a little bit easier to accept it.

This is also a difficult time for Ginny because her mother has been in an assisted living facility this last year and it seems that she is in need of more help to remember things. My brother-in-law is the only family member that is in the area and issues have come for which he has needed Ginny’s help. Ginny feels bad because she is so far away and cannot provide the needed help.

Lastly, due to the economy, we have lost some of our monthly support since last April and will lose more next month which creates some adjustment in our ministry budget as well as some anxiety in me. I know that God is in control because He has been faithful to provide for this ministry and our family all these years and yet as a human being I need your prayers.

MINISTRY ACCOMPLISHMENTS SO FAR THIS YEAR:

EVANGELISM:

Evangelism has been accomplished first of all thru our radio broadcasts at six different radio stations. The response of the audience has been very positive especially among the Catholics. They have expressed to the local radio directors that they like our program for three reasons: the content is Biblical, it is done professionally and we do not there condemn them as most Evangelical Christian programs do. These coming months we will have the opportunity to triple our time in one of the most well known radio station among the Quiche people. Our programs will be broadcast mornings, afternoons and evenings.

Secondly, evangelism has been accomplished among the Quiche youth. This has been the sole responsibility of my wife, Ginny, and our son David. A month ago 6 young ladies accepted Christ. What a blessing it is to see more Quiche young people come for the Bible teaching than the English class we hold before it! We thought that the English class would be an incentive for the youth to come, but we have discovered that more young people come to the devotional time than the English class. Every Saturday afternoon, an average of 22 young men and women gather consistently at our headquarters.

Lastly, evangelism has been accomplished through the different opportunities that I have had as I speak at different churches that have invited me to preach the gospel in their special celebrations, such as anniversaries, birthdays and funerals and one on one contacts David, Ginny and I have had with people in the community.

DISCIPLESHIP:

At this time, discipleship has been carried out mainly by Ginny and David who meet weekly with the new converts. David does it by meeting individually once a week with the different individuals. Ginny, on the other hand, meets with one, two or three people once a week as well as the youth of the youth group board of directors. We praise God for the way that He is blessing this ministry. We have seen the young people mature in their spiritual walk with God.

Isaias has began to disciple a Christian lawyer. Although for different reasons, they have not met consistently. There is another person that our Board has assigned Isaias to begin discipling. This responsibility will begin next week.

Although Jorge, our former assistant director, is no longer working full time with our ministry, he is continuing to disciple 8 pastors in Nahuala. He meets with them as a class every Tuesday morning. These pastors requested that he continue the discipleship class and he gladly accepted their invitation.

BIBLE TRAINING:

At present, we have 15 teaching centers opened. Our 3 levels of courses are being taught. Seven classes are studying Panorama, five are studying Synthesis and three are studying Analysis. Our total student population is 170 trainees taught by 8 itinerant teachers.

BIBLE TEACHER TRAINING:

We have recruited 6 young men among our student body to be trained as itinerant teachers. There are requests to open new teaching centers so we need new teachers. The selected ones are excellent students and excited to teach the word of God. We have held their first training session and the second session will take place at the end of this month.

HELPS:

Our ministry has opened 5 libraries at different locations on the church properties of our graduates. Having a library at the church has been a stretching experience for the pastors, but they also have seen the blessing that this service has brought to the community. An average of 150 students uses each library every month. It has been encouraging to see the young people come to research and study.

The ministry also provides scholarships to different students who lack the money to study our courses. Although we do not charge, they still have expenses for traveling to the teaching centers and they have to buy a lunch on their way.

The ministry also provides a traveling allowance to each member of the Board as we meet every other month. The greatest investment that we have is the monthly allowance that we give to our itinerant teachers that travel to the different teaching centers. Without our help, they would not be able to travel.

SPECIAL PROJECTS:

1. Christmas baskets for widows and orphans: this is a tradition that we carry out each year. Last Christmas we did not do as many, because of the economy but we distributed some to the most needy people in our area.

2. Ruth Kennedy, our library sponsor was here for three weeks doing an evaluation at each library location to see if we have reached our objectives. She also taught English at two different public schools for three weeks.

3. The president of CHIEF has asked me (Isaias) to help with the Latin America ministries. I have expressed to him that I would be willing to help because I see the need. At this point, I am not accepting the position of Latin America director, but I will help Huron when he sees that my intervention necessary. CHIEF would pay my traveling expenses. I believe that this would be a good arrangement for the present time.

A. MINISTRY GOALS FOR MARCH 15 THRU APRIL 15, 2012:

1. To complete the evaluations of our five libraries. Ruth Kennedy evaluated three of them while she was here and Isaias will finish evaluating the last two this month.

2. To open two new Panorama classes—one at our headquarters taught by Isaias and one in the rural area taught by Manual Guarcas.

3. For Isaias to hold another training session for our new itinerant teachers.

B. PROGRESS OF MINISTRY GOALS FOR DECEMBER 15 THRU JANUARY 15, 2012

1. December 19, for Isaias to meet with the Ministry Board to make the necessary adjustments due to Jorge’s leaving our ministry.
ACCOMPLISHED SUCCESSFULLY.
I was so thankful for our Board, they not only helped me to find alternatives how to carry the ministry but also they were so kind in helping Jorge in his new ministry.

2. December 20 thru the 22, for Isaias and Jorge to continue the recording of the Radio programs so that Jorge can train the new administrator to help with the recording ministry next year.
ACCOMPLISHED.
Jorge has decided to continue helping me do the recording to the end of the course.

3. December 23 thru January 2, headquarters will be closed for the holidays.
ACCOMPLISHED

4. January 3 for Isaias to hold a half day of prayer with the staff.
NOT ACCOMPLISHED

5. January 4 for Isaias to meet with the staff to plan for the new year of ministry.
ACCOMPLISHED

6. January 9 thru the 13 for all the centers to be opened for pastoral training.
ACCOMPLISHED SUCCESSFULLY

PRAYER REQUESTS:

1. Please pray for our son David, who has gone thru a lot of health problems in the last 3 months. We believe that the enemy is attacking him because of his ministry. He is a passionate young man and Satan discourages him thru sickness or the feeling of not being good enough to minister.

2. Please pray for Ginny’s health condition. She has not feeling good this past year. Family and ministry issues have affected her health.

3. Please pray for safety as we travel to the different teaching centers. Guatemala is not a safe country at the present time. Although the new President is trying to get control over the country, the gangs and the drug traffickers are testing his leadership by committing horrendous crimes everywhere.

4. Please pray that the Lord will raise churches or individuals who will become part of our financial supporting team, since our main supporting church has decided to stop their monthly support for our work, beginning in May. This church was providing $1600.00 a month. We need your help for contacts.

5. Please pray that we find someone to replace Jorge. In the meantime, please pray for Isaias so that he can juggle all the work that needs to be done.

