johntkunkel missions in Latin America

Kunkel Prayer gram 10 2011

2011-10-12T10:32:00.000-07:00

KUNKEL PRAYER GRAM: 10 / 2011

Asuncion, Paraguay,

Oct. 12, 2011

Dear friends and prayer supporters,

Greetings from Hot, Muggy, Rainy, HUMID!! Paraguay! J

It is beautiful here as the spring time is upon us, and the ORCHIDS!! are in full bloom.

We have been back in Paraguay now for about 3.5 months. We are moved into a different residence, and are happy with it. We have already seen 3 of our neighbors come to Christ, and have begun the process of discipling them. Their names are: R@@@@, G@@@@, his common-law-wife, (yes we have told them they need to get married), :-) and our next door neighbor V@@@. Please pray for them. They are BABY CHRISTIANS, and have many needs…

We have moved across the country to the capital city. It has about 1.6 million people in it, including its sister or satellite cities. It is a HUGE PLACE OF LOSTNESS. There is so much to do that oft-times it OVERWHELMS us. We have moved about 6.5 hours away from where we used to live on the other side of the country, where Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil, converge. That area is called the tri frontier area. Life there is VERY DIFFERENT than here.

The church we started there, called LA ROCA, THE ROCK, BAP CH, is flourishing under the new pastor we helped develop, and mentor. He was ordained under our ministry. He is doing a good job as a young pastor. Please do pray for him. His name is David…

We are working as mobilizers of Baptist work here. This means that we are trying to ascertain where the pockets of lostness remain in the country, and direct missionary efforts their way. Please pray for us as we get more and more settled into this new position. Every Sunday we try to be in 1-2 new churches, and preach many of these times. We have seen about 45 professions of faith in Christ in services we have preached in since we have arrived. To God be all the glory!

Special thanks for all the generosity and love you all have shown to us over the years, in supporting us in so many ways…

Family News:

Steven is with us here, and is steadily whittling away at his ONLINE BA degree. He is also working hard on Japanese, and is working as a helper in the Japanese church here. He is also studying piano at a local conservatory. As many of you know he spent two weeks in Japan, in June, and had a great and blessed time. He was invited back for a 3-6 month internship, in a local church plant in Shiojiri, Nagano Province. He will work as a musician, interpreter, and an English teacher for children. They will provide him room, and board. We have to see how we will provide for his passage from Paraguay, to Japan and back, but we know that the Lord will provide… If you would like to help him with this, please write and let us know… tikunkel@gmail.com

John Glenn has now graduated with his MA in Public Administration, and is working at a local non profit in San Bernardino, Ca. He is also producing music, and has a band called The New Division, that is steadily becoming more and more famous. He writes a lot of songs, and was even featured the other day in a blog, on the LA TIMES entertainment site… We are proud of him.

Julia continues to live and work in Norfolk, and is an EXCELLET teacher of special Ed kids. This is her passion, and she works hard at it. She also does a lot of consulting work to help families that have kids diagnosed with this challenging condition.

My Dad: (Glenn); He is doing well, and just celebrated a few days ago, his 84th birthday! He finally retired from the university he taught in for about 50 years and is enjoying some “down time”. J We are very proud of the Christian heritage that our parents gave us; Three of the four of them are now in His presence. Life on this planet is short. The dictum, made by missionary CT STUDD many years ago “Only one life will soon be past, only what is done for Christ will last”!, is so true!

Prayer requests:

-For new Christians, Vicci, Rodolfo, Graciela, Lourdes, and about 45 others that we do not know the names of, that have come to faith in Christ under our evangelistic preaching the past 3 months. Please pray for the pastors and other Christian workers as they do the essential follow up. The first three on the list live 50 feet or less from us, and we are discipling them personally…

-For four little girls that ALL made professions of faith, last Sunday in a little town called Ypacarai. Their names are: Noelia, Maria de los Angeles, Gaudelupe, and Lourdes. They are between the ages of 8-11 years old.

- For Steven’s trip to Japan, and for the needed things to fall into place to make this dream a reality. For the Chinese and Philippine pastors that have made this opening come to be, under the Lord's direction.

-For discernment and clarity as we do this new job, and try to understand how to help point Paraguayan pastors to the areas of lostness in their countries that need to be addressed.

-For us to have a PASSION for the lost that are ALL AROUND US. For us to have a Divine FERVOR that only He can give!

In closing please allow us to THANK ALL of you who through your generosity and faithful giving to the Cooperative Program, (CP), and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering (LMCO) make possible our being able to put feet to our call and stay here in Paraguay.

In about 4 months we will have spent 22 years here, in both Uruguay, and now Paraguay. If it had not been for people like you all who love the Lord and MISSIONS, this would not have been possible.

From your fellow servants in HIS HARVEST, in His love and grace,

The Kunkels

EF. 6: 18-20

KUNKEL GRAM THANKSGIVING, CHRISTMAS, 2010

2010-11-25T08:29:00.000-08:00

KUNKEL GRAM, THANKSGIVING, 2010

11/26/2010

Dear friends, Family, and Praying partners,

Greetings to you all, in the PRECIOUS name of Jesus! We are on furlough, and are in Southern California. We arrived on the 3rd of July, and have encountered a whirlwind of activity ever since! In the 4.5 months we have been here, w have shared about 100 times, in churches, Sunday Schools, at women’s meetings, with Children, at On Mission Celebrations, etc, etc. We have been, in Va. 3x, in Alabama, in Mo., in Ia., and in many parts of the great state of California. We have also been to a 2.5 day training event put on by security experts, called contingency training. This is to help us be better prepared to minister in a world that is ever more dark, sinister and dangerous.

SINCE OUR LAST PRAYER GRAM: WE finished up 4 years in E. PARAGUAY, and celebrated the planting, of the LA ROCA church. It is now being pastured by David Barudi. He is someone that I discipled and mentored for about 18 months, prior to this change. He was ordained a few days prior to our leaving Ciudad del Este. He has about 95 or so people in and attending the church, and he is doing a fine job in leading them.

OUR TIME IN THE USA, JULY 3rd, - NOV 25TH, 2010. We have spent a lot of time, in visiting churches, in several states. We have shared in large and small churches, and in conventional, and associational events. We have shared in women’s meetings, and were even at the annual meeting of the CAL. SO. BAP. CONVENTION. We have shared up to 3x on a given Sunday. We have seen God move mightily, and have even seen professions of faith in our services. We are coming into an INTENSE time of speaking, now that we are into the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering season, time. Please pray for us as we attempt, with the Lord’s aid, to put a clear mission’s challenge before God’s choice people.

OUR TIME WITH OUR CHILDREN; We were able to visit on two occasions with Julia, and Jason, in VA. We also spent a week touring with them, the E SEABOARD, and especially enjoyed the time we could spend at a friend’s cottage along the beach in Maine. How blessed a time that was. We also were in VA last week, and celebrated an early TG with them. They are working hard; she as a special ed. teacher, and he as a mortgage banker. We are proud of them, and their accomplishments…

John Glenn, our middle son, moved in with us, on Nov. 1st, and will be with us for the next 7 months. He will graduate with his Master in Public Administration, (MPA), on Dec 17th. We are proud of him. He has worked hard. To have 3 college degrees at his early age is a real accomplishment. (He turned 23 in June). If you want to send him a letter of encouragement, or a grad card, his address is: John Glenn Kunkel, 7431 Magnolia AVE, Apt. # 205, Riverside, CA, 92504

Steven is doing well, and loves SO. CAL. He and JG have visited many of the local sights, and have even gone to Hollywood. Follow him on Facebook, if you want to see some of the places he has gone. He updates a lot of things onto his account there. On FB look him up via his email address; sugoisteve@gmail.com He is now playing the keyboard at Immanuel Baptist Church in their Spanish speaking worship service. He is doing well, has a lot of friends, and has taken a class at the local community college on rebuilding hot rods.  He has made a great friend, in adopted “Uncle Karl”, and has taken this class with him.

He will take several other college classes in the spring, both from a local community college, and the U WISCONSEN. He is planning to return to Paraguay with us, on July 3rd, of 2011 when our furlough ends.

