"As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him." - Psalm 18:30
February 2010 Mission Report
Does it seem like it has been more than ten years since people were anticipating the new millennium? It doesn't to me!
It is amazing how swiftly time goes by! Job said his days were “swifter than a weaver’s shuttle”. (Job 7:6) Last year seems to have gone by in quarters instead of months! Great things happened. However, they are behind us now.
Last fall was spent in some appointments for raising funds, but I also took more time with my family and worked more from my phone and computer. The economy being what it was, we did not get the money we had hoped for, but are thankful for what we did get!
What about 2010? Well, we are making plans and have also gotten some good reports from men in the field.
Panama News
Youth Rally in Bocas del Toro at the Rio Oeste Church of Christ
Gilberto Blandford, preacher for the Rio Oeste congregation in the Bocas del Toro province, where we had the YES II campaign last July, sent a report on their 4th annual youth rally, held January 14-16. Cooperating congregations were: Valle Risco, Changuinola, Almirante, Baranco Aadentro, Bella Vista, Loma Muleto, Valle las Perlas, Silico Creek, and Rio Oeste, the host congregation. There were 128 young people in attendance. The five speakers were made up of both older and younger men, some preachers and some not. “The lessons were excellent,” Gilberto said.
Silico Creek Church of Christ Construction:
A report on Feb. 11, 2010 came from the Silico Creek congregation, also in Bocas del Toro. They are preparing for building expansion from their own resources. They already have $7,000.00 capital and will do the work themselves; even the women are doing manual labor.
Similar work is also being done with the building for the Bisira congregation (also in Bocas) and is almost completed. I hope to have pictures soon. Several years ago, I planted the seed that the brethren must take responsibility for these things, and brother Gilberto watered that seed idea and it grew in Rio Oeste where he preaches. (That is their building in the youth rally report above.) The idea is growing with others and proves what can be done when the brethren will use what the Lord has blessed them with.
Nicaragua News
Monte Fresco Church of Christ, in Managua. Mario Mendieta is the preacher there. Along with other area preachers and local church members, a small campaign in January was held and three unfaithful members were restored. Mario is training local members to do the work of the Lord. In November 2009, Mario reported that Juan Agustin Vallecillo Mendoza was added to the Lord by baptism, but in his latest report Mario said that brother Juan passed away on December 28.
The Monte Fresco congregation was started in 2005 and went through the struggles of establishing itself in the community, and with a preacher who was unfaithful to his wife in 2007. Brother Mario stepped in and has done a good job in bringing the members back together.
Cristhian Gutierrez, evangelist for the San Marcos Church of Christ, reported that the roof needed to be replaced on the church building. It is a zinc (or tin) roof and the members are buying replacement panels, beginning with the worst. This is another sign of churches taking more responsibility. In the past they have depended on help from the U.S., and we’ve been glad to help; but they need to learn to take care of their own buildings as much as possible.
Brother Francisco Polanco graduated from the Panama Campus of the Bible School of the Americas in Dec. He is now working with the San Marcos, Nicaragua congregation. He is also serving as the coordinator for the Satellite Schools in Nicaragua. The Satellite Schools help local congregations prepare teachers and preachers for the Lord’s work. It is also from these schools that we find prospects to go to Panama and study.
Literature shipment via the container to Honduras. LAM sent a container to Honduras late in 2009 and we included enough boxes of literature to serve several of the congregations in Nicaragua. The preachers who work with the East Ridge church in Chattanooga, TN worked together with our preachers and met a brother from Honduras to make the transfer. This was completed on Feb. 13.
Questions on “the Judgment Day”. One of the preachers wrote and asked questions concerning the Day of Judgment because one of the preachers had made controversial comments about it. I am planning to do an article in Spanish to address this.