6. Please pray for Jorge’s new ministry. He is having a hard time adjusting to the new organization and the new pace of work. We desperately need a good Quiche Bible and the enemy is creating problems in the translation team.

7. Please pray for Maridalma, a young girl from our youth group, and her family. Her young mother (age 32) is suffering from terminal cancer and her father has basically abandoned the family. Pray that God will comfort them, protect them, and provide for their needs.

PRAISES:

1. We praise God for the new opportunity that we have to expand our radio ministries.

2. We praise God for the six young men who are in training right now to become our new itinerant teachers.

3. We praise God for Jorge’s opportunity to lead the Quiche Bible translation team whose assignment is to produce a good Bible for the Quiche people.

4. We praise God that David has been accepted at The Master’s College for the Fall of 2012 which begins in mid August. Please pray that God will strengthen him physically so that he will be ready for the rigorous academics there. Also, please pray that he will receive adequate financial aid to help with the costs.

5. We praise God for another year of life that He has given Annie!

Guatemala Christmas!

huron — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:02:29 +0000

Beloved Supporting Team:

It is with great joy that I write you this report for many reasons. First of all, I am thankful to God for my health. I am feeling very good. Secondly, I am thankful to all of you who have prayed and continue to pray for our ministry and for my family. Thirdly, I am very thankful for the way that God has blessed the ministry this past year. With your help, we have been able to accomplish the training of many pastors and church leaders, we have recorded many more lessons for the different radio stations and Jorge has been involved in the translation of the Old Testament, (currently he is translating Leviticus). This year the Lord helped us to focus on these four areas: pastoral training, Radio Ministry, Youth ministries and Bible translation.

Originally, I accepted the opportunity for Jorge to be involved in the Bible Translation project that is sponsored by Wycliffe Bible Translation. However, as they started the work, this organization decided that they needed Jorge full time. Since Jorge feels that the Lord is guiding him to accept this opportunity, he decided to leave our ministry. Because I believe that the Quiche people need a good translation, I have encouraged him to give himself totally to this work because it will benefit the Quiche church. Although we will miss him, we also understand that God leads his servants in different ways. Beginning in January of 2012, Jorge will no longer work for us full time, but he told us that, as his schedule permits, he will help us with the pastoral training ministry which is another ministry that he loves to do. Please pray for us as we need to make certain changes due to his leaving. We have already hired a part time administrator that we will introduce to you in January. Through all of this, we see God’s provision and we feel His guidance.

Yesterday, we had our Christmas party with the staff and as each one of them expressed their thoughts, all of them thanked the ministry for the way that we were able to minister to each one of them. One of the common denominators was the fact that they felt the presence of the Lord here and the healing power of the fellowship that they experienced with one another. We are thankful that God is using our lives and our ministry to build their lives. Ginny and I are aware that this is only possible because of all your prayers for us.

It is hard to believe that we are at the end of another year of ministry opportunities. My sickness has brought me a new appreciation for life and for the privilege of serving our King of Kings.

May this season bring you the peace and joy that it has to our’s thru the gift of salvation, thru Him who came as a baby in order to take us back to our heavenly Father. We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and great blessing in 2012!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A. MINISTRY GOALS FOR DECEMBER 15 THRU JANUARY 15, 2012:

1. December 19, for Isaias to meet with the Ministry Board to make the necessary adjustments due to Jorge’s leaving our ministry.

2. December 20 thru the 22, for Isaias and Jorge to continue the recording of the Radio programs so that Jorge can train the new administrator to help with the recording ministry next year.

3. December 23 thru January 2, headquarters will be closed for the holidays.

4. January 3 for Isaias to hold a half day of prayer with the staff.

5. January 4 for Isaias to meet with the staff to plan for the new year of ministry.

6. January 9 thru the 13 for all the centers to be opened for pastoral training.

B. PROGRESS TOWARDS MEETING FOR NOVEMBER 15 THROUGH DECEMBER 15, 2011

1. For Isaias and Jorge to continue recording our Synthesis of the Bible course for the radio.
ACCOMPLISHED SUCCESSFULLY. WE HAVE RECORDED UP TO 2 KINGS.

2. For Isaias to meet with the local Board of Directors of our ministry on Nov. 29 to evaluate this year’s ministry and make plans for ministry in 2012.
ACCOMPLISHED. THE BOARD IS REALLY INVOLVED IN THIS. WHAT AN ENCOURAGEMENT!

3. To hold closing ceremonies for the youth group English and Bible classes on Dec. 10 and to make plans with the youth group leaders for 2012.
ACCOMPLISHED. GINNY AND HER STAFF ARE VERY ENCOURAGED BY THE COMMITMENT OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE.

4. To host a lunch for our staff and Board and their families to thank them for their ministries on Dec. 14. ACCOMPLISHED. ANNIE AND DAVID WERE VERY HELPFUL AND MAKING IT SUCCESSFUL.

5. For Isaias to preach and preside at the wedding of Leidy Rodriguez, Jorge’s daughter on Dec. 4.
ACCOMPLISHED.

C. PRAISES AND THANKSGIVING:

1. God has truly blessed the ministry this year.

2. God has helped Isaias finish recording several courses for the Radio.

3. God has really used David to reach young people.

4. Annie’s time in Guatemala has been a great blessing for our family as she seeks God’s will for future ministry.

5. The Recording studio has been a great blessing for Isaias’ program.

6. God has opened a tremendous opportunity for our ministry to reach thousands of Quiches.

7. Our three courses have truly transformed lives among young people and church leaders.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

1. Pray for Jorge as he works full time in translation.

2. Pray for our ministry that we adjust to his leaving.

3. Pray for the person that he will replace him part time.

4. Pray for the Board as they get more involved in our ministry.

5. Please pray for Ginny’s leg; it has not healed the way it should.

6. Please pray for David as he starts his online college courses beginning January 25.

7. Please pray for Annie as she applies at the seminary Guatemala City for her Master’s in Biblical counseling.

8. Please pray for Maridalma, a young girl from our youth group and her two sisters. Their mother is suffering from terminal cancer. Pray that we will be able to minister to them and comfort them during this very difficult time.

Great News from Guatemala

huron — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 21:23:14 +0000

Dear Supporting Friends:

It is with great joy to be alive that I write you this ministry report. I apologize for not writing a report for July and August. As some of you know, I was hospitalized on August 11. When my Christian doctor examined me that day, she recommended that I go directly to the hospital. It took my three doctors 18 hours to figure out my case. After many tests and x-rays, I was taken to the operating room at 2:30 p.m on Friday. After 2 hours of surgery, the surgeon reported to the family that it was a miracle that I survived a massive infection due to a perforated and gangrenous appendix which must have been this way for quite some time. Thankfully, my surgery was a success! And my recovery has also been successful! The doctors said that my recovery would take 4 to 6 weeks and I am writing this 5 weeks after my surgery. This week has been the first time that I feel back to normal. In fact, I have resumed my normal work. Although I still get tired easily, I am regaining my strength little by little.

