July 2010
Stewart Hunter’s Visit, in his own words:
FIRST THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC:
1) The rickety old frame church where 75 people crammed into on Sunday mornings, has been replaced by the lovely new one! Adrian and Sharon Thomas have been in the DR now for about 7 years. They, along with a wonderful family from the USA (the Larsons), established “Every Day Ministries” in 2006. The vision is to help, encourage, equip, and empower the pastors of The DR to fulfill the vision that God has given THEM!
Two principles struck me as being just SO GOOD! A) Thomases come alongside DR pastors to help the pastors fulfill THEIR vision! So, rather than saying, “Here we are you lucky people; join up with us and we’ll show you how to do it!”, they make it clear that they are in The DR to work together with the pastors and church leaders.
B) Thomases work with pastors and leaders of any and all evangelical denominations! Good eh? There are some non-negotiables, i.e. the deity of Christ, His saving death and resurrection, the Scriptures as the rule for faith and practice, etc. But denominational specifics are set aside so that the greatest good can be accomplished by the greatest number working together for the advancement of God’s Kingdom. Refusal to work together comes only from the denomination, not from our GW’s there. Hence, in a week from now there will be over 500 pastors and church leaders from all over The DR gathering together for a seminar/teaching/fellowship/interaction time.
Thomases also help to renovate church buildings, and in some cases they build totally new structures. This new building will hold 500! That’s the vision of the pastor of the church, so Adrian basically says, “Ok, we can help to see that vision realized.” The new building is almost next to the old one.
Sharon is bringing together the pastors’ wives called, “Women of Destiny”. This is to empower and equip the women already in leadership. Nothing like this has existed before in The DR.
I learned that kids in The DR have free public education. BUT, each child must purchase shoes, uniforms and school supplies. Cost for this is $ 65.00 per child, so many families who cannot afford this amount per child, their kids simply do not get to go to school. Hence, the “Child SCHOLARSHIP Program”. I gave, thanks to your support of our budget, by providing funds for 5 children in one pastor’s family!
(be sure to check out my visit to Haiti, under the Charbonneau’s page)
June 30, 2009
Since EDM was established here in the DR, there has been a constant heart cry from many of the pastors and their leaders for pastoral and leadership training. There is such a strong passion and desire to have an unshakeable foundation in God and the Biblical commands, principles, promises. It is a cry that EDM has prayerfully answered by opening a Bible Institute here in Nagua.
The Bible Institute is a DVD based program that runs for 14 months. The DVD program contains incredible teaching from a variety of pastors and professors from around the world. During March, 59 pastors and leaders registered for the Bible Institute. There was buzz of anticipation as they looked forward to the first class on March 30th. For many of them, this would be the first Biblically based training they had ever received.
Since the end of March, every Monday night the Mission House has been packed with pastors and leaders for three full hours of teaching. Although these pastors and leaders come from many different backgrounds, denominations and churches, they come together as one body eagerly soaking up every part of the training. For many of them, the notes from these training sessions are the only resources they have to help them in their ministries. Imagine going into your pastor’s office and all the resources he had was a Bible, and some photocopied pages from a book.
At the end of every session, there is such a sense of appreciation and gratitude from all the participants. They are truly grateful for an answer to their prayers, and the tremendous blessing this is for them, and their churches. It is a joy and privilege for EDM to invest in the lives of these wonderful men and women of God whom He is raising in the Dominican Republic. Please pray for these pastors and leaders who are attending the Bible Institute as they passionately live out the call of God on their lives.
Study To Show Yourself Approved
God has given EDM a very specific call to empower, encourage and equip pastors. Even when short term teams are not here, EDM is actively involved daily in furthering the vision to strengthen the church and see people saved everyday!! A typical month would often include visiting pastors individually within the city of Nagua, and surrounding communities and cities for a time of encouragement, prayer, as well as invitations to upcoming events. These visits are to encourage the pastors but often times we are the ones who are blessed. We recently visited with Pastor Marianna, whom we completed a church for in the community of San Raphael, to encourage her as her husband had lost his job.
