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July/August 2005


Embedded in Enemy Territory


If one takes a quick glance at Cuenca, Ecuador’s panorama, he will see Non-Gospel-Preaching-Churches churches more than adequately covering the entire area. Furthermore, if one flies over Cuenca’s surrounding countryside, he will spot churches dotting even the most remote areas. We climbed a mountain in an area considered to be “the end of civilization”, and we found a chapel tucked away on the hidden side of the peak. The established religion in Ecuador has reached even the most insignificant corners of inhabited territory.


A mighty infrastructure has been constructed over the centuries by the established religion. This legalistic system infiltrates every facet of daily life. And as BMM describes it, “the Enemy has had his grip on the city for centuries, and he will not readily release it.” It will take a mighty work of God to plant Bible Teaching, Gospel Preaching Churches here behind enemy lines. We do so appreciate you prayers and support as we are embedded in enemy territory with the objective of sharing the vital Gospel message with needy souls, and planting churches with His passion and for His glory.


Here are the headlines:


Tremendous opportunity: Building a meeting place in enemy territory!

Wed. Night Prayer in the Murray House

New opportunities to share the Gospel with the lost

Sharing the Word as we Go from House to House, day and night

Tremendous need for repair at camp





Tremendous opportunity: Building a meeting place in enemy territory!


We have been looking for a different place to meet as a church, because our storefront location is not at all conducive to teaching the Word with clarity. (Perhaps you have read or heard my accounts of constant interruptions and overbearing noises from busses, cattle, motorcycles and bi-monthly parades.)



Here’s what happened:

We were searching the area for an adequate shelter in which to worship, learn and fellowship. Little did we know the answer was so close! I casually asked the landlord if he would rent to us a virgin lot, which is right beside our house. His reply was that he would not rent it to us for money. Because I am doing the work of God he wants to help us out and let us use it for free! Thus he expressed his good will, allowing us to use the property indefinitely for to hold services and anything else we wish. He also asked if he could attend. When I responded “Of Course!” followed up with another unbelievable question: “May I bring the rest of my family too?” Can you imagine my joy?

The agreement is that they will invest very little in the development of the lot. What we invest will count as rent. We are writing up a three-year contract. We have leveled the Lot.(Please see exciting “before and after” pictures) They are generously soliciting Electric, water and Sewage services (This costs them)


Things changed overnight:


The day I was about to send this message to you, I received some important news. The landlord explained to me that his sister (the owner of the lot) had just re-united with her estranged husband and that they had decided to build a home their rather than lend us the property. They will be returning our money we paid for to level the lot and clear the brush. We had made so many plans and we were just about to sign the contract. This changed our immediate plans drastically. I stated that I was happy for them that they had decided to stick together-and that God would supply all of our needs. Although we had already returned the rental storefront which we were using, Sonia and our congregation and I are trusting God for a solution. We may have found a temporary one already, and I will update you on this very soon.

Our long-term plans are not changed. We know we need to build a church building, and we hope to do this very soon. Sonia and I are willing to contribute sacrificially $500 of our support per month. We do not know exactly where or exactly how we will accomplish this building project. But we do know that we plan to buy in the next month or two. God will provide. Perhaps God will work through you. Please consider getting involved now.

Why Build?


•Nobody wants to rent their buildings to us. They consider anything but the established
church a cult. That’s right, they think we are a cult-and that they would be
disappointing God/Mary if they were to rent to us.

• We have been “burned” too many times (3) already by rental committments being
retracted at the last minute for religious reasons.

• If (doubtful) we could find a rental area with adequate space, it would cost at least
$500 per month. This adds up to $18,000 for three years. We can probably buy and
build for this amount. Rental money disappears but church property is forever.

• We can build inexpensively once we buy a lot. And we will have a building, which
will meet our needs for classrooms, noise reduction, a sanctuary with room for
growth etc.

• Believers and friends have expressed the desire to give a hand in the labor as we build.
Even landlord (Fernando Coronel) has offered, and he has abundant experience in
construction.
• Ecuadorian and American believers have donated towards this church building project-
they understand the absolute need for this.