MY DAD: Many of you will remember that last Christmas, in a span of 12 days both Iracema and I lost our mothers. This was a HARD time for us. Thanks for upholding us in your prayers. We have gotten through the year well. As the one year anniversary of their passing draws near, please pray for us as we still grieve but sorrow NOT as those who have no hope. My dad is doing quite well. He still goes a few hours per day to his office at a Chrsitian University, and walks and goes to the gym, almost daily. He has many friends and familial support, in my two sisters and one of my nieces. For this we are most thankful. I have been with him 2x so far, this furlough, for extended times, and will see a lot more of him, in the next 7 months. Please pray for him, especially over the holidays, and on the 1 year anniversary of my mom’s passing, Jan 2nd, 2011.

THE NEXT 7 MONTHS: We will continue to speak, and share about missions. We will also continue to study Guarani, the indigenous language spoken by many Paraguayans, as their heart language. I will also try and learn as much about the demographics, both physical, and even spiritual, of this country we call our home. In July of 2011 we will not be returning to the E part of Paraguay where we lived the past 4 years. Instead of that we will be moving to the capital city, Asuncion, and will be moving into a new job. We have been asked to work as mobilizers in Paraguay, and have accepted this post. As such, we will work with Baptists, and with other evangelical Christians, to try and help them reach their own country for Christ. Please pray for us as we make this significant change. Please also pray for our spiritual children, and grandchildren, in the USA Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay, that we have seen come to the Lord in over 26 years of ministry.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

- For our children. For John Glenn, as he finishes his MPA, and looks for work, and considers the next steps in his life and career.
-For Julia, and Jason, as they live and work in VA.
-For Steven as he stays with us, and prepares to return to Paraguay, with us in 7 months. For Steven’s ministry in music at the Hispanic congregation, and for an up coming mission trip he will make with a group of believers from IMMANUEL BAP CH, in early December to Mexico. Pray for safe travels, and a blessed time there.

-For us as we speak and share.
-For mobilization for missions in Paraguay, and around the world.
-For my dad, and all our family, in the passing of our mothers.
-For Pastor Raul Martinez of Uruguay who also recently lost his mother. For his entire family, especially his father Don Faustino Martinez.
-For Pastor Moreno and Emilia, pastors of several of the churches we helped establish in Uruguay, during the years of 1990-2005.
-For the LA ROCA Church, in Paraguay, and its pastor David, his wife Natalia, and their son Victor. Also for the young leaders we helped to develop and disciple. That they might continue to be faithful…

OUR SINCERE THANKS; as Thanksgiving has arrived, and Christmas draws near, how THANKFUL WE ARE. We have been in ministry now for 26 years. We have been with the International Mission Board of the So. Bap. Convention, almost 21! God has been SO GOOD, kind and GRACIOUS to us. Without you all, lovingly supporting us in prayer, giving through the Cooperative program, and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, none of this would have been possible. We want to say a sincere THANK YOU to you all…

We love and appreciate you all!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!

TIM, IRACEMA, AND THE KIDS,

Hebrews 6:10

Spanish Thoughts; Counsel to Church LA ROCA

2010-06-03T16:26:00.001-07:00

“Últimos consejos a la Amada Iglesia, LA ROCA”

6/6/2010 Pr. John Timothy Kunkel

Se encuentran en:

-Deut. 6: 4-5 Amen a Dios con TODO EL CORAZON… Deut. 6:12; No olviden de donde El nos sacó. La conversión significa CAMBIO.

-Deut. 6: 20. Transmite, y testifique lo grande que el Señor ha hecho a la nueva generación.

-Deut. 5:31 Capte la visión, Pastor David, y transmítela al pueblo. Tu tenés que ser, por la iglesia que pastoreas, el arquitecto del Ethos Apostólico! (Vea Edwin McManus), Pr. De la Iglesia MOSAIC de Los Ángeles, CALIFORNIA, USA.

-I Cor. 11:1. Siguen pastores y lideres mientras ellos siguen a Cristo. NUNCA siguen ciegamente ni un pastor; ni al Pr Timothy, ni al pastor David, ni a ni uno. Vele por sus vidas, y apoyen a ellos; ayúdenles a ellos a ser hombres I Tim, 3, y Tito 1.

- 11 Tim. 2:2, Pase la visión a las generaciones venideras. (Vean Pablo y su deseo, de transmitir la misma visión, y forma de vida, a por lo menos 4 generaciones que le iban a seguir.) Pablo, muchos testigos, hombres fieles, y otros.

-Mat. 28;18-20 No olviden que es la misión de la Iglesia. Hacer discípulos Panta ta Ethne; a todos los 12,000 grupos étnicos del planeta, 2,000 de los cuales que aun no saben NADA de Jesucristo! Hechos 1:8. Poder expansivo, explosivo. Lucas 19:10 Busquen los perdidos.

-Reino de Dios es como una semilla de mostaza; comienza chico. Sean UDS, buena semilla. Algún día será grande esta Iglesia y escondrijo de las “aves del cielo”. Nótense que hay aves de todo tipo! Sean pacientes los unos con los otros! J Vean, Mat. 13;31. Pregunta, que clase de ave mejor te caracterizaría?? Un cuervo, buitre, un golondrina? Otra?? J

-I Tim. 3: Sean todos cristianos con las características descriptas aquí. Seamos CREYENTES RADICALES. Cambiados y agentes del cambio. No olviden de tus votos que han hecho con el Señor.

-Ef. 5:8 ANDAD como hijos de Luz… Que sus vidas sean radicalmente diferentes de las vidas de los que no tienen a Cristo. Los no creyentes te están mirando! Antes UDS eran tinieblas! Ahora son LUZ en el Señor !!

-I Cor. 15:58 Ser firmes (no fuleros) y constantes (no inconstantes). Abundando en la obra del Señor. No será en vano! De esto estoy segurísimo!

-I Juan 2:15 No améis al mundo. (Agape cosmos). Codicias; deseos de la carne, de los ojos, y orgullo! HUID de las pasiones juveniles!! (I Tim. 6;11, y 11 Tim, 2;22). Ombovú camisá lomo! Que no haya ni el olor de escándalo alrededor de UDS, tus flias, y la amada iglesia! Judas 1:23. Pórtense varonilmente!, y esforzaos! 1Cor. 16:13

-I Ped. 2;11 Ser ciudadanos del cielo. Peregrinos. Heb. 11;13.

- Mat. 6;21 Hagense tesoros en el cielo. Mande el $ a “casa”! Ser generosos con la obra del Señor. Vean el libro de Randy Alcorn, The Treasure Principle. “El Principio del Tesoro.”

- I Tim. 4:12 Ser un ejemplo en todo; palabra, conducta, amor, espíritu, fe y pureza.

-Ef. 6;18; Orar por mi!! Por nuestra flia, Por el Pastor David, por su flia, por la iglesia, Oren sin cesar. Ser personas de oración. Los diez minutitos por día, típica del evangélico, de hoy en día, NO ES SUFICIENTE!

-11 Tim. 3:1 No sea una iglesia con comezón de oír. Car = , Mucha adoración/alabanza, poca predicación, mucho movimiento, pocos resultados; mucha palabrería de prosperidad, y poco de la cruz; del sufrimiento, (Mat. 16;24).

-Juan 15; Permanecer, permanecer, permanecer!! Sin ser ligado a la Vid, NADA PODES HACER!!

-Apoc. 3: Ser caliente, no tibio, con el Señor. La frieza espiritual causa ASCO a Dios!

-Ser pacientes con los demás hermanos. Hay gente DIFICIL acá! Uno de ellos soy yo!! “Ruego a Evodia y Síntique que sean de un mismo sentir en el Señor”. (Fil. 4:2) Busca la paz con todos…Solícitos en guardar la unidad del Espíritu en el vínculo de paz. (Ef. 4:3)

- Gen. 26:25 Ser personas con un altar de material, “vivir” en carpas de piel, y hacer unos pozos, por favor!! Sean como los fundadores de la fe: Vean Abraham, Isaac, y Jacó.

-Divierten se!!! La vida Cristiana es UNA ADVENTURA!! Vean la palabra GOZO, en Filipenses. Nótense que pablo en esta Epístola usa las palabras gozo o regocijarse 16 veces, en 104 versículos!