I want to thank all of you for praying for my family and me. I also want to thank you for writing and/or calling us. Let me tell you that your concern has helped us to experience the love and care of God during this difficult time. Through this trial, I have gained a new understanding of the power of the love of God that has been expressed by the love of His people for one another. Your caring love has brought part of the healing that my family and I needed.

During this trying time, I decided to study the book of Job. Although I did not experience the intensity of Job’s trials I did experience the presence of the same God. The good Lord prepared my heart and my spirit to wait on Him and to believe that He would help me not only to get well but also to wait on him if another trial would come my way. And, lo and behold, some more trials came! First, after my surgery, Ginny fell down and hurt her foot badly, so much that for a couple of days, she could not walk. I praise God for Annie and David who rose to the occasion and took care of me as I was in the hospital. Then, during my third week of recovery, my frail, 90 year old mother was hospitalized due to a severe infection in one of her legs. Thankfully, she is out of the hospital now and the infection is under control but still not completely healed.

I feel that we are under the attack from the enemy, authorized by our God, to test my faith and my commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ. Let me tell you that my meditation on the story of Job has helped me to continue trusting our sovereign God. He is in control of my life, my family and the ministry! No matter what, I hope to bring glory to His name. I have been praying that I may not sin with my lips, nor blame God for my situation as Job did, (Job 1:21,22). Please continue to pray for my family and me so that, together, we may honor the name of the Lord.

On the other hand, as Roman 8:28 says, God has purpose for everything that comes our way.

The day before I went to the hospital I had a meeting with the Administrative Board of Radio TGN. This Christian Radio station is a respected station in Guatemala that has been in ministry for 65 years. During this meeting, I found out that this ministry had bought a good piece of land in our area and had built a studio for the sole purpose of broadcasting to and reaching as many Quiche Indians as possible through the radio. The TGN Board told us that day that when they went to different Quiche towns to evaluate the Quiche radio programs that are being aired, they discovered that our program, Panorama of the Bible, has been well accepted by the Quiche people. In fact, it is seen as the best program not only for its content but also for the fine production of the material. Consequently, the TGN Board decided to make our ministry the leading ministry not only for radio program production but also for directing the programming for the new station. Although we were surprised by this news, we accepted the opportunity even though we knew this great responsibility would demand much of our time. Last week we began recording our second course, Synthesis of each book of the Bible, and the Lord is blessing our efforts. Since I am feeling better, I have been able to prepare the material and have recorded three half hour programs for broadcasting. Although my voice is not completely normal, I decided to start the recording, hoping that soon I will sound completely normal. God, in his sovereignty, has prepared us for this occasion by providing us with a professional recording studio right here at our headquarters so that I don’t have to travel an hour and a half to the recording studio as we have done in the past. Isn’t God good to His children?

On September 28 and 29, Jorge, our assistant, will carry out his first training session for our six new young itinerant teachers who are eager to start teaching the Bible wherever the need presents itself. This is very exciting to us because the teaching ministry will expand to new areas and reach many more Quiche church leaders so that they can teach the Word of God in their churches. Although God is at work, the enemy is attacking as well. Two of these new teachers have experienced not only rejection but also persecution from their own families. But, in spite of their trials, they are willing to go ahead with the training because they have experienced the life and the joy that the Word of God has brought into their lives.

I also want to mention how grateful I am to our local Ministry Board. During my illness, these Quiche leaders have stepped up to meet the demands of the ministry. While I was sick, the president of our board and another member were able to solve some problems that occurred among our students. Through this experience, I really saw the importance of having a ministry team. I praise God for these brothers who sacrificially give their time and their resources to help us in the ministry.

I also praise God for blessing me with a great family, my wife, Ginny, and my daughter, Annie, and son, David, who gave themselves sacrificially to take care of me when I needed it the most. Truly, I feel tremendously blessed!

Last, but not least, I praise God for each one of you that stands behind us by praying and by giving so that we can keep on doing what God has called us to do: to enhance the Kingdom of God among the Quiche people of Guatemala. May God continue to use you and us to continue working for our Lord until He comes!

A. MINISTRY GOALS FOR SEPTEMBER 15 THRU OCTOBER 15:

1. For Jorge and Isaias to produce 20, thirty minutes radio programs by October 15. This will be the production of Synthesis of each book of the Bible adapted for broadcasting purposes.

2. September 28-29, for Jorge to hold the first training workshop for our new itinerant Bible teachers. These 7 new teachers were recruited by Isaias at the beginning of the year and they are not only eager to be trained, but also eager to open new teaching centers in different areas.

3. October 3, for our ministry Board to hold their next meeting at headquarters.

4. October 15, for Isaias and Jorge to participate in the opening ceremony of the new Christian radio station.

B. PROGRESS TOWARDS MEETING LAST MONTHS GOALS:

1. June 15, for Isaias to meet with Jorge to present to him a follow up training for the 6 young men that came to the teachers’ training that Jorge planned and carried on June 8 and 9.

ACCOMPLISHED

2. June 17, for Jorge to meet with Vina, a sister organization that teaches ministries how to produce radio programs. Jorge has been asked to help teach the materials that he has received to another Mayan group.

ACCOMPLISHED

3. June 20 , for Isaias to meet with pastor Manuel Guarcas, the President of the Ministry Board to discuss items for the agenda for the next Board meeting as well as how he can best help in the supervision of the overall ministry.

ACCOMPLISHED

4. June 29 thru July 2, for Jorge to go to Huehuetenango to train people who work in Christian radio programs.

The participants were very interested in Bible training as they saw Jorge’s knowledge of the Bible. These people are already ministering in Radio,, but they came to the realization that they need to prepare their Bible lesson more accurately.

ACCOMPLISHED SUCCESSFULLY

5. July 6, for Isaias to meet with 6 young men from Chichicastenango to present to them the opportunity to receive teacher training to become our future young itinerant teachers.

These young men accepted the challenge to be trained for the purpose of teaching the Bible in new needy areas.

ACCOMPLISHED SUCCESSFULLY

6. July 11, for Isaias to meet with Wycliffe missionaries to discuss his participation in a workshop for the Use of Scripture in the Guatemalan Mayan groups that Summer Institute of Linguistics will host in Guatemala at the end of July.

Isaias’ participation in the workshop was of great blessing for the attendees.

ACCOMPLISHED SUCCESSFULLY

C. PRAISES:

1. I praise God for allowing me to live thru the Appendix ordeal.

2. I praise God for the doctor that took charge of my case; this Christian doctor went beyond the call of duty to bring me to health.

3. I praise God for my wife and children who are helping me to recover successfully.

4. I praise God for our churches and friends who held us up in their prayers as we experienced these hard days.

5. We praise God for my successful recovery!

6. We praise God for the financial provision to cover the expenses for the health emergency that we experienced, (we don’t have health insurance).

