GospelBonds.org

Misión de la Graica Constituting Service, May 11,2008 Part I

Misión de la Graica Constituting Service, May 11,2008 Part II

I know there were many of you who expressed you desire to be with us on this wonderful occasion of the Constituting service of this new church.  So I am posting here the links to the video in two parts of the entire service.   “Part I” takes you through the actual constituting which include the signing of the articles of faith and the verbal covenant made to each other as members.   “Part II” includes the preaching of Pastor Omar Ramos of Chile who delivered the charge to the church, followed by Pastor Bob Selph who brought an affirmation of greetings from the “mother Church”, GBC of Taylors, SC.   The service was entirely in Spanish of course, with the exception of Bob’s message. 

          I want to again thank each of you for your prayers for us and for this congregation.  As a group they are facing challenging days since we have lost our building location, about two weeks ago.  Please pray for the Lord to meet this very important need in the  life of the saints of Mision de la Graica

Click on the banner for information about a great missions conference… I will be in the states preaching at a missions conference held in Norman, Oklahoma the same week.  Please pray for these times of encouragment and challenge to our hearts about the worthiness of God to be known and the need of man to hear of His greatness and worship Christ.  

                               in gospelbonds,

                                                  Don

It has been without a doubt one of the greatest experiences of my life over the past six years to see the the grace of God at work through His word to call out a people from among the many to whom we have witnessed and worked since we arrived in Villa Carlos Paz.   In that period of time we have seen approximately 96 people come in contact with our preaching for extended periods of time.  Some endured for a month others for years, but all 96 eventually left.  Some left because of the doctrine, others because of the practice that the doctrine demanded; others left because of the worship style, “too much preaching” or too many hymns;  others said there were not enough marriage prospects; others went away because we would not be a financial or social support system for them; others feared living with the biblical expectations of practical holiness and personal commitment to one another in a local church.  It has been sad to see these go away.  We cannot say that they were all unbelievers, although some undoubtedly were.  Others were merely those who have bought into  the lie that the church is merely an institution that exists to meet the needs of a “spiritual consumer”.    

             Paul has clearly said that the church is so much more.  In Ephesians 3 he refers to the chruch as, “the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things,” .  The church has always been upon the mind of God in all his gracious purposes for mankind and for that matter even “heaven-kind”.  Paul leaves no doubt about the purpose God has for the church, ”so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord,” (Ef.3:10,11).    God did not make all these plans merely to occupy a small place in the mind and life of mortals who have needs.  But so that He might display through this new creation, the church, the rainbow colors of his wisdom and glory to the very top of the created order.   

It seemed that on this past Sunday when we looked upon the 13 new members of this, the first reformed baptist church to be planted in Argentina by an American missionary, we were viewing something that the world would take little notice of but that, according to the Bible, the event had incredible eternal and spiritual importance.  Those 13 committed souls represented, “the manifold wisdom of God”.   There were husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, daughters and sons, brothers and sisters, a north american daughter-in-law and her Argentine in-laws, there was a policeman, and a casino employee, an artist and a tennis teacher, an english teacher and a hotel employee.  However, in all their differences it was only  one characteristic that they all shared which qualified them to take the covenant vows that they pledged to eachother before God and witnesses… they were all sinners, called out from the world to be a singular,  “spiritual house” and a “holy priesthood”.    It was as though before  our very eyes and to our very ears we saw the Lord form these “living stones” into a ”people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light”  . 

The witnesses present for this act were; the good brethren who came from the Grace Baptist Church of Taylors, Pastor Bob Selph his wife Cathi, Pastor Chad Clint and Aaron Selph, as well as my dear brothers from Chile, Pastor Omar Ramos and brother Javier Valenzuela; also several brothers from the church in Cordoba, “Centro Crecer” whose pastor is Sam Masters a dear friend an fellow missionary.  We were so thankful that these could join with us as each one has had some role in the progress toward this day as insturments by the grace of God. But furthermore they represent three countries and cultures brought together to bear witness and marvel with us at the grace and work of the Triune God.  