We also attend the monthly ministerial meetings held in the numerous communities and cities that EDM works with. Through these ministerials we have seen unbelievable unity develop amongst the pastors: Methodist pastors praying for Pentecostal pastors, Baptist pastors praying that the Church of God churches would grow. EDM has also been a catalyst to resolve many conflicts amongst the churches. We are amazed how God has used us to bring healing in these relationships. We have been given the awesome privilege to preach and teach in a different church each week. During these times we have seen the hand of God save, heal and strengthen the body of Christ. We also partner with local churches in numerous outreach events, unity services, prayer meetings, special meetings and construction projects.
As well, every Monday night, EDM provides foundational Biblical training through the Bible Institute. Monday afternoons, EDM is on the local radio station providing quality Christian music, and an encouraging message. Often we are contacted by pastors who need prayer, or a specific need met, at a moments notice. Over the last few weeks, we have been called to the hospital to visit pastors or members of different congregations who have been involved in accidents or are sick and wanting prayer. This does not include the many hours spent in planning, strategizing, and administrating. But more importantly the hours spent in prayer. The love of Christ compels us to live out the call of God on our lives every day as we endeavor to equip, empower and encourage the pastors and churches of the DR. Thank you for your prayers and investment in the lives of the people God has called us to minister to!
In the month of May we were privileged to have the PAOC Regional Director of Missions for Latin America and the Caribbean, James and Colleen Guskjolen come to the Dominican Republic! What a blessing they were to us and the ministry here. We were able to visit a number of our building projects and have them minister to the churches and pastors. One afternoon we were able to host a luncheon for the Church Executive of the City of Nagua. It was a great time of Dominican food and fellowship. Please pray for the James and Colleen as they give leadership and encouragement to missionaries in Latin America and the Caribbean. We know God has great things in store for the days to come!
The Sacred Assembly
Please join the EDM team, the pastors and churches of Nagua in days of prayer and fasting for our worship event called The Sacred Assembly July 18, 2009 will be a historic day here in Nagua. After years of praying for unity, and months of planning, every church in Nagua from every denomination will gather in the University for an evening of repentance, restoration and worship. We need your help!
Every Tuesday set aside a time of prayer for this event. We are believing that The Sacred Assembly, will mark a turning point in the city, in every church, in every ministry and every individual life.
Dream Big!
God can do the Impossible!
Prayer changes everything!!
In July EDM will be commencing the first ELITE leadership training program here in Nagua! We are expecting God to move in incredible ways. Please pray for the young people who will participate.
Pray for a powerful outpouring on the church during out City wide Worship Event -Sacred Assembly, this July.
Pray for the Larson family as they plan to return to the DR at the end of June.
Pray for the Thomas Family as they prepare to go on furlough in September. Watch for details!
Pray for favor and funds, as we commence the next step in our residency. The process can be
long and expensive.
Praise the Lord! The response to the Scholarship Program has been awesome! Thank you to those who gave! Watch for all the details in the next newsletter!
We are believing God for incredible things….. salvations, healings and changed lives!
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May 25, 2009
Hi From the Very Wet DR!!
Greetings!
We had had lot of rain lately, but the flowers are beautiful and the green plants are lovely. We pray you are enjoying the spring as much as we are. I am doing a little spring cleaning here in our home.
The last few weeks have been very exciting as we have had a number of very large, hairy, creepy, eight legged visitors in our home as well as numerous baby ones. So we have been doing some cleaning up to see where they have set up their home -within our home!! At times like these I am very tempted by the fact that the airport is within driving distance!!
This week we have been fighting the flu bug in our home, so please remember us in your prayers.
This past weekend I was able to attended a Women’s Conference in Puerta Plata. My roommate spoke not a word of English. It was stretching and she was very helpful. We had fun but more than anything else the Word was preached with power and the worship (also in Spanish) was incredible. It was a much needed time of refreshing for me. Often we are ministering and find we are not ministered to as often as we should. So I was very grateful to be able to have this time away. It was nice to come home on Mother’s Day to lots of hugs and love.