7. We praise God for seven church leaders that graduated from our Bible Training program, August 4.

8. We praise God for the new opportunity to be part of the ministry of the New Radio Station that will be opened in our area.

9. We praise God for the new group of teachers that will be part of the ministry.

D. PRAYER:

1. Please continue to pray for my full recovery.

2. Pray that we will accomplish our goal of producing a month’s worth of programs before the radio station opens in October.

3. Pray that the new teachers apply in their lives what they will learn in their training, so that they teach what they have experienced personally.

4. Pray that the Ministry Board will have wisdom in the new challenges that we are facing in our growth.

5. Pray for our daughter Annie as she is seeking God’s guidance in regard to her future.

6. Pray for Ginny, Annie, and David’s health.

7. Pray for the election of a new president for Guatemala.

A Time of Harvest in Guatemala!

huron — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 17:35:31 +0000

Dear Faithful Supporting Team:

I greet you with a thankful heart and with a note of apology for not writing you last month. I was on the road for most of the month of May due to our daughter Annie’s graduation on May 13. As you know the aftermath of graduation is a time for decision making. For us living in Guatemala it makes it harder to sort thru these decisions. As for Annie, she has decided to come to Guatemala until August 15 then go back to the USA and look for a job and start a new step in life.

As I traveled to the USA for this great occasion, I was surprised at the Guatemalan airport when I was informed that my Green Card of USA residency was expired! Without me realizing my green card’s expiration date, I had applied for a traveling permit that was granted and is good until February of 2012. This document saved me at the airport and in customs at LAX. I was able to enter the USA once more. When I was in the country, I was able to apply for a new card. Of course, due to the 9-11 terrorist attack, this application will take some time and some more steps, but at least Immigration granted me permission to come back to Guatemala. For my application I had to travel some in order to find an office that would take my application in such a short time. Praise God, I was able to do in it in San Diego, after trying to do it in Arizona. So, since I was taking care of this and because I am not that good with computers, I could not write the usual monthly ministry report. Please forgive me for this.

I praise God for Jorge, my ministry assistant, because as I was in the USA, he was busy planning a teacher training seminar for June 8 and 9 that took place in Chichicastenango with 12 of our current and future teachers participating. Five more could not attend due to last minute changes. I was blessed and very encouraged about this training for two reasons. First of all, Jorge did a great job not only of organizing it but also putting the program together. He did an excellent job. Secondly, I was blessed to see half of the attendees were young, on the average of 24 years old. This was encouraged me because as these young men take on the teaching responsibilities, their participation will last for long time. Although these young people are not itinerant teachers right now, they requested to be included in the training because they would like to teach in the near future as the opportunity arises. I believe God is preparing these workers because more and more we are receiving request to teach in different places. This is a time of harvest in our ministry. Lastly I was very encouraged to see the IMPACT OF PANORAMA in the lives of these people. They shared that Panorama of the Bible, our first course in the Bible training for pastors, not only helped them to understand God’s program for the ages, but also gave them a purpose in life. Some said that this course changed their lives. When I hear testimonies like these, I can’t help but praise God for the opportunity to contribute in the spiritual development of these semi-literate Christian workers for the Quiche church.

Brothers and sisters you are part of this great work that God is carrying out in this part of the world. Your monthly or yearly contributions have made it possible for us to carry out the ministry in Guatemala. You have taught me to be faithful in what God has called me to do among my own people.

Although Ginny remained in the USA to assist Annie in this time of transition, the weekly youth ministry that she established with David is thriving. In her absence, David took charge of the ministry and he is doing a great job. I praise God for him. He is becoming such a good minister. Watching how he pastors the young people is a great blessing. God has made him patient, merciful , wise, and, above all, very teachable. This is very encouraging, but he has his struggles as any young man would and many times he gets discouraged and feels unworthy to do God’s work. I tell him this is why God is using him mightily, but many days he does not see it this way. Pray for him as I continue to disciple him. Pray that he won’t get discouraged as he stands in the gap for the youth. (In discipling him, he has been able to express some areas of my life that I need to change; I praise God that He is using David for me to grow). Most of the young men that David is ministering to have very low self esteem. Some also have bad relationships with their parents or they don’t have their parents around. When they see that David cares as he listens to them, they are grateful. We know that David is making a big impact in these lives so the enemy attacks him with discouragement. So please have him in your prayers.

We want to thank all of you who prayed for Annie as she went through her college education. She not only graduated Cum Laude but also and without a cent of debt. We praise God for His provision for her education, and we want to thank those of you who helped us financially to provide for her college education. Her graduation reminded us once more of God’s faithfulness and for how He cares for the people of God. Annie has accomplished so much, being raised and homeschooled in Guatemala. Her B.A. is in Biblical Counseling with a minor in TESOL, (Teaching English as a Second Language, Internationally). She told us that when we took her to college that she would take the opportunity to work hard, and not to take the easiest way, so that she would be well prepared to do ministry wherever the Lord sent her. We are witnesses of her hard work and her desire to serve God. In the midst of all these successes, she also experienced some hardship as she saw an end of this stage of her life. Her college experience was so great and fulfilling that she was sad to leave it behind. Perhaps the greatest reminder was that she did not have a home to go to in the USA, as the majority of her friends did. Please pray for her as she is looking for a job. This is a hard time economically for the country and yet she needs some income. Please keep her in your prayers as she goes on to the next stage in her life.

God is wonderful, faithful and merciful toward us, we are thankful that we can see some fruit of our ministry in the life of our children and in the many lives of the Church leaders that we have trained over the years. We have also experienced disappointments and discouragement, but in the midst of all that we have seen God at work. We are also thankful for you, who thru the years you have been faithful as you have supported us. Many of you have given sacrificially and we have been humbled as we have seen your commitment to God and to us, His workers. May God continue to use all of us to keep advancing the Kingdom of God on earth as it looks like our Savior’s return is so close!

A. MINISTRY GOALS FOR JUNE 15 THRU JULY15:

1. June 15, for Isaias to meet with Jorge and present him a follow up training for the 6 young men that came to the teachers’ training that Jorge planned and carried on June 8 and 9.

2. June 17, for Jorge to meet with Vina, a sister organization that teaches ministries how to produce radio programs. Jorge has been asked to help teach the materials that he has received to another Mayan group.

3. June 20, for Isaias to meet with pastor Manuel Guarcas, the President of the Ministry Board to discuss items for the agenda for the next Board meeting, and how he can best help in the supervision of the overall ministry.

4. June 29 thru July 2, for Jorge to go to Huehuetenango and train people who work in Christian radio programs.

5. July 6, for Isaias to meet with 6 young men from Chichicastenango, and present them the opportunity to receive teaching training and to become our young itinerary teachers for the future.

6. July 11, for Isaias to meet with Wycliffe missionaries to discuss his participation in a workshop for the Use of Scripture in the Guatemalan Mayan groups, that Summer Institute of Linguistics will host in Guatemala at the end of July.

