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RICK
and JACKIE WASHBURN, Sr.
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Our Newsletters |
August
9, 2002
Dear
Friends, The
purpose of this letter is to inform you of our plans for furlough so
that we can make our schedule to report to our supporting churches.
Your part, whether big or small, has been so important for
the ongoing of our ministry here in Colombia, South America.
You have been involved in the many people that have come to
know the Lord as Savior, Churches that have been established,
pastors and workers who have been trained for the ministry and the
general work that has been done to spread the Gospel to the
Colombian people. It is
our sincere prayer that God will continue to bless you in a very
special way. We were
considering furlough in December of this year but because of a
pastor resigning in the El Camino Baptist Church, we felt it
necessary to extend our term until next year.
We promised to help the Church for a little over a year so
that they can continue the work of the Church in a more effective
way. We will be going to the States to visit our churches in
April 2003. We
realize that this is a short notice for some, as many of you plan
your conferences more than a year ahead of time.
We are planning on staying until December but might stay
until January if needed. Because
of conflict in schedules, please let us know as soon as possible
some dates that we could visit your church to give a report or help
out in your conference. If you
could give us the following information it would help us a great
deal in setting up our furlough schedule:
Preferred date or dates -
Mission Conference dates –
Whenever you are in the area –
You don’t need to report – You can
contact us by E-mail or through our home church:
E-mail address:
ricksr@epm.net.co
Home church:
Vandalia Baptist Temple - Pastor Troy Todd
Secretary
– Cindy Carlson – 937 – 898-5761 Thank
you in advance for responding to this letter.
God bless you! Rick
and Jackie Washburn
Dear Family and Friends,
You would not believe where we have
been! We visited a dwelling on the top/side of the mountain,
where it looked as if the place had been moved into Medellin from
the river Nechi! The people we visited there are
transplants from Catorce and Nechi on the river Nechi where Rick
went to minister in the 80's.
Recently Elvia's son, Eder accepted
Christ as his Savior and wanted to have a service in their home.
So, Wilson, Francy, Rick and I all said that we would have a service
on Sunday afternoon. Of course, with the hospitality of the
river, you can't go without staying a really LONG time and eating a
meal. I had a first, Sancocho de Pescado (Fish
soup)! I prayed quite a bit before going, and I was pleasantly
surprised at how good it was! The fish had made the trip from
Nechi the day before!
After removing the table, the people
began to come into the dirt floored meeting area. The sides of
the house was all wood (with the open areas covered in plastic).
Their bedroom and bathroom ( I use this term loosely), are on the
stilts side of the house where you can see through the floor to the
earth beneath.
Twenty-two adults and 12 kids came!
Rick preached a simple message on John 3. Three ladies and one
man got saved! The couple that were saved had heard the gospel
before, and Leo (Eder's wife) also had heard many times, she finally
made a decision and a lady who had been studying with the Jehovah
Witness.
We had visited this home on Thursday
because Leo was recovering from surgery. We had a long talk
with the lady who had been studying with the Jehovah Witness, so she
had been praying about which was the truth. We were able to
leave just before sunset. We didn't want to rush, but that is
a very unstable area.
They want us to come often, but we will
have to send other people and not make a routine of us going there.
Sometimes we feel as if our hands are tied. We would love to
begin a work up there because it is SO far from anything, but the
militant groups that control those areas would not like it overly
much.
On the way up the side of the mountain,
it felt as if we were in a roller coaster seat! Praise the
Lord we have a good car because it sure was steep. I asked
Francy (just turned 20) what she thought. She said she has so
much to be thankful for, she was a jewel while there and very moved.
Well, enough of our unusual Sunday!
Also this week Lucy Munoz (Wilmer's mother) came to visit during the
week then on Sunday. She says to say HI to everyone. She
is awaiting a visa to go to Mexico to work. Also Olivia and
Ciliana send their love and prayers.
May God bless you all. Would love
to hear from you.
