Hands to the Work – Ron Winter

Dear Friends in Christ,

“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.” 1 John 4:9

Happy New Year! We trust that all of you had a wonderful Christmas, as we did. We’re excited to see what wonderful things the Lord has in store for this New Year!

Anáhuac: The “Precious Seed Baptist Church” had a special Christmas program; celebrating Christ’s coming to this earth to redeem us from our sin.
The teachers in the Sunday School classes and the children honored the Lord with a great testimony of the Lord’s grace and mercy in coming to save us.
The teens prepared a drama that depicted the real meaning of Christmas, and that special care must be taken to honor Him every day of the year.
Our ladies prepared a special dinner, and everyone invited and brought visitors. Although we were missing several of our own people due to illness, and traveling, we had 103 people in attendance, with 11 people saved! Amen!!
We have had 26 people saved on soul-winning, visitation, and in church services. Gabi, was led to the Lord by Pati, one of our teen girls. Through Pati’s testimony, and by the changes Gabi’s family saw in her, they came to church when Gabi was baptized, then came another time and got saved!!! They have been coming faithfully ever since!

Teens: Our teen department is continuing strong, although we have seen the “enemy” trick 5 of our teens into thinking that they can have more fun with the rock music, smoking, tattooing, carousing crowd.
A good friend from El Paso, who had lived that life before he got saved, came to visit us, and taught our teens that all the world, (Satan) has to offer is heartache and deception. It was a special blessing to our teens.
Some of the girls have been preparing specials to sing in church services, which has been a tremendous blessing. They have also been helping with music during their youth meetings.

Family: We took my in-laws to Los Mochis, to visit missionary friends, the Collins, for Thanksgiving. We sure had a great time!
Our second son, Andrew and his wife, Shana, came to visit us for Christmas. It was a special blessing to get to know her better, as well as to have him preach for us!

Praise: Salvations; Christmas program; Teens enthusiasm; Family here for the holidays

Prayer: Saved to get baptized; Pastor for the church; Teens who have strayed

In His Service,

Dear Friends in Christ,

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.” 2 Timothy 3: 1

Anáhuac: The Iglesia Bautista Semilla Preciosa continues to have a very good spirit but is down a little in attendance. We’ve been feeling the economic crunch, which has forced some of our people to work second jobs, and some of our ladies have had to go to work just to make ends meet.
We have seen 35 people saved in services, or on visitation, and special visits. Amen! We baptized 5 people the last Sunday of September.
Our visitation efforts continue to yield fruit, although we’d like to see more come out to knock doors. Thank the Lord for the faithful ones.
Please continue to pray that the Lord would provide the right Mexican man to pastor the church here.

All Church Picnic: Before the cold weather, we decided to have a “Dla de Campo” (picnic) and 47 of our folks came out. The men did the cooking and the ladies prepared the rest of the meal.
Our youth director had games and competitions for young and old alike, and we had a great time of fellowship.
Two vehicles got stuck in the river that we had to cross, so we had fun getting them out. The highlight of the day was one new teen trusting Christ as his Savior, and another coming forward for assurance.

Teens: As our teens have gotten back into the full swing of school, projects, and various homework assignments, they haven’t been able to attend church as faithfully as they had been. Of course, the sports programs of the schools also demand much of their time, and quite often their games fall on days when we have services and activities.
Please continue praying for our teen’s faithfulness, especially for Perla & César, who have been missing more and more.

Praise: People saved, and baptized; Faithfulness of the faithful

Prayer: People saved on visitation to come out to services; More to submit to baptism; Teens – especially Perla & César; Need for additional personal support; National Pastor for the church

In His Service,

Dear Friends in Christ,

“If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:11

Services: The last couple of months have shown more stability in our people. We have been having over 50 in attendance, and more than 60 the past two weeks, with visitors in most services. It is great to see the growth, and the people wanting to serve.

Anniversary: The “Iglesia Bautista Semilla Preciosa” celebrated its 7th anniversary in July. We had a “potluck” dinner, with 90 in attendance, 2 saved and 7 baptized. Amen!

