Hands to the Work – Ron Winter

Dear Friends in Christ,

“Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” James 5:8

Happy New Year!! We trust that all of you had a wonderful Christmas! We’re excited to see what wonderful things the Lord has in store for this New Year! The Lord could come for us in 2009!

Anáhuac: The “Precious Seed Baptist Church” had a special Christmas program to celebrate Christ’s incarnation, to save us from our sin. The teens had a special drama, contrasting the world’s view with the Bible perspective of Christmas and the joy & happiness that only Christ can give. The ladies fixed a great dinner as always, and we had special goodie bags for the kids.
Please pray for the success of the Faith Promise Mission Conference we will have in January.
The church is looking forward to God’s blessings in this New Year. Please pray with us that during this year we can have the pastor in place who will lead this church on to greater success.

Construction: The church hired some Christian men to put the sheet rock up in the new auditorium, and they have completed the outside walls. They will put the dividing walls in as soon as we get the ceramic tile on the floor. We challenged the church to give a Christmas offering for the ceramic tile, but because of the crisis, they have only given a small part of the $2,000 dollars needed.

Survey Trip: We made a survey trip to see with our own eyes the need in other areas.
We went to the state of Oaxaca in southern Mexico, and saw a city of 450,000 people with only one Independent Baptist mission, with less than one year in existence. There were a few works in some areas, but still a lot of cities with no works. There is a lot of need in several areas of Oaxaca.
We also went through the western states of Sonora and Sinaloa, and had the privilege of preaching in some churches there. There are a few missionaries and Mexican pastors in most of the large cities, but only one church for every 150,000 to 400,000 population, so obviously tens of thousands are still unevangelized. There are also a number of works in some small cities, but we saw cities with populations of 50,000 to 250,000 with no known independent Baptist church. We also visited a couple of cities in Chihuahua state with very little being done.
To be honest, we were surprised at the need for good Bible preaching, soul winning churches that still exists in the areas that we went, not to mention other parts of Mexico.
Please pray for Mexico, and for the Lord’s direction in our lives.

Family: Our son Andrew and his family visited us for Christmas, and brought Bethany with them. We had a great time – especially with our grandchildren! Amen!

Prayer: Pastor for the church in Anáhuac; Souls saved; Mission Conference; Construction – funds;  Compassion for the lost; Power of God; Direction in our lives; FM-2 Work Visas

Praise: Blessings of 2008; Safety in our travels; Progress on the construction

In His Service,

Dear Friends in Christ,

“Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also. I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.” II Corinthians 8:7-8

Anáhuac: We had a week of vacation Bible School, with an average attendance of 72. Several children made a profession of faith, and on the closing day 10 parents came out, and heard a clear presentation of the gospel. It was a blessing to have the three girls who attend Bible Institutes home for the summer, helping with the Bible School, special visits, etc.
We have made several hospital visits lately, visiting family of members of the church, and the Lord has allowed us to win several others that were in the same or adjoining rooms. Amen!
We celebrated 10 years since we started the “Iglesia Bautista Semilla Preciosa”. Please pray that the Lord provides the national pastor that the church needs to allow us to go forward in our ministry, and start again in another place here in México.

Conferences: We have had the opportunity to preach in some other churches here in México this summer. One church invited us to preach to them on “the family.” It was a blessing to us, to see this Mexican church striving to fortify the family in these days of unfaithfulness.
In another church we preached their second annual mission conference. It was a 5 day conference, with a meal every night after the service. They would stay past 10 PM every day, but the attendance just kept increasing each day. On Sunday, the last day of the conference, they took up the Faith Promise commitments, and more than doubled the promise from the year before. It was exciting to see the people trusting in the Lord and accepting the challenge to increase their faith!

Youth Camp: We only took 6 teens to youth camp in July. With conflicting schedules, attitudes, and just general apathy attacking from all sides, several wouldn’t or couldn’t commit. The theme of the camp was, “Rompiendo Moldes” (breaking molds), dealing with spiritual warfare, and how to leave the past in the past. It was an excellent camp, with almost 200 in attendance, and most every teen making the decision to entrust their life to the Lord.

Personal: Our youngest, Bethany, came home for the summer to help us in the ministry, and was a big blessing to us and to the church. She has now gone back to Bible College to begin her second year.
We still have no news about our FM-2 work visas which have been in the renewal process for 7 months.

Prayer: Souls to be saved, and come to church; Bethany returning to school; Pastor for the church;  FM-2 visas

Praise: Souls saved; Good conferences and VBS, Decisions made at camp

In His Service,

Dear Friends in Christ,

“…praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.” Colossians 4:3,4

Anáhuac: The “Iglesia Bautista Semilla Preciosa” is seeing the blessings of God in spite of the obstacles and opposition that Satan has put in our way. We are having more people come out for visitation, and have had more visitors lately.
We took 12 people to a graduation fellowship in San Pedro de Las Colonias, Coahuila. The theme was “Reviving the Fire”. The preaching was great, just what we needed, and each one came home encouraged and enthused.
Our assistant, Otoniel and his wife, who had completed their year of service here with us, also received their diplomas. We encouraged them to stay and work with us, as they need the experience, and we need the help. They thought they would stay, but now feel they should work in another church.
Keep praying for the Mexican pastor that the church here needs to lead them forward.