Les Quiero mucho!

Pr. Timothy

tikunkel@gmail.com FACEBOOK, por mi email, y mi BLOG,

johntkunkel.blogspot.com

KUNKEL PRAYER-GRAM 4 2010

2010-04-13T12:45:00.000-07:00

KUNKEL PRAYER GRAM, 4-13-2010

Dear Friends, family, and praying partners.

We wanted to take a few moments today and update you all on some of the things the Lord has been doing in our lives. It has been a while, and we apologize for that. Your love, prayer and support is so vital to all we do.

We are coming up on another furlough. In 2/13/2010 we hit our 20 year mark, of service overseas as missionaries. TO GO BE THE GLORY! He has sustained us. We will be living in SO CAL. From 7/3/2010 – 7/3/2011. We hope to see many of you that year! We are available to come and share in your churches, if you would so desire… Please send us an email to: tikunkel@gmail.com

We have now been assigned to Paraguay, 5 years. We have lived here almost 4. God has blessed us. We have been privileged to see dozens of lives RADICALLY changed by the power of the Gospel. We have helped to start several house churches. Two of them have especially grown, and are going to unite into one church. It will have about 70 members, and will have a full time pastor, I have been mentoring now for the past 18 months or so. His name is David. Please pray for him, his wife Natalia, and their son Victor. They are moving the church into a storefront building, but will continue to meet in many homes as well. Pray that they will continue to win many more people to Christ.

When we return to Paraguay, in 2011 we plan to move to the other end of town, and there try and start many more simple house churches. We are grateful for the many people who have offered to come and help us as volunteers, and in partnerships. God has this area of the world on his heart. There is a great and effective door open to us, and we are so grateful to be able to serve him, here at this time. Please check out our blog, to see pictures and read the news: johntkunkel.blogspot.com

Also feel free to connect with us via FACEBOOK… To find us, just put in our email. We have about 1270 friends and prayer partners there, and would love to connect with you as well. We often update people that way, on the work, prayer requests etc.

Family news: Iracema and I both lost our beloved mothers at the end of 2009 beginning of 2010. On Dec. 21, 2009, Ruth went home to be with the Lord. She was a few weeks shy of 96. She was a great Christian. In fact her father Ambrosio, Mendonca was won to Christ by the first SBC missionary who went to Brazil, (William Buck Bagby), in 1884! She was a faithful member of her church for 78 years!

My mother went to be with her Savior, on January 2, 2010, just a few days later. She was 79. She was one of our greatest prayer supporters and mobilizers. She is SORELY MISSED. Please pray for my father Glenn, who lost his beloved wife of 57 years. If you’d like to send him a note, please do so. Glenn Kunkel, 3257 Galindo St., Oakland CA, 94601.

My mother and Ruth, are now in the presence of the Lord and no longer need translators to be able to communicate! Great are their rewards!

Tomorrow is Steven’s 21^st Birthday. We are so proud of him. He is a GODLY young man. He is now a sophomore in college, and is getting his GE out of the way for his BA. He does it online from here in Paraguay. He is a blessing, and a great help to us in the ministry here.

Drop him a card or letter of encouragement. Steven Kunkel, 815 Summer Cir, Brentwood, CA, 94513. sugoisteve@gmail.com He is also on FACEBOOK.

John Glenn is doing great. He is in SO CAL. He will get his MA in Pub. Admin., this December the lord willing, from Cal Baptist U. He is also working on a political campaign, for a local politician. He is a joy to us. He will be 23 in June…

Julia and Jason continue to do well, in Norfolk VA. Julia teaches Spec. Ed kids, and Jason works as a mortgage banker. I was privileged to be able to be with them a few weeks ago. They have now been married 7 years. Julia will be 31 this August. (All THIS MAKES US!! feel old. J I guess we are getting there.)

Prayer requests:

-For the 8 people we are going to baptize on April 25^th, 2010

-For the new pastor, David. He will be ordained, 6/6/2010

-For the preparations to get the storefront building ready. It will seat 200!

-For us as we prepare to move out of our apt. June 18^th.

-For us as we receive 2 groups of USA volunteers. April 17-27, and May, 15-21. In both instances we will be doing, prayer walking, evangelism, literature distribution, and social ministry projects with the poor and underprivileged.

-For the 14 leaders we are mentoring for the new works.

-For the many we are discipling.

-For us to have wisdom as we schedule our year in the USA; also for safe travel.

-For my dad, as he gets used to life without my mother.

-For my sisters who take care of many of his needs.

We love and appreciate you all.

The Kunkels, Paraguay

Spanish LA ROCA BULLETIN 4 2010

2010-04-10T01:55:00.000-07:00

Two house churches meeting in a home;
Below Pastor David Barudy; To the left some of our Leaders, and USA pastor Mike...

LA ROCA, BOLETIN DE ABRIL, 2010

Estimados hermanos.

Hemos llegado a la Pascua. Es mi Domingo, favorito del año. Es cuando acordamos, que somos miembros de una familia, mundial; de una iglesia, poderosa, del Señor JesuCristo, y que EL VIVE!! El REINA! El media por nosotros a la derecha del padre! Somos miembros de una fe antigua, eterna, y nuestro fundador aun vive! Esto es nuestra esperanza!

Noticias:

-La personería jurídica de LA ROCA, está pronta, firmada y entregada en nuestras manos. Ya podemos tener cuentas bancarias, y tener propiedades en nuestro nombre… Si UD es miembro de LA ROCA, y quiere ver esto, hable con Elvio…

- La propiedad que nos fue comprometida, está siendo transferida, al nombre de la Iglesia Evangélica Bautista LA ROCA..

-Los planes arquitectónicos ya están en nuestras manos..

- El concilio de la Iglesia LA ROCA, ha decidido, después de buscar el consenso de todos UDS, que si, a seguir con esto de la unificación de dos iglesias. Estan se reuniendo, y orando en retiros mensuales. Han tenido un retiro con Pr. David, y su lideres y ellos han decididos formar parte con uds de una iglesia unificada. Esta unificación, se hará, el día 6/6/2010 en el nuevo salón, de la Área 4. (En frente del club de la Área 4, Manzana 47, Lote, # 18). Hora 18…

-Yo al partir del 6/7/2010 no seré mas su pastor. El nuevo pastor de la iglesia unificada, será Pr. David Barudy. Oremos por el y su flia. El es un hombre de Dios, joven, energético, y visionario. SIGUENLE. Vea 1 Cor. 11;1, y Hebreos, 13:17… Mientras el imite a Cristo, imite su fe, y seguidle, también!

-El día, 22/6/2010 me voy con Iracema y Steven por un año a los USA. Si el Señor así lo permitiere, volveremos a CDE, el 1/7/2011. Pretendemos, con la ayuda del Señor, tratar de comenzar otras iglesias LA ROCA, en otros lugares, probablemente en las cercanías de Franco.

-Les pido que apoyen los líderes, y el nuevo pastor en todo este proceso. El es un hombre de Dios, dedicado al Señor y a su obra. Como yo, el es un pecador salvo por la gracia. El no es perfecto. Como yo, y comete e cometerá errores, pero creo yo, y tengo el apoyo del concilio de LA ROCA, que el es el hombre que Dios nos ha dado para ser el Pastor de la Iglesia, unificada.

- Reuniones: Al partir del Domingo 13/6/2010, tendremos reuniones semanales, (TODOS LOS DOMINGOS), en nuestro nuevo salón, en la Área 4. (En frente del club de la Área 4, Manzana 47, Lote, # 18). Será a la hora 09;00 cada domingo. No nos vamos a reunir más en las casas de David/Natalia, o de Elvio/Carla. En el nuevo salón, de la Área 4, que Elvio y Carla han concedido por el tiempo que fuere necesario, y sin costo, a no ser para la luz, reuniremos hasta poder ocupar el templo nuevo.

Tengo una cosa quiero compartir con UDS; Es una pregunta:

Pregunta? Y si uno. especialmente un miembro nuestro, se equivoca, que debemos hacer? Si uno caí en un pecado grave que debemos hacer?

