Christmas Greetings

Please follow the link below for a December Picture Update:

http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=dda64d1288d51a6819e6796ab&id=8d0ee8a074

Church Property Tour

Please follow the link below to start the tour:

http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=dda64d1288d51a6819e6796ab&id=c97c24ebbb

We got the keys!

Special Update - Dec. 2, 2011

Please click on the following link to see this update:

http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=dda64d1288d51a6819e6796ab&id=59da3aeb82

Smith Prayer & Praise Update - November 2011

Making Disciples in Central Mexico

Dear Prayer Partner,

We appreciate your prayers for us! Here are a few prayer items for you to
use as you pray:
1. Please pray for the church property purchase. A couple more documents
should be handed in today, and the purchase should be ready to go
through. It has been a long road and we know many have been praying.
Thank you! Please pray for the last few details to be cared for. Also
please pray that the church might be able to pay the 5 year mortgage in
as little time as possible.
2. Please keep our travels and activities in your prayers. Here is part of
our upcoming schedule that you could use to pray for us:

* November 18-21 --> National Leader's Retreat in Amealco, Queretaro
* November 23-26 --> CAM Mexico Fellowship Conference in Fortin, Veracruz
* December 4 --> Speak at the Mexico City area church leader
appreciation dinner
* December 10-11--> Speak at the Michocan Area Bible Church conference
and the Apatzingan Bible Church 55th anniversary
* December 17 --> Our church evangelistic Christmas program and
dinner

We value your partnership in the ministry with us and thank God for you!
Please let us know how we can be praying for you as well.

Happy Thanksgiving! May your time with family and friends be special, and
may we all continue to "be thankful in everything!"

Bryan, Lori, Kendra, Tara, & Ben

Smith Special Prayer Update - October 19, 2011

Thanks so much for your prayers for the Grandparent Conference this past weekend. We praise God that we had a full house with about 120 people in attendance. The topic, Balancing Your Crown - being grandparents biblically from Proverbs 17:6, seemed to hit a sensitive nerve. Many of the grandparents in attendance said that it was such a blessing to have a conference specifically focused for them. We praise God for Bryan's parents, Rolland and Jo Ann Smith, and their burden to reach out to fellow grandparents in this way. They did a great job with the teaching! The conference included two skits, two plenary sessions, a table group discussion time, a split session for the men and women, and a round table Q&A time. We ended the evening with a delicious pozole that Lori prepared with the help of some of the other church ladies. We praise God for a good servant group from the New Birth Bible church who helped that day. Thank you for your prayers!

You can see some photos from the conference here: https://picasaweb.google.com/bryanandlori/GranparentConference?authuser=0&feat=directlink


If you know Spanish and would like to listen to the audio of the conference you can listen to it in two parts here: http://www.iglesiabiblicanuevonacimiento.blogspot.com/


Please continue to pray for the National Leader "Seek Ye First" retreat November 18-21 and the CAM Mexico Conference - November 23-26 that we are involved in planning as well.

Making disciples in Central Mexico,
Bryan & Lori

Smith Prayer & Picture Update - October 2011

We praise God for our faithful prayer team! Please keep praying. God is working here in Mexico.

- We praise God for his work in the hearts of five people who trusted in Christ this past Sunday at the end of a message that Bryan gave on 1 Corinthians 13. One of the couples who trusted in Christ first came to church on our Independence Day celebration September 18. We have begun follow-up with each of these new babies in Christ. Please pray that the seed that was planted would continue to grow and give fruit in each of their lives.

- It was exciting to hear Mario & Anabel say that they really missed our times of Bible study on Saturday afternoons. We had taken a short break from our discipleship time with them, and they were definitely ready to continue. Please continue to pray for those we meet with regularly and are in the process of discipling - Rut, Lupita, Marycarmen, Pedro, Jorge & Teresa, and Mario & Anabel.