Below is our latest newsletter. We pray you enjoy the updates on the work here. God bless you every day!
Working Together to Make a Difference
Walking through the community of Buenos Aires in Rio San Juan will break your heart. The area used to be a swamp where over the years hundreds of poor families have moved in because the land is free. Many of the homes are built on stilts over the swampy, sewage filled dirty water, and those that are not, are flooded every time it rains. Most of the homes are made of tin, sticks and wood. Due to the conditions, disease, sickness and infections are prevalent throughout the community.
Over the past few years there has been a concentrated effort to try and improve the conditions in this community. Every Day Ministries along with some of the local pastors has ministered to this community by holding medical clinics, outreaches, and work projects in the area. Recently, Pastor Dave Sawler, Pastor Dave Slater, Pastor Joe Lucas, Terry Smith, Tony Smith and a great team of over 35 people joined us to work on some of these projects. The team worked hard to put Caleche (fossilized coral) around and in 3 homes to prevent future flooding by raising the home’s floor 2-3 feet, as well they poured a concrete floor in one of the homes. A concrete floor reduces the rate of sickness and disease amongst the family members in a home compared to the traditional dirt or wood floor. They also ministered to children in the local public school, as well as one of the local churches. It was amazing to see the response of the community to their visit, and the joy and happiness in the faces of those they helped and ministered to. We want to express our thanks to each member of the team who worked and served so hard while they were with us.
Prayer and Praise
1. Pray for an increase in unity among the churches. Over the last number of months we have been able to facilitate healing between pastors and relationships are being restored. Praise the Lord!
2. Pray for the upcoming Worship Conference this coming July. We will be bringing all the Nagua churches together for a night of repentance, healing and worship. We are praying for an incredible time together and with the Lord!
3. Pray for E.L.I.T.E. this coming July.
4. Pray for us as we plan to come home this fall. We are praying that God will connect us with those who desire to make a difference here in the DR.
Thank you for your continued love and support!
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April 21, 2009
As parents we look forward to the many things our children learn as they grow up: their first smile, their first words, and their first steps. As they grow we look forward to their first base hit, their first jump-shot, or their first dance steps. Life seems to go by so fast and we need to cherish all of these moments because they only come by once.
This past year, our boys formed a band called “MoreThanBroken.” The band consists of Jordan on keyboard, Kent on the electric guitar, Luke on drums, and Logan on acoustic guitar and vocals. The band has now performed at two outreach events with great success. They sang the songs “On Fire” and “This is Home” by Switchfoot. The last event was during a film outreach in the city of El Factor. When the band began to play and there was a hush over the crowd, it brought great joy to both sets of parents.
Standing in the park that night, listening and watching as they played, brought back a flood of memories from when they were just little boys and the years that have past. I know that we may be a little bias, but the sound of this new band was incredible. Not only did the parents feel that way, but by the reaction of the crowd, they also approved. The night continued with the showing of the movie, “Facing the Giants.” Afterwards the Gospel was shared and several young men gave their hearts to the Lord.
I believe that God used the talent and the heart of the band “MoreThanBroken” to set the tone for the evening. There is no greater joy for a parent than to see God working through their child. To see Christ radiating from our children not only brought gratification to us, but we believe great delight to their Heavenly Father. We can only imagine the future plans that God has for the young men of “MoreThanBroken.” They have been a blessing to EDM and the people of the DR. Please pray for all the missionary children who are part of EDM, that God will continue to work in their lives and through them.
The God Factor in El Factor
When we come together as the body of Christ, brothers and sisters in the Lord working together as one, we all fit. We all belong, it does not matter our age, race, gender or where we came from. The Bible says that as Christians we are one body with many parts, none more important than the other.
