Sunday Study Feb. 24, 13

A young lady named Nicole came to salvation last Sunday and it was neat! When we got here we did not know a single person. We have been blessed to see the locals invite family and friends. Shirley was the first person we actually met the very next morning we arrived in Costa Rica, and that was two years and a few months ago. She has accepted Jesus as her Savior and has invited friends and her friend Nicole was the person who came to Salvation last Sunday. Lets be thankful for the Shirley's in our lives that told us about Jesus. How would you or I and even Nicole ever learn about God's love and about the salvation He has provided through His Son, Jesus Christ! Lets continue to carry the message of the hope of Christ to a dying world around us. Inspire people to look up! A young man named Marcos came up to us for prayer and I was blessed to see him be obedient and respond to Jesus. As I was praying for Marcos I found myself asking God to give me convictions and to break my heart for what breaks His. In a humble heart we see God and something in our heart changes and that is the greatest joy I have ever experienced in my walk with Christ. I know that Marcos went home joyful, knowing that Christ loves him. I desire that you partner with me in prayer and lets fall to our knees and ask God to enable us to yield to His Spirit. Lets ask God that through His Spirit He would guide us into situations where we would be able to speak to people about their need for a Savior.

I have never been a part of something so rewarding as to see peoples lives be changed by the Living Word of God. Peoples' lives are being transformed, and I, an ex meth head, get to see this. God desires to use you more than you could ever imagine! Seriously! Believe this and allow God to be King in every part of your life and if you need His aid simply ask Him. He is so faithful in coming to our aid. He runs to us and He runs to those we pray for.

Hogar Ama (Orphanage)
Recently I sat with the Friar and asked him what the needs were. He told me that the children go through sandals like crazy. The Bible College in Murrieta raised some funds for the orphanage and with those funds we gave the Friar provision to buy each kid a new pair of sandals. There are 18 boys in this orphanage that need your prayers. Pray that my relationship with Jorge (the Friar) is solid and that God would give clear vision on what He desires to do.

Pastors Conference

Pérez Zeledón (a region in southern Costa Rica), while very religious, has a great lack both of fundamental Biblical knowledge and of simple Bible teaching. The church is also quite fractured, even beyond the Catholic/Protestant divide. Evangelicals are deeply divided along denominational lines, and there are further divisions within denominations.

We will be launching Instituto Bíblico Calvary Chapel Costa Rica in August of 2013. It is a Spanish version of the Calvary Chapel Bible College model tailored for Costa Ricans. We pray that this institute, teaching the Bible simply and accurately, will serve to strengthen and establish local Tico believers in God’s Word and to equip them for service both in here their homeland and abroad. It is also my desire that the Bible College serve as a unifying agent, bringing churches together around God’s Word.

We need to accurately communicate our intent to pastors in the valley. The Calvary style and the Calvary Chapel name are unknown in Pérez Zeledón, so they will understandably be cautious of it. Instead of waiting to be labeled by rumor or hearsay, it would be prudent to introduce ourselves, “commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” (2 Co. 4:2) We want pastors to understand we are not seeking a following after ourselves, nor are we propagating a particular strain of theology. Our simple goal is the discipling, teaching and equipping of local Tico believers for the work of the ministry. These objectives can be accomplished through an interdenominational pastors’ conference. 

Proposition: One-Day, Interdenominational Pastors’ Conference

Rough estimates:

Food	$1000
Facility rental	$1000
AV Rental	$800
Speakers’ costs	$3500
Estimated TOTAL	$6300

Resources:

As of yet, we have no resources. Prayerfully, as churches and individuals hear of the eandeavor, we will be able to fund the conference.

Tentative Date:
            June 15, 2013

Ideas/thoughts/plans:

·        Host a one-day conference, free of charge, for pastors and church leaders from Pérez Zeledón. We provide pastries and coffee in the morning, lunch and dinner, serving them practically as well as spiritually.

·        Provide good, contemporary worship music at the intro of each session, putting our eyes on God and turning our hearts to Him.

·        Invite guest speakers from the States who are Calvary pastors and/or have experience teaching at a Calvary Bible College. Instead of describing the simple, exegetical teaching typical to Calvary, we invite the pastors to experience it from seasoned ministers. 

·        Structure message themes to underscore the value, power, sufficiency and authority of God’s Word. Give verse-by-verse teachings. Encourage the pastors in their work, thank them for their service to the Lord and bless them. The sessions could be structured like this…

o   Session 1: The Supremacy, Sufficiency and Power of the Bible.

o   Session 2: Exegetical, verse-by-verse teaching

o   Session 3: Exegetical, verse-by-verse teaching

o   Session 4: Encouragement to continue in service for the Lord Jesus, blessing them for their dedication to God’s people and praying with them.

Objectives:

1.      Serve, bless and encourage the pastors in Pérez Zeledón.

My wife and Ethol. This lady comes to our study
and I was blessed to see my wife praying
with her.

2.      Familiarize pastors with the Calvary style.

3.      Promote the launch of Instituto Bíblico Calvary Chapel Costa Rica.

      Guaymi Trip

      We will be teaming up with the Carty family for two days building a room for the local Pastor. Please take a look at their web page at cartyfamily.org
I am excited to be working with them and I ask that you keep us and the Carty family in prayer for provision and continual vision. I will be leading this trip from March 06 thru the 09 and will need your prayers in all the details. It has been fun organizing the trip but I am noticing that I lack so much wisdom. Wisdom comes by Holy Spirit filling and many hours in prayer and marinating in the Word.

Knowledge is proud that he has learned so

much, Wisdom is humble that he knows

no more (Author unknown)

Personal Prayer

  First my family and I are so thankful that someone bought us a fridge. It was so needed! Praise God and may God bless the persons who did it. Please keep my marriage in prayer. That I can be a loving Father, a loving husband and love my wife and children more and more each day. Pray that I can die to my flesh each second and put my wife and children first way before me. So tired of me! May Jesus be seen in me and in you! He is so worthy! My duty is to reflect the orderliness of God in all I do for Him and I lack so please keep me in prayer. My wife and I love you all so much and are thankful for your prayers and support. There are so many things that God is doing but I just do not have the words to write about it.
Much love in Christ!
Gerry