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THE
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NEWSLETTERS
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Northside
Baptist Church in Burnette, Texas, paid my travel expenses to visit
their services, which enabled me to attend the World Baptist Fellowship
annual meeting. The Church’s increased mission commitment is evidenced
by monthly support that increased by 25 in just three years under their
new pastor, John Hopkins. Our
last Sunday in North Carolina we awarded Bible Certificates to five
students. Some of these men envision a future ministry in their native
Mexico. The previous Sunday the Lord blessed my message with two
conversions. This
month some of our video courses were taken to Cuba to begin an
institute. My July trip has been delayed until November. Pray the visit
will produce spiritual fruit. A
missionary in Guatemala requested videos to begin two institutes in his
native El Salvador. This is the fifth country where our video courses
will prepare believers for greater service. Reporting
the fruit added to your account by our disciples’ labors illustrates
the value of our training program. During this past year in the States,
while I was limited because of my back surgery, our disciples continued
reaping souls. We
praise God for sacrificial gifts sent last year that enabled us to purchase a 2002 crew cab diesel pickup. An added bonus was to
subsequently lead the young saleswoman to Christ. Upon
our return the pastors rejoiced to be able to share their victories -
and burdens. Time spend visiting them enables us to encourage and advise
these men in their personal, family and ministry needs. We pray for the
divine wisdom that is needed to understand and help them satisfy their
innate cultural needs. While
drugs ease the pain caused by the incurable fibromyalgia, they have
caused Pastor Paulino Sanchez to have stomach problems. In spite of the
pain, he baptized 13. When the pain increases, rest has become his only
treatment. We
are helping in Paulino’s church to ease his pastoral burdens. Mary has
begun a bi-monthly ladies meeting. Pray as she seeks a speaker for her
annual ladies’ conference in January. Plans are also being made for an
institute seminar in September. The
North Coast congregations are mature enough to organize. Shortly
thereafter David Mejía in Calán and Dimas Carías in Cañadas will be
ordained. Regino Avila’s new mission in Santa Edubiges is growing in
number. Services
have begun in the building recently finished in Támara. Besides
providing a church for Reparto’s members as they relocate, it will
also reach others in this new growing area. Because some members cannot
afford to relocate, the original church will also continue as long as it
is safe. We
have listed our new e-mail address below. Where it is mutually convenient, we will use this faster, less expensive means to send our
prayer letters. There
are 800 Mormon missionaries in Honduras. While that sect plans to field
60,000 worldwide, the Christian missionary army is shrinking. Training
nationals to begin churches is our most effective strategy. Serving
Jesus, Phil
& Mary Apartado 11; La Esperanza, Intibucá C.P.
14101; Honduras; P.O. Box 13459; Arlington, TX 76094-0459
Email
correction: catringo99@aol.com We
were blessed when all our Honduran co-laborers visited during my
operation. The Fisher’s traveled from Texas; the Foster’s traveled
from Ohio; the Lane’s visited on their travels through the area. During
this time of recuperation, ten Mexican students come to my house for an
institute course. The students’ deepened sense of responsibility
evidences a growing revival spirit that encourages their pastor. In
January I will participate in student Adolfo Sandoval’s ordination to
the Gospel ministry. A
member of that church invited us to carry Bibles and visit her converts
in Cuba next summer. They need spiritual encouragement. Giving Biblical
counsel to a Mexican couple, accompanied by church discipline, about his
alcohol, drug and spousal abuse problem is changing him – and their
home. Two students, Victor and Andrew Lopez, ask prayer for their father’s church in Mexico. The majority began a new church when their Baptist Association would not let them dismiss the pastor. Though burdened for their people, the brothers are staying here to continue their Bible institute studies. Accompanied by Dot Foster and Janet Fisher, Mary is spending two weeks in Honduras to host her January Ladies’ Bible Conference. Betty Schembera, our Assistant Mission Director’s wife, ex-missionaries to Ecuador, will be the speaker. Pray for the ladies to have a safe trip, and especially for Mary. Physical exertion tightens her diseased muscles, causing excruciating headaches. Your
support has enabled us to plant seeds that are bearing abundant fruit
almost an hundredfold, Matthew 13:8: our Honduran disciples won
95 of 97 who have accepted
Christ since our last prayer letter.