We Need Your Help!
We need to get started soon. People from the US have contributed, and Ecuadorian believers have too. I continue to contribute all I can and more. But we only have a fraction of the money necessary to purchase a piece of property, building materials and pay one experienced worker. (Our church people have committed themselves to manual labor/financial sacrifice with me as we construct. We’ll all work together!)

Will you help us out in this unique, vital opportunity? Please let me know as soon as you can, whether you would like to make a one time contribution, or a time oriented commitment. We just need you to come alongside us, and we will finally have somewhere to meet. The time to build is now. It is vital and it is urgent.


Wed. Night Prayer in the Murray House


Since we cannot really meet in an open field on Wednesday nights, we are meeting in our house for Wednesday night prayer. We have had to fix quite a bit of damage (see details in our prayer requests on www.ecuamurray.org , in the August prayer request section) before starting, but what a great feeling it is to prepare for, and have our dear friends and brothers and acquaintances in our house! It is good to have the house full for God’s work!


New opportunities to share the Gospel with the lost


What opportunities we have had with unbelievers here in Cuenca! Every day we pray for opportunities to share Christ with people. It happens all the time. There is no greater happiness than leading another lost soul to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.

We are overjoyed to tell you that Qui-Que is now probably an infant believer. It is amazing to see how much better his capacity is to understand the Scriptures. Thank you for your years of prayer for him.

New contact, Andres Corea is studying the Word with me at my house along with many other unbelievers and new Christians. Mireya and Vladimiro have also dedicated themselves to coming to our house to learn Bible Truths and study the Gospel. Cesar (Checho) Segarra and his wife are coming, so is Mr. Pacheco and his (newly reunited) wife, Jairo and Veronica, Marco……and the glad list goes on! (You may have prayed for the aforementioned folks in previous months as they are on www.ecuamurray.org) We are so happy with the ample opportunities to share Christ and teach and preach the Word!


Sharing the Word as we Go from House to House, day and night


Acts 20:20, 31 (along with various other passages) shows us how Paul served tirelessly day and night, from house to house as he warned/counseled people with God’s Word. We have not needed to search for ailing marriages and marred relationships in need of godly counsel. We are taking the opportunities God has laid before us and we are warning/counseling people biblically. It is awesome to see God’s Word change people’s lives as they apply His commands and obey Him in various uncared for areas of their lives.


Tremendous need for repair at camp

Many of you have been praying for our camp’s needs. I am enjoying the challenge of transforming the camp into a high volume of use, self-maintaining entity. We are just starting on this venture. Immediate problems are the following: our sewer system was built for very limited use. As we fill the camp up, the sewer may explode. This urgent need demands that we build a new system, which shall be adequate for a camp. Also, we need to install something slightly essential……….water. God may be providing the financial answer for this through the sale of mission property in Santa Isabel. Praise God!

Please pray for wisdom for me as I administrate these areas.

My plate is definitely full. I am the only male BMM missionary here. Therefore I am the acting president of the mission in Ecuador. (Process of elimination? Last resort? J ) I am very busy as you may imagine administrating the mission, and the camp, and with the vital work of church planting/ evangelism/pastoring etc. It is great to be involved heavily in the work of the Lord. I love it!

I would, however, appreciate your prayers that God will grant me wisdom and energy, and that He will use me mightily for His glory.

Thank you all so much for your tremendous support and prayers. I again declare, we cannot do this without you!

Your missionaries;



The Murrays (David, Sonia, Dave, Andrea and Joshua)
www.ecuamurray.org For pictures, updates, archived prayer letters, bios etc please check out our personal website www.ecuamurray.org YOU MAY BE ON THE WEBSITE IN THE “FIND YOURSELF” SECTION, SO YOU MAY WANT TO CHECK IT OUT!!!



All financial donations : Please send to:
Baptist Mid Missions, PO Box 30801, Cleveland , OH, 44130-8011 *Please mark donations with our name/acc# 703819 and please mark what the donation is for (ie. Building fund, Video Projector, Vehicle fund etc.)

It is also possible to support us through the BMM website www.bmm.org