Newsletters

  • May 2019

    When we aren’t in Bugros…

    We spend over 9 months of the year in Burgos, but sometimes the Lord deals with us to travel to other cities and countries and lay the groundwork for future outreaches. Here in Spain, it took a couple of years to get things started. With some targeted trips, we can do much of this preliminary work in several places at the same time. More and more, the Lord is providing me travel companions so that Daphne can stay and take care of the Spain work. Here is an update on two countries I visited recently. God is leading us into His fruitful harvest. We give Him glory for all that is happening and you thanks for being such an important part of this ministry!

    By the end of our third trip to Mons, Belgium we have:

    • Befriended the owner of a coffee shop that is open to having us use his facilities to teach the Bible
    • Met and shared the gospel with a Turkish apartment-hotel manager who will help arrange housing for those who travel with us
    • Connected with someone in America that is fluent in French and can teach and translate for us.
    • Visited a local French school and discussed options for anyone wanting to learn the language

    Early outreach in Mons:

    • Gave the book In Him by Kenneth E. Hagin to a kind Catholic man and encouraged him to use it to study his Bible
    •  Met a man who struggled with schizophrenia and lost his arm in a motorcycle accident – He tried to convince me that God could not love him because of all that he had been through. I assured him that God did love him and gave him a track about His love. He was thankful and, as he left, he made sure that I saw him clinging to the track.
    • Had a very good first conversation with a Muslim store clerk that knows I am a Bible teacher
    • Became Facebook friends with a local man who, after finding out that we were a long way from our destination, walked with us to his house to pick up his car and gave us a ride.

    Fascinating Fact about Mons:

    The last shot of World War I was fired in Mons, Belgium when a German sniper shot and killed a Canadian soldier just 2 minutes before the arimistice was to take effect.

    On our first, four-day trip to Utretcht, The Netherlands:

    • We spent time with Dutch friends and shared at their church (see below to learn the intriguing story of how God brought us together).
    • Pastor Greg Anderson, who traveled with me, had a great conversation with a local about what it really means to know and serve God. 
    • We met several people and learned our way around the community.
    • We visited a local Dutch language school and became aquantied with their program for anyone who wants to study Dutch. (However, most people speak English in the Netherlands, so much can be accomplished at the same time as the language is being studied.)
    Our friends Adriaan and his son, Willem, introduce us to the “famous Dutch pancakes.” YUM!
    My dear friend Pastor Greg Anderson from Impact Family Chruch joined me on this trip.

    How God brought us together with our Dutch friends

    It was the summer of 2016 and Daphne and I were out and about in Burgos in our exercise clothes. I was wearing a Family Church t-shirt. We were returning home when I heard a voice behind me calling out, “Family Church, Family Church!” As I turned to see what was happening, I was wondering who could be saying “Family Church” in English in Burgos, Spain. It was Adriann from the Netherlands. He had been searching for an English-speaking church in Burgos, Spain and had come across our information (although we do our services in Spanish). He saw on our website that we are connected to the Family Churches in the New York and Pennsylvania region. And when he saw my Family Church t-shirt, he recognized me.

    Fast-forward over a year and the Lord started to deal with me about Utrecht, the Netherlands. And over 2 years after we first met, as I was preparing to visit the city, I wondered if the man that I had met here in Burgos lived nearby. I contacted him and learned that he lived just outside of Utrecht, about 20 minutes from where we were staying. He was very welcoming. We had a wonderful time with him and his son and his church community. I am very thankful to God and to him!

    Brothers, pray for us. We are praying for you!While I was doing my devotions, this Bible verse jumped out at me. “Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you.” (2 Thessalonians 3:1 ESV) This is the perfect prayer to pray for us. As we work in Burgos and travel, we believe that the Word of God is speeding ahead and being honored! Thank you so much for your prayers.We pray for you, our partners, regularly. Most often we use the scripture prayers in Ephesians 1:15-23 & 3:14-21 to lift you up to the Lord. We believe, according to those prayers, that you have wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of God and are strengthened with all might to walk with God and know the fulness of His love. Praise God for his powerful working in our lives!

