Reflection As the year draws to an end it is a great opportunity to reflect on all that God has done through the ministry of New Dawn Baptist Church. While it can be tempting to try and quantify the amount of ministry that was done or number all the ways we saw God at work this can’t accurately be done. One reason for this is that God is always at work, often in unnoticed or unrevealed ways and so to try and label all that we see him doing would still fall short of the miraculous ways he is bringing about the fulfillment of His will each day. Another reason is that we would need a much larger platform, truly unending, to continually give God glory for all he has done that we can see! Even so, in our humble and inadequate efforts we hope that you can join us in glorifying God for who he is and what he has done in reflecting on this past year.
Reflexión A medida que el año se acerca a su fin, es una gran oportunidad para reflexionar sobre todo lo que Dios ha hecho a través del ministerio de la Iglesia Bautista Nuevo Amanecer. Si bien puede ser tentador tratar de cuantificar la cantidad de ministerio que se hizo o enumerar todas las formas en que vimos a Dios obrar, esto no se puede hacer con precisión. Una razón para esto es que Dios siempre está obrando, a menudo de maneras inadvertidas o no reveladas, por lo que tratar de etiquetar todo lo que lo vemos hacer aún no estaría a la altura de las formas milagrosas en que está llevando a cabo el cumplimiento de Su voluntad cada día. Otra razón es que necesitaríamos una plataforma mucho más grande, verdaderamente interminable, para dar gloria continuamente a Dios, ¡porque Él ha hecho eso que podemos ver! Aun así, en nuestros humildes e inadecuados esfuerzos, esperamos que puedan unirse a nosotros para glorificar a Dios por lo que es y lo que ha hecho al reflexionar sobre este último año.
Seasons Costa Rica may only have two seasons, a rainy and a dry season, but life has many more. Just as God is sovereign over the weather and the place where each raindrop falls, he is also sovereign over each changing season in every person’s life. The end of the year will bring a change in Christina’s long term season working here at New Dawn and start a new season for her back in the States. Denise Herrera will also start a new season as she joins New Dawn in January to serve the Lord and minister to the people of San Gerardo with the Ochoas. While continuing to be a faithful part of the church body, Jorge and Lucy will also no longer be working at the church and Esteben Martinez will be coming on staff to keep up the building and grounds maintenance. It is a wonderful thing to see how God orchestrates the equipping of his children through the Spirit for the needs of the church to be met. It is with grateful hearts that we trust in God’s sovereignty and sufficiency in every season. “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” - Ecclesiastes 3:1-3 Estaciones Puede que Costa Rica solo tenga dos estaciones, una lluviosa y otra seca, pero la vida tiene muchas más. Así como Dios es soberano sobre el clima y el lugar donde cae cada gota de lluvia, también es soberano sobre cada estación cambiante en la vida de cada persona. El final del año traerá un cambio en la temporada a largo plazo de Christina trabajando aquí en Nuevo Amanecer y comenzará una nueva temporada para ella en los Estados Unidos. Denise Herrera también comenzará una nueva temporada cuando se una a Nuevo Amanecer en enero para servir al Señor y ministrar a la gente de San Gerardo con los Ochoa. Mientras continúan siendo una parte fiel del cuerpo de la iglesia, Jorge y Lucy ya no trabajarán en la iglesia y Esteben Martínez se unirá al personal para mantener el edificio y el mantenimiento de los terrenos. Es algo maravilloso ver cómo Dios orquesta el equipamiento de sus hijos a través del Espíritu para que las necesidades de la iglesia sean satisfechas. Es con corazones agradecidos que confiamos en la soberanía y suficiencia de Dios en cada tiempo. "Todo tiene su tiempo, y todo lo que hay debajo del cielo tiene su tiempo." - Eclesiastés 3:1-3 A note from Victor "As we finish 2023, I praise the Lord for all the things He has done for us! To Him be the glory! This year has been filled with many blessings, trials, and new experiences in all areas of the ministry. We have seen God work in marvelous and uplifting ways, and experienced how He works within His plan. His ways are perfect, and His plan is timely. We started the year with Christina, and Lucy as part of the work team. We needed to build a lot of the infrastructure of the church, physically as well as administrative. In April, Jorge came on staff and helped us get the physical part under way. With Christina’s help, we built and established an administrative process that will allow us to operate with less effort than before. This in turn will free a lot of my time to dedicate to what is most important, which is the ministry part. For this I am very grateful to God for sending Christina along to get this done. Now, mission work is nothing like a secular job, or even work at a church. Mission work requires to work long hours, travel great distances, sometimes work through the night, and skip meals. Christina accepted the call of the Lord and worked during this year through all that. In addition, she was instrumental in creating the English class that she taught and helped in revamping the youth ministry. I am very pleased with the work that she did, she worked very hard on these tasks going above and beyond what was expected of her. Jorge joined the staff in April, and helped us get several projects off the ground. God brought Jorge at the right time to get the physical part of the ministry up and running. God’s plan is perfect, and as part of His plan, He has given us a new team to start in January 2024, Denise will replace Christina, and Esteban will replace Jorge. A new era is upon us and the next step of the church requires a different type of skill set. God has brought the right people, for 2023 and for 2024 as well. " “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine”. - Isaiah 55:8 Una nota de Víctor Al terminar el 2023, ¡alabo al Señor por todas las cosas que ha hecho por nosotros! ¡A Él sea la gloria! Este año ha estado lleno de muchas bendiciones, pruebas y nuevas experiencias en todas las áreas del ministerio. Hemos visto a Dios obrar de maneras maravillosas y edificantes, y hemos experimentado cómo obra dentro de Su plan. Sus caminos son perfectos y Su plan es oportuno. Comenzamos el año con Christina y Lucy como parte del equipo de trabajo. Necesitábamos construir gran parte de la infraestructura de la iglesia, tanto física como administrativa. En abril, Jorge se incorporó al equipo y nos ayudó a poner en marcha la parte física. Con la ayuda de Christina, construimos y establecimos un proceso administrativo que nos permitirá operar con menos esfuerzo que antes. Esto, a su vez, liberará mucho de mi tiempo para dedicarlo a lo más importante, que es la parte del ministerio. Por esto estoy muy agradecido con Dios por enviar a Christina para que esto se hiciera. Ahora, el trabajo misionero no se parece en nada a un trabajo secular, ni siquiera al trabajo en una iglesia. El trabajo misionero requiere trabajar muchas horas, viajar grandes distancias, a veces trabajar toda la noche y saltarse las comidas. Christina aceptó el llamado del Señor y trabajó durante este año a través de todo eso. Además, jugó un papel decisivo en la creación de la clase de inglés que enseñó y ayudó a renovar el ministerio juvenil. Estoy muy contento con el trabajo que hizo, trabajó muy duro en estas tareas yendo más allá de lo que se esperaba de ella. Jorge se unió al personal en abril y nos ayudó a poner en marcha varios proyectos. Dios trajo a Jorge en el momento adecuado para poner en marcha la parte física del ministerio. El plan de Dios es perfecto, y como parte de Su plan, nos ha dado un nuevo equipo para comenzar en enero de 2024, Denise reemplazará a Christina y Esteban reemplazará a Jorge. Una