May God bless you, beloved brethren from HeartCry.

Starting this first Sunday of January five believers were baptized as a public testimony of what Christ has done in and for them. Those who were baptized were three men and two women. These brothers and sisters in Christ were baptized after having shown evidence of walking in conformity to the holiness of God and there are three more that we are guiding and discipling as they will also soon be baptized.

On Tuesday January 4th I worked helping out with the cleaning of the seminary and with getting the rooms ready where the pastors would be able to rest who would come to the pastor’s conference that would soon take place at the seminary.

From Wednesday the 5th until Friday the 7th the Baptist pastor’s conference took place. Only a few came this time but nevertheless those who attended were edified with the whole program that we had. I had the privilege of sharing with the pastors a morning devotional that Thursday. I shared with them something that I learned from the pastor R.M. McCheyne about 2 Timothy 4:1-2 about the topic of “What every minister should know.” Later on in the afternoons I participated along with Pastor Daniel and Brother Ivan T. in a round of questions and answers from the pastors. I should mention that I didn’t personally respond to all of the questions of my fellow servants but they motivated me to continue studying the Bible and doing research into topics regarding counseling.

On Monday the 17th of January we started the Biblical Ministry School (Escuela Bíblica Ministerial or EBM) with the church that we have been pastoring with my father. Our purpose is to prepare the members of our local church and to develop leaders, missionaries, and teachers so that the work of God might be expanded in our church and in our territory. This academy that has been born out of our church is to make it possible to help our brethren grow and learn. It isn’t a seminary but rather a ministry that takes place two days a week (Mondays and Tuesdays) for two hours per day (7:30pm to 9:30pm).

During this time the following four courses are taught: Biblical Doctrine, taught by Brother Ivan T.; Diaconate, taught by Efrain R.; Biblical Counseling, taught by Pastor Luis S.; and Soteriology, which is the class that I’m teaching. The classes are in the evening and the schedule has been adjusted according to the needs of the brothers and sisters in Christ. The first day of classes there were 19 students, consisting of 13 men and 6 women. We are happy that some of the students are married couples. Brother Ivan and Pastor Efrain are supporting us with the teaching of these courses. The church is also happy with the teaching. Both the leaders and deacons are obligated to take these courses.

Friday the 28th, Saturday the 29th, and Sunday the 30th I was in Paita with my family, helping out in Javier C.’s church since they were celebrating their anniversary. The topic was about family and it was a blessing for both me and my wife to hear the guest pastor’s exposition. There is no doubt that we continue learning more about what God desires for families.
On Wednesdays I go along to preach in a place called Vista Florida. We have met with the church and there is a vision to plant a church that teaches the Scriptures. We are preaching the Gospel and later on as we continue preparing the brethren we will raise up a new work for the glory of God.

Thank you, beloved brethren of HeartCry, for your support. May our God continue sustaining and strengthening us until He returns. Amen.

Jose Luis S.