This is the 2nd article written by Pastor’s wife, “Miss Julie” about the New Life Baptist Church’s 13th Anniversary.
The New Life Baptist Church is home to about 80 members now. Without them and without our church staff, this work would not have advanced. We praise the Lord for HIS vision upon our people, our staff, and upon our Pastor these past 13 years.
After the Sunday morning coin offering, the church presented us some gifts and honored us. The church gave the Pastor a pair of waders (brought by Bro. LeRoy Rolston from the States ) and they gave me 13 roses and a gift card to Expresso Americano. It was an emotional service for us. Moises gave a teary testimony about us, and how he came to know the Lord through our Bible Club when he was just 7 yrs old. He is now 21 years old and is a student in our Seminary. Right after the special singing, Bro. Miguel came and gave another speech. He stated that the Lord has blessed us in last 13 yrs and we are looking forward to the next 13 years.
We praise the Lord for bringing us 2 dearest families on staff with us. They sure know how to lift the Pastor’s hands. We praise God for the Rolstons who have worked with us for the last 3 years . They have served in many aspects of the ministries of New Life. LeRoy drives the south bus, is an assistant pastor, teaches seminary classes, does construction planning, and works with the youth. Praise the Lord for the Gamarras who just joined our ministries in March. Claudia grew up in our church and is our FIRST young lady to be married in our church. Luis teaches in our Seminary and does the finances part of it also. Claudia is finishing her last year of Seminary. She also works 1/2 day in the office with Julie. Both Luis and Claudia teach in our Sunday School classes and work in our bus ministries. Claudia will graduate this November and will be working full time with the New Life Christian Bilingual School.
On Anniversary Sunday, Bro. Sam preached from Philippians 1:6: Being confident of this very thing, that HE which hath begun a GOOD work in you will perform it until the day of JESUS CHRIST. Pastor challenged us to move ahead and advance ourselves in the work of the Lord. We cannot quit and be content for there is more work to do and more souls to be won to the Lord. My husband gave a clear presentation of the gospel, and 12 people came to know HIM as their Savior. Due to the new bus route called Nueva Arcadia, about 30 new people were with us for the Anniversary Sunday. It was a wonderful service.
Through these 13 years, many souls have been saved and lives changed! We have seen wrecked homes salvaged, unstable marriages being more stabilized, couples who were living together getting married, and best of all- lost but found, blind but see: new creatures in the Lord.
For these past 13 years of serving the Lord in Honduras at New Life Baptist Church and ministries, We give ALL the HONOR and GLORY to our KING of KINGS, JESUS CHRIST!
Please pray for the continued work here as we seek to do His will and win the lost,
Julie Hodges