These past days of October, we were after the mission with many challenges and immediate actions to comfort and encourage the hearts of those who have made the decision to continue the path of God. But on the other hand, getting to know new families in Christ Jesus. As a Spanish-speaking church, we have learned to work together in many ways. By taking steps of responsibilities and fulfilling the duties of which we are called to follow every day and every week. Together learning to live with God and working in his kingdom. As Paul says to the members in Philippi: Philippians 1:27-29 27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but [a]to you of salvation, and that from God. 29 For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, Evangelism I was asked to host some MSOP students for an evangelism campaign. from Saturday, October 28 to November 1. Before these days we prepared the church to receive 4 brothers who are studying to preach and collaborate in the churches when they graduate. The church prepared itself to be able to receive them and thus helped with them in various activities. During those days, we suffered a very difficult climate to deal with, but we still managed to go out and invite people to the churches as we could withstand the degrees of cold. We could not go out much because two students come from Central America and for them 60 degrees is very cold for them. Well, I tried not to expose them too much outside. But we had the opportunity to advance evangelism in markets and restaurants from Wentzville, O’Fallon and Overland. From 10 am until 1pm. at 11 am we studied with Jonathan (I have been teaching him the bible, he does not how to read, but he always received me. That day he took us to the park to studied the bible. ) Mondays and Tuesdays from 10 a.m. Until 12 noon. And 2 p.m.] to 4 pm rest 4 to 5pm and then 7 pm until 10pm. We had more than 270 invitations distributed those days and about 73 people we managed to invite during the week. The lunches and dinners were provided by the Spanish-speaking church families who with effort invited us to eat at restaurants and others with love also cooked for them. All of them (the students) were helping us with the classes in the evenings, Juan preached on the Sunday after the bilingual service (We had fried fish and fellowship then we have our brother Juan to preached to us the topic: God is faithful. On Monday after dinner, Brother Nestor preached the theme: Responsibilities in marriages. On Tuesday after dinner, Brother Samuel preached to us the theme: Christ is worth fighting for. And on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Brother Sergio gave us the theme: Christian Families. During the day we drove all day from Sunday to Wednesday in different places and have bible studies and invitations to different places. This past Sunday November the 4th after the meeting in English with my family, I went out with Brother Oscar to visit the contacts who remained from studying with us after the door knocking campaign . We did well, thank God. We met more people in their communities as well. Evangelism Cases: Cristian & Carlos: Cristian was the contact from the Sunday October 29th , when we arrived the Sunday November 4th . Carlos opened the door for us. I noticed that he didn't know why we were there. But when I looked in the living room there were two beds. And I explained to him (Carlos) why I was there and he went to talk to Cristian. Notice that he woke Cristian out of bed. And he (Christian) came up to me, almost half asleep and awake, and he saw me and I greeted him. And I said, here we are Christian ( I thought he will postpone the study). And then he went inside and said come in, but don’t have chairs. We were in the hallway of his kitchen; he greeted us and we were standing there I began to teach a short lesson. (Christian was still tired and sleepy. he told me that he worked at night, but there he was also listening to the message and Carlos was also there with us too) I spoke to them on the subject: What does a person who has sadness and anguish do today? And I began to tell him that Jesus had sorrow and anguish but he gave us the example from Jesus to us. And that we all need one peter in our life to speak with and share our struggles and sadness. According to Matthew 26:36-38. Finishing I asked them if they wanted me to visit them the following Sunday at the same time, Carlos and he said yes. hoping in the Lord that they will continue to hear more from God. Sebastian: He wasn't at home. But when we went to invite people to church, we pass by a car pulled out and many kids and guys were getting out from the car. I recognize Sebastian and Maria, (a lady who we have been studying since July, came out). And Sebastian was last Sunday’s contact. He was a little hesitant to receive us right there in the parking lot. but we managed to study outside on the street. When it was over, other men came by in a car and coming out was Maria's husband (contact since July) They are very shy and don't deal with people much, their first languages is not Spanish (most of them from Guatemala, but the majority of them learn Spanish when they work here in the US.) we ( Oscar and me) approach close to maria husband and he listened but with not really open