Debbie's New Year Letter

Dear Family and Friends,

Today I celebrate 39 years as a Christian! God touched my life so unforgettably- in the aftermath of Christmas and thinking about what it really means that Jesus is Emmanuel- God with us. In the aftermath of New Year’s too- wondering in my adolescent mind if I really wanted to continue living as I was, and if the things I valued were really the most important things- or if I was missing out on the Most Important Thing.

And then it happened- a challenge by a soft-spoken Indian pastor in a tiny inner-city church in Rochester, New York- and I felt God Himself calling to me, confronting me with my sin, calling me to know His forgiveness, calling me to be part of His family. It has changed my life forever!

James' Family January 2011 Letter

Download this letter with photos here.

We are grateful to God for the partnership in the gospel He has given us with deeply committed Bolivian pastors and church leaders. In Latin America the harvest is plentiful but true workers in fact are very few. Would you pray with us that the Lord of the harvest will sent out workers into His harvest field? (Luke 10:2)

We’re planning to send Bolivian pastors to 5 new countries in the next 5 years to launch ESI (which is short for Equipando SIervos in Spanish - Equipping Servants), and at the same time expand ESI inside Bolivia.

Bolivian Pastors Carry the Baton

I wish you could meet Pastor Jaime Cruz in person. My first impression was that Jaime was quiet and reserved. Getting to know him, however, it surprised me to learn how this deeply committed servant of God impacts literally thousands of Bolivians.

James' Family January 2011 Prayer and Praise

• Pray for the ESI (Equipping Servants Internship) participants throughout Bolivia and in Oaxaca, Mexico. Currently we have 523 active participants involved in weekly training, and 325 graduates since we started ESI in 2002. Please pray that many churches will be transformed as pastors and church leaders learn to honor Christ by being true to His Scriptures as they dedicate time to study God’s Word.

• Pray for ESI Expansion as we pray and work toward starting ESI in different places around Bolivia and South America. We are hoping to start ESI in the Bolivian city of Santa Cruz soon, and are planning to send PA Tomas Diaz and his wife Nancy and their 2 children to Loja, Ecuador in 2011.

• Pray for our Pastoral Assistant (PA) training program in the ILC and IBM churches in La Paz as we train 16 pastors learn to think and live Biblically.

James' December 2010 Update

Dear Parkside,

We are very thankful to God for our partnership in the gospel together with you. We’d like to ask you to pray for our new Bolivian friend Mary.

About 4 months ago God put her in contact with Debbie through a mutual friend involved in ESI (Equipping Servants – our pastoral / church leader training process here in Bolivia). Mary was facing some insurmountable challenges in her marriage, and was looking for help.

When Debbie met with her for the first time and shared the good news, the BEST news, of the rescue operation God provided in Christ to save us from our sins and from God’s wrath through Jesus’ death on the cross, Mary was all ears. Within the first few weeks she understood the implications of the gospel, her sin, and her need to trust Christ alone for her salvation. She made a clear profession of faith.

James' Family Thanksgiving 2010 Letter

Download a PDF of this letter including photos here.

Dear Family and Friends -

I only have time for a short letter- like many of you, I have pies to bake, last minute things to pick up at the store, a turkey to fix, and LOTS of details to work out! Still, I just wanted to take time to write a short note to tell you just a few of the MANY things that I am thankful for:

*I am very thankful that God has given me a new son-in law! Sami and Heather (Ross) were married in July, and are happily living in Santa Cruz. Sami is a very kind and thoughtful man, and I truly think of him as a second son. I thank God for his life, and for all of the joy and happiness that he brings to Heather’s life!

*I am very, VERY thankful to be a grandma! Nicole is a sweet baby, and it just amazes me to see such a perfectly formed person in miniature! It is also pretty cool to see your kids become parents! Angie and Andrew are very loving parents and are responding amazingly well to all of the adjustments that the adventure of parenthood brings. I asked Andrew the other day if he enjoyed being a Dad, and he said, “Well, I definitely sleep a lot less, but yes, it is very cool.”

James' Special Prayer Request Update

Hello from Bolivia.

Yesterday our La Paz SIM teammates and good friends Scotty and Lisa Miser lost their baby. I wrote you 2 weeks ago explaining that he was born preemie -- 30 weeks, and around 3lbs. After struggling with infections and breathing complications for 19 days, his body couldn't resist the strain. Scotty and Lisa are mourning -- please pray for them during these difficult days. Yesterday they held a funeral service, and it was deep testimony to their neighbors and unbelieving friends of the hope we have in Christ.

Thank you for your prayers,

Kep

James' Special Prayer Request

We'd like to ask you to pray for the newborn old son of our La Paz teammates, Scotty and Lisa Miser. Zion Miser was born premature one week ago, and he is having complications.

We would value your prayers for strength and growth for him (especially for healing of the hole in his lung), peace for Scotty and Lisa, and wisdom for the doctors.

Thank you,

Kep and Debbie

James' Family November 2010 Prayer Update

• Pray for the ESI (Equipping Servants Internship) participants throughout Bolivia and in Oaxaca, Mexico. Currently we have 523 active participants involved in weekly training, and 325 graduates since we started ESI in 2002. Please pray that many churches will be transformed as pastors and church leaders learn to honor Christ by being true to His Scriptures as they dedicate time to study God’s Word.

• Pray for ESI Expansion as we pray and work toward starting ESI in different places around Bolivia and South America. We are hoping to start ESI in the Bolivian city of Santa Cruz soon, and are planning to send PA Tomas Diaz and his wife Nancy and their 2 children to Loja, Ecuador in 2011.

James' October Prayer Update

Thank you for praying for us and the work here in Bolivia. Here's what's been happening ...

Bolivian Pastor and Church Leader Conferences: we just wrapped up three very intensive weeks of ministry to over 350 pastors and church leaders in the Bolivian cities of Cochabamba, Santa Cruz and La Paz. We saw God speak into many lives through the clarity, depth and practicality of God’s Word in the book of Galatians. Pastors and church leaders repeatedly told how they were challenged to think and live differently. In fact, many said that they came to realize that they have been living and leading the church on the basis of their own works-righteousness rather than in Christ. Please pray for lasting impact in many of their lives.

James' Family October 2010 Prayer & Praise

• Pray for the ESI (Equipping Servants Internship) participants throughout Bolivia and in Oaxaca, Mexico. Currently we have 523 active participants involved in weekly training, and 325 graduates since we started ESI in 2002. Please pray that many churches will be transformed as pastors and church leaders learn to honor Christ by being true to His Scriptures as they dedicate time to study God’s Word.

• Pray for committed pastors who sacrifice much to open ESI in new regions. Our ESI leadership visited the ESI groups meeting in Oruro, Huanuni, Potosi, Cochabamba in recent weeks, and reports of growth are encouraging.