Updates

November 2007

Can you imagine what it would be like to be in a 20 foot dry well? Then add on top of that people know you are in there and every once in awhile they would look down at you and say things like, “I will pray for you.” After a few days you would be in anguish. In a couple of weeks, or a couple of months or a couple of years, you might give up waiting for help. A young man in our church started looking at pornography at the age of 10. He is now 20 years old. He is addicted. He recently came to me and told me his life is a wreck. He hasn’t been to church for months because he felt guilty, dirty and a hypocrite. He said that he would do anything to stop this addictive behavior. I have prayed with him many times. Finally, I told him I would not rest until I helped him get out of that pit. With God’s help, we found a book called “Every Man’s Battle” which had an immediate break through. We have also agreed on accountability once a week. That has sparked an idea to read this book with all the men in our Vida Nueva Church. Pray with me as we encourage the men in our church to walk in sexual purity.

“Pastor Joe, I am spiritually hungry. I want to know God and I don’t know how to do it.” What music to my ears! Was this man for real? Eduardo is a 40 year old business man who designs Hispanic Yellow Pages for Whatcom and Skagit Counties. He also publishes a magazine called Community Connections. He had sold me advertisement several months back and now he was asking me questions that every pastor loves to hear. Pray for Eduardo as we read the Scriptures and talk about how to know God. He has started attending our Amor Viviente Church in Lynden. Nothing in this world is more exciting than to lead a person to the saving knowledge of Christ Jesus.

 I was feeling quite depressed about a month ago, when Edgar left for Mexico. Edgar had accepted Jesus in our church and had been baptized. He became a dynamic leader who was learning to preach and teach in our Vida Nueva Church in Mt.Vernon. Edgar had learned to play the keyboard and at times would accompany the praise team. He was always eager to help and promote the Kingdom of God. Every Sunday, he showed up an hour before church and would set up the chairs and the sound system. What a blessing this man was to our church! I was discouraged when he left. Then a friend suggested that perhaps our church serves as a training ground from which leaders are formed and set free to serve our God in other areas that God has ready.

Since June of 2007, Northwest Hispanic Ministry no longer receives funds from Christian Reformed Home Missions. This $18,000 is vital to the ministry. I am now seeking individual donors as well as churches for help. Would you enter into a covenant with me and not only support me with your prayers but also financially? I really want to be working to bring people to Jesus Christ not chasing money. You could make this easier if you would send your financial contributions marked Northwest Hispanic Ministry, 701 W. Blackburn Rd., Mt. Vernon, WA 98273. Thank you, Joe Strong