nueva era está sobre nosotros y el siguiente paso de la iglesia requiere un tipo diferente de habilidades. Dios ha traído a las personas adecuadas, para el 2023 y también para el 2024. "Mis pensamientos no se parecen en nada a sus pensamientos", dice el Señor. "Y mis caminos van mucho más allá de lo que puedas imaginar". - Isaías 55:8 Christmas Christmas Eve being on Sunday was the perfect way to celebrate when Jesus came to earth as a baby to be the hope to the world and propitiation of our sins. The church body gathered together, singing songs of worship and celebration of this special day so many years ago. We were grateful for God for the new visitors who came and the chance to share the good news of the gospel with them through the message. We also thank God for his provision that allowed us to give gifts to the children even as we point them to the ultimate gift, Jesus himself. “He took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” - Luke 2:28-32 Navidad La víspera de Navidad, al ser domingo, era la manera perfecta de celebrar cuando Jesús vino a la tierra como un bebé para ser la esperanza para el mundo y la propiciación de nuestros pecados. El cuerpo de la iglesia se reunió, cantando canciones de adoración y celebrar ese día especial que pasó hace tantos años. Estamos agradecidos con Dios por los nuevos visitantes que vinieron y la oportunidad de compartir las buenas nuevas del evangelio con ellos a través del mensaje. También damos gracias a Dios por su provisión que nos permitió dar regalos a los niños, incluso cuando les señalamos el regalo supremo, Jesús mismo. "Lo tomó en sus brazos, bendijo a Dios y dijo: Señor, ahora dejas que tu siervo se vaya en paz, conforme a tu palabra; porque mis ojos han visto tu salvación, que has preparado en presencia de todos los pueblos, luz para revelación a los gentiles, y para gloria a tu pueblo Israel." - Lucas 2:28-32 Prayer Requests
Peticiones de oración
Scripture “And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” - Luke 2:8-14 Escritura
"Y en la misma región había pastores en el campo, vigilando sus rebaños de noche. Y se les apareció un ángel del Señor, y la gloria del Señor resplandeció alrededor de ellos, y se llenaron de gran temor. Y el ángel les dijo: No temáis, porque he aquí os traigo buenas nuevas de gran gozo que serán para todo el pueblo. Porque os ha nacido hoy, en la ciudad de David, un Salvador, que es Cristo el Señor. Y esto te servirá de señal: encontrarás a un niño envuelto en pañales y acostado en un pesebre". Y de repente apareció con el ángel una multitud de las huestes celestiales que alababan a Dios y decían: "¡Gloria a Dios en las alturas, y en la tierra paz a los que le agradan!" - Lucas 2:8-14
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Coffee Harvest Many families have now left for the coffee harvest and will not return till mid February. While this is the normal rhythm in the lives of families who live in an area where the work is seasonal, it is nevertheless sad to say “see you later” to so many adults and even more children who are a cherished part of our church family. Of course we couldn't just say see you later! We had a special prayer service for the families who were leaving where we encouraged them to stay firm in their faith and not just go to the harvest but go on mission and be sharers of the gospel of life wherever they are. We also prepared the youth and children for this time away by sending them with devotional and Bible study material that they can use while away to stay rooted in the Word. Please join us in continually praying for these families, that God will protect not only their bodies but their hearts and minds from the lies and temptations that are sure to come. Pray that they continue to grow in the grace of God and deepen their understanding of the gospel as they depend on God each day. Cosecha de Café Muchas familias ya se han ido a la cosecha de café y no volverán hasta mediados de febrero. Si bien este es el ritmo normal en la vida de las familias que viven en un área donde el trabajo es temporal, sin embargo, es triste decir "hasta luego" a tantos adultos e incluso a los niños que son una parte apreciada de nuestra familia de la iglesia. ¡Por supuesto que no podíamos simplemente decir hasta luego! Tuvimos un servicio de oración especial para las familias que se iban, donde los alentamos a mantenerse firmes en su fe y no solo ir a la cosecha, sino ir a la misión y compartir el evangelio de la vida dondequiera que estén. También preparamos a los jóvenes y a los niños para este tiempo fuera enviándoles material devocional y de estudio bíblico que pueden usar mientras están fuera para mantenerse arraigados en la Palabra. Por favor, únase a nosotros para orar continuamente por estas familias, para que Dios proteja no solo sus cuerpos, sino también sus corazones y mentes de las mentiras y tentaciones que seguramente vendrán. Ore para que continúen creciendo en la gracia de Dios y profundicen su comprensión del evangelio mientras dependen de Dios cada día. Thanksgiving In Costa Rica? Why not! While not celebrated in the traditional sense relating to American history, we took this opportunity to have a special gathering at church with several families. We shared food, fellowship, and expressed thankfulness for the many blessings God has given us as well as the hardships that He has grown us through. If there is anything worth being thankful for it’s the gospel, which is why we made sure the people who came got to hear about the incredible hope found in it through God’s grace. This is something to be thankful for, not just one day but every day, as we meditate on the scriptures; and marvel at God’s incredible grace to redeem dead sinners to new life, by the power of His Spirit, through faith in Jesus. “Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!” -2 Corinthians 9:15 Acción de gracias ¿En Costa Rica? ¡Por qué no! Si bien no se celebra en el sentido tradicional relacionado con la historia de Estados Unidos, aprovechamos esta oportunidad para tener una reunión especial en la iglesia con varias familias. Compartimos comida, compañerismo y expresamos gratitud por las muchas bendiciones que Dios nos ha dado, así como por las dificultades que Él nos ha hecho crecer. Si hay algo por lo que vale la pena estar agradecido es por el evangelio, por lo que nos aseguramos de que las personas que vinieron escucharan sobre la increíble esperanza que se encuentra en él a través de la gracia de Dios. Esto es algo por lo que debemos estar agradecidos, no solo un día, sino todos los días mientras meditamos en las Escrituras y nos maravillamos de la increíble gracia de Dios para redimir a los pecadores muertos a una nueva vida por el poder de Su Espíritu a través de la fe en Jesús. "¡Gracias a Dios por su don inefable!" -2 Corintios 9:15 Ministry Highlight “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations”. Discipleship. It’s slow, it’s steady, it’s relational, it's the process of sharpening one another for the glory of God through the teaching of scripture and modeling of daily life in submission to Christ. The way discipleship looks at New Dawn is regular study of the Bible together in small groups where questions are asked and scripture can be explained. It is also in how through sharing life together and in regular conversation we point each other to the truth of the gospel and model Christliness for the spiritual growth of the body of Christ. Discipleship is intentional and our prayer is that through the faithful discipleship of individuals that the body of Christ is strengthened and multiplied. Lo más destacado del ministerio "Id, pues, y haced discípulos a todas las naciones". Discipulado. Es lento, es constante, es relacional, es el proceso de afilarse unos a otros para la gloria de Dios a través de la enseñanza de las Escrituras y el modelado de la vida diaria en sumisión a Cristo. La forma en que el discipulado ve el Nuevo Amanecer es el estudio regular de la Biblia juntos en grupos pequeños donde se hacen preguntas y se pueden explicar las Escrituras. También está en la forma en que, al compartir la vida juntos y en una conversación regular, nos señalamos unos a otros la verdad del evangelio y modelamos la cristiandad para el crecimiento espiritual del cuerpo de Cristo. El discipulado es intencional y nuestra oración es que a través del fiel discipulado de los individuos, el cuerpo de Cristo se fortalezca y multiplique. Prayer Requests