This past month we were privileged to have a team here from Church of the Highlands in Alabama. This team was made up of people from all ages, genders, and backgrounds yet they came together to accomplish one goal: share the love of Christ. With their help the project which was started in November 2008 in San Raphel was completed!! It was so exciting to see the finishing touches applied. They also were part of the beginning of a new project in El Factor, at the church of Pastor Javiel, where they mixed cement and laid the first rows of blocks. As well, it was incredible to see the community touched by the love of Christ through a number of outreaches. EDM along with the folks from Alabama hosted a baseball camp, a program to evangelize children, a movie outreach and a health awareness seminar.
Two evenings stand out in my mind. The first was the Sunday evening service in El Factor. The building they meet in is actually the home of the Pastor and his wife. It is six plastic chairs wide and holds about twenty people. During the service the building was filled and people were sitting outside, but God was there. It didn’t matter that you had to step over rebar to get to your seats, or that there were twenty bags of cement piled in one corner. Many times we think to have church everything must look or be a certain way. The presence of God was felt by all during the time of worship, the team members sharing testimonies and the message, in spite of the building, or the rats crawling along the rafters. The second evening was the movie outreach.
As we set up all the equipment in the small park on the main street through town we prayed it would not rain. The EDM band MoreThanBroken played and the crowd gathered. We then showed an evangelistic movie. The message was touching people in such a way that when it did start to rain-people did not leave. They stood in the rain not only until the end of the movie but they stayed to hear the invitation afterwards. This never happens-rain here is like snow in North America-when it rains everyone runs for cover. But not this night. It was moving to see their desire to hear more about Christ.
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My name is Luke Thomas. I am eleven years old. I have lived in the Dominican Republic for five years. It has been the best five years of my life. A couple of weeks ago I did the hardest thing I have ever done – I climbed Pico Duarte. It is the highest mountain in the Caribbean. I made it to the top! I did the climb with my Dad and brother Kent, along with my friends Jordan and Logan and their Dad, Jim. It was a three day climb and I had a great time. The guides told us that only a hand full of kids have ever made it to the top, so we felt pretty good standing at the peak. On the top there is a statue of Juan Pablo Duarte where we took photos and enjoyed the view. I had a great time with my Dad and friends. Jordan will be leaving for college soon. I will miss him a lot. I am glad we were able to conquer this mountain together before he leaves.
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March 2009
A Night To Remember….
You are the love of my life…..forgive me for the things I have done that have hurt you…..I know everything about you and I love you! No matter how long you are married these are the things we need to hear from our spouse.
This past February 13th, we held our first Valentines dinner for all the pastors and their spouses. The hall was beautifully decorated with white, red and pink table clothes, fabric chair covers, rose petals and candles decorated the tables. It was a romantic evening to celebrate marriage and love. As Jim and Ramona Rickard shared with the couples the keys to a God centered, successful marriage, you could sense the desire to please God and honor each other amongst the couples. The night was a time of laughing, singing, games and learning. It was also a time to come away from busy ministry schedules and build up couples who serve others, often at the expense and sacrifice of their own family time or time together as a couple.
It was also a time of committing to ministering together. Often pastors here feel like the ministry is their calling and their spouses are the homemakers, and not part of the ministry. As the word was shared, many couples committed to working together to further the kingdom. I encourage you, if you have not told your spouse how much you love and appreciate them; or, if you need to be forgiven, or need to forgivedon’t wait – today is a day to choose to love. You’ll be glad you did. Remember husbands: Happy wife – happy life!
~Sharon
The Denmark Team
For months we had been excited about the arrival of our first team from Europe. A group of teenagers from Denmark, led by Lisbeth and Elise, joined us for 12 days in February.
Although it rained quite often, the team was able to help us work on two of our church projects. They painted two churches and helped to replace a tin roof on one of them.
The team was involved in ministry in some of the local churches through dance, puppets, skits, testimony and preaching. They were a great help during our healing crusade as they helped set up and take down at each event. They also ran an afternoon children’s program in one community that was attended by over 200 people. It was amazing to see almost every hand go up when the invitation for salvation was given.
The team was actively involved in one of our open air services where we showed “The Climb”. Throughout the week, the team reached out to the surrounding communities with love and care, often taking the time to pray for those that were in need.