- Please continue to pray for the planning and carrying out of the following events, and that they might be used for God's glory in the lives of those involved:

October 15 - Biblical Grandparenting Conference for the churches in our Bajio region

November 18-21 - Church Leader Retreat for 5 families in our Bajio region

November 23-26 - CAM Mexico Fellowship Conference for our fellow CAM missionaries here in Mexico

Follow this link to see some recent family and ministry pictures:

https://picasaweb.google.com/bryanandlori/OctoberUpdate?authuser=0&feat=directlink

Making Disciples in Central Mexico,

Bryan, Lori, Kendra, Tara, & Ben

Smith Prayer & Praise - September 2011

Happy Independence Day, at least here in Mexico.  The celebrations will begin this evening at midnight and continue through tomorrow and the long weekend.  Here at the New Birth Bible Church in Queretaro we will be celebrating Mexico´s independence day on Sunday with a special fellowship meal together after church.  After eating lots of yummy Mexican food, the activities will include a hot salsa eating contest, a Mexican "grito" (scream) contest, and a best Mexican outfit contest.  Sound like fun?  Wish you could join us!  Please at least pray that this time of fellowship will be used by the Lord for the encouragement and building up of the church.  Often many unsaved family members and friends join us for this type of activity, so please pray for much fruit for God's glory.

Some other items for your prayer time:

1. We are heavily involved in the planning of three events for the months of October and November: 

• October 15 - Biblical Grandparenting Conference for the churches in our Bajio region
• November 18-21 - Church Leader Retreat for 5 families in our Bajio region
• November 23-26 - CAM Mexico Fellowship Conference for our fellow CAM missionaries here in Mexico

Please be in prayer for each of these activities - that they would be used by the Lord to impact lives for His glory.

2. One of the church leaders here at the New Birth Bible Church, Gerardo, is going through a very difficult and unjust situation related to his job.  Please pray that the Lord might work things out for His glory and that Gerardo would be encouraged through this trial.

3. After a lengthy set-back with the church property purchase (the seller needed to correct some legal issues) it seems that we are back on track.  Please pray that we might soon be able to close on the purchase and that the Lord would continue to provide the needed funds in order to finish paying for the property.

Thanks so much for your prayers!  We value your partnership with us for God's glory.

Bryan and Lori

Smith Prayer & Picture Update - August 2011

We so appreciate your teamwork with us through prayer! Thanks for taking some time to support us in this way.

- We praise God for a great week of VBS with an average attendance of 90 kids per day. Of the 110 kids who registered only 20 were church kids - the rest were kids from the surrounding communities who, along with their families, need Christ as their Savior. We are beginning the follow-up process and would appreciate your prayers for open doors to the Gospel. You can view some pictures from the week here: https://picasaweb.google.com/bryanandlori/VBS2011?authuser=0&feat=directlink

- Our children started school this week - Kendra in 7th grade, Tara in 5th grade, and Ben in 3rd grade. We praise God for our children, and ask that He would give us wisdom in raising them for His glory. You can see some recent family pictures here: https://picasaweb.google.com/bryanandlori/SmithFamilySummer2011?authuser=0&feat=directlink

- Please continue to pray for the church property purchase. We are still in the midst of going through the steps in order to finalize the purchase. We are praying that everything will go through before the end of August.

Partnering with You to Make Disciples in Central Mexico,
Bryan and Lori & kids

Special Prayer Update - July 2011

Thanks so much for your continued prayers for us. Here is a quick update on what the Lord is doing here in Queretaro, Mexico:

1. We had about 75 community children, the majority unsaved, in attendance for our first day of VBS yesterday - a great turnout for the first day! Please continue to pray that God would prepare and touch the hearts of the children who are attending and for strength and joy for the staff. We praise God that we also had a great turnout of helpers from the church.

2. Please continue to pray for our church property purchase. There are still some details to be cared for in order for the purchase to go through. The process has been quite time consuming and at times frustrating. Also please pray for a miracle to happen, and that all the funds would come through in order for us to pay the property in full very soon.

Thanks! We trust your summer is going well. Drop us a line to let us know how we can pray for you too!

God Bless,
Bryan & Lori, Kendra, Tara, and Ben

Smith Prayer & Praise - July 2011

Some exciting things are happening here in Mexico! We would appreciate your prayers.

1. After an almost two year process our church will finally be a legally recognized church. Tomorrow one of our national co-workers, Mauricio, will receive our A.R. (Religious Association) from the government in Mexico City. We PRAISE GOD for this important step in the life of the New Birth Bible Church!