    How God brought us together with our Dutch friends:It was the summer of 2016 and Daphne and I were out and about in Burgos in our exercise clothes. I was wearing a Family Church t-shirt. We were returning home when I heard a voice behind me calling out, “Family Church, Family Church!” As I turned to see what was happening, I was wondering who could be saying “Family Church” in English in Burgos, Spain. It was Adriann from the Netherlands. He had been searching for an English-speaking church in Burgos, Spain and had come across our information (although we do our services in Spanish). He saw on our website that we are connected to the Family Churches in the New York and Pennsylvania region. And when he saw my Family Church t-shirt, he recognized me.

    Fast-forward over a year and the Lord started to deal with me about Utrecht, the Netherlands. And over 2 years after we first met, as I was preparing to visit the city, I wondered if the man that I had met here in Burgos lived nearby. I contacted him and learned that he lived just outside of Utrecht, about 20 minutes from where we were staying. He was very welcoming. We had a wonderful time with him and his son and his church community. I am very thankful to God and to him!
     
  • February 2019

    “…I have come for your words.”

    Look at Daniel 10:12. In this verse, Daniel is having a vision. A spiritual being, sent from God tells him that words that he had spoken (weeks earlier) had been heard in the spirit world and that he has come to him because of what Daniel said. Look at the power of words! They move things in the spiritual realm. The things we experience and don’t experience are connected to what we are saying and not saying.

    The Bible says that our tongue has the same power over our lives as a rudder has over a ship. James 3:4 (ESV) says, “Look at the ships too: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.” Jesus is our Lord, but He has made us the pilot of our lives (like the owner of a ship that hires someone to steer it for him). We direct our lives into The Lord’s will with our words. The pilot of a ship recognizes that if his ship is not in the port of New York, it is because he did not steer the rudder of the ship towards New York.

    Here is an example closer to our experience: If I was at an airport and wanted to go to Tampa, Florida, I would get on the plane next to the word Tampa. I wouldn’t get on any planes next to the names of cities where I didn’t want to go. And I would never get on a plane to the city where I already was! Words steer us to our destination. Don’t speak about where you are unless you want to stay there. Speak of where you want to go. We are where we are today because of the words we have spoken in the past. But what joy it is to know that we can go anywhere in life as long as we begin to and keep on saying it!

    Have you had problems with your body? Join the club. Perhaps you are dealing with an addiction. Maybe your body has strong desires to do things that you know aren’t right. Are you dealing with chronic sickness? Do you get into situations where fear grips you so badly that your body freezes up and you have problems breathing? You can live completely free from all of this and more! God gives us the answer in His Word. James 3:2 (ESV) says, “… if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.” Simply put, any problem that we have with our body can be solved with the tongue. You may not see the change immediately just as steering a ship rudder towards New York doesn’t mean it arrives immediately. But keep that rudder pointing in the right direction and it will arrive, guaranteed. Keep speaking the promises of God and you will get into all the good that He has planned for you. Speak God’s Word and live free!

    Rev. Rich ministers in Georgia in January.

    We just returned from a great trip to the USA.

    • 
    The Missions Prep Class met again at Family Church Fredonia in January. Rev. Daphne taught. People are growing and getting a vision for what God has for them on the foreign field. Awesome!
     We ministerd in New York, Pennsylvania, and Georgia – 6 times in 22 days.
    • Thank you for the many great meetings with Pastors and partners. You were so hospitable and generous!

    These brothers sell olives and canned goods at the North Market in Burgos.

    God is doing good things in Burgos, Spain!

     We visit many family businesses in Burgos. Some, like the brothers in the above picture are extremely dear. They give us products generously, teach us about Spain, and introduce us to their friends, family and clients. We often have opportunities to share the gospel and our faith in God through these relationships.
    • Daphne recently went to the hairdresser. As the owner visited with us, I thought that I should invite her to a meeting. Before I got a chance, she said that she wanted to come and to bring a friend. Fish are jumping in our boat. Praise God!
     We are so pleased to see one of the key people in the church maturing a lot. Their faith and commitment is growing exceedingly, and they are taking an important role in the church! 

