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Dear Pastor and Friends,
In Colombia our festivities start on December 16th and go through January 7th. For almost a month nothing is normal! Apart from the two big holidays, Christmas and New Year, neighbors will get together every evening from December 16th to December 24th to celebrate the novena, which is a time to reflect on the birth of Jesus. Then, almost immediately, people head out of the city to visit grandparents for New Year. January 7th is when supposedly the wise men visited Jesus, so there is another holiday, sometimes accompanied by more gifts. For people in ministry, it seems like things will never get back to normal... so here, we are waiting a few more days for normalcy.
What does normalcy look like in our missionary work?
The regular weekly services and various church programs that are designed to foster growth and community among the Believers. (Fran directs the Children’s Ministry. I teach the Young Adults and fit into the preaching schedule).
I direct the board meetings for the Church and the Camp.
Teaching a two-week online class in our Bible Institute per semester.
Each semester, Fran and I set aside three weeks to teach in the Christian Training Schools at camp.
We actively participate in the evangelistic events at camp (this year there are eighteen events scheduled).
In 2019 we are adding regular visits to various areas of the country to engage pastors in the evangelistic events.
A person would think that we would welcome a time when things are not normal, but we are actually a bit antsy to get back into a normal routine.
We will soon mark the tenth year for the Day Zero evangelistic events. It has been an amazing tool for taking the light to the darkness. Back in 2008, when we were preparing our church for the challenge of doing evangelistic events for exclusively lost people, the Lord led me to 1 Corinthians 16:8 – 9: But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost. 9 For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries. That is what this has been, a massive and overwhelming door to reach the lost. But anytime we penetrate the darkness, we cannot ignore the last phrase: and there are many adversaries. This past semester Satan has fought very hard...but I am glad to say that God even uses these circumstances to accomplish His purposes. God did some amazing adjusting and moving in the work. We are excited to see what lies ahead! I share this prayer request with you: 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 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. (2 Thessalonians 3:1-3)
Thank you,
Craig and Fran
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