Salvations: Several have been coming out for visitation – soul winning. There have been 17 saved in services or on visitation.
The parents of one of our teens were saved. Two other people who had been attending services were also saved.
When visiting Jorge’s son about being baptized, I witnessed to Jorge about being saved, but he rejected the Lord. Five days later, a big fork lift ran over his head and chest. We prayed that he would have another opportunity to be saved. In just two weeks, he was back home and gladly accepted the Lord! He told me that he knew the Lord had spared his life, and he needed to serve Him. Amen! Please pray for him spiritually and physically, and that he will continue to be faithful to the Lord.

Teens: We took 10 of our teens to youth camp. All of them received a blessing, and surrendered their lives to serve the Lord in some capacity. Our teens have been bringing visitors, as well as winning some of their friends. There have been 15-20 teens in most every service. We pray they keep the excitement!

Please pray for César and Perla, who have had some disappointments in their lives, and are running with the wrong crowd.

Change: Please note our changed e-mail address: rncwinter80@msn.com Also we have a new internet phone (1-513-898-1359) which will make it easier and cheaper for you to call us.

Praise: Good attendance and faithfulness; Anniversary; People saved & baptized; Camp & Teens’ growth

Prayer: National Pastor for the church; Spiritual lives of Jorge, César, Perla

In His Service,

Dear Friends in Christ,

“Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:” 2 Thessalonians 3:1

Furlough: As we mail this letter, we are heading back home to Mexico. After 4 1/2 months and 16,000 miles we are anxious to get back to the work. The Lord has blessed in our meetings and we have seen several saved and many recommitting their lives to the Lord. We have had safety in our travels and only had a problem when a spring on the travel trailer broke toward the end of our trip. The Lord blessed in getting that fixed as well.

God allowed us to share the gospel with several along the way. On one occasion, as we traveled south we were bucking such a head-wind that we had to stop in a tiny town in northeastern New Mexico, to buy gasoline. I fueled up, went in to pay the owner, and he was just waiting for me to show him how to be saved, and he trusted the Lord as his Savior! Amen!

Anáhuac: The Iglesia Bautista Semilla Preciosa seems to be doing well in our absence. Some of our men have filled the pulpit from time to time. Working together, they have had more church activities than ever, and we want to encourage them to keep on doing the same after we are back.

We will be celebrating the church’s anniversary in July with several things planned for that day including a baptism. There are several adults and at least 8 teens awaiting baptism. It is good to see that our folks have been working in our absence.

We will also be taking the teens to youth camp the last week of July. They still lack some of their money but are working hard, doing different jobs and fund raisers to be ready to go. We hope to take a good group, and pray that the Lord will speak to their hearts.

Family: Connie and I celebrated 25 years of marriage in May!!

Praise: Safety in our travels; People saved; Church in Anáhuac moving forward in our absence; 25 years together!!

Prayer requests: Youth camp; Right man to pastor the church

In His Service,

Dear Friends in Christ,

“For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:” Colossians 2:5-6

Furlough: We are reporting to several of our supporting churches in the U.S., as it has been five years since we have been back to them. We’ve been having good meetings, and it has been great getting to know new pastors and churches, as well as renewing old acquaintance. We won’t be able to get to all of our supporters at this time, but hope to report to the rest another time soon. We also have meetings in a few new churches to raise new support to keep up with the expenses of the ministry and the cost living. The Lord has been blessing and supplying our needs. We will be back in Mexico the first week of July, in time to take the teens to youth camp the end of that month.

Another missionary in the area, Warren Klenk, has been helping with services in our absence.

Anáhuac: The Iglesia Bautista Semilla Preciosa is continuing strong, with several of the men taking services and preaching, when Bro. Klenk can’t be there.
Last week, Manuel, a teenager who had been coming for a little while with his dad, got saved after the Sunday morning service. Amen!
The folks have had special activities on a couple occasions and it is good to see them working together.
The teens are staying faithful to the Lord, participating in all of the activities of the church. They are also working, doing different jobs, trying to raise money for camp.
Please continue praying that the Lord will provide the right man to pastor this church, so that we can move on to another place to start another church.

FM-3 Visas: Our Mexican work visas are back from the renewal process!

Family: Our second son, Andrew, married Shana MacQueen on May 14. It was beautiful!!

Praise: Safety in our travels; Church in Anáahuac remaining faithful; Manuel – salvation; FM-3 visas

Prayer: Our safety & that we’d be a blessing to the churches we visit; Youth camp; The right Mexican man to pastor the church

In His Service,