  • September 2018

    Thank you so much for your prayers, generosity, and all that you do to serve the Lord!

    “Tell them I love them.”

    When I prepare to minister, I ask the Lord what He would like me to say. Sometimes He sweetly and strongly answers, “Tell them I love them.” It always blesses me when He says that. I have stood in front of a room full of people, shared that simple truth, and seen the most seasoned and faithful saint look so relieved and even surprised. God loves you! The Lord Jesus loves you! Think about it. Talk about it. Sing about it. Let it fill your every day. A deep understanding that our Creator, the God of the Universe, the All-powerful One, loves us will radically change our lives. Praise God!

    The Cathedral of Burgos with a double rainbow.

    Good News and Updates

    Our church has been videoing services since April. One of our members is very faithful and skillful at running the camera. These videos are a great resource to have available. Finding good, Bible-based materials in Spanish is easier than in most languages, but nothing like English. We English-speakers are super blessed!

    Of course, I encourage our people in the Burgos church to read the Bible at home. One of the ladies always told me that she didn’t understand anything in the Bible. She was determined to start in the Old Testament because it is the beginning. I told her to start in the New Testament because it explains our covenant with God. Finally, she started to read the New Testament. After making that adjustment, she began to come to us excited about what God is showing her in the Word. Praise the Lord!

    We spend time out in the streets and visiting small businesses. The Lord leads us to build relationships with local people. It is neat to see how He helps us share His Word or invite people to church. As Christians, we must remember that every conversation is an opportunity to glorify God and impact a life!

    We visited the prison cell in Rome where it is believed that the Apostle Paul wrote
    2 Timothy. What an honor to build on that foundation!

    Our trip to Italy in May was great. There is a “Muslim” woman in Tuscany that has become very close to us. She drives us around and has offered to let us stay in her apartment anytime. We witness to her and have given her a book by Rev. Kenneth E. Hagin. We also got a chance to witness to and teach the Bible to some American tourists and pray for the Italian government and the Catholic Church right before they saw some major changes (as you may have seen in the news). We have never experienced more anointing and Holy Spirit leading in our ministry than when we take these trips. 

    Rev. Rich will be traveling with a dear friend and minister from the USA to France, Belgium, and the Netherlands in November. Rev. Daphne will be staying to take care of the church in Burgos. She has been doing a great job ministering!

    Concerning our European mission trips

    While working in Burgos, we have learned some important things about ministry in Europe. Unexpectedly, the Lord started to deal with me about traveling to other cities. As I began to pray and obey, I saw that the truly time-consuming part of these works is in the beginning, while we learn the culture, meet people, earn their trust, preach and teach the Word, and develop faithfulness in a core group. It has taken us years to get to this point here in Burgos. However, by traveling to other cities for as little as several days a year, we can do much of the preliminary work in several places at the same time. Then, as the Lord leads us to begin a Bible study or church, we have a foundation laid and have saved years! 

    “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
    For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
    Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
    For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.”

    Romans 11:33-36

  • April 2018

    We trust that you are doing very well. Many things that have been on our heart for years are coming to pass. Thank you so much for helping us obey God!

    “Write the Vision and Make It Plain” – Habakkuk 2:2 

    As I was first preparing to go on the mission field, a missionary acquaintance generously made himself available to answer some of my questions. While we visited, he said something that surprised me. “In the beginning, you will not know what your vision is,” he commented.

    The Lord first dealt with us about missions, later Spain, then Burgos, and afterwards, starting a church. That seemed like all the information that was needed. However, the Lord kept right on revealing different things, growing our vision more and more. It quickly became clear that our work was not going to fit easily into the mold of how people talk about missions. After years of slowly proving things out, much of what is on our heart is starting to happen. I can finally begin to share publicly about the more complete vision of this ministry.

