You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.
2 Timothy 2:1-2
When Paul gave instructions to his close friend and disciple Timothy about the work of passing on the sound doctrine and practice that was given to the Church by Christ himself, he spoke of working towards the harvest. In 2 Timothy 2:1-2, he exhorts Timothy to do as Paul himself had done and invest in faithful men who would be able to take what they receive and use it to bless God’s people and pass it on to the next generation. This text has been our guide from the beginning.
In the first days of the Pastor School program, we emphasized to the students that everything we do in this program—the classes taught, the books read, the papers and sermons prepared, the hours spent in fellowship, service to the church, teaching and evangelizing—should all be done with two main focuses. First, they should always have first and foremost in their minds the glory of God and wanting to use the gifts, abilities, and opportunities that he graciously gives so that it may rebound to the honor and glory of God (1 Peter 4:10-11). Second, they should keep the faces of the church members in their minds and hearts as they diligently work, study, and serve so that every minute invested would contribute to the building up of Christ’s body (1 Corinthians 14:12, Ephesians 4:12). It is a blessing to see how now the time invested in these men is producing these very effects. We are seeing God glorified and his kingdom expand, and we are seeing his people edified.
Since the graduation of the students from the first round of the Pastor School, we rejoice to see the first fruits that God is giving after two and a half years of ploughing, sowing, and watering. In the previous update, I told you about what is going on in Oscar’s ministry in Tulcan and how the Lord is already helping him to put in practice what he learned while studying with us (click here if you missed it). José and Dennis have been very busy as well. They are both continuing to live in Santo Domingo and are taking an active role in serving in the local church here. Dennis has been active in service and teaching here in Santo Domingo, and José is leading our church’s efforts to plant a church in the city of Manta.
Ministry in Santo Domingo
The Lord is using our students to bless the local church in Santo Domingo. They have been active in caring for the church. Regularly they are visiting and inviting members of the church for fellowship and counseling. They have also accompanied us in several opportunities for pastoral care and service such as funerals and hospital visits. They have both also had opportunities to preach in sister churches from our Association, specifically in the nearby cities of Patricia Pilar and Quininde.
Dennis is leading a weekly Bible study with a couple of young men from the church, as well visiting and hosting families from the church on a weekly basis. Also, he has been teaching a Sunday School series over the past several weeks on “Spiritual Lukewarmness: Its Causes and Remedy” based on a book by Octavius Winslow. It is been a great blessing for me and for the church, and it has come at a time when many have needed to hear these convicting yet comforting truths. We are praying about his future ministry plans, but it appears the Lord is guiding him to stay in Santo Domingo with us and serve alongside Jorge and me in the local church and also to help some in the next cycle of the Pastor School. However, he is willing to be sent out to another city as the Lord leads and opens the doors for further church planting. Please pray for us as we seek the Lord’s wisdom and leading in these decisions.
José is leading our church to be more evangelistic and has been going on regularly on Saturday evenings to one of the major parks to pass out tracks and share the gospel. José has also been teaching a class on religious principles and doctrine for teenagers in the local Christian school where our church currently meets. However, José’s main ministry focus is the church we are seeking to plant in Manta.
Church Planting in Manta
In March of this year, a group of about 25 people from 7 different families wrote our church a letter to inform us that they had been meeting together faithfully on Sunday mornings to watch the live stream of our worship services on a TV in one of the brother’s house. We were greatly encouraged to see the work that God was doing and how he was using our transmissions to bless other parts of the country. The letter also recognized that this was not a healthy longterm option for a local church, and so they asked if we would consider sending one of the Pastor School students to guide and pastor them. Since then, our church has taken up the charge to help see a Reformed Baptist church planted in the city of Manta.
Manta is a very important city in Ecuador. It is home to one of the most productive shipping ports and is home to about 300,000 people—making it the seventh largest city in the country. This city will also be a huge blessing in spreading the gospel in cities up and down the coastline of Ecuador. In fact, before coming to the Pastor School, José was already serving in evangelism in various coastal towns that are near Manta. This region has been in his heart and prayers for many years now.
