Growing Season

God is so good! I hope you feel that way as you enter this summer season.

Thank you to all of you who continue to uphold our family and ministry in prayer. We could not continue serving without your partnership in the gospel.

This spring has been a real season of growth in several areas of our ministry. For the purpose of this letter, I want to highlight an area that God has really continued to grow recently and would invite you to pray with us as we continue to invest time there.

Final class with the Seminary in Bogota for this semester

Arequipa:

In the city of Arequipa, there is a small work that was started about 7 years ago in a growing district known as Horacio Zeballos. In the last year we have been able to consistently be connected while offering training, encouragement, and coaching to 3 men who are leaders in this work. God has done a great work as they have put into practice regular prayer, outreach, and shepherding as well as grown tremendously in their personal walk with Christ. God has blessed them and their church as a result. There have been several added to their number and baptized this year. There are, as with all churches, some heavy things as well. But God is good and working in the midst of these situations. May He continue to bless and grow this work! Pray for the church in Horacio Zeballos as they are praying that God would give them an opportunity to purchase land in the coming year.

Lima:

Our investment in Lima has continued alongside Jorge Quintana and the church in La Molina District. God continues to provide forward progress in the work of preparing His church for the future launch of Jorge as a church planter. The work of unifying the church for the launch of Jorge has been a longer process than any of us expected as there are many who have questioned the need. This is not sinful but cultural. In many places in Latin America, the culture lends itself to wait on foreign missionaries to plant churches rather than the local church being active in the work of church planting. Helping walk the church body and leadership towards gospel vision in the work of church planting takes much more time than in North America as a general rule. Yet God is using this to grow and galvanize Jorge, Steve, and the other leaders in their commitment to see the gospel expand through His people in their region. By God’s grace, we are hopeful to see the new work established in San Borja District in 2027.

South Des Moines:

God continues to bless the work in South Des Moines. Our ministry among the many Hispanics in this area is growing, and He has graciously opened doors for us to share Jesus with several people. We continue to hold monthly services in Spanish, and God is at work in this group. Please pray for the salvation of several who are attending but have not yet given their lives to Christ. In recent days, our group has also faced some heavy trials, and we are asking God to grant joy and peace in the midst of them. May He use these circumstances as opportunities to draw others to Himself through the gospel.

Stopped for a photo on the way back from sharing our ministry with a supporting church in Union.

Our family:

We are blessed to serve as an extension of your ministry. From us, we are joyfully serving Christ and do not take for granted the many of you who continue to pray for us as well as those who give that we may serve. Some requests we have personally are:

1. Salvations: that God would use us to bring others to Christ in this summer season

2. Shepherding: that God would help us maintain balance in the many facets of ministry. Being involved in several regions requires intentionality and

3. Sanctification: that God would continue drawing our hearts to Him and that He give us the strength to serve while actively killing sin in our own hearts.

4. Support: that God would allow us to make headway on our support as we currently are in a deficit. Pray that He would raise up individuals, churches and businesses that desire to support our work financially.

To God be the Glory