Looking back over those 12 days, we want to say “takke” to the Danish team for showering so many with the love of Christ and making an eternal impact in the lives of so many. May “Gud velsigne jer” as you continue to love and follow Christ daily.
~Adrian
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February 15, 2009
On January 16 & 17 we held our first pastors’ conference of 2009. Dr. Tony Ponceti of Lakeland, Florida and his team flew in on Thursday night and we began the conference on Friday afternoon. The topic for the weekend: Church Administration.
Many of the churches of Nagua need a model of church leadership. Most of the churches in the Dominican Republic do not have a deacon/elder board. In the majority of churches the pastor is the person that is expected to do most of the work and the one responsible to make most of the decisions of the church. This teaching was very timely.
Pastors started arriving Friday afternoon in the torrential downpour that hovered over Nagua, most by way of motorcycle, some coming from as far as 45 minutes away.
Despite their saturated entrance it did not dampen the attitudes of these pastors. Friday night was a time of excellent teaching, along with questions and answers. These pastors were earnestly seeking wisdom, direction, and God’s guidance to further their churches. Dr. Tony was very patient and willing to give his insight to all of their situations.
Saturday morning we started early, breakfast at 6 a.m., worship and teaching at 7a.m. Saturday was a day of valuable training and direction given to the pastors of the Nagua area. At the end of the conference the pastors could not contain their appreciation for the weekend. Each pastor received a certificate of completion, and a Thompson Chain Reference Bible. The Bible is a valuable tool in ministry that most would never be able to afford to purchase, it is a gift that they will cherish for their lifetime.
The time these pastors had together and the insightful teaching they received will be priceless in the future of their churches. Thank you to Dr. Tony for the investment, he and the team made into the lives and ministries of the pastors here in the DR.
Women of Destiny-24 hours for You!
Thirty women + twenty-four hours + God=Amazing.
When you seek the Lord with expectation, He is faithful to meet you. Our “Women of Destiny” retreat entitled “Twenty-four Hours for You” was a time when God touched lives. We were privileged to have Pastor and Psychologist Miram Morillo of Santiago, teach and preach on our very first women’s retreat. We reflected on the purpose and balance of our roles, the unique creation of women, and the integral part we play in strengthening our given families, ministries and marriages.
A highlight of the retreat was to hear all the ladies singing in unison as they worshipped our King. The Lord was so faithful to strengthen us, refocus our priorities and ways of thinking, and refresh each of us…all the while He accomplished it through His love—amazing! At the end of the retreat, many of the women came up to give a testimony about what they experienced during the retreat. There were declarations of renewed commitment, being refreshed, new mindsets, hope in relationships, new joy, and all gave thanksgiving to the Lord. Many expressed their gratitude to Every Day Ministries for the investment made in their lives. We were so blessed and yet so humbled by their response and what the Lord accomplished through this event.
Please pray for the ministry of “Women of Destiny” as we seek to empower and support the ministries here in the Dominican Republic by strengthening the women in those leadership positions. As missionaries we want to thank you for supporting EDM, with your help, together with God, lives are being changed.
Points of Interest:
Pray for the upcoming events:
Our first team from Demark has arrived and will be here until Feb13th. Pray for them as they serve here in the DR
Our second annual Healing Crusade Feb. 7th. We will be ministering in Pimentel, El Factor, Nagau, Cabrera, Rio San Juan
Pastor’s Valentine Dinner., Feb. 13th
We are believing God for incredible things in 2009! Salvations, healings and changed lives lives!
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December 2008
The Seeds of Christ’s Love Were Planted
For a number of years the congregation of San Rafael-under the leadership of Pastor Marianne- has been praying for help to complete their new church. Their prayers were answered during the month of November when a team from New Life Community Church, led by Jeff Tilley, spent one week working in the community of San Rafael. During the week the team put on a tin roof, poured a cement floor, and fine coated the entire building. As well, the team held a children’s program, and went door-to-door visiting and praying with many in the community. Also, on Wednesday night, at the local baseball field, we held an outreach where we showed the movie, “The Climb”. Over 300 people attended, and many came forward for prayer at the end of the evening.
