Visitors and Salvations
We praise the Lord for the new people He has brought to church! Some of the teens have begun bringing their friends and siblings. As a result, Christa’s class has grown tremendously in recent weeks. She is helping another young lady be prepared to teach during her absence when our daughter is born. I had the privilege to start a service for teens and adults on Thursdays back in February. In the first service, 3 teens came. In March, we saw 15 young people come to that service! More of the teens are also going to the Saturday teen activity as well. One recent Saturday, I brought a group of 8 teens, and 4 of them trusted in Christ! Praise the Lord that there are several professions of faith after nearly every church service!
Gospel Conversations
We are burdened about reaching not only children and teenagers but also adults. We are praying for more leaders in the ministry we are involved in and also for our future ministry. If you have any experience in presenting the Gospel to adults, you know that it can be more challenging. Jesus tells us that we need to have the mindset of a child in order to be saved: “. . . Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3) Adults tend to be more skeptical and set in their ways. While I believe the Gospel message is simple, there are usually more roadblocks, questions, and skepticism in adults that we must get past in order to present the Gospel clearly. We need the Holy Spirit’s power and guidance each time we present the Gospel.
In March, I had the opportunity to speak with several of the parents who allow their children to come to church. One young father named Rodrigo told me: “I believe in God in my own way” (a common statement here). I asked him if he had a Bible, to which he replied that he didn’t. I asked him if he would read a John & Romans if I gave him one, and he told me that he would when he had the time. I also spoke with another father named Diego who told me that he had been to our church in the past and knew he should come back. I started asking him questions about the Gospel. At first it sounded like he was saved, but when I asked a few follow-up questions, some of his answers caused me to doubt if he was truly saved. He told me he would come to church and bring his daughter. I met Daniel at a park near our house while we were taking a walk there. I was able to ask him questions and then present the Gospel for around 45 minutes. He was not quite ready to get saved, but I’m praying we can continue our conversation another day. Please pray for the salvation of these three men, as well as others we are working with. Also, please pray that we can continue to become better in speaking Spanish so we can converse with others and present the Gospel as clearly as possible.
Praise
• Many visitors and salvations!
• Open doors to present the Gospel!
• Growth of classes!
Prayer
• Continued growth of children’s and teen classes
• Guidance as we witness to adults
• Our Spanish skills
• Christa’s pregnancy—her due date is April 21.
Thank you for continuing to give and pray! We love you all so much.
Your missionaries to Uruguay,
Tim, Christa, Ethan, Evan, and Emmalyn Simmons
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- Talking with Daniel
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- Teen service
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- Matias witnessing to four teens
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- Christa’s class