Construction: The new auditorium is going up slowly but surely, with our men coming out to work when they can. We now have the entire roof on and front sidewalk in, and are ready for the windows and doors. Then we can start finishing inside walls, etc. Please pray for the funds so we can get in it soon.

Evangelism: Bearing Precious Seed International in El Paso brought down a group from Kansas to have evangelistic meetings. We were in three different places in the evenings, and preached in the central plaza in Cuauhtémoc in the afternoons. In the mornings, they assembled personalized John & Romans for soul winning. Several people made a profession of faith, and we are following up on all that we have names and addresses for.

Mother’s and Father’s Day: We had special services to honor the parents present in the services on their respective days, with a nice dinner. The teen girls made something special for each one of them.

Personal: Our FM-2 work visas have been in the renewal process for 5 months, pray that they come soon.
Bethany our youngest came home from Bible College to help us for the summer. Amen!
We still believe that the Lord wants us to move and start another work here in Mexico. We don’t know when or where, and don’t feel able to move forward until the Lord provides a pastor to leave the church with. Please pray for us.
FM-2 Visas: We haven’t heard anything from our work visas. Pray that they come soon.

Prayer: Pastor for the church; Construction; Souls to be saved; FM-2 visas; The Lord’s direction in our lives; Power of God; Bethany back to school in Aug.

Praise: Souls saved; The Lord’s blessings and faithfulness; Special days; Bethany home for summer

In His Service,

Dear Friends in Christ,

“Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself. So will not we go back from thee: quicken us, and we will call upon thy name.” Psalms 80:17-18

Anáhuac: Otoniel and his family came to work with us for their one year of service required for graduation from a Bible institute here in Mexico. He and his wife recently met with the pulpit committee, and the committee and I recommended Otoniel to the church as pastor. The church voted the next Sunday, but he did not receive the necessary percentage of votes.
It came as a shock to us, as we were sure that this was the will of God for the church.
Please pray for wisdom in this situation.
Also, pray for Otoniel and his family as they seek the Lord’s will for their lives.

Construction: A church from Chihuahua City came over two different Saturdays to help us put the concrete floor in our new auditorium. Amen!
We also have half of the insulation and roofing metal on as well. It is hard to find times when several of our men can come to work at the same time, so the progress is slow.
The Lord continues to supply funds from our people, as well as special offerings that have come in. Amen!

Camp: We took 15 teens to our annual spring camp the week after Easter. The theme of the camp was “Prepared unto Every Good Work” (II Tim 2:20-22). Most of our teens seemed changed and committed to have a right attitude at home, school, and church.

Día del Niño: April 30 is the “Day of the Child” here in Mexico. Our folks invited children and parents and celebrated with a special service for the children the Sunday before. The teens presented a special puppet show, songs, and had cake and ice-cream. Many new children came besides the regular attendance, and two young couples came with their children for the first time. No one was saved but several more people heard the gospel.

FM-2 Visas: We haven’t heard anything from our work visas. Pray that they come soon.

Prayer: Unity in the church and wisdom; Pastor for the church; Work visas; Otoniel and family

Praise: The Lord’s faithfulness, provision and continued presence; Day of the Child;
Progress on the construction; Camp

In His Service,

Dear Friends in Christ,

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” 1 Peter 3:15

Anáhuac: The Iglesia Bautista Semilla Preciosa had its Faith Promise Mission Conference in January.
The church has been supporting five missionaries and two Bible Institutes here in Mexico at $50 per month. With the new promise, we should be able to do a little more than last year. For most, it is a real step of faith to trust the Lord for what they don’t readily have.
Our annual sweetheart banquet was well attended and Bro. Otoniel brought a timely message, challenging couples to love one another in the love of Christ.
We took 22 from our church to a fellowship at a church in Chihuahua City, about an hour and a half from here. It was a great example for our folks to see that church open their doors and hearts to receive us. The theme was “Crisis in the Family” and every message was a blessing.
Through the visitation and ministries of the church we’ve seen eight people come to know the Lord, as well as others that our people have won on their own.

Construction: We are getting the roof on the new auditorium. We had a great turnout of men and teen boys for the last work day.
There is a contractor in the church in Chihuahua City that wants to bring several of their men and teens to help us put the concrete floor in. We hope to have the first half done this week. Amen!!

Assistant Pastor: Otoniel and his family came last June to fulfill their year of service for completion of their studies at the Bible Institute. He also came with the possibility of taking the church in Anáhuac as pastor. After observing them, it is obvious that he has a pastor’s heart and loves the people here.
Please pray for wisdom as we seek the right timing in this transition and move forward in our ministry.

Couples Conference: We were invited to preach a couples conference at a church in Cuauhtémoc. It was very well attended, we had complete liberty to preach, and most of the couples came forward in the invitations. The people brought visitors and the last night, one visiting couple was saved. Amen!!

Mexican Citizenship: We have been denied citizenship at least for now but we may be able to reapply later. We have applied for our new FM-2 work visas. Please pray that they come soon.

Praise: People saved; Privilege of serving the Lord

Prayer: Missions offerings; Construction; The power of God on our lives; National Pastor; FM-2 Visas

In His Service,