Gálatas 6 ¹ Hermanos, si alguno fuere sorprendido en alguna falta, vosotros que sois espirituales, restauradle con espíritu de mansedumbre, considerándote a ti mismo, no sea que tú también seas tentado. ² Sobrellevad los unos las cargas de los otros, y cumplid así la ley de Cristo. ⁹ No nos cansemos, pues, de hacer bien; porque a su tiempo segaremos, si no desmayamos. ¹⁰ Así que, según tengamos oportunidad, hagamos bien a todos, y mayormente a los de la familia de la fe

(Mateo 18). ¹⁵ Por tanto, si tu hermano peca contra ti, ve y repréndele estando tú y él solos; si te oyere, has ganado a tu hermano. ¹⁶ Mas si no te oyere, toma aún contigo a uno o dos, para que en boca de dos o tres testigos conste toda palabra. ¹⁷ Si no los oyere a ellos, dilo a la iglesia; y si no oyere a la iglesia, tenle por gentil y publicano.(Otra pregunta? Como se debe tratar un gentil, u odiado cobrador de impuestos?) Respuesta se encuentra en Mat. 5:43-44

Si uno reconoce su error, y pida perdón a Dios, y a la iglesia, les debemos perdonar. Si tiene una actitud de arrogancia, rebelión, y jactancia, se le debe expulsar. Que LA ROCA sea conocida por su actitud de restauración; no de expulsión. Mas tarde van a entender porque hablo acá de todo esto…

Fechas para llevar en cuenta:

-25/ Abril, Grupo acá de las asociaciónes de Iglesias de California, y Washington, USA. Culto 0900 en RS, y 16;00 en LA ROCA… POR FAVOR DE ESTAR EN LOS DOS CULTOS!

-2/ Mayo 09;00 Culto de LA ROCA, en la casa de Elvio/Carla.

- 16/ Mayo Llega grupo de Iglesia de Tampa, Florida. Culto 0900 en RS, y 16;00 en LA ROCA… POR FAVOR DE ESTAR EN LOS DOS CULTOS!

6/Junio Culto de unificación de las dos iglesias. Lugar? Nuevo salón, de la Área 4. Hora 18;00

12/Junio Asado de despedida de la flia Kunkel. Lugar a determinar. 19;30.

13/Junio en adelante: 09;00 Cada domingo de mañana, CULTOS EN NUEVO SALON, AREA 4. Apoye su iglesia con su presencia, y sus aportes financieros.

23/ Junio, Flia Kunkel se van de CDE, 2/Julio se van del Py.

Les queremos mucho,

Pr Tim, Doña Iracema, y Steven

Ef. 6:18-20

KUNKEL PRAYER LETTER 12/15/2009

2009-12-16T15:38:00.000-08:00

KUNKEL PRAYER GRAM; 12/15/2009

Dear praying friends, and family,

2009 is drawing to a close, and it has been a blessed year! We have completed almost 20 years now under appointment as full time missionaries. (Appointed; 2/13/1990). The Lord has been good, merciful, and kind to us. How can/could we ever thank Him enough for His grace and love? He has saved us, he has called and commissioned us, and He daily allows us to serve Him, telling the lost how to know His son, in whom there is redemption, salvation, and freedom, from the bondage of sin!

Thanks for the way you support us, in prayer and giving, through the Cooperative Program, and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. Thanks also for some of you who send letters, cards, and gifts/packages to us, personally. All this means a great deal to us.

PRAISE ITEMS:

- For the establishment of our second house church, in East Paraguay. This year we baptized into this fellowship, 13 and are running about 30. Please pray for them, and for the pastor, David, whom I weekly disciple and mentor. Also please pray for his wife Natalia, and their son Victor.

-For the 2.5 years of existence of the mother Church LA ROCA. We have baptized 8 this year, and are running, on average 33, in this church. We had a combined service this year with 117 folks.

-For a partnership we have entered into with the Delta Valley Baptist Association, (Central CA). We received a group from this association in October and were able to spend almost 2 weeks with them, in intensive evangelism, and in a social betterment project in a local school. In the former about 10,000 pieces of literature, and Bible portions, were distributed, and hundreds heard a clear presentation of the Gospel. Also in the social ministries project, we painted a school for about 500 lower income kids. All this can be seen in depth, on our blog. johntkunkel.blogspot.com

-Our son John Glenn successfully finished his BA at Cal. Baptist University. He graduated with honors, in 4 years, with a double major in Pol. Sci., and Philosophy. We were able to be there for that momentous occasion. He is presently working at a safe house for needy kids, and working at CBU on an MA in Public Administration.

-Our son Steven finished his HS, and has finished his first year of University online, from here in Paraguay. He is doing well, and is a great blessing to us.

-Our son-in-law and daughter, Jason and Julia, are doing well in Norfolk Va. Jason works as a mortgage banker and Julia as a Special Ed. teacher. We are excited that we will see them, in a few months, when we travel to the USA, for our furlough.

PRAYER ITEMS:

-For us to be able to win, more people to Christ, and have the time to disciple and mentor them.

- For us to have a fervent passion for the lost.

-For us to start more house churches.

-For our leadership couples: Elvio, and Carla, Olga, and Pablo, Jose and Nancy, Felix, and Rosanna, Martin, and Elsa. Also for Pastor David, and Natalia.

-For the new Christians: Estella, Alipio, Olga, Rosanna, Cesar, Freddi, Rolando, and Victoria, to name a few. Also for several of their lost friends with whom we are sharing. Pray especially in this category, for: Cristobal, Pablo M., Gladys, Pedro, Pablo L., Elias, and Diego.

-For Tim’s mother, Jackie. She is in kidney failure, and is in need of dialysis. She is in the hospital as I write this. For Iracema’s mother, Ruth, who will be 96 next week. She recently fell and fractured her hip. For our siblings in Brazil, and the USA who offer care for our parents. How we appreciate them, in this and all they do to support us, as well!

As this time of Christmas approaches, how we thank God that he so loved the world that he gave his only son, for the salvation of all. Today many people have never heard the good news. As you make your gift to the LMCO in your local church, we want to thank you for your faithfulness in this regard. It is what keeps us on the mission field.

In His love,

The Kunkels

East Paraguay

2009-12-04T09:29:00.000-08:00

Boletín de Deciembre, 2009; Iglesia LA ROCA

Les saludamos en el nombre del Señor Jesús. No puedo creer! que el año 2009 se nos fue! (Casi).

Ahora queda 24 días y el año del 2009 se entrará en la historia. Donde vamos? Donde estamos? Yo lo veo así;

Nuestro grupo esta compuesto de m/m 20 miembros adultos fieles. Tenemos unos 10 que hemos bautizados, que por varios motivos no están mas con nosotros. Algunos de ellos han flaquecidos, o han caídos. Dentro de poco vamos a sacar sus nombres del rol de la iglesia. Otros no están mas en el país. Tenemos unos simpatizantes más, que frecuentan nuestras reuniones, y con esto llegamos a unas 40 personas. Nuestra asistencia ha sido un promedio de unas 33 personas este año, en cada culto. Ustedes están aprendiendo a diezmar y ofrendar, y nuestras entradas están m/m en unos 1,700,000 gs$ por mes. De esto casi la mitad estamos dando y usando en la obra misionera local y nacional. Si UD es miembro y quiere saber mas detalles de lo financiero de LA ROCA, acérquese a hermano Elvio. Algunos están diezmando, otros no. Les animo que sean fieles al Señor en esta área. Tenemos una iglesia hermana llamada Roca de Salvación. Pr. Timoteo pasa unas horas casi cada semana con el pastor de esta obra, y su familia, y estamos tratando de animarles, y guiarles en sus pasos iniciales. Los domingos que no estamos aquí en LA ROCA, estamos en RS, y hemos animado nuestros hermanos miembros que hagan lo mismo. Sigamos haciendo esto. Hay la posibilidad? que un día se va a unir las dos obras. Estemos orando por esto. Con la gente unida, de miembros tenemos m/m 40. Con amigos y simpatizantes, unos 80-100. Vamos ver lo que el Señor va a hacer. Estemos orando fervientemente por esto.