Love always,
Dear Friends, The new president of Colombia will take office the 7th of August. The people desperately wait a change that will make a difference. Looking at Jackie's journal I am reminded about some of the events that remind us of the violence that surrounds us at times. She wrote on March 5, 2002, "We were surprised by two different gun battles close to our apartment. At least two were killed and a car was stolen. Our Institute students left our apartment just shortly after it happened." May 20, "A bomb went off not too far from us downtown yesterday at the utilities offices. They are watching the water reserves closely also. Elections are one week away." We know that change ~ that the people desperately want will come only through knowing Jesus Christ. He is still the answer the country needs. Thank you for your prayers and support of the ministry here in Colombia. Fundamental Baptist Church, El Camino -The attendance is increasing in the Church. Five people were baptized and added to the church. Nine people have made professions of faith in the Lord in the past three months. We started a pastor's training program with Bro. Wilson Orrego who is now studying in the Bible Institute. I am sure this program will be a blessing to the Church and to Bro. Wilson and his wife. We also finished two Discipleship classes, Jackie taught one for ten weeks with some young people and I taught another for three months with nine adults from the church. I will be teaching one more course in July with the goal of having members of the church teaching these three levels of discipleship from now on. Youth Camp -Last week we had our first Youth Camp in quite some time. We rented a place just outside of Medellin for three full days. Bro. Lorenzo Gonzalez from Bogota came over to preach and teach some special classes. He did a tremendous job. Seven young people, from the three churches who participated here in Medellin, accepted Christ as their Savior. Several young people dedicated theirs lives to the Lord and I believe we will see some definite fruit in these kids. Their testimonies in the bon fire the last night and also in Church on Sunday really touched our hearts. Pastor's Meeting -Pastor Fabio organized a pastor's meeting with our pastors from Medellin and three pastors from Bogota and Neiva. He did a good job and the meeting was a blessing for the church and the pastors that participated. It started on Wednesday night and went through Friday night. Bible Institute -We finished up our first semester in the Bible Institute of Medellin. The students will have three weeks off on this short vacation time and we will start classes again on the 15th of July. The next course I will be teaching is Ecclesiology, the doctrine of the Church. It is one of my favorite courses. In His Service, Bro. Rick and Jackie
Dear Family and Friends, Hope this finds you all snug and warm despite all the cold weather we hear about!
Well, we have had a great week! On Thursday at the ladies
retreat we had 36 present! Eight were unsaved ladies who came
with relatives or friends. They seemed to have a good time and
some of their misconceived ideas were changed. We hope that the
six ladies come to our "Friend's Day" next Sunday with those
who had invited them. We sang, we played games and had two
teaching sessions. They also gave us a wonderful lunch and
snack. Everyone went home feeling good. The Lord gave us a
beautiful day, so we were able to have our prayer time in the
afternoon in groups out on the lawn.
Rick gave in his official resignation at the Florencia church.
The people didn't want to vote to accept it, but they did all vote on
Pastor Fabio as the new pastor of the church. They are having a
special "farewell" service for us next Sunday afternoon.
I was able to hold back the tears yesterday, but I'm sure next week
will be different!
All things are going as scheduled for the ordination of Pastor
Fabio on Feb. 24. Randy will be coming down to represent
Vandalia Baptist and be on the committee. He will sing and
preach for the three churches while here. Of course, Rick will
have to translate! We are so looking forward to his coming to
see us!
Yesterday the attendance was up to almost 80. We are having a
good number of young people who are very faithful, and we hope they
get really committed to the Lord. As in all parts of the world,
for a young person to stand up for the Lord is hard!
Understanding separation is a foreign concept for them because of the
society in which we live here.
The institute is going fine. They have two more weeks of this
class.
Well, I guess I'll close for now. Love to all of you.
Thanks for your prayers. Write when you can.
Love always,
Jackie and Rick
RICK and
JACKIE WASHBURN, SR. Dear Family and Friends,
Last week was very hectic! We signed the contract on our
apartment on Tuesday evening, and began packing up on Wednesday, then
moved on Thursday! We looked at various apartments in the Sur
Americana area and found one that we did not need any co-signers
because it is through an individual and not any agency. We feel
that this was an open door from the Lord! It is unheard of not
to need co-signers with property and high wages, but the Lord really
worked this out for us. It was also one of the two that was
ready for occupancy.