B. PROGRESS TOWARDS MEETING LAST MONTHS GOALS:

1. April 16, for Jorge to begin a new class for a group of pastors who requested Panorama up on the mountain in our area. It takes him a 2 and a half hours to get there on foot one way.
NOT ACCOMPLISHED. THE PASTORS CHANGED THEIR MINDS.

2. April 17-19, for Isaias and David to spend a quality time together as they hike to an isolated lake that sits on a crater in the province of Huehuetenango. David has been discouraged about the youth ministry and is tired physically and emotionally. Isaias hopes that this is a time to rest for David and time for Isaias to minister to him, (Isaias hopes that he will not die in the hiking experience).
ACCOMPLISHED SUCCESSFULLY. ISAIAS DID NOT DIE.

3. April 18-19 for Jorge to go to visit a Quiche group that moved to the area of another Mayan group, the Uspantecos. These Quiches, isolated from the rest, want our ministry to help them by training them in the Bible.
ACCOMPLISHED SUCCESSFULLY. THE GROUP WANTS ISAIAS TO COME AND HOLD AN EVANGELISTIC MEETING, THIS CATHOLIC VILLAGE IS READY TO ACCEPT CHRIST AND THEY WANT HIM TO COME BECAUSE THEY LIKE WHAT THEY HEAR IN THE RADIO PROGRAM. IN JULY ISAIAS WANTS TO GO.

4. April 20-24, for the staff to enjoy the Easter vacation. The office will be closed.
ACCOMPLISHED.

5. April 25, for Isaias to continue the training of David in the process of Discipleship.
DAVID’S TRAINING IS GOING GREAT.

6. April 30, for Ginny and David to begin the next quarter program for the youth ministry.
SUCCESSFULLY ACCOMPLISHED, AN AVERAGE OF 35 YOUNG PEOPLE GATHER EVERY SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

7. May 8, for Ginny to travel to the USA, via Tijuana, (cheaper way), to make preparations for Annie’s graduation.
GINNY ARRIVED AT TIJUANA ONE DAY AFTER HER ORIGINAL ARRIVAL DATE. IT WAS AND ADVENTUROUS TRIP. PTL SHE MADE ALTHOUGH SHE HAD GREAT DIFFICULTIES.

8. May 11, for Isaias and David to travel to the USA for Annie’s graduation.
GOD MADE IT POSSIBLE, ISAIAS GREEN CARD RESIDENCY HAD EXPIRED WHILE IN GUATEMALA, WITHOUT HIM REALIZING IT.

9. May 13, Annie graduates from the Master’s College with a major in Biblical Counseling and minor in TESOL, (Teaching English as a Second Language internationally).
ANNIE GRADUATED WITH HONORS, WITHOUT ANY DEBT!

C. PRAISES AND THANKSGIVING:

1. We praise God for the ministry Board, three members are excited in their involvement and they really want to make a difference for the Quiche church.

2. We praise God for the new generation of potential teachers. These young men are eager to get involved in teaching, actually one of them is teaching already and he does it really well.

3. We praise God for Annie’s graduation with honors and without any debt.

4. We praise God for David’s youth ministry. There are five kids that he is really investing his life in theirs and they are responding really well.

5. I praise God for a wife that the Lord has provided. She truly is my suitable help. Her ministry with the ladies is making an impact they told me; and her ministry with the youth is also going great.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

1. Please pray for Jorge. It seems that he gets discouraged easily these days. He expressed at the beginning of the year that he will give one more year to the ministry and then make a decision whether to continue or not. His wife is putting pressure on him to go back to business. Isaias has tried to tell him that he should not do that, but it is up to him.

2. Please pray that Annie will get a job for the Fall. She decided to come to Guatemala to rest, pray and plan for her future.

3. Please pray for the Ministry Board. We need to elect new members this Fall.

4. Please pray for the 6 teaching centers that are going on right now.

5. Please pray that we find the right place for the next community library.

Guatemalan Ministry in 2011

huron — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 15:01:26 +0000

Dear Friends:

Happy New Year! It is hard to believe that we are already in the middle of the first month of this new year on one hand, but on the other, we praise God that we are able to experience God’s blessings every morning. Thank God for life and especially for the Eternal Life that He has imparted us thru our Lord Jesus.



This is going to be busy year for us. I have been invited to participate in a quite a few conferences here in Guatemala as well as in the USA. One of these occasions is to co-host a workshop for missionaries who work here in Guatemala. The workshop has the goal of discussing the fact that Guatemala not only has had the Gospel preached for 125 years, but also that 25% of Guatemala’s entire population is Evangelical and yet it is the 10th most violent country in the world. It seems like the presence of so many evangelicals should somehow make Guatemala a different country.

In preparation for the presidential election this year, the most read newspaper published their findings as to how Guatemalans see their country. The results showed that Guatemalans are discouraged about their government because they do not trust any political party anymore. The research also shows that Guatemalans are trusting the Catholic church as the means of hope and truth, (56.5% said that), but 53.4% see the evangelical church as the institution of hope and truth. This shows me that over a half of the interviewed people are looking to religious institutions for hope and truth. This is a great opportunity for the church to shine.

As I have been thinking about the reason why the evangelical church has not made a difference here, I have some ideas that I want to share with you. If you have an observation, a correction or a contribution, please feel free to respond. My part in this workshop is really to discuss why the Gospel has not really transformed the Mayan culture. Below you will find my suggestions….

A. I believe that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has not made an impact on the Mayan people because the Evangelists/messengers did not really seriously acknowledge the fact that Oral Traditional societies are probably the hardest groups to change. Their core beliefs have been developed thru many generations and any significant change will take time, patience and hard work.



B. Oral societies are at a disadvantage. Everything that we need to know about God is WRITTEN IN A BOOK, however oral societies pass on important teaching orally thru their elders.

C. Oral traditional societies use the right hemisphere of the brain, while westerners use the left hemisphere. The first missionaries here were Spanish priests followed by American Christian missionaries. Nowadays most Christian workers are westerners or Mayans like myself trained to use the left hemispheres of our brains.

D. Most Christian work has an underlining attitude of “conquest”. We go in to change savages for Christ, without taking into account their worldview because we believe that we have the right view that they need. We have condemned many of their traditions as satanic without selecting some and encouraging them as good because God has created them. We are interested in converting many, but we often leave before discipling them.

E. We emphasize EVANGELISM but NOT RELATIONAL DISCIPLESHIP AS CHRIST DID. (Discipleship is like rearing a child which takes time, effort and resources).

F. Most evangelistic work was done among the Mayan people either in Spanish or currently even in English thru a translator.

G. Most evangelistic work emphasizes the doctrinal distinctives of the Denomination that is doing the evangelism rather than teaching the Bible as a whole to a wholistic society.

H. In light of these factors, maybe we need to seriously and maturely re-evaluate our methods on how to reach the Mayan population for Christ.

