After the uplifting VBS with our brethren from Crieve Hall, we started preparing for our Fourth anniversary seminar of the Iglesia de Cristo en West End. When we look back on our short years here in St. Louis, we feel so appreciative and grateful for the Lord and His blessings and increase. We are also thankful for our supporters and the help they have given us to be able to work and labor in the mission field. With the help of our brethren from memphis, South Carolina, and Springfield, MO, we were able to evangelize and door knock with great success. We invited over 100 Hispanics, and sat in the homes and studied with over 50 people in one weekend. The fruits of those labors were seen when Franco and Andrea were baptized into Christ for the remission of their sins. They have been visiting with their family Rubi and Leo who are members with us, but they didn't really start attending faithfully until we had our VBS the week prior. Through the teachings of the Bible classes, worship, and family members this wonderful couple was baptized. Glory be to God. What a glorious day it was. We were able to start the campaign off studying with our group off Cheerokee street in downtown St. Louis. We had over 38 in attendance, 16 of those Hispanic visitors. Kristi was able to teach a kids class during the lesson in a small room with the help of our sister Brandi Crews. The children throughout these last two weeks have been taught the Word of God, and they are such a joy to have in the building. It was with great effort my wife diligently taught them during our seminar for 3 hours each night. I know she was so tired, but the teen girls came from our English congregation to help her and that was a blessing. What could we do without the help of our fellow bretheren? We could not begin to name all the people who have brought food, served, cleaned, door knocked, organized, taught, invited, given monetarily, etc. to the work of the Hispanic church. We honestly could not have been successful without their efforts. The contributions of our supporting congregations made these campaigns possible and we are so thankful. We feel so blessed to have such servants and hard workers laboring in Joy beside us. What a beautiful way to spend our time in His service together. May God bless you and thank you every one.
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In the ways of the Lord, one never knows what can happen tomorrow, mostly when we are thinking about the future of works, church, and activities. Everything is wonderful in God's time. Jesus Christ mentioned this to His disciples in Matthew 6:11 He said, 11 Give us this day our daily bread,It does not say: give us it tomorrow. Jesus knew that we always think about tomorrow. I also think a lot about the work as it will be later, it seems that we are on a roller coaster with the ministry upwards and then downwards, But then we wake up one day everything changes, comes the joy, hope and strength that God is always in tomorrow, Jesus continues to say in Matthew 6:34, 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things The blessings of tomorrow will always be from God. Tomorrow is God's.  Evangelism: We have been in a lot of blessing, even though the weather is different, for the workers, during spring, summer and part of autumn. they come home late at night, because they don’t stop working until the sun stops shining, and when there are rainy days they don’t work. Some Sundays are beautiful, they also go to work because they lost other days of work during the week. Evangelism changes as well, what we do to this is visit those we can, to strengthen them and help them grow spiritually. This month we have been visiting families who have not come for years and months on Sundays after the English worship service, with my family we had lunch and went out to visit a family that we have not seen for a long time. This to water the seed that was sown a long time ago. We also invite people to church when we walk around various places on Sundays in between services. Then we returned to the church building in the West End. To prepare to receive the brethren at 4:30pm. Every Sunday we try to do this activity, returning home until 8 or 9 pm after a day of service, worship and evangelism. We have been in blessing during this past month. We have had on Sundays low attendance of 20 and high of 42, on Wednesdays in Bible class we are in low attendance of 12 and high attendance of 22. It was very wonderful as everything goes in the name of the Lord. This month we had a total of 16 Bible studies with a total of 40 people and 26 invitations. We hope in the Lord, that he can help these souls to come to Christ and find the salvation of their souls, we ask for your prayers that this seed can bear fruit to enlarge his kingdom.
New Ministry (Chereokee St.) One Sunday a family came to visit us, they came in the morning, thinking that there was a service in the morning, when I saw the family, I introduced myself and asked them how they managed to find us. ( Mrs. Olga told me that she saw me and listened to me on Facebook, on the page of the church the preaching during the Covid pandemic. ) That's why they were there. When she said that, I told her that there was a meeting in the afternoon, when the rest of the family told me that they were visiting Olga and her family, and they were coming to the service, I immediately moved them to the meeting room and we gave them class at 9 am and 10 am meeting. They are from the church of Christ in Honduras. But after my message Olga the one who brought the family, stood after the message and confessed to us that she wants to restore her soul and return to the church (She was baptized in Honduras and did not attend the church of Christ since she came here) We pray for her and her restoration. When we said goodbye, a man named Jose said that he was Olga's brother and that he has more family in St. Louis, and asked me if I can have a meeting to encourage them to return to Christ because they are in Olga's condition without attending church. With joy I told them that yes, that same Thursday of that week we went around 22 people. They met at a house and furniture company to do the worship that Thursday night, we traveled with my wife kristi and had the first meeting in Chereokee. We encourage them all in the Lord to come unto Christ and be reconciled to the Lord as there are baptized brethren in the group. Please brothers pray for us, I and my wife and family will be traveling Thursday in the month (or any other day of the week) to encourage this group to get to know the Lord's Church, in that locality as well. And we will encourage them to meet on Sundays at 5pm in the West End. Please, brethren, this opportunity that God gives is a blessing, pray for me and my wife, that you will strengthen us and continue this work of the Lord to preach the gospel and make known the church of Christ in Spanish in St. Louis MO. One more great news is that they and especially Sister Olga (now restored) told me that they will do their best to bring more visitors on Thursdays to hear the word of God. What a blessing from on high, tomorrow is God's. Benevolence This month we were helping families and comforting them in the Lord, thank God we can share with others God's blessings. This month we were able to help around 8 families, with households of 2 to 4 children per family. We have been motivating but mostly planting the seed of God when given the opportunity. We have an example: Battery discharged: On a Tuesday, two women came (who have been seeing them many times in the year) Whenever they come I tell them about God and we have studied on occasion, but they see in their hearts that they do not open their hearts to understand what is being preached to them. That day, they came I told them that we are going to study the word of God and at the time they told me that they had to leave, well I said, they do not want to study. My wife saw her car still outside, after a few minutes I told myself to go out to see what happened to them and it was that the battery of the car was discharged. I took the opportunity to help them but I couldn't, one of the women told me, my husband is already coming to give me power to the car while we were talking, the husband arrived. Also help you pass current to the car. And we were talking that I wanted to meet him and invite him to church, within minutes I asked him and I told him if he had a Bible he said no and invited him to the office to study. He agreed to study, it was a very interesting study, which later I will mention what happened. I invited him to church and told him we are worshipping in Spanish at 5pm and he told me he would think about when to visit us. I hope they can come, thanks to the discharged battery I was able to meet him and tell him about the true religion and salvation of God. Please pray for these families who come to fetch physical bread and come out filled with spiritual bread. Ministry In ministry we are very happy, united and encouraging one another. we are seeing how members are developing in ministry, receiving responsibilities, and leaning on each other in the Lord. Men's meeting: The men have met to be able to have our activities as men, we assign Brother Enrique to lead these meetings in the year. We will try to meet once a month, to eat and talk about the word of God. We all get together to help us in our new home project , I even have the opportunity to talk about God to some friends that we met long time and invite them to church again. It was a good day to help and fellowship.  Companionship: This month we had our potluck after the last Sunday of the month. Also celebrating the birthday of the brothers who are in the month of april. How good to see the brethren conversing with one another and getting to know one another in the Lord. VBS : From Thursday , June 2 to Saturday, June 4 we will have our VBS in both languages at 6 to 8 pm, A group from Nashville will come to perform this activity. They are volunteers from the Crieve Hall Church of Christ who have learned that we have a ministry in Spanish. This activity is for all congregations and families. They will be taking place in the afternoons. Later we will have information about these activities. Seminar: From Friday, June 10 to Sunday, June 12, we will have our seminar in Spanish. Every afternoon, except that on Sunday we will have a session in Spanish. More information we will have later and we have the speakers confirmed and we will need help for this activity, we will be sending more information later. Family: This month we have been very blessed, despite the difficulties we face at times, but thank God everything is under the hand of God.  Gratitude: I want to thank you very much for the unconditional support you have for me and my children especially during this stage of our lives, where we no longer have babies, but the children are growing thanks to God. Thank you for helping us to enjoy God's blessings, the activities that involve serving more and growing more, but above all that help our children more and more to be the servants that God desires for his kingdom. Thank you all for understanding us, thank you all for helping us through difficulties, thank you all for helping us to be able to preach the gospel in this great St. Louis community. Where we go we feel loved in the Lord. There are no words to describe how grateful we are. Thank you for your unconditional, monetary and mostly spiritual support for the development of this ministry. When we think about tomorrow, it is difficult, but when we wake up we see God's blessings, because tomorrow is God's.
This month we were at LADS to LEADERS, it was wonderful to see my children enjoy the effort practicing what the Bible says. To see them smiling, afraid to go to a pulpit, joyful to come down from the pulpit, trying to remember what they did and practice it in front of me and wife (we see what God wants from our children) but tomorrow is God's, we must enjoy those moments that God gives us. Because tomorrow is God's. Thank you for your prayers and wishes for us, we love you in the Lord Jesus and may God greatly bless you, your families and congregations, every day.
In life we have two decisions to make, to move forward and not to look back or to move forward and learn from the past. The apostle Paul mentioned that a Christian must pursue the goal of God's reward calling. Philippians 3:12-13 12 Not that I have already attained,[a] or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have [b]apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, In Spanish ministry, we move forward, united, learning from communion with one another, from strengthening our relationships, from learning more about our weaknesses, from continuing more and more worshipping the Lord together. To pray on the difficulties and teachings of life. Evangelism This month we have been in time transitions, and illnesses. But we have always been teaching the gospel of the kingdom of God with whom we meet and strengthen the faith of those who seek Him and do not yet understand God's call through the Gospel. This month we have been encouraging the brethren, teaching the unconverted about the need to give themselves to Christ. But the struggle continues, we go ahead, we have had difficulties, since the enemy then drives away souls with earthly problems, but we continue to pray that the seed germinates and they can have a heart that bears fruit to God. This month we have had attendance of 25 to 35 maximum having an attendance of members and families and visitors and their families during the past month. On Wednesdays we had attendance of 13 in total and followed that number. Thank God that members continue to grow and seek more of the power of the gospel. And the visitors continue to seek answers to their uncertainties and difficulties. This month we had a total of 5 Bible studies with 9 people and a total of 8 invitations from nine people to join us at church. Please pray that the seed may remain in your hearts and you may grow and find God's salvation. Benevolence How beautiful it is to see God's family helping each other. This month we were moving many things from house to house, seeing happy families, brothers smiling for the help and presence of God's family in their homes helping them in whatever they need. This month we have grown more in benevolence, above all to practice volunteering as brothers in helping one another. Hearing brethren express the joy of praying to help, the joy of helping others, the joy of arranging their days, their hours, and their strength and their chariots to help one another. This month on the other hand we have had the opportunity to help 6 families with food. We have an example: A man confused with religions: One day a man arrived, who spoke English. Well, I invited him in to the building and we talked. at first he needed gas for his car, because he didn't have it. Upon entering I told him we have food and clothes if he needed, He mentioned me where the food pantry was. I took him there, in that transition , He confess that he had a question for me, and it was this: Do you pray for dead people? I said, "Why?" He told me: Days ago he visited a church around in pain to seek relief from his anguish of having lost a loved one and went to find someone to pray for him and his loved one. When he came to that congregation they told him that they did not pray for dead people! He was surprised, to hear the answer. Seeing the situation, take into consideration in asking forgiveness for what happened and that if someone asks for prayer one should help comfort the soul of the person who lost a family member. pray to comfort your life and feelings. Then I told him that it is very important to come unto Christ and to mention to him that the things we have today as heavy and difficult, if we come to Christ will be light. We have the same burdens but they are light, you mention Matthew 11:28-29. I mentioned why Jesus said: to come all those who were loaded and worked and I will make you rest... At the end of it all, after taking his food you he said thanks to go and us and for coming and listening to what I hear as answers to his questions and removing the doubt he had about religions. I invited him to worship meetings on Sundays and come and visit us. I hope in the Lord that he can come to hear more of His gospel and be saved. Thank God that the church can help those in need. Thank you church for all you do and do to help those in need and give encouragement to the heart when they need it. Ministry It is very blessed to see how the brothers grow, exercising their minds with sound teaching and doctrine. Also to be comforted and taught with the word of God. On Wednesdays we were learning to identify human doctrines. Using Bibles that other religions are accustomed to using in their meetings. How wonderful to see their faces when they notice how religions alter the important texts they evade to maintain their false teachings. That he did this past month in having more faith in Christ's church, its sound teaching and doctrine of Christ. Our goal this year is to strengthen more knowledge in the scriptures so that they remain in faith with God and His church. Companionship: This month we had the invitation of Enrique and his family to their home after Sunday to eat together in families. We all had a great night, chatting, getting to know each other more and enjoying food. Thank you to the brothers for the invitation and sharing of their blessings to others. It is beautiful to see how all visitors and members come together in the lord. Encouraging, strengthening, and serving one another.  Family This month has been one of great feat, blessing, help and service. This past month, we've been transitioning from moving to another home. A family decision, which thanking God that we were able to make to help my in-laws in their new stage of their lives. Thank you all for your calls, support, help, meals, during this transition of mobilization to our new home. My children are very happy to have their grandparents very close. we are all happy to be able to help each other. This month we were in times of illness, my family has been in illness, but we have been coming out of it. Thank you for your calls and prayers and we are moving forward in Christ We ask for your prayers for our lives, for spiritual strength and wisdom at all times. Thank you church for your care for us. God continue to bless you.