The last day in the community, we spent the afternoon playing baseball. Many in the community came out to watch the game and cheer their local team to a convincing victory over us. The highlight was at the end of the game when we had a chance to share about Jesus, and pray with the players. We know that not only the pastor and the church, but the whole community were impacted by the ministry of the team. The seeds of Christ’s love were planted in the community and will bear much fruit for eternity in the lives of so many.
Although the church still needs doors and windows and to be painted, the congregation has moved into the new building and every Sunday the building is filled with praise and thanksgiving as they thank God for answering their prayers. Thank you to the team for all the ministry and hard work they packed into one week. Can a short term team really be an answer to prayer, make a difference, and impact a community for eternity in one week? Yes! I encourage you to read the letter of thanks from Pastor Marianne and see that, with God’s help, we can be the answer to prayer that someone needs. We all can make an eternal difference every day in the lives of those around us.
A Note of Thanks from Pastor Marianna
God Did a Miracle in This Community
Iglesia de Dios (Church of God) “Jehovah Jireh” in San Rafael.
Good news arrived in San Rafael in the recent days, when we most needed a miracle from God. In the last week of October and the first two weeks of November, God brought a tremendous blessing to this community through Every Day Ministries.
The building of the Church of God in San Rafael had been torn down for one year with the hope of being able to construct a new church building that we would all be able to be in. Over the period of one year, we passed through a very difficult period. We gathered together under in a small covered area three or four times a week. The other days we had service outside or in a home. It was very difficult for us. We prayed to God many times, and we didn’t lose faith that God would do a miracle. We didn’t have the money to construct, but God opened the door through Every Day Ministries. Not only was the church blessed through this ministry, but also the whole community. They evangelized in our community, the houses, in the schools, in all the needy places, and our community was impacted with the blessing that God brought to us. Today we have a roof over our heads, and we can bow our knees and worship God with freedom because God did a miracle in this community.
The brothers Pastor Adrian, Pastor Jim, Ryan, and all the brothers and sisters from Canada and from Every Day Ministries have been a great blessing in our lives. God still continues to work miracles in these last days, changing and transforming lives through men and women who permit themselves to be used by God. I have spent many years as a pastor, but never before has my life been as greatly impacted as it has been now, now that I can see and touch such a great financial miracle in our church. ~ Pastor Marianna
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November 19, 2008 Prayer and Praise-We are trusting God for wisdom and favor in pursuing land. Pray with us as we seek God’s help in this area. -Please pray for health and safety for our mission team. The missionaries will be doing a lot of traveling on the roads and we need angels around us as we navigate the Dominican roads. -We invite you to join us every Tuesday for a day of fasting and prayer for the ministry here in the DR! We are believing God to do amazing things in the days to come, therefore we are asking those who are able, to set aside special days of fasting and prayer for EDM.-We are excited to have a team from New Life Community Church join us for a week of ministry and construction. Pray for safety and good weather!! We are believing God for many souls to come to know Christ through this week of ministry!!-Praise the Lord three of our friends who live in Nagua, who were not Christians, came to church last week and accepted Christ as Savior!!! We see the hand of God touching lives everyday!! What a privilege to Serve Him! Women of Destiny
It is out of this heart that we have founded Women of Destiny. We are in our first season and have had several events which have impacted all who attended. There is great excitement among the women as we look forward to an upcoming retreat entitled “24 hours for you – Restoring the Balance.”
Recently we had an event where Renee was able to share a word about the importance of God-given true friendships. Close friendships can be something people insulate themselves from, because it suggests a certain vulnerability. However, God’s word reminds us that “Two are better than one.” There are 5 qualities we must seek and protect in a true friendship: Trust, Transparency, Truth, and all of these sealed with Love and encircled with Prayer. I challenge everyone to seek this type of friendship. We pray that “Women of Destiny” will speak powerfully into the lives of these anointed women leaders. Join us in prayer for this ministry that it would be everything God desires it to be, and it will further the gospel here in the DR.
