Everybody who likes sowing also likes reaping. We all want to see our labor producing fruit. We have goals for our actions. God also has a specific goal when He saves a person.
The Bible verse in the head of this letter shows the goal of Jesus Christ for people saved by Him: “…ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain”.
God enjoys seeing His children growing in faithfulness, perseverance, and obedience. In other words, He is joyful when we bring fruit, and permanent fruit.
I felt a similar joy during the last weeks. The words of Christ are clear to show what He expects from us. I use those words to express what I felt seeing permanent fruit. I am speaking about labor I made in the past, and now it has grown and remains. I do praise the Lord for using me in His work, and giving to me the privilege to see concrete and permanent fruits.
A firm guy and a growing church.
15 years ago I had the privilege to help in planting a church in Florencia de Mora, Trujillo. The work to plant that Church started when a gangster from that area came to Jesus. To make short a long story, now God has established a Baptist Church in Florencia de Mora. Its name is New Jerusalem Baptist Church. Joel Gamboa is working there from the beginning of the labor there.
I went to preach in several opportunities. Unbeliever gangsters and other guys asked Pastor Joel to invite me; they met in Pastor Joel’s house to hear the Word of God. One of them was Saul; he is fruit of that evangelistic and missionary effort. Today, Saul is faithfully involved in New Jerusalem Baptist. I thank God for Saul; it was a great blessing to me seeing Saul faithful and excited in his Christian life.
With Saúl, at New Jerusalem Baptist Church, Florencia de Mora, Trujillo.
When I was Pastor in Ebenezer Baptist Church in Trujillo, we started to plant a church in Manuel Arevalo area. It was a new area habilitated for houses. We went to share the gospel to the few new inhabitants. Today, after 15 years, Manuel Arevalo is plenty of people.
Today, in Manuel Arevalo, it exists Prince of Peace Baptist Church. Ebenezer Baptist chose that name. I enjoyed preaching in the Anniversary Conference; I enjoyed seeing that congregation. I saw after several year people who came to Jesus in the beginning of the Church. I also saw new people; the Church is growing, it self-supports its ministry. Its Pastor is Lesblinger Panaifo, a graduated from the Baptist Seminary of Peru.
The Anniversary Conference was focused on missions; it brought more joy to me. I preached with mission instructions and challenges. Brethren answered with excitement to the Word of God. It was the first conference on mission at Prince of Peace Baptist. It also was the first time they made promises of faith to give for mission. I am happy that Pastor Lesblinger Panaifo and its Church are ready to be involved in obeying the Great Commission in areas beyond Manuel Arevalo.
Anniversary & Missionary Conference at Prince of Peace Baptist Church:
“Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.”
Other activities:
Chulucanas – Piura: Evangelistic Conference (July 23-25).
More pictures at:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=521191721#!/album.php?aid=190856&id=521191721
Requena: Discipleship & Training for pastors and leasers (July 30 – August 7).
The first week of August we taught in our Center of Training in Requena. This time we had something special: acknowledgments to the first group of 14 students who finished the 10 classes of the program. 9 of those 14 students are Pastors; the other 6 are deacons very involved in serving our Lord. On that week we taught to 2 groups: Pastor Evelio Villalobos taught “Church Administration” to 17 students; I taught “Interpretation of the Bible” to 4 new students.
God also gave me the privilege to speak in a Conference of the Hispanic Worldwide Mission Net (July 25-27); and preach at New Life Baptist Church (July 28-29). Both events were in Lima.
During these days I am teaching “The Man of God” to 13 men at Hope Baptist Church. I am happy of being useful to people from my home Church.
Family.
I am enjoying time with my family. I could be with Leneida and Segundo Andres for their birthdays. I had to lead the party for children who were present for Segundo Andres’ birthday. It was funny being “child” again. On the other hand, I am trying to build the house for my family. When we came from Lima, we had to fit in a couple of tiny rooms. Lord willing, before I travel to the USA, each member of the family would have their room.
Trip to the USA.
Lord willing, I will visit Florida and Michigan with my friend Tim Chapman. We will visit several churches promoting the ministry of camps which Tim wants to develop in Peru. Since God moved me to Trujillo, I could not see Tim and spend time together. I hope this trip will be helpful to make stronger our partnership and spiritual life. I will be in the USA for 4 weeks.
Prayer request.
Please pray for me, to use well each minute of my life. My time is short in every place I minister, and my contact with people is short. My lifestyle and ministry demand that I redeem the time. I need your help by praying to obey these words of God:
“Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.” (Colossians 4:5).
“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:16-17).
Thank you for helping me with your prayers and friendship!
Segundo Rodríguez
Evangelista
evangelistasegundo@ministeriocombi.com
Ministerio de Avivamiento Habacuc
http://mahabacuc.blogspot.com/
Cooperación Misionera Bautista Internacional
http://www.ministeriocombi.com/