CT News May 2024

May 2024

Dear praying family!

Here is the link to see a somewhat comprehensive exposure of our month of ministry activities here in northern Peru! All our prayer needs, and praise notes are there.

Our pilgrimage in this life feels like a roller coaster. Ministry carries you through similar experiences. The most hopeful component of the journey traced throughout Scripture is that we are not home yet. What encouragement and a second wind as we keep drawing from that truth! Hebrews draws from the father of the faith and cheers us as faith pilgrims, to wait for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

The first half of May felt as if we were on a mountain top experience! We were pampered with the goodness of the body of Christ as we traveled and ministered as family to and with a group of believers north from us. The local assembly was getting fed from the lessons on “The Family in Crisis.” (We discovered that many were thirsty to hear the truths the culture is pressuring us to redefine, approve, or turn a blind eye to). And, out of the 5 unbelievers attending our home bible study, 2 received the Lord Jesus in their hearts and asked for baptism and discipleship right away. A third one can’t stop thanking the Lord for the Word that is changing his life and has helped break the crusted mold of sin that permeated his parenting and marriage for so long. With all that, we lovingly wait for the moment when he receives the Lord Jesus in his heart.

Then came the second half of May. Our spiritual momentum was about to get hit. As leadership we found out about two cases meriting church discipline. Both involved young adults we love and esteem so much. Navigating through the intricacies of each took a big chunk of our momentum while on the mountain top. As we dealt with it, the assembly was shaken and challenged to pursue holiness. We also asked them to lovingly embrace the fallen and engage in their prompt restoration. Just as we were starting to heal, we learned that one of the beloved missionaries in the local assembly was going through major health issues. Her home church is literally all she has to support her through this time of need. The Lord knew what challenges we’d face as we began our series of teachings on the family. God is good!

As we see the falls, bumps, and bruises of our pilgrimage, we would love to remain on a continuum mountain top experience where these temptations and giving in to the flesh are no more. It hurts to see loved ones and their families weep with pain and feel sorely unworthy to be called a son or a daughter of the Most High. But that’s what we are! One day we will be delivered from this body of sin. Meanwhile, let us be Hebrews 12:1-4 pilgrims!

Coming up

·June 9, lessons on basic Christian doctrine to new believers.

·June 14, evangelistic challenge to the men of the Elliot Christian School.

·June 16, CT family travels to Lima to meet team coming from Friendship Community Baptist Church (FCBC), Maryland. Please pray for no flight delays/cancellations as is common these days due to clouds/fog.

·June 17-23, our FCBC team joins with believers in Tarapoto to set the foundation of a new church plant site. There will be an assortment of other ministry activities that include women’s bible study, children’s VBS, open air preaching, and more.

·June 24-28, FCBC team in our home in Trujillo serving at Hogar de Esperanza, the local assembly, and the Elliot School.

Coveting your loving prayers in Jesus’ name!

Pablo and Sarah CT