2. The church was thrilled to have missionaries that we support in Turkey, Alex and Liz Pantoja, in our service this past Sunday. It was exciting to listen to the Pantoja's report after their first term on the field, and to hear the enthusiasm of the church people in their questions for and interest in the Pantoja's ministry. We PRAISE GOD for what He is doing with Latin American missionaries in different parts of the world, and ask you to PRAY for the Pantojas as their third baby is due at the beginning of August and as they prepare to head back to Turkey later this year.

3. We PRAISE GOD that the church is close to receiving a mortgage in order to finish paying for the church property. God has provided for about 53% of the total so far, so the necessary mortgage is for less than half of the total. The owner urgently needs to be paid, so please PRAY that everything would go through soon, and that God would continue to provide for the project to be completed and the mortgage paid off quickly.

4. This coming week, July 18-22, we will be having up to 120 kids running around our church property - we will be holding our yearly VBS. Please PRAY that God would use this time to impact the lives of the children who attend and the lives of their families with the Gospel message. Please PRAY for strength and energy for those of us who will be working with the kids.

5. We PRAISE GOD for a quick trip Lori was able to take to Dallas to spend some time with her sisters and mom. The trip is also helpful for picking up our home schooling books, VBS supplies, and other needed items. Please PRAY for safety in her return flight tomorrow.

Thanks for your time and effort in prayer for us and the ministry here in Mexico!

Bryan & Lori, Kendra, Tara, and Ben

Smith Prayer & Praise - June 2011

Thanks again for your faithful support and encouragement for us! Here are a few current prayer items:

1. VBS will be held here July 18-22. Last year we had 120 kids in attendance and expect similar numbers this year. As you may recall, one of the church neighbor girls who attended last year trusted in Christ. She got baptized earlier this year, and her parents started studying the Bible with us. They recently trusted in Christ as well, and are now faithfully attending church as a family and being discipled. Please pray for God to work in hearts this year as well, and for strength for all the staff during this busy week.

2. Praise God that Bryan graduated and has now completed the first draft of his thesis. It is now in the editing process. The thesis topic is the holistic care of couples in church leadership, and we are praying that God would use us to support the churches in our area of Mexico in this way if it would be His will. Please pray for the final editing of the thesis and the conclusion of the Masters' program.

3. Please pray for our opportunities for discipleship. Here are some specific names of some of those whom we are currently discipling: Rut, Lupita, Pedro, Mario & Anabel, and Lucina. Also please pray for a marriage study group we are leading in conjunction with Jose Luis & Estrella. Please pray for the marriages of Rodrigo & Alejandra, Carlos & Letty, and David & Paty.

4. Please continue to pray for the Square Meters for Christ church property purchase project.

Thanks so much for your partnership with us for the expansion of the Gospel in Central Mexico!
Bryan & Lori, and kids

Prayer Update - May 22, 2011

Here are a few current prayer items:

1. PRAISE GOD for the salvation of Mario and Anabel!  Bryan, and one of his disciples, Cesar, have been studying the Bible with them and they trusted in Christ this past Saturday, May 21.  For those who have been following their story, they are neighbors of the church property.  It is their daughter, Isa, who trusted in Christ at our VBS last year and got baptized last month.  Her parent's interest was sparked by her testimony and baptism.  PLEASE PRAY for their new life and growth in Christ as we continue to study with them.

2. PRAISE GOD for His provision for some good focused time for Bryan to work on his masters' thesis the last two weeks.  Some great headway has been made.  PLEASE PRAY for him as he wraps up his thesis process.  Lord willing he will graduate on June 4, and have about two months to completely finish the thesis project.    

3. PRAISE GOD for His continued provision for the Square Meters for Christ church property project.  We still have a good ways to go on our fund-raising, about half of the total, but the Lord is continuing to provide.  PLEASE PRAY for the Lord to provide the financing necessary.  The owner needs the church to pay him the total amount due at this time, so the church is working on taking out a mortgage which can be paid off as soon as possible without penalty.