Comenzar dos nuevos puntos de predicación, en 2/2010: También estamos pensando en abrir dos nuevos locales para predicar el Evangelio, los domingos de mañana. Estoy ya en conversación con los dueños de las casas sobre esta posibilidad. Si?? hacemos esto, el año que viene haríamos así: un Domingo en la casa de los Hermanos Elvio y Carla, un Domingo en Roca de Salvación, y uno c/u en las dos casas a mas. Los familias que tengo en mente tienen gran poder convocatorio, y una visión, evangelistica. Oren por nosotros para realmente discernir la voluntad de Dios en todo esto. La idea es de expandir, y ganar almas para el Señor!

Personería Jurídica de LA ROCA. Hemos contratado un abogado, y una escribana para completar esto, para que seamos una entidad legal en el Paraguay.

-Nuestro regreso a los USA. De aquí en 7 meses nosotros estaremos regresando a los USA por unos meses. Antes de esto queremos dejar esto ja establecido:

-El concilio funcionando, dirigiendo la iglesia en la ausencia del Pastor y Sra.
-La personería Jurídica terminada

-Cada miembro de LA ROCA, fuerte, discipulado, y discipulando otros.
-Cada miembro siendo auto alimentado en su vida espiritual, y alimentando y disipulando otros. Me regozijo con los que ya están con tus propios discipulios. Dios les siga bendiciendo. Sigan adelante en esto. Así podremos crecer!
-Cada hombre, jefe de flia, siendo el sacerdote, de verdad, de su familia. (Vea Job 1).
-Roca de Salvación, fuerte y cada vez más con identidad de iglesia.

Hermanos, creemos que el Señor, jefe de la obra, esta queriendo hacer GRANDES COSAS aquí en el AP, en Paraguay, y desde aquí al mundo. (Hechos 1:8). El no quiere que nadie se pierda, más que todos vengan al conocimiento de la verdad. (11 Pedro 3:9). Sentís de ayudarnos, en realizar esta visión? Manos a la obra! Nosotros, y el Señor estamos contando contigo!

Les amamos,

PR. Timoteo e Iracema

PD, Fechas a llevar en cuenta…

Prójimos cultos, 3 de Enero, y , 7 de Febrero, 2010; 09;00 Casa de Elvio y Carla

Retiro del Concilio de la iglesia. Se requiere la presencia de: Timoteo, Elvio, Martín, Pablo, José, y Félix. Chacra de los hermanos, Martín, y Elsa, Sábado día 19/12;
Hora 1700 — Domingo 20, hora 17;00.

OUR BIGGEST WEEK OF THE YEAR!

2009-10-17T16:40:00.000-07:00

WOW, WOW, PTL, PTL, is all I can say. This was an AWESOME week, as we officially kicked off our 3 year partnership with the Central CA Association of Baptist churches, of the Delta Valley, Stockton, Manteca, Lodi, et al Area... We received the first of 6 teams, that we will receive in three years, and hit the ground running. A few of the things we did.

-Distributed 1000 Gospels of John.

-Distributed about 5,000 Gospel tracts

-Distributed 30oo Personal testimonies

-Shared the Gospel with about 1000 kids at two local schools.

-Baptized 7 new believers.

-Painted 1/2 of a school, that houses 500 kids.

-Presented the Gospel to the students at same school, and many of their parents and teachers.

-Made 450 home visits, where the Gospel was clearly proclaimed by the written and spoken word.

-Had a worship service of the two LA ROCA churches with 117 present. This was a record number for us.

-Dedicated a baby.

-Had a lot of GOOD CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP.

None of this would be possible with your love, prayers and support! Keep holding the ropes for us!

Love in Christ,

The Kunkels, Paraguay

LA ROCA CHURCHES HAVE ANOTHER BAPTISM SERVICE

2009-09-08T08:55:00.000-07:00

We want to thank the Lord for the way he is blessing in our two house churches. LA ROCA is a beginning Church Planting Movement in the Eastern Part of Paraguay. It is a dream which was planted in our hearts, by the Lord, who does not want anyone to perish but all to come to Salvation. ( Please see II PETER 3:9). It began a little over 2 years ago. Because we can never build enough churches to reach all the people that live in this area, ( Roughly 600,000 within 40 miles of us), we want to start churches in homes, in un-used offices, garages, under mango trees, :-) etc. We now have two and a core group of about 60 people. We have weekly meetings, and baptize people every month or so. We have the Lord's Supper 2x per month. We are seeing RADICAL CONVERSIONS.

I often say if there is no CHANGE there is no CONVERSION. We are seeing this. Whole families are coming to Christ. People's lives are being changed. What is our dream? 100 house churches in this area. It will take some time, but we believe our God is BIG ENOUGH to help us acomplish it. Pray!!! for us!!

God bless you, Pastor Tim, and Iracema M. Kunkel, CDE, Paraguay

32 years of HAPPY MARRIAGE! 32 anios de matrimonio feliz!!

2009-08-11T04:30:00.000-07:00

TO GOD BE THE GLORY! 32 years ago today he gave us each other. Niteroi Brazil, 8/11/1977!

LA ROCA BOLETIN 8 2009

2009-08-01T06:56:00.000-07:00

Boletín de Agosto, 2009; Iglesia LA ROCA

Es difícil creer que ya estamos en Agosto! Como este año se nos va. Como están? Como están con tus votos, tus promesas al Señor hecho en Enero? Como estas con la administración de su tiempo, tu vida, tus talentos, tu todo? Todo este llamamos de mayordomía. Esto esta sendo en parte, el tema de hoy. Como estas? Llego el tempo de hacer un chequeo, de medio año, para todos nosotros! Algunos de ustedes se que están bien! Yo y Iracema estamos con UDS semanalmente, en discipulado 1/1.

Algunos podrían preguntar “Pero como puede andar una iglesia bien que solamente tuene la reunión principal 1x por mes”? Yo creo que la respuesta es esta: En LA ROCA estamos tratando de enseñar a todos que ser Cristiano RADICAL no es!! ser un Cristiano dominguera. Es un discipulado radical de TODODS LOS DIAS.

Si, hace parte el no dejar de reunirnos, (Heb. 10:25), pero muchos que van a la iglesia todos los domingos, y al culto de oración los miércoles, no están viviendo una vida Cristiana victoriosa. Se no aprendemos a alimentarnos diariamente de la Palabra de Dios, en nuestras casas, NUNCA seremos creyentes fuertes! NUNCA podremos ganar otros a Cristo! No se olviden que el fruto madura siempre cae cerca al árbol! Tenes tu?? discípulos? Como están ellos? La verdad es que serán como tu! estas!

Con esto digo que no debemos ir a la iglesia en los domingos? Claro que no. Tenemos una iglesia hermana que tiene reuniones todos los domingos. Los domingos que no estamos en LA ROCA, estemos en ROCA DE LA SALVACION! Yo Iracema y Steven así lo hacemos. Y ustedes? Les he animando que UDS hagan esto. Lo están haciendo?

Dentro de unos meses se va aconstruir un templo. Ya hay un terreno, y la plata inicial para comenzar la edificación, prometido. En tiempo habra cultos todos los domingos. Pero si usted no va ahora a los cultos, como irán después? El reunirse semanalmente es un hábito que debemos practicar AHORA! Como estas tu en esto?

Prójimas reuniones: Cultos en la roca: 6/Setiembre, 0900 Casa de Elvio y Carla.

11/Octubre 0900 Casa de Elvio y Carla. Nótense que este mes NO hay culto en el 1r domingo. Será el 2ndo domingo con hermanos de los USA.

Vigília: 20-23 horas, Sábado, 22/ Agosto, Casa de Timóteo y Iracema. Traiga algo, por favor para compartir.