These are some of my ideas, please pray for me that God will guide me to encourage my missionary coworkers rather than create more division or even offend God’s workers. This workshop will take place the last weekend of February.

A. MINISTRY GOALS FOR JANUARY 15 THRU FEBRUARY15:

1. January 17 for Isaias to meet with Rick Macarthur to discuss ideas for the workshop that they will co-host at the Intermissions conference at the end of February.

2. January 18, for Jorge to meet will all our itinerary teachers and officially inaugurate the school year for all our teaching centers.

3. January 22, for Ginny and David and their staff to hold the first youth ministry at headquarters.

4. January 23, for Isaias to be the translator for a working group that will lead a service in a Quiche Methodist church in Totonicapan.

5. January 26, for Isaias to meet with a Wycliffe Missionary, the Scripture in Use coordinator for Latin America, to plan a workshop on Rituals and the Bible among the Mayan groups of Guatemala and Mexico.

6. February 7, for the Ministry Consultant Board to hold their first yearly meeting at headquarters.

7. February 14, for Isaias to meet again with the Wycliffe Missionaries to finalize activities for the workshop.

B. PROGRESS TOWARDS MEETING LAST MONTHS GOALS:

1. December 16, for Isaias, Ginny and David to host our Christmas celebration for our staff at headquarters before they go on their required yearly vacation.

ACCOMPLISHED SUCCESSFULLY.

2. December 17, for Jorge and Olga, our secretary, to do the necessary clean up of our ministry building on their last day of work at headquarters before vacation.

ACCOMPLISHED

3. December 20, for Isaias and Jorge to meet with the ministry consulting Board to evaluate the 2010 ministry accomplishments.

  POSTPONED FOR FEBRUARY.

4. December 21, for Jorge to deliver Panorama of the Bible certificates to the students of Chuisibel, up in the mountains of Santa Catarina.

IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL CEREMONY.

5. December 23 thru January 3, headquarter offices are closed.

DONE

6. January 4 and 5 for Isaias to interview people applying for 2 positions as librarians and cleaning ladies.

WE HIRED OUR LIBRARIAN WHO AGREED TO DO CLEANIING AS WELL.

7. January 7, for Isaias to preach at the installation of a pastor service in Antigua.

A BLESSED CEREMONY, THE DENOMINATIONAL LEADERS WERE VERY THANKFUL FOR THE TRAINING WE PROVIDE FOR THIS NEW PASTOR.

8. January 13 and 14 for Isaias to lead a 2 days retreat for the staff.

NOT ACCOMPLISHED

9. January 10-12 for the staff to begin working at headquarters.

WE BEGAN WORKING AS SCHEDULED

10. January 13-15 for Isaias, Ginny and Jorge to begin distributing yearly responsibilities.

WE DID IT AND EVERYBODY IS EAGER TO BEGIN MINISTERING.

C. PRAISES AND THANKSGIVING:

1. We praise God for the many more ministry opportunities that are coming to us from other organizations.

2. We praise God for Juan Guarcas, a graduate of our ministry, and for the new thriving church that he planted in Antigua.

3. We praise God for the youth ministry new officers that met today.

4. We praise God for His constant financial provision and the protection of our funds last week when Ginny’s purse was stolen in Antigua and her debit card was in it.

5. We praise God for Annie’s visit and for the way God used her mightily in her counseling opportunities last semester.

6. We praise God for David’s constant counseling ministries to the many young men that seek him even during the end of the year vacation.

7. We praise God for the opportunity to minister among the Quiche church leaders. Many have shown big leaps of maturity.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

1. Please pray for spiritual wisdom for Jorge, Isaias, Ginny, David and Annie as they begin their individual ministries this year.

2. Please pray for Isaias mother, who on February 2nd will be 90 years old, who is suffering a severe anemia. She says that she is ready to go to be with the Lord if that is His plan for her. Pray for the family to be united in their decisions regarding their mother’s future.

3. Please pray for Isaias as he gets involved in the different new opportunities with other organizations and as he selects the opportunities for involvement. He needs wisdom to know how to help.

4. Please pray for Annie as she makes major decisions regarding her future after graduation in May. And please pray for her safe return to CA on Wed., Jan. 19.

5. Please pray that the person who stole Ginny’s purse will not steal her identity as well as her purse contained her Guatemalan ID and driver’s license as well as other important information.

6. Please pray for Ginny’s sister, Joan, who just found out that she has breast cancer for the second time. It is not a recurrence of the cancer she had 16 years ago because it is another type of breast cancer. Pray for Joan, her family and doctors as they make decisions regarding her treatment. She is scheduled to have radical surgery soon.

Recording Studio Completed! November 2010

huron — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 20:41:52 +0000

Dear Supporting Friends:

We thank God for all of you and for your faithful prayers for us and our ministry. This month we are excited to report that our “state of the art” recording studio has been completed here on our ministry property. This studio will make it much more convenient for Isaias and Jorge to record programs for the radio because it is such a few steps away from our front door! We thank you for your generous gifts which were used to remodel and soundproof the room. We also thank God for the recording equipment provided by Vina ministries as well as other faithful supporters. Three weeks ago, Brian, an audio specialist from Texas, spent three days with us setting up and testing all of the equipment and training David and Jorge to use it. Of course, in three days, they weren’t able to learn all that they need to know to do professional recordings, but Brian assures us that they will continue to learn on the job. Please pray for Isaias, Jorge, David and Ginny as they plan, prepare and record new Bible studies for the radio which will be distributed to radio stations throughout the Quiche territory. Most Quiche families have radios and listen to them faithfully so we are very excited about this opportunity to reach more Quiches through this media! Our dream is to prepare radio programming for men, women, families and youth, so, as you can see, we have our work cut out for us!

A. MINISTRY GOAL FOR November 15 THRU December 15:

1. Dec. 1 and 2 for our ministry to host a retreat for all of our itinerant teachers so that they can share their struggles and needs, pray for one another and receive additional teacher training.

2. For our youth group to plan and host an outreach to widows and orphans in our area in which Jorge will share the gospel with them and they will receive a gift and a special snack.

3. For our youth group to perform the drama, The Acts of the Holy Spirit, on December 11 at our headquarters for the widows and orphans and on Dec. 12 at a church in Almolonga.

4. For our children’s staff and children to plan and hold their closing program for this year’s program on Dec. 15. The children’s parents will be invited to view what their children have learned during this year and a gospel presentation will be given.

5. For Isaias, Jorge, Ginny and David to continue making ministry plans for 2011.

B. PROGRESS TOWARDS MEETING LAST MONTHS GOALS:

1. Oct. 16 to hold the youth group picnic
ACCOMPLISHED SUCCESSFULLY, A GREAT TIME AND TURNOUT.

2. Oct. 18, for the ministry board to meet.
ACCOMPLISHED SUCCESSFULLY WITH MUCH GOOD IMPUT FROM BOARD MEMBERS.

3. Oct. 23, to continue drama preparation.
ACCOMPLISHED AND CONTINUING WEEKLY.

4. Oct. 28, for the audio specialist to come to install recording equipment and to train David and Jorge.
ACCOMPLISHED SUCCESSFULLY.

