|
APC
and our Mission Partners in Paraguay : Bishop John & Judie Ellison
|
 |
 |
Dear Friends,
Join with us and give thanks to God that this morning - Thursday 26th May - the
Anti Discrimination Bill being put before Parliament by Senator
Carlos Fillizola, although approved by the Senators in December has been
rejected by the House of Deputies. Last night about 500 Christians, both
Evangelical and Catholic met together outside the Cathedral in the centre of
Asuncion to pray for God's intervention. The
archbishop of Asuncion, Mons. Cuquejo gave the welcome, Anglican pastor Jorge
Arevalos directed the service, an eminent Catholic doctor gave lucid objections
to the Bill and both Bishop John & Baptist pastor José Missena spoke from God's
word. Although there were rumours that protest groups would disrupt the
service, it was in fact tranquil. We are thrilled at what has happened this
morning. We have been given time
to look more thoroughly at the issues involved. The defeated Bill, although
containing many good points gave, amongst other matters, an open door to
official homosexual relationships and abortion on demand for minors without
parental knowledge.
The Bill was presented rather clandestinely in December and approved unanimously
by the Senators on the day after Christmas! Presumably there was a degree of
absenteeism then, plus a lack of study & considered reflection on the subjects
due to the haste involved. We thank God that through the intervention of
Christians, the House of Deputies recognized this lack & the hidden agendas
within "anti discrimination", and the Bill has been defeated. It will be
passed back to the Senate for reconsideration. There is an interesting photo in
the ABC national newspaper today, showing the Catholic archbishop flanked by
Bishop John and pastor Jorge, with José Missena and Santiago Maldonado
representing the Evangelical Pastors
Association holding hands raised in prayer at the end of the service. As with the
closure of the British Embassy ( and incidentally Baroness Hooper is coming to
Paraguay in August to talk further on that matter ), the involvement of the
Paraguayan Anglican church in national and
international matters is much greater than we would ever have anticipated, given
the moderate size of our membership. We can only see the Lord at work in these
situations and believe that he wants us to continue pointing people to the truth
in his Word. Please pray for the next steps. John has been asked to a meeting
in the morning with the Minister of the Secretariat for Youth and Children.
Thank you for your prayer support.
With our love and greetings,
John and Judie.
PRAYER CALENDAR - Iglesia Anglicana Paraguaya - June 2005
“ ...when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:8b
1 Pray for pastor Cesar Guzman in Concepcion this week, as he gives teaching sessions on a Bible Overview to church leaders from the city, the country areas & from the Chaco. Pray too for the Family Day programmes in the pre-primary section of St. Andrew’s School on 2nd & 3rd.
2 Give thanks for Claire Holmes’ safe arrival back in Paraguay. Pray for strength and peace for her as she readjusts to her ministry amongst children & adults in Concepcion, after the recent death of her mother in Northern Ireland. For God’s blessing on the pastoral team working in Concepcion.
3 Give thanks for the 24 couples who took part in the recent EMA weekend & pray for those who are open to the gospel that they may make a commitment to Christ & integrate into a local church fellowship. Pray for Tony & Chris & other leaders in the weekly follow up meetings.
4 Pray for the young people contacted through EJE who are attending the evening service in San Andres, that a good core group may be formed & that God would raise up more leaders with the necessary gifts to minister to them. For strength & grace for Patrick & Rosie in their leadership.
5 Pray for pastor Agustin & Teresa as they seek to guide their daughter Laura through a difficult & complicated marriage relationship. For God’s strength & wisdom as this family situation affects both their home life & their ministry. For wisdom & vision for the pastoral team in San Andres church. Pray for the older St. Andrew’s secondary school students as they begin important exams.
6 Give thanks for Chris Hawksbee’s return to Paraguay & pray for discernment in these early days of how to best accompany the indigenous leaders. For Alison & Benjamin , & their family in the UK.
7 Pray for pastor Cefe & Ana, pastor Luis & Regina & the church leaders in Roque Alonso, El Mirador & Remansito. For the restructuring of the Sunday Schools & for the follow up of contacts made during the recent Franklin Graham evangelistic meetings. For the young people.
8 Pray for historian David Powell as starts to write up a history of the church in the Chaco. For good health, safety in travel & wisdom over contacts in the Chaco. For the funds needed to produce this book in time for the centenary celebrations in Makxawaya next year.
9 Give thanks for young people being contacted in Concepcion through “El Puente” drop in centre & pray for their integration into the church fellowship. For Alison as she heads up this work & for her new teaching sessions in a state secondary school after making an evangelistic visit during Easter week. For pastor Guillermo & Rossi, finishing his studies to assume a full time role in the church.
10 Pray for the Family Day planned for tomorrow in the sports ground at Surubií for parents & pupils of St. Andrew’s School. For the building of good relationships between parents, & also with staff.
