Dominican Missions News: June 2001, page 1

	News: June 2004


Martinez Happenings		E-Mail: dominican missions@hotmail.com Website: DominicanMissions.com U.S. Forwarding Address: Mitch and Debbie Martinez AGAPE FLIGHTS/SGO 12479 7990 15th Street East Sarasota, FL 34243-2718 Mail Donations to: Your Missionary Outreach PO Box 1761 Columbia, SC 29202
News from the Dominican Republic MISSIONS UPDATE Prayer Request Often we are asked by individuals or churches, how can I pray for you? What follows is an attempt to answer more specifically this question. Since last summer we have had to assume responsibility for four churches. In Los Rieles, we were able to find a congregation that would adopt this young work. But Pastor Coronado and his ministry team have been somewhat discouraged and could really use some prayer. The Arenoso church, was a church we started 11 years ago, and now we are ministering there again three times a week. Please pray that we will turn the corner in this community. The church in La Lima is not as easily accessible and needs a committed pastor. Ministering in this poor rural town is a great sacrifice. We can only come once a week. Usually our ministry there is to area children and perhaps two or three adults. The Imbert church was a new church that was closed before it really could get a good base of people. It is located in the very heart of La Vega and has a sanctuary that can hold 200 people. Currently it houses the Seminario Biblico Vegano (our Bible institute mentioned below.) This church also needs a pastor. Pray for the continued development of La Vega Christian School. Pray for good quality Christian staff. Though Debbie wouldn't admit it, I know she is feeling the weight of these responsibilities. Finally, it is not fair to share these needs without asking you, how can I pray for you?
FLOODING UPDATE!! Many have called or written us asking about the recent flooding in the Dominican Republic. The worst damage was in a town called Jimani which is about an hour from the Haitian border. This is five hours away from us. Local papers are declaring 393 dead, and 274 still missing in this disaster caused by three weeks of almost continuous rain. Please pray for the thousands displaced and needing food and shelter. The latest figures are from today's (June the 2nd) article of Hoy newspaper. We will be sending some clothing out to help this week.
A Joy to Teach Bible Institute Students! In January the new semester opened with 20 students. What a privilege to help train these future church leaders. A pastor testified--Santiago, a member of my church, attends the Seminario Biblico Vegano. I cannot believe the change I see in his life. God has done a miracle. Paola is a pastor of a small country church. It had been many years since she had any formal studies. She confessed she was afraid she couldn't handle the classes, but for the sake of the ministry she enrolled. She is doing great! Martin is a young Evangelist. He is so happy to draw on the fresh teaching of the classes for inspiration for his messages. Pray for the 20 students enrolled in the Bible Institute. At great cost and sacrifice they are studying eight hours a week to prepare themselves for service to God. Upcoming Construction Needs If your church is looking to help meet a need this year, below is a partial list of current construction needs here in the DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. CHURCH CONSTRUCTION: 1. Concrete roof for Villa Rosa Church 2. Walls, roof for San Francisco Church 3. Walls, roof for Esperanza Church SAN FRANCISCO Christian School: 1. Wood walls need replacing. 2. Expansion of existing classroom areas LA VEGA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL: 1. Snack Bar 2. Playground area 3. Maintenance Shed 4. High School Modular Complex 5. Multi-purpose Building MEDIA CENTER: Need land!($20,000.) 1. Production studios 2. Office Winter Ministry January brought the visit of Evangelist Gerald Bohler from South Carolina, who conducted a four day crusade in Iglesia Antioquia, an inner city A/G church in La Vega. It was exciting to see many accept the Lord in services, and also to hear testimonies of God's healing grace. The most notable was a very short man who could not speak. There was such great joy in the crowd as he began repeating the evangelists words. The winter also brought the visit of Roy and Jeannette Porter and their team. We found ourselves ministering in three or four churches nightly, with hundreds of decisions for Christ. A highlight of their visit were the many gifts they brought for children of poor rural communities. They also purchased and distributed hundreds of care packages for needy families. Families were really touched by the food they received. Then in March, Bob Coulter Ministries arrived to do some Ministry Workshops. One was in the city of Esperanza, and another in San Francisco de Macoris. While Bob ministered to pastors, Ginny (Bob's wife) held clown workshops for Sunday school and youth workers and Janet MacAtee conducted workshops for children's workers. In Esperanza the Ministers' Association invited the team back next year to bring again these important conferences. Bob and accompanying minister Scott Szalwinsky also ministered in various churches in La Vega, and at the Bible Institute.