------MURRAY-ECUADOR December, 2008----------

Dear Faithful Prayer Partners;

As we continue forging ahead, the Lord is steadily gaining more territory for Himself here in Cuenca, Ecuador. We are so excited and privileged to be used of the Lord to reach new souls down here in this challenging, yet rewarding field.

Young man from our church considering the pastorate.

Bible Institute Progressing.

New people coming to church.

Cesar on his way Home

Biblical Outreach Opportunities Abound.

Young man from our church considering the pastorate.

I have preached every Sunday and midweek service without stopping for two years. Sometimes I wondered if I was ever getting through to anybody! Cristian, our 17 year old nephew, has been in almost all of our church services. Sometimes people think that he is our son, because he is always in our car with us, or in our house. He approached me on different occasions after church services and commented on the sermon, jokingly, “Pastor. That was way too much meat for me.” I really believed him.

Last week I was taking him home after an exam from our latest Bible Institute Class. He shared with me that he is considering being a medical doctor. However, he told me that every time he considers being a pastor he is filled with emotion. He has been considering this option. Perhaps the Lord is calling him to ministry! I tried to keep my deep emotional reaction hidden within me, but I am not sure if I was able to!

Will you please pray for Cristian? May God’s will be clear to him. God could do great and mighty things through this young man, if he decides to surrender his life to God without any reservations. We desperately need men down here in Ecuador who will take a stand for the Lord.

Bible Institute Progressing.

I have been working on forming a Bible Institute for quite some time now. Our present plan is to work towards a Bachelor’s degree equivalent to an American College’s Bachelor’s degree. Currently we are scheduling just four modules a year with North American Professors. I am also to schedule talks with our Latin American counterparts within Baptist Mid Missions’ circles who have advanced degrees.

Our latest class (Old Testament Survey, part 1) was last month. Bruce Burkholder sacrificed his valuable time to come down here and teach our students. It was a tremendous blessing. Everybody loved and respected him.  We had a small group, but without exception, the caliber of each student was high.

Please pray for our needs in this area. I need to build our library and also recruit teachers and students. Just as important is my desire to recruit local leadership to participate in this ministry which will prepare leadership for the future.

Furthermore, please pray for me as I have been blessed with the opportunity to study online through Piedmont Baptist Graduate School. What a blessing!

New people coming to church.

I have never seen a work so fluid in its attendance. Numerous people have attended our services. Numerous others have asked me to come to their homes for counseling, or discipleship. I have invested late nights and early mornings with people who have come to church. Yet retention is extremely difficult to generate in this culture.

Nevertheless, we do have some faithful attendees. And the Lord is adding to our congregation! We are thankful for a new family who has begun attending just 3 weeks ago. They raised their hands in my invitation at the end of the service, indicating that they wish to attend faithfully, and help our church to grow. Please pray that God might use their declaration and desire for His glory.

Cesar on his way Home

In prayer letters I have sent previously, I mentioned Sonia’s uncle Cesar, who lives in Guayaquil. You may remember that he had an operation to clear some arterial blockage. That hardened man who was closed to the Gospel declared to me that he was “all ears” during that traumatic time in his life. When I led him to Christ I marveled at the grace of God which is able to reach even the most worldly of people.

Now, unfortunately, he has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. His family has hid that fact from him. He thinks he has dengue.

When a group of us visited him recently, we made it a priority to discuss God’s plan of salvation with him again. Our hearts were filled with joy, and our eyes were filled with tears, as he declared unto us with -strong assurance-that he accepted Christ and received eternal life that day that I witnessed to him while he was in the hospital. Praised be the name of the Lord! Cesar is headed to glory.

Biblical Outreach Opportunities Abound:

The opportunities to share the Gospel here in Cuenca are numerous! I tend to get excited when one person who I have been witnessing to shares with their friend or family that I might be able to help them through counseling. This week two more opportunities have arisen for me. Therefore, as usual, I will not be spending my evenings in front of the television. There are too many people who need to hear the Gospel! 

Land Project Continues:

We are praying, and “putting our money where our mouth is” concerning our dream of obtaining land for this church plant. We are contributing sacrificially each month without exception. Nationals are donating sacrificially as well. Many North American churches and individuals have also decided to become part of the solution. We have a plan for the construction of a building. And, we have our sights set on a specific piece of land, in a strategic location. The only thing we do not have yet is enough money to purchase it.

