Children’s Ministry December Calendar
Calendars are available at the Welcome Centers.
Nov
25
Nov
25
December Children’s Ministry Calendar
Calendar’s are on the table in the lobby near the “Ladies” bulletin board.
Nov
25
Dynamic Marriage
“The Dynamic Marriage Class helped us make our “good” marriage into a “great” marriage. Using the tools and messages from this class, we have grown as individuals, as a couple and as Christians. We would highly recommend this class for any couple, young or old, that has committed themselves to a lifelong partnership.”
Adults are needed to provide childcare during the class. Please see Bethany or Tommy for a schedule and to volunteer to help or for any questions about the Dynamic Marriage class.
Tommy Wright – 405-1791
Bethany Wright – 948-4913
Nov
13
Putting on Christ
November 4, 2009 was a special day for one young lady. Paola Barrientos age 34 was baptized. Paul said; “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27). Ricardo Guerra, our missionary, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras had been studying with her. I mentioned her in last week’s bulletin and talked about what a beautiful story it was. I am planning on being in Honduras on December 2, and was hoping to be able to meet her. None of us though will ever be able to meet her, this side of eternity. The cancer in her body became more than she or the doctors could deal with. Tuesday Paola passed away. Ricardo called me to tell of her passing. He now has the opportunity to work with and encourage the rest of her family. He will be there to encourage and build them up, just as Wayne has on so many occasions here in Lebanon. He will visit the family often in the next few days to offer any help that he can. He will tell them once again about the great love story of Jesus dying on the cross for them. Prayerfully others in this family will understand the story and they too will desire to “put on Christ.” Paola’s story touched me. It reminded me of the importance of having the proper relationship with the Lord. It inspired me to see our missionaries growing and maturing and serving in such a beautiful way. It made me think of others that I know who have not “put on Christ.” I ask myself am I doing all that I should to reach those without a savior. Am I committed to teaching the lost? Do I feel a sense of urgency about it? Paola didn’t live long as a child of God. I wonder what impact her decision will have on others who knew her. She didn’t have a fine home to go to after she “put on Christ.”
I can rest assured that our Lord though has prepared her a mansion to dwell in through all of eternity. I look forward to seeing her one day, as we gather around that eternal home to praise God. One last thought will you be there? Have you “put on Christ?” If not why not?
Nov
6
July 2009
Dear brethren,
May the Lord be blessing your lives greatly, and the work you do for Him. We want to encourage each one of you to continue in the Christian race, so we may win the crown of life with God’s help.
During July, the San Borja congregation had an edification meeting. We had this meeting on three different nights, and was based on 1 Peter 2:5. It was a great time to be together as a Christian family and to learn more about God. The purpose was to edify the San Borja congregation, so it may grow in love and deeds.
The ladies had their 2nd Ladies Camp. The subject was, “The Beauty Unity”. This camp lasted for two days. The ladies were encouraged by each other, learned many great lessons, participated in different activities, and cooked together.
The 28th of this month, Peru celebrated Independence Day. The young people had their monthly reunion, and celebrated “Independence Day” from sin. They spent an afternoon together, learning about the freedom we have in Christ, and doing other activities.
We also have been doing some repairs in the church building, specifically in the children’s classroom.
Please, continue to pray for Yuri. As I mentioned in my previous letter, he had drug problems before becoming a Christian. Sadly, sometime ago, he escaped from home and indulged in this vice. He is home now, and sorry for what he did. However, his family is not allowing him to leave home due to his addiction, so he has not been able to come to church during these weeks. We are visiting him in his house, and trying to make him see that he needs to make a stronger effort to remain faithful to God, and to flee from drugs. In spite of his acknowledgment that his life is not right with God, his addiction has weakened his self-control. We hope and pray that he will look for strength in God and his Christian family when he feels weak.
Thanks for all your prayers and help. We appreciate your love for us.
Your servant and brother in Christ,
Yahyiré Pinedo
Nov
6
I can’t believe my eyes!