How beautiful to see unity in the kingdom, unity in work, unity in the small details that make great changes of blessing for the kingdom of God. Christ chose twelve, those twelve arose one hundred and twenty when Jesus ascended to heaven and from twelve arose three thousand, then as five thousand and then more regions nations managed to be together, because the unity of the details of today, are the great blessing of the great kingdom of God of tomorrow. In the ministry in Spanish, we have continued in struggle and unity in service and unity in faith. The spirits of the brethren, their presence and their perseverance, make us feel that the word of God is invaluable, The word sustains the fallen, the word strengthens the one who is in trial, The word comforts the helpless, it strengthens the church. Well said Jesus: Search the scriptures for them bear witness to me. John 17:23 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.  Evangelism: This month we have had a great blessing, we have been in contact with the brothers who this month have allowed us to reach out with them and advise them through the scriptures, topics on other religions that practice false teachings and they themselves understand that the word of God is alive and effective in worship and spiritual personal life. We have been talking about instrumental worship, fasting, prayer, providence, growth, faith, trust, and perseverance. This month we had 8 Bible studies with 10 people in total, 4 invitations. This February we had a Sunday attendance of 15 to 25 having an average of 2 to 4 visitors. On Wednesdays we had attendance from 9 to 22 having an average of 1 to 2 visitors. Within evangelism we have been helping many families, with text messages, calls, prayers, and scripture comfort. We do what we can to maintain the faith of those who wish to continue in the faith, but suffer many obstacles in the decisions of life, we continue to encourage in love, faith and prayer to trust, that even seeing and receiving difficulties in life we continue to do the right thing and fulfill what the Bible tells us. In the end, we will have a reward with God. We have bought more Bibles, of different sizes of letters to be able to help those who need it, regardless of the cost of the Bible for the purpose that there is one for those who need it. Thank you all for your collaboration, for sending your donation for the expenses of the ministry in Spanish and your work. Please pray for the brethren who have made the decision to leave the church, to follow false doctrine, or those who have left the church out of love for the world and its desires. It is difficult to want to understand why they do this, but we are all pioneers in the faith, they are the first to want to break the cycle of the world and religious human practices. In the end it is a struggle between what God advises us and what the person has thought to do with his/her soul. We pray for work, salvation, and studies with families who struggle to continue on God's path.  Internet: This month we have been updating the website in the Spanish section. Since we have new information, about podcasts and class schedules on Sundays. We have also been updating Facebook, using Bible texts to encourage the brethren and invite the church of Christ in St. Louis on social media. Scattered Network: The podcast in Spanish, We have updated the next episode in Spanish of the month of February, The theme is: Being negative, affects our life. We try to guide listeners in recognizing current, social, family or personal problems and coming to God by changing our lives through His advice and teachings.  Benevolence: It's amazing, as in the kingdom of God, there are people who can leave what they do to help others in their needs. God bless those sisters and brothers in the kingdom of God who with small details, manage to make great blessings in the kingdom of God. Martin and his crutches: We have a family that knows us and has benefited from clothes and belongings and food. But one night he contacted us. Asking if there were a couple of crutches in the benevolence room. The next day we sent an email, to see the reactions was awesome, brothers willing to buy crutches, donate crutches, looking for information where we can buy them appropriately for their height, design etc. That morning a sister immediately went to bring some crutches that brothers had in their house. To give them to them that same day. Wow (It is beautiful to see in the kingdom of God, brothers working together for others, no matter if the detail is small, but these actions make great blessings in the kingdom of God) that day was very tight for him and me. After a church meeting for the next Lectureship, I went to the home where Martin and his family live. Martin, a man who is in charge of a family of 6, is a mechanic, but lost his leg years ago to achieve the American dream. He had some wooden crutches, but they broke, because he is a mechanic. If he is a mechanic, he does not work in air conditioned room, he helps Spanish-speaking people, fixing cars that stayed or that do not work in the houses. To move around the cars is not easy. But he does it because it's the only thing he can do to support his family. That night I took him the crutches, I found him in his room, where I went happily to talk, we were until 11:30 at night talking about the word of God, He confessed to me that he wants more to know the Bible, because he is disoriented. But he asked me if I could visit them to study the word of God. We stay in touch and continue in God's teaching that brings peace and consolation despite what the day to day struggles. I hope you can pray for Martin and his lady who accompanies him with his stepsons and his daughter. How beautiful! it is teamwork in the kingdom of God. Thank you to everyone who responded to the messages, thank you to everyone who helps others in many ways. for thus we show that the church of Christ in his community, that we are children of God, having favor with all the people and the Lord added every day to the church those who were to be saved. Thank you brothers for being compassionate and helping those in need. God continue to be a blessing to you. Ministry: Our ministry in Spanish, we have had many difficulties, losing members and other difficulties that we have experienced this month, but we continue to move forward in worship and activities. Family Renewal: This activity was very blessed, we did it on Sunday, February 13. We were doing three sections of marriage and family issues. These were the topics to be developed: section #1 4 PM Communication in couples, Section #2 4:30 pm Responsibility in the family, Section #3 What God unites, do not separate man. We then had Worship and wonderful dinner together as a family. It was a great blessing to have the resources to be able to do these annual activities that motivate, strengthen and lead the families of our Spanish-language ministry in St. Louis.  Packing homeless bags The Spanish members were having the first experience coming together and working together as a congregation with the English speaking brethren. They were packing, talking and learning how to help our community. The most beautiful part was to see our kids coming together, helping each other. We are so honored to be invited to this activity.
 VBS / Seminar: We are in the plan to have a VBS during the month of June in the first week Thursday 2, Friday 3, Saturday 4 in the afternoons. A youth minister with his group, will come June 1 to prepare everything and teach every night. We will need help, be aware in the following months. June Friday 10, Saturday 11 and Sunday 12, we will have a seminar in Spanish. During those days we will have exhibitors, we also have the Sunday plan at 5 pm, have the bilingual message so that we can all be sharing the word of God and companionship. We will be sent more information later. Family: This month was one of great spiritual energy and blessing, being able to attend FHU seminary in Spanish, where we were with my family, receiving beautiful messages and meeting new people who preach the gospel in Spanish in other states. I had the wonderful opportunity to present a topic at the seminar entitled: Compassion in the Community. Ending Sunday, it was wonderful to hear that there was a baptism product of the activity in Spanish and the message of that Sunday. What a beautiful moment also to see our son Eli leading songs in the Spanish seminar at FHU and learning in the youth event at FHU youth sessions. We are so thankful that we were able to go and learn more for our souls and spiritual lives in God’s word.
 Extra mile:That Sunday February 6 we immediately had to travel to Tupelo, Mississippi. with the purpose of meeting with the elders of that congregation and exposing the work that is being done in Mesapa, Atlantis by Brother Olvan Diaz. And also talk about how a spanish work begins in your congregation. It was wonderful to be able to help and contribute a little more to the brothers and those interested in winning souls in other languages in their locality. Followed by tupelo, we returned to Henderson, where we had the wonderful experience of staying and learning more about the word and encouraging our souls and strengthening our knowledge more to continue until Wednesday. Where we were back in time for Bible class in west end. I thank everyone for their prayers and blessings that we had during that family and spiritual work.
Pray for us, we are making a decision to help our family. This decision is a blessing for my in-laws and my family. How beautiful it is to know that we can start again, a new year can bring happiness, challenges, difficulties, bad news, growth, stability, instability, joy, sadness, faithfulness, holiness, communion, and more. But it's all up to us. Those of us who are in Christ, every day is something new to continue, those of us who are in Christ every day can be a struggle to continue, every day is a decision to make. Paul said to Christians, everything is new with Christ, we are new creatures who are in Christ: 2 corinthians 5:17 : 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new Evangelism: This month we were, as usual due to the cold, with difficulty being able to find or visit constantly. But we were always helping to make the gospel known, inviting, serving those who need physical care, but more spiritual. We were cheering on some brothers during their physical and spiritual difficulties. We had 16 Bible studies and 11 invitations. Hoping that the seed can germinate, as the enemy dries the seed over time. We hope in the Lord that we can continue and reach souls.  Internet: The month of January, we had the wonderful opportunity to interact on the internet. On Facebook pages, where we usually introduce the church and the word of God is satisfying, but also at the same time harmful. We are emphasizing why do religions insist on tithing, knowing that it is not right to do so? That brought a lot of comments and people debating such an idea. We spent almost a day and a half counting the different hours, answering each person at different points that they were confused. With this we hope to give to know the true gospel and the true doctrine. We were preaching live on the Church of Christ Facebook page sharing messages that societies and people constantly experience. Theme Evangelism: Envy, Encouragement Program: In Gethsemane. And we had the opportunity to preach the third Sunday meeting via zoom, as we had almost 5 families sick with Covid, symptoms. It was a beautiful reunion brothers sharing the broadcast with other friends via Facebook.
Scattered Network : This month we begin to spread worldwide positive messages that lead us to know more about God and his gospel. This month it took me a long time to be able to use all the tools that Scattered has to record and play back to upload on different platforms. We begin with the theme: Your life's mission. I hope we can reach many homes and people around the world.  Benevolence: This month we had the visit of many people who were able to approach the building and be able to receive from those that we share with those in need. 4 families of 3 – 5 people living in their homes came, some relatives of brothers or visits from the congregation to be able to receive what they need. Thank you to all the brothers and sisters who make it possible to reach out to these families and to invite them with love to scrutinize the word of God. Ministry: This month of January, we have started beautifully, but the wolf entered the fold and scattered the Spanish-speaking sheep. It is amazing how everything seems calm, and suddenly there are problems, there are difficulties in families and siblings. Sometimes I ask God to help me not feel so much pain to see how the wolf, scatters the sheep and takes them away from the fold to stalk it and lead it to spiritual death. Together with my wife we have been praying, distraught and thinking about how God's children are suddenly carried away by the enemy. Please pray for Sister Sandra and her and Oscar’s son and her spiritual life. Pray for Oscar and his spiritual life. By Edwin Cano and his spiritual life. We try with prayer and study to reach their hearts and get them to wake up from their loss. I have been studying, many times spending midnight, hours talking about the problem, the difference between right and wrong, just and true, the encouragement to continue even though everything around is wrong and still wrong. Encouraging them to think about what Peter says. It is better to suffer by doing good than by doing evil. May God take control of his fold and the hearts of the brethren from whom the wolf separates from the truth and the right way. Two languages one faith: This month we had the joy of sharing a great gathering with God, together in both languages. Serving God by doing His will. How beautiful even though the fold is attacked, to see those who have stayed faithful. What a blessing to see all together faithful to the Lord. We had more than 100+ souls gathered, praising in two tongues a faith. Beautiful message of unity in the Lord.
Family:
Brethren, pray for us, this January we had many difficulties in ministry. But we remain united and striving to sow and water the seed of God's Word. We started wanting to grow more and the enemy arrived wanting to destroy the work in the vineyard of the Lord. Thank you for your prayers and help to our family. God bless you. 2022, beginning a new year with more challenges and ministries to build and strengthen. We all have goals, dreams, desires. But our congregational desires and goals are more, Because they help the Kingdom of God grow and influence the world. To Influence the world with peace and salvation. To influence the world with the gospel of Christ and obedience to his commandments. We are his church, the church is the means by which God can accomplish his mission. Ephessians 3:10-11 10 to the intent that now the [a]manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the [b]principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, Ministry This 2022 we will be implementing the congregation in helping us in the Spanish ministry. The current brothers are very happy to be part of these assignments for the development of our goals. We have put together a calendar, with dates for future annual activities that we were doing before covid, but this year we are going to re-establish. These activities tend to enhance each family's fellowship, grow spiritually and numerically.  In the calendar, we will have annual activities such as:
Evangelism: Invitations We will be distributing literature and invitations to all the places where the Spanish-speaking people usually travel: Supermarkets, restaurants, workers etc. Bible studies With the invitations in the distribution, waiting for the opportunity to be able to have contacts for future personal evangelism and visitations in their homes. Benevolence We will be offering humanitarian aid to those in need in our meeting place, encouraging them to follow Christ and pray for them. Studying the word of God when they interact with us in their visitation. This work with the opportunity to make known the church of Christ in the communities and show God's love for them. Friend's Day Each family member of the church will invite a friend or a family to listen to the word of God and enjoy fellowship with the purpose of making known the church, its worship and its unity. Seminars We will be in evangelism during the week of each seminary. That month we will be publishing the seminar, inviting and informing everyone of our congregational activity.  Spiritual Growth for the Group Bible Classes We will continue Bible studies on meeting days, Wednesdays at 7 pm and Sundays 4:30 – 5 pm for the purpose of strengthening the spiritual life of each of the brethren in knowledge, doctrine and devotion. Visitation We will be strengthening more the visitation of each family, with the purpose of strengthening more discipleship and devotion to God. Helping, encouraging each family or brother in Christ to overcome the challenges, trials, and temptations they go through in their lives. Marriage studies Due to numerical growth, we have the need to maintain a teaching of marriage and family strengthening. The goal is if we strengthen marriages we will have strong leaders, and with strong leaders the church is strengthened. We will meet 3 to 4 meetings a year. Bilingual worship We will continue with congregational development by worshipping the Lord in two languages, showing communities that in the church there is peace, unity and fellowship. Above over all, building ourselves up with messages that remind us of the reason for unity and eternal salvation. We aim this year to be aware that God's mission is our mission. Brothers and sisters together will be blessed by being the means to save the world around us. We ask for your prayers and help during the year to reach the hearts of those who seek God and your help to strengthen the spiritual development of the ministry in Spanish. Companionship This past Sunday, we had the wonderful opportunity to start the year by serving our God. Where we were seeing the introduction to our 2022 plan. The church is happy with the calendar, the different activities that we will be together. They happily arranged to be able to be part of these activities during the year. We were also together after the meeting celebrating the new year, with exchange of gifts and food for all. Here are some photographs.
 Family This new year we are very happy to be able to start 2022 with new goals, new challenges and continue with courage and strength the ministry that God has entrusted to us. We hope in the Lord, to be able to do his will as a family. We are grateful for all you do for us, thank you and may God give you many blessings for sharing your finances with us by enlarging and strengthening the church of Christ in St. Louis MO. Here we have some photos of my family enjoying the past activities.