4. PRAISE GOD for the four leaders who recently graduated from a two-year leadership training program that Bryan facilitated.  PLEASE PRAY that God will continue to use them for His honor and glory in the New Birth Bible Church of Queretaro.  Follow this link for some photos of the graduation:  https://picasaweb.google.com/bryanandlori/LeadershipTrainingGraduation?feat=directlink 

Thanks for you prayers for us!  God is working!

Bryan, Lori, Kendra, Tara, and Ben

Smith Praise, Prayer, & Pictures - May 2011

Here is the latest from Queretaro. Thanks for praying!

PRAISE:
- Bryan was able to conclude the two year leadership training program with the four men from the New Birth Bible Church here in Queretaro. We will hold a small graduation ceremony during part of the church service this coming Sunday, May 15. We praise God for these men and their families and for how He is using them to build up His church here in Queretaro.
- We are in celebration mode this time of year in Mexico. Last week we held a special service in celebration of Children's Day - the kids enjoyed a special program while the adults were taught some Biblical principles for parenting by a fellow missionary and friend, Brock Hower. We concluded our time together with a Christian clown show and a cake. Yesterday we had a special Mother's Day service. We praise God for the 24 mothers who were in attendance. The men and youth surprised the mothers with a breakfast of tamales. During the breakfast they were serenaded with some special Mother's Day songs. We then had an interactive teaching time geared toward the moms. We praise God for these special times as a body of believers. (See a link for pictures below)
- Our children are completing their school year here at home. Kendra is finishing 6th grade, Tara 4th, and Ben 2nd. Ben is also enjoying learning and growing in Taekwondo. He is also into spinning tops - a current fad here in Mexico - and building with Legos. The girls are enjoying some dancing lessons and the both love reading. They all love our dog, Tanner, and help care for him. They recently enjoyed an MK spiritual emphasis camp. (See links for pictures below)

PRAYER:
- Bryan needs to dedicate some concentrated time on completing his thesis. It is progressing well, but sometimes it is hard to get some good focused time with everything else going on. The goal is to finish the thesis by the end of July. Please pray for some good, concentrated time to be able to be dedicated.
- We would ask for your continued prayers for the church property purchase project. We are currently at the halfway mark and trust that the Lord will continue to provide for the project to be completed. In the mean time the church is in the process of taking out a mortgage to in order to finish paying the owner. If you are interested in more details you can either write to us or visit the following link: http://www.smithconnection.com/2010/10/square_meters_for_christ_prope.html
- Please continue to pray for our new Bible studies. Mario and Anabel continue to study faithfully and seem to be very close to trusting in Christ as their Saviour. Luis Enrique still seems to be far off, but we know God can touch his heart. Pedro continues to be very committed to grow in his faith. Lucina also continues to attend church and Lori is following up with her. We praise God that other church families are also reaching out to friends and relatives and we are seeing growth.

PICTURES:
- You can see some pictures from the Children's and Mother's Day events at the following link: https://picasaweb.google.com/bryanandlori/ChildrenSMotherSDay?feat=directlink

- You can view some pictures from the MK spiritual emphasis camp here:
https://picasaweb.google.com/bryanandlori/SECAmealco2011?feat=directlink

- You can see some recent pictures of the kids here:
https://picasaweb.google.com/bryanandlori/KendraTaraBenMay2011?feat=directlink


Thanks for being an important part of our team!
Bryan, Lori, Kendra, Tara, & Ben

Smith Prayer & Praise - April 11, 2011

We praise God for...
...a baptismal service held yesterday, April 10. We praise God for the 11 believers who got baptized from the New Birth Bible Church, including our son, Ben. Four others from other churches that joined us were baptized as well. It was special for Ben to be able to be baptized by his dad, and by both his Grandpa Wenger and Grandpa Smith. We praise God for those who were baptized and trust that they will continue to grow in their faith. You can read more about the day and see some pictures at the following link: https://picasaweb.google.com/bryanandlori/2011Baptisms?feat=directlink
...a visit from Lori´s parents. We have greatly enjoyed having them here in Mexico with us for a few days.
...an MK spiritual emphasis camp that our family will be involved with starting on Wednesday, and through Saturday. Our kids are looking forward to being with some of their friends, and Lori and I will be helping with the camp. My (Bryan's) parents will be involved as resident grandparents for the camp!