Perhaps you would like to give a gift which would make an eternal impact for the sake of the Gospel this Christmas. Please consider donating generously to this vital, necessary project for this church plant. Every cent you donate will go directly to the land and building fund. We want to build a permanent meeting place which will shout to all of Cuenca that our church plant is stable and relevant and permanent- a beacon of Gospel Light in this spiritually dark and lost city! Together we can make an impact!

Thank you so much for your prayers and support. We cannot do this ministry without your help! May God bless you richly during this Christmas Season! My prayer is that it will be a meaningful time for you, focused on the Savior.

Merry Christmas!

Your Missionaries;

The Murrays

David, Sonia, Dave, Andrea, Joshua

BMM ECUADOR

MY MAIL: Casilla 01-05-1842, Cuenca, Ecuador

MISSION: BMM PO Box 30801, Cleveland, OH, 44130-011

MY TELEPHONE: 011-593-7-2-377-438

MY EMAIL: ecuamurray1@juno.com

08-08-08

July 31. 2008

Dear Praying Friends;

Every day I look around me at the tremendous opportunity to shine the Gospel Light here in Cuenca. As I do, I am filled with overwhelming thankfulness to God for the privilege of serving here in this extremely traditional and unchanging, yet rewarding field. Below are some of our headlines.

Tragic Death of Church Friend Stirs Up God Awareness

Ecuador’s Proposed Constitution Anti God, Pro-immorality

Building Fund Increases

God Creates New Brothers and Sisters in Christ

Tragic Death of Church Friend Stirs Up God Awareness

Perhaps you have read about Enrique and Sylvia in my past prayer letters. You may have seen a picture of Sylvia’s brother, Marco on my website. You may know that we have spent allot of time witnessing to, counseling, and even discipling Enrique and Sylvia. And you may know that I have counseled and witnessed to Marco many many times.

They used to come to church very faithfully on Wednesday nights. But circumstances have made it slightly more difficult for them to attend, and so they have basically abandoned the church. Although we pleaded and admonished them to return to a life of faith and to not distance themselves from God, they responded that they were distanced from the church but not from God. We lovingly contradicted their statement with the Word, but they attended church just once and brought one of their children to the kids’ club only once in a year’s time.

One night I was with my family in the car around 9:00 pm when I received a very distraught call from Enrique. He was crying and literally yelling in desperation. Marco had killed himself with a pistol.

We met him at the scene and did our best to counsel Marco’s whole family. The next day I was asked to speak at the extremely traditional, Catholic funeral in front of at least 250 people. There I shared the Gospel in an extremely clear manner. I told them how I had shared the Gospel with Marco too. We did a little more of the same at her grandmothers’ house later that afternoon.

The next week I was asked to come and counsel Marco’s grief stricken parents. There I was met with a pleasant surprise of a small congregation of 10. Again, the tremendous opportunity to share the eternal life giving Gospel was taken advantage of.

Sylvia confided in us the following information: She said that she was talking with her mother regarding their present state of depression and grief. They both agreed that they were in this mode because of one (ironic) reason: they had distanced themselves from God! And they vowed to return to the Lord, and to come to church.

Ecuador’s Proposed Constitution Anti God, Pro-immorality

What do you think of a constitutional assembly which brings in Shaman witch doctors to perform ritual cleansings on the president of the country, the president of the assembly, and assembly members? I think that if people are “blessed” by the Devil, they will vote like the Devil.

Ecuador has been working on a new constitution which they propose will make a new Ecuador of equality and fairness to all classes. However they have left God out of the new constitution and have replaced Him with an all inclusive generic supreme being including the Indigenous god Paccha-Mama, and Buddha, and all other religions. It is further including support for same sex marriages and abortion. Please pray for Ecuador, that we might escape the one true God’s wrath.

The president is currently “going toe to toe” against both the Catholic Church and the Evangelical Church, as both institutions are against his new, immoral, anti-God constitution. We are wondering if the State will carry a grudge and vendetta against Christian Churches and missionaries in the future, following the footsteps of  the president’s heroes in Venezuela and Cuba.