Que Dios les bendiga! Les amamos,

Pr. Timoteo e Iracema

Dia del Amigo

2009-07-30T07:28:00.000-07:00

PENSAMIENTOS SOBRE LA AMISTAD / SOBRE LOS AMIGOS 30/7/2009
El Día del Amigo tuvo un antecedente histórico llamado Cruzada mundial de la amistad que fue una campaña en favor de dar valor y realce a la Amistad entre lo Seres Humanos, de forma que permita fomentar la Cultura de la Paz. Fue ideada por el Doctor Ramón Artemio Bracho en Puerto Pinasco, Paraguay en 1958. A partir de dicha idea, se fijó el 30 de julio como Día de la Amistad y se celebra en varios países de Sudamérica. En Paraguay se celebra el 30 de julio. Las vísperas del 30 de julio son aprovechadas para comprar regalos a los amigos cercanos y a las parejas, son muy comunes las fiestas o una cena entre amigos íntimos. También se considera tradicional el juego del "Amigo Invisible" donde en pequeños papeles se reparten los nombres de todos los miembros de un grupo y al que sale elegido (en forma secreta) se le regala un presente el día 30. Esta costumbre es muy practicada en Asunción y otras ciudades paraguayas en las escuelas y lugares de trabajo. Fuente WIKIPEDIA, DIA DEL AMIGO.
17 Así también la fe, si no tiene obras, es muerta en sí misma. 23 Y se cumplió la Escritura que dice: Abraham creyó a Dios, y le fue contado por justicia,(E) y fue llamado amigo de Dios. (Santiago 2).
8 Pero tú, Israel, siervo mío eres; tú, Jacob, a quien yo escogí, descendencia de Abraham mi amigo.(A) 9 Porque te tomé de los confines de la tierra, y de tierras lejanas te llamé, y te dije: Mi siervo eres tú; te escogí, y no te deseché. 10 No temas, porque yo estoy contigo; no desmayes, porque yo soy tu Dios que te esfuerzo; siempre te ayudaré, siempre te sustentaré con la diestra de mi justicia. (Isaias 41).
11 Estas cosas os he hablado, para que mi gozo esté en vosotros, y vuestro gozo sea cumplido. 12 Este es mi mandamiento: Que os améis unos a otros,(A) como yo os he amado. 13 Nadie tiene mayor amor que este, que uno ponga su vida por sus amigos. 14 Vosotros sois mis amigos, si hacéis lo que yo os mando. 15 Ya no os llamaré siervos, porque el siervo no sabe lo que hace su señor; pero os he llamado amigos, porque todas las cosas que oí de mi Padre, os las he dado a conocer. Juan 15)
Nótense que hay tres palabras en el idioma original para AMOR. EROS = Amor en el matrimonio, FILEO Amor entre amigos, hermanos, (Filadelfia= cuidad del amor fraterno), y AGAPE. Al amor de Dios / Incondicional. Vea. 1 Cor. 13) Nótense que hay tres palabras en el original para vida. ZOE, Vida en general, Bios vida biológica, y PSUKE alma, voluntad, la esencia de la persona. Lo que vive después de la muerte física.
13 Nadie tiene mayor amor (AGAPE) que este, que uno ponga su vida (PSUKE) por sus amigos. Jesús su PSUKE puso por vos. Que pones tu por El???
Que clase de amor tenes tu hoy? Por tu esposa/o? Por tus “amigos”? Por Dios? Sois amigo de Dios? El te considera tu amigo?
Dios te bendiga, Pr. Tim Kunkel 0971 506 401 tikunkel@gmail.com johntkunkel.blogspot.com

2009-07-30T03:33:00.000-07:00

johntkunkel missions in Latin America: BAPTISMS IN ROCA DE SALVACION CHURCH BAUTISMOS EN LA IGLESIA ROCA DE LA SALVACION

2009-07-12T20:43:00.000-07:00

johntkunkel missions in Latin America: BAPTISMS IN ROCA DE SALVACION CHURCH BAUTISMOS EN LA IGLESIA ROCA DE LA SALVACION

BAPTISMS IN ROCA DE SALVACION CHURCH BAUTISMOS EN LA IGLESIA ROCA DE LA SALVACION

2009-07-12T19:57:00.000-07:00

PTL! Today we saw 3!! more baptisms in our of our house churches! Ricky, Leticia, and Andrea all took this GIANT STEP forward. Their testimonies and decisions are powerful! We had about 40 or so present for this monumental day! The water was cold, and the temperature was about 50degrees Farenheit, but their hearts were warmed as the followed the Lord in this so important step. Lets continue to Pray for Pastor David Barudy, and these folks. Please pray for me as I continue to mentor Them.

Blessings, Tim and Iracema Kunkel

Gracias a Dios! Hoy vimos mas 3!! bautismos en una de nuestras iglesias, ROCA DE LA SALVACION. Ricky, Leticia, y Andrea todos tomaran este paso de la fe, tan importante. Sus decisiones y testimonios era poderosos. Tuvimos unos 40 presentes para los cultos. El agua estava fria, y la temperatura era de unos 15 grados centigrados., pero sentieron el calor de Dios en sus corazones, al seguir al Senior en este paso tan transendental. Oremos por el Pastor David Barudy y su famiia, y toda esta gente. Ore por mi, en este processo del mentoreo de ellos. Bendecciones,

Pr Tim y Iracema Kunkel

2nd year anniversary of LA ROCA CHURCH, CDE, PARAGUAY

2009-07-05T19:36:00.000-07:00

It was a rainy night. I had just been out to visit two sick young men, at the home of one of our members. I came home and finally drifted off to sleep about 11;00 PM. At 02;30 I was awoken with water dripping on my head. Strong rain was hitting our 19th floor apt. outside wall, and that dumb crack was leaking again! I got out of bed and scooted the bed over about 3 feet to the left with my sleeping bride in it. ANOTHER DAY ON THE MISSION FIELD OF PARAGUAY was about to begin!!

I tried to get back to sleep, but the DRIP, DRIP!!! DRIPPPPPP!!!!!!!! of the water hitting into several buckets about 4 feet from my head was a little too much!

About 04;30 I gave up and got up. I made coffee and looked over my day, my sermon, notes and did my quiet time. The rain steadily fell!!! How were we going to be able to have our outside house church service?? I wondered??? LORD WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO TELL ME, I prayed???

About 0630 the owner of the house we meet in called me to tell me that his wife had given birth that night. Did he want to cancel the service?? I wondered… OF COURSE NOT!! It was our 2nd year anniversary. The “fatted calf”, so to speak had been slain, and prepared ( really consisting of delicious finger foods, a cake, etc.) ON WITH THE SERVICE!

We got there and I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT!! In the cold and rain we had 32!! people show up. We had a 3 hour service, many testimonies, and even a baptism, in a freezing cold swimming pool. It was one of the BEST services we have EVER HAD in our new house church!! See pics. GOD IS GOOD AND IS WORKING HERE!! To HIM, be all the glory,

Respectfully submitted,

Tim and Iracema Kunkel July 5th, 2009

Tiago Goncalez Minelli, Born 7/5/2009
Second son of the owners of the house we meet in.

Felix Serano, baptized 7/5/2009

LA ROCA, 2 year anniversary of its founding. Added 6 members today.

Spanish Bulletin 2nd Year anniversary of LA ROCA

2009-07-03T18:21:00.000-07:00

BOLETIN: IGLESIA LA ROCA, 5 / JULIO, 2009
2ndo Aniversario de Fundación.

Hoy celebramos nuestro segundo año de existencia. Hasta aquí nos ha ayudado Jehová! (1 Samuel 7:12). Parece que fue apenas meses atrás que comenzamos la iglesia en CDE, y que tuvimos nuestro culto inicial con bautismos y la cena del Señor en la ex casa de los hermanos Elvio y Carla. Aquel día histórico nos colocamos las bases con 7 miembros iniciales, dos bautizados aquel mismo día! Hemos tenido altos y bajos. Algunos han quedado por el camino. Uno de nuestros miembros esta en Brasil; otros en Argentina. Nuestra concurrencia ha sido m/m de 30 personas. Hemos tenido reuniones con hasta casi 80 personas. No hemos buscado miembros de otras iglesias. Hemos tenido hasta la fecha solamente una persona que ha pedido membresía en LA ROCA que era ya de una iglesia Evangélica en el pasado. Nuestra meta fue, y es, de ganar almas nuevas para el Señor; de ver vidas realmente cambiadas por el PODER del Evangelio. Hemos visto grandes antes/y después (s), en la vida de muchas personas. Personas que antes caminaban en tinieblas, ahora andan en la maravillosa luz!! (Ef). 5:8. A Dios sea la gloria.

