by Bob Dayton, Central Americal Director

“I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an OPEN DOOR, and no man can shut it...” (Rev. 3:8a)

Could the OPEN DOOR be our neighbors just a few miles from home? Eight countries of CENTRAL AMERICA have more than 140 million people right at our door. Many of God’s choice missionaries have passed through these doors.

MEXICO: This is the largest door with an explosive population of over 90 million people. Mexico City is the largest city in the world with over 25 million people. Some of the pioneer missionaries were Weldon and Elaine Jones, Odis and Betty Seals, and Bill and Marlene Pettit. God has wonderfully blessed their ministries. A good deaf ministry with Ron and Sue Henson and Gary and Ann Layne has been planted. A self-supporting deaf church has been established in Monterrey. Dr. Armando Guzman has an effective medical ministry with church planting. There are also four Bible institutes training men for the ministry.

Mexico’s needs will only increase in the future. Our plans are to enlarge the Bible institutes in Mexico City and Tuxla Gutierrez and to build churches in areas that still need independent Baptist churches. One of the great needs for the future is Mexico City. Steve and Lisa Brogden and Brian and Vickie Burkholder are having fruitful ministries in that great city. They need help. Pray for laborers.

GUATEMALA: This is a beautiful country of lakes and volcanoes. This republic has many denominations but few independent Baptists. The work here was pioneered by Paul and Wilma Marsh. God has blessed the work, especially in the capital of Guatemala City. Joel and Marilú Marsh, Scott and Christi Bailes, and Phil Humber have fruitful ministries in this city. The Bible institute is doing well. We hope to expand this ministry over the next few years. There are many areas in the interior that we would like to reach soon. This land of over 10 million people has great open doors.

EL SALVADOR: This very small country is the most densely populated in Central America. Bob and Patsy Green pioneered the work for BIMI in southern El Salvador. A Bible institute was founded and many preachers were trained. Out of every church established, someone was called to preach. From a little handful of people, eight good churches carry on God’s work in El Salvador. For many years now, the national pastors have headed up the ministry. We need missionary couples to go into El Salvador. A new Bible institute has been started. Growth will come as these national men press on.

BELIZE: This smallest country of Central America is presently without a BIMI missionary. English and Spanish are spoken. Pray that in the near future God will speak to the heart of a missionary couple to step through this open door.

HONDURAS: The work of missions has an open door in Honduras. BIMI has seen steady growth through the years. Many churches have been started. Many years ago the Carlos Johnson and Thomas Harrington families began these ministries. Two Bible institutes have been training nationals. Over 30 national men are presently studying for the ministry. Chester and Violet Sheren have been working in the interior. Charles and Brenda Arnold have been working in the suburbs of Tegucigalpa. Glen and Jan LaVanchy are starting churches in the city and the rural towns. Glen and Furman Hendrix send medical teams out to new areas. This is a great tool to win souls and start new churches. We hope to enlarge our training of preachers. The door is open for church building.

NICARAGUA: This is the largest of the Central American countries. With the election of a democratic-type government, the door to Nicaragua is open once again. The work has grown in spite of ten years of communist control. Frank and Dot Rosser were the pioneering missionaries to this needy country. Bob and Sabina Dayton followed, and he has been guiding the work since 1962. Over 65 churches have been organized. Martha Kunberger was instrumenal in beginning the Christian school ministry. The schools have been growing again after coming through communism. There are over 2,000 students enrolled. A good Bible institute begun by Fred and Aileen Crowe and Jerry and Gail Reece has been the lifeline of the ministry. Soon the Bible institute will be enlarged with a new building. Dr. Dan and Lana Siemer have a medical ministry as well as a ministry of starting new churches. DeWitt and Helen Hersey assist them from the States. The door is wide open for great growth.

COSTA RICA: This country of 2.5 million people is the most stable of Central America. Bill and Cindy Murdock pioneered the work for BIMI. Churches and a good Bible institute have been started. Many of the graduates now pastor churches. Terrell and Kaye Jones have done a fine job in San Jose, the capital. Russ and Lynn Turner have served many years in Costa Rica, planting churches. God has also used Russ in conducting national pastors’ conferences in Costa Rica and other countries of Central America. The door is open.

PANAMA: Our BIMI missionaries in Panama are working with the American military. We are praying that God will call missionaries to work with the nationals in Panama.

We would like to thank the missionaries whose names have not been mentioned here as well as our national pastors. They have had a wonderful ministry because of their dedication to the Scripture and to their task, and because of the prayers of thousands. Many indigenous churches have been established and are growing because of the faithfulness of missionaries and national pastors during these 35 years.

Friday, May 24, 2013

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Philip & Susan Smith -  CLAIM
Robert Lee & Betty Smith -  MILITARY - RELIEF
Roy & Ellen Smith -  ARM PERSONNEL