The Bible teaches us that God with His grace: We are forgiven of our sins when we are baptized obeying the Gospel. We are forgiven when we make mistakes as disciples and come to Him and confess our sins. His grace germinates the seed that was sown in the hearts of those who eagerly seek God's answers to their problems.With His grace, we are blessed even when we think (due to the bad times we are going through) that God is not with us. In short, there is much to say about His infinite grace, but God's focus has always been, is and will be saving souls. By His grace, he makes the seed we plant grow, andby His grace he restores what we cannot restore. By His grace he multiplies the fruit when the seed is scattered. By his grace he restores the destroyed life. His grace abounds every day, every year. This is how we feel, blessed with His grace. For a little more than three years my wife and I have been watching how God takes our seeds from our hands and he spreads them and makes them grow. He makes the pain and weariness of dedication to keep souls in His Kingdom rest with His grace. For everything and for everything above the grace of God abounds for all.  Ephesians 2: 5-8 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, Evangelism This year we are blessed to meet many new families, help them, advise them, instruct them, give them biblical answers, comfort and motivate them to be saved and maintain their salvation. This month we had 20 Bible studies, we are very happy to wait on the Lord with the grace of him to keep their lives under the salvation of God. We had the opportunity to make 10 invitations this month. We had a visitation of three families during this month about 12 in total. We hope in the Lord that this seed of word grows and intensifies more the desire to do the will of God. Annual Evangelism Note: This year we had 149 Bible Studies, we invited 642 people. We had a year of great blessing and grace from God. We had visitation between 1 to 17 people on Sundays during the year. By his grace, 7 souls who obeyed the gospel were baptized. A restoration and two brothers applied for church membership. This year 2021 we had a wonderful attendance greater than 33 on Sundays in total and only visitation each Sunday between 1 greater than 17 people. There are Three new families in the Lord of whom we are working with the gospel. Thank you for your prayers and wishes that you do for us in the Lord. God's grace is superabundant.
Social media This month we have spread the gospel on webcasts. With the themes: I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies… (Ezekiel 18:32) ; I am a Jealous Lord, visiting the iniquity of the fathers… (Exodus 20: 5-6) This month they were subjects of great intensity, but we hope in the Lord that the thank God continue that seed.  Scattered:I have been translating articles into Spanish, for the Spanish audience. I can't wait to start broadcasting the podcast in Spanish and spread God's message to everyone who can contact and listen to us. Annual social media note: This year was very intense, some messages brought a lot of conversations from different points of view on the Facebook platforms. We were able through biblical texts, invitations to worship. To be able to spread the locality of the Church of Christ, the gospel of power and the truth in doctrines. Benevolence This past month, we had the opportunity to offer food and clothing to three families. It has been a great blessing to be able to share with others what we can. They always come out very grateful and blessed from God. An example from this month. Family with disabled man: We have met a family, of which, we were helping in translation at the schools. They contacted my wife to help this family. On this day, the couple agreed to come on a Sunday and also receive coats. But the car failed them. My wife contacted them that same night and we told them that we were going to go to their home after the Sunday meeting and potluck. They accepted our help. When we got to the house, in front of his house, I managed to observe a man trying to repair his car. Notice that he was disabled, (he only has one leg) He is a mechanic. talking about life, about how much he struggles to have his family and support her while trying to repair his car, he stopped and cried and said that he was happy for what we did, to come to his house, without knowing us yet. He comforts you in the Lord and motivates you to seek God and put your hope in God.The family was delighted with the donations. On another occasion my wife brought them so they could take clothes and food. But later they came with another family, the man we talked about brought another family that same day, so that they could get to know the church and receive donations. Being inside the building we got to talk about salvation and worship. He kept thinking a lot about the church of Christ and its worship. During the conversation he asked me about, tithe, offering, about keeping the Sabbath. He and his family have visited us twice so far. We hope in the Lord to be able to see them more and to have the opportunity to continue conversing with them about the truth written in his word and the need to be on the path of truth by obeying the gospel. Annual benevolence note: This year has been a blessing for many. Families of between 3 to 8 people in a household, came and knew where the church of Christ was in their community. They were able to find God's love, and their needs were met in what we as a church were able to do. representing the community. Thanks to all who were able to share with those in need in our communities. God bless you greatly. This year we had the visit of 68 families from around families of 3 to 8 people per household, making a total of 568 People between adults and children who were able to enter our facilities and receive the blessing, love and affection of God and his gospel during the year.
Ministry Communion: This past month, we were very blessed. The families were together enjoying three turkeys, with everything they could bring to accompany the turkeys. It was beautiful to see how we laughed together at the word for turkey in our different Spanish languages and countries ... Also to see the children together and the adults in communion with each other. On that occasion as always for dessert, we had the opportunity to celebrate the birthdays of the month of November. It was very blessed to see how we are uniting in the Lord as a church. This has been a blessing to see as being from different nations, it does not prevent us from approaching God and worshiping together even speaking different Spanish. We are understanding that it is not the culture that unites us but the power of the gospel. Here I share some photographs Annual Ministry Note: It is a great joy to see how all the brothers have participated this year in all that worship and the church needs. Thank God the men have been in maximum support and willingness to support worship and everything that the ministry needs. Pray, sing, serve, preach, organize, support, lead. All the males have been growing up focused on serving God. The sisters, striving to unite, work together in activities with the children throughout the year. During the gatherings and teaching to the children of the church. The grace of God helps us to understand that together we are more in the Lord and that united we will be able to grow spiritually together to the teachings of the Lord Jesus. Family This year was a great teaching for us, many challenges, many obstacles, and many blessings. Thank you all for all your prayers, thank you for your unconditional support, thank you for the love you have for the souls and children of God. God's grace is for everyone and for everyone. We must be content, because his grace abounds and abounds at all times, in difficulties, in challenges, in goals, in deeds, in despair, in blessings. My family is happy in the work that God has entrusted to us. It is a joy to see how God produces the fruit of the power of the gospel. By his grace we have been able to help each other, serve each other, teach each other, love each other and others. His grace never ceases because God is there for us. Have a happy family time and a new year in the Lord. Ephesians 2:7 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus  How beautiful it is to see how the word of God really works in the hearts of all those who seek him. God's promises are great and incomprehensible. When I see how a seed of the word of God can dwell in the hearts of those who seek it, it makes me have more faith in God and more courage to continue sowing the seed of salvation. The process is incredible, the prayer and the company make that over time the seed has an understanding of obeying God and allowing the seed that has sprouted in the hearts of those who are understood to grow more and more. Jesus said: Matthew 13:23 But he that was sown in good soil, this is the one that hears and understands the word and bears fruit; and he produces a hundred to sixty-thirty to one.God knows when he is going to abort his seed, hearts must have the seed in their hearts, the time to understand God is theirs. The process takes patience and faith in the Lord. In the ministry in Spanish, we continue to plant, grow and encourage each other to continue to grow and continue to allow more seeds in our hearts to understand God and our purposes for the church and his will. 
New Creature: Tiffany Flores decided to obey the Gospel of Christ and give herself to Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. She is the wife of Enrique Flores. He has helped a lot with his example and dedication in the Lord, we have been in the study of the word of God. God bless his new life, the church is happy with his new life and union in the work of the Lord. They have three children. greet them in the Lord when you see them. The word of the gospel is power to save.  Evangelism: We continue with our hands full of seeds every week, every day, when we see that God gives us the opportunity to know and sow the seed of God to the unconverted and to those who have come the Lord, so that we can grow and enjoy the blessings of His word the harvest continues. This month we have had an attendance of Sundays from 15 to 33 gathered. And on Wednesdays from 5 to 12 meeting. We have been visiting, encouraging and studying the word of God with brothers and visitors. In this month of October doing a total of 16 Bible studies and 9 invitations to new people and people who already know the church. Here we have two cases of evangelism: Tiffany:She had been visiting the church, her nobility is remarkable and her personality. During the visit, we talked for months about the need to believe in God and above all to take the step of being a disciple of Jesus Christ. She took the message well and was going to meditate on it. During the process of the arrival of her new baby, she was very happy to see the love that the church has for her soul and her family. Her husband, Enrique was helping the worship during my mission in Honduras and he was also teaching her the church, the Christian life and the need to be with God. A week ago we were visiting them and we studied what the gospel meant. When she finished the study, she recognized that it was time to give herself to Jesus Christ. Last Sunday she gladly obeyed the gospel. It was beautiful to see a happy ending, to see the number of brothers lining up to hug her and share the heavenly happiness of seeing one more soul as a disciple and being a child of God. God bless her church and the seed of her word. A returned couple:Two years ago, like in June 2019, I had the beautiful opportunity to meet a couple. The connection was from Facebook. They had a need, and a friend gave them the address of the building and said there were people there who could help. They noticed that it was a church, they began to come, but a few days after talking about the need to obey God, they stopped attending for work reasons. We were in contact often by texting and messaging them. That we prayed for them and that God loves them. They contacted me this month and decided to return. They have come these days of worship. In one of the Wednesday classes that our brother Enrique gave, the man and this couple asked me if he could teach her more about obeying God. I gladly asked him if he would allow me to teach them 4 Biblical texts. That Wednesday we were studying and they recognized that they have the need to obey the gospel and they understood that they have to marry to show repentance in God. They are beautiful to see how a seed can still be in the ground and germinate with difficulty, but God makes everything possible. After two years they returned and the most beautiful thing they brought another couple with them to visit the church and worship God together. What a blessing, God's seed is never sown in vain. Please pray that they keep in consideration and understanding the need to obey the gospel and even more so, the couple that they brought studied together that Wednesday night and the other couple that were guests also agreed to obey the gospel. But everything is a decision, in understanding. Please brethren, let us pray for those whose seed was sown and that God help them to find God's salvation.
Social media We have been on the internet, trying to spread the gospel and make the church of Christ known in the city, communities and nations. It is powerful to see how social media can test your faith and the strength of your defense of the gospel of Jesus Christ. This month we had a viral interaction for almost a week, on the Latin Facebook page. In which I shared a biblical text to this Spanish community on Facebook. During that day there were men, publicly accusing, blaspheming and offending God and the church. When that happened, I was constantly giving biblical texts to their misconceptions about the current false teaching. For example: The first comment was about a man inviting me to learn more about the Greek word for the name Jehovah to know. I have been responding to the Jewish term Jehovah and giving texts applicable to them. Among that other men accused that it was not a page to talk about God, but to sell and buy. And he blasphemed religion and churches. There we were talking about why we did not tithe, that the church of Christ, we are not interested in people's money, because money corrupts etc. And many more people entered the teaching. During those days of answering each one their concepts. Many sent me messages separately to the church, asking me the church's worship schedule. This gave me a teaching, when one makes God known and his word publicly one has to be firm defending the faith. You have to recognize that you are going to experience everything. But in the end others are watching and interested in the healthy word of God. Souls were taught and invited to come to Christ and know his church and his truth. We continue to preach as we can socially, making the gospel of Christ known.
Network Scattered "Scattered" We continue to personally help this group of brothers who passionately continue to preach the gospel to the whole world every week. With themes that encourage Christians and non-Christians to truly seek God. I continue to help translate each month's article into Spanish. for the Spanish speaking audience. The vision entrusted by them, is to broadcast podcast in Spanish in the following year, I have already received a team that they sent with their funds so that I can record and broadcast the podcast locally and worldwide. What a blessing to sow the seed of God. Benevolence: This month we had several families, being helped as much as possible, people who return as well. And others who help each other due to the difficulty they have when the month ends. Thank God we can help God's family and people who come to take for what they need. This month we had 8 families of 2 to 6 people per house, who on days other than those stipulated come and enjoy the blessings of God for their needs. Thank you for sharing your blessings with others. Ministerial development: It is a great blessing to see how we are integrated together, united in making the name of God great and also we are the ministry in Spanish as part of the activities together growing in the Lord. 
 New converts: We begin to open a new section on Sundays at 4 pm, to teach those who cannot receive discipleship classes on weekdays. They can be done at that time on Sundays. What a blessing to see as brothers with courage and faith, they come at that time and spend two hours serving and learning about God's way and his teaching. Please pray for the new creatures in Christ Jesus, in his faith and dedication to follow him as a disciple.  Applying growth: This month in my absence I left the local brothers to carry out the different meetings and teachings and in everything that is needed. The men we have showed a degree of great responsibility in bringing about the worship of God. Our brothers, Leo, Oscar, Enrique, Edgar and Raúl had the wonderful opportunity to help the church. Our brother Enrique has shown a lot of love and encouragement to teach the word of God. He is beautiful as brothers who are only months and years old are already serving and helping the church in worship and whatever the church needs. Please pray for the faith and dedication of these men of God and his families to magnify the name of God.  New Ministry: The Bread of Life We have involved the members to be part of this beautiful activity, which will be taking place every beginning of the month. It consists of bringing a loaf of bread to invite a family member or friend to church. Come to their home and give them bread as a gift from the church of Christ in your community. I am very happy that we can help each other in showing love for souls and being able to experience how important it is to seek souls for the Lord. Thanks to Sister Michelle and her daughters for being able to help us greatly in baking and providing us with the bread to be able to label them with Saint John 6:51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven; If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. And we tape a card with the church hours. We hope in the Lord to achieve our goals of all save souls. Extra mile: My family had to make a very important decision, to go to Honduras and be able to finish the children's dining room. It was a decision that required diligence. The goal was accomplished thanks to God, It is incredible how God when his hand is in his work he makes what seems the impossible, possible. Immediately the next day we arrived, we began to work in the area to condition it, on Tuesday, the goal was to cook for the children on Saturday. Every day we had tireless working and prayers, with the aim of finishing the project. I thank God, the families involved in this project, the brothers my sisters who together with my family and children and my wife. We took, shovels, we used our hands for everything that was needed at any time. We use shoulders to carry, time, dedication and dedication locally to finish this project. Thank you God for all those who helped us even those you already know. We succeeded, the churches have for the first time their children's dining room, which for almost 10 years was cooked in difficult conditions to teach and feed the children in the communities. Now there is a place where you can sit and rejoice in the word of God, a place that you will remember that God filled you physically and Spiritually, a place where you can find peace and love in the Lord Jesus. Thank you for your prayers, it was amazing to see the bravery of my children to take the Covid test three times and they would always tell when they put the swab in their nose. For Honduras !!!!! Thank you God for everything, for making what you put into our hearts what you have in mind come true. Guide us every day to do your will and magnify your Name. Amen. Here I share some photos. 