Peticiones de oración
Scripture “I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.” - Psalm 69:30 Escritura
"Alabaré el nombre de Dios con un cántico; Lo engrandeceré con acción de gracias." - Salmo 69:30 Sing Praises It is a wonderful blessing to receive a new sound system from the support we receive from OBC. This updated equipment facilitates better audio for worship and preaching and will have less issues (such as shutting down mid-service) than previous equipment we were using. It is also a wonderful blessing to be reminded that we need no technology to be able to lift praises to our God and King! Our first Sunday service with the new sound system and the town was without power. The Lord is so faithful in how He guards our hearts in situations that could easily lead to frustration and instead leads us to a humble posture of worship. With only the audio from the laptop (no speakers, projector slides, or mics) the congregation sang praises to God with gratitude and joy for who He is and what He has accomplished through the gospel. “I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.” -Psalm 57:8-10 Canta alabanzas Es una bendición maravillosa recibir un nuevo sistema de sonido gracias al apoyo que recibimos de OBC. Este equipo actualizado facilita un mejor audio para la adoración y la predicación y tendrá menos problemas (como apagarse a mitad del servicio) que el equipo anterior que estábamos usando. ¡También es una bendición maravillosa que se nos recuerde que no necesitamos tecnología para poder elevar alabanzas a nuestro Dios y Rey! Nuestro primer servicio dominical con el nuevo sistema de sonido y la ciudad se quedó sin electricidad. El Señor es muy fiel en la forma en que guarda nuestros corazones en situaciones que fácilmente podrían llevarnos a la frustración y, en cambio, nos lleva a una postura humilde de adoración. Con solo el audio de la computadora portátil (sin altavoces, diapositivas de proyector o micrófonos), la congregación cantó alabanzas a Dios con gratitud y gozo por quién es Él y lo que ha logrado a través del evangelio. "Te daré gracias, oh Señor, entre los pueblos; Te cantaré alabanzas entre las naciones. Porque tu misericordia es grande a los cielos, tu fidelidad a las nubes" (Salmo 57:8-10). The Lord’s Supper The sacrament of communion is a special and important meal for the body of believers to partake in together. Communion, like Baptism, is not a requirement for salvation but is a command given by Jesus for believers to follow. In taking communion we remember the New Covenant that, by God’s grace, is ours in Christ Jesus through his death on the cross. Communion, or The Lord’s Supper, is a God designed way for believers to regularly and intentionally repent, give thanks, praise, and remember Christ’s work on the cross. Believers participate in communion corporately not as a way to do something for Jesus, but because of what Jesus has already done for them. It was a beautiful testimony of God’s grace to see the local body of Christ take communion together and not only praise God for what he has done through the new covenant, but also worship in anticipation of the triumphant feast of the Lamb that is to come. To read a great article that explains the significance of The Lord’s Supper from Genesis through Revelation follow this link to The Bible Project. https://bibleproject.com/articles/lords-supper-in-the-bible/ La Cena del Señor El sacramento de la comunión es una comida especial e importante para que el cuerpo de creyentes participe junto. La comunión, como el bautismo, no es un requisito para la salvación, sino que es un mandato dado por Jesús para que los creyentes lo sigan. Al comulgar recordamos la Nueva Alianza que, por la gracia de Dios, es nuestra en Cristo Jesús a través de su muerte en la cruz. La Comunión, o La Cena del Señor, es una forma diseñada por Dios para que los creyentes se arrepientan, den gracias, alaben y recuerden la obra de Cristo en la cruz de manera regular e intencional. Los creyentes participan en la comunión corporativamente, no como una forma de hacer algo por Jesús, sino por lo que Jesús ya ha hecho por ellos. Fue un hermoso testimonio de la gracia de Dios ver al cuerpo local de Cristo tomar la comunión juntos y no solo alabar a Dios por lo que ha hecho a través del nuevo pacto, sino también adorar en anticipación de la fiesta triunfal del Cordero que está por venir. Para leer un gran artículo que explica el significado de La Cena del Señor desde Génesis hasta Apocalipsis, siga este enlace a The Bible Project. https://bibleproject.com/articles/lords-supper-in-the-bible/ Ministry Highlight New Dawn is blessed to have many volunteers who joyfully commit to serving in one way or another on Sundays and during special events. While there are simply tangible things that need to be done such as running pro presenter, making coffee, and passing out bulletins, we are intentional about not just finding a person willing to do it, but to take the opportunity to encourage loving service to build up the body of Christ. Whether reading scripture, singing, or putting up chairs, we lead our volunteers to do these things as a way to serve each other and worship the Lord. New Dawn is extremely blessed by many faithful volunteers and our prayer is that as they continue to mature spiritually that God grows them into strong and humble leaders in His ministry. Lo más destacado del ministerio Nuevo Amanecer tiene la bendición de tener muchos voluntarios que se comprometen con alegría a servir de una manera u otra los domingos y durante eventos especiales. Si bien hay cosas simplemente tangibles que deben hacerse, como operar el programa de ProPresenter, preparar café y repartir boletines, tenemos la intención no solo de encontrar a una persona dispuesta a hacerlo, sino de aprovechar la oportunidad para fomentar el servicio amoroso para edificar el cuerpo de Cristo. Ya sea leyendo las Escrituras, cantando o colocando sillas, guiamos a nuestros voluntarios a hacer estas cosas como una forma de servirse unos a otros y adorar al Señor. Nuevo Amanecer es extremadamente bendecido por muchos voluntarios fieles y nuestra oración es que a medida que continúen madurando espiritualmente, Dios los convierta en líderes fuertes y humildes en Su ministerio. Prayer Requests
Peticiones de oración
Scripture “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.” - Ephesians 1:7-10 Escritura
“En él tenemos la redención por medio de su sangre, el perdón de los pecados según las riquezas de su gracia, la cual desbordó sobre nosotros en toda sabiduría y entendimiento, y nos dio a conocer el misterio de su voluntad, según su beneplácito, el cual se había propuesto en sí mismo, para que cuando llegara el tiempo señalado reuniera todas las cosas en Cristo, tanto las que están en los cielos, como las que están en la tierra.”