Dear Ricardo and Beth,

Greetings from Montevideo, Uruguay. Usually Beth writes our newsletters, but I wanted to take the opportunity to write directly to you. As I travel in Latin America, I know that I am representing you and what I do is an extension of your ministry. Several things have happened since our last newsletter and I want to put you up to date, inviting you to pray for these ongoing ministries and praise God for His goodness.

Latin American Youth Summit

First, during Holy Week we participated in the first Latin American Youth Summit. Over 130 young people (just a portion of whom are in this picture) from 10 countries met on the outskirts of Medellín for this great event. Bishop Kaye Kolde and other key leaders also participated. It was an amazing opportunity to cast vision and invite the young people to participate with God in the restoration of Latin America. There was time of fellowship, deep prayer, great preaching, fun and games, a sunrise service, and commissioning the youth to be missionaries in their context. We sent them out to be disciples who multiply disciples!

As I always teach my team, we don’t live on events. Our emphasis is never on the event but rather the process. However, we hope this event will help affirm processes and from here we will keep pouring into the Latin American you. In fact, we celebrate that Esteban & Cris Flores (sitting in front), who led the organizing team for the Youth Summit, will be joining our team as international missionaries and will continue to pour into this movement with one clear vision, the transformation of Latin America by developing healthy leaders who multiply disciples, groups and church and empowering them for holistic transformation. Please keep praying for the youth of Latin America.

Puerto Rico & Antigua

Prior to the youth retreat, Beth, Jonathan, and I we went to the Annual Meeting in Puerto Rico. What a blessing it is to worship the Lord in the Caribbean style! We experienced unity within the church and a great sense of love for the cause of Christ. We also celebrated the re-election of Superintendent Mercedes Reynoso. She is a woman of God committed to making disciples who make disciples. Pr. Mercedes loves the Lord, listens to Holy Spirit, and is filled with His power. She has the prophetic gift to preach the gospel with power and authority and has a result has witnessed the transformation of hundreds of people who have moved away from alcoholism, drug addiction and other bondage, many of whom are now pastors and leaders. The future in Puerto Rico and Antigua is bright! 

Argentina

Last week I presided the annual meeting in Argentina. The capital city, Buenos Aires is beautiful, with over 15 million residents. For years we have been praying for a Disciples Making Disciples movement in Buenos Aires and Argentina. God is answering our prayers! We also have a wonderful leader there. Pr. Rodrigo Rosado is a missionary and the Mission District Leader. He is committed to making disciples, empowering people, and making heroes of other people…men and women, young and old. Thanks to his initiative, we had over 85 people at the annual meeting ranging in age from 7 to 80. There was also a wide diversity of cultures; Russian, Ukrainian, Japanese, Peruvian, Colombian, Venezuelan, Ecuadorian, USA and Argentinian (see picture at top of email). It truly was an expression of heaven, and they are all participating with God in the restoration of Argentina. We had the opportunity to celebrate, cast vision and play together. During the Sunday service I ordained Jonathan Mogollón (pictured above), a young Venezuelan immigrant with a missionary heart. He is now being sent from Buenos Aires to Mendoza and the surrounding areas to make disciples who make disciples. It is a true blessing to see what God is doing in Argentina, despite severe inflation. Please pray for the daily spiritual and economic provision of our Argentinian brothers and sisters and praise God with us for the partnership of Waypoint Church (Michigan) who participated in that meeting with us!

Uruguay

Then I crossed the Rio Mar de Plata to visit Uruguay where we had a wonderful celebration this weekend - ending with a delicious Uruguayan cook-out. Yesterday, I ordained Pastor Sebastian Carballo. Sebastian is an excellent example of God’s transformation…he suffered with addiction and was involved in petty crime, but God has transformed him into a great leader of the church, and he serves as the Mission District Leader as well. The FM church, under Sebastian’s leadership, is ministering to children, teens and youth and the church is growing rapidly. Because of this investment, we believe that Uruguay will soon no longer be the most secular nation in Latin America! However, because the church is so young, they don’t have much local income. I invite you to consider supporting their CPD or sending a team to see the great things that are happening here. I will be returning in November so if you are interested, just let me know.

Heading Home

Finally, as I prepare for take-off, I invite you to please keep praying for our family, especially Juliana who is experiencing personal health issues and Jonathan as he prepares to graduate from high school on May 18. He had a successful wrist surgery and will get to take the cast off on May 23.

I also invite you to continue supporting our ministry. Your prayers and investment along with God’s grace and provision make this ministry possible. We are and extension of your ministry. God has used you to serve Latin America through us!

Blessings,

Ricardo (for Beth, Juliana and Jonathan)