The battle & struggle are real AND WE ARE CHOSEN!!
October Praises
- We are grateful for our October time with supporting churches. Janine & I are so thankful for you and for our partnering with you and it’s a privilege to periodically update you in person on God’s work through us in Chile. Without Christian churches, there would be no weekly gatherings or organized teaching of children, youth, & adults, going into whole communities and sending of missionaries to other cultures and people groups. Yet, there is nothing automatic about being a unified, growing, going, & sending church. The “stakes” are incredibly high in terms of lives touched and transformed through Jesus’ church, as Satan well realizes and there is therefore nothing he won’t do to totally destroy the testimony and effectiveness of any and every church everywhere. The battle and struggle are real for both churches and for missionaries. (Eph. 6:10-12) Be encouraged, as the KEY TO VICTORY for all of us is found in verse 10 in chapter 6 of Paul’s letter the church in Ephesus: Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. (underlines mine) It’s all SO worth it!
- We are also thankful for our periodic time in family, and in October we arrived in time to California to be with Jordan, Rob, & their three small daughters to welcome Tiago Jackson Boldt into the world. Both mother and son are healthy and we were able to help out for a short time.
- God continues to bless and use Todd in Chile during our absence, as he visits home-bound church members, has become a catalyst in the regular coming together of the young adults in the church, and guides English Club. In order to prepare weekly English teaching at different levels, some of the advanced speakers help teach the beginners and in it all, relationships are being formed. Regarding the young adults in the church, before Todd, there were no group activities or cohesiveness. He is also, through it all, reaching out to new young people and encouraging them to get to know the church.
- Lutheran missionary friends in Santiago, Jim & Liisa Tino, were received a mission group in late Oct. The group’s housing arrangements fell through at the last minute and we were able to offer our mission site in Santiago toward that 5-day need. We are grateful for how God works in all situations.
November prayer requests
We know that there is nothing more important to God than people and their relationship with him through Jesus. We know that the battle and struggle are both real and spiritual in nature. We also know that Jesus’ church is God’s chosen instrument through which he carries out his perfect plan and good purposes in this world. He chose Pentecost to birth us and he chose Paul as his chosen instrument to “carry his name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel”. (Acts 9:15) Almost half of the New Testament is made up of Paul’s letters to churches.
In addition to praying for God’s work in Chile during our time in the States, please join us this month in praying for Jesus’ church in the States. A main reason for our annual end-of-year trip to the States is to visit supporting churches and to participate in the Christian Churches/Churches of Christ annual International Conference on Missions (ICOM). There are many factors making it difficult for churches to attend every year, but if you’ve not done so for several years or perhaps have never attended this important gathering, why not do so this year? It is a mighty tool that God uses in building up his church to better carry out his Great Commission in the world. Please pray this month for it as well.
ICOM will be held at the convention center in Lexington, KY beginning on the evening of Thursday, Nov. 17 and ending with a service held on that Sunday morning. There is special programming for children, an entire teen-oriented conference held simultaneously, many good workshops for churches and individuals, hundreds of missionary/missions-focused/Christian universities booths, and main sessions with great speakers. There is also a special walk-through “prayer” area set up in the main hall.
How good and important it is to use this month of November to especially pray for Jesus’ Church in the United States. Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And on this rock (Simon’s confession of faith) I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” –Matt. 16:16-18
Praising, praying, and fasting in our ALL-GENERATIONAL Church-Heading & Empowering Lord,
Chile Mission 