- Efesios 1:7-10 OBC On the Go New Dawn was blessed abundantly by the visit of a team from OBC. Praise be to God that he is working through each of their lives in a way that the impact of their service, encouragement, and support lasts long after their few days in the country. And what a few days they were! The team joined us for Bible study with Dalia and her family of the Maleku tribe. Chris, Jimmy, and Stuart helped Jorge renovate the bathroom walls that were falling apart. Liz, Anna, Jodie, and Sandee helped Sonia hang up plastic to keep the rain from blowing into the childrens area. The whole team set aside their own comforts and joyfully served in every way they could. From walking in the sun to visit and pray with families, to dancing and singing with the children, it was beautiful to see the love of God reflected in everything they did. They also brought needed supplies and items that many people at OBC donated for the children and future ministry activities. We are continually in awe of God’s grace and provision through his church and pray that this would grow in us hearts of gratitude and contentment in Christ himself through all circumstances. (Ephesians 4:10-13). OBC sobre la marcha Nuevo Amanecer fue bendecido abundantemente por la visita de un equipo de OBC. Alabado sea Dios porque está trabajando a través de cada una de sus vidas de una manera que el impacto de su servicio, aliento y apoyo dure mucho después de sus pocos días en el país. ¡Y qué pocos días fueron! El equipo se unió a nosotros para el estudio bíblico con Dalia y su familia de la tribu Maleku. Chris, Jimmy y Stuart ayudaron a Jorge a renovar las paredes del baño que se estaban cayendo a pedazos. Liz, Anna, Jodie y Sandee ayudaron a Sonia a colgar plástico para evitar que la lluvia soplara en el área de los niños. Todo el equipo dejó de lado sus propias comodidades y sirvió con alegría de todas las maneras posibles. Desde caminar bajo el sol para visitar y orar con las familias, hasta bailar y cantar con los niños, fue hermoso ver el amor de Dios reflejado en todo lo que hicieron. También trajeron suministros y artículos necesarios que muchas personas en OBC donaron para los niños y futuras actividades ministeriales. Estamos continuamente asombrados de la gracia y provisión de Dios a través de su iglesia y oramos para que esto crezca en nuestros corazones de gratitud y contentamiento en Cristo mismo a través de todas las circunstancias. (Efesios 4:10-13). Children’s Day Celebration International Children’s Day is a big deal here in Costa Rica. The schools do extra activities with the children and everyone focuses on the wonderful gift of children. We use this day as an opportunity to reach children in town who may not normally come to church and show them the incredible love that God has for all children. In celebration of this special day, we focused on a gospel centered message - Who God is and how he created us in his image. We talked about how God made each of us unique and for a purpose. That though we are sinful, because God loves us he sent Jesus to die for us and rise again so that through Christ we can all be adoptive children of God. Victor gave three short messages and the team further pointed the children to these truths through fun activities, songs, and conversations. We thank God for each child who came and pray that these truths stay in their hearts and minds as they grow so when the Lord calls them they respond in repentance and faith to the salvation that comes through Christ alone. Celebracion del Día del Niño El Día Internacional del Niño es un gran problema aquí en Costa Rica. Las escuelas hacen actividades extra con los niños y todos se centran en el maravilloso regalo de los niños. Usamos este día como una oportunidad para alcanzar a los niños de la ciudad que normalmente no vienen a la iglesia y mostrarles el increíble amor que Dios tiene por todos los niños. En la celebración de este día especial, nos enfocamos en un mensaje centrado en el evangelio: Quién es Dios y cómo nos creó a su imagen. Hablamos acerca de cómo Dios nos hizo a cada uno de nosotros únicos y con un propósito. Que, aunque somos pecadores, porque Dios nos ama, envió a Jesús a morir por nosotros y resucitar para que a través de Cristo todos podamos ser hijos adoptivos de Dios. Víctor dio tres mensajes cortos y el equipo señaló a los niños estas verdades a través de actividades divertidas, canciones y conversaciones. Damos gracias a Dios por cada niño que vino y oramos para que estas verdades permanezcan en sus corazones y mentes a medida que crecen, para que cuando el Señor los llame, respondan con arrepentimiento y fe a la salvación que viene solo a través de Cristo. Ministry Highlight When the Ochoas first moved to Los Chiles Costa Rica, there was not a specific location for planting the church in mind. But God is sovereign over all things, and in a short time through some connections they were able to begin having church in an actual church building in San Gerardo. Because of the culture and the location being so near the border of Nicaragua, there is a constant flux of people who pass through San Gerardo. Some people are living there temporarily doing seasonal work, some are refugees from Heidi or Venezuela passing through on their way to the States, and others have family in Nicaragua and go back and forth. This presents a challenge to what may typically come to mind when you think of the “church family model”. However, with a gospel centered perspective New Dawn is in a unique position for reaching people with the good news. We have a core congregation that does stay in the town and by God’s grace they are maturing in their walk with the Lord. It is this small body of believers that we pray God continues to sanctify and grow so that they are then equipped to disciple those people passing through, who can then take the good news of the Gospel with them wherever they go. We firmly believe that it is the Holy Spirit who saves people through the truth of the gospel. In light of that, we should take every opportunity God gives us to preach the word, plant seeds, and disciple, all while trusting that God will not let any he has chosen be lost. Lo más destacado del ministerio Cuando los Ochoa se mudaron por primera vez a Los Chiles Costa Rica, no había un lugar específico para plantar la iglesia en mente. Pero Dios es soberano sobre todas las cosas, y en poco tiempo a través de algunas conexiones pudieron comenzar a tener iglesia en un edificio real de la iglesia en San Gerardo. Debido a que la cultura y la ubicación están tan cerca de la frontera de Nicaragua, hay un flujo constante de personas que pasan por San Gerardo. Algunas personas viven allí temporalmente haciendo trabajos estacionales, algunos son refugiados de Heidi o Venezuela que pasan en su camino a los Estados Unidos, y otros tienen familia en Nicaragua y van y vienen. Esto presenta un desafío a lo que normalmente puede venir a la mente cuando piensas en el "modelo de familia de la iglesia". Sin embargo, con una perspectiva centrada en el evangelio, Nuevo Amanecer se encuentra en una posición única para alcanzar a las personas con las buenas nuevas. Tenemos una congregación central que se queda en la ciudad y por la gracia de Dios están madurando en su caminar con el Señor. Es este pequeño cuerpo de creyentes que oramos para que Dios continúe santificando y creciendo para que luego estén equipados para discipular a las personas que pasan, que luego pueden llevar las buenas nuevas del Evangelio con ellos dondequiera que vayan. Creemos firmemente que es el Espíritu Santo quien salva a las personas a través de la verdad del evangelio. A la luz de eso, debemos aprovechar cada oportunidad que Dios nos da para predicar la palabra, plantar semillas y discipular, todo mientras confiamos en que Dios no permitirá que se pierda ninguna de las que ha elegido. Prayer Requests
Peticiones de oración
Scripture “For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.” -Ephesians 2:18-22 Escritura