    Some parts of this world have very little Christian witness. It is difficult to measure, but the best statistics indicate that around 1 in 4 or 5 people in the USA are evangelical Christians. * In Spain and France, only about 1 in 100 people fall into that category. We all know that America has her challenges and desperately needs Jesus, but imagine ministering in a culture that has 1/20 of the gospel light that we have in America. It is probably impossible for me to describe it to you. You would have to come and see if for yourself. I’m not saying it is difficult in Europe; I’m saying it is different. Here is one interesting thought: if the above statistics hold true, a church of 10 in Spain is equivalent to a church of 200 in the USA!

    In the last 300 years, the United States has experienced the First and Second Great Awakenings, the Pentecostal, healing, charismatic, and teaching revivals while Spain and the countries near us have seen only isolated touches from heaven in nearly 500 years. From the beginning of our work in Europe, the Lord has been dealing with me about how to minister in cultures that have virtually no gospel foundation. We believe that He has given us concrete steps to prepare for the desperately needed harvest of souls that is coming to Europe.

    1. Recruit and train Americans and eventually European missionaries to assist in different aspects of ministry here. A good team is so vital.
    2. Travel to various cities to research and prepare for future outreach and, possibly, churches. We need contacts and knowledge of a city before we can bring others there.
    3. Develop online courses and paper resources for the evangelism, encouragement, and training of the people reached.
    4. Implement strategies to minimize the challenges that arise from Europe’s multiple languages.  

    Hopefully, this information gives you a clearer sense of the work we are involved in, and what many of you are faithfully supporting. This vision has made it necessary for us to travel, even to the USA, to connect with churches and recruit help. In fact, we have traveled less than we should have over the past years in order to make sure we were hearing and implementing the vision correctly. I could share many more details now, but since this newsletter is already long, stay tuned for more specifics in future e-mails. 

    We love and appreciate you!
    *Evangelical Christians believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ, a personal relationship with God through Him, and that we are commissioned to share this gospel with the world.

    Financial Update

    And God is able to bestow every blessing on you in abundance, so that richly enjoying all sufficiency at all times, you may have amble means for all good works.

    2 Corinthians 9:8 [Weymouth]

    Because of God’s faithfulness and yours, we have not had to ask for finances in over 3 years. During that time, we have been able to live in Spain, fund the work here, and even support other great ministries. 

    However, with new responsibilities, come many new expenses. We continue to maintain our home in Spain and the weekly meetings here, but we are adding more travel to other cities and training of missionaries. In fact, we will be in Italy for 10 days in May to prepare the ground for future work. We have recently added quality equipment to begin videoing our services and other lessons to post online in Spanish. This summer we have to report on our finances to the Spanish government and pay legal fees for our residency renewal.  

    We know you tithe to your local church and generously support other great ministries. Thank you for your faithfulness! If you would like to support this ministry, you may use PayPal through the link below or mail support to Family Church, PO Box 179, Fredonia, NY 14063. Make the check payable to Family Church and put Rich Walker Ministries in the memo line. Please do what brings you joy, and God will meet our needs and yours (Philippians 4:19). Thank you so much!

    Also, if you know of anyone that you believe would be interested in this ministry, pass along my e-mail (rich@richwalkerministries.org) to them. I would be happy to answer any of their questions.

    A great harvest is coming, and we will be a part of it!

    Missions Training
    “… commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” 2 Timothy 2:2
    Our trip back to the United States in January and February was a big milestone for us. Working closely with our Pastor, Rev. Michael Lokietek, and the Family Churches, we began a missionary preparation class. It was thrilling to have 12 eager students listening and asking about how they can serve Jesus in some way on the foreign field. The harvest is great, and the need for skilled workers in missions is also great (Matthew 9:37-38). Pray with us for laborers. With the Lord’s help, we are doing our part to prepare people for any type of mission work that He has for them.
    Ministering in Spain

    “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations… ” Matthew 28:19

    Our attendance in Burgos has really grown since last fall. We have new people, some that are attending more faithfully, and one who had left the church and has now returned. Praise the Lord! We have been meeting in our home since September. Our people like it better than the hotel, but we have outgrown it and need a bigger place.
    “…Men ought always to pray, and not to faint…”– Luke 18:1 Thank God that our prayers are powerful and effective when they are in line with the Bible.

