And so were the churches established

The calling of Timothy to ministry in Acts 16:1-5 is something worth of a note. He was well reported of by the brothers and Paul wanted to take him for ministry the text says. There was one no – he was only partly a Jew. That would stir opposition and misunderstanding among the Jewish part of the church. So, Paul does the opposite of what the council in Jerusalem decide in Acts 15. He takes and circumcises him because of the Jews. Sometimes we may choose to do something “religious” for the sake of the kingdom. The last verse says “the churches increased in number daily.” Interesting, they were probably teaching in those church that the law is nothing and you should not push circumcision of the new converts.

Workshop

Last weekend we held a workshop for our leaders in Ufa. Despite some seriously low temperatures most of our people were able to come. We had great time of teaching and prayer. We prayed and pray-walked around the center of Ufa. Please pray for those in attendance to apply what they learned being here.
As we look back over 2022, we give thanks to the Lord for all the meeting we have had with leaders in various places as well as opportunities to cast the vision. Pray that the Lord would stir his movement within the borders of B-stan.

December Travels

This Saturday we are going to travel to Astana – the capital of Kazakhstan. After that we will make a trip further south to Almaty to see some leaders there. Please pray for this long journey. It is going to be a trip into the depths of the central asia region.

Friends and Family

“Dad, can I make you a website for your ministry?” – was a question from Tim last week. He is learning new skills in programming and scripts. So, I thought that would be a great help if he could do it.
Prayers for Liliya’s father are appreciated. We had a new doctor to see him. He said he can do more than we previously thought.
Thank you so much for your prayers and support for us in 2022. We wish you his richest blessings in 2023!

You can make tax deductible contribution to Ufa Bible Ministries which is recognized by the IRS as a 501c3 non-profit entity. Make checks payable to:
Ufa Bible Ministries
PO BOX 1761, Columbia, SC 29202

(Full newsletter included in link)

This was an incredibly blessed trip. Many were saved, healed, and delivered. Your prayers and donations helped in many areas; one was being able to buy a better car for the Bawas and to have a decent vehicle for transporting those visiting on mission trips.
Here is the wonderful team who went on Mission! From back row, and left to right: Bishop Jessica Magaya, Missionary Glenda Vernon, Missionary Melissa Herring, Rev. Victoria Mukucha, Rev. Chris Wilson, Rev. Sally Gray, Rev Cheryl Coulter, Rt. Rev. Juliet Bawa, Renny Rene-tnash, Precious Musanyera, Rev. Tari Westerfall, and Rev. Debbie Martinez

Here is a note we received from Bishop Bawa two and a half weeks after our return: Report from last ICM Pastors meeting. 25 new believers are committed and coming to church every Sunday, with their families, both from the conference and visiting churches. This is really exciting. The School has been transformed. Children are excited and still talking about the time you spent with them. We have more parents inquiring about a place for their children for January. Thank you, thank you, thank you for your visit and the way God used you and the team. We are still gathering more testimonies and will send them.

Below are just a few pictures from our trip.

CLICK LINK FOR THE MISSION REPORT

A few days ago, we had the opportunity to help a poor family with a new roof and windows for their small wooden house. Thank God, the Leon family will have not more rain inside the house.

Emily continues to serve as an elementary principal and teacher at CAG; this week she took the fifth graders to visit a coffee plantation, and she also led the servant day project where the kids paint the curbs and some walls at the school.
Analynne’s class went with me to Chichicastenango to do a mission project.

We visited some poor families and provided some essential food for them, prayed with them and shared the gospel. During the night, we visited some friends’ discipleship group, played games and had a Bible lesson.

On Friday, we painted the kitchen for an elementary school and did a kids’ program, and during the afternoon we visited a church where we led part of the worship. Analynne preached the sermon, and at the end we have three people that gave their life to Christ.

We ask you to pray for Carlos’s health as he has an injury in his right knee.

During the next two weekends, I will be leading worship for the Bible school graduation, and December 2-3, I will be one of the speakers at the annual conference for pastors and leaders of ASELSI in Chichicastenango.

Thank you very much for your prayers and faithful support!!! We are tired but have seen God’s faithfulness this year even among abundant work. The harvest is many, but the workers are few!

We will be visiting our family and supporters for Christmas from December 16th to December 30th. If you would like to see us, please let us know.

Many blessings,
Carlos and Emily Romero

Heart for the Nations

El Pino Needs a Building!