"Porque por medio de él ambos tenemos acceso en un solo Espíritu al Padre. Así que ya no sois extraños y extranjeros, sino que sois conciudadanos de los santos y miembros de la familia de Dios, edificados sobre el fundamento de los apóstoles y profetas, siendo Cristo Jesús mismo la piedra angular, en quien toda la estructura, estando unida, se convierte en un templo santo en el Señor. En él también vosotros estáis siendo edificados juntos en morada para Dios por el Espíritu." -Efesios 2:18-22 Facility Improvements Church is when a gathering of believers comes together weekly to worship God through songs of praise, the exposition of scripture, and intentional fellowship with each other for the strengthening of the body of Christ and to the glory of God. The physical structure of a building does not have to be a certain way for this to happen, but it can certainly be utilized to better facilitate the central purpose of a church gathering. During our adult service the children are brought to the side of the building to allow the adults to give their full attention to the message. Here they are given loving attention and led in activities and discussions that are on their level of understanding to continually show them Biblical truths. Up till now the area where the children are has just been a covered and fenced in space with a dirt floor, but by God’s provision we have now been able to lay a concrete floor down. This kind of facility improvement offers more safety to the children as the dirt would become slick when wet and the unlevel ground would be easy to trip on. We are so thankful for this helpful improvement and pray that just as concrete is a safe foundation, we are able to continually point the children who spend their time there to build their life on the solid rock of Christ. My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name. On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand: all other ground is sinking sand; - The Solid Rock, Edward Mote Mejoras en las instalaciones La iglesia es cuando una reunión de creyentes se reúne semanalmente para adorar a Dios a través de canciones de alabanza, la exposición de las escrituras y la comunión intencional entre sí para el fortalecimiento del cuerpo de Cristo y para la gloria de Dios. La estructura física de un edificio no tiene que ser de cierta manera para que esto suceda, pero ciertamente se puede utilizar para facilitar mejor el propósito central de una reunión de la iglesia. Durante nuestro servicio para adultos, los niños son llevados a un lado del edificio para permitir que los adultos presten toda su atención al mensaje. Aquí se les da atención amorosa y se les guía en actividades y discusiones que están en su nivel de comprensión para mostrarles continuamente las verdades bíblicas. Hasta ahora, el área donde están los niños ha sido un espacio cubierto y cercado con un piso de tierra, pero por la provisión de Dios ahora hemos podido colocar un piso de concreto. Este tipo de mejora de las instalaciones ofrece más seguridad a los niños, ya que la suciedad se volvería resbaladiza cuando estuviera mojada y el suelo desnivelado sería fácil de tropezar. Estamos muy agradecidos por esta útil mejora y oramos para que así como el concreto es un fundamento seguro, podamos señalar continuamente a los niños que pasan su tiempo allí para construir su vida sobre la roca sólida de Cristo. Mi esperanza se basa nada menos que en la sangre y la justicia de Jesús; No te atrevas a confiar en el marco más dulce, sino apóyate totalmente en el nombre de Jesús. En Cristo, la Roca sólida, estoy de pie: todo otro terreno es arena que se hunde; - La roca sólida, Edward Mote American Gospel The gospel changes everything. How we understand the gospel shapes how we understand every other Biblical truth or aspect of life. Because of this, having a right understanding of the gospel is vital. The enemy, this fallen world, our own sinful hearts can be subtle and quick to twist the true biblical gospel into something that feels better to our pride or is easier on our ears. That is why it is so important to continually preach the gospel to yourself and be reading and submitting to the sufficient truth of the Bible. By God’s grace we were able to show the film American Gospel, Christ Alone (newly released in Spanish!), which is an incredible documentary that clearly explains the gospel in contrast to the false works based faith or word of faith gospel that can so easily invade the church. We broke this film down to three parts and over the course of three Saturday evenings we hosted a showing at church, inviting anyone who wanted to come and watch. After each showing there was some time for open discussion and questions about what was shown. We are so grateful for the opportunity to share this incredible resource with the people of San Gerardo and would encourage everyone to check out their website, watch the film, and if able support the ministry that is making and sharing such wonderful God glorifying resources. You can check it out here! http://www.americangospelfilm.com/ Evangelio americano El evangelio lo cambia todo. La forma en que entendemos el evangelio da forma a cómo entendemos cualquier otra verdad bíblica o aspecto de la vida. Debido a esto, tener un entendimiento correcto del evangelio es vital. El enemigo, este mundo caído, nuestros propios corazones pecaminosos pueden ser sutiles y rápidos para torcer el verdadero evangelio bíblico en algo que se sienta mejor para nuestro orgullo o que sea más fácil para nuestros oídos. Es por eso que es tan importante predicar continuamente el evangelio a ti mismo y estar leyendo y sometiéndose a la verdad suficiente de la Biblia. Por la gracia de Dios pudimos mostrar la película American Gospel, Christ Alone (¡recién estrenada en español!), que es un documental increíble que explica claramente el evangelio en contraste con la fe basada en falsas obras o el evangelio de la palabra de fe que tan fácilmente puede invadir la iglesia. Dividimos esta película en tres partes y en el transcurso de tres sábados por la noche organizamos una proyección en la iglesia, invitando a cualquiera que quisiera venir y verla. Después de cada presentación hubo algo de tiempo para una discusión abierta y preguntas sobre lo que se mostró. Estamos muy agradecidos por la oportunidad de compartir este increíble recurso con la gente de San Gerardo y animaríamos a todos a visitar su sitio web, ver la película y, si pueden, apoyar al ministerio que está haciendo y compartiendo tan maravillosos recursos glorificadores de Dios. ¡Puedes verlo aquí! http://www.americangospelfilm.com/ Ministry Highlight The Maleku are an indigenous tribe that live on a reservation in Guatuso, about an hour and a half from Los Chiles. Shortly after getting established in Costa Rica, the Ochoas made an intentional effort to meet some people of the Maleku tribe in order to share the hope of the gospel with a people group that have long held traditions of worshiping gods of nature and being guided by witch doctors. Through God’s grace, they became friends with a woman named Dalia and her daughter Beverly. During many weekly visits they began studying the Bible together, occasionally joined by other members of Dalia’s family, and we have been able to see the incredible work of the gospel in Dalia’s life. Through some very tough times we have seen her faith strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit as Dalia continually seeks God in His word and depends on him for her strength and provision. Our prayer is that as Dalia continues to mature as a follower of Jesus, that she would feel a personal burden and have the boldness to share the gospel with her family and community. We pray that she raises Beverly in the fear and instruction of the Lord and that Beverly too would have her heart changed by the grace of God and the truth of the gospel. Lo más destacado del ministerio Los Maleku son una tribu indígena que vive en una reserva en Guatuso, a una hora y media de Los Chiles. Poco después de establecerse en Costa Rica, los Ochoa hicieron un esfuerzo intencional para conocer a algunas personas de la tribu Maleku con el fin de compartir la esperanza del evangelio con un grupo de personas que durante mucho tiempo han mantenido tradiciones de adorar a los dioses de la naturaleza y ser guiados por brujos. A través de la gracia de Dios, se hicieron amigos de una mujer llamada Dalia y su hija Beverly. Durante muchas visitas semanales comenzaron a estudiar la Biblia juntos, ocasionalmente acompañados por otros miembros de la familia de Dalia, y hemos podido ver la increíble obra del evangelio en la vida de Dalia. A través de algunos momentos muy difíciles hemos visto su fe fortalecida por el poder del Espíritu Santo mientras Dalia continuamente busca a Dios en Su palabra y depende de Él para su fortaleza y provisión. Nuestra oración es que a medida que Dalia continúe madurando como seguidora de Jesús, sienta una carga personal y tenga la audacia de compartir el evangelio con su familia y comunidad. Oramos para que ella críe a Beverly en el temor y la instrucción del Señor y que Beverly también tenga su corazón cambiado por la gracia de Dios y la verdad del evangelio. Prayer Requests