It was a particularly blessed day for my wife and I as we tasted the sweet fruit of our labors for the past 7 years hear in Argentina.   As sower of the seed we did not make it to grow, nor did we sustain it by our power or will, we were not the author of its goodness, neither could we make the soil to receive it.  We merely were the farmers. We sowed. We watered. We cultivated. We waited.   And we did none of this alone. We had many helpers who worked with us and the power of a mysterious and wonderful providence ordained by God who brought us into contact with each soul now present.  But most of all it was the person of the Holy Spirit sent before us who prepared and prospered the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  He “over-shadowed” the Word that was sown so that it supernaturally grew in the hearts of those who heard it, making much of Jesus and his work for sinners.    We have known much frustration, yet I do not believe that it was in vain, but God sanctified us through each of the 96 who turned away.   So that on the 11th of May 2008, in these 13 “living stones”, He has glorified Himself by so much more grace than we could have imagened, that all our grief has been turned to joy.  To Him be glory in the Church, now and forevermore!!!

                                in blessed bonds,

                                                         Don 

larry norman memorial service montage

I think to really “GET” a person you need to know what they listen to.  I know that some of you think I fit pretty squarely into a “reformed baptist-missionary-50´s guy”.  But that can be a pretty “flat screen” image of my life.  So let me tell help you to know where I get some of my more “undefined edges”.   I would trace them back to my first year as a christian when I knew what “religion” was, having grown up in the church.. but I did not know how to follow Jesus as a disciple.  Then the man who God used to lead me to Christ gave me some albums of Larry Norman, (that have turned out to be collectors edition copies).  In his music I found out for the first time what authentic christianity ought to be… ”outside the lines” of church, religion and “safe speech” about God.   

             So if you care to listen, hit the button (larry norman memorial service montage) , and go see and hear one of the most profound influences of my early christian life…  I am convinced he was the most relavant christian singer/songwriter of the past 40 years.  But be warned: what Larry sings about is not “safe”.   Jesus said, “I have cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled… I have a baptism to be baptized with and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. (Luke12:49-51)  and continuing another said to him, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home. Jesus said to him, ”"No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom.”"  Luke 9:61-62    

                       in bonds,

                                              Don

           So did you ever feel “over exposed”.  It is not a very comfortable feeling.  Though a few trips down to the river where I live and you are convinced that such a feeling scarcely exist in Carlos Paz during the summer.  Nevertheless, for most people with a conscience and a sense of propriety we try to keep ourselves and our lives “covered” as best we can… At least those parts of us which are least attractive.  Maybe it is really generational or cultural more than true modesty that drives our fear of ”over-exposure” as individuals.  Because we really don’t mind it so bad if the side people see of us is ”not so bad” or expemplifes our strength.  

            Even Paul had some words to say about how the body of Christ reacts to itself and its “weaker parts”, saying, “And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment.”  There is just something proper about how much or how little we let people see of our lives.  The application to the church is one of giving equal honor to all the members of the body of Christ.  But I fear some have used this to forego a “transparency” that the gospel requires and that humbles us to seek grace for one another. 

             Frankly, I have found that even the “blogosphere” makes some people feel very uncomfortable.  The fear of “electronic exposure” can be pretty frightening to some.  It can give them something of the feeling of waking around your downtown in bad spandex or a bikini to see your name in someone’s blog.  Maybe those of us who blog are some of the more daring, but clearly, we should also be the most sensitive to the power of this medium.   

