Guate22 - Ministry update from Joseph

Once again, too much time has passed since our last update.  On the other hand, we are thankful that the reason for the delay is that we have been preoccupied with the exciting ways God is working around and through us.  I, Joseph, am currently waiting for two members of our ministry team as they are seeking Visas so they can travel with me to the US for further ministry training. I thought I’d take a minute and write a brief update.

Since our last post we have been able to realize steps toward a vision the Lord has put on our hearts. That vision is to establish a nonprofit ministry that will equip existing churches and establish healthy evangelical churches to complete the great commission. Our prayer is that it will eventually be run by Guatemalan nationals. The name of the ministry is GUATE22.   Please follow us on facebook (https://www.facebook.com/guate22/) and visit our new website (www.guate22.org) to learn more about the team, the mission and the vision for the future of GUATE22.

Starting in December 2019 we have had a few short-term teams come from the US. These  teams were very flexible and willing to receive evangelism and discipleship training in their first few days in order to engage the community with the gospel. We saw the Lord work in ways one may feel were very inconvenient, but God showed us that His plans were better than ours. Through the first set of “inconveniences”, the team that came in December ended up staying in our own town of San Lucas instead of traveling to another department according to plan. While staying in San Lucas, we engaged the community with the gospel, saw people repent and believe, and had two baptisms. From one of these two who were baptized, we have since seen the Lord open many doors into a community where we had honestly struggled before. All in the Lord’s timing. We have continued with discipleship and evangelism in this area and the Lord has brought more fruit through repentance and more baptisms.

We had an incredible week of ministry with a team that came in February, and with this team we saw the Lord open even more doors within the same community.  We saw many people repent and believe and had two more baptisms.  Since then, we have been meeting regularly to disciple and follow-up with the contacts that were made that week.  If you, your church, or your small group want to come and see how the Lord is working, please send us a note so we can start planning your trip as soon as possible.

The Lord continues to add young men to the GUATE22 team.  These brothers truly are a blessing to my soul. It is a joy to watch them grow in their faith and confidence in God’s Word, and to see them sharing the gospel and training others to do the same. These brothers are faithfully pursuing the Lord in obedience. We give all praise, honor, and glory to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for all that He is doing in the hearts of men and women here in Guatemala! He is advancing His kingdom for His glory!