Building Fund Increases

I praise God for like minded servants who understand the huge need for Gospel preaching, outreaching churches in this wonderful country of Ecuador. THANK YOU SO MUCH for your sacrificial giving for a permanent church building where the Gospel will be preached and believers will be discipled for generations to come if the Lord should tarry. We have still not accumulated the amount which is required for the piece of land we have in our sights. But God is Omnipotent and has all of the resources necessary. We are praying that He will provide. Perhaps He will use YOU to be part of the solution. If you want to make an impact, please know that 100% of what you send in towards the building fund will go to the building fund. Period.

God Creates New Brothers and Sisters in Christ

We have personally had many opportunities to witness and share. But let me tell you of a most recent experience from one of our church’s attendees. Maria Augusta’s father left her mother when Maria and her brother were infants. This was partially because her grandmother didn’t want to let go of her son. And her grandmother has a shocking history of verbal abuse and non appreciation towards Maria Augusta and her brother- and of course towards Maria’s mother. But God can heal deep emotional scars!

Last night in prayer meeting Maria Augusta was attending to her grandmother (Gloria) who has been diagnosed with aggressive sarcoma (cancer). Maria Augusta’s mother was at our prayer meeting, and for the first time ever, gave a certain part of her life to God. She tearfully asked God for forgiveness for the bitterness she has held towards her ex- mother in law for at least 15 years. She also prayed that God might save her ex-mother in law’s soul. God responded to her prayers. At around 11:00 last night I received a call from Maria Augusta stating that she had led her grandmother to Christ!

This is probably one of the most improbable and incredible stories of Evangelism, and forgiveness I have ever witnessed personally!

I have other stories to tell and reports to give, but I will save them for my next letter!

Thank you so much for your much needed and appreciated prayers and support.

Your Missionaries;

The Murrays

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May 2008

Dear Faithful Prayer Warriors;

Here in religiously conservative Cuenca Ecuador it is evident that we are immersed in the official month of the Virgin Mary. Television, radio, government, culture, and individuals’ testimonies clarify that the hearts of the people here are completely devoted to her.

Oh how we wish to see our people start a real, life changing, saving, personal relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ! We long to see many of these people invite the Savior into their hearts and lives as their only hope of salvation- their only source of devotion!

Ironically it is also the month of “Corpus Christi”, officially known as the “Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ”. It is Catholic feast which is the celebration in honor of the Eucharist.  The city is bursting with pyrotechnic towers, fireworks, and an ocean of home-style cookies and sweets covering several city blocks around Cuenca’s main cathedral- all in jubilate celebration of a religious sacrament. What devotion to traditional religious practices!

*These huge celebrations run like blood in Cuenca’s veins, pumped out by the established religion which is at the heart of everything here.*

In a culture so immersed in religion, it can be quite a challenge to share the Gospel. Yet the Lord grants opportunities frequently as we establish friendships all over the city. We are working hard, leading new people to Him out of this idolatrous system. Furthermore we are laboring through the discipleship process with others.

Here’s what is new:

Baptism Classes to Start

New People Hear the Gospel for the First Time

University age Ministry Started

Building fund Growing/Prices Doubling

***********************************************

Baptism Classes to Start

It is a joy to see new believers grow and begin to take a stand for Jesus in this religiously incongruent culture. As I have preached the Word, some have understood their need, and have expressed their desire to be baptized. Classes will start soon.

New People Hear the Gospel for the First Time

What a privilege to be here sharing the Gospel with so many unbelievers! That is what we live for!

When new people come to church, as new believers invite them, it is a joy to my heart!

For example, last Wednesday night at prayer meeting, Checho brought a friend named “Cacho” who is about 50 years young. I preached, and Cacho heard the Gospel for the very first time. Although I do not think he got saved that night, he told me that he would be bringing his wife and daughters to church soon.

We have had opportunities to counsel and share Christ with many different people including people who have attempted suicide, people struggling in their marriages, and people who have lost loved ones. Sharing Christ as the solution to their problems is very helpful to them.