~Renee Larson and Sharon Thomas
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October 15, 2008
Looking Forward with Great Expectancy …
Since the beginning, with the help of 17 teams, EDM has completed and/or renovated 10 churches, and 2 church parsonages. Participated in countless street evangelistic events, crusades, preaching in local churches and unity services, sports outreach programs and many other forms of outreach with over a 100 pastors.
EDM has held three major pastoral conferences a year. Witnessed hundreds of healings and others coming to know the Lord for the first time, along with seeing the lives and ministries of pastors transformed by the power of God.
EDM accepted its first Volunteer Missionary Ryan DeWeerd, who has been such a blessing.
EDM has launched the “Women of Destiny” ministry for women leaders and pastors in the local churches. A Scholarship Program was started, which presently has 51 students enrolled.
It’s been exciting to watch the Worship Training Ministry develop into a powerful ministry to the churches.
Also, after the tropical storms of 2007, we were able to bring relief and recovery for 100 homes in two communities.
Over the past two years EDM has ministered to 100s of pastors; both one on one, and in small groups through training, praying, and building relationships with them and their families. We are looking forward to establishing a Bible Institute here in Nagua that will commence in 2009. The Bible Institute will provide theological training for many pastors who have not had the opportunity or finances to do formal Bible training.
We are deeply grateful to God for His faithfulness, and we want to thank all of you who have so faithfully supported us in prayer and financially, many of you right from the beginning.
We are looking forward with great expectancy to the coming years as we know God is going to continue to move in power and authority in the country of the DR.
PRAYER REQUESTS
1. We are trusting God for wisdom and favor in purchasing land. Pray with us as we move forward in this area.
2. Please pray for health and safety for our mission team. Over the past number of months we have had a number of injuries and health issues. We need your prayers for protection and healthy bodies.
3. Pray for the missionary children.
4. Join us every Tuesday for a day of fasting and prayer for the ministry here in the DR! We are believing God to do amazing things in the days to come, therefore we are asking those who are able, to set aside special days of fasting and prayer for EDM during the month of October.
5. Pray for us as we do the ground work for the Bible Institute. There is a lot of administration work to Be completed before the teaching can begin in January 2009, so we need your prayers as we work to have everything in place. We are very excited to offer this teaching to the pastors of Nagua.
6. Pray for safety as Pastor Adrian travels to Toronto to speak at Queensway, in the morning service, on Sunday November 2, 2008! We would like to extend an invitation to everyone! Bring your family and friends to hear first-hand the awesome things God is doing in the Dominican Republic!!!
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September: Storm Update:
We are just letting everyone know we are ok. The weather is rainy and cold. It has been pretty calm all day but the wind is picking up, and we are getting ready for the worst but praying for the best. Please keep us in your prayers. Those who are the poorest, always are the hardest hit as their homes are so badly built. So we are praying that the full force does not hit the island. We will update you as the storm passes. Thank you for your love and concern.
August 2008
In the community of Sabaneta, where there was once an open field, stands a beautiful church that will soon be dedicated to the Lord. Pastor Nicolas is the pastor of the Sabaneta church, which is a new church plant. It was a joy for all of us to serve alongside him in this delightful community and be a part of establishing this new work for the glory of God. The building had slowly been going up, but during the month of June a team of dedicated people from Pennyslvania put on the roof, fine coated the walls, and prepared the floor for pouring-all within a few days. As well, they held Health Awareness Seminars and children’s programs in two communities. The highlight for all of us was that at each event many people came forward for prayer for healing and salvation. They also held a street outreach that was attended by many people.
When the invitation was given for salvation, one of the men who had been working with the team on the church construction came forward. Watching him step forward reminded us again that this is truly what it is all about-seeing people saved, delivered from the curse of sin and death, receive the gift of eternal life, and set free to follow, love and know Christ. Thank you to Lori and Mack and the team from Pennslyvania, for the eternal difference you made in the lives of so many.