heart. Hopefully next Sunday they will be there in their home and continuing studying with them about Christ. It's a very large family as well. Oscar: Our brother Oscar received a study after evangelizing at about 3pm we went to eat our lunch. He commented that we have to fight to continue in salvation, because people live as if there is nothing to do for their soul (evangelism always awakens the interest of God's children in salvation as well). So from that point I studied with him some of the first chapter of Ephesus. We studied that we must present ourselves holy and blameless before God. According to Ephesians 1:3-10. Then we moved to the 4:30pm class and followed by the 5 pm service. God's design is always the best. When we are knocking on doors, He also touch hearts. Isaac and Patricia: This was a case during Tuesday October 31st at 6 pm, we were hanging out with the students after inviting. Then we went to the home of Isaac and Patricia (contacts from a year ago) They allowed me to visit them to study the Bible with them. Isaac welcomed us into his home, and I noticed that Patricia's parents were there as well. And we were introducing ourselves, the students with them too. When I spoke to Patricia's father, he immediately told me that he was Catholic... I immediately replied and told him that God has always wanted man to be one in Christ. And I told him that in the Bible there is a beautiful prayer about the unity of humanity and its beliefs. And I asked him, if he wanted me to teach him that precious prayer. He immediately said yes. So we talked about Jesus' prayer in John 17. According to the context of John 16:32-33. In order to understand only the first word of verse 1 of John 17. At the end they were very happy about the study, and I asked them if we can visit them to learn more about God like that study and they said yes too. Isaac told me that I always have the doors open at all times for me and my family. I hope the Lord will enable us to teach more about the truth of Christ and His church. These are some cases of evangelism, please pray for the new contacts and contacts who have been visiting us. Like Manuel and Valentina they have moved here in St. Louis and have been visiting churches, but they have not found what they were looking for, one day they contacted me and asked me about the days of services. They arrived last Wednesday and Manuel confessed to me that they finally found a church that teaches the word of God with truth. (Manuel told me the first Wednesday that he visited us with his family. that he has seen many topics recorded on Facebook about the Church of Christ and more. He mentions to his wife; This is the church that we should be and follow) I was surprised that there are people who look for what they read in the bible. Please pray for them, for knowledge of the truth. They have agreed to receive me when they are set up to study the Bible. They still visit us, they have 5 children. Please pray for them. Pray for me, that God will give me strength and word so that I can teach more and more of the true gospel and His church. There is no doubt that when we knock on doors, God touches hearts. Fellowship On Sunday, October 29th, we had a wonderful bilingual meeting. We were 88 souls gathered to offer our lives to God and praying and singing and listening to His word. Our brother, Kevin, gave us a topic to think about if we are really saved. Once again, thank you all for your support and unity in the Lord. After the worship end. We have some fellowship dinner. some members came by 2 pm to help us frying fishes and fillets. It was delicious. Thank you everybody for your help and cooperation. Here we also have some pictures of our brothers from the Memphis MSOP. During the activity with the brothers and sisters of the church of fellowship and times in St. Louis. Here are some pictures of the Sunday October 31st eating together. Devotional and Fellowship at homes Brother Leo oversees the home meetings throughout the year. He confessed to me that he loves gatherings at home. This past October Saturday 21st. We stayed at Franco and Andrea's house. We were supporting each other and where Leo gave us the theme: If Jehovah does not build your home? According to Psalm 127. It was very beautiful to see brothers grow and develop gifts that the church always needs and see Leo speaking to us. Family Thank you all for your prayers, kristi is getting a lot better. we hope the results will be as God desires. I'm very happy because my parents will come from Honduras to visit us and be able to see Samuel for turkey day. It's going to be two weeks with my parents where he's going to help me with evangelism and preaching as well. I can't wait to see them and spend time together as a family. Here are some pictures with my kids picking apples in a farm one evening and we made apple pies (yummy) that night we were eating some pies and vanilla ice-cream. Pray for us, that God will give me and my wife strength and give me time to give to my kids and wife. Thank you all for your wishes, support and prayers for us.
Have a happy Thanksgiving day in family.
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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
April 2024
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