Mylinda and Gary are pastors and professors but mainly friends and connectors who walk alongside their sisters and brothers in Christ. They enjoy connecting students with leadership training, connecting scriptures to everyday life, and connecting people’s gifts with life changing ministries.

The Baitses work with the Costa Rican Baptist Federation in pastoral and lay leadership development and theological education. There is an urgent need for committed, trained servant leaders for the churches. Recruiting, training, and encouraging leaders are high on their list of ministry priorities.

They write: Dear partners in ministry: Thank you for your prayers.  We want to share some answers to prayer that we've seen lately.

 *Erik Lopez, one of our seminary grads, was named co-pastor of Emanuel Baptist Church in Aserrí, with special responsibilities for their new mission church in San Marcos de Terrazu.  It's been a joy to watch Erik grow as a leader and to see the church reaching out.

 *The candle making cooperative at the Butterfly Transformation Center is moving right along.  Women from the church and community are using their gifts and gaining new skills and confidence.  Currently, Mylinda is working with the women to find regular buyers (other than you work team folks) for the candles.

 *Gary teaches a preaching class Tuesday nights at the Mansion of Light Baptist Church in La Guácima .  14 brave souls signed up and for some of them it's the first time they've ever spoken in public, or even read a scripture from the pulpit.  But in spite of the terror, each of them is working with a biblical passage from which they will preach.  The other night, Jessica (who also makes candles) was talking about her scripture text, its context and her interpretation when it hit her; she was a real live theologian and a preacher in the making!

Please pray for:

• Pastors for our churches.  Many of our churches are currently without pastors.  Pray that God would raise up new leaders and help the churches see that they can do meaningful ministry during the transitions.
• Churches.  Some of our churches are doing good ministry, but others are in conflict or are dysfunctional.  Pray that there would be healing, reconciliation, and new energy.
• Gary's students.
• Please continue to pray for the people of Haiti and Japan and please give generously to relief and rebuilding efforts.