Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Thank you for keeping my wife Rut in your prayers. On June 22nd, a spinal specialist told us that, based on the MRI scan, Rut’s spinal discs are not pressuring her nerves. That is good news, but Rut continues suffering pain. Please keep her in your prayers.
Preaching Events: In previous reports, I have talked about the preaching events (revivals) I want to hold in Indiana as a way to present the gospel to the people. In the Lafayette and Monticello congregations, we have started a phase of spiritual growth in preparation for those events. I’m looking to develop preaching events in which people of the congregations cooperate in different ways. Keep these revivals in your prayers, please.
Short-term Mission Trip to the Dominican Republic: Since I left my home country in 1996, I have received requests at least once a year from Dominican people asking me to help them in developing their churches or ministries. Usually, I help them over the phone or the Internet. My limited budget and ministry duties don’t allow me to travel frequently to the Dominican Republic (DR). Within the last eight months, the Lord has opened doors for me preach the gospel to my own people in the DR. From the north side of the country (where I come from), individuals and small home Bible study groups have been asking me to visit them to preach and teach the gospel.
This year I want to dedicate one week to visit the DR to preach and teach the gospel. I will drive extensively mostly within rural areas of the north side of the DR. In the Northeast in two remote rural towns there were two small congregations which I want to: a) confirm if they still exist as congregations and b) if so, to encourage them. In the Northwest in another remote rural town, there is a small congregation whose members are mostly women. Because this congregation doesn’t have an evangelist, I want to find a qualified man to serve as the evangelist. In the second largest city of the DR, there are two distinct groups of home Bible studies which want me to visit them also. These groups are the main goal of my trip, but there is a possibility I can meet with politicians and intellectuals (who previously contacted me) to present them Jesus’ gospel, too. This will be a FULL week, but I’m confident our Lord will help us to accomplish these goals.
Because I currently do not have the financial capacity to pay for this short-term mission trip for myself, I’m asking for donations. With your donations I will pay for both Rut’s and my airfare, rent a vehicle able to drive on rural roads (generally the Dominican rural roads are not paved as in America), buy gas (more expensive than in the United States), purchase food and accommodations. Rut and I will go on the mission trip as soon as we have the needed funds. Although some of you may be unable to help us financially, please partner with us through prayer.
We also need prayers for HOPE’s financial situation as some churches have cut back on their monthly support. If you’re not yet a financial supporter, please consider joining us in this great ministry for the glory of God. Regular contributions and even one-time contributions are so helpful. Please send them to HOPE Ministries at PO Box 211, Monticello, IN 47960. (If they’re for the short-term mission trip, just mark them as such.)
Thank you!
Rafael Tirado