             Call me crazy, or maybe an “electronic exhibitionist” but I  have recentely joined my name to the millions who are now using “Facebook” as their tool of electronic exposure.  It is a great tool for keeping in touch with people close to our life and gaining an insight into the lives of others as well.    For me it helps me separte family from ministry. For those who are more intrested in family and the people who I hang out with the most… go to my facebook ;  but for you who, “just want the facts” about ministry and missions and occasionally the men who are most effecting the work we do, you are in the right place…  

          Honestly, for all that is written about the “ills” of this “post-modern” age, when it is all said and done, we may find that our society and this generation owes a great debt to postmodernism, because it may be that through their willingness to be transparent and risk over-exposure that they may lead us to face some realities about who we really are.  That is it is really not “over exposure” that we are afraid of, but being seen and known at all beyond a very select group of people.  See you soon!!!!

in gospel bonds,

                 Don

The New Gospelbonds Car

Congratulations!  You found us.  Welcome to the new “Gospelbonds” blog.  The past several months we have had “issues” with our blog that have restricted our use of it.. but now with a new hosting company and new format I hope you will frequent the blog more often for updates, prayer requests and photos. 

Not only are we moving around on the web differently, but thanks to the generosity of the people of God, the Lord has provided for us a new way to move around Argentina as well.   Some of you know the struggles we have had over the past few years with car problems that restricted our ability to go where we needed to go for the sake of the gospel…  We rejoice that God has provided for us the Hyundai Tucson to carry us from place to place as He opens doors for us.   However, new car, old car or no car, our confidence and hope is that the Lord will extend his mercy and grace in the gospel throughou this entire country.  We often remember the words of Ps.147:10-11,  

His delight is not in the strength of the horse,
   nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,   (or the wheels of a car)
but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him,
   in those who hope in his steadfast love.

                                in gospelbonds,

                                                    Don

              Paul writes what is his hope for the young church of Philippi when next he hears news of them and what turns out to be the expression of the main emphasis of his entire letter, in Philippians 1:27, when he says, “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that,… I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.”   As a young forming congregation, it seems that we find ourselves drawing much instruction, direction, grace and strength from these challenging words.   I had been expositing this letter leading up to the January-February vacation season and finished with this verse.  It seems that in the providence of God this verse has contained the guiding truth for us as a congregation and for our future as a body.  But before I give you all the details let me say first, I cannot help but rejoice, and it gives me great comfort as a missionary to see and experience the guidance of the Holy Spirit upon this work by his word, by which he both feeds and directs his people.
           We entered into the vacation season feeling like a small platoon of soldiers pinned down and surrounded by enemy gunfire.  In the vacation season in Carlos Paz we are not only descended upon by about 50 to 60 thousand additional people, but with them come every conceivable immoral diversion to keep them entertained.  But especially it seemed to us that this year the visual assault upon the conscience was particularly strong with so much sexually explicit advertising that we declared one entire part of central downtown to be “rated R” and “NC17”.  With each year we have seen the people of our community, Christian and unbeliever alike, become more and more seared to their immoral surroundings.
  This context has impacted us in two ways: First, we must fight as a community of faith for the spiritual welfare of one another, our families and our identity as true believers, through encouraging each other with the task of “walking worthy of the gospel of Christ”.   I believe our people are coming to see the radical difference that being a Christian in this depraved culture truly means. We must live as strangers together with the people of God; or as Paul exhorts the Philippians, “but our citizenship is in heaven…” (3:20), whether Argentine, Chilean, or North American we must separate from those “enemies of the cross, whose end is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is their shame with minds set on earthly things”.(3:19)   
Secondly, we must war together as gladiators united in the arena, “side by side for the faith of the gospel.”  This world is not the friend of grace and there is much to lose if we fail to plant this church upon the solid rock of Christ and lives of holiness.  Our people are battling against employers, who are unjust and abusive in their demands upon our people to work more without additional pay, withholding lawful wages supplied to them by the government for families with children, and asking their employees to participate in their illegalities.   And these are the actions of a professing Christian employer!   Furthermore, without exception, every family in the congregation is the first to have trusted in Christ, so that they are often under criticism or pressure for declaring allegiance to an evangelical church family, the Lord’s Day or personal choices of all kinds.  Please especially pray for the young believers to hold fast to Christ and the sound words of Scripture to guide their lives and lead their families.
           It has been especially difficult for our congregation this summer as the demands of the work in San Nicolas,(6 hours away)  have called me to be there each week.  I am driving each Friday afternoon to conduct visits and a bible study in the home of Nico Griboff each Saturday afternoon.  I then return home Saturday night for our services on Sunday morning.  Due to increased work demands of the people in Carlos Paz, we suspended services on Sunday evening, but will continue them in March.  The work in San Nicolas is doing well with a growing group there of between 10 and 15 people.  Please pray with us that we will find help from someone in Argentina so that we can continue to meet each week.  Ultimately, we are praying for a qualified church planter to come and work with this group to plant the church. 
            Meanwhile, we continue with book distribution throughout Argentina and Chile.  We now have three churches with book tables and are supplying large quantities of books to two pastoral training institutes.  The believers in San Nicolas are now handling the distribution of books since they are closer to Buenos Aries.  This has been a blessing to me personally. We continue to receive requests from other locations in Argentina through our website for books and training.   Following up on training needs continues to be a burden. We are working jointly with William Carey Seminary of Cordoba, to secure long-term solutions to providing a solid theological and pastoral training to men.  We are working with solutions at this time in cooperation with ARBCA and our supporting churches, which we hope will provide significant help to our efforts in training.  Please pray for wisdom and direction from the Lord.
           Finally, and perhaps most importantly, after seven years in missionary labors we are approaching a major goal of our time in Argentina, the constituting of the church in Carlos Paz.   Learning to “stand firm in one spirit… for the sake of the gospel”, certainly captures the spirit of our meetings and our fellowship at this time.  I am meeting with each family individually and continue to teach on a regular basis the importance of becoming a covenanted body of believers in stead of following the example of most evangelical churches whose “attendees” remain is something of a long-term “dating relationship” that can be broken off at any time of inconvenience.    In contrast, we are planning on a constituting service in late May, if the Lord permits.  This event will not mean the immediate end of my time in Carlos Paz, but it is an important step. It has never been my conviction that I should join this congregation but rather to remain in my role as a missionary church-planter, to facilitate the constituting of the church and training of its officers, using my gifts to contribute to the completion of this process.  Please pray for me as I carry out this important role as the “friend of the bride-groom” to these believers.  And especially pray for the growth of their love and care for one another which, “binds all things together in perfect harmony”(Col.3:14).             