    Sometimes when we are praying for the more important things of life, our prayers require steady, patient persistence. Praying for governments, a great harvest of souls, or even a deeper under- standing of God’s plan often requires a season of prayer, not just 10 minutes. If we stay with it we will see the answer in its fullness.

    We continue to pray for you. Thank you so much for your faithful prayers for us. God’s highest and best is ours!
  • December 2017

    We had a “Thanksgiving” outreach in November. The food was great, and we shared the Word of God with some people who had never been to our services. Everyone had a great time!

    The Lord has been good!

    • Thanksgiving is not celebreated in Spain, and turkey is not as common here as in the USA. So we special-ordered a turkey and did a mock Thanksgiving meal. Four people who had never come to our services heard the gospel. Thank God for a good event!
    • After much training and work, we have 3 helpers in the church that are catching the vision and being faithful. This has been such a vital need in order to see the work grow like it should. Thank God for providing help!
    • Rev. Daphne is taking a bigger role in the church and ministering in the services quite often. She is a great wife and an anointed minister. What a blessing!
    • Thank YOU so much for your faithful prayers and giving. We are all working together to see God’s will done in Spain!
    It snowed in Burgos on December 1st.
    Daphne’s Mom, Our Chef
    Daphne’s Mom visited us in November. She cooked us an awesome Thanksgiving meal. We ordered a 20 lbs. turkey, but the one we were given was over 30 lbs. We ate a bunch, took home lots of leftovers, and even fed our landlords!
    It is always an honor to share the gospel!
    Rev. Rich shares the Word of God at our Thanksgiving outreach.
    Merry Christmas from Spain!
    A few of us visit a Christmas expo near our apartment in Burgos.
  • September 2017

    How are you doing? Send us a message. We would love to hear from you.

    Update: Everything is very good with us. Developing a helps ministry has been this year’s most important goal for the work in Burgos. The Lord is helping us make real progress. We have also been working a lot on effective ways to reach out in Europe. The culture and belief system are very different from ours in the USA. We believe that God is giving us some good ideas about how to make a greater impact here. Perhaps I will devote an entire newsletter to European culture and outreach in the near future.

    “…the spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God.”
    1 Corinthians 2:10

    There is a move of the Spirit that will be lost to this generation if someone doesn’t teach and demonstrate it. The Lord revealed that to Kenneth E. Hagin. This is a serious matter. I don’t want to miss out on the smallest part of what God has for me. What does it mean? There is a way that the Holy Spirit wants to operate that is not obvious to the natural mind and senses. We have to be taught and shown these things to be able to participate in them.
    It is interesting to consider this move of God in light of what 1 Corinthians 2:10 says about the “deep things of God.” In the natural world, deep things, those things that lie way under the surface of the ocean, will never be experienced by natural man without an expert who knows how to get down into the deep and bring us pictures and videos. These things also must be “taught and demonstrated” if we are going to experience them.
    So it is with the deep things of God. Running around from work to soccer practice, Facebook to Twitter, and movies to bowling will not get us into everything that God has for us. While these things are fine and relaxation is good in the proper doses, we must seek to understand how to order our lives and prepare ourselves so that we can walk in a deeper relationship with God.
    How do we get into this deeper place? How do we experience this move of God? Here are some tips to get us on the right path:

    1. Build Our Lives on God’s Word – In Luke 6:48, Jesus said that those who practice His Word are like a man who “digs deep” and lays the foundation of his house on a solid rock. When floods or trials rise, that house, that life, will not fall. As Christians we must make sure not to read the Bible only because “it is the right thing to do.” We should be looking for specific instructions to put into practice in our everyday life. Popular culture and social media blare at us in order to influence our beliefs and actions. We are Christians. We only let the principles of God’s Word affect our beliefs and actions. This deepens our relationship with God and positions us to move with His Spirit.
    2. Slooooow Down – In Luke 5:4-9, Jesus tells Simon (Peter) to “launch out into the deep” to catch some fish. Peter had been fishing in his natural strength all night to no avail. By obeying the Lord, he caught a huge amount of fish. In most lakes, the deeper part is further out. Ever consider the fact that it would take more time and effort to travel out into deep water? So it is with God. Some things happen fast with Him, but there are some things what will never happen if we don’t slow down and wait on the Lord.
    3. Wait on Him in prayer – Isaiah 40:31 says that they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. Waiting always takes time. Sometimes we only have a few minutes to pray, or we pray in the car on the way to work. These are good practices, but we should also set aside some long times to fellowship with the Lord so that we can really get to know him. This shows love and develops intimacy with God just like taking a long walk with our spouse. My Pastor, Michael Lokietek, has told us that not much happens in the first hour of prayer. We really get into the “deeper” aspects of God’s personality and works with time. And while we are at it we can pray according to Daniel 2:22. Ask God to reveal to us and our Pastors (and missionaries – wink) about His deeper self and the way He wants to move.
    4. Prepare our heart before church – In Matthew 5:8, Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” A pure heart is a clean or clear heart. Preparing our heart can involve repenting from sin, but it may just be slowing down and making sure we aren’t thinking about work and family and bills all throughout the service. We quiet our mind and focus on God. If we do this, we will better hear and move with Him during our church services. Jesus told Rev. Kenneth E. Hagin that He has a specific plan for every service. He gives that plan to our Pastors, but, if we are sensitive, we can pick it up as well. When our heart is clear for church, we can better perceive what the Lord wants to do and cooperate with Him and those who are ministering.
    5. Try to cut out some activities In Luke 14:16-24, Jesus tells a parable of a man that invited people to a fiest. They were too busy to come. One had just bought a field, another oxen, and the last person had gotten married. The parable ends with the man who held the feast saying that those guests will not taste of his meal. It makes perfect sense that they won’t eat his food if they don’t have time to go to his feast. There is nothing wrong with activities and involvements in themselves. However, we must remember God has prepared a spiritual feast for us every time the church building is open and every time we can get away to spend extra time with Him in the Word and prayer. If we are missing a lot of those opportunities because of a full schedule, then we are simply too busy. Ask the Lord what you can cut out in order to have time to get to know Him in a deeper way.

    If we do these things, we position ourselves to move with God in all that He wants to do in this hour. I believe that we are going to see every last bit of it!

    Fun Photos

  • April 2017

    “My Cup Runs Over.” – Psalms 23:5

    “… prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” – Malachi 3:10

    Daphne and I visit part of an irrigation system new Burgos with someone (taking picture) from our group.

    God’s Word is always true, so we should never be surprised when it comes to pass. That being said, it has been remarkable how quickly and powerfully I have seen the fulfillment of God’s promises to provide for our folks here in Spain (Philippians 4:19). Spain’s economy was terrible when we arrived, at one point registering 26% unemployment. Thankfully, things are improving and it is currently at about 18% and falling. Early on I decided to start meetings without giving the people an opportunity to support the work because I didn’t want them to think that we were “only after their money.” Within a month, the Lord dealt with me to teach with the Bible says about money and offerings, and give the people an opportunity to get involved financially. If they responded to the word by acting or speaking in faith, what happened next was awesome.

    • One woman had defaulted on a large loan (over $50,000). Her debt was forgiven and her credit expunged.
    • Another woman was struggling in her business Rev. Daphne encouraged her that the Lord would give her good ideas. She changed her store and her business has more than tripled in less than a month.
    • A third person shared Philippians 4:19 with a couple in a different city they were out of work and desperately trying to find a job without success. She told them to “say that for us all the time.” Within three days, the husband had a job. Sometime later, they wanted the house closer to this new job, however it was an expensive neighborhood. They began to say that they would find an affordable house in that area. They found one quickly. (This couple wasn’t even saved at the time. They have since accepted the Lord.)