5. Nov. 7-14, for Isaias to attend a workshop on cultural spiritual practices at SIL in Dallas, TX.
ACCOMPLISHED SUCCESSFULLY. THE WORKSHOP WAS ENLIGHTENING AND HELPFUL.

C. PRAISES AND THANKSGIVING:

1. We praise God for the successful completion of our recording studio and for all the people who made it possible.

2. We praise God that we have been able to share the gospel with many children in the last couple of weeks and several have prayed to receive Jesus as their Savior.

3. We praise God that David is continuing to minister to several young men weekly.

4. We praise God for our staff members and teachers who serve faithfully week by week.

5. We praise God for our board members who are making suggestions to improve our ministry.

6. Thank you for praying for Ginny, she is feeling somewhat better.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

1. Please pray for safe travel for Isaias as he returns to Guatemala tomorrow night from Dallas, Texas.

2. Please pray for safe travel for Ginny and David as they travel to Guatemala City to pick up Isaias tomorrow.

3. Please pray that our itinerant teachers will be encouraged and edified by the retreat that we are preparing for them.

4. Please pray for the outreach to widows and orphans that the youth may be blessed as they serve others and that the people they invite will receive Christ.

5. Please pray that our drama will come together for God’s glory.

6. Please continue to pray for Ginny and David’s health and strength.

7. Please pray for David as he prepares to take the SAT on Dec. 4. Pray that he will do well on it.

Guatemala in the News, August 2010

huron — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 10:09:32 +0000



Dear Supporting Friends:

Last month, Guatemala was in the news a lot due to the destruction of Hurricane Agatha and the big sink hole that suddenly appear in Guatemala City. Also, the American Embassy has issued a travel warning for Guatemala because there are a lot of city bus drivers that are killed daily. The ones killed are the ones that cannot or do not want to pay the daily fee charged by extortionists. Life seems of no value here. The street fights that gangs carry out daily is getting more and more gruesome and demonic.

Some of our students and teachers have been targets of extortionists. Let me share with you one of the cases. This is the story of Pastor Manuel. He studies every Thursday with us and teaches for us every Friday at our remotest teaching center. I say that this place is at the end of the world because the main road stops there. Anyways, Manuel has been threatened by many daily phone calls asking him to pay the ransom of Q. 60,000.00 or his sister and dad would be killed. He went to the local police station and denounced the threats. The police advised him to continue the negotiations and pretend to pay the ransom at a specified location so that the police could catch the extortionists. He contacted our ministry to ask for prayers. As a result, Isaias thought that it would be better to stop traveling to the isolated teaching place because he felt that the terrain would be appropriate for kidnapping him or killing him. When we communicated this to him, he refused to comply. He told us that he has been teaching his students that God is a God that takes good care of His children in all the matters of life. He felt that if he quit going to teach the students, then this would a sign of not trusting God. So we told him to present our proposition to his wife to see what she said. Her advice: to continue the teaching ministry. So Manuel continues teaching in this remote area. And, two weeks after he made his decision, the threats stopped!

Three weeks ago, Jorge, Pastor Manuel and his wife, David and I were at his teaching place to deliver certificates to his 14 students who finished our course: Bible Panorama. It was a great celebration because100% of the students who began the course finished it! Never in the past, have we had a class like their’s. The top student in the class was crying for joy because his efforts paid off. This man, Antonio, has always been an eager student. To attend the class, he had to walk for two hours over the mountains crossing one river. During the rainy season, the river would overflow so much that he could not cross it. Because of this, he asked us if we could come to teach in his village so we told him that we would if he could gather 18 students from 3 different churches. So he went and promoted the class in the three churches in his community and 14 students enrolled. All of them are continuing their Bible training with the Synthesis of the Bible, our second course.

Manuel’s wife told me that the joy that Manuel experiences by being part of our teaching staff is what keeps him going. Manuel and his wife also feel that they are not alone in the ministry. She also said that every time Manuel goes to teach or study that she goes to church to pray for him. They are both truly committed to the Word of God. We are the only Bible Institute that has come to them and for that they are truly thankful.

That day as I was driving our 96 four wheel Rodeo, I was very nervous because parts of the road were flooded or covered by mud slides. However, gladly, the one bus that services this road had cleared the way before we came. In one section, a mud slide had made the road very narrow, just wide enough for the bus to go thru, but if our car slid in that section, it would have ended up in the ravine that I could not see the bottom of! Praise God for our faithful old four wheel drive Rodeo! And praise God because it did not rain that day. David could not believe the beauty of this remote place–the color of the jungle, the vegetation and everything else was magnificent but very dangerous for a nervous driver like me. Manuel’s wife noticed that I was nervous, so she started laughing and teasing me and reminded me that if God took care of them when they were threatened, surely the Lord could keep us safe on that dangerous road.


A. MINISTRY GOAL FOR JULY 15 THRU AUGUST 15:

1. July 16, for Ginny and Isaias to visit the new church that Pastor Juan , a graduate of our ministry, started in Antigua last year.

2. July 17, for Isaias to begin discipling Pastor Diego every week in Xela.

3. July 19, for the Ministry Board to meet in Solola.

4. July 19, for David, our son, to preach at home fellowship in our community.

5. July 25, for Annie, our daughter to arrive in Guatemala to spend the rest of her summer with the family after her missionary service in the Dominican Republic.

6. August 7, for David to be inaugurated as the youth pastor for the Saturday youth ministry.

7. By August 15, Isaias should scheduled discipling time with David, Manuel and Juan.

B. PROGRESS TOWARDS MEETING LAST MONTHS GOALS:

1. June 23, for Isaias, Virginia and Jorge to attend a closing ceremony for the 28 ladies who learned how to make sweaters at the ladies group in Santa Lucia Utatlan.

THE CEREMONY WAS POSTPONED, BECAUSE THE LADIES WERE EAGER TO START THE NEW CRAFT OF MAKING SHASHES.

2. June 24, for Jorge to continue teaching the Epistles to the 8 pastors in Nahuala.

THE CLASS IS GOING REALLY WELL, JORGE AND ISAIAS
DECIED TO INTRODUCE BIBLE TRANSLATION TO THE
STUDENTS AS PART OF THEIR HOMEWORK FOR THE CLASS.

3. July 2, for Isaias and Jorge to attend the closing ceremony for the 9 church leaders in Chuisibel, Nahuala.

THIS IS THE COMMUNITY AT THE END OF THE WORLD THAT I WROTE ABOVE, THERE WERE 14 STUDENTS INSTEAD OF 9. A 100% SUCCESS.

