As we approach Christmas, we are very grateful for ways in which God has been blessing our family and ministries in Ecuador – but we are infinitely more thankful for the gift of his Son!   The significance of that event is proclaimed in the words of two of God’s official messengers:

As we rejoice in God’s greatest Gift who provides the only way to true, lasting, eternal peace – please rejoice and pray with us also about these lesser, but still significant blessings…

 

               

In early November, about 60 ministry leaders – including both missionaries and many Latin American ministry colleagues – gathered outside of Bogotá, Colombia for three days of seminars and training.  Important topics such as of Christ-centered, contextualized preaching; incarnational discipleship and relational evangelism were taught and discussed.  Craig thanks God for this opportunity to learn and interact with ministry partners from around the region and asks that you pray that by God’s grace this teaching may be applied fruitfully to our ministries in Ecuador.

      

   

Immediately upon our return from Colombia, the mission and Quito Presbytery organized three days of conferences centered around the topics of “A ministry of reconciliation: living the peace of the Gospel” and  “The centrality of the Gospel – in the life of the church and individual”.  Rev. Andrés Garza of Monterrey, México (light-colored coat in both pictures) was our featured speaker.  Attendance was a bit lower than we had hoped for the first two days, but our combined 4-church service (first photo) was well attended.  Andrés was able to begin to “stir the pot” a little as he spoke briefly to presbytery leaders about the dynamics and necessity of church planting and church revitalization – later in the letter you’ll see how this may be bearing fruit!  Pray that the central messages of peacemaking and living out the Gospel will be applied in our lives of God’s people here in Ecuador.

As you can see, November was a busy month!  Just before Thanksgiving, my supervisor and good friend Rev. Bill Yarbrough (pictured immediately behind Stacy) was able to join us for three days of meetings and teaching.  We thank God that he gathered our whole team from three different locations around Ecuador to be present for this important time together.  We were able to take a deeper look at the directions in which God may be leading our ministries among both the Quichua and Spanish-speaking peoples of Ecuador.  Please pray for wisdom as we continue to define our ministry priorities for 2010.  Stacy and I thank God continually for the amazing team that He has gathered together!

   

On November 21st our team was able to initiate some on-going conversations with the leaders of four Presbyterian churches in Quito (the Quito Presbytery of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ecuador).  We are excited and expectant that this dialogue may lead us toward a new partnership focused on planting and re-planting some churches together.  Many of the men leading our churches have served for 15-25 years as Ruling Elders and Pastors and are desirous of seeing God raise up a new generation of leaders – to strengthen & grow the current congregations and perhaps plant some new ones!  We have a series of meetings between now and January for which we would covet your prayers (specific dates below). 

For those of you who like to pray by name – or who may know some of these dear friends, here they starting are from right: Edmundo Serrano (pink shirt, Moderator of the Presbytery), Alfredo Grijalva, Luis Vasco, Carlos Cevallos, Hernán Alvarado (brown jacket, mostly hidden),  Franklin Molina, Cristel Villacis, Cesar Larea (white shirt), Jorge Chancay (hidden), Bill Yarbrough (black shirt, MTW International Director for Latin America, the Caribbean and Sub-Saharan Africa), Rick Aschmann (MTW team member), Christian Troya (far left, church planter in Guayaquil).  Thank you for your prayer!  These men and the churches they represent are very dear to us and our Lord!

  Fall Family Fun

       

With the help of a two-for-one airline promotion, I was privileged to have Stacy and the girls accompany me to Bogotá where we spent a few days sight-seeing and visiting friends – before attending our regional meetings.  Karis and Aimee enjoyed playing with “fall” leaves (something we don’t see much of in Ecuador since our only two seasons are summer and winter); celebrated Aimee’s 5^th birthday (serenaded by 60 men!); and from atop a funicular train, looked out over this massive city of 8 million people.  We give thanks to God for these special times as a family!

1.       Praise for God’s provision though many fruitful meetings and conferences during the month of November.

2.       Thanks for those who give regularly and sacrificially to enable God’s ministry to go forward though our MTW team here in Ecuador!  We appreciate your generosity and service to the Lord!

3.       Joint Church Planting / Church Revitalization Initiative Discussions – Saturday Dec 20^th(8am); Mondays Jan 11th and Jan 25^th (7pm).  Please pray that God would direct our steps together in obedience to His great commission!

4.       Joyful rest and refreshment during the visit of Stacy’s parents (Dec 27-Jan10).

5.       Renewed energy, vision and dependence on God for our ministry and family priorities in 2010!

Contact information: