Aug 2, 2014 | Prayer Letters
Dear Friends and Family,
The Desire accomplished is sweet to the soul… Proverbs 13:19
May and June are very busy months for us here at Efata as the church’s anniversary is in May and our mission conference is in June. This year was no exception. We had a wonderful anniversary celebrating 37 years for the church and the mission conference was wonderful. In addition to these events, we had the privilege of hosting several visiting groups that were wonderful blessings to us while they were here. These months were definitely “sweet to the soul”!
Ministry News
Pastor Steven Smallwood from Hope Baptist Church in Winder, Ga, brought a group from his church. They were a great blessing to us here. Two of the ladies from the group were medical professionals and were able to care for the children in the home and school. Pastor Smallwood preached and he and the others in the group helped us with a work project.
For the mission conference We were blessed to have visiting with us Bro. Stephen Zempel from Falls Baptist Church in Menomenee Falls, WI, and a small group of young men (including my son James who is studying at Baptist College of Ministry). Bro. Zempel and the young men preached our mission conference and did a wonderful Job.
Our international banquet was incredible this year and we are looking forward to what the Lord will do through the Church in the area of missions. Missionary to the Deaf Jim Sloan also paid us a visit with two young people. He has always been a personal blessing and help to me and an encouragement to the church. It was great to see him again.
The work in Tablada is going strong with new families coming. Several have been saved and we are rejoicing in what the Lord is doing there. We are praying and planning for our next church plant in another area of the city. Please be in prayer for wisdom regarding this.
As I mentioned in our last prayer letter, we are praying about taking the watch-care again of one of the former Efata missions in Iquitos. The trip was informative and fruitful. We spoke with the Deaf and the leadership who is maintaining that ministry at this time and believe that there was a positive desire one the part of the Deaf to have us reintegrate with that work. Missionary Matt Mckendree, who is part of our ministry team, as well as one of our national pastors, are praying about moving to Iquitos to lead that work. We are waiting for a final decision from the congregation there.
Family News
Well it is official, Joseph is engaged to be married! He came down for a few weeks to ask for the young ladies hand in marriage. Her name is Zulema. She has grown up most of her teen years here at Efata. She is a “CODA” (Child of deaf adults). Zulema is a faithful worker here and a Bible college student. They are planning to be married on January 3rd, 2015. Please pray for them as the Lord works in their lives. She and Joseph have been friend since their early teen years. She is going to make a wonderful help-meet for Joseph and the ministry God has given him.
In August I will be taking Jared to the States to Bible College. Please pray for him as he begins his own journey of life and that God will continue to work in his life and Guide him.
Pray for us and the ministry here at Efata. Souls continue to be saved and converts baptized. Please pray for a couple named Maximo and Gisela. They are new Christians that Lisa and I are discipling and counseling. Gisela is having a very difficult time letting go and allowing God and His Word to have the preeminence in her life.
God Bless,
Bro. Joe & Lisa,
James, Jared, Judson, Joy, John, Joel, Jessica, Jennifer
May 12, 2014 | Spanish Prayer Letters
Queridos amigos y familia,
Mi Dios, pues, suplirá todo lo que os falta conforme a sus riquezas en gloria en Cristo Jesús.
Filipenses 4:19
Los dos últimos meses han sido ocupados y emocionantes. Al leer nuestra carta, Ud. podrá ver como Dios ha provisto y también una necesidad cercana. Estamos contentos de ver cómo Él seguirá supliendo a través de su pueblo maravilloso.
Noticias del ministerio
En marzo celebramos el primer aniversario de la misión Tablada. Dios ha bendecido grandemente a ese ministerio. Desde el principio, solo teníamos cultos en las noches los domingos y los miércoles, pero en marzo añadimos cultos en las mañanas cada domingo. Esa adición implica que varios de nuestros líderes ya no participan en los cultos en Efata cada domingo en la mañana, siendo parte de la obra nueva. Dios ha bendecido con más visitantes en cada servicio en Tablada y muchos salvos. También vemos nuevos convertidos y visitantes aquí en Efata cada domingo, y la asistencia ha sido estable.
En abril, Pastor Asistente Robert Sutton de Winker Road Baptist Church en Fort Myers, FL, vino y predicó el culto de aniversario de nuestra misión en la ciudad amazónica de Pucallpa. ¡Qué bendición! Hace cuatro años, Dios le usó para ayudar a levantar más de $12.000 para la construcción de un nuevo edificio para la iglesia y la casa pastoral. Pudimos celebrar la dedicación del nuevo edificio durante el aniversario este año. Seis personas fueron salvadas: cuatro sordos y dos oyentes. La congregación en Pucallpa fue animada en gran medida de que hermano Sutton vino a predicar y visitar. El pastor también junto un monto adicional de $2.100 para reparar el techo de la casa pastoral, que dejaba pasar agua cuando llovía. ¡Qué bendición para Pastor Vásquez y su familia!
Nuestro colegio y hogar para niños sordos está creciendo y bendecido. Tenemos un buen aumento de estudiantes este año, desde inicial hasta secundaria. Su apoyo en la enseñanza y crianza de estos niños y niñas, desde pequeño Danilo (3), a Francisco (19), es una inversión en sus vidas, y marca una diferencia. ¡Gracias! Cada mes, niños y padres llegan a conocer a Cristo a través de este ministerio.
Como Ud. sabe, el ministerio de sordos de Trinity Baptist Church en Jacksonville, FL ha organizado un proyecto para enviar suministros necesarios para nosotros. Previamente hemos pedido su ayuda en una carta especial dirigido a eso.
¡Quedamos muy agradecidos por aquellos de ustedes quienes han donado artículos para el colegio, el hogar y la iglesia para enviar en el container! Son cosas necesarias y apreciadas.
Se nos ha provisto 460 Biblias de la organización Beams Bibles, y tenemos una plataforma de folletos, pero nos hemos enterado de que la organización humanitaria que nos traerá el container no está autorizada a enviar ninguna literatura religiosa, ya que es una organización gubernamental. Por favor, ore que Dios pueda proveer los fondos para enviar esas cosas por separado. Necesitamos las Biblias y los folletos para el uso de nuestros anexos y misiones, así como para algunos pastores nacionales. Sabemos que Dios hará que lleguen aquí de alguna manera.
Por favor ore por nosotros mientras empezamos el trabajo para iniciar una iglesia nueva en una zona llamada “José Gálvez.” Estamos las primeras etapas de “contar el costo,” orar y planificar. Oramos que el Señor nos permita comenzar realmente la obra en enero 2015. Esperamos comenzar estudios bíblicos y evangelismo en esa área durante los próximos meses.
Lisa y yo viajaremos pronto a la ciudad selvática de Iquitos con varios miembros de nuestro equipo. Estaremos planeando y preparando para avivar una obra con los sordos allí. Fue parte de nuestro ministerio, pero se distanció hace unos años. Por favor ore mientras trabajamos para rescatar esa obra misionera.
Noticias de la familia
La familia se encuentra bien. Extrañamos a Julianne, pero damos gracias por la forma en que Dios está trabajando en su nueva vida con nuestro yerno Frank.
Continúe orando por Joseph en su deputación y James en el seminario. Dios mediante, en agosto llevaré a Jared a un seminario en Fargo, ND.
Es un gran cambio tener a varios de nuestros hijos “fuera del nido,” aún con niños muy pequeños en el hogar. ¡Qué bendición!
Dios le bendiga,
Hno. Joe & Lisa,
James, Jared, Judson, Joy, John, Joel, Jessica, Jennifer
May 12, 2014 | Prayer Letters
Dear Friends and Family,
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19
These past two months have been busy and exciting. As you read our letter you will see both how God has supplied, and a pressing need. We look forward to seeing how He will continue to supply through his wonderful people.
Ministry News
In March we celebrated our first anniversary for our Tablada mission. God has really blessed this ministry. Up until recently, they had Sunday evening and Wednesday evening services. Beginning in March, however, we added Sunday morning services. This addition has pulled several of our leaders out of Efata on Sunday morning to be a part of the new work, and God has blessed this with more visitors at every service in Tablada, and many saved. We are seeing new converts and visitors here at Efata every Sunday as well, and the attendance has been fairly stable.
In April, Associate Pastor Robert Sutton from Winker Road Baptist Church in Fort Myers, FL, came down and preached the anniversary service of our mission work in the jungle city of Pucallpa. What a blessing! God used him to help us raise over $12,000 to build a new church building and parsonage four years ago, and we were able to have the dedication service of the new church building during this anniversary. Six people were saved, four deaf and two hearing. The congregation in Pucallpa was greatly encouraged that Brother Sutton came to preach and visit. He also raised an additional $2,100 to repair the damaged parsonage roof that is leaking heavily when it rains. What a blessing this is for Pastor Vasquez and his family!
Our school and home for the deaf is growing and blessed. We have a good increase in students this year, from kindergarten all the way through secondary school. Your gifts to help us teach and raise these children, from little Danilo, (3) thru Francisco (19), are investments in lives and make a difference that COUNTS. Thank you! Each month, both children and parents come to know Christ through this ministry.
As you know, the Deaf department of Trinity Baptist Church in Jacksonville, FL have been organizing a “Big Box” project to ship needed supplies to us. We have asked for your help previously in a special letter sent out regarding this.
We are so thankful for those of you who have responded and given items to put in the container! The items for the school, home and church are very needed and appreciated.
We have been given 460 Bibles from Beams Bibles, and we have a pallet of tracts, but we have learned that the humanitarian government organization which is shipping the “Big Box” is not allowed to deliver any religious literature because they are a government organization. Please pray that God provides the funds to have these shipped to us separately. We need the Bibles and Tracts for our church planting annexes and missions, as well as for some national pastors. We know God will get them here somehow.
Please pray for us as we begin the ground work to start a new church plant in an area call José Galvez. We are in the initial “cost counting,” praying and planning stages. We are praying that the Lord will allow us to actually begin the work in January 2015. We hope to begin home Bible studies and targeted soul-winning in this area in the next few months.
Lisa and I will be flying to the jungle city of Iquitos with several members of our team to plan and prepare to revive a work with the Deaf in Iquitos that was once a part of our ministry but was estranged several years ago. Please pray as we work to reestablish our mission work there as well.
Family News
The family is well. We are missing Julianne but are grateful for how God is working in her new life with our son-in-law Frank.
Continue to pray for Joseph on deputation and James in college. Lord willing, in August I will be bringing Jared up to Bible College in Fargo, ND.
It is quite an adjustment having several of our children “out of the nest” and still having very young ones in the home. What a blessing!
God Bless,
Bro. Joe & Lisa,
James, Jared, Judson, Joy, John, Joel, Jessica, Jennifer
Mar 10, 2014 | Spanish Prayer Letters
Queridos Amigos y Familia,
Y a Aquel que es poderoso para hacer todas las cosas mucho más abundantemente de lo que pedimos o entendemos, según el poder que actúa en nosotros,
Efesios 3:20
Los últimos dos meses han sido tan ocupados, pero también tan benditos. Estoy agradecido por el cuidado de Dios. El es Capaz!, y continuamente muestra su bendición y su mano obrando en nuestras vidas.
Informes del Ministerio
Estos últimos dos meses han sido muy ocupados para nosotros. El colegio ha estado de vacaciones, pero hemos estado trabajando para alistarnos para el nuevo año escolar el cual comenzó el 3 de Marzo. Los alumnos aun están llegando de las provincias, y estamos reorganizando mucho los dormitorios.
Volvimos a casa en Perú después de la boda de Julianne y hemos estado corriendo desde ese momento. Durante la última semana de Febrero tuvimos nuestra conferencia anual de Fuegos de Evangelismo. Qué gran bendición eso fue. Expositores Pastor Gil Torres y Evangelista Bacilio Alfaro hicieron un tremendo trabajo. La conferencia estuvo en Chiclayo, Perú este año. Más que 20 personas fueron salvas, y cinco jóvenes se rindieron para servir al Señor de tiempo completo. Los cultos fueron tan llenos que solo quedo un poco de espacio para parar cada noche. Varios pastores locales trabajaron muy duro durante el año coordinando conmigo y con Fuegos para presentar esta conferencia extraordinaria. El espíritu estuvo maravilloso.
Económicamente, Ministerios Efata tiene varias necesidades grandes. Mencioné la necesidad de renovar todos los cables eléctricos en el complejo en nuestra última carta de oración. Por favor sigue orando por esa necesidad muy importante. También necesitamos construir más clases por el colegio. Estamos abriendo de nuevo nuestra secundaria para alumnos Sordos y necesitamos más espacio para nuestro seminario. Este año tendremos más seminaristas. Las clases comienzan el 11 de marzo. También tenemos varios niños sordos nuevos en el colegio este año y algunos en los dormitorios. Si le gustaría ayudar a apoyar uno de nuestros niños sordos, por favor, infórmanos. $30.00 cada mes es 10% del apoyo necesario para un niño aquí en Efata. ¡Usted puede hacer una inversión en las vidas de estos niños que hará una diferencia eterna!
También tenemos a varios pastores nacionales, tanto sordos como oyentes quienes están en dificultades económicas. Si le gustaría apoyar a uno de ellos en su obra de sembrar iglesias, por favor déjenoslo saber.
