Successful Dominican Republic Seminar Last Weekend

Praise the Lord for the growth of our group in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic! Pastor Mark visited there last weekend and taught a short seminar for them. About twenty-five were in attendance on Saturday, and the group is outgrowing their initial meeting place. The local worker who hosts the group has received some great answers to prayer in recent months. Classes this past weekend included Salvation as a Process, the Constrasts between David & Saul, and the Letter to the Church of Thyatira (Rev. 2). Please pray for the continued growth of the nascent church there. They receive pastoral visits every eight weeks or so.

If you would like more information about the group there (especially if you are Dominican or live in the Dominican Republic), or ir you would be interested in more information about upcoming conferences and seminars, please email askapastor@maranathacentral.org.

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Family is This Month's Focus

Our churches in North America and Ireland are focusing our prayers on families this month, praying and fasting together for the salvation of relatives and family members, and for the spiritual development of our children. (Please check out the series of messages we've posted related to this theme here on the site.)

Did you know that most of the succesful evangelism or salvations that occur in North America (in any church) take place in the context of the family? Despite the fact that some religious movements spend hundreds of millions of dollars on crusade-style evangelists, television stations, etc., the vast majority of people who become believers actually do so as children, and most often are introduced to the Lord by their godly parents. Check out the statistics in a recent published report by the Barna Group. Every church wants to grow and bring people to salvation, but in our anxiety to attract outsiders we risk neglecting the potential harvest right under our noses - in our own families. This month is a good time to remind ourselves of the reponsibility we have to pray for and share with the members of our households.

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UKRAINE Should Be In Our Prayers

Ukrainian elections have dominated headlines worldwide for the last two weeks (the most recent alleging that the popular presidential hopeful was poisoned), but we ask our members to pray for our churches and pastors there, which are really pivotal to the expansion of the Lord's Work in neighboring countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Some time ago (before the current upheaval), the Lord revealed a fast for over one month (our churches there are taking turns on rotation to cover all the slots) regarding the political situation, and indicated through the gifts some of the events that have subsequently unfolded in the news. The incumbent President (pro-Russian) has made public his animosity toward believers, and the current political situation has made it very difficult for the brethren in Kiev to lease a facility for an important seminar later this month (please pray for the Lord to open a door for a big meeting place).

Pr. Vasily has requested urgent prayer for some serious health problems he is facing and upcoming medical tests he must undergo.

Pr. Vladimir has requested prayer for his ministry in Kiev, his family, and especially for a good facility to host this important seminar happening soon.


For more information, email us at Askapastor@maranathacentral.org.

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Seminar Dates in Brazil...

For our members interested in attending seminars at "Maanaim" in Espirito Santo, Brazil (the large, beautiful retreat center where we foreigners usually go for seminars), the dates of the upcoming seminars there are Jan. 15-16, 29-30; Feb. 5-8 (two seminars back-to-back because of the national holidays); Mar. 12-13; and Mar. 26-27. The preferred date for church members from the United States to attend is February. For more information, please talk to your local pastor or write us at askapastor@maranathacentral.org.

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Sign Language Training Day at Maanaim...

There will be a special orientation and training day for sign language translators used in our churches and seminars in Brazil on December 18, 2004 at our "Maanaim" (English Mahanaim) retreat location in Espirito Santo. Church members in Brazil who are interested in participating should email criancas_adolescentes@presbiterio.org.br.

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