The Timothy Project

This is another aspect of my day today- overseeing remodeling of one of our mission houses which will soon be mine! As those of you know who have been here, I live in a rented apartment. We now have a vacant house due to the resignation of the Harmon’s so I will be moving there within a few months.

The house is old but very nice and it has a HUGE yard which is the main reason for me wanting to move- I need a place to leave Oreo while I am working. Another (more important) motive is that I believe the house and yard will be a blessing to my ministry. It will be wonderful to host volunteer groups for a meal, to host retreats for emerging leaders and whatever other type of group event.

We need to do quite a bit of repair work due to the age of the house. Please keep this in your prayers, that things will be done well and as economically as possible. I feel it will be a safe place for me to live and am pleased that our business administrator is mindful of safety issues as well.  In the next few days we will be finalizing the budget for the changes to be made so be in prayer that we can find good prices to do all we want to do and do it well!

Whew! It was a LONG day but exciting! I began at 8:30am getting ready for the interviews (9). The people arrived late from the Capital (fairly typical) so we actually began at 10am. We worked straight through to 3:00! And then went to check out a possible office site and after that we FINALLY went for lunch at 4pm!  But I really enjoyed the day with the ladies from Esperanza, I learned a lot about the project and personnel issues as well as learned quite a bit about the people I had scheduled to be interviewed. Please be in prayer for the final selection process and for those who will be disappointed to hear a “No.” 

Also, be in prayer for the selection of an office site. The choices are limited right now so it is a little uncomfortable. I am the intermediary in all of this and am dealing with my friends so it isn’t easy for me to be the bearer of unwanted news.  I am doing my best to keep this between Esperanza and the people, but since I am the intermediary they ask me questions. Pray for me to be patient and kind in the coming days as the results of today’s interviews are made known!

You  may have noticed a name change. Let me explain why.  First, the origens of the Macedonia Project: In 2002-3 I was part of a pilot project working with one of our Dominican leaders. His vision was to train Dominican church planters, and due to the way in which he received the inspiration for this ministry, he called it “The Macedonia Project.”  I worked together with him for 18 months and then was back in the States for my Stateside assignment. So ”The Macedonia Project” was my focus for that time and had prayer cards and business cards made using that name.

Since arriving back in February of 2004, I  helped some with The Macedonia Project but my focus has shifted to developing leaders in the three church plants here in Santiago and working in other areas. Pastor Manolo is continuing to develop his vision for developing leaders in the Macedonia Project but we are no longer working together as such though we are working for the same Lord and for the same purpose.

To avoid confusion here on the field, I realized I needed to adopt a different logo so as not to confuse the people between Manolo’s “Macedonia Project” and my ministry. In reflecting on what I am attempting to do I was struck by Paul’s instruction to Timothy: “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.” 2 Timothy 2:2   Hence, the name change to The Timothy Project. When I can figure out how to do it, I will be changing the URL as well to avoid confusion but for now we have the same web address! If anyone can help me figure out how to change the web address without losing my visitors or web content, please contact me!!

Esperanza (Hope) International is a Christian foundation dedicated to helping poor communities strengthen themselves spiritually and economically. We have been in contact for more than a year now and this Tuesday we will take a huge step forward in getting our project launched. The personnel director will be coming to Santiago to interview various candidates to be employed in the new Santiago office.  I have seven people prepared to be interviewed for three positions. Please keep this process in your prayers this week as decisions are made and plans made to get started.

The project will begin in Los Ciruelitos, Los Santos and The Hole- there are candidates from each community.  I think I shared earlier that Levi Strauss has made a financial commitment to Esperanza which is allowing us to expand our ministry plans. 

The more I live here and work with the urban poor, the more I realize how evil poverty can be. I don’t understand all the causes, and I certainly don’t know the solution for even Jesus said we would always have the poor. What I do know is that poverty is a terrible thing! Please join me in praying for this new project which will help these communities better themselves.

Today was a wonderful day. Full of ministry but not full of stress!  I worshipped at Los Ciruelitos (my home base here in Santiago) for the first time in several weeks. (I had been preaching in other churches or with volunteer teams for the past several weeks.)  Then I had a great time with the people at Villa de Yaque and The Hole.

