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
Friday, March 11, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
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
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
Friday, February 4, 2011
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
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."
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."
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
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
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
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Smith Prayer & Praise - Nov. 17, 2010
We appreciate your prayers for us!
1. We are preparing a marriage dinner at church on Friday evening. We will be sharing about the "Love Bank" principle in marriage. We trust that it will be a good opportunity for marriages to grow and for new couples to hear and respond to the Gospel.
2. Our CAM Mexico Fellowship Conference will be held next week in the state of Veracruz. Please pray that it will indeed be a good time of fellowship with our fellow missionaries here in Mexico, and that we might be spiritually refreshed through the teaching and worship times. Our children look forward to this conference as they get to see all their missionary "cousins" again and participate in a special program for kids.
3. I (Bryan) continue to make progress on my thesis as I finish my Masters' program in leadership. Right now we are interviewing couples in church leadership in our area about the stresses they face in their ministry and how they can be supported and helped. Please pray that things will continue to come together for this thesis/ministry project.
4. Lori's two sisters and part of their families will be visiting us here in Mexico in a couple of weeks. We praise God that we can spend some time with them and would ask you to pray for safety in all the traveling and special times together.
Thanks again for lifting us up in prayer! We highly value your support in this way. Happy Thanksgiving a little early! We hope your time spent with family and friends will be special and meaningful.
Bryan, Lori, Kendra, Tara, and Ben
1. We are preparing a marriage dinner at church on Friday evening. We will be sharing about the "Love Bank" principle in marriage. We trust that it will be a good opportunity for marriages to grow and for new couples to hear and respond to the Gospel.
2. Our CAM Mexico Fellowship Conference will be held next week in the state of Veracruz. Please pray that it will indeed be a good time of fellowship with our fellow missionaries here in Mexico, and that we might be spiritually refreshed through the teaching and worship times. Our children look forward to this conference as they get to see all their missionary "cousins" again and participate in a special program for kids.
3. I (Bryan) continue to make progress on my thesis as I finish my Masters' program in leadership. Right now we are interviewing couples in church leadership in our area about the stresses they face in their ministry and how they can be supported and helped. Please pray that things will continue to come together for this thesis/ministry project.
4. Lori's two sisters and part of their families will be visiting us here in Mexico in a couple of weeks. We praise God that we can spend some time with them and would ask you to pray for safety in all the traveling and special times together.
Thanks again for lifting us up in prayer! We highly value your support in this way. Happy Thanksgiving a little early! We hope your time spent with family and friends will be special and meaningful.
Bryan, Lori, Kendra, Tara, and Ben
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Smith Prayer & Praise - Nov. 2010
Thanks so much for your prayers! Please use the following picture update to continue praying for us.
We thank God for our missionary team here in Mexico. Here we are
enjoying fellowship with part of the team. Please pray for teammates
Alan and Beth McManus and Bryan's parents, Rolland and JoAnn Smith,
as they cross the border and travel back to Mexico this Saturday, Nov. 6.
We praise God for José Luis and his growth. He preached for the first
time a week ago. He is one of the 4 men Bryan has had the privilege of
training over the last year and a half. Please pray for him and his family
as they continue to grow in their love and service for God.
We thank God for this young couple, Mauricio and Jessica, who have
recently returned to church. Bryan had the honor of dedicating their
new baby, Mateo, to the Lord last Sunday. Please pray that they would
desire to continue to grow along with their four boys.
Lori has been involved in the ladies' ministry in helping to teach. In the
first picture some of the ladies are visiting a sister from church who had
surgery. Please pray for unity and growth among the ladies of the New
Birth Bible Church.
We praise the Lord for a marriage study group that concluded a study
together this past Saturday. The Lord did some really special things in
the group through this time of study. Most of the couples are interested
in starting and leading their own marriage study groups. Please pray
that God would continue to work in the marriages of many here.
We praise God for continued progress in the Square Meters for Christ project. The seller has given us a three month extension to the original contract, so we have through the end of December to continue raising funds for the property. We have paid 35% of the total so far between funds raised in the US and Mexico. Would you consider a special year-end gift toward the project? For more information please visit this link:
http://bryan-smithconnection.blogspot.com/2010/10/square-meters-for-christ-property.html
Thanks again for your prayers and support for us! You are a valued part of our team as we make disciples in Central Mexico!
Bryan, Lori, Kendra, Tara, & Ben
We thank God for our missionary team here in Mexico. Here we are
enjoying fellowship with part of the team. Please pray for teammates
Alan and Beth McManus and Bryan's parents, Rolland and JoAnn Smith,
as they cross the border and travel back to Mexico this Saturday, Nov. 6.
We praise God for José Luis and his growth. He preached for the first
time a week ago. He is one of the 4 men Bryan has had the privilege of
training over the last year and a half. Please pray for him and his family
as they continue to grow in their love and service for God.
We thank God for this young couple, Mauricio and Jessica, who have
recently returned to church. Bryan had the honor of dedicating their
new baby, Mateo, to the Lord last Sunday. Please pray that they would
desire to continue to grow along with their four boys.
Lori has been involved in the ladies' ministry in helping to teach. In the
first picture some of the ladies are visiting a sister from church who had
surgery. Please pray for unity and growth among the ladies of the New
Birth Bible Church.
We praise the Lord for a marriage study group that concluded a study
together this past Saturday. The Lord did some really special things in
the group through this time of study. Most of the couples are interested
in starting and leading their own marriage study groups. Please pray
that God would continue to work in the marriages of many here.
We praise God for continued progress in the Square Meters for Christ project. The seller has given us a three month extension to the original contract, so we have through the end of December to continue raising funds for the property. We have paid 35% of the total so far between funds raised in the US and Mexico. Would you consider a special year-end gift toward the project? For more information please visit this link:
http://bryan-smithconnection.blogspot.com/2010/10/square-meters-for-christ-property.html
Thanks again for your prayers and support for us! You are a valued part of our team as we make disciples in Central Mexico!
Bryan, Lori, Kendra, Tara, & Ben
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