We have exciting news and
important ministry updates to share with
you.
 |
It finally happened - Isaiah and
Andrew have graduated from high school!
We came home from the field of Spain exactly three years ago for this
purpose, and our hearts are so thankful to the Lord His grace made it
happen. Along with the great academic, sports, and
music experiences, God has taught us all great spiritual lessons during this
time.
Pray for us now as we begin
yet another change in our family’s life, and especially that Andrew and Isaiah
will seek Christ and His desires throughout their college career.
When we came home from Spain, we
knew that not being in Spain did not mean we were no longer called to the
ministry. We have spent these three
years serving in the Spanish ministry of our home church while working full
time jobs, and being open to whatever God would want to do with our lives. (We
are very grateful to all of you who have continued to support us as
missionaries during this time. We
literally would not have been able to pay rent if not for your faithful giving.) As we prayed for home missions, God has kept
before us the need to reach the ever-growing Spanish speaking communities in
California. Since half of our supporting
churches were in CA, we consulted with a few of them, and also with missions
agencies to learn more about the need for bilingual pastors in CA. They assured us it is a wide open mission
field.
A month and a half ago, Pastor
Kye Kim of Calvary Baptist Church, Anaheim, CA, a supporting church of ours for
nearly 10 years, wrote to me a letter that God used to get my attention in a
great way. He wrote that
his church is heavily surrounded by Spanish speaking population, that they have been trying to reach them for our Savior as much as they can but feel so much limitation, that their area is really a mission field and that they are praying the Lord would send someone to start a Spanish speaking ministry.
The moment I read that,
deep down in my heart I sensed the Holy Spirit confirming to my heart that is
where God wants me and what God has called me to do. I texted Danielle about Pastor Kim’s note and
she cried knowing in her heart as well that this is the ministry God has been
preparing us for. We prayed,
corresponded with Pastor Kim, and spoke with him on the phone and he believes
it is an answer to prayer. The church
flew me to Anaheim, CA to discuss a Spanish speaking ministry. Growing up in Orange County, CA, I always
knew of the predominantly Spanish speaking communities, but God has newly
opened my eyes to see how unreached they are.
We are planning our move out to
CA at the end of July to begin this new ministry. We will join as members of Calvary Baptist Church
and their missionary support will increase to a staff salary. If it is God’s will, we pray Danielle will
get a full time staff or faculty position at a nearby Christian school. However, we will still need all the
missionary support we can receive.
We ask all of our
current supporting churches to please continue your monthly support for us as
home missionaries, and we request all of our former supporting churches an
opportunity to present our new mission field to you for support consideration.
Please pray that the Lord will
strengthen Michael as he adjusts to a new school for 11th and 12th
grade. He has been on fire for the Lord
being a witness and leading Bible studies among classmates here in FL. He is excited to serve the Lord wherever the
He puts him for school in CA. His desire
to be a missionary pilot and evangelist continues to grow.
Thank you so much for your
prayers and support!
Joseph Contreras and family
For contact and donations: www.bestrongmissions.blogspot.com
No comments:
Post a Comment