Please pray for...
...a Bible church in the nearby city of Celaya that is going through some difficult times of division. I have been asked to help them sort through the situation, and have tried to help. It has been sad to see how the enemy is attacking the church. Please pray that the problem may be resolved and that those causing division will either leave or submit to the church leadership.
...continued opportunities that we have to study God's Word with believers and unbelievers. Pray that God would continue to work in hearts and open eyes. It was exciting to see Issa, the little church neighbor girl, be baptized and have her parents, Mario and Anabel, attend the service. They have been attending church regularly now, and are studying the Bible with us. Please continue to pray for Luis Enrique, Pedro, and Lucina as God works in their lives.
...a marriage study group that we have the opportunity to be leading along with José Luis and Estrella. Pray that God would continue to work in marriages and families here for His honor and glory.

Thanks so much for standing with us through your prayers as we make disciples in Central Mexico!

Bryan, Lori, Kendra, Tara. and Ben

Smith Prayer & Praise - March 2011

Please keep us in your prayers as the Lord opens doors of opportunity for us here in Mexico:

1. You may remember Isa - an eight-year-old girl who lives in an apartment next to the church who attended our VBS last summer and has been faithfully attending church by herself. We are holding a baptismal service on April 10, and she signed up to be baptized. We have been trying to reach out to her parents, and they have been a little slow in responding so far, but this seems to be a perfect opportunity to bring the Gospel to them. We have a meeting set with them for this weekend to explain what baptism entails and get their permission for their daughter to be baptized. When we set the meeting up her father sounded very positive about it and said that they have seen many good changes in their daughter! Please pray that Isa's parents will come to Christ through this opportunity.

2. Please be in prayer for Luis Enrique, a man that God brought to us in an interesting way. He had been in communication with one of our national co-workers, Mauricio, who owns a medical network company, and had asked him if he had anybody in his network who does hypnosis. Mauricio said he did not, and asked him what he was dealing with. He mentioned the problems he was dealing with, and Mauricio asked him if he had ever considered biblical counseling and gave him our number. We have had the opportunity to meet with him twice now, and he seems very interested, although he is quite intellectual and skeptical. We know God can soften his heart. Will you please pray to that end?

3. As many of our fellow missionaries have had to leave this region due to various circumstances we find that we are increasingly being contacted about different needs and issues and a variety of ministry opportunities. Please pray that we would have wisdom in knowing when and how to help in each situation, and that we might not stretch ourselves too thin.

4. Please be in prayer for Bryan's masters' ministry/thesis project on providing holistic help to couples in church leadership. Good progress is being made. The thesis will cover and propose many more opportunities than we will be able to personally pursue, but this ministry excites us.

5. Please be in prayer for the Square Meters for Christ property project. At about 48% of the total needed we have almost reached the half-way point. The owner has been patient with us, and very helpful in giving us time to keep paying little by little. We praise God that there have been good offerings here at the church in Queretaro the last two months. Would you ask the Lord how He might use you in this opportunity? Here is a link to more information about the project on our website: http://www.smithconnection.com/2010/10/square_meters_for_christ_prope.html


Thanks for taking the opportunity to pray for us. God is working!

Bryan & Lori and family

Smith Prayer & Praise - February 24, 2011

Thanks so much for your prayers! Here are a few current prayer items:

1. Please pray for Eva and Jonathan, mother and son. They are believers from the church here in Queretaro with whom we have recently been doing a study on communicating biblically. Just this morning we helped Eva take Jonathan to a drug rehab center where he will be receiving help for the next several months. Please pray for Jonathan to be able to allow God to take control of his life, for Eva as she struggles through this as a mother, and for us as we try to help them both with God's love and Word.

2. Please pray for a marriage study group that we are starting this Saturday, Feb. 26, with three couples from church. Another couple from church is leading a second study group. They were part of a study group we lead last year, and we praise God that they are now ready to lead a group. Pray that marriages and families will be impacted for God's glory.

3. Please pray for the Square Meters for Christ church property project - that God would continue to provide the funds needed in His perfect timing in order to complete the purchase of the property.

4. Please pray for Bryan's thesis/ministry project process - Lord willing he will finish his Masters' degree in July of this year. The topic of the thesis is caring for couples in church leadership in a holistic way. We pray that it might be used for God's glory.