Villa de Yaque: Some of our regulars weren’t there today but we still had over 15 adults. Franklin, the man who wants to reconcile with God and join our church, had asked about studying Baptist doctrine. (He comes from a Pentecostal background.) During the week I was inspired to let them organize themselves to study the book (Baptist Faith and Message) on their own and Jose and I could help on the days we are there. I feel it will help them develop their identity as a church (family of believers), help develop internal leaders, and get them to be responsible for their own learning and study of the Bible. They accepted the idea enthusiastically, and several people who I hadn’t planned on were very itnerested. In particular, Milagros, the colmado owner, who is very Catholic was extremely interested.  So, they are meeting on their own tomorrow night at 6pm to begin to study the Baptist Faith and Message which will lead them to study the scriptures. Pray it will be a fruitful time of study and they will grow close to one another as they grow close to God. Pray for Jose and I as we “coach” from a distance.

The Hole: We had a small little group but I have learned not to get too excited or disappointed based on numbers. We talked about Numbers 21:4-9 and applied the teaching there to ourselves. I shared with them my hope that we can organize ourselves better and work toward a vision of what God wants to do in the community through the church.  They seemed excited and I asked Victor to begin making plans to get us ready to move forward.  He is studying Step by Step through the New Testament so keep him in your prayers!

All in all, it was a good day. Thank you for your prayers and encouragement!

 God energizes our efforts    August 27  

We proclaim him, admonishing and
teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we
may present everyone perfect in Christ.
To this end I labor, struggling with all his
energy, which so powerfully works in me.

Colossians 1:28–29 niv

Look at Paul’s aim, to present everyone perfect in Christ. Paul dreamed of the day each person would be safe in Christ. What was his method? Counseling and teaching. Paul’s tools? Verbs. Nouns. Sentences. Lessons. The same equipment you and I have.…

Was it easier then than now? Don’t think so. Paul called it work. To this end I labor, he wrote. Labor means work. Work means homes visited, people taught, classes prepared.

How did he do it? What was his source of strength? He worked with all the energy he so powerfully works in me.

As Paul worked, so did God.… And as you work, so does the Father.

When God Whispers Your Name

It has been a while since I reported on the missions so here is a brief overview of what has been happening:

The Hole: Victor continues strong in his faith. He has started studying Step by Step through the New Testament. Please pray for him as he studies that he would be diligent with it and complete it. He wants to have a better understanding and grasp on the Bible and that is important for his development as a spiritual leader.

We have had a lot of rain lately and missed Sunday and Wednesday services due to the rain and flooding/mud that it caused. Continue to pray for our group of young people and for the group who participate on Sundays, that they would be impacted by their faith and in turn make an impact on their community.

Los Santos: Our group continues to be full of enthusiasm and strong numbers. I have not been there for two weeks due to working with another church (the medical project) and car trouble this week. A young man was killed in an accident and the folks from our church plant called to see if they could hold the “valorio” in the church since their house was small.  Jose was going so he dealt with the family, he prayed with them and helped the community as they prepared the body to be moved to the church. He shared with my yesterday it was a very important time and he felt good to be a presence of God to them in their time of crisis. Give thanks to God for Jose, for his faithfulness and dedication to serve the Lord!!

Villa de Yaque:  We had our regular Thursday bible study last night with 13 attending. Snachez, a young man who accepted the Lord during our DiscipleNow emphasis continues to participate. Yesterday we distributed notebooks, pencils and pens that people have sent- what a blessing! Everyone was thrilled to receive this gift!!  Sanchez in particular was overjoyed. He doesn’t know how to read but he had his Bible with him and he told me that he seeks people out to read it to him and what he hears sticks with him! Praise the Lord.

Hector asked me yesterday to agree with him that they should meet on their own for prayer and Bible study during the week when I am not there. I gave him my support and cast the vision that they are the church and they have to take responsibility. They seemed excited. The man, Franklin, who shared he wanted to join our church during the 1 year birthday party (earlier blog) reminded me that he wants to read the Baptist Faith and Message. I am thinking of asking three of our strongest leaders there to lead a study of the book during the week and then discuss it with us on Thursdays. Pray for me that God would guide me in this, showing me his wisdom.

That is the news from the ministries. God continues to work!  I appreciate your prayers and the gifts you send to support what we are doing!

I just talked to my mom again and it looks like what happened with my dad last night was a vega nerve reaction or some such thing.  It was just blackout last night and not a heart attack.  Thanks for your prayers! It looks like he should be home in time for supper today of which he is thankful.  I am counting the days until I can be home with my family (September 19th I will start vacation!)

My mother called this morning to ask me to pray- my dad had a rough night. Apparently he accidently pulled his IV out and blood started spurting everywhere. Then while the nurses were cleaning up that mess, he was sitting in a chair and either had a mild heart attack or fainted. They are running tests now to determine what happened. He spent the rest of the night with the paddles at his side just in case.  Hopefully around noon time today we will know just what happened. I appreciate your continued prayers for him, my mom and all of us.