Bible Club Christmas Presentation

The Bible Club leaders - Gloria Barriga and Olimpia Dragu - planned a presentation for the parents of the children in Bible Club. Gladys and Rafael Marin worked with the children to present a Nativity scene and some choreographed Christmas music. (As you can see in the photo, the choreography was not exactly synchronized, but was joyfully danced!) We had never seen most of the parents before this night, but they came to the presentation. We rejoice that the church was full of first-time visitors and that many parents were moved by the Spirit of God to receive Christ as their Savior.

Youth Group Christmas Drama

Estefania Barriga, one of our young women, wrote and directed the Youth Group Christmas drama. It told the story of the creation of the world, the fall of Adam and Eve, the birth of Christ, and the salvation that comes through him - all through music and mime. They presented the drama twice: at the Bible Club presentation and at our Christmas service. In this photo they are getting ready for their first performance.

Ladies' and Men's Meetings

The Saturday before Christmas found us in our ladies' and men's meetings, and were such a respite in our busy holiday schedule! Eduardo Valle taught the men on characteristics of one who walks in the spirit. Sue is teaching a series on taking every thought captive.

Drug Rehab Center Ministry

Enrique Plaza and Mike, along with Raphael Marin and Eduardo Valle, have been going to a drug rehab center on Thursday mornings to minister the Word of God and encourage the clients in their battle for freedom in Christ. They present four short teachings after a time of praise and worship, and the clients rotate from one teaching to another.

Saturdays of Growth

Here are some photos from a few of Saturday's events: Evangelism, Youth Group, Lunch, Mike's class, and Bible Club.

Mike and Carlos giving a tract to a little boy.

Carlos and Enrique praying with two women to receive Christ.
Getting organized for Youth Group.
Lunch between sessions.

Mike's Saturday class.

Bible Club getting ready to practice for Christmas play.

And, the younger members of Bible Club finishing up their craft with Olimpia and Lucy.

Meeting of the Mission

The meeting of the mission went well, although there is still lots of work to be done before we register the mission with the government. We elected new officers by a unanimous vote: President, Pastor Juan Franco; Vice-President, Eduardo Valle, Secretary, Lorena Guerrero; Treasurer, Guillermo; First Vocal, Pastor Mike Stevens; Second Vocal, Susan Stevens; Third Vocal, Norma Franco. A vocal is something like a stand-in. If someone leaves the committee, these folks move up the list.

Thanksgiving

We'll be spending Thanksgiving weekend in Quito with Pastor Juan and Norma. We need to have the yearly meeting of the "Mission" here in Ecuador. We are a legally recognized church at the moment thanks to Pastor Hadley and his work here years ago.

According to Pastor Juan - who is the President of the Mission - there are some possible issues with our continuing legality:

1) Someone used our legal status to bring "missionaries" into the country from Columbia;

2) the president is upset with the churches here because they were against the new constitution which opened the door to legalizing abortion and homosexual marriages. He has already not renewed the legal status to some large evangelical churches for this reason.

3) We've moved the location of the church in Quito several times. Since many people look at the church as a building and not as a Body of believers, this appears shady to some.

Please pray that we are able to continue with our legal status.