He who thinks he is firm look not to fall 2 Corinthians 10:12 Paul was focused on encouraging, strengthening the faith of those already converted in the ways of God. He showed them a better way that was full of obstacles but with faith which requires Obedience is the passage of the door of grace in the Lord. By Grace we are saved, but we must obey His commandments and His gospel. In the Spanish Ministry, we remain focused at every moment of each week and every month, on strengthening the faith of those who are already converted and encouraging them to obey the gospel of Christ. This month we have had many blessings, but also difficulties. We continue with Faith and encouragement for those who suffer to keep their faith in the Lord.
New Converts: We have a new brother and sister in Christ. Leonardo and Rubi were baptized this last Sunday. We first met them while translating for the schools in FHSD. They are from Venezuela, and needed help getting their two children ready for school. After helping them, we invited them to worship with us in Spanish, and they have attended services every Sunday since then without fail. They are very dedicated to finding the truth and listen very well. They had questions after worshipping with us for a month, and after answering those questions, they decided to obey the Gospel according to the scriptures. Glory be to God. They are such a blessing to us already, and a great couple that works already to encourage and help where needed. Evangelism: We continue to water the seed, inviting many to come and hear the gospel of Christ and obey Him. This month we have been blessed to meet more individuals and families and invite them to the worship of God. We had an average of 17 invitations and 18 Bible studies this month. We hope in the Lord that they can remember God's message and obey His gospel. Two cases of evangelism: A man with health problems: We had the visit of two people, during the day Thursday morning. They went on to choose clothes for them. They were very happy with everything they could choose from. While they were picking he came several times to the room trying to form a bridge of conversation. Achieving this, he told us that they had cirrhosis disease and because the doctors told him that they had to improve his life if he wanted to live longer. Speaking of health and religion, I invited them to study the Bible and I asked him: What do you plan to do with your soul? Because God knows. During the hour of study and motivation, his watery eyes were noticeable understanding that he needed to give himself to Christ, but I let him know that if he was aware of his salvation and he confessed that yes. They told me they were going to try to come. But they haven't visited us yet, but he and his sister were preached the gospel. We hope they can remember the message and come unto Christ. A worker of a company : This man was invited one afternoon, because someone had asked me to come evangelize to some workers that were working in their neighborhood. I approached them to talk, they were well encouraged to talk, but they had a supervisor. When I finished visiting the four working groups, I moved on to the last one that was making a deep hole. While he was taking dirt I approached him and asked him about his work, after saying what they did, I asked him if he was going to a church. He confessed to me that, yes, he goes to a church, but where he works he cannot go because he doesn’t have time off. He is a resident of Mexico. When I heard about Mexico, I started talking to him if he knows the church of Christ that there are many in Mexico, he told me no. I spoke to him the Worship (offering, songs, Elders and Biblical organization, correct application of the scriptures) and giving him Biblical texts and he had a face like, this church looks like the one I go to in Mexico. But we got to the point of the "charismatic Catholic" era. This religion is made up of Catholics that are more permissive about Worship when they meet. After a good talk, I encouraged him to visit the church of Christ near his town. There were 11 men working, and we managed to invite them all to church. We were fortunate that they were able to speak with us, since there are always workers who have supervisors who immediately stop listening. We gave away 6 Bibles, and an invitation set: Church of Christ Who are these people? And can God forgive me? As we can see, there is always the opportunity to sow the seed, and it is takes us to places we have never been. Let's talk to others the Gospel of Christ.
Scattered: You know from the podcast "Scattered Abroad" that our brother Caleb Rutherford was a few months ago speaking to us about this program. Well, he contacted me on a Sunday morning and told me if I would like to help them spread to those who speak Spanish locally and worldwide. I told him that I would like to help them in whatever it takes to spread the gospel of Christ. They assigned me to translate an article into Spanish and write an article in Spanish and share it in English. If you have a moment you can come in and watch the articles or listen to the podcasts of the whole group that we are doing weekly everything possible to bring a positive and motivating message to Christians and the lost. I was also told that I will be broadcasting my podcast in Spanish starting in 2022. I can't wait to record messages that motivate the Spanish-speaking community locally and globally to God's message. Please pray for us and me so that every day you may have wisdom and eloquence to convey God's message.
Benevolence This month, we had the opportunity to receive 6 families during this month. This is an average of 6 households between 3 to 6 people per household. They were shared in gospel and some could only be invited to meetings. It is wonderful to see how souls can go joyfully knowing that God provides for them but above all, thinking about the gospel and God's counsel for them. Thank you for your support and love in sharing with others.  Ministerial development : The work continues to grow, numerically, but we want it to grow in faith and wisdom. Need for classes: We have been presenting needs that a ministry requires when it is developing. We were happy to have classes at 4:30 pm from children's classes and now we also have youth classes. It is incredible the love and effort available to the brothers involved in this emergency need. It's motivating and wonderful to see the smiles and encouragement they bring every Sunday, no matter the pain or tiredness or how much they drive just for being in Spanish-speaking ministry. They are helping, cooperating every Sunday in what God needs for the development and spiritual growth of the brothers. Thank you to all the brothers who every week are aware of the needs of the ministry. It is incredible how God unites us, for the same cause, Salvation. Please pray for the brethren who help us meet these ministry needs, knowing that they sometimes teach two or more, knowing that everything takes time and faith in the Lord. We now have 4:30 Adult Classes, Children's Classes and Youth Classes and then services at 5 pm.  Ministry Material: Thank you, thank you very much to all the contributors, who financially have been able to help us to be able to have a fund and buy what we need. This month we have bought more teaching material for young people, Bibles, cards, and more. We are able to give away and use it during our Worship and Evangelism activities. Thank you very much for your support, for sharing your blessings for the brothers and the lost. Family: As you may know, I and my family will be traveling to Honduras, as we have been developing a community project in the congregation where I preached in Honduras. We are in the completion of a children's dining room. This dining room will serve the purpose: to cook food for the children of several communities that we have been helping for more than 8 years. This dining room will have all the necessary equipment to cook and receive families with children from the communities in eating for free, as has been done, where about 5 years a church has been contributing money for the food of these children every month, so that they are provided with food every Saturday. The goal has not only been giving food, but also to teach the word of God to them, while the parents are with them. Our fellow evangelists share the gospel with the parents also at the same time. We, the Roque family, are happy that we are going to have this project finished where I and my wife and the rest of the Roque family in Honduras are dedicated to finish the whole project being ready for its operation. This building will not only be intended to help the children of these communities, it will also be used to cook for missions, campaigns and workshops for the church members who need work and classes on how to provide for themselves by crafting, baking, or studying using the “kitchen” as a classroom.    Please pray for us and our journey. I know it is risky, but we need to go and complete what is needed there. We will be later showing more information and photos. Thank you for your support and prayers.
When the storm comes, we are all left watching the sky. Normally we tend to predict how much it is going to rain. When the storm is there we wait for the sun to come again. When the storm stops, you can see the sun's rays on us. The development and growth of our lives as a whole as a church requires challenges and difficulties to improve and grow more in the Lord. We always need others, we always need someone, a brother in Christ to lift us up. Let us always wait for a ray of light when the storm ceases. Galatians 6:2: Endure one another's burdens and thus fulfill the law of Christ.  Evangelism: This month was wonderful, as in this month, we had the opportunity to meet more souls and invite more families to the church, teach the gospel of Christ, talk about idolatry, false practices such as worship, marriage and more... It is incredible how souls feel resentful of false religion. Some make the decision to only read the Bible at home and not return to a church. But I trust the Lord that souls who hunger and thirst for righteousness will return to the true path. In this month we had the opportunity to meet 8 families during the weekdays and study with many of them. We had a total of 11 Bible studies with 14 people in total, we invited 17 people to the church of Christ meetings. We were visiting some families and encouraging them to follow the Lord Jesus. This month we had a Sunday attendance of low 8 and high of 27, with children on Wednesdays we had a low attendance of 4 high of 9 with children. Average this month from 2 to 7 families during the month. A case of evangelism: Disappointed couple : During the weekdays, I had the opportunity to chat with a couple. That they were disappointed with the churches. They confessed to me that they were no more attending the church they themselves attended. Between conversations, I mentioned to them that it was shocking what their leaders and marriage counselors did with them. For example: They asked the church they attended to help them with spiritual councils, because they wanted to get married. The leaders assigned a couple who advise marriages. All was well until the leader began to put difficulties in her future marriage. The couple began to feel bad. Since one of the leaders, they did not want them to marry. This impacted the couple, because they didn't know why they didn't want them to get married. (one of the leaders wanted the man to marry his daughter and not to the other woman the man had chosen) I found this sad to hear. The couple looked sad about this situation. I took them and asked them to read the word of God. We were talking about Matthew 19 that God instituted marriage, and that what they want to do was a commandment from God. But I asked them a question that no leader in Spanish apparently doesn't ask those who marry. Have you been married before? They told me no. That was good to hear, because there are already married couples who do not divorce for Biblical reason and think they are divorced and commit adultery by marrying again. They agreed with everything we talked about even more doctrine like, who are the true leaders who bring us closer to the scriptures, why we don’t tithe, and the need to be truly saved. The couple was happy and told me that they would come to the church at some point to visit us. I hope in the Lord that this word spoken to them can grow and they can be guided to the scriptures. Thank God, we are there, where God commands us. To comfort souls and give them the light of God, His Word, His True Gospel. Please keep in your prayers all the families we know and have been preached. Social Media This month, we have been preaching the gospel through technology as well. At Facebook, we continue our struggle to reach many homes and reach people's hearts. I have preached the topics: With anger the righteousness of God does not work and do no harm to yourself. Thank God many have listened to us and left us comments. We hope in the Lord that we can reach hearts that seek salvation and eternal happiness.  Benevolence This month we have been helping many families in our STL communities. During the days Tuesday and Thursday we have enabled the pantry and belongings for those in need. It is blessed to see these families being able to get what they need, during their visits we are trying to converse and we have had the success of giving many Bible studies and invitations. This month we had 8 families (these 8 families have households living on average 3 to 6 people per family) from which we also studied the word of God, and of course they have been invited to worship services to hear the word of God. Thank you for all those who share their belongings with others. God bless you greatly. Ministerial development: The ministry continues in Spiritual development, encouraging, working and doing works for the Lord Jesus. Exhibitions: I had the wonderful opportunity to speak at the Church of Christ in Forristel, to give a report of our work in St. Louis. It was a wonderful experience, thanks to the congregation of Forristel for their appreciation, encouragement and words that motivate and nourish our souls in this Spiritual work and for the conviviality we had as a family. Also, I had the wonderful invitation to go to Arnold's congregation. How beautiful to see everyone there and to see their faces, words of encouragement and encouragement they gave us during the visit. Thank you for all you do for us and in ministry at St. Louis. Thank you for the pleasant moment together in families enjoying conviviality and getting to know each other more in the Lord.
 Youth Activity: Youth Rally in Arnold: We had the wonderful experience of being able to be in an activity at the Church of Christ in Arnold called: Youth Rally. For our young people it was the first time. They were happy with this activity from beginning to end. This time we were able to gather three young people from the ministry and add them to this activity. Thank God they loved it and wish to return another time. I thank the leaders of the Arnold congregation for an excellent uplifting and compelling activity for our youth.
Youth Devotional: This month we had one more communion with the young people, together in families. Our young people had the opportunity to know more about the Lord and more friends. They also had other young people and parents from other congregations like Greenmount and Forestell invited. The themes were uplifting and compelling to the current hardship we are experiencing. Our youth had an afternoon of fellowship and Spirituality.
 Two languages one Church How beautiful it was to end this month, with the wonderful experience of seeing many faces, joyful, happy to be in our bilingual meeting, worshiping our creator among the gathered nations. To see many that no matter the time to handle and the cost, we all had unity, fellowship and worship in faith. Thank you to everyone who made their presence unforgettable in our minds. You cannot imagine how much love and strength in our hearts you have left to all your brothers. I am happy with how the brothers were able to develop the meeting as God needs. In love, in unity, in His name. I am very proud of each of my brothers who served in worship as well. Thank you, for your comments and support of your ministry in St. Louis. Thank you for your prayers, God loves us and His faithful will always have a place in His kingdom.
