Faith Baptist Church is up and running. We have three services a week and have discipleship with a few during the week as well. While there are no shortage of churches in our area, there is a lack of Bible-preaching churches. This is shown by some of the requests we are asked. A week or so ago we were in the middle of the church service when my wife walked out to talk with someone who had half-way walked in. I didn’t know what was going on and I was right in the middle of explaining a specific verse in the Bible. When my wife walked back in I could see in her eyes that something was wrong. Whatever just happened would remain a secret until well after the service was over. In 40 minutes or so, we closed the service in prayer and spent the next 15 minutes or so talking with those who had attended. When the last person left we began closing everything up and prepared to leave. I asked my wife what happened. What she told me has bothered me since that service.

A woman had come to the church to inquire about her father. Her father is very sick, and needs to be healed. She asked my wife how much I charge to heal people. This took Leslie off guard. She quickly told her that I couldn’t heal her father and that all I could do is pray with him and that we would not charge anything for it. Leslie invited her to the service. The woman was very confused. She was willing to pay for the healing, but she wasn’t there to learn about Jesus.

There are a few things that bother us about this…

• This actually happens here regularly. “Pastors” charge to “heal” the sick. I don’t understand this for anything. I don’t understand giving the loved ones of sick people a false hope and then also charging to use this “power” that they claim they have. Salvation in Jesus is not a message that is strongly preached, but the power of healing in the name of Jesus for a premium is. The need for Gospel preaching churches is obvious in this light.
• The woman wanted a supernatural healing, but did not care for learning about the God who could heal her father. In fact, she didn’t even consider God as the healer, but looked for the man with the “healing power”. It is sad to know that people want the power of God but reject any desire of having the God of that power in their lives. As if to say, “God, I am not interested in you, I just need you to heal my…” There is a greater need than healing from physical sickness!

Although this is a very sad thing to learn, it also is exciting to know that we can be used of God to explain the truth of God from the Bible. Knowing Jesus is more valuable than any physical healing we could possibly find!

Tonight I will be preaching at a church in Berisso (just outside of La Plata, Argentina). This will be the start of the church’s annual mission conference. It is exciting to see a church on the mission field concerned about advancing the Gospel even further! This is a privilege and an honor!

We had a family visit the church for the first time last night. They told me they will be coming back this Sunday. The church is growing and we are thankful for the way God is blessing each and every service!

Witness and Discipleship

Faith Baptist Church is just over a month old now and growing! We are averaging around 20 people each service (different crowds each service, if only they could all come at the same time!). We have started discipleship with 4 of the different families who are coming. It is a joy to see how each of them respond as God illuminates His Word to them. This month we have several opportunities to invite people to special services. We have Father’s Day and we will also be having a special service on June 11. These special services will bring others to hear the Gospel clearly presented! We are praying to see souls saved!

Serving Together,

Patrick, Leslie, Lily, Piper, Ivy and Baby Henry

• Pray for souls saved.

• Pray for the families that have started discipleship.

• Pray for more visitors to come to Faith Baptist Church.

• Pray as this infant church will continue to grow.

Faith Baptist Church is now 6 weeks old! We are still just a baby, but we are growing! God is giving us a small core of people. We do not yet have any families that come to all three services each week, but we have several who come faithfully to a service, or even two services each week! One thing that has been trying is that it has rained on the days we have had church for several weeks now. This hurts our attendance. Everyone that goes to Faith Baptist Church walks with the exception of one family who rides a scooter. So when it rains, the only way people come to church is walking or riding a scooter in the rain. I understand that our attendance is lower when it rains. I cannot blame anyone for this. To walk 3-4 blocks in the cold rain with your children is a lot!

Sunday night was another cold, rainy night. Our church service started at 6:00 PM. At 5:53, we did not have anyone! I was sure that no one was coming. This would be the first service that no one came. But at 5:55 we had a couple show up! They had walked through the rain and walked in wet but happy to be at church! We started church and with just the married couple and my family. We sang a song and discussed a few things. As we were discussing a verse in the Bible another family arrived! They had also walked in the rain with their two very young children. They joined in. Before long another young man arrived. Before the end of the service, we had 12 people! These people found it worth the trouble of walking in the rain and cold, getting wet, walking with their wet children to arrive at church to learn more about God from His Word! I am very encouraged by this.

I believe God is working in those who are attending! I am thankful to see the dedication of these families. This is just the beginning!