Fall 2007 Update

 

I.         The plans for the end of the year are to continue working in the strengthening and growth of the church.

·         In this month, from the 9th to the 11th, we have a campaign in which we will try to approach the people through themes such as marriage and the relationship of parents and children.  At the same time, we have classes and crafts with the goal of encouraging them each time to attend church.  In this year we have had 3 campaigns and thanks to GOD we have 5 children that are attending Tuesdays and Thursdays and we are giving them classes. 

·         We are planning to visit congregations with more needs than us to help them spiritually and materially, and at the same time it will encourage us as members to continue being strengthened in the work of GOD.

 

II.        Budget and Needs

·         Right now in the offering we collect between $300.00 and $600.00 pesos each week.  From this money we are paying the electricity, water, and maintenance and cleaning materials for the building.  When we collect more, we use the money to help the brethren that are older and widows that have economic needs.

·         Right now our needs are based on getting literature in Spanish, finishing the construction of the second floor of the building, getting pews to sit on (right now we have cinema-type seats, which for many brethren is uncomfortable).

·         For us it would help a lot to obtain a van for the church – it would give better results when we have the need to transport the brethren to different areas and different activities related to the church.

 

III.       Evangelistic Efforts

·         Right now we are evangelizing in the neighborhoods that are close to the building, every 15 days.

·         We are handing out to the members cassettes to hand out to the people they meet.  These cassettes are from the radio program we have in Monterrey.  The manner in which we approach people is to go house to house and invite them to study the bible and attend the meetings.  Also we approach them by inviting them to an activity in the church or a fellowship meal.

·         The themes we use when we are studying with them are about the plan of salvation and the hope of eternal life.

 

IV.      Programs for the Youth

·         We have 5 girls and Sundays we have classes for them.  We organize outings to get to know them and also we take them to the youth meetings the first Sunday of each month at different congregations.  Also we include them in the evangelism and the activities of the congregation.

 

V.        Other Programs

·         For the brethren that are older we always try to visit them each week and share with them the plans of the church – some are unable to be with us because of their age.

·         The women are in charge of the children’s classes.  They instruct the sisters so they may prepare themselves and do their work.  Every first Sunday of the month, they have a class in which they offer a sermon and each month it is a different sister.

·         The men are in charge of giving sermons to the church – also they are in charge of presiding at reunions.

 

VI.      Growth

·         Thanks to GOD who has always blessed us since we arrived in Escobedo.  We have been able to bring more people to the church.  From 3 years to this day we have baptized 12 people (Maria, Vanesa, Aby, Rebeca, Patricia, Thomas, Conchita, Wendy, etc.) and many families have returned to the church like Brother Juan Ángel and his wife, Natividad and Francisco, Eduardo and Magdalena, Vero and one month ago thanks to GOD sister Carmen returned to the church after much time (9 years) of not attending - with her came her granddaughter Eunice.  The two are now baptized and also 2 more granddaughters come - Ruth and Sarai.

·         It is important to mention that some brethren are attending other congregations because they live closer to them, because they live in another city, and others because they have started another congregation.

 

VII.     Sources of Support

·         Only the church in Old Hickory is supporting us in the construction of the building – we don’t have other support.

·         The congregation helps me with gasoline for the van, now that we visit more people – it helps us get to the houses faster because of the distance between them.  This help comes when no other brother is in need of help from the offering.

 

VIII.    Trip Opportunities

·         Thanks to GOD I can travel without any worries – the brethren can be in charge of the meetings and activities in my absence.