 Family: This month we have had many family challenges, we are helping many we can. Projects outside the country, difficulties, impossibilities, sorrows, joys etc. But above all, we move forward doing what we can and always hoping to serve God as much as we can. There is a new project being carried out by a donor here in the states. His family has provided that there will be a “SOUP KITCHEN” constructed and furnished in order to feed the less fortunate in the valley of the angels, honduras. This work has been happening for several years, as the foristell congregations provides a meal for them every Saturday that my Sister and Mother and the congregations make for the children. They are playing with them, feeding them and teaching them the word of God. We try to help society and break the cycle of a lost youth. Me and my wife decided to donate a land, so that it can be built, Un Comedor Infantil will be its name. today a part is being finished, by the wonderful will of an anonymous family. They saw this need because of the current situation and decided to help where the whole family problem originates in the country where there is poverty and social instability. This children's dining room has a goal of starting with what is currently being done in the streets. But now it will be announced that the church of Christ will have its children's dining room totally free. The goals are 2 days a week and if God allows more days a week to feed the people in need.   My children are growing up and we try to make sure that everyone has a space in their home. School has started and we are trying to get them to have everything to continue in home study. They are happy to be able to be at home, learning from their mom. Thank God for my wife, who always fights for her children, home and takes care of us. She still serves the brethren at all times. Please pray for her, for her love for souls and strength in difficult times in her life as a mother, wife and sister in Christ. Thank you for all your brothers and sisters, you do not know how much love we feel in our hearts to see you smile and enjoy what God has done in St. Louis with all of us in unity, carrying the burdens of one on the other thus fulfilling the law of Christ. Love. Always after the storm, the rays of sunlight are coming.  The word of God is alive and effective Hebrews 4:12. The ministry in Spanish has had many feats and trials. What can be expected of our enemy of salvation? We must be aware of how the wolf approaches or how the lion sees to devour, injure and snatch the sheep of God. But God's word encourages, strengthens, and guides in difficult times. Let us only listen carefully to what the great shepherd tells us John 10:4-5: 4 And when he has taken out all his own, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.5 But the stranger will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers. Evangelism: This month we have had very good conversations, about the need for salvation, the importance of doing the right thing, the need to seek the place of practicing the truth of God. Marriage Counseling, etc. Conversations that thanks be to God we have been able to do in a month of many difficulties in ministry. We have had the opportunity to talk with brothers who this month, have passed and continue in very large and difficult trials of faith and of continuing in the Christian life. This month we had a high Sunday attendance of 14 and under 9 , we did several studies and visitation and total study calls of 11. Two examples: Single mother: For a year, we have had the opportunity to meet a single mother, she has two young children. We met her single, but she was recently separated from her partner. She fights a lot to support her children, ( En one occasion she confessed to us that she came to struggles for the good of her children and that she did not want to do to her children the way they did with her when she was a child, because her mother left her alone in the care of her grandmother) Because of all her jobs, We had few opportunities to sit down and impart God's message. She confessed to us that she was going to church before, but gave up after a leader of that church disrespected her life. She once came to worship, but the world and her desires overpowered her more. The couple came looking for a solution but the father of her children moved away to support them financially . She currently moved to another apartment, of which she told us that we can visit her, but there is still no contact. How difficult to see how God wants to give the light of the Gospel to souls, but the enemy snatches them away and throws smoke in the eyes so that they do not believe or see the gospel of Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. We will continue to try to seek her out in order to save her soul and those of her precious children that seem to be raising themselves at such a young age. It breaks our hearts. Pregnant mother: On one occasion I had the opportunity to talk to a mother who has family and marriage. During her visitation we talked about the need to read the Bible and above all to do what the Bible teaches us about salvation, family and true teaching. When we talked about family, I noticed that she had something in her heart, like with doubt and resentment. She chose to ask me about a very delicate situation, to get out of doubts about what the Bible said: She confessed that she was a devotee of a religion very attached to the teachings as it seemed to her. But when she was pregnant, a pastor once told her that her son was bastard because of his fornicarian relationship. Because you are not married, your child would be taken and given to a family from the same church who will properly raise the baby in our congregation. I was shocked to hear that, and when I told her as much, she was grateful to hear that that teaching is not in the word of God. Fornication is a sin, but we are not instructed to take the child away from the mother, but to love and instruct them of God’s truth and salvation and to bring them to Christ. There is no doubt that human religions corrupt the truth of God, manipulate the truth, manipulate the faith and the right of others to God. All for evil, falsehood and human decisions. How difficult to see as souls with good will seek to worship God, but man has manipulated religion, The devil tries to confuse and hide the true teaching of Christ. She is in agreement with what we practice as worship and how we seek with the truth in scripture each week to find God's salvation. Thank you Lord for allowing me to be there with those who need your truth and teaching. Thank you Lord because your church is in ST. Louis Gospel Online: This month we have been imparting the gospel on the Facebook platform. Messages like : The double minded, A new heart etc. The response has been wonderful, I have seen local people who like the video or many times leave their message. Even people from other countries also hear God's message. We will continue to preach The Good News and Jesus Christ and his Biblical truths.  Benevolence: We have been receiving a slow attendance on this occasion, but those we have received have been able to carry in their soul seeds of truth and consolation of scripture. We have received 6 families of 3 – 6 people per house. They have been given Bibles and studies also during their visitation. Thank you to all who share with others your blessings of clothing, food, and Bibles. Companionship: GABC Church Camp: This month there was the St. Louis Greater Area Bible Camp, my wife my children and the youth of the Spanish Congregation had the wonderful experience of being at the Bible camp. The boys returned happy to be able to receive the message and above all to be in the activities together. Thank you to everyone who contributes to make this a reality. Our children and family are happy as they had a wonderful time at the camp. Family reunion and youth: Thanks to the brothers who make these activities possible, it was very inspiring and motivating to see us all together as a family and our children learn from God. Thank you all for making this activity a reality for the growth and fellowship of the body of Christ.
Ministerial Spiritual Development: Exposition: This month I had the opportunity to speak at the monthly meeting with the congregations of the churches of Christ in St. Louis Missouri. Where I spoke on the spanish-speaking ministerial development and the application of the work cycles in the ministry. I was also able to talk about the emergence of two new works that were born in new areas in Honduras in Atlantida and Yoro. From how these new churches emerged and what is being done so far with the help of my father and two more preachers to help in the spiritual growth of these new works. Need for Spiritual Strength: This month we have had many hardships, Brothers and families in strong faith, temptations and decisions that are taking them away from God's way. the enemy continues to scare very hard the families , their marriages, their faith and their fidelity in the Lord. We have been constantly helping each other in what we can spiritually. In councils and study and prayer,calls for those who are in strong faith trials. We have also been in communication and prayer to other families who have been in poor health. Already thank God they have been coming out of their illnesses. Please pray The spiritual life of : Edgar, Lilly, Edwin, Sandra, Abimael, Castulo, carlos and sayda, Mayra and children and their families, for their salvation and care of the spiritual life. Family: This month, we had the opportunity to go to a church Bible camp where we were serving before moving to ST. Louis. The Church of Christ at Great Oaks in Bartlett, TN had its own Bible camp at Sardis Lake in MS. It was a wonderful experience, to see how my children and we enjoyed it so much, in Bible, activities and fellowship. Seeing the families we used to work together, it was wonderful how our children have grown up in three years. Thanks to The Great Oaks Church of Christ in Memphis TN. By the invitation and opportunity to be part of this spiritual activity. My family in Honduras was during these past weeks struggling with illness as well. Everyone is well and satisfactorily recovering. They have returned to congregational activities and others. Thank you for your prayers. Please: Pray for my children and my wife, for a home school year start. For my wife for the love and patience she takes to be with the four children at home giving them academic education. To be able to have the flexibility and time needed to work part-time and also in helping the ministry in St. Louis and serving the women of the congregation as well as being my secretary and helpmate. Thank you all for your support and your prayers for us and the work at St. Louis MO. God bless you. 
The Spanish-speaking ministry is greatly blessed and strengthened in the hands of our Lord Jesus. We remember how we started and now it gives us great happiness to see how the Lord is building us up in his word. 3 years of challenges and learning, days and months of work, prayers, teachings, worship and works. We all help each other, serving one another, learning to live together, and fighting together for eternal salvation.  Evangelism: This month was one of great blessing, we have had the opportunity to meet more families and sow the seed of God's word. We've had the opportunity to have 14 Bible studies, with 17 people. We also invite to the church 26 people at worship meetings. We also did 4 study and prayer and visits. We have managed to meet more people, that God gave us the opportunity to speak to them and tell them about worship,belief, difficulties. etc. Thank God we can be there on the day God gave us, so that we can reach out to these souls and show them the love of Christ, his church, and gospel. Two examples: A Lady with the communion cup (I omit the name): When she visited us on days of help, she saw at the entrance at a table, the communion cups on the lobby table. She asked me: Can I take one with me? I said yes. When I saw that she was going to put it in her purse, I immediately asked her: When are you going to take it? She fell silent, her face was red and thinking of giving an answer, but after a few seconds she couldn't give an answer. She told me she was Catholic, she only took it when she was teenage there they don't know when they take it... I immediately commented on him, that in the Bible we found an example of when the first Christians drank bread and grape juice... Acts 20:7 ( and we speak of the origin of how the Lord Jesus commanded his disciples to take him as a commandment) After a good time of biblical texts and applications. She commented in front of her eldest daughter... I had never been told this either here or there in Mexico where I am. We continue in the conversation... inviting her to the meeting and study of God's word. A Father of family / Adventist (I omit the name): As he looked at his wife looking for some items and clothes, he and I began to talk. And then, after the conversation, I asked him, do you attend any church? He told me not here, but where he is from , he attended... He told me that he was attending to the Adventist church. I immediately told him ; you know a lot about the Bible. He said to me: not much... I asked him: Why are they called Adventists? He said to me, because we keep the Sabbath, as the Bible says. I asked him: Why did God give the Sabbath as rest? He's left thinking about giving an answer... he told me he doesn't remember much of that... I said: Let me in 5 minutes say why? He agreed... There I began that the Sabbath law was given to Israel within the 10 commandments, it was a physical rest , with a heavenly intention. The Sabbath was originated by God, when I created all the rest on the seventh day Genesis 2:1-2 , God's intention was that they should wait for Christ, because they had to train the Jews to remember their creator, resting physically, but seeing the future, waiting for Christ. Which on Him would come eternal rest. John 14:1-6 We continue speaking for more details. Immediately he was very thoughtful and said that he liked it very much that we explained to him biblically. We talked more, and his wife was very grateful that before she left, I asked her if she had a Bible. She told me that she happened to be looking for one, and couldn't find where on the internet in this area. Well, give one to her and him and pray for them. We hope in the Lord that they may return with hunger and righteousness Mt. 5:6. These examples are some of many that God gives us the opportunity to know and share God's truth and gospel. Please pray for the seed in every soul we visit, know and invite. For them to seek truth and salvation in Christ Jesus. Thank you for helping us with bibles, literature and printing invitations every year! Gospel Online: This month we have been on different platforms learning how we can improve the transmission of the gospel, via Zoom and Facebook. We continue to invite people to visit us physically at our location or virtually on Facebook or the website. This month we were able to be live during lunch, sharing the truth of the scriptures. We talk about: When should we have the Lord's supper? We have also broadcast a program on Fridays with the themes : Blessed in God. With themes like : The clean of heart and more. we will continue to reach and reach many hearts with the gospel of Christ.   Benevolence: We have received in this month many families, and children who with joy can manage to acquire toys and clothes for everyone in their family. It is beautiful to have the opportunity for many families and souls who need prayer, support, strength and Spiritual guidance. This month we had 94 people with children who visited us on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 1pm. They are about 22 houses with an average of 4-10 people per house. All adults were able to know where we worship, all of them were able to receive through interaction during their visits brief Bible studies, prayers, encouragement, spiritual guidance, and doctrine. It is amazing how God and his truth can come in an instant , leaving a seed of truth in their hearts, as they visit us. Our goal is: 1. Let them know the Church of Christ in their communities. 2. Show them the love of Christ and his compassion for their souls. 3. Share the truth and the gospel of Christ. 4. Invite them to worship and our activities. Thank you all for sharing something you are no longer using in your home, thank you for helping with benevolence and being able to reach out and sow real seeds in these hearts. We pray that they can remember and they will always be welcome or when we knock on their door they will recognize us and we can tell them more about God and his salvation. 
Companionship: 3 Years of Serving and Loving in St. Louis: This month was one of much blessing and encourage in the Lord, the brothers took into account to be able to celebrate together the anniversary of having established the first church of Christ in St. Louis MO in Spanish. In the meeting we had a theme : What has united us as a church? Showing that what unites us is the sound word and truth in scripture and fellowship. Also ,we celebrated birthdays of the month . This month were Sayda and Kristi. May God bless them and bring on them joy and blessings. Father's Day: The brothers had the great opportunity to eat together as a family. How beautiful to see our children in church and our wives taking care of them. That afternoon was one of blessing, eating together with simplicity of heart, unanimously remembering God's blessings as a family.
