This year has already proved to be a year of many blessings, challenges, and victories. There is so much on my heart as I sit to write to you about the work, the people, and the country God has so clearly called us to serve Him through.
We just embarked on our 20th year here, and the excitement of serving God is renewed and fresh, not only in my own heart but also in the hearts of the people with whom we serve here in Santa Ana and all across the many ministries we are privileged to have a part in. Many visitors have come to church, and we have seen one young man continue coming faithfully after visiting for the first time in early February.
Last Friday night a group of ten accompanied me out door-to-door soul winning. This is a new soul-winning ministry we are starting. Six of the ten who went out with me are just starting to learn how to win souls. This is exciting, and I never tire of watching new Christians grow in this area of their lives.
On the last Saturday of January, my family and I went to Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico, where I preached in three different churches. From there we traveled through the mountains to Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, to preach and teach in a wonderful missions conference, along with my father-in-law, Dr. Tommy Ashcraft, and our good friend and co-laborer for Christ, Missionary Samuel Esquivel. God moved in that meeting. Many surrendered to be missionaries, to work alongside their respective pastors in their home churches, and to give more to missions. What a great blessing it is to see churches started by missionaries decades ago practicing worldwide missions!
From Quetzaltenango we traveled to Monterrey, Mexico, to attend the Pastors’ Conference there in Mount Hebron Baptist Church. God did a wonderful work in my heart. I am encouraged and looking forward to practicing the things I was reminded of in that conference.
After the conference was finished, we stayed over the next weekend to attend the ordination service of my brother-in-law, Jonathan Ashcraft, and to witness the official transition of the pastorate of the great Mount Hebron Baptist Church from Dr. Ashcraft to his son Jonathan. If there is one word to describe that service, it would have to be UNITY. Only God could do in the hearts of men and women what was evident, not only during that special service but throughout the two weeks that we were there. I am excited to see the great things God is going to continue doing in that ministry. Please pray for Jonathan and Jenny Ashcraft and for the church.
Please pray for the following upcoming events and ministry opportunities in the work of God here in Santa Ana:
Carnaval Day—April 16
Mother’s Day—May 15
Father’s Day—June 19
Please pray that many souls will be saved, that families will be reached and will continue coming to church, and that the church will be blessed as they serve the Lord.
Thank you for your prayers. We need them more than ever. Please pray for the country of El Salvador. The violence reported in the news media is escalating daily. Our family does not feel personally threatened, but we are on heightened alert to our surroundings wherever we are, home or out on the streets.
Please pray for us, as we have the opportunity to travel to two different missions conferences this year, one in April and the other in August. Please pray that the Lord will use us to encourage others to be missionaries and to give to missions. We are also scheduled to preach and teach in several other conferences in Central America over the next few months. We ask that you pray for safety as we travel, that the Lord would use us for His honor and glory, and that souls would be saved as a result of these meetings.
In Christ,
Henry Gonzalez