Do you remember what took place on August 8, 2008? That was the day for the opening ceremony of the Beijing Summer Olympics. If you watched any portion of the ceremony you probably came away saying “I can’t believe my eyes.” I don’t know how many people viewed this marvelous event on TV. There were 90,000 people who watched it live in the Bird’s Nest Stadium there in Beijing. It was inspiring to hear about China’s 5000 years of history along with the many inventions this country has contributed to the world. There was paper-making, movable-type printing, the compass and of course fireworks. China’s impact on the world has truly been remarkable.
Years before this there was another one of those, “I can’t believe my eyes,” moment. King Solomon had a visitor from a distant country. The Queen of Sheba was greatly impressed by what she saw during her visit (I Kings 10:4-5). The sights of Jerusalem so overwhelmed her that she exclaimed those memorable words, “The half was not told me” (I Kings 10:7). Above all, she was impressed with Solomon’s wisdom. God had truly blessed this individual. In her mind she was convinced that the subjects of Solomon were happy because they continually stood before him and heard his wisdom. It is interesting to note that she concluded by praising Solomon’s Lord for making him king so he would “do justice and righteousness” ( I Kings 10:9).
As I thought about these two “I can’t believe my eyes” times. I began to think about things that still make me say “I can’t believe my eyes.” Sometimes they are negative things that I read or hear about. How disappointing it is to know that where there are opportunities to serve no one steps up to say “…here am I.” It is heartbreaking to here a long time married couple saying we can no longer live together. The list of things could be endless.
On a positive note, there are many times I find myself saying “I can’t believe my eyes.” I can still say that when beholding the beauty of a fall day. Recently I received an email from Ricardo, one of our missionaries, showing a lady that he was baptizing. She was 34 years of age, it was a beautiful moment. The woman looked as though she was pregnant. Our missionary said she is not. The cancerous tumor in her body had grown to the point that she looked pregnant. Paola Barrientos is now my sister and your sister in Christ. God’s word has touched her life. How good God is, is once again seen. “I can’t believe my eyes” about how truly good God is.
Prayer Thought: God thank you for giving me eyes to see the many wonderful blessings I have in life.
Nov
6
August/September 2009
Hello dear brothers,
We hope that you are enjoying the blessings of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have had some activities during the months of August and September. We had a youth reunion in which we talked about many issues concerning teenagers (such as avoiding certain music choices, having correct communication with parents, avoiding dances, etc.).
We have been studying with the grandson of Betty Velasquez. His name is Cristian. He and his girlfriend are interested in learning more about the Bible. They have a 6 month old child but are not married. We hope that they will make good decisions concerning their relationship with God and with each other.
Sadly, we have been down in attendance on Sundays. (Our Wednesday night attendance has increased some, however.) There are two groups of people in particular who we seem to be missing on Sundays. Some of the elderly have not been able to come because of their illnesses and also some of the young people who have been diverted back to the world with jobs and other interests. Please pray for the brothers here that we can continue visiting with them and help them to learn faithfulness to God and His church.
Sometimes, the work here can be discouraging , but we know that God is so good and that he will help us. Please pray for Juan and I as we work for the Lord here in San Borja. It is a great privilege to be able to participate in the great work that God has given us. I want to thank my family for always helping. My wife, along with Elizabet Benites and Amparo Bonilla have been teaching the ladies each Wednesday afternoon. Also, my two boys are a great example to me as they have much enthusiasm for the church. I can surely understand why Jesus said that if we do not become like children, we will not inherit the kingdom of God. We can learn a lot from the children.
In Him,
Yahyire Pinedo
Nov
6
July 2009
Dear brethren,
May the Lord be blessing your lives greatly, and the work you do for Him. We want to encourage each one of you to continue in the Christian race, so we may win the crown of life with God’s help.
During July, the San Borja congregation had an edification meeting. We had this meeting on three different nights, and was based on 1 Peter 2:5. It was a great time to be together as a Christian family and to learn more about God. The purpose was to edify the San Borja congregation, so it may grow in love and deeds.
The ladies had their 2nd Ladies Camp. The subject was, “The Beauty Unity”. This camp lasted for two days. The ladies were encouraged by each other, learned many great lessons, participated in different activities, and cooked together.
The 28th of this month, Peru celebrated Independence Day. The young people had their monthly reunion, and celebrated “Independence Day” from sin. They spent an afternoon together, learning about the freedom we have in Christ, and doing other activities.
