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BCMS UPDATE FROM THE MISSION FIELD

The group I Laguna Prieta is steadily growing and receiving the message and the teachings very well. Pray that soon we will be able to purchase more chairs and prepare the area a little better in order to continue teaching there whether rain or shine.

 

A few of the people attending have expressed their gratitude for the Bible study. Others come broken and just seeking help and hope. Some seem to come out of curiosity, since they see us there weekly setting up chairs and inviting others. There are people in the group with different  backgrounds. Some have visited churches or have been churched sometime in the past, but when asked, they admit they do not have Christ. Some have not been churched at all. A few are vulnerable believers who have  little to no resources to get around, or even decent clothes to attend a church if they wanted to.

 

In general, the Haitian church culture takes going to church dressed as nicely as possible very seriously. Many who would go, but do not have the appropiate attire according to cultural standards, simply will not go. This is to not be shamed or judged by those who are able to present themselves differently. I have heard this from countless individuals in vulnerable situations. Of course it is ok to want to look nice for church, that is a good thing. But, when this breeds favoritism, it becomes sinful and legalistic (in any culture or tradition for that matter). This is unfortunate, but we are clear in saying to them, that although it may be a cultural view, it is not a biblical one.

 

My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,”  have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? -James 2:1-4

 

But their concern  is certainly understandable if you could put yourself in their position of vulnerability and under the same cultural norms just for a moment. This is one good reason why taking the Gospel to the vulnerable and doing ministry in these contexts, although challenging, is so important.

 

Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong? If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.  But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. – James 2:5-9

 

 

The Bible studies in Laguna Prieta are going well, praise the Lord. We continue with the basics of salvation. We spent time in Epehesians 2 explaining our condition apart from Christ and how we were separated from God and dead in our sins, yet, by God’s grace, we have been made alive in Christ.

 

 

The text reads:

“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift — not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.” – ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭10‬ ‭

 

 

Main Point: The passage emphasizes salvation through God’s grace in Christ Jesus, despite our previous state of sin and separation from Him.

Humanity’s Condition (1-3)

    • The text describes a state of spiritual death due to “trespasses and sins.” (v.1)
    • People followed “the ways of this world” and the influence of a evil. (v.2)
    • Born in this condition we were “by nature children under wrath.” (v.3)

 

God’s Intervention Through Grace (4-6):

Despite our condition, God’s “great love” and “mercy” led Him to make us “alive with Christ.” (v.4-5)

    • The text emphasizes being “saved by grace” and not by works. (v.5)
    • Being “raised up with him and seated with him in the heavens” means we have a new immediate spiritual position. (v.6)

 

God’s Purpose and the Gift of Faith (verses 7-9):

    • The passage states God’s desire to display “the immeasurable riches of his grace” through Christ. (v.7)
    • “Saved by grace through faith” is presented as God’s gift, not something earned. (v.8)

 

A New Identity and Purpose (verse 10):

  •  The text refers to us as God’s “workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works.” (v.10)
  • These “good works” are not presented as a means of salvation but the result of being “created” in Christ. Good works cannot in any way unite us to Christ, but once we believe, the good works are evidence that we are in Him..

Key Points:

  • The text focuses on God’s initiative in offering salvation through grace in Christ.
  • Our past transgressions are acknowledged but not a barrier to God’s grace.
  • Good works are a consequence, an evidence, not a cause of salvation.

 

Pray for us. That the Lord would bring salvation to these individuals and that they would grow in the knowledge of Christ. Soli Deo Gloria.

 

Antonio Salgado serving in the Dominican Republic

 

“I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” – Philippians 1:3-5

Please pray for our BCMS workers serving faithfully in hard places. May the Gospel continue to go forth, to God be the glory.

If the Lord so lies on your heart to give back to Him by supporting this ministry, you can easily donate online through PayPal. Click the donate button below to send support of any amount directly to the ministry. This is the fastest option to get funds to the mission field.

 

 

Also,

CENTRAL MISSIONARY CLEARINGHOUSE
P.O. Box 219228
Houston, Texas 77218-9228
1-800-CMC-PRAY (1-800-262-7729)
Office: 281-599-7411
Fax: 281-599-7511

You may begin sending your support to BCMS/Antonio Salgado at any time at the address above. (Checks should be made payable to Central Missionary Clearinghouse or C.M.C.)
You can also now give to the ministry online through the new giving solution called “click and give” at the CMC website. To get started, you just need to click on the link below and register the first time. Just a simple click on the donate button on their page (see link below), and then click the “click and give icon/button”.

 

https://www.cmcmissions.org/donate

 

For tax exemption, you must send your donation through Central Missionary Clearinghouse (CMC) at the address above. PayPal option is the fastest way to get funds directly to the field in case of emergencies or urgent needs. We do not use a sending agency that gets a percentage of the money donated, so you can be sure that your gift goes directly to the mission field. Whatever you decide, thank you so much for praying for us. Grace and peace.

 

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BCMS Update: Maracay, Venezuela devastated by the immense amount of rain and flooding. Leaves many survivors suicidal.

Relief urgently needed in Maracay. Survivors lost everything, leaving many desperate and suicidal.

Following report given by Rafael Rodriguez,  BCMS worker on the ground in Maracay, Venezuela. This another town that has been devastated in this last week. It began to rain heavy yesterday and the streets were flooding again. He is pleading for help and for prayers. Please pray about helping.

 

Good morning my brothers and sisters, may the peace of Christ be with you all.

Beloved, on Wednesday 10/19/2022 some brothers from the congregation brought some arepas and water to Castaño, as you know this place was strongly affected by the flood that occurred on Monday.

By the grace of the Lord we managed to reach the highest and most affected part, since they told us that there was no way in anymore and in reality there was not. They only would let government cars pass to Palmarito, which is the most affected place.

But the Lord made our trip to this place prosper, in the same way that when we went to Tejerías, and providentially we managed to reach Palmarito just like the Lord opened the door for us in Tijerías when others were not allowed.

My dear ones, this city was really devastated by the passage of the river, the people of this community need help, water, food, candles and shovels because many houses as you see in the photos are full of mud.

By the grace of the Lord we were able to talk to some people and deliver gospel tracts, deliver water and food to houses where the water did not come from the river and they did not suffer from floods, but people cannot leave their houses because they cannot leave their cars because all the streets are covered with large stones and mud, they are without electricity and without water.

This Saturday, if the Lord allows it, we want to bring water, candles and shovels (the shovels are to help someone for a while to remove the mud from their house, not to give it away), we also want to continue preaching and bringing the gospel to these people  because although many people are collaborating in terms of food and water, we understand that these people also need to hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and it is a good opportunity to do so.

Pray for them that they may seek the Lord and for us that the Lord may prosper our path and give us words of wisdom to speak with grace and truth to these suffering people.

God bless you,

BCMS worker in Maracay, Venezuela

Rafael Rodriguez

Translated by Antonio Salgado