Peticiones de oración
Scripture “Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” - Matthew 16:24-26 Escritura
"Entonces Jesús dijo a sus discípulos: "Si alguno quiere venir en pos de mí, niéguese a sí mismo, tome su cruz y sígame. Porque quien quiera salvar su vida la perderá, pero quien pierda su vida por mi causa la encontrará. Porque ¿de qué le servirá al hombre si gana el mundo entero y pierde su alma?" - Mateo 16:24-2 Español The purpose of this newsletter is to give glory to God for all that he is doing through New Dawn and give others the opportunity to be encouraged by and praise God along with us. Because of that, we want to make sure that the community where God is doing this work is able to follow along and share in praising God for what he is doing through this outlet as well. So (as you can already see) we will be sharing the content in Spanish as well! Español El propósito de este boletín es dar gloria a Dios por todo lo que está haciendo a través de New Dawn y dar a otros la oportunidad de ser alentados y alabar a Dios junto con nosotros. Debido a eso, queremos asegurarnos de que la comunidad donde Dios está haciendo este trabajo pueda seguir y compartir la alabanza a Dios por lo que está haciendo a través de este medio también. Así que (como ya puedes ver) ¡también compartiremos el contenido en español! Parking When the church is in a small village, parking is not an issue. Other than the occasional bicycle most of the congregation walks to church, rain or shine. Some of the children walk a mile from their home to church and the roads can get very muddy with the continual weeks of rain. This is a testament of God working in hearts and bringing people to gather together for worship, the preaching of scripture, and fellowship of the body of Christ! We thank God for every foot that tracks mud through our doors and pray that even the dirt on our shoes can be a reminder of the filthiness of our sin before a pure God and the beauty of the gospel that Jesus would come to dwell among us, giving his life as the perfect sacrifice for our sin, and rising again so that in him the filth of our sin can be washed away and become white as snow. Estacionamiento Como la iglesia está en un pueblo pequeño, el estacionamiento no es un problema. Aparte de la bicicleta ocasional, la mayoría de la congregación camina a la iglesia, llueva o truene. Algunos de los niños caminan una milla desde su casa hasta la iglesia y las carreteras pueden enturbiarse con las continuas semanas de lluvia. ¡Este es un testamento de Dios obrando en los corazones y reuniendo a las personas para que se reúnan para la adoración, la predicación de las Escrituras y la comunión del cuerpo de Cristo! Damos gracias a Dios por cada pie que rastrea el barro a través de nuestras puertas y oramos para que incluso la suciedad de nuestros zapatos pueda ser un recordatorio de la suciedad de nuestro pecado ante un Dios puro y la belleza del evangelio que Jesús vendría a morar entre nosotros, dando su vida como el sacrificio perfecto por nuestro pecado. y levantándose de nuevo para que en él la inmundicia de nuestro pecado pueda ser lavada y volverse blanca como la nieve. Project Organize This month we took some intentional time to do inventory of tools and materials that have been donated or purchased for projects. While it may not be glamorous, it can be a good reminder that our Lord is a God of order. We can give glory to him as we organize what he has given us and pray for his wisdom and discernment to know how to best distribute resources to people in need and prioritize what projects need to get done to better facilitate the ongoing ministry. Organización del proyecto Este mes nos tomamos un tiempo intencional para hacer un inventario de herramientas y materiales que han sido donados o comprados para proyectos. Si bien puede no ser glamoroso, puede ser un buen recordatorio de que nuestro Señor es un Dios de orden. Podemos darle gloria mientras organizamos lo que nos ha dado y oramos por su sabiduría y discernimiento para saber cómo distribuir mejor los recursos a las personas necesitadas y priorizar qué proyectos deben hacerse para facilitar mejor el ministerio en curso. Ministry Highlight The Children’s Ministry, by God’s grace, is flourishing! The children’s service starts at 9am and begins with a couple worship songs then Victor gives the message. Since the beginning of the year the messages have been going through the Bible starting in Genesis and at the end of July we are now in 1 Kings. In every message the children are pointed to Jesus, the hope of the gospel, and given Biblical explanation of the stories and practical application to their lives. Through games and other activities they memorize scripture and review the lesson so they can be encouraged to think and reflect on the truth shared. During the 10am adult service the children go to the other side of the church and Sonia leads them in further Bible reading, discussion, and activities. We are humbled by God’s grace in bringing so many children to our church and giving us the opportunity to love them and point them to Jesus. Children’s ministry doesn't just happen during planned programming though, as we take every opportunity to grow relationships with the children and show them the love of Jesus in everything that we say and do. Our prayer is that this ministry continues to grow and that through the continually sharing of the gospel God changes the hearts of the children and brings them into his adopted eternal family. Lo más destacado del ministerio ¡El Ministerio de Niños, por la gracia de Dios, está floreciendo! El servicio para niños comienza a las 9 am y comienza con un par de canciones de adoración y luego Víctor da el mensaje. Desde el comienzo del año, los mensajes han estado pasando por la Biblia comenzando en Génesis y a fines de julio ahora estamos en 1 Reyes. En cada mensaje, los niños son guiados a Jesús, la esperanza del evangelio, y se les da una explicación bíblica de las historias y una aplicación práctica a sus vidas. A través de juegos y otras actividades, memorizan las Escrituras y repasan la lección para que se les anime a pensar y reflexionar sobre la verdad compartida. Durante el servicio de adultos de las 10 a.m., los niños van al otro lado de la iglesia y Sonia los guía en más lecturas bíblicas, discusiones y actividades. Nos sentimos humildes por la gracia de Dios al traer tantos niños a nuestra iglesia y darnos la oportunidad de amarlos y guiarlos a Jesús. Sin embargo, el ministerio de niños no solo ocurre durante la programación planificada, ya que aprovechamos cada oportunidad para cultivar relaciones con los niños y mostrarles el amor de Jesús en todo lo que decimos y hacemos. Nuestra oración es que este ministerio continúe creciendo y que, a través del compartir continuamente el evangelio, Dios cambie los corazones de los niños y los traiga a su familia eterna adoptiva. Prayer Requests
Peticiones de oración
Scripture
