March 2013
Dear Prayer Supporters,
We have been greatly encouraged with the group of believers in Rayo Cortado as they continue to put into practice biblical ways of working in the lives of people. The men have been greatly encouraged by the response of the town towards them, as they first of all show people that they are genuinely interested in their lives as Christ did. The men have been able to begin Bible studies with other men in the town and as they teach the Bible chronologically, there is a great response because the people are interested in the whole story and not just fragments of the Bible. Also, as a result, they have more people interested in attending their regularly scheduled meetings. Gail continues to encourage the women to be what God needs them to be for their husbands so the work of the Great Commission can be fulfilled.
Our goal has always been to train leadership in forming biblical churches that will be reproducing in the community, other surrounding towns, the province, and the world. The group in Rayo Cortado has been working in another community encouraging a family where the mother has left her husband and her four children. The families in Rayo Cortado have been taking turns helping to encourage this family, spending time with the children, helping with some of the household tasks and encouraging the 10 year-old daughter who has been left in charge of caring for her younger siblings. At times, this is overwhelming for this young girl who is normally a very happy child. She has made a profession of faith and is praying for her mom and dad’s salvation.
Slowly, doors are opening up in this community for Bible studies with men as the leaders of their families.
In Villa del Totoral where we are living, we continue to pray that God will help us to work effectively with the Diems and to promote the unity needed to form the group of believers that God desires here. We are always impressed by the fact that God is the One who adds to the church daily. As we do our part in following up contacts who are open to talking about the Bible, God is always faithful in doing His part in giving us wisdom to share the Word to bring them to Christ. Steve has introduced us to a couple who are older than us, and as we visited them we were able to add to the testimony that the Diems have with this older couple. Please continue to pray for Steve and Becky Diem, our coworkers here in Totoral, that they will continue to be encouraged with the families in which they have established a tremendous testimony. We are praying they will be able to bring these families to Christ in God’s time. Joe also had the opportunity to again share the Gospel with two men in town.
Joe continues to mentor Steve in pastoral counseling. They are working through how to deal with the problems you encounter when working in the lives of people. Problems bring people to Christ. The goodness of God can bring people to Him, but mostly it’s the destruction in their lives as a result of worldly living that drive people to look for help. Even though Joe and I are older and have more experience in some areas, we really appreciate the Diems because God has gifted them in areas that we are not gifted in. We have enjoyed learning from them and we have stayed encouraged in the ministry as a result of their testimony to us. Please pray for their family as they minister in a foreign culture.
We continue to remain in contact with former disciples in Buenos Aires to encourage them and help them in whatever way we can as they seek to disciple others. Please continue to pray for the Javier Bravo family as they continue nourishing the church they have planted. They actually minister in “restricted areas” in Argentina where Joe and I cannot go. They minister in “villas de miseria” (ghettos) where Joe and I are not permitted to go, by our Argentine friends, because there is actually no government control within many of these areas, and our lives would be at risk. Recently, Javier has been asked by several churches to help them learn how to use the Firm Foundations material in their evangelism and discipleship.
We would also like you to be in prayer for our group of Cordoba BMW missionaries. We have two other families south of us that are working in different cities in Cordoba. We had a group meeting for all of us here at our place the other day. Our desire was to encourage one another and move forward in the vision of planting reproducing churches that will co-labor with the Argentines. Our work is to train leadership so that we can encourage the Argentines to do the work of the ministry and pastor their own churches. We desire to train, encourage, and give them whatever tools are necessary for them to plant their own churches and fulfill the Great Commission by sending out their own missionaries. We would like to remind you that when this is accomplished, they will be able to go to countries where USA citizens are restricted in their access.
Your Co-laborers in Argentina,
Joe and Gail Owens