We are on the 11th floor of a 17 story building. The rooms
are very spacious, so we have more room than we did in the house.
It is so funny, Rick and I can't just talk to one another as before,
we have to find the room the other is in, in order to be heard!
The noise level high is very high. We have two main streets and
the highway on the third side! This city never sleeps! We
hear cars all night long. Being so far up in the air, we get
good breezes all day long. The one draw back, is that the
breezes bring dust. So I have to dust quite often (twice a day
in the main rooms).
The institute fit better here than in our house. We had 12 of
the 13 students to get here on time to start the new course. We
haven't heard yet why one of the students did not come to class. We
were able to put up the folding tables, use TV. trays and use the
dining room table, so were quite comfortable. The students all
liked the view from the balcony of the mountains and lights.
I can't believe we are almost completely settled with only
these few days. Today I hope to finish up the majority of
things. I need to because we have so much going on
this week! Thursday we begin the discipleship courses.
I'll be teaching the new converts course of 10 weeks, while Rick
begins the more advanced one that last for three months. Also in
the afternoon I have a ladies meeting at church. Thursday will
be a busy day!
Next Thursday, Feb. 7, the three churches together are having a
ladies one-day retreat. I am looking forward to that.
Lucely, from Barrio Nuevo and Diana, from Florencia and I did the
planning of it last week. We are hoping to have about 20.
Since it is a week day, many ladies have to work, but we hope for a
good number anyway.
For those who need to know, our address is still the same, we just
have a new phone number. The address is a post office box.
A.A. 14245, Medellin, COLOMBIA, South America. The phone
number is the same first numbers, just the last 7 change to:
230-09-76.
Hope this finds everyone fine. We love to hear from you.
Write when you can.
Love always,
Jackie and Rick
RICK and JACKIE WASHBURN
SR. Dear Family and Friends, Thank you all so much for your prayers. We have been taking some steps to try and organize the church at El Camino. We still have a long way to go, but we are already seeing a change in attitude and many are getting active in the work.
We had a good attendance yesterday and the workers meeting
afterwards was very positive. It was so encouraging.
This is the first week that we are getting back to normal.
Rick is getting all his studies together because he starts teaching in
two weeks. We are going to have some new students, so we are
going to be pretty crowded, but isn't that a great problem!
For those of you all who have heard many different stories about
what is going on down here, let me put some facts before you.
Yes, the government and the FARC guerilla group have broken off peace
talks. The government troops are getting ready to protect many
areas. None of them are near Medellin.
Nothing has changed for us. We are going about our daily
lives as normal. We have heard nothing from the embassy to make
us think we should do otherwise. Keep us in your prayers anyway.
The church in Florencia is planning a 5-day vacation Bible
school this week. The kids go back to school next week so
this will be just in time. This year the schools are starting
back over 2 weeks early.
Write when you can. We love to hear from you all.
Love always,
Jackie and Rick
We had a wonderful two days with the pastors in Rio Negro.
The conference had a relaxed atmosphere where all joined in the
discussions. The Lord gave us two beautiful days. It
rained one day during lunch time, but was over quickly. Medellin
had hail damage, but we just got a hard rain.
During some of the activity time, we played games. They
really liked Pictionary. The men won both evenings! The
people there were really attentive and very special. The only
draw back was one morning at 2 a.m. a plane took off and the hotel is
in the flight pattern! It woke everyone accept Diana and Fabio!
We had a good group of kids this past Sunday. We are hoping
to stay up with the holidays coming soon. The kids get out of
school for the end of their school year the middle of November.
We are planning an activity for them on Wednesday so they won't go out
in the streets on that night. The Satanic cults here have
kidnapped various children for their sacrifices on October 31.
Pray for this country, the kids are so scared.
Well, I guess that is all for now. Write when you
can. We love to hear from you.