“How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” - Romans 10:14-15 Escritura "¿Cómo, pues, invocarán a aquel en quien no han creído? ¿Y cómo van a creer en aquel de quien nunca han oído hablar? ¿Y cómo van a escuchar sin que alguien predique? ¿Y cómo van a predicar a menos que sean enviados? Como está escrito, "¡Qué hermosos son los pies de los que predican las buenas nuevas!" - Romanos 10:14-15 Answered Prayer Praise God for rain! The much needed rainy season has started and we have been blessed with many days of rain. As this continues the water restrictions will be lifted and there will be one less obstacle keeping people from coming to church. Please pray that the people recognize God’s grace in sending the rain and give glory to him for this provision. May this blessing of rain also lead us to recognize the many little ways that God watches over us and provides for us daily, and lead us to have hearts full of gratitude in the days of plenty and of drought. Health Fair Event We had the opportunity once again to partner with Praxis Center of San Jose and have another health fair event at the church. God moved in so many ways throughout the process of preparing and during the event itself. We were able to meet many people in the town and share information about the regular ministry activities as we walked around to invite people to the event. This has brought more children to the English class already! Someone in the community donated a water tank to the church so we could be sure to have access to water for the dentistry if the water was cut off. During the event 81 people in the community received either a vision, dental, or medical appointment. While people were waiting for their appointments we had the chance to minister to some of them through conversations and prayer. There were more than enough volunteers from our church body that spent both days of the event serving. This also provided some time for fruitful discipleship conversations to happen in the slow parts of the event. We thank God for this opportunity and pray that just as he brought each person to the event, that he waters the seeds of the gospel that were planted and brings hearts from death to new life through faith in Jesus. We cannot look at the success of this event without clearly seeing God’s abundant grace and provision. Father’s Day Celebration For Father’s Day, like on Mother’s Day, we used it as an opportunity to extend a special invitation to the fathers to come to the church service. Sonia worked with the children in hand-making invites to give to their fathers, encouraging them to come with their children on Sunday. While it was Father’s day and we wanted them to feel honored, the service itself was not about fathers, but about God, our Father in heaven, spoken about using the story of the prodigal son. Our prayer for this service was the fathers come and be impacted by the love that God has for them even in their dead-in-their-sins state. We praise God for his sovereignty and grace in bringing the fathers who came and pray that he continues to work in each of their lives to bring them closer to himself. Ministry Highlight The teenage years can be difficult no matter where you live. From social pressure to fit into the norms and trying to figure out who you are to complex relationships and all the worldly temptations prevalent around you, it can be a confusing but pinnacle part of a person's life. At New Dawn one of our burdens for the community of San Gerardo is to reach the youth with the truth and life changing hope of the gospel. By God’s grace we have a great group of teens who are involved at the church, some of whom have been baptized and some are not yet believers. We meet weekly to study the Bible together and talk through some of life's tough questions with the filter of God’s unchanging truth. Our prayer is that God uses this ministry to bring the youth who are not yet believers to know Him personally through Jesus, and deepen the spiritual growth of those who already know and love the Lord. Prayer Requests
Scripture
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jeus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” - Titus 2:11-14 Drought It has been hot and dry for weeks, which has led to a state of drought in many areas. In San Gerardo this means water restrictions for the people. The water is only turned on at certain times and each family is only allowed to use a certain amount, if they go over that they get fined. Families who have wells do a little better, but those with larger families and animals to care for as well suffer. The continual on/off of the water has caused sediment to be pulled up, making the unfiltered water even more impure and causing sickness throughout the town. Please pray that as we navigate this season of drought that God gives us opportunities to share with people about the living water that Jesus offers, from which they will never thirst again and can receive eternal life! Baptism To God be the glory! Johana is 14 years old and lives right near the church. She comes on Sunday’s with her little siblings and also has recently joined our youth ministry and a small group. She is a soft spoken, thoughtful, and responsible girl and was SO excited to proclaim her faith in Jesus through believers baptism! Her mother and grandmother do not often come to church, but they came that Sunday for the service and baptism. What a witness this young girl’s faith already is to her family! Please pray with us for Johana, that she would have understanding as she reads the word and that the Lord would give her boldness and courage to live out her faith every day. Gearing Up With another health fair event coming up the first weekend of June we have already been working on the needed preparations. This has involved some work on the church facilities (thank God for Jorge!) as well as making many home visits in the town to let people know and gather information about the medical needs of the people. We then held a meeting at the church where people could come and make their appointment so everything goes smoothly on the days of the event. This has been a wonderful opportunity to have a larger presence in the town, speak with people in their homes, and get information out to them about the ministry activities the church has. Mother’s Day Celebration May 30th is Mother’s Day for Nicaragua. Being a border town San Gerardo has a large population of Nicaraguans, some who have lived in the area for generations. While we are always inviting people to come, we take the opportunity to especially invite mothers who do not normally attend church to come and encourage their children to invite them as well. To celebrate the mothers we provide cakes after the service and give each mother a small gift. Our hope is that these little initiatives to come brings the mothers in and gives them the chance to hear the gospel and see their need for Jesus not just as mothers raising a family, but as sinners in need of a Savior. We give God all the glory for each mother that came and the opportunity this gave us to build relationships and share the gospel. Ministry Highlight Since coming on staff in January, Christina has started a weekly English class for the children and teens that meets on Saturdays for several hours. The ages range from 7 to 18. Because of various factors, most children are very behind in their education but still being pushed on through the school system. Learning basic English can be a helpful skill for the children and this also provides a safe and healthy place for the children to spend time at on the weekend. While titled as a class, this truly is a ministry and from day one the goal has been to foster relationships and continually present children with the gospel through teaching English. This is done primarily through devotional time that takes up the first half hour of class where scripture is shared, Biblical truths discussed, and a child level explanation of the gospel is always given. There are also bilingual Bibles and faith based children's books that are available for story time and free reading. Some of the children who come to class do not attend church so we pray that God blesses this method of outreach and waters the seeds planted through this time to bring these children into his eternal kingdom. Recently some children who before have only come to English class are now coming on Sundays, some even brought their parents! We praise God for how he is using this ministry and pray that he continues to be glorified through it. Prayer Requests