Ministry in develop: As a church, we have had many challenges in the Christian life. But we have tried to do what is right in the Lord. We've added two more activities that we've seen that as a group it's necessary to implement it. On Sundays afternoon at 4:30 pm ,we have classes for the children and at the same time the parents have bible classes. Children's classes: Kristi , Along with Sister Belani and Neydi . They are helping children every Sunday in learning more , about God, worship and Bible teachings. We have seen how diligently these sisters have been with kristi to teach our children about the foundation of faith in Christ. Adult classes: We have had the opportunity to be able to scrutinize the scriptures and focus on Bible teaching to strengthen the faith of the brethren and teach biblical foundations that help us recognize truth and sound doctrine. In this month we have seen : Doing the will of God and What really build a church? We hope in the Lord that these extra activities will further strengthen our faith and we can unite more as a church. We ask for your prayers so that we can continue to do God's work. This month the attendance was under 18 and highest attendance 30, We pray in the Lord that all who have been invited can continue and come to know more of God and his church. Form now: We will have: Wednesday : Bible Classes 7 pm Sunday : Kids Classes 4:30 pm Adult Classes 4:30 pm Worship at 5 pm Please , pray for us that our Lord with us knowledge and wisdom and most at all Strength to continue His work and salvation in Christ.  Family: We are grateful to God to be able to live and be in the service of our God. The month of June, We are so bless and happy to see our little Isaac having his graduation 2021. Thank you Kristi and Nana for all you do for him every day of his home school. I can wait to see him growing more and more and showing his talents and serve. He gave to his family on his graduation ceremony, counting 5 by 5 to hundred and 3 by 3 and 10 by 10 to hundred. He read a story book in front everybody. We are so happy for him and so thankful to our God for his life and happiness. Congratulation Isaac!!
we were wonderfully blessed to celebrate my wife Kristi's birthday. I am so grateful for her, her love of the work, her learning in God's way, her effort at home. We all dedicate ourselves at home to celebrate her a good happy birthday. May God bless you more and more of blessing and happiness. Here are some photos. Thank you for your prayers, support and encouragement every week. It means a lot to us. God bless you!   It is a blessing to be able to experience companionship, especially to always be with brothers in Christ, learning to live together, grow together, especially helping us to strengthen the path of salvation. Romans 12:10 NKJV 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another. The ministry has had many feats, especially helping members to follow and fight for their souls, salvation, for their dreams, for their peace in God. It's not easy but thank God we don't lose faith when Satan tests us.  Evangelism: It is very beautiful to be able to see the faces of those who are proclaimed the gospel, the faces of the brethren when they are encouraged and helped spiritually. The word of God is alive and effective. This month we had 13 Bible studies and 7 invitations to families. We have been visiting and encouraging families and members to come to Christ and others to strengthen their faith and christian life. We have one more family visiting us who also want to study the word of God. Our attendance this month was lowest 15 highest 28 . Please when you can pray for the members and families who visit us and the studies and those of us who invite the seed of God to follow in their hearts. Online Gospel We continue on the internet interacting with others online. We were transmitting messages of encouragement to seek Christ and to seek the truth in God and His Word. We are trying to have sermons on Facebook using zoom : A Spiritual program where we have a general topic and so every week on Friday nights that message is transmitted. What is done , I record a message of 20 to 30 minutes by zoom with a presentation, when I finish recording it I lower it to the computer and install it there. When the day comes on the church page I schedule it to appear on Friday night. At the moment I have seen many people watching the video and commenting. Facebook gives me information on how many click and see more than 10 minutes, etc. Our goal is to spread the true Gospel using these tools and publicize the church of Christ in St. Louis. We continue to invite communities to visit us at church times with Biblical texts of encouragement and meditation. Benevolence: This month, we had families visiting the clothing closet and food pantry. We thank God we were able to share our blessings with others. Even during my trip to Honduras we had some families in a few weeks visiting us on the days set to take what they need. Thank you to Ms. Gayle for helping them at the office and thank you for sharing the blessing and for reaching out to those in need, As one brother said: Together we are more. Companionship: Spiritual Life: We have been collaborating and helping siblings and families in many ways. Spiritual advice, meditations on what the Bible says about what they suffer, and we also spend on other occasions studying about the growth of the Christ during suffering. Baltazar Family of Memphis Tennessee:On one weekend, we had the beautiful surprise of the Baltazar family's visit to our home. The brothers Matthias with his wife Alicia and their five daughters were getting to know where we are now preaching and especially how we are in the family. We had many happy and unforgettable moments. It is a joy to See how there are brothers who remember you and feel joy at being able to be together again. We enjoyed sixflags very much as a family (I was only on the train and Log Flume nothing more haha... Now they know my weakness sixflags causes me to panic riding roller coasters) But at least our children and others were enjoying a good day of fun in families. Thanks be to God they were at the 5pm meeting and were in our bilingual two languages one faith worship. Thank God for the fellowship and love for one another in Christ Jesus that never ends.
Two languages one faith: This pastMay 30 we had our second bilingual meeting two languages one faith. We thank God we could spend a moment of companionship, of encourage and admiration. We are pleased as God continues to add value and faith in our Spanish-speaking men. Watching them grow and develop in worship is great to see. We had the theme lives that change lives, where our brother Matt Haynes focused on having responsibility for our spiritual life and example with others in order to change other lives. We hope the Lord will help us grow together as a church with two languages, but with a faith in God. We can't wait to be at the next meeting. Thank you all for your support, help and prayers to make this meeting a reality.
Social conviving: The families of the church, had with joy to be able to have some food after the meeting. Well, we celebrated Mother's Day, all the men began to serve and clean the area where we were. We tried to let the women relax that afternoon without doing anything , having a good time together in the Lord. We also have a picture of another Sunday that we were eating together and socializing after Sunday's meeting. Where we sang happy birthday to 4 of the five birthday of the month of May. God bless them all.
 Extra mile: We've been helping to translate families who need to communicate with school. This has led us to meet more people and we ask if we can invite them to church and they do not refuse the invitation. Thanks be to God we have the opportunity to help the Spanish-speaking society and community. We've had visits before because of translations in schools. My wife still homeschooling our children, but she still takes time to translate documents into Spanish and translate to other families as well that attend the Francis Howell School district where we and the church are zoned. We have been helping the school in being able to communicate with each other for the well-being of their student children. We thank God that the Francis Howell school staff is wonderful and understanding. Family: This past May, we were blessed to celebrate two of my children's birthdays (two birthdays in a month) it was very beautiful to see them with their gifts especially baseball gloves. Thank you all for your comments of happiness and good wishes to my children on their birthdays. We were also fighting off a little cold for two weeks, more than normal cough because we had to take everyone to the pediatrician to be able to treat my children, one had ear infection, another sinusitis etc. Here's a picture of them in the clinic. The doctor was laughing to see all four in a row attending to them down the line. We are so blessed to have healthy growing children. 
What a blessing it is to know that God is in control of his children at all times in their lives. As it says in his Word Romans 8:27 "Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”God's will is powerful in Heaven and on Earth. This past month, we had many challenges in the ministry and family. The church continues in its growth, it is a blessing to see how brothers and sisters spend time together in harmony and simplicity of heart. All supporting each other in what we can.  Evangelism :This past month we have sown the seed of God in the hearts of those in need. In this month we had an average of 14 Bible studies, with 22 people gathered during the different Bible studies and made 11 invitations to persons that we met during our departures. I hope in the Lord Jesus that these studies will bear fruit of growth and awareness at the need to obtain God's salvation. In Honduras, I had the opportunity to encourage my family and to make a devotional on Wednesday, April 28, preaching on the topic of “What is in our heart?” Because of the need to help my parents. I had the opportunity to teach boys on Sunday, May 2nd in the morning with the theme : “Where does the church go from here?” , Based on Numbers 18 ( Implying if my father had died, how were the men prepared to continue with the church? and we applied this reading, teaching that we all need everyone in the church, and a church must take charge so that the preacher only has to preach and evangelize the word of God) On Thursday, May 6th I had the opportunity to preach a kind of encouragement of prayer, with the theme: “God prays for you as well.” Based on Luke 22 31-37. On Friday the 7th, I had the opportunity to restore a brother to the faith and restore his marriage. Thank God the Gospel could be sown in the hearts of those in need. Thank God for this great opportunity to serve Him when the kingdom needs me. Online messages: Over the past month, we have reinforced the gospel message on the different media and social platforms that local Hispanics are constantly viewing. Weekly biblical texts have been being announced with meditation messages ad advertisements for different worship meetings and website. I have also been recording messages on Wednesdays at 1 pm, recording approximately 20 to 30 minutes each video message to be streamed online on Fridays at 8 pm. (doing so for the purpose of showing Christ's church and making known the true Gospel of Christ.) Benevolence: It's wonderful how the church can help those in need. Sharing what we have at home to give to those in need especially the church. People come, we give them what they need, many times we only tell them that: God loves them, and they begin to ask about the church. Others begin to confess their problems and difficulties with their families. Thank God there we are to pray for them and make them known that Christ loves them and wants to help them morally and spiritually. This past month we gave 7 families food and 4 families of the 7 clothes as well. Thank you all for helping to give and show Christ's love to those in need.  Companionship: This month we were helping the brothers in different difficulties, Prayers, encouragement, spiritual strength, biblical councils. The need to feel the spiritual presence among the brethren is very important. We were helping Sister Sandra, she had and continues to have a great difficulty with her personal life and her family already in Honduras. We continue to encourage and advise her every week, so she can get out of the various trials she has. Please pray for our sister Sandra and her son. Extra mile I,Elias, had a anguish to see my dad have an accident, falling from the second floor of his house, For he fell 9 meters high and thank God he only had a slight fissure in the back of his head and broke his small finger of the hand for the protection of God. In my anguish, the brothers encouraged me to feel that I can go see my parents and help them in everything I could do. The local brothers gave me a lot of love and support to feel the great opportunity to go and be able to hug my father and mother and help them in what they needed. This fills me with joy at feeling that brothers made my departure possible by helping with meetings and brothers doing meetings and personal help for my journey and more. Thank you very much for your love and companionship for everything. Those days while in Honduras the days went fast doing everything they had in mind to do, I had the opportunity to help strengthen the spiritual life of my brothers in the flesh, my family, and brothers in the Faith. I was preaching, studying the Bible with others, advising a couple and seeing brothers in the Faith while I could. Thank God by your prayers and your help, my father was able to recover satisfactorily, my mother and now my father will be visiting the physical therapist in the following days. (My mother since January had an operation and as a result cannot normally walk every day and my father because of the fall needs to visit the physical therapist.) Thank you all for helping emotionally, spiritually and physically my life. God is good and forever His mercy.      Family Me and my family, we had the great opportunity to go see a game of baseball Cardinals, planned a long time ago as an annual activity. That was before my dad had the accident in Honduras, on Monday we went to see the Cardinals in a very intense game, our children managed for the first time to receive a baseball thrown by a professional baseball player, their faces were marked in our minds when they saw their reactions to having the ball in their gloves. The next day I traveled to Honduras to restore my parents, my family, and help fix the house in everything I could and by its position encourage the faith of the brothers in the church in Honduras. Thank you all for your love for us in the west end. Thank you for your wishes and prayers and aids that made it possible to show my love to them every day being in depth with my parents and family in Honduras. My son Abel, due to his allergies, spent a month with allergies bothering him and medicine, and upon arriving from Honduras, I took him on Monday to the doctor as he did not sleep the night before because of his cough. I thank God we were able to take him as he was breathing more quickly than usual because of his difficulty breathing from his cough and phlegm in his lungs. He's being treated at home for now, he was sent with an inhaler and medicine. It is but in God that he will improve soon. We miss his joy and conversations he makes in the house. Thank you for all your brothers, there are no words to describe your immense love for us even if you only know each other for a short time. God bless your hearts and your work   The Apostle Paul encouraged the brothers in Corinthians to change their lives and attitudes about the need to serve and worship God correctly.2 Corinthians 13:8.Because we can't fight the truth, but against the truth. New to Christ It is beautiful as the gospel of Christ prevails moreand moreevery day, in those who love and seek the truth. Christ's church is very happy and blessed to see 4 precious souls being baptized for the forgiveness of sins. We have been incontact with the family for almost two years. Over time we have come torecognize that truth prevails first andforemost fort those who love and seek the truth of God inHis word. The Baltazar family is happy to give their lives to our creator God and begin on the path of the truth and eternal happiness that comes to us.Please pray for the family the couple and their 5 children of whom we are blessed to have them in Christ.
Evangelism We have been visiting and studying the word of God, all brothers and visitsduringeach week withstudy visitation and evening evangelism. We continue to strengthen faith and teaching brothers and sisters in the different needs required to strengthen their Christian livesduring eachweek. Topics such as faith in trials, a new life in Christ, Christ the authority of His church, salvation onlyin God, prayers andsongs during thevisitation to animate the faith of those who suffer as well.We always have the pleasant memory of living together as the church of the first century rememberingActs 2:46 “And persevering unanimously every day in the temple, and breaking bread in the houses, they ate together with joy and simplicity of heart.” We continue to invite the people we meet in the stores, often we are rejected, but always thinking that someone would consider seeking God. Social Media We continue to feed social media, with biblical texts and invitations on the different social media platforms that Hispanics usually see. We are often rejected or misled by people who do not believe in Christ or many that are disillusioned by other religious groups have destroyed their faith in God. It is sad how there are many more people who stop practicing religion, because today's religions only focus on money, daily offerings and firstfruits and theft of offering among them. These are some comments they make when we put up invitations from Christ's church. But our interest continues, so that they know that we are not equal to others. There is only one church here in St Louis that loves truth and practices truth and what is written. Please pray for us to continue sowing and proclaiming the gospel of Christ. Benevolence: We've been organizing a room to provide clothes to anyone who needs it, as in the past we've had families who need them. The sisters have been having their time to gather and organize by taking donations out of the boxes and bags, while older children take care of the little ones. We are now planning to help anyone who needs food and clothing help who needs it. It's always very important as a church to help the community in any way we can.
 Extra Mile: Norma and her family: During my camping days with my family: I received a call from one of the visitors that has been attending for 5 months here in St. Louis. He called me with the intention of helping his aunt who was distraught and disoriented who lives in Memphis TN. Her "pentecostal" congregación where she originally attends, the “pastors” required her to tithe four days $185, but she could only give a portion of that. Seeing that, they exhorted her and told her that she was stealing from God and for this reason she no longer attends and has left this congregation. After that call, we connected with his Aunt via 3 way calling to explain that what that congregation practices is not the truth. After a good time explaining to her, she understood that she cannot continue to practice the error and acknowledged that they need to seek a church of Christ immediately. When I asked her where she was from, she told me about Memphis. And I immediately told her that I was a minister there for almost 6 years, and I mentioned that there was a church of Christ at Great Oaks in Memphis, TN. She got so excited about them. I am very pleased that a local visitor from St. Louis invited someone else to look for the truth. How beautifulis everything, when truth prevails no one can be against it. Please pray for Norma and her husband. She mentioned to me that she has other families to contact to teach this and take them to Christ's church. I have contacted a brother from Memphis who will care for them and studying with them about the truth and church of the Lord. Family: These past few days, we had to have a few days of camping near the church building, so as not to stop doing the meetings. Well, the weather in the end was not favorable this time, we ended up packing back after two days, since the weather was low and there was a lot of wind, we could not do everything we expected to do as a family. But it will be another time if God allows it. Here are some photos of what we managed to do as a family. Great grand Parents came to visit us during camping here are the kids enjoying their company and presents also. My mother in Honduras is improving greatly, she already walks more than she was. Thank you for your prayers. My Honduras family is fine thanks be to God.Thank you for your help and prayers for us. You are always in our hearts. God bless you all.