Love always,
Jackie and Rick
Hope you all are surrounded with as many flowers as we are at
this time! August 1 began the annual Feria de las Flores (Flower
Fair). There are flowers displayed in all the malls and shopping
centers. Last Sunday was the parade of old cars, this Tuesday,
August 7, is the famous Sillateras (flower arrangements on
wicker chairs, and carried on the backs of people). Then the
next really big item is the Calbagata de Caballos (horses and more
horses walk for miles through the city). There are many other
sites to see, but I won't name them all.
Because of people working during the fair, others to see the
different places of entertainment, we were down some on Sunday.
The fair goes through next Sunday. But we had a really good
service yesterday. Pastor Fabio began a three-week series
sanctification. He has a good way of expressing himself that the
people find easy to listen to. He is a young preacher that the
Lord is already using greatly.
Last Saturday we had a Bible study in the home of a church member.
There were four ladies that came. Three have been to church
before, but have been afraid to come back because the priest told them
that to "change their religion was like changing their sex"!
They have been so afraid to even read their Bibles and search out the
truth. We are praying for all them. All together we had 14
in attendance.
We had a really nice phone call from Tyler, our oldest grandson, on
Sunday. He first asked, "Ïs Peepaw on the phone,
too?" When we were both on the phone, he said he wanted to
tell us that after church on Sunday he had asked Jesus to come into
his heart! Kelvin had been preaching, and when he saw Anita
bring Tyler down the isle, his first thought was "What did he do
now?" Then when Anita told him that he had accepted the Lord, he
prayed with him, too. Since Kelvin had been preaching about the
need to evangelize, getting ready for the mission conference, this was
a perfect beginning!
The next course in the institute began last night with Pastor
Gustavo. He has nine students for Major Prophets. Rick and
I are busy getting our courses ready. We both begin to teach
September 10. I teach "The Woman In the Church" and
Rick teacher "Ministry Of The Pastor". I will teach in
the late afternoon the ladies and he will teach in the evening the
men. That should keep us really busy!
I think that is all my news for now. Write when you can we
love to hear from you. May God bless you all this week!
Love always,
Jackie and Rick
Rick
and Jackie Washburn I.B.B.
Vida En Cristo –
In April, during Holy Week, we had a good evangelistic meeting
with
Bro. Elkin Rendón. There was a good attendance each night and on Sunday there
were 85 present. Eleven
people trusted in the Lord as Savior during the meeting and the spirit
of revival was present. We
have done some follow up work after the meeting and have seen some good
fruit. The
construction work on the second floor of the building has been completed
and we are now holding our services in the new sanctuary.
Our attendance continues to increase with an average of 75 in
May. One Sunday we had 102
present to hear the Word of God. Several
people have been saved these past two months, three people were baptized
and the Church has also received some new members.
Our associate pastor, Fabio Carballo is doing a fine job and we
are little by little backing off and giving him more responsibilities.
The people of the church are responding well to his leadership.
We are praying that the church will call him as pastor in
February of next year at our annual business meeting of the church.
Please pray with us about this matter of importance.
Instituto
Bíblico –
We have nine students from two churches taking the last course of this
semester, Bibliologia. One
man, named Elías, has finished our three levels of discipleship and now
is starting in the Institute. He
is fifty- one years old and says he wants the rest of his life to count
for the Lord. He sure has
been faithful to that decision. We will have a three week break and I will teach the next
course which is General Epistles. July
6 we will be having a graduation ceremony for Sandra Arango.
We are praying for a good service and that it will encourage
others to prepare their lives to serve the Lord.
Fellowship
Meeting –
In May we had a fellowship meeting at the Church in Florencia with
the three churches here in Medellín.
There were about 180 people present with good singing, preaching
and fellowship between the churches.
We now know that our new sanctuary will hold about 200 people.
Pray that one day soon that building will be full of people
listening to the preaching of God’s Word.
We
have changed our post office box number because of better access.
Our new mailing address is:
A. A. 14245 Thank
you for your prayers and support for the ministry here in Medellin. Rick
and Jackie Washburn |