One convert was a 60 year old woman who died four days later.
17 of that total were won in three of the New Works. They also
had over 30 baptisms. This is the nationals’ third try to establish a Mission in the strongly Catholic town of Ojojona. Six of 25 who attend services also attend institute classes. By God’s grace a church has been planted! The building for Reparto’s relocation is almost ready to begin services. As many of the members will not relocate, it will basically be a new congregation. Some 30 families have already relocated to this newly developing area, and others will soon begin building houses.
We sincerely appreciate each of you who sent a Christmas card and/or
offering! We
anticipate a more abundant Church Planting Ministry in 2002! In
Christ
THE GAGNON MINISTRIES Tel./Fax - 011 (504) 783-0173 Email: pggagnon@hondutel.hn Rich and Janet Fisher, Carolyn Orr, and Doug Bouwkamp from our Home Church, and Nancy Keene from Chicago, came to help cook in Youth Camp. The speaker’s last message caused most of the 174 campers to respond to the altar call. I preached the Mission conference in Maracía’s Emmanuel Baptist. Their Faith Promise increased 35% to $625.00. At the time their pastor, Sabás Martínez, was in danger of losing his farm due to financial problems caused by Hurricane Mitch three years ago. He has to sell half his property, but God’s miraculous provision is protecting him from a total loss. Because our eight farmer/pastors have a similar problem, they requested we ask our supporters to consider some type of financial help until the country’s crisis passes. At great personal sacrifice they are staying with their churches. In 33 years of ministry in Latin America’s third poorest country, we have never experienced the severe need that now exists. Pray for them! Church planting has begun in the following communities: Three saved in services held in Altos de Santa Rosa on the edge of the capital. Six saved in a third attempt in 15 years to begin in the strong Catholic town of Ojojona, near the Río Bajo congregations. Services have begun in Santa Edubiges, a small urban community on the North Coast. Las Aradas’ pastor and a member walked and rode horses 3 1/2 hours to Orcones, where they are discipling twelve new believers. Decades dedicated to training and nurturing men in the ministry is bearing rich fruit! It was a privilege to preach the 8th anniversary service. in Calán’s Gethsemani Baptist. 43 of the 71 in attendance were adults. 45 more attended from their sister church in Cañadas. On June 21, 1971, Mary and I began Grace Baptist Church in Reparto, a poor neighborhood in Tegucigalpa. On May 18-20 I preached their 30th anniversary service. The normal attendance tripled to 180 the last two nights. It was a joy seeing the brethren, especially some we had not seen in decades. As a result of my messages two accepted Christ. A past graduate, who attends a sister church, told of winning 63 since he began ministering in the national prison. Fruit: saved - 86 ; baptized - 4 In Christ, Phil & Mary
THE GAGNON MINISTRIES SPECIAL PRAYER REQUEST Sabás Martínez in a dedicated veteran pastor who small country church under his ministry has spawned four new congregations in and around the small city of La Esperanza where we live. Three of the pastors are his converts and disciples. He and his people have won many to Christ. Because they are poor the church pays him $26.00 a month. A basic living wage here would be at least $300.00. To increase his farming income he accepted the offer from a Christian manager of a farming co-operative for a $4000.00 loan. Hurricane Mitch wiped him out, as it did every other farmer in Honduras, and it has become a national dilemma. At a 38% interest rate he now owes an astronomical $10,000. The so-called Christian manager told him if he does not pay by May 20th, they will foreclose on his property. as they have done on his brother, Adrían, another member of the church. Sabas´ house (little more than a shack) is next door to the church. He also threatens to charge 38% a day. His total trust is in the Lord. I just finished a Mission Conference in his church. In spite of his burden an infectious smile easily illuminates his face. When all the commitments are in their Faith Promise will be over double what was received last year. Pray that God works a miracle, defeating this demonic attempt by a Christian whose true goal is to acquire land that can later be sold for a huge profit. God will be victorious!!!! Phil Gagnon
THE GAGNON MINISTRIES APRIL 2001 REPORT
In Christ, Phil and Mary
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