Thanks again for partnering with us through prayer!
Bryan, Lori, Kendra, Tara, and Ben

Thanks for praying!

Thanks so much for your prayers for us today. We praise God that we were able to leave our children with some fellow missionaries here in Queretaro and travel to Mexico City to spend some time with Margarita and her family. We had a clear opportunity to present the Gospel with those present at the wake, and Margarita gave a wonderful testimony to her family and friends as well. Many seeds were planted, and we trust and pray that Margarita will have an opportunity to water and eventually harvest some of those seeds.

On the way home to Queretaro from Mexico City (about a two and a half hour drive) we came within seconds of having a head-on collision and/or being crushed by a semi that veered into the median guardrail as we passed on the other side of the highway. We literally saw the truck barreling toward us, and the Lord gave Bryan the presence of mind to swerve right as debris hit our van. Thank you Lord! We are safe and sound and our van doesn't appear to be damaged. We often take our safety driving here for granted, but we were reminded again of how important your prayers for us are.

This experience gives new meaning to the way we unknowingly signed our e-mail this morning:

"In His Service and Care"
Bryan and Lori

Smith Special Prayer Update - February 4, 2011

Please be in prayer for Margarita as her father went to be with the Lord last night. (See the excerpt from our last prayer update below) We praise God that he had the opportunity to trust Christ as his Savior, and is now in His presence. Lori and I are headed in to Mexico City today to be with Margarita and her family. Please pray for opportunities for Margarita and us to share God's comfort through the Gospel message and that her other family members would come to Christ through this difficult time. Thanks for your prayers! We'll keep you updated.

In His Service and Care,
Bryan & Lori

An excerpt from our last prayer update:
"Her father was just recently hospitalized and not given much hope for recovery from heart and lung illness. Margarita decided that it was time for her to move to Mexico City temporarily to help care for her parents and reach out to her family with the Gospel. We praise God with her that her father trusted in Christ shortly after she arrived last week! He is now ready to meet his Savior when the time comes. Please pray for the rest of her family to come to Christ and for her to have strength in following God's leading in her life."

Smith Prayer and Praise - January 2011

Happy New Year! We trust that 2011 will be a year of blessing and growth in Christ for you. As we start another year we praise God that you are part of our prayer team. It is such a blessing to know many are praying as the Gospel goes forward here in Mexico. Here are a few prayer items to get you started in the new year:

1. Please praise God with us for Margarita. She has been taking a course in missions over the last few months, and felt the Lord strongly leading her to consider her family in Mexico City as her mission field. Her father was just recently hospitalized and not given much hope for recovery from heart and lung illness. Margarita decided that it was time for her to move to Mexico City temporarily to help care for her parents and reach out to her family with the Gospel. We praise God with her that her father trusted in Christ shortly after she arrived last week! He is now ready to meet his Savior when the time comes. Please pray for the rest of her family to come to Christ and for her to have strength in following God's leading in her life.

2. Please pray for opportunities with our neighbors. Over the holidays we went to each neighbor and gave them a Daily Bread 2011 calendar and an invitation to study the Bible with us. One of our goals for this year is to start at least three new evangelistic Bible studies. One of the calendars went to a family that lives next door to our church building. A little girl, Isa, (pictured below) attended our VBS this summer and has come to church by herself very faithfully ever since. We would love to start a Bible study with her parents.



3. We praise God for the progress that was made during December in the Square Meters for Christ project. A little over $9,200 came into the project between gifts here in Mexico and the US. We now stand at about 45% of the total needed. We praise God that the man we are buying from continues to be gracious in extending our time to pay the total. For more details on the project visit this link: http://www.smithconnection.com/2010/10/square_meters_for_christ_prope.html

4. Please pray for the New Birth Bible Church in 2011. The focus at church this year is “Until we all arrive…” based on Ephesians 4:13. The goal is maturity in Christ. We are looking forward to a year of growth for each believer and trust that God will work in each heart.

Thanks for taking the time to be involved with us through prayer. We would love to hear from you. Please let us know how we can be praying for you.

Making Disciples in Queretaro,
Bryan, Lori, Kendra, Tara, and Ben