 To lead a soul to seek God every Sunday is one of the greatest challenges of every Christian. People live far from the idea of worshipping God as God's word specifies. A person's will to worship and serve God. People have needs, goals, choices, and desires that are often entrusted to God every day only but do not seek to worship In Spirit and truth. John 4:2424 God is Spirit; and those who worship Him, in spirit and indeed need to worship. But people still have their beliefs and ways of having God or believing in God Evangelism: This past month we have studied the Word of God with converts and non-converts as well. It is very wonderfulto see how souls are giving constant attentiontoGod's message. Above all the truth of God that Christ's church is based in those who seek to love God in truth. We have visited every week and almost every day, after my office time from 4 pm to 8 pm or other days from 5-9 pm. We always return home happy to show God's message to souls. This month we have conversed via cell phone, visited, and have given words of encouragement and comfort. We had 13 Bible Studies, 8 visits, and every Sunday we had in attendance anywhere from 12- 24 people and children. Benevolence: We have been helping our brothers and sisters in Christ, we have given food to families and special donations to some families. Brethren have had difficulty in their work during the snow, we were stuck in our homes because of the snow in mid-February, and because some of them work outside on houses and others in buildings they were unable to work. We have been able to alleviate their needs as we can, thanks to the anonymous brethren and those who help by giving benevolence to help others. Family: This month, we've been fine thanks be to God. Our kids are in good health, helping in what we can with them, and this month they will be training for baseball season. I will volunteer attending my father-in-law to train two of the teams that my two children will be and I will be helping one more where my eldest son will be as well. Baseball is very complicated, but we are at a stage that they want to participate in and enjoy baseball. In another point, my mother in Honduras is recovering. She can walk slowly but not very safely yet. She's in a lot of pain walking, and doctors have determined that she has neuropathy of one of her nerves in the leg. She will visit a physical therapist,but she's at home doingexercises that she's been incouraged to do at home. Please pray for us and my family when you can. We'll really appreciate it.  A faith that unites us This past month we have had more activities that unite us together under one faith and one gospel. These include Preaching the gospel, encouraging members, teaching members, helping members, helping families and friends, and more, but in every moment that we spend together we show the love of God and the truth of the Gospel of Christ. The message continues to be sown in the hearts that seek God.  Evangelism: During the month of January, we had a lot of studies of the Word of God. We also visited daily during the day and at night, every day of the week we visited a different family. We had between 5 and 6 Bible studies per week. We had invited 10 families to worship and seek for the truth in Christ, and two of those families visited worship service on Sundays. We continue to assist friends and families translating documents, phone calls, helping siblings, and other families when they need us during the day. IN the month of January, we conducted 24 Bible studies and we traveled to visit homes 18 different times. 7 New families were given invitations to the Church. Our highest attendance this month was 29 people (all Spanish speaking)  Extra mile for Christ: A Hispanic member from West End Iglesia de Cristo in STL MO, asked if my dad (Elias Sr.) from Honduras can go and help her mom and family in Mezapa, Honduras. Her brother and her sister -in- law lost a baby during delivery, and she was in a coma for several weeks. Her mom named Maria was devastated and stressed from all this suffering in her home. Elias Sr, Robert, Claudia and Samuel traveled (5 hours) this past week. The same day they traveled they had a worship and they preached the Gospel to her home and she was baptized after the worship! Glory be to God! My lovely wife, posted on Facebook a beautiful message of helping this preacher that saw also the need of having worships there every Sunday. My wife offered to bake and decorate a dozen of cookies for a $30 donation which would cover his bus fare for the weekend. With the help of her Facebook friends, we were able to raise his bus fare for an entire year! Thank you to all your help and support for this new work.
Benevolence: Geovanny and his wife:they needed clothes. We set a day to help him and his wife, but they had no transportation. I offered to bring them to the building on Monday morning. They live by St Louis, MO Airport. We gave them lunch and explained to them the need to seek God as a Zacchaeus, Luke 19. Then they came to choose what they needed, and also, I took them to the supermarket to buy some food supplies as a church donation. After 5 hours of helping them in all they need physically and Spiritually, I took them to their home. They want to receive more studies of the Word of God. I hope in God that they can come to church and continue studying the Word of God. Candy:One day, an English-speaking person her name was Candy came to the office asking for help. I spoke the gospel to her in my office and invited her to church. She came two Sundays in a row to listen, after two weeks, one Tuesday morning several brothers helped her in what they could, but she had a difficulty, she could not fill out job applications on the internet (due to covid restrictions offices only want applications via email) She could not use a computer. I offered to take her to apply two places. We went extra mile helping her almost all day, helping her in what he needed. We hope she was able to get her job and she was personally preached 2 times about the need to look for God and also, she came twice to the worship services. There are more people and families that we have helped in what we have been able to do. Thank God we have helped in what God allows us to do. Adam and Cinia: They have two kids, we were helping them in anything they need, they have been coming to church for several Sundays. They got some clothes from the church benevolence room, we have been helping them with translation documents, filling out documents for their kids’ school etc. We have been studying every week with Adan. They are a sweet family, please pray for this family and understanding of the Gospel of Christ.
Fellowship: In Spanish ministry, we have had the most wonderful experience in our first bilingual meeting. it was beautiful to see with our eyes the support of the English language side. Seeing all the men cooperating in worship, serving each other in Christ together was wonderful. We will have more bilingual services to come. Be ready if you want to be part of it Every fifth Sunday of the actual year. We will be praising and worshiping our Lord, All together, All united, all nations, tongues under one faith, by the Gospel in Christ Jesus. We had 86 in attendance that night. Revelation 5:9 and they sang a new song, saying, Worthy of taking the book and opening its seals; for thou hast been immolated, and with thy blood thou hast redeemed us for God, of every lineage and tongueand people and nation;  Media: I was invited to put out an encouragement message about evangelism. Where I was talking about Acts 16, in how apostle Paul went outside and sat down to talk about Christ Jesus. In a few words: A mission action. As Christians, we must take the mission of going out and speaking to others. Every mission in church takes actions. Family: My family has been great so far, only my children were sick with a Strep throat infection. One day start with one and then you know the rest got it a few days later. When you have a big size family this happens. But they all are great and healed. Thanks to our God. My mother RUTH had an operation this past month. It went very well thanks to God. She's just recovering these days. The doctor wants to see her last week in February. We are so blessed for everybody who has asked about her and her recovery. Thank you for your prayers and support. We are so thankful for everybody and every congregation and every leader in the congregation that help us. Thanks for your prayers and love for my kids and us. God bless you.  A new year with hope. A year with challenge but in unity and fellowship. A new year of knowledge and comfort. We, the Iglesia de Cristo en West End in St Louis, are so excited to put in practice the activities that we want to do during this 2021. We have a Spiritual plan 2021  We have a calendar of our activities and work.  We are planning to work together in:
Reaching out
Please pray for us the Iglesia de Cristo, for my family and our future in Christ. Thanks for helping us during this 2020. Thanks for everything and everybody that supports us and those that are not able to support us too. May God bless you richly every day and bless all you do in His name.  Life is all about transition. As Christians, we are expecting transition in the spiritual perspective. We are all in transition of growing, but also learning to be devoted to our God. These past few weeks we have been having a lot of good things and also not so good things in the ministry. Not so good things: We are fighting still to keep our brother and sisters in Christ, and to have them keep putting our God first and to keep Believing and trusting in His words and advices. Please pray for our members. Some of them have been in temptations and trials in life so far. I imagine our Jesus seeing us today how easy we just make a decision to not trust in him and fight for our self instead of letting him guide us. Please pray for the members and their spiritual life. Good things: We have some visitors from Honduras, my parents are here. They have been helping us in anything you could imagine. It is good to have some help of daily basics in family. My parents have been helping us also spiritually. They’ve encouraged us talking with us about ministries, preaching, counseling, and visiting members and helping and reaching souls in Christ. We had some visitors from Memphis TN, The Amaro family was planning to come this year. It was great to see them, remembering seeing them born into Christ and today still faithfull in the doctrine and the Gospel in Christ. Brother Gregorio helped us leading songs that Sunday evening. It was great seeing their Spiritual growth in Christ. We have a new soul in Christ, Eli was baptized for the remission of his sins. Three days later of being baptized, He came to me and said: Dad if there is something that needs to be done in services, I would like to do it. He led songs in Spanish it was touching seeing my son helping the kingdom. We have been in fellowship, and we have some studies in different days from people that never study with their own congregation. We met each other in a fellowship meal eating a Honduras traditional meal, during that time a visitor brought a new couple, and talking they asked me about the Lord’s supper, I mentioned to him in the conversation that we are the church of Christ, we take the Lord’s supper each Sunday… they asked about why every Sunday… we studied with them and learned with the Bible why each first day of the week. After one hour, they said as soon they moved to St. Louis they will start coming here. We are praying for them and their salvation and the truth of the gospel in them. We have been studying the Bible, helping families, counseling couples, marriages, and inviting people to church. We have some people that they would like to visit the services on Sundays. We are praying for them and for the people that love the truth and salvation. Please pray for us, and the transition from the beginning to now having several members and families and visitors coming to our God seeking for answers and the truth in the scripture. Please pray for the ministry and the support we receive from the congregation’s around us. Unfortunately, this past week my parents and my wife and I all tested positive for Covid-19. We are thankful that our symptoms are very mild and we are feeling well. My parents were going to fly back to Honduras on Oct. 28th, but they will now have to wait until their test comes back Negative. Please pray for our health, for their safe return and negative testing, and that our kids remain unaffected. Thank you to all the members of the West End congregation for bringing us meals and groceries during this time. It has brought us so so much joy. What a blessing. Thank you for your prayer’s messages and support. God bless you.  These past days we have been having a lot of challenges. It is hard to see how the devil and evil is persecuting new hearts that are seeking for a new life in Christ. We have been having a lot of up and downs. A roller coaster of needs, needs of prayers, needs of wisdom, needs of forgiveness, needs of survival in God’s hands during the afflictions and trail. We understand that the more we grow, more needs that are new come to the ministry. I am so thankful from my heart that we can be there for every one that has been in afflictions and trial to encourage and support with prayers, with God’s love and reading in the scriptures for answers with every member and visitor. We are still together, knowing the devil is like a lion around us every day. But we know our Shepard is there for us too. Please encourage us for a second and share in praying to our God for us when you can. For:
 Studying the word of God together in our home and their homes, having fellowship and love in Christ, has been helping us to grow and to be able to speak to one another for courage, and strength us in Christ, like the church in the beginning in Act 2:46. Acts 2:46 NKJV 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, We have been having new converts classes, and each of them every week after their jobs end. The only time for every study are evenings 5 or 7 or 8 even 9 pm during the week days or even weekends. I am so thankful that I am able to be there for every soul that needs Christ. Also during the weeks, we have had some new Bible studies with two more families. We still have visitors coming and still coming to our Sunday services. We still have Bible studies via Zoom on Facebook live. People have been listening our Bibles studies and are leaving comments about our services and fellowship. I also had the great opportunity to participate in a Virtual Seminar from Honduras San Miguel Church of Christ. Preachers from USA, Mexico, Panama and Honduras. We were able to speak on several topics for four days. I preached Tuesday evening and Friday evening. It was great seeing local members and also a lot of people from different countries and areas to follow and learn from each other.     Taking advantage in the good weather we had this past week (only one week in August) we gathered with the members at the park Wednesday night with a devo and fellowship and shared meals too over a bonfire. Members were so happy for everything we did that day. God is Good. In the devo with the lake view, I spoke about Matthew 17:24-27 NKJV Remembering this Phase from Jesus to peter in verse 27 b. “cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a [a]piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.”That phrase from Jesus reminds us that it does not matter how much you need in the world to pay or do, Jesus knows and He will provide the way to help you! And us, because He was here and He knows what it takes to live here in this world…after the devo we gathered to eat hotdogs and smores in the bonfire and tamales from Honduras. As you see we finish well and full. We are printing a new invitations and post cards to distribute in your congregations. As soon as we have them, let me said the brother Bruce has talent, he designs our business cards and post cards. He is great and patient with me ha! I am so thankful for him for all he does for us. These new cards are smaller to give to Spanish people that you can carry on you when you go to the store and invite them and you help us also to spread Christ to the Spanish speaking souls. My family is blessed and in good health so far. Noah has to visited the dentist and Isaac the eye doctor to check his vision. I am going to coach soccer with my kids’ times. It will be crazy tiring but it helps to pay for fees to have them into soccer team if you coach them. So also they started homeschool year 2020-2021, and so far my wife is doing great with the kids. I am so thankful that we are able to have them homeschooling to have extra time when ministry needs it. Thank you so much for your prayers, for your spiritual and monetary support. To all the supporters and churches, thank you for being part of this ministry that is spreading seeds of love and salvations into the heart, Together we are more in His kingdom. May our God help us and bless us in everything!   Since the beginning, we planted the gospel with love and perseverance, and we knew that the Lord would give the growth. June the 10thin 2018, when the project started, we began with some supporters worshipping with us that Sunday morning. (see pic below).  JUNE 10, 2018 By that time, we were having morning services with AM Bible classes. The Cano family came, and still put all theirs hearts in God. We kept searching, preaching, visiting, helping, consoling, evangelizing, loving, every person that came to us. Helping them to find Christ in the scriptures and be Disciples of Christ. But we all understand that having first time generations of people to be Christians has more than teaching and helping, it is about changing their minds to understand how important it is to be saved and come to the church every service. How they need to fight in Christ every temptation and trial. It is hard for them to be the pioneers of faith in Christ. But this is why we are here to establish Christ’s church to everyone who is seeking the truth and the only way to Christ. This past June the 10th2020, we had two years of worshiping in the truth in Spanish. The gospel is powerful, there is no other way to describe how God works from His word. This past week of Sunday June the 7th we rejoiced in the Lord that Oscar decided to follow Christ. He was baptized. He has been attended worship and Bible studies since early 2019.  On June 10th, 2020, 3 days later, Sandra obeyed the Gospel of Christ and also took on the Lord in Baptism. She found us on facebook a little over a year ago, and has been having Bible study and worshiping with us ever since.  THEN! On June 13th, Mayra, was baptized into Christ. She had only met us one time, and is a friend of Sandras. After hearing about Sandra's transformation, she attened a Bible study with her, and decided that very night to become a Christian.  All these new converts are bringing us Joy, love, and energy. Also, there are more to do. They all are in discipleship lessons to grow in knowledge and wisdom. Our goal is to have a process of new converts lessons and practicing what they are learning during these cycles of teachings. Please pray for them, they are pioneers in Christ, First time Christians with their families. Our minds and prayers are for strength for them and knowledge in the scriptures to have strong families in Christ. As you know, we were celebrating our 2ndanniversary this past Sunday. It was so special this one photo that we took with all members and kids and a new family was visiting us.   During these uncertain times, we wanted to update our supporters and encouragers that have shown us so much love and generosity. A lot of our days look the same right now, but the good news is that the word is continuing to be spread throughout the world, thanks to our wonderful technology. I wanted to post a few pictures of Elias as he has preached on facebook live, spreaker, and zoom of the past 3 months. He has learned so many new things about how to reach more people through the avenue of technology, and it has not come without its hiccups and headaches. From keeping the kids quiet in a small house that echos while Daddy goes "live", to the internet cutting in and out at times, from teaching several other preachers how to use certain apps to live stream their own service via FaceTime, to preaching with some crazy distractions in the background, Elias has overcome these many challenges with grace and they have helped him to further his ministry.
