PRAYER LETTERS
November-December 2011
Dear Friends in Christ,
We Praise the Lord for His grace and mercy as the kidnapping of pastors and/or members of their families has calmed down. Things have been relatively peaceful as souls continue to be saved in the Mexican churches. Other kidnappings still occur, and the violence and murder has not subsided in Monterrey.
Mathew 11:28-30, “Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
This young mother has hope for a better life for her baby and family after trusting Christ! The churches report 28 adults and 39 children saved these two months!
The light of the Gospel brings hope and peace in a time of turmoil and unrest.
December 12, is Virgin of Guadelupe Day in Mexico. Millions will perform penance for sin and worship whom they believe is the Mother of God. She is considered Co-Redeemer with Christ. It is a false hope and peace that needs to be replaced with the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
We are so thankful for our dedicated students and staff of the Bible College who have won 77 souls! There will be a few less worshipping a false deity. Please continue to pray for the churches, Bible College, and the work in general. May the Lord bless you with hope and peace this Christmas season.
Thank you for your faithful prayers and support.
Yours in Christ,
Rick and Susie
September-October 2011
Dear Friends in Christ,
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We thank the Lord for you and deeply appreciate your faithful prayers and financial support for the work in Mexico.
Susie and I are doing well and traveling a lot on furlough. The Lord has blessed us as we visit some of our supporting churches and renew old friendships. He has blessed us with a few “new” churches that have taken us on for prayer and financial support.
In spite of the violence in our area of Monterrey, the churches continue to reach out to the communities even in some of the more dangerous neighborhoods. There have been 24 saved in several of the churches! Many of these new converts are being discipled. The Trinity B. C. celebrated its 25th year with 10 new visitors and 4 saved! The Beacon B. C. is preparing for their annual Missions Conference and anniversary in November. Other churches are having special meetings as well, and two other churches are enlarging their facilities.
The Bible College is off to a good start with six new students. We were expecting 12 to 15, but some parents were afraid to send them because of the dangers near our campus. Our students have won 103 people to Christ these two months! Also, a new mission work has been started at the college campus with 15 adults and a number of children. Please continue to pray for the churches, the Bible College, and for the work in general.
Thank you for your faithful prayers and support.
Yours in Christ,
Rick and Susie
July-August 2011
Dear Friends in Christ,
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We thank the Lord for you and deeply appreciate your faithful prayers and financial support for the work in Mexico.
Susie and I are doing well and enjoying many blessings from the Lord. While the dangers around us escalate, we have decided to begin preparations for
furlough. Hopefully after reporting to our churches and raising support that has been lost due to economic problems in the States, the dangers will have diminished and some normalcy restored to the area of Monterrey.
In July a S.E.N.D. Group from Capitol City B. C. in Holt, MI came to help us build a dormitory using our open-air tabernacle as the beginning phase. Along with their offering and the offerings of two other churches and two individuals, we were able to complete the dormitory. What a tremendous blessing this is for our students who have been cooped up in small rooms.
Shortly after the group left, within a week of each other two Mexican pastors suffered a horrible experience when their sons were kidnapped and held for ransom. Thankfully the ransom was paid and the boys were set free! The families moved to a safe house.
We praise the Lord for the 55 souls who trusted Christ as their personal savior during the VBSs! Also the Senior Youth Camp had six saved and ten that surrendered to fulltime service! Several of them will be enrolling in our Bible College in the near future. Please continue to pray for our churches and the Bible College and for the work in general throughout Mexico. Pray for their safety. God bless you all.
Thank you for your faithful prayers and support.
Yours in Christ,
Rick and Susie