This is what José has to say about what is going on:
We thank God for what He is doing in the missionary work in Manta. Commenting with the brethren in my last visit on the Lord’s day we remembered that the work is already nine months old by the providence of God. The brethren have persevered in fellowship every Lord’s day sharing Sunday school and worship, following the teaching of our local church in Santo Domingo. For the past several months, every Sunday afternoon we are studying the book, Two things you must do to be saved by Sam Waldron. We finished this study last week, and we will begin studying the 1689 Confession of Faith next week. Additionally we have had the privilege of visiting various families in their homes. In these visits, I have heard the wonderful stories of how the Lord saved them, and the benefit that the classes have brought to their spiritual nourishment and doctrinal clarity.
Also a few weeks ago we had the privilege of receiving a new guest who is currently living in the city with her husband and 15 year old son. She expressed the great benefit that the first class brought to her soul as she was confronted by the Word. We long for the Lord to continue using these classes for her soul to bring clarity about her state before the Lord and that very soon her family too will begin to attend our studies.
Currently there are about 30 people meeting regularly. They meet together every Sunday to watch our worship service, and then Jose travels 4.5 hours to lead them in a time of study and reflection. Raquel, José’s wife, has also begun meeting weekly with the young girls of the congregation for a Bible study. Last month, Jose travelled to Manta early to be there on Sunday morning and they were able to celebrate their first in-person worship service that didn’t depend on a TV and live stream. Last week, they celebrated their second service.
As far as plans for the future in Manta, we believe that in order to constitute a church you need three things: (1) true believers who profess Christ verbally and in baptism and live according to that profession; (2) an understanding of the doctrine that will guide and unite the church, (3) and an understanding of what it means to be a church and the responsibilities of its members. For this reason, we are carrying out a three phase plan. First, there is a time of study on the Gospel and the Christian life and an opportunity for each person to share their testimony. This first phase is drawing to a close now. Second, Jose will lead a study of the doctrinal distinctions of the church using the Second London Baptist Confession of 1689. Third, and concurrently with the second, there will be a time of study of the nature and mission of the church and its membership. Our hope and prayer is that this process will continue and will take on new life and vigor as Jose will be moving to Manta to serve full-time in the Spring of next year, as the Lord continues to guide.
5. In the execution of this power wherewith he is so intrusted, the Lord Jesus calleth out of the World unto himself, through the Ministry of his word, by his Spirit, those that are given unto him by his Father; that they may walk before him in all the ways of obedience, which he prescribeth to them in his Word. Those thus called he commandeth to walk together in particular societies, or Churches, for their mutual edification; and the due performance of that publick worship, which he requireth of them in the World.
6. The Members of these Churches are Saints by calling, visibly manifesting and evidencing (in and by their profession and walking) their obedience unto that call of Christ; and do willingly consent to walk together according to the appointment of Christ, giving up themselves, to the Lord & one to another by the will of God, in professed subjection to the Ordinances of the Gospel.
Second London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689, 26.5-6
Prayer Requests
1. Please pray for the work of the students alongside of Jorge and me in Santo Domingo, and pray that God would give wisdom to the local church as they observe these men. Pray that their ministries will be fruitful for God’s glory and the building up of the church.
2. Please pray for confirmation and growth among the believers in the mission in Manta so that they could be confirmed in their faith and could be constituted as a church of Christ in an orderly and biblical way. Also, pray for Jose and his family as they advance towards the plan of moving to Manta and for God’s protection in the weekly trips they are making there.
3. Pray that God will continue to use these men long term in ministry and in their families.
4. Pray that God would give Jorge and me wisdom as we prepare for the next cycle of the Pastor School and that God would be gracious to continue using this ministry to produce much fruit for His glory.
We are very grateful to the Lord for all of the brothers, sisters and churches that regularly pray for us and support financially. Your prayers and support contribute to making this ministry possible. God is using your efforts and your prayers, and we know none of this is possible without God’s grace and the prayers of his people. Please consider partnering with us by committing to pray regularly for us in your family or church, by a year-end, tax-deductible gift, or through committing to support our ministry monthly in 2023. If you’d like to hear more about how you can be involved, please respond to this email. I would love to hear from you and answer any questions you may have.
Walls' Latin-American Mission 
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