4. July 8 for Isaias to continue teaching his Biblical Leadership class in Nahuala.

ONLY THREE OF THE 9 STUDENTS SHOWED UP, THAT WAS BECAUSE I INTERRUPTED THE CLASS TO GO TO THE USA.

5. July 14 for Isaias to celebrate his 58 years of life with a thanksgiving service with the family and staff.

GREAT SUCCESS.

C. PRAISES AND THANKSGIVING:

1.   We praise God for giving Annie a great experience in Dominican Republic as she ministered to different groups. Her main responsibilities were to teach English and present the Gospel to her students.

2.   We praise God for David’s desire to take over the directorship for the weekend youth ministries. He expressed his desire as he noticed that no one from the young people wants the responsibility. For Ginny and me, this is a great blessing.

3.   For students like Pastor Manuel, who are committed to the work of God, inspite of threats that he received.

4.   We praise God for our ministry Board. They really want to get involved in the guidance of the organization.

5.   I praise God for Ginny, who saw the need for the women, children and youth ministries. Her involvement to these has made a tremendous impact on many lives.

6.   We praise God for His continued care for us in the middle of many social, economical and spiritual problems in the country.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

1.   Please pray that God will give us wisdom to minister to people who are experiencing threats and extortions.

2.   Please pray for David as he takes this major responsibility of youth ministries.

3.   Please pray for Isaias as he approaches candidates to be discipled that may find the time that it takes to accomplish it.

4.   Pray for Ginny as she begins discipling teenaged girls from youth grouping the next two weeks. So far, five girls have signed up!

5.   Pray for Annie’s time here in Guatemala. She could use a good rest. We have to make a decision about more orthodontic work for her .

6.   Pray for safety as Jorge and Isaias travel to the different teaching centers.

7.   Pray for the completion of our Recording studio. The Recording equipment is on the way from the USA. Please pray that Customs would not hold it up.



Guatemalan Children’s Ministry

huron — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 17:04:09 +0000



Dear Supporting Team:

We are really enjoying Annie’s time with us. We are blessed by her report on how God helped her to serve the Lord in the Dominican Republic by teaching English as a second language and being a witness for the love of Christ.   To all of you who prayed and financially supported her in this service, we want to thank you for your commitment to the work of God. We are very thankful to the Lord because in the Fall, Annie will begin her senior year at the Master´s College. It is hard to believe that she will soon enter her final year there and yet the faithfulness of God has been obvious in providing the finances for her studies.

In ministry, we are at a fork in the road and we need to ask you to pray for us in regard to the children’s ministry. Since 2004, we have been engaged in this ministry; we know we have touched young lives for Christ thru the years but our problem has been the lack of ministers for the children. We always have had good workers but not ministers. What we desire are people who come along side the needy children and minister to them outside of the classroom activities. We would like to invite you to pray with us in this regard, our request is to find those ministers or discontinue this ministry. The need is great but the workers are few, (Matt. 9:37).

Youth ministry is going great especially because David, our son, has really taken the pastoral activities seriously. He has befriended the boys by visiting them or calling them during the week. Many have opened themselves up to him. He told us one day, “these kids are good kids; it is the parents who are messed up”. His observation is correct in many cases. One of the phenomena that we have discovered is the fact that many Quiche fathers are oblivious to the needs of their children, because they are physically absent from the home. Either the father is illegally in the USA or he is with another woman in the same town. We also have discovered that many fathers feel inadequate to guide their “sophisticated” children who use internet and their cell phones daily. This is a lie that the enemy has used in this culture. On the other hand, God is using David to make a difference. Last week a mother of a young man that attends the Saturday meeting went to Jorge’s house to thank him for what we are doing here is changing her son. She is very grateful especially because she says that her husband is “useless” in rearing their son. Besides this problem, Ginny has discovered the young people have a hard time reading. They are semi-literate people. They read syllable by syllable so they cannot understand the Word of God when they read it.

The training of the pastors is going really well. Right now we have nine centers in progress. The two advanced groups in Nahuala are really catching up in their understanding of the Word. In Jorge’s group, the pastors are translating into Quiche the chapter of Scripture to be studied in class. This homework has really excited them. This excercise has taken them into a new level of understanding the Scriptures. The other course, “How to become a Biblical Leader”, that Isaias is teaching, has brought out their shortcomings as leaders of the church. There are only 6 people left in the class, but Isaias is encouraged by their response.

A. MINISTRY GOAL FOR AUGUST 15 THRU SEPTEMBER 15

1. August 16 to 19, for Jorge to attend another Translation workshop, this time he will be trained to use a special computer program for translation.

2. August 26 and 27, for Isaias and Jorge to attend a meeting with Vina Recordings, the sister organization that is helping us with our recording studio.

3. August 26, for Annie to go back to the Master’s college to begin her Senior year.

4. September 2, for Isaias to hold a half a day of prayer with his class in Nahuala.

5. September 9, for Jorge to hold a half a day of prayer with his class in Nahuala.

6. September 14, for the library staff to hold a special celebration for Guatemala Independence day at the library.

B. PROGRESS TOWARDS MEETING LAST MONTHS GOALS:

I want to apologize for not reporting the progress of last month’s goals, the computer that I used has crashed and I did not make a copy of that report. I hope I learned my lesson and make copies of the reports in the future.

C. PRAISES AND THANKSGIVING:



1. We praise God for Annie’s ministry accomplishments in the Dominican Republic.

2. We praise God for David’s involvement in the young Quiche boys who are responding to him and to God.

3. We praise God for his care for us as we travel to the different dangerous areas. This year the rainy season has really damaged the roads even the paved ones. All the main highways have damaged parts so only one side of a two lane road is used. The problem is that the signs are not that clear and many crashes have been registered.

4. We praise God for the way that the pastors are gaining a new understanding of the Word of God.

5. We praise God for Ginny’s discipleship class every Friday morning and afternoon; the girls are opening up and she hopes for them to come to know God in a closer relationship.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

1. Please pray for David’s health. He is experiencing lack of energy. The doctors have pointed out that this is not normal for a young man like him.

2. Please pray for Annie as she goes back to the USA. She has to report for Jury duty immediately, pray that she won’t be selected as she has to attend classes and does not know her way in downtown LA.

3. Please pray that we will follow the leading of the Holy Spirit to continue or discontinue the children’s ministry at the end of the year.

4. Please pray for Ginny as she continues to develop the special discipleship program for Girls.

5. Please pray for Jorge as he continues to translate the book of Genesis. He is in the 6th chapter.

6. Please pray for Isaias as he continues to lead the six pastors in Nahuala to become more biblical in their private lives.

7. Please continue to pray for traveling safety as we go to the different places to minister.

8. Please pray for Ginny’s healing from a thyroid nodule that has been growing.

Isaias & Ginny Colop-Xec

Chief — Wed, 19 May 2010 04:30:13 +0000



A special greetings from Isaias and Ginny Colop-Xec
run time 3:31

To listen click on the play button below.

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June 2010

August 2010