 |
|||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||||
| Capital: Santiago Population: 14,974,000 Language: Spanish Religion: Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 11%, Jewish less than 1%, the Pentecostal Church Rev. and Mrs. James R. Bjur (Melody Smith)
Rev. and Mrs. James R. Bjur (Melody Smith) Casilla 412 Phone: 011-56-58-211-474 The Bjurs began their ministry in Chile in 1992 as newlyweds. They spend the first year-and-a-half studying Spanish with a private tutor while helping the Fundamentalist Biblical Presbyterian Church in Iquique, and gaining valuable experience for their future ministry. In early 1993 they took a survey trip to Arica, Chile’s northernmost city. This strategic location would be the base for their future goal: developing a seminary program to prepare church leadership for Chile, Peru, and Bolivia. First the Bjurs felt that a church was needed, and so in October 1993, one began in the living room of their house with only three children. The Lord blessed and after eight years of meeting in their house, a new church building was finally ready – a dedication service was held on October 29, 2001. A mission team headed by Melody’s three brothers had arrived in July of that year and constructed a pulpit, communion table, and thirty benches/pews for the church. By December 2001 the Sunday school building was done, providing the growing congregation with much needed space. In 2007 the walls and roof of the second floor of the Sunday school building were completed. Praise the Lord for the lives of the believers He has given to this church, the “Mantantial (Foundation) Fundamentalist Biblical Presbyterian Church”. The church has an active youth group with 15-20 young people; 18-22 ladies come regularly to the Ladies’ Bible Study also. Two Bible clubs meet on Friday and Saturday with nearly twenty children in attendance. They church also emphasizes the Sunday school and Vacation Bible School ministries. Attendance has fluctuated over the years, but thank the Lord for His faithfulness. He never fluctuates. Rev. and Mrs. Bjur praise the Lord for the privilege they have of working with the Fundamentalist Biblical Presbyterian Church denomination in Chile. In has churches in many parts of the country, from Arica in the north to Puerto Montt in the south. Living close to Peru and Bolivia the Bjurs have a unique opportunity in training the young people of these countries, as well as Chile, in their yearly Teacher’s Training “camp”. Held every January since 2003 for two weeks, they come to study and prepare to be Sunday school teachers and workers in their own churches. This is a four-year intensive training course includes classes in Bible Doctrines, Synthesis of the Bible, Personal Work, Methods of Teaching, as well as Homiletics and Hermeneutics in the fourth year. Rev. and Mrs. Bjur also have opportunities to travel and work with brethren from the Fundamentalist Presbyterian Church in Callao and Ayacucho, Peru, as well as with brethren from the Peruvian Union Church (a faithful fundamental/evangelistic church in Iquitos, Peru). Praise God for the privilege to be unworthy heralds of our Glorious King and Saviour. PRAISES/ACCOMPLISHMENTS
PRAYER REQUESTS/GOALS FOR THE FUTURE
FIELD POSITIONS NEEDED
Rev. and Mrs. Jonathan Jara (Janeth Jara) Casilla 246 Arica, CHILE, South America Phone: 011-56-58-227 Rev. and Mrs. Jonathan Jara were missionaries before they were appointed under the IBPFM on July 15, 1999. Rev. and Mrs. Jara served the Lord in Guatemala, where they worked together with Rev. and Mrs. Hal Ricker for five years. Before laboring in Guatemala, Jonathan served the Lord as a pastor in Chile for five years. The Jaras have had a burden for their native country of Chile along with their northern neighbors, Peru and Bolivia. Rev. James Bjur had been praying that the Lord would burden someone to come to Arica, Chile to help strengthen the churches there, and work in the other countries to the north. The Bjurs were thankful when the Lord brought the Jaras as an answer to that prayer! In the past year Jonathan traveled to Peru to hold evangelistic campaigns. Special services were held each day to encourage and strengthen the faith of those in Peru. It is evident that there is a lack of trained national pastors to reach into the many locations Jonathan has visited. The ministry of the Berea Church in Arica continues to grow under the leadership of good elders, and both Rev.and Mrs. Jara. The church has a very active Ladies Group that visits in the community, sharing the Word of God and encouraging the sick and aged. Jonathan has also started a Married Couples class to strengthen the church and serve as an outreach. Jateth is active with the children's and women's ministries. At present the greatest immediate need is an actual church building for the Berean congregation to worship in. Up to this point they have held services, VBS, and other programs in the Jara's home. Praise the Lord that property has now been purchased; pray for the needed funds to construct a church building. The Jaras believe the Lord wants them to continue to work across the border in Tacna, Peru. Also, along with the Bjurs, the Jaras know that a seminary program must be established to train national pastors for this entire northern region. We thank the Lord for Jonathan and Janeth's dedication and zeal to do the Lord's work. PRAISES/ACCOMPLISHMENTS
PRAYER REQUESTS/GOALS FOR THE FUTURE
Rev. and Mrs. Paul Durand Libertad Oriente #686 Phone: 864 - 234 - 0692 Paul and Cheryl Durand are new foreign missionaries serving the Lord in the Andes Mission along with their five young children in the vicinity of Concepción, Chile. They arrived in south-central Chile at the beginning of October, 2007, and are still in the process of learning cultural customs and improving their abilities to communicate in Spanish. Since 1984, Paul has participated in several IBPFM Student Overseas Missionary Endeavor teams and in other short-term foreign missionary service and has served several congregations in the U.S. as a home missionary and pastor. Paul’s Mother was from South America, so he grew up bi-lingual in his younger years. Paul was converted to Christ through the ministry of the Collingswood Bible Presbyterian Church and Cheryl was converted during her first semester at Kansas University through her new acquaintances. Cheryl has been a home-school Mother and Teacher from the beginning of their children’s education. Paul and Cheryl are working along with the Fundamental Biblical Presbyterian Church of Chile, now the largest Presbyterian body in Chile. For a few months they have lived in an area where there are many churches and missions of this presbytery, in order to become acquainted with God’s people and allow the churches to get to know them as well. It has also been a help as they have needed assistance in getting to know their way around and getting established. Paul is teaching and preaching in Spanish and the language seems to be flowing more smoothly on each subsequent occasion. The presbytery is interested in having Paul teach at the local seminary part-time, and this will likely begin very soon with Greek. Shortly, Lord-willing, the Durands will be moving to a community which is near Concepción in order to begin working there in evangelism and discipleship. Paul is currently traveling to Concepción every Wednesday and Friday to get to know the area, and for visitation and meetings there and in the surrounding communities. Many things are very different from life as it was in the U.S., but the children have been adjusting very well, for which the Durands praise and thank the Lord. They thank the Lord for your prayerful support as well which has made this new beginning possible, and ask your continued prayers for fruitful labor in this portion of Christ’s vineyard! “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.” 2 Cor. 2:14. PRAISES/ACCOMPLISHMENTS
PRAYER REQUESTS/GOALS FOR THE FUTURE
|
||||
 |
 |
 |