Points of Interest
1) We are excited to be able to commence a new area of ministry that continues to fulfill the vision to equip, empower and encourage the pastors of the DR. This year we are assisting the pastors to send their children to school. School is free here in the DR, but uniforms, shoes, school supplies and books are not. These costs for many pastors are impossible to pay, so children do not attend classes. This August we are launching a Scholarship Program which will cover these costs for our pastors’ families. For $55 a child will go to school for the YEAR!! Watch for more details!!
2) Please pray for the Worship Ministry as EDM trains pastors and leaders in this ministry to the church. Pray for Ryan as he leads this ministry.
3) Pray for land. We are trusting God for wisdom and favor in purchasing land. Prayerfully consider holding a fundraiser in your area to meet this need. If God has gifted you in fund raising please contact us and together we can see the vision of a mission complex come to fulfillment.
4) We had an awesome youth team from Wisconsin in July. Watch for details in the next newsletter.
5) Watch for details on the Women of Destiny Ministry. God is doing incredible things in the hearts and lives of the women in leadership here in Nagua. Pastor Sharon and Pastor Renee are building relationships with these women and are the common ground for many denominations to come together in unity, pray for them as they minister to these leaders.
6) Pray for safety and provision for the pastors. Many have had accidents or have had their homes robed in the last couple months.
July 23, 2008
Pastoral Encounter
Many of us could appreciate a weekend away from our daily routine to solely receive what the Lord wants to do in our lives.
Thirty ministry couples from Nagua had that opportunity this June while attending EDM’s Pastoral Encounter with all expenses paid. Pastor Sue Kiteley, Pastor Joy Clarke and Lorne Shepherd along with a group from Brampton Family Christian Church, Brampton, Canada, came with a God- inspired message for these Pastors and their spouses. It was not an easy task to get the Pastors away from their churches for two days and an evening. There were many arrangements made to make it possible. Many had to find someone to care for their church and work responsibilities, someone to care for children, and their homes. However, what we witnessed made it all worth it for everyone.
As the weekend progressed we witnessed their demeanors change as the burdens they carried were released, as they experienced new liberties, as they received good counsel for their ministries and personal lives, as their vision was renewed, as their marriages were strengthened and they received a fresh word from God.
There were moments that are unforgettable such as when the pastors and their spouses knelt before the Cross of Jesus, laid everything down and thanked Jesus for His sacrifice.
Another experience we hold dear is when worship burst forth in everyone’s hearts and everybody began to dance before the Lord and praise Him simply because He is worthy. The joy of the Lord filled the room. As the encounter neared the end, the pastors and their wives continually expressed their gratitude for this opportunity to encounter God in a new way and at a new level.
We thank God for our opportunity to be a part of this and we thank ministries such as Brampton Christian Family Church for pouring their hearts, time and finances into making this possible as well.
Women of Destiny-Women in Leadership
For some time now God has been speaking to both Renee and I about ministering to the women in leadership. The pastor’s wives and women pastors were who God was telling us to reach out to in a new way.
After months of praying and seeking God for direction, Women of Destiny-Every Day Ministries was birthed. We hand delivered invitations, and spent many hours praying and planning for this event. The menu was planned, cake was ordered, gifts for the ladies were wrapped, the school where we held the event was decorated, and lastly, flowers were ordered.
We had our first service while the team from Brampton Christian Family Church was here in Nagua for the Encounter weekend. We were thrilled to have Pastor Sue Kiteley and Pastor Joy Clarke share powerfully to the ladies. When the altar was opened for prayer, every woman was ministered to in an awesome way. God moved and the lives of these leaders were changed. The presence of the Holy Spirit was felt and hearts were open to receive the life-changing touch of God.
These ladies have been praying for a place where they can feel free to be ministered to instead of always being the ones who are ministering to the members of their churches. Once again God is using EDM as a common ground where godly leaders of all evangelical churches can come together and be strengthened and renewed to continue to reach their churches and communities for Christ! These ladies have become so special to us and a bond of friendship has begun which will last into eternity.
Please continue to pray for us as we equip and empower godly women to become everything God desires!