May 2017 – BCMS

Dear mission partners, friends, brothers and sisters in Christ,

Our family is planning on coming to the states in the Summer, probably close to July. Depending on how long of a visa for Yeison is given (if it’s approved), will depend how long Christen and the kids stay. Many know that we have been able to travel as a family since Yeison came into our lives. Pray that the visa is approved and he can come with us. I do hope to stay for a while, updating and sharing what the Lord has been doing here with churches in the States. Also seeking further support for this mission as the church plant in Santiago grows, and for our new endeavors as well.

And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. – Luke 10:2

We have prayed to the Lord of the harvest for men and the Lord is answering and sending them. We are now praying and preparing ourselves (and soon others) for a strategic missionary plan that includes a full time discipleship program, pastoral training, and the scouting and evangelization of new areas for future church plants as the Lord leads. The logistics that all of that entails will require the prayers and support of a network of churches and mission partners, working together with our ministry here based out of the church in Hato Mayor, Santiago and the future pastors and missionaries that the Lord is raising up (Biblical Christian Missionary Society). We have been working in Cotui now (a mission two hours away with no previous evangelical presence) for two years and there is a possibility of working in another part of our city known as Cien Fuegos. For now we are limited only due to resources, but with a support plan in place, Lord willing, we could have people in these places sharing the gospel and doing ministry full time. This is our desire. This is also God’s command to us as the church. To see more come to know Christ, be discipled and trained as they grow in their faith and in knowledge of God’s Word, and then send them out to proclaim the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ. Please pray for us, and about helping by giving towards this important next step in missions here in the Dominican Republic.

Those who pray for and give towards missions, play a role just as important as the one the mission field. Will you ‘hold the rope’ for us?

Please feel free to contact us at salgadodrmission@gmail.com, biblicalcms@gmail.com, or through the website at salgadodrmission.com. especially if you are a pastor/elder, church leader, or on the mission board of your church, and the opportunity to come and share at your church is a possibility, or for any further information or updates about this ministry. Please also feel free to share this information with other mission minded brethren and churches that may be willing to help us reach our budget goal and move forward for the propagation of the Gospel to glory of God alone. Pray.

Soli Deo Gloria

In service to our King,

Antonio Salgado

Salgado DR Mission

Dear mission partners, friends, brothers and sisters in Christ,

This month we a wonderful update and praise report. Thank you to all who joined us in prayer for this. The Lord has truly heard our prayers.

And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. – Luke 18:1

For years my wife wanted another child, but I did not. My wife prayed for one and for me and the Lord changed my heart. We tried for years to have another child but were not able to. We continued to pray. One day out in the campo, God brought across our path a sick, weak, and injured little three month old boy. His mother was an extremely poor and mentally handicapped young lady who was the victim of a rape. Her own mother allowed her to be prostituted and sexually abused by men. This baby was malnutritioned, dehydrated had some physical problems in his neck, face and feet, including possible neurological damage from being dropped on his head on a cement floor at only ten days old. He was in bad shape and basically slowly dying.

We took him to a hospital to be treated and planned to have him checked out and help nurse him back to health. The family decided the child would be better off with us and would probably just die if left with the mother. We came home with him that night with mixed feelings. We found ourselves just staring at his little disfigured face and weak frame wondering if this was God answering a long time prayer of ours. Christen and I then put our hands on this child and prayed over him asking God to bless him, strengthen him, and allow us to care for him.

Shortly after we took him to the government agency here that oversees adoptions. We didnt know anything and were wondering what to do next. They asked us many questions, told us we would never be able to keep the child and even threatened to take him from us. By God’s grace one woman in charge allowed us to leave with him that day. They said it would be impossible.

We continued to care for him. Our children accepted him as their sibling and we quickly fell in love with Yeison. We saw him quickly become strong and active, though we still worried about him because of his mother’s condition and his head injury as a new born. Time passed but we didn’t find anyone who could help us. We continued to pray.

A few months ago we had a glimmer of hope hearing of other missionaries who successfully obtained custody or even were in an adoption process. We were told this was near impossible. We finally began learning more about the system, the process and the laws. A few months ago by the grace of God, we were finally able to get him a birth certificate. Before that, he basically didn’t exist. We learned a little more and eventually tried to get legal custody on our own with his mother present and a letter from a psychiatrist proving her inability to care for the child. Again they told us no, we would not be able to have him as our own. Even with the horrible conditions where he was born, the authorities argued he was better off with the mother (she could not care for herself or provide for him), than with a family that loved him, provided for him and has been raising him for three years.

We were very torn and grieved at how this could be possible. Doubts and questions swarmed our minds. Was this the Lord’s will? We began to pray even more for him and the situation. Shortly after we met a lawyer who agreed to help us and things started looking up. We were very nervous about everything being rejected and told bad news over and over. The process has been long and difficult. Misplaced documents, legalize this, get a seal on this, pay a tax on that. Go to this place and another and another with many appointments and meetings, sometimes for nothing and to make no progress at all.

We finally seemed to be getting somewhere a few weeks ago. We would pick up and drop off his biological mother during his whole process. Lots of trips, lots of frustrations and lots of disappointments along the way. Today we finally were interviewed by a very intimidating judge. She was short with us, very serious, and had us nervous. We had prayed before getting out of the car and before going in. When suddenly towards the end of a very long interview and nerve racking interview, her countenance seemed to soften and her tone was changing. She said she wants to send a social worker to where his mother lives and then to our home where the child now lives. But before ending the meeting, after years of praying and tears we heard what seemed to be the most comforting news we had heard in a long time. We had been told it would be impossible. We were told to give up, it wouldn’t happen. But we prayed and prayed and trusted the Lord.

Just a couple of days ago that same judge told us that SHE WILL BE GRANTING US LEGAL CUSTODY of this special little boy. Our hearts lept with joy and praises to the Lord!

He is a living miracle, he is a testimony to God’s faithfulness, and the Lord has taught our family so much through him and on this journey. He is a constant reminder of God’s grace given to us as His adopted children.

This is our story. The little boy’s name is Yeison. He is our son.

Our God is Good and Mighty and Faithful and True. Blessed be the name of the Lord! Pray.

In service to our King,

Antonio Salgado Jr.

Salgado DR Mission