11 Pray for Murray & Penny Metcalfe & the opening of the much needed Foster Home for babies awaiting adoption. Give thanks for a suitable house & pray for Paraguayan foster parents & carers. Pray too for the children’s club meeting at their house on Saturdays, drawing in children from the Annexe School & the surrounding neighbourhood. For Sharon McCreerie in her teaching & pastoral ministry with the children.
12 Pray for the indigenous pastors & leaders in the many Chaco communities. Pray for God’s strength to continue firmly in His way & for wisdom as they relate to the secular leaders of their communities. For strength for the church in Palo Blanco as it meets for prayer on Monday & Tuesday evenings & for sufficient rain for their crops to bring a good harvest this year
13 Give thanks for medical supplies received through the British Fire Service. Pray for Beryl in her Chaco clinic & visits to indigenous communities. For God to raise up qualified people to work alongside her.
14 Give thanks for all those who support short term projects in Paraguay. Pray for Phil Grainger & David Orritt as they work on the necessary preparations before the arrival of volunteer groups in July & August. For good health & safety in travel, & for all those preparing to take part.
15 Pray for Ed Brice as he leads studies in the Old Testament with indigenous pastors & visits twice a month, the different Chaco communities. Pray for good health & safety in travel.
16 There is a great need for a municipal indigenous hostel in Concepcion. The need has far outgrown the church facilities & affects the ministry to the city congregation. Pray for God to open the door to more serious talks with the city authorities & give wisdom over the use of small church hostel.
17 Give thanks for the work amongst fire victims in Zeballos Cue & pray for those who are open spiritually. For pastor Alberto, Ester & the congregation giving thanks for new families joining. Pray that older members may integrate new people with genuine Christian grace & love.
18 Pray for the follow up meetings at San Andres on Saturdays to the EJE weekends. There are over 120 young people participating. Pray that they will be led to a genuine commitment to the Lord Jesus. For more youth leaders to share in this ministry.
19 Pray for the growing congregation in Remansito & for the ministry amongst children there. For Salomón & Magdalena & their family & other church leaders alongside pastors Cefe & Luis. For wisdom, strength & faith for the Christian families who struggle with so few resources.
20 Pray for the holistic mission programme in the indigenous community La Herencia this year. For wisdom for pastor Elvio & Mari Brice. Pray that possible support from UNICEF may be forthcoming to help towards the formation of a kindergarten in La Herencia.
21 Give thanks for the recent training course in translation methods & pray for Tim, Martin, Asuncion & Juan as they continue the translation of the Old Testament into Enxet. For their families, especially Martin’s wife expecting their 7th child.
22 Give thanks for the positive response of the Ministry of Education to the courses offered by FEISA. Pray for Estela, the Dean & all the staff & students. Pray for clarity of relationship with others involved in teacher training within the Evangelical University. Continue to pray for retired Dean Eileen Murphy as she recently moved to the Christian Renewal Centre in Rostrevor, N. Ireland.
23 Pray for the church group forming in Nueva Mestre & for Martin Cabrera & his family who have recently moved there. For God’s wisdom as they face strong opposition from the local priest.
24 Pray for the Senior Management team & staff at St. Andrew’s School as they get to grips with a new national evaluation programme in education. That the process may become clearer & feasible.
25 Pray for Mari Brice in her ministry with children. For wisdom over the translation & production of Sunday school materials in Enxet & the training of teachers. Give thanks for the greater awareness of the need to teach children in their early years.
26 Pray for Bishop John & pastor Jorge, as they continue to be involved, with others, in challenging politicians to study & evaluate Bills which come to Paraguay through the United Nations but which open the door to contravene God’s laws. Give thanks for the “Pro Family” meetings & workshops which have united some evangelical & lay Catholic Christians, providing a stronger Christian voice.
27 Pray for wisdom & creativity for pastor Tony & Chris as the youth group restarts in Villa Guarani church & for the follow up of contacts made through the Franklin Graham campaign . Pray for musicians to accompany Tony in church worship, giving thanks for the enthusiastic & growing music group, formed by upper primary age children.
28 Pray for the staff & pupils at the Annexe School, especially for the pupils who come from homes where the financial situation is worsening all the time. Pray for their protection & their spiritual & physical health. Pray too for wisdom for Canon John Sutton, General Secretary of SAMS & his colleagues as they tackle the huge challenges & changes in overseas mission today.
29 Pray for the St. Andrew’s congregation as so many current members are now leaving Paraguay. Give thanks & pray for so many people touched spiritually during their temporary residence in Asuncion & also for others to be drawn into the fellowship. Pray or Stephen & Eileen, Murray & Penny as they lead the church forward, on top of their teaching commitments at the School.
30 Pray for the church in Rio Verde & for Genaro & Clorinda as they look after the Anglican Centre there. For God’s protection over all the people, buildings & equipment. Give thanks that it can be used for students from St. Andrew’s School as they visit & work in the indigenous communities as part of their social studies.
EMA –Marriage Encounter * EJE – Youth Encounter * FEISA – Teacher training faculty