Hemos invertido MUCHO tiempo en formar lideres, y en el discipulado de 1/1. Hemos pasado con algunos de UDS. mas que 100 horas en instrucción 1/1 en la Palabra de Dios, y en discipulado individual. El tiempo se aproxima para que UDS comienzan a reproducir; de tener sus propios bebés espirituales; su propios discípulos, de no tomar mas leche, de comer carne; de comenzar ganar y discipular nuevos para Cristo. Cuando este proceso comienza de verdad una iglesia comienza a crecer y expandirse. UD esta dispuesto a ser un vaso útil en las manos de Dios?

Hoy quisiera notar algunas de nuestras creencias fundamentales, y hacer un balance:

ECCLESIOLOGIA: Una iglesia es; 1) un grupo de personas regeneradas, y bautizados subsecuentemente a este evento, de conversión individual, que se reúnen regularmente para alabar y servir en conjunto a Dios. 2) Tienen una pasión para ganar otros a Cristo; quieren que otros experimenten la misma transformación que ellos han experimentado. 3) Tienen alguien que ellos consideran su líder, que les lidera. Esta persona puede ser egresada o no egresado de una institución formal de enseñanza teológica. 4) Ellos comparten las dos ordenanzas que el Señor JC dejó; El Bautismo por inmersión, y la Cena del Señor. Teniendo esto hay IGLESIA del Señor presente. Este concepto es Bíblico; Nótense que en el NT no hubo templos. Los hermanos se reunían en las casas. El 1r templo no se construyo hasta siglos después de esto! La iglesia ╪ un edificio; la iglesia somos nosotros; los discípulos reunidos del Señor JC.

Una iglesia Bautista se gobierna localmente; es autónomo: se administra por si mismo, sus asuntos internos, y se asocia voluntariamente con iglesias hermanas. Coopera con otras iglesias Bautistas para la expansión del Reino de Dios, especialmente a através de las misiones locales, y foráneas. Más que 300 iglesias Bautistas trabajando juntos en todo Paraguay, mucho pueden hacer! Es por esto que desde nuestros orígenes hemos dado casi el 50% de nuestras entradas a la obra misionera.

Miembros nuevos. Hoy tenemos para presentar a la iglesia 5 miembros nuevos. Cuatro provienen de una sola familia Bautistas desde ya hace muchos años. Otro es una persona que hace unos meses rededicó su vida a Cristo. Con dos de estas personas me reúno semanalmente para hacer discipulado/mentoreo. Con alegría vamos a recibir estos hermanos como miembros de la iglesia LA ROCA. Otro se va en este día ser bautizado. Félix tomo una decisión por Cristo hace unos meses y ha completado un curso de discipulado. Vamos recibirle como nuevo hermano de la fe con mucha alegría!

Iglesia hermana. Hemos estado involucrándonos en el comienzo de una nueva iglesia hermana, llamada ROCA de La Salvación. El pastor de esta iglesia, que también se reúne en una casa del barrio San Miguel, Arcángel, es David Barudy. David y su preciosa familia, están luchando para establecer una casa del Señor en aquel lugar cerca del Mercado de Abasto, de tantas necesidades. En los domingos que no tenemos cultos en LA ROCA, vamos ir allá a darles una mano, OK? Llegando a la cancha de futbol, EL CARDUMEN, doble hacia al río una cuadra larga. En la 1ª esquina a su izquierda hay una casa blanca con rejas color crema. Allá se reúnen, cada domingo, hora 0900.
El celular del Pastor es: 0982 781240. También para los jóvenes ellos tienen una reunión juvenil, cada sábado, hora 19;00.

Hermanos, se ha hecho mucho, en estos dos años. Pero hay MUCHO MAS PARA HACER. Puede el Señor contar contigo? Puede su iglesia y pastor contar contigo? Sigamos adelante!

Les amamos,

Pr Timoteo e Iracema
Fil. 1:6

2009-06-13T15:03:00.001-07:00

KUNKELGRAM / PRAYER LETTER JUNE 2009

Dear friends, family and prayer partners,

We wanted to take some time today to connect with you all. We are fine. After a lot of travels we are back in our home in Paraguay. We were in Buenos Aires Argentina, for 2 days and then winged our way north to the USA, where our first priority was to be at our son JOHN GLENN’S graduation from Cal Baptist U, in Riverside. This was May 2nd. We made this, and it was GREAT to be there and cheer him on. He graduated with a double major, in Pol. Sci., and Philosophy. He graduated with HONORS! We are proud of him. GREAT JOB JOHN!! If you’d like to write him, his email is

Jgkunkel@gmail.com “Snail mail” is:

JOHN GLENN KUNKEL PMB # 385
CALIF. BAPTIST UNIVERSITY
8432 MAGNOLIA AVE
RIVERSIDE CA, 92504

He is already applying to the MA in Public Administration program at CBU and plans to begin this fall. He is living on campus for the summer, but needs to find more permanent housing. Please pray that the Lord will provide this for him, soon! He can pay some rent but would like a house sharing situation, where he can do some chores for part of his keep. If you know of a situation like this please let him know. 951 660 3083

We also spent some time with my (Tim’s) parents. They are not doing too well physically. My dad is 81, and will turn 82 in a couple of weeks. My mom is 77. She is suffering from kidney troubles, and is near to the point where she may need dialysis. Please pray that the Lord will undertake in this regards, so that this condition may be reversed. My dad has had a couple of heart procedures and is quite frail. Please pray for them!

While I was in the USA part of what I did was to promote the partnership that we have with the DELTA VALLEY SB ASSOCIATION, located in the Stockton area. We have a 3 year partnership with these fine folks. We plan to receive them here in Cuidad del Este Paraguay, 6 times in the next 3 years. They will help us in evangelism, Scripture distribution, and some social ministry projects. We were able to share in one of their churches and spend time with their Director of Missions, Jerry Yates and his wife Linda. They also gave us a suitcase of “goodies”, and for this we are most grateful.

Iracema and Steven then went to Norfolk VA, where they spent a week with Jason, and Julia. They had a great time. While there Iracema and Steven shared in one of our partner churches, London Bridge Baptist Church, who last year sent a volunteer group to help us here in the work. We so appreciate these fine folks as well, and all they have done to help us here. During this time Iracema and Julia could spend mother’s day together for the first time in MANY years. Julia is teaching spec. ed., in a middle school. Jason, is doing a fine job as a mortgage broker. We are so proud of them.

I did not make the trip east, as I had been with Julia and Jason, a few months before. I did however, during this week, go to WA State where we have many friends and two churches with whom we have CLOSE ties. I preached two revivals/missions conferences at these churches. How good it was to reconnect with these kind folks. Many made professions of faith, and rededicated their lives to Christ. One of them, at least, has already been baptized. To God be the Glory!

We got back to Paraguay, and were home just a few hours before we had to travel to a Bible Conference in Brazil. Here we shared with folks from all over South America, and I (Tim), led in the daily Bible devotions for the folks. It was a great experience to be at this conference.

Now we are back, and caught up, and into the fill swing of things again. We spent a good part of last week in the capital, to get our permanent residency cards. This has been a 3!! year process, but we are now at the end of the same. This is a GREAT ANSWER to prayer… We have now been here almost three years. We have been on the mission field almost 20 years. God has been so good and faithful to us. Thanks for your prayers and support through your giving to the LMCO, and the CP. That is what has sustained us, and almost 5400 other SBC missionaries doing this work of missions and church planting outside of the USA. We are seeing much fruit of our labors and without you all! we could not do this. Thanks again.

Steven is doing well. He is in his 2nd semester of university online. He is doing great. He is also in a Japanese school three days a week, and is becoming quite fluent in spoken and written Japanese. If you would like to write him, his email is,

stekunkel@hotmail.com He is also on FACEBOOK, as am I, Tim. If you are on facebook, this is a good way to get frequent update from us, and our prayer requests.