We also have been doing some repairs in the church building, specifically in the children’s classroom.
Please, continue to pray for Yuri. As I mentioned in my previous letter, he had drug problems before becoming a Christian. Sadly, sometime ago, he escaped from home and indulged in this vice. He is home now, and sorry for what he did. However, his family is not allowing him to leave home due to his addiction, so he has not been able to come to church during these weeks. We are visiting him in his house, and trying to make him see that he needs to make a stronger effort to remain faithful to God, and to flee from drugs. In spite of his acknowledgment that his life is not right with God, his addiction has weakened his self-control. We hope and pray that he will look for strength in God and his Christian family when he feels weak.
Thanks for all your prayers and help. We appreciate your love for us.
Your servant and brother in Christ,
Yahyiré Pinedo
Nov
6
June 2009
Dear brethren,
We pray that you are all doing well. We are doing well, and continue to work in God’s vineyard. We are the recipients of many blessings in our daily lives, and being part of the kingdom is one of them, in spite of the spiritual struggle and difficult times we pass through. We hope this letter will result in encouragement for many to continue to work with the church.
The church of Christ in San Borja had its second Lectureship for leaders. The subject was “To Be a Leader, You Need to Serve.” Juan Benites and I were teaching during these nights. The lessons focused on the qualities of a leader, such as serving and being an example. These lessons were a great blessing for those who attended.
We continue with our visits to the shut-ins. Sister Betty Velásquez is recovering from her stroke. She is on therapy and treatment. She is still not able to attend services. Please, continue to pray for her.
We are also having Bible studies with Jorge and Marlene (daughter of Betty). Jorge quit coming because of his work, and Marlene became discouraged with time. They have three children. We are encouraging them, and hope they will come back to church soon.
We also are knocking doors in the San Borja neighborhood twice a week. We invite neighbors to our meetings, and hold Bible studies in their homes. We are getting ready for a new edification meeting for next month. There is much to do in the Lord’s work in this area. We ask for your continual prayers on our behalf.
Receive greetings from the congregation.
Your servant,
Yahyiré Pinedo.
Nov
6
May 2009
Dear brethren,
We pray for the love of God to abound in you. It is great to share some news and pictures with you.
During the month of May, the church in San Borja held its second lectureship for ladies. The subject for these days (21st-23rd) was “Created With a Purpose”, based on Proverbs 14:1. This year more ladies participated in these meetings. They sent invitations to the community, shared tracts, and encouraged one another. After each meeting, they spent some time learning crafts. On a particular day, Nora taught the ladies how to prepare yogurt. Nora has been faithfully involved with the church since the last visit in October of our brethren from the US. She has a daughter, Erica, who suffers from Down’s syndrome. Please, keep this sister and her daughter in your prayers.
We are visiting Yuri weekly. He is a young man who was recently baptized, and who had serious problems with drugs before obeying the Gospel. He is attending church every Sunday, but is presently struggling with his problem. His past drugs habits have left him with a very weak self-control, even though he frequently states that he does not want to go back to his old life style. His family has been thinking about taking him to a rehabilitation center. We are trying to help him to overcome his weakness. Please, pray for this young man.
We are also visiting Hilda, and her two sons. They are a very poor but faithful family, and live about two and a half hours from the church building.
We continue to have Bible studies in the house of Oscar Bonilla and his parents. His parents are elderly people, and have had many physical problems recently, not being able to attend services. We are encouraging them in the Lord.
My mother will be traveling to the US on June 7th. She will stay there for about 6 months. We will miss her, and pray to the Lord that He will take care of her during her stay.
We are making preparations for our lectureship for leaders that is going to be held next month. This lectureship is intended to encourage the men of the congregation, and to provide them with more knowledge.
Receive greetings from the San Borja congregation. We are praying for you.
Your servant,
Yahyiré Pinedo
Here is the attendance and offering for May:
DATE ADULTS CHILDREN TOTAL OFFERING
Sunday 3rd 38 15 53 $ 50.00
Sunday 10th 49 20 69 $ 59.00
Sunday 17th 37 9 46 $ 56.00
Sunday 24th 39 9 48 $ 41.00
Sunday 30th 36 8 44 $ 48.00