University age Ministry Started

I have made a good number of friends who study at the state-run university. God has opened a door to share the Gospel with these young adults, and we have been overjoyed to enter through it, inviting them to our house and praying with them. Please pray especially for medical students Byron (a potential leader), Leonardo, Fernando, and for young professionals Adrian, and Gabriel.

Building fund Growing/Prices Doubling

There are many reasons which make it urgent to obtain land and build a church building for our church plant, Iglesia Bautista Trinidad (Trinity Baptist Church). One reason for it being a non-option is that a congregation will only grow to a certain point as it meets in one’s house.

Another reason is the following: any denomination apart from the established religious system here is looked upon as a religious sect by most people. With all of the fly-by-night cults present here in Cuenca it is imperative to be set apart from the rest. The Message we send is so important as we aim to establish a church with stability-one which will stand as a beacon for the Gospel for centuries to come, if the Lord should tarry.

(I need not mention the necessity of having classrooms and a nursery-let alone a dry place to meet which has an adequate seating capacity. Imagine if your church met in one small room together with all ages including infants. Numerical growth, clear teaching and many other things would prove nearly impossible.)

We have found a piece of land which meets our highest expectations. It is clearly visible and close to the highway. It is completely flat with nothing which would inhibit the building of an Evangelistic, Gospel Beacon of a Church here in Cuenca. It is not overpriced like so many properties we have viewed. (By the way, prices have doubled in one year’s time. If we wait, the prices will simply continue to rise.)

The location is right! The timing is right! The price is right! And the need is urgent!

*I ask every reader of this letter to please prayerfully consider donating generously to this vital project for the spread of the Gospel.* One hundred percent (100%) of every penny you donate will go towards the purchase of land for this church plant.

Please understand that YOU can make an eternal impact for the Gospel’s sake!

THANK YOU for reading and praying for us, your partners for the Gospel’s sake here in Ecuador, South America.

Your Missionaries;

David, Sonia, Dave, Andrea, and Joshua Murray

PS. As various people have requested, I have attached a new family picture. Furthermore I have attached a picture of the piece of land we are praying to acquire for this church planting ministry.

MURRAY-ECUADOR-January/February 2008

Dear faithful prayer partners;

Here's a peak at some of what God is doing here in Cuenca Ecuador:

Babe in Christ breaking from Worship of Mary

Patricio is an economist working for the comptroller�

's office. He recently experienced the New Birth. He is a very faithful attendee of this church plant (Trinity Baptist).

Fresh off of learning about Baptism through Sunday's sermon, Patricio approached us at his pet store which he started so that he could earn a second income. He told me that there was something in his heart which he has been struggling with for quite some time. He explained to Sonia and me that as a youngster in his Catholic school, he made a solemn promise to love the Virgin Mary forever. With tears in his eyes, he recited a poem which stated his promise to her. He said that he did not want to grieve her by stopping his prayers to her and ending his devotion to her.

We explained to him that Mary would be happy that he took the focus off of her, directing all of his worship to the Lord Jesus Christ. We stated that Mary doesn't listen to prayers, nor does she answer them. She would be saddened to know that millions of people are focusing on her in idolatrous fashion, robbing the glory and message of the One who calls for all of our worship and prayers and trust for salvation.

Patricio's countenance changed radically from one of bewilderment to one of intense joy. "Now I am freed from the chains" he stated. "I will be ready to be baptized soon."

New Christian girl takes a stand for Jesus in her school.

Patricio's 10 year old daughter Maria Jose is also a new Christian who loves Sunday school and Kid's club. Her Catholic School requires all students to prepare for and participate in the rite of first communion. She has stated that she does not want to participate in this because it will have no significance for her.

Here's what is behind this stand for the Lord:

Sonia explained to the Sunday school children that if they had accepted the Lord Jesus Christ into their heart as their personal Savior, and if they are completely surrendered to the Lord, they could partake of the Lord's Supper at church. Maria Jose participated in the Lord's Supper just 2 weeks ago for the first time while attending our church, as she testified of her saving, personal relationship with Jesus.

 Maria Jose says that she already has participated in the real communion at church weeks after accepting the Lord Jesus Christ into her heart as her very own personal Savior, and that she wishes not to participate in the meaningless sacraments at her school.