Discipline Problem in Masatepe. In January there were some accusations made against brother Ernesto Aleman, the preacher in the Masatepe congregation by a brother who had been disciplined for using alcohol. We took some time to get to the truth of the situation because the brother under discipline had presented a letter, signed by about ¾ of the members, stating that Ernesto had been unjust in his treatment of the brother in discipline. I translated the letter and sent it to Ernesto’s supporting congregation in Ohio. After visits from other preachers and other members, it turned out that only three members were actually against Ernesto and the others recanted on the afore mentioned letter. The brother who had been drinking had also been sharing the pulpit and was embarrassed and upset because he was not allowed to preach. The last I heard, he was not attending the services, which shows his unchristian spirit and a good reason for him not to be preaching at this time. We are hoping he will repent.
New BSA student off to Panama. We selected a student to go to the Bible School of the Americas in Panama to study to be a preacher. His name is Juan Francisco López Arancibia, and he is married with one child. (Photo below). He is from the Andres Castro congregation in Managua.
General News
Preacher Support
Several preachers that I work with have been receiving support for quite a few years. Due to the economy, a good number have lost support. This is not the best way to deal with men who have been receiving support for a long time, but it has happened nonetheless. A number of the preachers have written and asked what is happening. Some supporting brethren give an advanced notice that the cut backs are coming, and at times we do not learn of the cut backs until they have already occurred. I have written letters of explanation to those who are asking, hoping this will help them see the need to get the congregations where they preach to take on more responsibility. The local works eventually need to become as self-supporting as possible.
LAM Newsletter. I serve as editor of the Latin American Missions Newsletter and we’ll have a new issue out soon. You might see some of this info there as well.
The Voice of Truth International is a quarterly publication from World Evangelism, and contains articles on God, Evidences, The Word of God, Salvation, The Church, The Christian Home, Daily Christian Living, Bible Characters, Sermon Outlines, Textual Studies, and Mission Reports from around the world. I was asked to do a write-up on our work in Panama and this will be in the next issue. If you want to know more, here is the web link: http://www.worldevangelism.org
Haiti News. We all are familiar with the powerful earthquake that hit Haiti on Jan. 12. Several individuals and elders contacted us to see what we might be doing. We have no active works going on there, but we have taken funds that will be used to do the best for the people. We will more than likely send the funds to faithful brethren who are already working there. As you would know, there will be recovery challenges for a long time.
FHU Lectures. It was my distinct pleasure to have my wife, Alisa, attend the lectures at Freed-Hardeman with me this February. We also were able to spend time with our daughter Amanda and her husband John, and our older son, Clay. Sarah Dutton, who works full time with LAM, stayed in our home with Ellie and Will so we could go. Steve and Debbie Browning lent us their guest house, which is about a mile from the campus. The experience was nice for all of us and we are thankful.
Campaign plans and travel to Columbia. My next campaign is planned for April 5-13, and will be in Managua, Nicaragua. Our team is small but ready to go to work. As soon as this campaign ends, I will travel to Medellin, Colombia to teach I & II Samuel at the Bible School there. This is an extension course in addition to regular classes. I did this last August in Panama, and covered the material in 5 days. I plan to do the same this time in Columbia.
Thanks so much to all who are helping us in any way!
I am concluding with a plea for help for the Columbia trip. I will need to fly from Managua to Panama City Panama, then on to Medellin. Then there is the return trip. I will have to spend three nights in a hotel due to scheduling. I also will use an interpreter, even though I speak Spanish, because things will actually move much faster. He will travel from San Andres Island in Columbia and meet me in Medellin. I have figured the total costs for our airfare, my hotels, and food, to run about $2,000.00. If I can get ten sources to help with $200.00 each, then we’ll have it. Of course, I will take whatever I can get! At last count, I only needed $500.00 to reach my goal. The money is simply not available in the School budget. I need to know as soon a possible if you can help. Please send an email via the contact form (below) or call my cell phone, with questions or an answer. Checks may be sent to Latin American Missions, P.O. Box 2330, Valdosta, GA 31602. Earmark, "Roger Leonard's Travel to Columbia".
Sincerely in Christ,
Roger Leonard
"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen." - Eph 3:20-21 - ESV
Forrest Park Church of Christ
Latin American Missions
Office: 229.242.1069, ext. 210
Home: 229.245.7889 * Cell: 229.251.8039