Comenzaremos cultos los domingos por las mañanas en nuestra obra en Tablada en Abril. Eso será un avance enorme para el ministerio de esa iglesia hija. Estamos considerando también opciones para una obra con los Sordos en la ciudad selvática de Iquitos. Por favor ora por la sabiduría de Dios en eso.
Informes de la Familia
Bueno, Julianne es ahora oficialmente Julianne Raye Miller. ¡Que boda tan linda! Pudimos pasarlo en vivo para que nuestra familia de la iglesia en Perú pudiera verlo y muchos más también. Tendremos una recepción bonita aquí en Perú este mes ya que nuestra gente no pudo asistir a la boda.
También pudimos ayudar a Joseph a alistarse y comenzar su diputación. El está ahora en diputación tiempo completo, recogiendo su apoyo. Por favor ora por su seguridad continuo y buena recepción en las iglesias dónde él tiene el privilegio de visitar.
James sigue estudiando en Baptist College of Ministry. Sigue orando por él y sus estudios y trabajo.
Jared está trabajando para terminar su secundaria. Ora para que él se puede enfocar y lograr sus metas para poder comenzar el seminario este otoño. Sus planes actuales implican asistir el seminario por un año y después trasladar a un programa de ROTC para entrar en las fuerzas armadas y eventualmente llegar a ser piloto. Por mientras, él es de gran bendición y ayuda aquí en Efata en muchas áreas del ministerio.
Los otros niños están bien y van acostumbrándose otra vez al ritmo escolar. Muchas gracias por su oración y apoyo continuo.
Dios los Bendiga,
Hno. Joe & Lisa,
James, Jared, Judson, Joy, John, Joel, Jessica, Jennifer
Mar 10, 2014 | Prayer Letters
Dear Friends and Family,
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Ephesians 3:20
What a busy but blessed past two months. I am thankful for God’s care. He is able!, and continually shows his blessing and handiwork in our lives.
Ministry News
These past two months have been very busy for us. The school has been on vacation, but we have been working to get ready for the new school year which started March 3rd. The students are still coming in from the provinces and we are doing a great deal of rearranging in the dorms.
We returned home to Peru after the wedding of Julianne and have been going ever since. During the last week of Feb. we had our annual Fires of Evangelism Conference. What a great blessing that was. Conference speakers Pastor Gil Torres and Evangelist Bacilio Alfaro did a tremendous job. The conference was held in Chiclayo, Peru this year. Over 20 people were saved and five young people surrendered to full-time Christian service. The services were packed with standing room only every night. Various local pastors worked hard during the year in coordination with myself and Fires to host this wonderful conference. The Spirit was wonderful.
Financially, Efata Ministries has several large needs. I mentioned in our last prayer letter about the need to redo the electrical wiring in the entire complex. Please continue to pray for this very important need. We also need to build more classrooms for the school. We are reopening our High School for the Deaf and need more classroom space for our Bible College. This year we will have several more students. College classes start March 11th. We have several new deaf children in the school this year and some in the dorms. If you would like to help support one of our deaf children, please let us know. $30.00 a month is 10% of the support needed for one child here at Efata. You could help to make an investment in these children’s lives that will make an eternal difference!
Also we have several national pastors, both Deaf and hearing that are struggling financially. If you would like to support one of our national pastors and their church planting works, please let us know.
We will begin Sunday morning services at our Tablada church plant in April. This will be a great advance in that church’s ministry. We are also looking at Deaf ministry options in the Jungle city of Iquitos. Please pray for God’s wisdom in that.
Family News
Well, Julianne is now officially Julianne Raye Miller. What a beautiful wedding it was! We were able to live stream the wedding and our church family in Peru was able to watch it as were many others. We will be holding a nice reception for them here in Peru this month since our people were not able to go to the wedding.
We were also able to help Joseph get set up and sent off for his deputation. He is now on full-time deputation raising his support. Please pray for his continued safety and good reception in the churches he is privileged to visit.
James continues to study at Baptist College of Ministry. Continue to pray for him and his studies and work.
Jared is working to finish his High School. Pray for him that he will stay on task so he can start Bible College in the fall. His current plans are to attend Bible College for one year and then transfer into an ROTC program to join the military and eventually become a pilot. In the meantime, he has been a great blessing and help here at Efata in many areas of ministry support.
The other children are doing well and getting back into the school rhythm. Thank you for your continued prayers and support.
God Bless,
Bro. Joe & Lisa,
James, Jared, Judson, Joy, John, Joel, Jessica, Jennifer
Bro. Joe & Lisa,