Unfortunately this young Christian will be forced to participate in the sacraments. Her mother Soledad (Our good friend and very faithful attendee) is not yet a believer, and naturally she is organizing the traditional celebration party for her daughter's taking of the fist communion. Please pray for this child's faith as she is struggling against the system for Christ.

What a sweet testimony to the real transformation a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ brings!

Note:* Please pray for our desperate need of a Christian School. We can't do it alone. If we only had more missionaries on the field, these confusing struggles would not be almost universal.

Church Planting-never a dull moment!

Starting a biblical, New Testament Church (my main focus) is a tremendous task. It doesn't just happen, it takes planning. And most of the time things do not seem to go exactly as planned!

The facts are: several attendees have left the country, others have left their wives and families in anger, one has been disciplined and has left the church, others' health has limited their attendance, some have gone to established churches where there are more programs, and yet others have been pulled in to religious sects, the charismatic movement, or back into the Catholic Church.

***Yet through God's grace our church plant is still continuing as strong as ever. People are getting saved, and others are beginning their walk with the Lord the right way- with discipleship. The Lord continues to add people to this church plant.***

A major key in maintaining the church strong has been heavy visitation. Most week nights are not personal time for us. They are usually filled with counseling, and evangelism.

I am looking forward to what God is going to do in the months ahead in 2008! Please pray for more souls to be saved and for more people to become part of our congregation. It is a challenge!

Leadership Training Plans Continue for 2008

I am thankful for the grand opportunity to share what I have learned with others who will in turn teach others (as commanded in II Timothy 2:2). Our plans are for me to teach Biblical Counseling I, and to bring in fellow missionary Sam Hornbrook, missionary to Mexico, to teach course 2. Furthermore I am working with Gary Sammons and Bruce Burkholder from the mission. Both plan to teach Theology courses here (a total of 2 classes in 2008) and are helping me design the curriculum for the Bible School we are starting here. Our first Theology and Counseling classes were well received. Please pray for these complicated yet essential plans. Furthermore, please pray for more missionaries to answer the call to help out in this daunting project on site.

Personal

I have barely mentioned my family in my prayer letters of the past, to my shame. Because the task is so huge here I have basically centered my prayer letters on the work. But from now on I want to share what's new with my family.

This weekend is Carnaval which is a sinful period like Mardi Gras. This year we are spending time with Sonia's family. There are a Christian family now-praise the Lord!- and therefore their observance of Carnaval has changed drastically.

My son David and daughter Andrea are being home schooled through the BJU DVD program. It is a big task for us to oversee, but there are no other options we can agree with. The benefits of having the children (including pre-school aged Joshua) home are innumerable.

However, I am forced to use "gun muffler" ear muffs to study or write emails!

The children are glad we started a children's Bible Club and children's church. They are glad for their new Christian and unsaved friends. They have the chance to play with them several times per week as some of their parents come to our house for marriage counseling, or just to visit.

David and I go to Judo together. He is becoming a better athlete as he can now do the exercises he was unable to do before he began in this sport. It is so good to see him progress.

Andrea is in Ballet, and naturally this causes her to become more athletic and flexible too. She did well this first semester!

Joshua calls his good friend Daniel "Compadre". Most people get a kick out of that.

Our neighbor Elvia (unsaved elderly woman who attends at our church) Sonia�s father (Julio), and both of my grandmothers are having cardiac difficulties. My grandmothers now require around the clock care-and their time here amongst us may be limited. Everybody is saved in this group I mentioned except for our neighbor.

I am deeply grieved about these dear ones' situations. It is a struggle not being able to be there to minister to my own family. They are so far away! But I am forced to trust God who gave my grandmothers Pastors to minister to them, for which I am so thankful.

Furthermore it can be viewed as an encouragement to know that God has me here ministering to other people's grandparents while some of their loved ones are on a different continent.

 Please pray for all of these precious ones on different continents, that they might draw nearer to God than ever before. Please pray that our neighbor Elvia might trust what Jesus did for her on the cross, wholeheartedly, rejecting any trust she has in Mary or her own good works.

May the Lord Bless you! Thank you for your prayers and support. We can't do it without your help. 

Your Missionaries;

The Murrays

(David, Sonia, Dave, Andrea, Joshua)

www.ecuamurray.org

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