            Some of you may know that over the last few years Banner of Truth has begun publishing the messages of Dr. Juan Boonstra, which he delivered over the radio for more that 40 years of preaching to the Spanish world.   With his graduation to glory in 1997, his dear friend Pastor Jim Adams, with the financial support of the DenDulk Foundation and Dr. Bob DenDulk, with the permission and blessing of the Boonstra family began editing his messages for publication and distribution into the latin world.  Three volumes have are published at present: “El Evangelio en Nuestro Mundo“, “La Familia en Nuestro Mundo” and just being released this year, “La Verdad en Nuestro Mundo”.     These books like his radio broadcasts are marked by his distinctly reformed theology and world view, its practical application to life and its clear concise form.  

            In addition to the books, the DenDulk Foundation has also digitized and updated the orginal radio broadcasts in MP3 fomat on CD.  It was my joy to be given one set of these  1354 radio sermons by Dr. Adams and DenDulk with the hope that at some point we might find a way to once again air them in a radio format in Latin America.   As of last week the brocasts began in the city of San Nicolas, BsAs on a local christian raido station that serves more than 150,000 listeners.  The messages will be heard three times daily, morning, late afternoon and at night, five days a week.  We began there with the hope of helping us make local contacts through the broadcasts as we seek to plant another church in that city.  With every listener inquiry we will send out a copy a booklet containing three sermons by Dr. Boonstra,”True Christianity” and information about other books and ministries offered by our “Palabra Fiel” ministry in Argentina.  We have also asked the Bible Broadcasting Network International, BBN radio to consider carrying the broadcasts over all their network of stations throughout Latin America. BBN broadcasts to 31 stations in Argentina and included in 87 stations throughout South America.  Please pray with us that the Lord might open these doors as well.  Please give thanks for the opportunity given us through radio to penetrate Argentina with good preaching. 

                   in gospelbonds,

                                Don