Breaking down and building up

A time to break down, and a time to build up

Sixteen teens and six sponsors from Faith Baptist (Taylors, SC) left a remarkable and lasting impression during their ten days in Buenos Aires. They stayed busy tirelessly helping with our teen leadership retreat, passing out over 7,000 tracts and VBS flyers, working our winter VBS and demolishing most of what was left of the old building. While they did some tearing down, they also built up our community, church body and us personally. We thank the Lord for their very encouraging visit. Please come back anytime!

Winter VBS

Despite the rain and cold at the beginning of the week, the Lord brought more and more kids each day of VBS. One of our ladies brought up to 30 kids all by herself on the city bus! (Praise the Lord, the bus driver only charged her for two fares each time!) Six children made professions of faith during the week. The ladies also had a craft table to encourage the mothers to stay. One of those ladies trusted Christ on Sunday morning!

Going out with a splash

On the last Sunday of this term, we had the incredible blessing of baptizing 11 new believers and adding 11 new members to the church body! It was a glimpse of what our heavenly reward will be like as we  heard each one’s testimony, how they were saved and discipled through the faithfulness of our church folks.

But continue thou…

We thank the Lord for the capable leadership God has blessed us with three deacons, as well as missionary intern, Adriano dos Santos Silva, to preach and serve in our absence. Please pray for the spiritual protection of the leadership team and the flock in their charge during our time away.

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This is the LORD’S doing…

“This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes” (Psalm 118:23).

 With more joy than words can describe, James had the privilege of baptizing ten believers this Sunday! I believe all of the adults were saved just this year, while most of the children were practically raised at this church, trusting Christ at home with their parents or in a children’s class.

 [youtube http://youtu.be/rUxIwLGZamg]

While many more have made salvation decisions in 2014, a total of 15 have followed Christ in believer’s baptism.

See, here is water…

Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.  And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?  And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. (Acts 8:35-37)

We had a wonderful baptismal service this Sunday! What a blessed sight to see five believers follow the Lord in believer’s baptism!  It was a terrific opportunity to share the Gospel with their unsaved family and friends as well.

Monica was invited to our church by her cousins, but none of her immediate family is saved. Most of them were there on Sunday morning and heard the Gospel.

 Ruben was saved while listening to a Christian radio station, Bible Broadcasting Network (BBN) earlier this year.  We are excited about what the Lord is going to do with his life. He is taking a hermaneutics class with James and feels called into the ministry.

Sabrina trusted Christ about a month after her husband, Ruben, did through his testimony and influence.

 Nicolas is a godly young man and the son of one of our deacons. While taking the new members’ class, he realized that he had not been baptized after his conversion. So, that’s what he did!

Diego and his wife, Karina, actually took the new members’ class and joined back in June (the middle of our winter here). However, we needed to wait for warmer weather for him to be baptized!  We praise the Lord for the growth we’ve seen in this sweet family.

Since it was raining, everyone had to crowd in the back patio to watch. However, the AV crew (Jaden with the video camera and Amy with the digital camera), braved the weather with their umbrellas!

No one let the wet weather dampen the spirit, though!  God is working in and through the body of believers in a marvelous way.  Souls are being saved, people are joining the church, and believers are being edified.  To GOD be the glory!  “So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.” (1 Cor. 3:7)