August 2016 update
- All denominations worship together in Roatan
We can’t believe half of 2016 it has gone already; it reminds us that Jesus’ coming is closer and we need to be ready any time.
We continue with our ministry, and experience God’s presence through the Holy Spirit every day as we walk together as the body of Christ.
On July 16, four children and three adults were baptized and became spiritual members of the great family of God. We organized a trip to West Bay beach, where we held a service and brought them into the water to be baptized.
Also three adults renewed their baptismal vows.
It was amazing to see the joy on their faces on this special occasion.
Cursillo weekend is one of the amazing events we organize every year in the Episcopal Church. Eight women from Roatan had the privilege of participating in this event. They came back July 25, filled with the Holy Spirit and ready to continue growing in Jesus Christ. Also, the Rev. Kara Thompson was the Spiritual Director and worked on all the preparations for this Cursillo. It was a great blessing for her and all the teams members to be used by the Holy Spirit to help 47 women come closer to Jesus, and now all of them are back home in their parishes, making a difference. Praise the Lord.
On July 17 we celebrated Friend Day at church. This is a day on which members of our congregation are encouraged to invite a friend and relatives to join us in a worship service. The friends who are invited for that day are not official members of any church but are potential members in the near future.
After Friend Day we as a ministers and the person who invited the friend go to visit every friend that came that day. Our goal is that 20% of all the invited people stay with us and become members of our local church so we can worship together.
Looking ahead to 2019, it is the year when our Bishop Lloyd Allen has called the Episcopal Church of Honduras to be self-sufficient, as the USA will end their support for us as a Missionary Diocese. At the moment as the Episcopal Church of Honduras we generate only 65% of our annual budget. For this reason every deanery had a meeting to make plans to reach this goal for 2019. On July 22 members of every church in our Deanery met in the city of La Ceiba.
We participated in an ecumenical event, an evangelistic crusade, July 29-30. Christians from all denominations and non-Christians met together at the stadium of Roatan to worship Jesus, and many received Him as their Lord and saviour. It was great to meet together and worship and praise the Lord.
We are grateful that in two weeks we will start installing doors in the church building, after a long process getting the wood from the mainland, and it has taken about two months for the furniture shop to make it. Thanks to God and to those who provided the funds.
Please continue to pray for:
- Continued financial support for the next years as we continue to serve the Lord on Roatán, Honduras.
- Our congregations: St. Peter by the Sea in Brick Bay and Emmanuel in Coxen Hole.
- Short Term mission teams that are planning to come to Roatán next year from Ontario and from New Brunswick.
- The ongoing construction in Coxen Hole – doors are ordered and are to be installed by middle of August.
- Gerardo and Cindy, our youth leaders that God has called to take responsibility for guiding the young people.
- Spiritual and practical outreach in the local communities.
- Nelson, who was asked by the Bishop to be part of a team helping those entering into the ordination process.
- Nelson who was asked by the Cursillo Committed to be the Spiritual Director for the next Cursillo weekend January 19-22,
- For our family, especially for Stephen and Kelly as they go back to school in two weeks. Pray for another good year for them.
- The Episcopal Church in Honduras, for the process toward self-sufficiency by the end of 2019.
Thank you very much for your prayers and continued support that enable us to continue in this ministry.
May God continue to richly bless you.
Episcopal Church of Roatan/ Nelson and Kara Ministry 