“God uses men who are weak and feeble enough to lean on him.”

-Hudson Tylor

This quote, from one of the greatest missionaries to China, humbles me and reminds me of my great need to walk daily and dependently on my great and powerful Savior Jesus Christ, and my need to be constantly filled with His Holy Spirit if I would see the Great Commission completed in and through my life.  

With the undertaking that is at hand, this quote is a great comfort to me. I constantly feel inadequate and unequipped for the calling and mission that is ahead.

I came to Honduras 13 years ago as a young, inexperienced yet eager missionary; I have always had one purpose, “to work where people think it is too difficult to work, and to bring the gospel to people in places that it is too difficult to bring.” Now, more than ever, I am closer to that goal. This week I will be taking a new step into an outreach that I have never done before. I will be working with some local Pastors on a church replant. The vision of this project is twofold; Yes, I want to see a solid church functioning in this area of Rio Platano, but the greater vision, which I long to see being carried out, is that house churches would be planted all over  the mountainous areas of the Mosquitia.

There are so many areas that have yet to be reached; not that people haven’t heard the salvation message but so many have no clue as to what it means to follow Jesus and surrender to him. In these mountainous areas there are so few who can speak Spanish well and fewer who can read and write it. In these areas there are small pockets of families who farm the land to survive. They must walk 2 to 7 hours to get to a church (that is any church). The saddest part is that many of the churches that do exist, in more populated areas, are just “playing church.” They are not truly doing what Jesus said in Matthew 28:20 “Teaching them to observe ALL THINGS I have taught you.” And they do not apply the directions that Paul gave Timothy, “all scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in all righteousness,” 2 Timothy 3:16.

My father-in-law gave me this advice, “You have pastors that are mature enough now to take on this mission, but the only example they’ve seen for church plants and discipleship is a western mentality (If you build it they will come). Take them and help them do this church plant, oversee them in the process, and help them learn how to start a church by discipling a few good leaders and teaching those leaders to lead and pastor the church. It will be the hands-on practice you all need and will help you get closer to seeing your vision completed.”

In other news:

We made it through the summer push. We got to do many outreaches to the communities using the missionary groups coming from the United States.

We were not able to do our pastor graduation, because our teacher fell sick the day he was supposed to travel. Hopefully we will be able to have it when he returns from the states.

It is wonderful having our new baby, Nehemiah, in our home. I will admit, I have forgotten how much time and energy it takes to have a newborn in your home, lol.

Aiden, my cousin Samuel and I, got to take a trip up river to a place called Bolivar, to do a pastors/leaders training conference. We enjoyed getting to spend time together and with the pastors. The church in Bolivar was very encouraged to have more than 60 people come and stay with them for four days, bringing food, fellowship, and teachings. It was our first conference, I think ever, that there was not only no debt after the conference but money to spare to help for the next conference, (that’s a miracle in itself!)

Rebecca just started a woman’s Bible study with 5 ladies and she is very excited and motivated. I am very excited too! This is a powerful work of the Holy Spirit moving and I know the Lord will use it mightily.

We love you all so much and are very thankful for partnering with us,

Nathan, Rebecca, Aiden, Evelyn, Tristen, and Nehemiah

Prayer request:

• Pray for wisdom in the church replant, pray that those we disciple will have their minds and hearts opened to receive and apply that which they will hear.
• Pray for the men that will be working with me in this church plant, that they would capture the vision of the great commission. Pray that they will have faith that God will provide for their physical needs as they give of their time to serve Him. Pray that all of us would be willing to die to ourselves in this time of greater work and responsibility.
• Pray for Rebecca’s ministry, that she would have the strength to do all she needs to do.
• Pray for the women Rebecca will be ministering to that they will understand clearly what she teaches them and that they will be able to break through the spirit of religion. Pray that they will make the time to attend and read the scriptures during the week at home.
• Pray that I would have the motivation and strength to continue my seminary schooling (the responsibilities of the church plant, new baby, and hardware store are quite challenging).
• Pray that Rebecca and I would continue to disciple our children and that we would constantly remember that they are a part of our ministry and that we would always look for ways to include them in our ministry.