    January 2017 Testimony

    Another businesswoman in our church had been told by her accountant that she would need to pay a fee and do some upgrades in her building in order to keep operating. It would cost $5,500-$7,000. She had been struggling to come up with the money for some time when she started to respond in faith to a teaching on seeking first the kingdom of God. Within days, the same account and said that he had found a different way to register her business so that she could keep operating legally without spending that money. God is good!

    God is our provider no matter what the economy is doing. And you are next! You are tithing and giving to your church and obeying God with your finances. Speak God’s Word and expect him to do the same for you. It was his idea!

  • March 2017

    Places Everyone, Places!

    “But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased Him.” – 1 Corinthians 12:18

    When I was in high school, I played in a couple of musicals. We learned our lines in practice for months in to prepare for opening night. Before each scene, we had to make sure we were in the right place on stage (or off stage if we were to enter during the scene) in order to correctly deliver our lines. Getting in place was not exciting or glamorous, but it was vital if the show was to be a success.

    God has a great “show” planned for this time in history (Acts 2:17-21). The world is a stage, we Christians are his actors, and God himself is the master director calling out “Places everyone, places!” Each of us has words to be spoken and deeds to be done that God has prepared for us (Ephesians 2:10). However, in order for the show to come off as the Master plans, we must all be in our places.

    And one of the scenes with our high school production, I had to position myself in a group of people next to a well in order to deliver my performance. You see, the show called for others to approach us during the scene so that we could interact with them. What would’ve happened if I had said, “I don’t like being by this well; I want to go stand by that tree”? Or, “I don’t want to be around this group of people; I’m going to hang out with those people over there“? If I had done that, all that I had work to accomplish would not have come to pass during the scene. I would have had everything I needed on the inside but not been in position to deliver it.

    Let us consider our own lives. It may not be convenient to go to church both the Sunday in midweek services. Perhaps it is not our first choice to usher or work in the nursery. Maybe supporting our local church doesn’t seem convenient. As missionaries, we travel more than we would if we were our own Lord. The things God asks us to do may not always make sense to us. However, if our M is using them to get us in place for his end-time harvest, then it is vital that we obey. It is an honor and there’s great reward in serving the Lord!

    When God instructs through the Bible and leads us by His Holy Spirit both in things that seem small and large, he is positioning us to be where we need to be to fulfill our role at this important time. The work is so great and the laborers so few (Matthew 9:37-38) that we were only accomplish God’s work in one way – by completely and specifically obeying His every direction. When we follow God in our service to the local church, and are praying, and are witnessing, and in our giving, we are cooperating with him in the greatest show of mercy and power that the world has ever known. Listening in the spirit, I believe we hear the director calling out, “places everyone, places!” Let us pursue his calling, his positioning, above all else.

  • December 2016

    Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

    The holiday season is already upon us. We are looking forward to doing some special events centered around Christmas and New Year’s day this year. Everything has been going very well in the ministry since our last update. We continue to see people saved and healed and to have first time and return visitors to our meetings. The Lord Jesus said “I will build my church…“ (Matthew 16:18). It is an honor to serve Him and watch Him work. Burgos will be won!

    We are so blessed by your partnership through your prayers and giving. You’re making a big difference. We can’t thank you enough!

    At Christmas, we pause to consider important things like the wonder of the Son of God born as a man, the life of giving, and blessing a family. But as Christians who meditate and practice God’s word and are part of a church family, we are privileged to live the whole year growing in the practical (practiced) knowledge of all God’s truth.

    According to Mark 4:24 [AMP], Jesus said, “The measure [of thought and study] you give [to the truth you hear] will be the measure [of virtue and knowledge] that comes back to you…” As we think, study, and speak God’s Word, and spend time at church with our spiritual family, we will live in an ever-deepening relationship with God. Merry Christmas all year through!

  • July 2016

    What Is Happening In Burgos, Spain?

    We returned to Spain in late May, and things have been great. We are doing a weekly Sunday service, a weekly prayer meeting, and spending extra time with our people. It is great to see them growing in knowledge and honor for the Word of God. In the beginning, most of what we did was very new, so singing during praise and worship, confessing the Word, and asking lots of questions are real signs of growth. The Bible is living and it is wonderful to see it come to life in human hearts!

