Thursday, June 23, 2011

A Brief Current Testimony



My recent post included a testimony of the work of Franklin and Hilde in planting the new La Red (The Network) UMC in Barquisimeto targeting the Sunday vendors in the Central Market. They continue to do construction on the site of this new congregation. Here is what we just heard from them through Dan yesterday:

“Jairo (a student in the Seminary and General Contractor for the church construction) brought a new worker to the job site for Franklin and Hilde's church construction project.  Franklin asked the new worker his name and whether he knew the Lord.  The man said he used to know the Lord but had strayed.  Then the man began to cry and couldn't stop.  Frank led him in a prayer of re-commitment, and asked all the other workers there to pray for the man.  They had church!  God is good.”

“Later today two ladies came to visit the construction site because some of the workers had told them it was going to be a church.  One of the ladies told Franklin that some time ago she had been praying and God revealed to her that that precise house would one day be a house of prayer.  She went to the house and anointed it with oil and asked God to make it so.  This was very encouraging to Frank and Hilde because it confirmed that they are in the right place at the right time and that what they sensed God telling them concerning the direction of their ministry, their target audience, when they were praying in your (Warren’s) January Seminary class, was indeed from the Lord.”

I just wanted to share this good news and let you rejoice with us concerning some of the ways the Lord is moving in the  work of the church in Venezuela. Your prayers and service and giving are having a huge and eternal impact for Christ in Venezuela.  Thank you.
Warren
You can give on-line through PayPal by clicking on the following link:  

Or you can mail a check today to:
Venezuela Now, Inc.
PO Box 1655
Duluth, GA  30096



Sunday, June 05, 2011

The Birth of a New UMC in Venezuela

Franklin and Hilde are people of great faith and obedience. They are both teaching assistants at the Seminaro Wesleyano de Venezuela and will be great leaders in the UM movement in Venezuela. Another seminary student, Jairo, is the contractor for the work that has been done on this site. They hauled almost a dozen trucks full of debris from the site before they could start the reconstruction.

Franklin, Hilde, Emily and me at the site of a new UM congregation forming in the center of Barquisimeto. Fraklin and Hilde are students in the Seminary and became Methodists through this relationship. Through their course work they were called to start a cell group ministry, then to target the Sunday vendors in the central market. Then the Lord led them to purchase this over 100 year old house and remodel for the congregation. The walls and floor are about done. Worship will begin there soon. As resources come in they will put on a roof and tile on the floor, etc. Maybe your church would like to partner with this new UMC congregation to help with this project - this would be a great Mission Team destination. These are sharp Christian leaders!

Baptims of New Believers in Venezuela


Baptisms are a common event in the UMC of Venezuela especially among youth and young adults. There is a tremendous move of the Holy Spirit among the young in VZ. Pastors Alex and Ama (students in the Seminario Wesleyano de Venezuela) are doing a great job reaching the lost, discipling new believers and reaching out in loving compassionate ministry to the community. Join in with this movement. Go where God is at work
Pastors Alex and Ama preaching at the Baptism. This was after two weeks of intensive Seminary classes. They are remarkable servants of Christ. Pray about taking a mission to Venezuela. God is moving in a mighty way there and you need to be a part of that move of the Spirit.