Dr. Delia Nüesch-Olver & Dr. Paul Olver Latin America Area, Free Methodist Church December 16, 2014

Transcription

1 Dr. Delia Nüesch-Olver & Dr. Paul Olver Latin America Area, Free Methodist Church December 16, 2014 Partnership Re-affirmation 'Tis the season for partnership reaffirmation - that means confirming your commitment or pledge towards our Missionary Support Account for next year. If you give by recurring credit card charge or automatic withdrawal from your checking account that will count as a commitment and you don't need to do anything more.

2 To register a commitment for 2015 please copy and paste this address into your browser: freemethodist.wufoo.com /forms/z7w0x7 Please encourage your church to use that same form to make their commitment as soon as possible. Gracias! Coming Events Please pray for Delia as she prepares to be a keynote speaker at the International Conference of the Wesleyan Church in Orlando, Florida January 11. Please pray for a Leadership Summit of the district leaders and superintendents Delia supervises, January in Tampa, Florida. Pray that everyone will get visas and be able to attend - and that it will be a very significant time of training, strategizing, and encouragement. Watch the Website:

3 Follow us on Facebook: Delia Nüesch-Olver You made this possible. Thank you! Come with us to Costa Rica and Ecuador, where we spent a week each this past month. Having more time in each country is a benefit of both of us being assigned to Latin America. Your partnership in giving and prayer enabled us to coach and mentor pastors and leaders, preach and teach - and above all cast vision for fueling and sustaining an apostolic movement to reach Latin America for Christ. Costa Rica Costa Rica's Central Valley is home to three-fourths of the nation's residents. The mosaic of smaller cities around the capital of San Jose has a combined population of 3.5 million. Traffic snarls in the narrow and winding two lane roads. Nine Free Methodist churches reported 90 conversions and baptisms in the last 12 months. Since 2004 Dr. Hiuberth Zapata served as district leader with integrity and wisdom, bringing administrative and organizational health. He asked to be relieved of that responsibility - but continues as district leader for neighboring Nicaragua. Delia prayed and worked for some time to select and prepare the way for a new leader. God confirmed her choice of Pastor Victor Quesada in very clear ways and his appointment was well received.

4 During the annual meeting Pastor Hiuberth presented Delia with the district credit card, cell phone, car keys, and a file with the property deeds. She then presented them to the new leader. That night the united service included appreciation and recognition for Pastor Hiuberth as well as prayer and installation for Pastor Victor. Everyone present was aware that this was a significant and spiritually charged transfer of leadership - the first time in the history of the FMC in Costa Rica that there was a healthy and planned change of leader. Some expressed it was as if a spiritual knot was untied. We also traveled to the Pacific Coast to visit with missionaries Dennis & Kyle Leon. They are doing remarkable work developing a model of holistic community development and church planting. After five years there are 550 new believers involved in four different communities. People in Costa Rica, Brazil and El Salvador are looking to them for

5 coaching on how to plant churches in beach communities. Ecuador Can you believe it is cold at the equator!? Just a few kilometers from the mitad del mundo (middle of the earth), snow capped mountains ring the city of Quito and it is easy to get chilled in buildings with no central heat. This city of 2.7 million is at 9,500 feet above sea level. There are six Free Methodist churches in Ecuador - four in Quito and two in the coastal city of Esmeraldas, six hours away. Although small in size, they are big in zeal and we left hopeful that they are poised to begin a new chapter of growth and ministry effectiveness.

6 Our visit focused on what we do best: coaching and mentoring with individuals and smaller groups, teaching and preaching with larger groups. Together we make a pretty good team! Delia preached to a packed house for the united service Sunday morning. Each congregation present brought a worship dance to share. A teen group represented international youth culture, while a women's group used fabrics and movements uniquely Ecuadorian.

7 Pastora Eunice Alvarez is a missionary from Northern Mexico to Ecuador. In just 18 months she has won the hearts of her congregation in Quito and of her fellow pastors in the district. God is using her to help bring about a new day in the Free Methodist Church in Ecuador. Please pray that financial support will come through so she can continue in the effective ministry she has begun. At this season of Thanksgiving and Advent we are so grateful for the opportunity we have to see God's hand at work throughout Latin America. We are humbled by the faithfulness and sacrifice of so many pastors and lay leaders giving it all for the cause of Christ - and the generosity of believers and churches in North America who help to resource this movement. Thanks for being a part of this ministry! Christmas joy and peace, Paul and Delia