Dear brothers and sisters:

Greetings in the name of the Lord!

Ketly went to Haiti in July with four young people called the Ignite Team to La Citadelle, a mountaintop fortress that was built by Henri Christophe, a key leader during the slave rebellion after Haiti gained independence from France at the beginning of the 10th century; at the end of July, we went to Washington, D.C., for the Youth Conference and visited different museums, all of which led to the same theme of freedom. In August, I went to Corn Island for the 160th anniversary of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Nicaragua and at the same time the island celebrated its 171st anniversary of emancipation from slavery.  (The abolishment of slavery was an order of Queen Victoria of England and King Robert Charles Frederick of La Mosquitia, once part of the territory that the British crown was allied with on the Nicaraguan and Honduran Caribbean Coast.) On September 15 Nicaragua celebrated 191 years of independence from Spain; the call of freedom has been in her mind.

Human nature is willing to do anything for the sake of independence, including risking his/her own life.   In these four different places, people heard the call of independence, believed in it and became free.  Are we ready to hear God’s call for freedom in order to be really free from ourselves and to serve others?  As Galatians 5: 1 and 13 says,  “For freedom Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery. For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity to indulge your flesh, but through love serve one another.”  

We will share with you how God is freeing people from the bondage of sin to the love of God through serving his/her neighbor.   

Freedom in Christ in Haiti

Ketly heard the call to accompany four young adults called “Ignite Team” to Haiti for one month.  All of us experienced in different ways the freedom in Christ by obeying God’s call to go.  Freedom from fear of the past, present and future; freedom to serve others in love; freedom to let go and let God take control of our lives – Ebenezer (stone of help); freedom to look up the where God wants to take us.
 
One of the experiences that stayed with Ketly was the great impact the Word of God is making in a small community in the city of Limbe, where Eden Church is educating children and adults, which in turn is freeing the people from sin, illiteracy, and basic human needs like bringing a well and teaching in Sunday School to the children and adults about basic health care.  God’s freedom is total when we hear His call to serve!

Freedom in Christ in Nicaragua

• Bluefields -- Two weeks ago Delia came back to the church after being out of fellowship for approximately four years.  Delia was part of the church for five years, faithful in her discipleship class, very active in the service of the Lord, giving fruits that honored the Lord. Suddenly, she decided to abandon the fellowship by not standing firm in the truth that she had learned.  Many people from the church visited her but with no result.  She was out of the church but could not go back the same way she used to live before knowing the Lord.

Upon her return, she confessed:  “I have wasted too much time.” The freedom she once experienced in Christ was more appealing to her than to the freedom that the world has to offer.  Immediately, she got married with the man she was living with and she started taking her discipleship class so she may continue to experience the freedom of Christ in serving others in love.

• Kukra Hill -- Pastor and Principal Joel Garcia, a fruit from Bethel Church in Bluefields, one who decided not to be subject to the yoke of slavery from sin is giving the real freedom in Christ to many children at Bethel School.  A school of only four (4) years of existence is producing students who  are being free from the bondage of drop out to excellency by earning the 2nd and 3rd place in the South Atlantic Autonomous Region.  On September 15, marching bands that combine music and choreographic rhythms, composed of students from different schools are in the streets in Nicaragua.  That day, Bethel School won the 1st place among the schools in the city, celebrating the freedom that we have in Christ and of independence.

• Rama -- Argentina, Escarlet and Onell continue to celebrate the freedom of giving up their fleshly desire in order to serve the people in Rama.  They are teaching that same sacrificial love to others which in turn, they are being demonstrated in the new believers.  The new Christians in the church are standing firm in the freedom to serve the community by giving themselves to the construction work of the church/school.  Under the rain, women and men were lifting up materials to the work site in order to have the school ready on February 2013.

Some 160 years ago, Rev. Edward Kelly heard the call of God while he was in Belize to start the first Baptist Church in Nicaragua in the small island of Corn Island. The Lord continues to call each of us.  Will we continue to hear the call? Reverend Kelly and many missionaries around the world have heard God’s call in order to set people free from the bondage of sin.  

Thank you so much for hearing God’s call by giving your offering to International Ministries through the World Mission Offering.  Through your obedience, the Lord is keeping the flame of His call in our lives so we may continue to do His will in Nicaragua. “Speak, for your servant is listening.” 1 Samuel 3:10b.  

In Christ,

Vital and Ketly Pierre

MPT website: www.missionbluefields.org