Scripture “All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” -2 Timothy 3:16 Holy Week In Costa Rica the time from Palm Sunday to Easter is called “Holy Week”. The children are out of school, work is usually more lax, and families often gather together throughout the week. A tradition for families during Holy Week is to bake different types of sweet breads made from cornflour and share it (picture included below). We were invited into the home of a family to have bread and drink coffee. The children of this family come to church but the parents do not, so this was a great opportunity to build a relationship with the family by sharing in their tradition and hospitality. A challenge that comes with holy week is that it is also tradition for families to use the weekend to go to the rivers and beaches, even people who would normally be involved in church. Despite this obvious obstacle, we prayed, prepared, encouraged our members, and invited other people in the town to come to church on this special Sunday to remember Jesus’s sacrifice and celebrate the hope we have because of His death and resurrection. All while resting in the truth that if there was someone God wanted to be there, the Holy Spirit would bring them. While we are the hands and feet of Jesus, every aspect of this ministry is the Lord’s. On Palm Sunday after listening to the Bible lesson about Jesus’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem the children enjoyed reenacting this joyous moment of worship! Eleazar, who is in our Youth Program, stepped up to be the humble donkey carrying Jesus (Jonathan) through the crowd who shouted, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” while waving “palm” (coconut tree) branches. Our hope was that this fun activity after the lesson would encourage the children to be thinking about our King Jesus during the week. Praise be to God! Not only did we see some new faces on Easter Sunday, but we also got to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and the new life we find in him through believers baptism! Dona Juana is a grandmother to several of the children who attend church. She has been coming for a few months and also hosts a small group Bible study at her home. But most importantly, she is a sister in Christ who felt convicted to get baptized in obedience to the Lord. She was full of joy as she publicly proclaimed her faith in Jesus to her community! Please pray for Dona Juana’s continued growth in the Spirit and that the Lord would work through her to reach her family and people in her community who are not yet believers. Reinforcements The blessings of having a sending church (OBC) are many, and we thank God continually for his provision through them. One of the most recent big impacts this has had on New Dawn is the ability to employ Jorge to work part time at church as the grounds keeper. Jorge is one of our members, the host of our Saturday small group alongside Lucy, and we can clearly see the Lord working in his life in many ways. He is also a highly skilled individual who is able to maintain the church building and work on projects that help us to do more ministry effectively. Ministry Highlight On Wednesdays we have a Sewing Ministry that meets at the church. During this time women (most of whom do not attend church on Sunday) come and are taught by Sonia on how to mend and make items that they can use and sell. Victor facilitates a devotional during this as well so this time is not only spent teaching women to sew, but also sewing seeds of the gospel for the Holy Spirit to grow. We praise God for how we have seen him use this ministry to bring Lucy (middle in picture) into our church family and pray that the Holy Spirit would continue to work in the hearts of the women who attend it to come to know him personally. Prayer Requests
Scripture “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.” - 1 Peter 3:8-9 January - March Hola! Welcome to the first monthly newsletter of New Dawn Baptist church located in San Gerardo, Costa Rica. Perhaps you don’t know anything about this ministry, or maybe you do and you’d like to stay more up to date with all that God is doing through it. Either way, this is for you! This first entry will look a little different as we get caught up and figure out exactly how to do this, but we plan to be posting at the end of each month to keep you better up to date. The purpose of this newsletter is to give glory to God for all that he is doing through New Dawn and give others the opportunity to be encouraged by and praise God along with us! We won’t talk a lot about specific numbers or seek to quantify the ministry that is happening here, but we do want to share what God is doing, let you know how you can pray, and give you an idea of what a church plant ministry in Costa Rica looks like.
We know how God can work in big ways through small groups, so we have started the first in-home small groups to gather together to study the Bible, pray, and challenge each other to live out our faith. Please pray that hearts would be humble and open to ask questions and grow together, and that God would be glorified through these meetings. Since the first Ochoas moved to Costa Rica they have been involved with a family of the indigenous Maleku tribe, specifically, a woman named Dalia and her daughter Beverly. This ministry has looked like weekly visits with her, and occasionally members of her family, to read the Bible together and tackle some of life’s hard questions and circumstances in light of the gospel. Praise be to God, Dalia is recognizing God’s grace in her life and growing in her love and understanding of His word. Valentines Day Event: Marriage and ParentingRelationships and families can be challenging and broken no matter where you are. Valentines Day seemed like the perfect time to talk about Christ’s love for his bride the Church, do we did! Many couples and single parents gathered at church to enjoy fellowship together and hear a message about what marriage and parenting should look like according to the Bible. We thank God for this opportunity and pray that he continues to work in the lives of those who came to bring them closer to Himself and strengthen their families on the foundation of His grace. Health Fair Event: Partnering with Praxis CenterWe partnered with Praxis Center based out of San Jose to have an event where people could have medical, dental, and vision appointments. The purpose being to reach people in the community who are in need of this care and draw people who do not go to church in so that they can have information about our ministry and be prayed with. This event was all day Saturday, Sunday afternoon, and Monday morning. We had ten volunteers from within the church and one from outside who attends Sonia's sewing class. Almost every teen from the youth ministry showed up to help and served their community with joy. The team that came consisted of local professionals (2 doctors, 1 dentist, 1 vision specialist, 1 pharmacist), members of the praxis staff, American retired medical professionals, and a large group of students with their professor. We spent the weeks leading up to the event planning how it would go, gathering materials, getting information to the community, making the appointments, and organizing volunteers. God blessed all this preparation and it showed great fruits when it came to the days of the event. Around 50 people received medical aid, not counting children, and 22 people received dental aid. Some of the people who came were ministered to and prayed with. People who have never come to church were exposed to the ministry and helped physically, giving them a positive view of the ministry. We also made great contacts with local health professionals and have a better idea about the medical condition of the community and how we can minister to and pray for them. We give God all the glory for how this event went and thank him for the opportunities it opens up for the future as well. By His grace, he taught us a lot and has further equipped us to serve the people of San Gerardo and point them to Christ, who gives heart change and life everlasting! |
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