 Thankfully during these times of online services and Bible studies, our members have all been connected with us at EVERY service. It is so encouraging. We even have old friends who we miss dearly from Nashville, Memphis, Honduras, Peru, Mexico, Domican Republic, and even more countries and states that are connecting with us on a weekly basis just to hear the Gospel. God is working! Elias has been able to continue his Tuesday Bible studies with Raul via FaceTime or Zoom, Elias and his family have begun a Podcast on Spreaker that records 3-5 times a week, and we have purchased a membership to Zoom so that he can facebook live while showing his powerpoint screen. These tools have truly been a blessing for the ministry and we hope to conitnue to use them even after we return to normal worship circumstances. These are just a few of the advertisements he has created to show the people where and when he will be broadcasting.   The Children have surprisingly done very well with the Quarintine...I have to admit they have faired better than thier momma. One even stated, "Mom, sometimes I forget about the Virus outside because we are having so much fun inside." Believe me, that only included a couple fun, out of the ordinary things, and we went on with business as usual homeschooling, but apparently they liked it! We DID finish up a bit early our very first year of Homeschool, and we are so thankful. What a great year to decide to homeschool the boys, since we would have ended up doing it anyway! They worked very hard, and it wasn't with a lot of patience, tears, joys, shouting, laughing, but we did it!  The boys were excited to get out at times and deliver groceries that some donors had contributed. It was pretty fun for them to ring the bell and run away quickly.  We were given several opportunities to help other countries during this time, and we are so thankful for the people and churches who reached out to donate. Honduras, like many other countries, has been under strict military enforced quarantine. They are given certain days of the week that they can leave their home for essentials based on the last digit of their ID number. So many people have to work DAILY for their physical needs to be met. They do not have anything that resembles a pantry, and "Stocking up" is a foreign concept to them. If you don't have money to buy food daily, how are you going to have money to buy a weeks worth at a time? Thankfully we have had a handful of good samaratans reach out and ask what they can do to help. Here are a few pictures of what has been done. To God be the Glory. These donations have made such a great impact. 
 Not pictured: The Roque Family that has also been helped tremendously by your generous donations. Thank you so much for thinking of them and their needs as well. I have posted a couple screen shots of them broadcasting services during this time. We plan to begin worship services May 31st, and we look forward to seeing faces in person that we miss so dearly. We pray that we never take for granted the freedom to worship in the Church building again.
 “Be safe and take care of your family,” These are the words that everybody is saying to one another during this hard situation with concerns and suffering that we are having in our country and in the world. During this time, my family is doing well so far. We keep what we can and sustain as we can. Thanks for asking also for my parent from Honduras, it is very difficult for them in Honduras. They have military enforced quarantine, and they have been for 15 days in the home. The government is providing meals for all the people but it is not much. There are more infected people like other country but this is a country that people work daily to eat daily. My heart aches thinking about the preachers there that lost support in the beginning in this year, and some of them don’t have enough to buy food when the government lets them go out to purchase items. So Sad… We are like everybody preventing and staying at home as many of you are doing. We are doing what we can for us and others in His name. Thanks for your concerns and messages and prayers. Three weeks ago, we were on a weekend mission trip in South Carolina helping a Spanish congregation that has more than 15 years of establishment. This trip was made with the intention to help the ladies and Kids Class teachers from Greer Iglesia de Cristo. We taught them how to set up Bible classes for kids. I also had the great opportunity to preach to the youth that weekend and preach on Sunday morning with the topic: Pioneers of Faith. (The importance to care for our generations of our families to have future elders and deacons in our congregations). It was a great time spent together and helping others in Christ growing together in His name.  My wife and a group of ladies from Foristell COC did a tremendous job also during that weekend teaching around 15 to 20 ladies from that Spanish congregation. They even received a recognition from Greer Iglesia de Cristo to them. So much time and effort and money were spent on classroom materials, translating, copying, laminating, and preparing lessons. Thank you so much to these women for all their hard work. Here in St. Louis, we have been learning also how to adjust to this new way to teach and preach by internet. I want to mention that during this quarantine we are able to help as we can. Calling members, friends and contact. Helping some families driving them to get food, Suggesting new ways to work and support, helping families with the new era of teaching by internet from the school, translating people that need contacting the schools, and of course the most important in all, teaching the Bible, we have been having Bible studies by cellphone calls, internet and even couple counseling at the church building. We have been learning so far how to set up Facebook live in the Iglesia de Cristo en West End and do the services on live stream via Facebook Sundays 5 pm and Wednesday classes at 7 pm and even adding new day on Fridays at 7 pm preaching on internet. We have people connected from, Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico, Peru, and yes! Local from Tennessee, South Carolina, and our faithful members and visitors from St. Louis and St. Charles also are connected by Facebook live. We are reaching more people than even before here locally all at one time. We are so thankful for every one of you that helps us to keep spreading God’s seed and laboring with God’s time in His kingdom. May God help you in everything you need and help you in your work and family. I want to share a passage that I have been reading on Facebook that help us to remember during this time we are always to keep looking to God for his Mercy and Grace. 
I am so happy that God lead us as we can during this time of suffering and concerns but we keep remembering that God is in control. He loves us and loves the world too. He knows everything we need every day. Psalm 33:18-22 New King James Version (NKJV) 18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy, 19 To deliver their soul from death, And to keep them alive in famine. 20 Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. 21 For our heart shall rejoice in Him, Because we have trusted in His holy name. 22 Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, Just as we hope in You. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/ These past weeks, we have been having a lot of surprises everywhere. All those surprises that we had, they ended with a great memory in our life and joy in our hearts. We started with a week full of emotions, concerns, and sadness, having our son Isaac into a oral surgery. Long story short, He got three molars extractions, and one silver crown, due his constant fevers and pain specially at night. (this can be the case also, why in the middle of 2018 had constantly fevers for several month and legs pain). But that day of surgery, the people in the clinic and the surgery staff were amazing with him. They put him to sleep, and then after an hour, He was out of surgery. They called us, and we went to his waiting room and he was sleeping. Then he woke up, with no pain or any other reactions after oral surgery. (I heard other kids crying so hard after they woke up in their rooms also). The staff was amazed how Isaac was after he woke up normal and talking and calm and ready to leave. To all of you, Thank you so much for your prayers and concerns about his surgery. He is eating more and he is so much happier every day now and more active than before. What a bless to have God in control.
As a family we also have the great opportunity to visit and I spoke at St Peter’s COC . It was a great time presenting my work so far and I was invited to speak during the am service. It was so great to feel the hospitality and the love this congregation shares every time we visit. It was a blessing be there and have that Sunday together.  We had more new visitors these past weeks, like 6 in total with kids. We heard from a lady her name is Marlene, that she love the way we teach and the truth we search in the bible, she even mentioned “I just visited today and I spent 30 minutes of Bible class with all of you, I feel like I need to be here, I feel you preach the truth here in the Iglesia de Cristo” It was a great joy to hear that from someone that came on Wednesday night Bible class. We also visit and have bible study with another great guy, knowledgeable in the scriptures , - Director of praising in his religion - “Pentecostal.” We talked about: Why people did not get convinced today through the bible, but people are convinced through the teachings of men . we even found two more people in that house and studied with us. We were also looking for a formal member that live by Cherokee streets, Downtown St louis . We found him, and talked to him, about The importance to follow Christ. We prayed for him for his strength and his decision to follow Christ. We were happy and glad we found him. It is a bless to study the bible and encourage other to follow Christ every time they let us talk.  I was in the prison this past week, I went to Farmington Jail. How I ended up there? Well, Almost two years ago , We met a lady in the neighboor hood when we were walking with the kids. We ended up to be close to share a little time to talk about the gospel two times. Then we moved to St Charles. So, after we moved, She contacted us and told us that her husband wanted to see me and he is now in prison. When I went there to visit him. Inside, in the visitors room, He was so happy to see me and I see in his eyes the joy of something great in his life. He mentioned that he attended the church of Christ services inside given by Arnold COC, and he cannot believe, what he found through the scriptures. He said: I found the truth (he said with great joy and great expectations). We started talking and ended up to find bibles in the visiting room and we took them and used them to study for 3:30 hours the bible. It was great to hear, All he said about God and the bible, the truth. He also said: This was the message that you tried to teach me that day … I said yes, he continued saying. But I am so thankful that you are here sharing the gospel with me. This phase lifted my soul, He told me: Please hermano, keep preaching, keep preaching, keep preaching the truth, no matter what, keep preaching… I said I will continue preaching . What a blessing it is to share to others the Gospel but most listening them how great it is to find and now follow the truth in Jesus Christ. I want to thank everybody and every congregation that supports the prison ministry. I respect those brethren that spend time and life, driving to teach the truth inside the prison. May God continue blessing you in all you need to do His will. We got a great surprise from Foristell Church of Christ this past Sunday. I was in shock when I saw all members getting out from their cars coming to us at the building. Kristi was literally with joy saying … Eliasss!! Look outside all those people in the parking lot!! They are here for us!! They are here for us!! I went immediately outside through the doors, greeting them and welcomed them !! My kids were jumping with joy to see them specially their families and cousins coming. There is no words to describe that moment, I will remember that pictures of people getting off from their cars and people coming to us that Sunday evening . Thanks for your thoughts and phrases and the encouragement you all gave to us that great evening to us … What a blessing to have grace from God and love from one another.  As the weather is going up and down, with good weather and then snow falling the next day, our ministry is also giving us sometimes happiness and sadness. But we know that at the end of the day, it is mostly just our feelings. What a good way to love God more and more. It doesn’t matter the time or weather, our feelings to God are stronger, as we continue on doing His will. The beginning of this year has been giving us a good number of people. So far, this past month, our attendances were in a range from low 11 and a high of 31. Which is great compared from January 2019 (a low of 6 and high of 10). A good attendance of people is coming to listen the Gospel this past month. Me and my family have been working so far inviting people to church, but also using this time of weather visiting the actual contacts and having bible studies or having time to see is they are well and praying for them. We have been asking them to come to our house because they have been so nice with us and generous also, they always offer us a meal for me and my family or juices for my kids. A few days ago, we had one family of thirteen in our home to eat an American meal. We had a great time, and we even had people come that never have been in church with us yet. So far what I see is that we are all coming together with fellowship, love, and friendship. We have been blessed having several families come to our house and share in the love they keep giving us. So far Kristi has been learning how to make a homemade tortilla, and they are yummy!!  We have also some families leaving us, for points of the truth. It is hard to see how much they like the church of Christ and its teachings and even open their eyes more and more every week, but in the end, they don’t want to change their worldly ways or with their religions they were born into or the religion that they have chosen. They are in the point to give up these teachings and repent, be baptized, and become a true disciple of Christ. But after all this process in the ministry, we continue praying for: numbers of people who need Christ in St louis. So far, we had 51 people that have come to services, but they are not coming back so far. Plus 29 people that we have gotten close to and study with, but they are not even coming to services since. Also, we had an activity at West End following up some contacts to come a have a dinner. We contacted 51 phone numbers in the list, just Hispanics, but no one came for the follow up meal. We also just had our first couples meeting and invited 13 couples that come often, and no one came, gladly one single gentleman and his mom came to learn about the topic: Why we suffer when we love?  We have invited hundreds and hundreds of people. Invited them to come to our services, activities, and home. But we are keeping praying and working in the way of the Lord as he guides us. We are praying for them, and for more people to come thirsty and hungry for righteousness so they can be preached to follow Christ and be in His church growing in salvation. But, in the end, we preached, and we are preaching, and we will continue preaching here more and more because we love and care for the lost. We still are stronger and motivated to spreading and planting. We have a full calendar of activities already including last Sunday of the month bilingual services. If you can come, we will have it in our current Spanish room. Sundays, at 5 pm. It is a good way to support us physically with your presence during these bilingual services. The time change is coming, and don’t get me wrong I love snow days, but I love spring and fall more. Time passes and time changes, but we are still planting and working one day at the time. |
AuthorElias and Kristi Roque have been married for 9 years and during this time have planted/grown 4 congregations. They have 4 boys 7 and under working alongside them. Archives
June 2022
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