    Testimony: The daughter of one our members got into a bad relationship. We prayed for her at church that the Lord would send someone (a laborer) to give her guidance. Within a week, her boss talked to her about the relationship, and she broke it off.

    What Is Happening Elsewhere In Spain?

    We have been doing an online service and some Bible training for a couple in another city in Spain since the end of January. They are really running with the Word!

    Testimonies:

    • Their daughter accepted the Lord during one of our teaching sessions. Praise God!
    • The wife prayed for her husband, and the Lord healed him from the flu.
    • She has believed God and seen Him provide extra finances through increased hours at work.
    • The husband of their friend could not find any steady work, and it was becoming a crisis (the unemployment rate is still over 20% here). She asked what they should do. One student told her to start confessing Philippians 4:19 (But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus) “all the time.” Her husband got a job right away and still has it months later.
    • This husband saw how God had provided his job and wanted to move into Madrid (where apartments are expensive) so that he didn’t have to commute. He began to speak out Philippians 4:19 and that God would provide them affordable housing in Madrid before they left on vacation in June. Sure enough, just before leaving, they found a great place at a great price!
    • This couple and their son accepted Jesus as Lord!!! (There is no better reason to teach that God provides. People see how good He is and want to serve Him!)
    • They have invited a Muslim to participate in the teaching sessions. She is asking a lot of questions. When this Muslim lady’s son took a trip, he asked her if he could bring the book ‘God’s Medicine’ by Rev. Kenneth E. Hagin along to read on the bus, and she allowed it! Glory to God!

    Thank you so much for your prayers and generous giving for all of the work that we do. While it can be difficult to measure, statistic show that less than one out of 100 people in Spain have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. There is a lot of hopelessness, and people need to know that Jesus is alive and God’s word works (if we put it into practice.) When Jesus saw all the hurting people around Him, He said, “the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into the harvest.” (Matthew 9:37-38.) Please join with us in prayer and faith for many Christians and ministers to be sent out into the mission field. We must get in position to reach and teach all the people who need God’s love. We will cooperate with God’s moving and be right in the middle of all he has for us in this hour!

    Our Trip To The USA

    Dining with our Pastor, Rev. Michael Lokietek (left), Ms. Megan Gugino (middle right) and Rev. Scott Wise (far right). While in the USA, we attended a week of Bible School taught by Pastor Michael. What a time of instruction and encouragement!

    It was probably our fullest schedule ever. We traveled extensively around the country ministering in churches, meeting with ministers, and attending a conference.

    Testimonies:

    • I believe the greatest thing we do in the USA is serve, bless, and minister to the pastors. We never to teach the uncompromising Word of God and encourage everyone to contend for all that God has at this time. One pastor was clearly touched by our insistence that we do and see all that is in the Bible. Others wanted to share our message online or encouraged us to make CDs available so that more could hear the teachings.
    • Without knowing why, the Lord dealt with us to attend a certain church service in another state. That day, the church had a missions focused and share the vision of some dear missionary friends who are being sent out into the field. It was such a blessing to be there!
    • At one service we gave a testimony before the offering. Afterwards we were told that it was the biggest offering that ever received. (It wasn’t for us.) Praise God!

    A Thought About Elections

    Praise God, we had a good election in Spain on June 26. The communist had been on the rise here for the last year. The polls indicated that they would come in second in the selection and, perhaps, do you able to run the country with the help of the other left-wing party. Our church and people prayed and exercise our authority and prayed (alone with others, certainly) according to 1 Timothy 2, asking the Lord to give us wise leaders and wise voters. When the results came in, 1 million fewer voters had voted for the communist thing in the last election. They did not gain any seats in the parliament and continue to be the third largest party here. The leaders were dumbfounded. Thanks be unto God for helping us!

    The ONLY hope for America’s government is for the Church of the Lord Jesus to take her authority and steadfastly and continually pray for our leaders and our voters. How long should we pray? We must continue until we see our country and our leaders return to God and godly principles. May the USA fulfill God’s plan!