Mission to Invest in Young People

Bible Club, the value of volunteers, and the many ways to share the gospel.

Investing in young people is a mission that challenges us in many ways. This is reflected in the Bible Club, for example, from which numerous volunteers for the church have already arisen. It is also visible in the occasional joint church worship services: Young people participate with testimonies and worship songs. In the photo, you can see a group with their pastor (left), who studied at our Beni Bible School years ago and continues to serve faithfully in the church.

By God’s grace, we were able to once again welcome several volunteers to the mission grounds. This time often provides them with orientation on their future path, insights into mission work, and sometimes also the opportunity to tackle tasks that had been difficult for them in the past. Our aim is to support them and impart spiritual values. Their presence enriches us and keeps us young and flexible. Sometimes the Lord answers our prayers in a special way; for example, one volunteer later returned to us as a full-time missionary.

Passing on the Faith at School

There are numerous opportunities to bear witness to our faith both in and out of school. For example, we spend ten to fifteen minutes together in the mornings and afternoons on Wednesdays and Fridays, for regular teachers’ devotions. And some time ago, we participated in a wake at the home of a teacher, whose adult son had died in a drunken fight. Many teachers were gathered, and we were asked to share something. We formed a small choir and sang, and Eberhard offered a brief evangelistic message. Moments like these cause many people to pause and reflect.

In Bolivia, we also celebrate Teacher’s Day. Hundreds of teachers from every school gathered at the Evo Morales Coliseum. The school board had sent us written invitations. Although Eberhard hadn’t officially been scheduled to speak, he was the only Protestant representative, and was shown to a seat with the other guests at the tables. A Catholic priest then led a liturgy from the lectern. This experience demonstrates that the authorities are now treating the various religious communities fairly, and that they also appreciate our work. We see this as another opportunity to be witnesses for Christ.

Over and again, our missionaries in many places around the world, as well as those here at the office in the USA, experience the faithfulness of our Lord in how He engineers circumstances. In this case, it is Bolivia, bordered by Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, and Peru. While Spanish is the dominant language, an additional 36 indigenous languages are spoken. Bolivia’s population of about 12 million is overwhelmingly Catholic, with about 17% ascribing to various non-Catholic religions. Yet as the report concludes, it’s “another opportunity to be witnesses for Christ.”

Thank you for your continued prayer and financial support, so our missionary activity can continue prayerfully until the Lord returns.