Our Haitian Education Center in El Pino has been under some pressure
to move from the church where they have been meeting. Thanks to our
donors, we were able to purchase a property and have the funds to start
with the foundation. We will need $25,000 to complete this project; this
will ensure 4-6 classrooms for up to 100 children. This Thanksgiving will
you consider sending funds to help with the El Pino Education Center
and Church Project? Your gifts are tax deductible. Pastor Wilner is
committed to helping these children. Without the school many children
would not receive any education. Public schools are over-crowded and
the Haitian children are last to be offered placement in a classroom.
They don’t speak the language, and they may not have proper legal
documentation They are part of the immigrant population fleeing the
dangerous living conditions in Haiti. Debbie has been raising funds to
support 15 schools with over 1000 Haitian children on a monthly basis.
She believes it is a crime for a child not to be able to receive an
education. Will you consider providing help? For $25.00 a month you
can sponsor a child. If you would like to help with this project, or
provide on-going support for the children’s programs, you can donate online at www.tmciworld.com

Project Updates:

By the time you read this note, the Limoncito Sanctuary Project will be completed. Downstairs, the Haitian Education Center will finally have its own space for classrooms. A team from Evangel Assembly, MA will be with us to help partition the classrooms, and will minister to children and adults plus
provide healthcare.

The El Hatico Sanctuary Project is moving forward and our goal is to have the sanctuary complete before the end of November. We are grateful for the funds we have received for this project. Hopefully within a week or two the floor, electrical, windows and doors should all be in place. This congregation will celebrate Christmas in a new sanctuary!

We are receiving funds for small homes for three pastors. Pastor Frantz of the Barranca project, Pastor Alex of the Sabaneta Project, and Pastor Danes of the Cutupu Project. These ministers work sacrificially and have tough living situations. What a blessing for them if we can help them. We are estimating a need for $11,000.00 each. Material costs are affecting us strongly. We have received $9000.00 thus far. PTL!!

We appreciate each and every one of our partners, whether you are praying for us or are part of the
financial lifeline. We are so thankful for you and for God, for what he is doing here in the Dominican
Republic. Wishing you a special Thanksgiving celebration with family and friends!
Mitch and Debbie Martinez

Dear Family and Friends,

We have much to be thankful this Thanksgiving! We are praising God for His mercy in sparing Tim’s life.  On October 12, 2022 Tim suffered a heart attack. He underwent a heart catheterization here in the hospital in Santiago, Dominican Republic and doctors found a vein 100% blocked and an artery 95% blocked, after angioplasty, two stents were placed. Tim is recovering very well and has been given permission to return to normal activities. This week we celebrated his 69th birthday! Trena has also recuperated from 5 days in ICU with COVID-19.

(Translation: “When we repent with our whole heart a change is made in our lives and we leave the old ways to live a life aligned with the purposes of God”. Tim Johnson)

We’ve been busy about the Father’s business – God’s Word is Not Bound.

Our family was honored…

October 31st, Tim, Darren and I were invited to a special event sponsored by the Santiago Mayor’s office. called “A Night of Rejoicing for the Protestant Church”. It was in special honor of “Reformation Day” when Martin Luther nailed his 95 Thesis to the church door in Wittenberg, Germany. What a surprise when our family was honored for our 36 years of overseas mission work and our contribution to the development of society (educational & cultural) in the nation. They adopted us as “hijos of Santiago, Dominican Republic ” for our 27 years here. Ironic for me is, that on October 31st Dominican Republic does not celebrate Halloween but does celebrate the Protestant Reformation (505 years)!

Church Building…

Our son Darren, has completed the trusses and roof for church build #34. We do not pastor these churches but evangelize, encourage and help the pastors fulfill the vision God has placed in their hearts. When we arrived in the D.R. 27 years ago, more than 5,000 villages and towns had no evangelical (protestant) church. Praise God His church is growing and expanding.

Pastors’ & Leaders’ Conference in August…

We were privileged to host at Casa Grande our ‘first since the pandemic conference’ for pastors’ and leaders’ with guest speakers Dr. Delron and Peggy Shirley of Colorado Springs. Theme was: Joshua 1:9, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (ESV) Approximately 300 attended. We are still receiving reports that they were greatly ministered to and encouraged. To God be the glory!

Casa Grande Roof Project…

When we were moving to Dominican Republic in 1995, God gave us a word through a singer when we were visiting a church in Morristown, Tennessee, The singer, Bill Silver, said, “I feel God is saying that He has a big house for you in the D.R., and I see it getting bigger”. It was an encouraging word as we didn’t know where we were going to live. Little did we know that God would put a sign on the roof saying “Bienvenidos a la Casa Grande” “Welcome to the Big House”. (It was formerly a discotheque). Well it has gotten bigger and is getting bigger still. Our flat cement roof filters water when it rains and we haven’t been able to stop it. Now, Darren is working to put a corrugated metal roof above our cement roof so the rebar in the cement won’t rust and cause a cave-in. Would you like to help with finances for this project? (Label it “Roof Project”). We just housed a group of 17 Dominicans and have several more groups scheduled in the coming months.

We, at Casa Grande, hosted a baptism for one church with 48 new believers.

Thanks so much for your love, prayers and support! We are laborers together in the Master’s harvest and we are so grateful for your partnership. Have a Very Happy, Blessed Thanksgiving!!! May God richly bless you is our prayer.