NOVEMBER 2026 UPDATE
The past few weeks have been filled with ministry opportunities for which we are grateful. As you read about these opportunities, we hope you will be reminded of your significant role in these activities through your prayers and support.
The highlight was the ordination of the pastor of Iglesia Bautista Emanuel, the struggling church we have been assisting for the past few months. When they first approached us for help, they had three requests: legal assistance, ordination, and guidance on their property deed. Regrettably, despite having someone fill the pulpit, the church had no one to lead them effectively for over two decades. Roberto Soliz, the man filling the pulpit for most of that time, seemed to be doing so merely to fill the void. However, over the past year, the Lord changed his heart and has drawn Roberto closer to Himself, prompting him to begin leading and pastoring the church. It has been a joy to witness this transformation and to then lead his ordination service. We ask for your prayers for Roberto and the church as they embark on this new chapter. Our prayer is that the church people learn to follow him as their pastor after being accustomed to him just being there to fill the pulpit.
Over the past few months, I have observed several areas of the church building requiring attention. During a discussion with Pastor Roberto about these needs, I noticed water damage in the children’s classroom caused by a leaking roof. Unfortunately, the old roof was beyond repair, so our family purchased new roofing material and organized a church workday. On a Sunday night after church, everyone stayed and removed the old terracotta tiles. In the process, we discovered that some of the original electrical wiring was a fire hazard due to age and deterioration. The next day, since it was a holiday, we successfully ran new wires to the rooms and completed the roof re-covering. Over the next few days, we finished the electrical installations. Unfortunately, we found that the adjoining roof was brittle and in need of repair as well. Since we had to walk over this portion to work on the other roof, there were three to four instances where it cracked and broke under the weight of the workers, despite using a walk board for protection. One incident involved someone falling through the roof, but thankfully, the rafter caught him, resulting in only bruising and scrapes.
One of the saddest realizations of this month has come through knocking on doors around the church. Over the course of three weeks, we have distributed approximately 2,000 gospel tracts and invitations. While many people were familiar with the church, a significant number believed it had been closed. Several individuals referred to it as the “abandoned” church. It is disheartening to witness such a sad testimony that even the close neighbors didn't realize they were still having services. We are hoping to change this narrative. In October, we organized a special “Visitors Day” and welcomed 37 visitors over the course of two weeks, which was a tremendous encouragement for the church members. I believe this church has a great opportunity ahead of them if they will take it.
Lastly, I would like to provide an update on our Guaraní scripture project. In October, we successfully loaded 120,000 copies of John and Romans into a container in Miami. This shipment also includes 1 million Spanish tracts and several sets of Sunday school materials. We anticipate receiving the shipment in Bolivia by the end of the year. We request your prayers for guidance in effectively distributing the scripture portions to the Guaraní people. Due to their sparce communities spread across Bolivia, this endeavor presents a significant challenge. However, we have identified a few individuals who will play a crucial role in reaching as many people as possible. Most of these villages are closed and I will not be allowed to go in without permission so having their help will be crucial.
We appreciate your unwavering support in these advancements. We hope that you continue to pray for us and the ministries here as we labor for the Lord’s glory.
