The James Family

The James Family

Event
03/01/16

James Family March 2016 Update

Greetings from La Paz!

As the month of March begins we thank the Lord for you who partner with us in your prayer and financial support, who love and care for us, and who show your commitment to the Gospel. We are so grateful for your involvement in our life and ministry. Please pray that God will work to lift up Jesus across Latin America. Pray that Christ will become known and worshiped as pastors and church leaders grow in their passion to honor Him by being true to His Scriptures and lead their churches toward Jesus!

In February we began with 14 new Pastoral Assistant (PA) volunteers. These are the best Equipping Servants (ESI) graduates. We designed this 2 year discipleship/mentoring program in 2006 to help pastors grow deeper in their commitment to use the sufficiency of Scripture in their preaching and teaching. They dedicate an average of 16 hour each week to Bible study and sermon preparation through the book of Romans, in addition to a weekly meeting every Monday and Wednesday night for sermon evaluation and book discussion (currently we’re reading Haddon Robinson’s “Biblical Preaching”) and prayer.

Johnny, one of the pastors from El Alto, tells about what happened when he was going through ESI. “For many years”, he explains, “my sermons consisted of my own ideas and opinions about things, entertaining them with stories from my life, -- but it was all about me! I wasn’t feeding them God’s Word. I wasn’t feeding them the only thing God provided to bring people to faith in Christ and to help them grow strong in the grace of Jesus. It was when I was studying Romans in ESI that I came to the realization that everything prior to that had been only all about me – and that was true because I wasn’t even a believer! The following Sunday from the pulpit I had to ask forgiveness of the congregation I was pastoring for not preaching and teaching them God’s Word for so many years. I am so thankful that the Lord showed me that a true relationship with God begins with Christ’s righteousness and it continues on the basis of Christ’s righteousness, and I am amazed how He is helping me grow in His grace.”

Please pray that the Lord will use our investment of time this year to impact these PA volunteers with the gospel, and that they will grow in grace and commitment to lead their churches in the gospel – to honor Christ by being true to His Scriptures in their Biblical teaching, preaching and ministry – and so that the Bolivian church can reach the lost for Christ.

Sincerely,

Kep and Debbie