The work here goes well. We are seeing some miraculous conversions. We are also seeing people that make initial decisions, then after counting the costs shrinking back. There are many peer and familily pressures that go against people making a commitment to Christ and then following through with it. We are about starting or facilitating a network of houses churches here in EAST PARAGUAY. We are calling it LA ROCA, THE ROCK. We have two house groups now meeting, and a nucleus of about 60 folks that meet regularly. We are now in the winter here, and it is quite cold, (about 50 or so, in the mornings), when we meet outside in the garage, or varanda of a house. So it is a challenge. So please do pray for us.

SPECIFIC PRAYER REQUESTS:

-For Iracema’s 95 year old mother Ruth. She is in great health.

For Iracema’s sister Suely who is the main caregiver to Ruth.

-For my two sisters, Suzanne, and Sharon, as they look after my parents. Both of them work full time, and do what they can to help our parents. I am most grateful for what they do for them.

-For the couples we are working with here in the house churches; Pablo and Olga,
Alipio and Olga, Elbio and Carla, Natalia, and David, and Martin and Elsa. Pray that they would form strong families.

-For the youth of our church, especially Jose, Alcides, Norma, Lucas, Alberto, and Elizabeth. Also for Steven as he leads music, in one of the house churches.

-For Cepherino and Celia, who looked to be so promising, and with whom we worked so much, who have fallen away. Pray that they would be convicted and return!

-For Marlene, and her two children. She lost her husband this week in an HORRIFIC plane crash. I led him to the Lord about 2.5 months ago. His name was Clevio. It greatly affected me to see this vibrant, 45 year old man, with so many plans, projects and such a FUTURE snuffed out in a ball of flames. Only the Lord knows why he allowed this. Pray for us as we minister to this family and the others who live in the gated community where he lived, in the aftermath of this event.

-For David, Natalia, and Victor, the pastoral family of the second of the house churches. They have about 25 or so now coming, and a lot of youth. Pray for them as they balance all the demands of being a bi vocational family of church planters. Pray for us, as we mentor this couple.

- For our safety. This is a dangerous place and we must be vigilant, in every way.

-For us to be bold witnesses for the Lord. With the Apostle Paul we would ask that you pray for us, so that whenever we open our mouths words may be given us, so that we will fearlessly make known the mystery of the Gospel, for which we are ambassadors. Pray that we might declare it fearlessly as we should… ( Ef. 6:19-20). For a great and effective door is open before us, but there are adversaries. 1 Cor. 16;9. Pray that we might be STEADFAST, unmovable ALWAYS abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing well that our labor for HIM is not in vain. ( I Cor. 15: 58). This is our pray for all of you, as well.

Love in Christ,

Tim, Iracema, and THE ENTIRE KUNKEL family

tikunkel@gmail.com Facebook,; find us using this email…

johntkunkel.blogspot.com

2009-06-13T12:54:00.000-07:00

The Broken ColumnAugust 4th, 1861byC. H. SPURGEON(1834-1892)
"And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee: but—."—Luke 9:61.
When you have walked through a cemetery, you have frequently seen over a grave a broken column, intended to memorialize the death of some one who was taken away in the prime of manhood, before as yet his life had come to its climax. I shall take that picture of the broken column to represent my text. It is a broken text. You expected me to go on and to conclude the sentence: I have broken it off abruptly. That broken column shall also represent the broken resolutions of full many who were once in a hopeful state. As if prepared to witness a good profession, they said, "Lord, I will follow thee," when there came a heavy blow from the withering hand of sin; and the column was broken short with a "but." So let my text stand. I will not finish it. But so let not your determination stand. The Lord grant by his effectual grace that while you mourn with sincere grief the grave of many a fair resolve which never attained the maturity of true discipleship—cut off with the fatal "but" of indecision, you may now be quickened to newness of life. Thus you shall come to the fullness of the stature of a man in Christ. Thus, as a building fitly framed together and growing to completeness, you shall be made meet for a habitation of God through the Spirit."Lord, I will follow thee: but—." How remarkably does Scripture prove to us that the mental characteristics of mankind are the same now as in the Savior's day! We occasionally hear stories of old skeletons being dug up which are greater in stature than men of these times. Some credit the story, some do not, for there be many who maintain that the physical conformation of man is at this day just what it always was. Certainly, however, there can be no dispute whatever among observant men as to the identity of the inner nature of man. The gospel of Christ may well be an unchanging gospel, for it is a remedy which has to deal with an unaltering disease. The very same objections which were made to Christ in the days of his flesh are made to his gospel now. The same effects are produced under the ministry of Christ's servants in these modern times as were produced by his own ministry. Still are the promised hopes which make glad the preacher's heart, blasted and withered by the same blights and the same mildews which of old withered and blasted the prospects of the ministry during our Lord's own personal sojourn in the world. Oh! what hundreds, nay, what myriads of persons have we whose consciences are aroused, whose judgments are a little enlightened, and yet they vacillate—they live and die unchanged. Like Reuben, "unstable as water, they do not excel." They would follow Christ, but something lies in the way: they would join with him in this generation, but some difficulty suggests itself: they would enter the kingdom of heaven, but there is a lion in the street. They lie in the bed of the sluggard instead of rising up with vigor and striving to enter in at the strait gate. May the Holy Ghost in all the plenitude of his power be with us this morning, so that while I shall deal with the character indicated by the text, He may deal with the conscience of those assembled. I can merely attempt what He can effectually perform. I can but speak the words; it is for Him to draw the bow, fit the arrow to the string, and send it home between the joints of the harness. May some who have been in the state of those described by the text be brought to-day to solemn consideration, and to a serious decision through the Holy Spirit of God.Three things we would labor to do. First of all, let us endeavor to expose your excuses, "Lord, I will follow thee, but—." Secondly, I will try to expose the ignorance which lies at the bottom of the objection which you offer. Then, thirdly, in the most solemn manner, would I endeavor to bring before your mind's eye, O ye who vacillate like Felix, your sin and your danger, that your "buts" may now be put away—that your profession may be made with unfaltering tongue—that you may henceforth, in very deed, follow Christ whithersoever he goeth.I. First, then, TO EXPOSE YOUR OBJECTIONS.I cannot tell man by man, what may be the precise let that causes you to draw back, but perhaps, by giving a list, I may be directed to describe full many a case exactly, and with precision. Some there be who say, and seem very sincere in the utterance, "Lord, I would be a Christian, I would believe in thee, and take up thy cross and follow thee, but my calling prevents it. Such is my state of life that piety would be to me an impossibility. I must live, and I cannot live by godliness, therefore I am to be excused for the present from following Christ. My position is such in trade, that I am compelled by its practices to do many things which would be utterly inconsistent with the life of Christ in my soul. I know that I have been called to be where I am, but it is a position which renders my salvation hopeless; if I were anything but what I am, or anywhere but where I am, I might follow Christ, but under existing circumstances, it is far beyond my power." Let me answer that excuse of yours, and show how idle it is. Man! would you make God the author of sin? And yet if you are prepared to say that God has put you in the calling where you are, and that that calling absolutely necessitates sin, do you not perceive that you make the sin to be rather God's than yours? Are you prepared to be so blasphemous as that? Will you bring the tricks of your trade, your dishonesties, and your sins, and say, "Great God, thou hast compelled me to do this? "Oh! methinks you cannot have so hardened your brow until it has become like flint. Surely you have some conscience of rectitude left, and if you have, your conscience will respond to me when I say you know you are speaking that which is false. God has not put you where you are compelled to sin, and if you have put yourself there, what ought you to do but to leave that place at once. Surely the necessity to sin, if it arise from your own choice, doth but render your sin the more exceeding sinful. "But," you reply, "I will confess, then, that I have put myself there by choice." Then I say again, if you have chosen so ill a trade that you cannot live by it honestly, in the fear of God, and in obedience to his precepts, you have made an ill and wicked choice; at all hazards—for the salvation of your soul rests on it—give it up, though it be the renouncing of every worldly prospect. Though wealth be all but in your grasp, unless you would grasp damnation and inherit everlasting wrath, you must renounce it, and renounce it now. Scarcely, however, can I credit that such is the fact, for in all callings, except they be in themselves positively unlawful, a man may serve God. Perhaps the most difficult post for a Christian to occupy is the army, and yet have we not seen,—and do we not see at this day—men of high and exemplary piety, men of undoubted and pre-eminent godliness, who are still in the ranks and are soldiers of Christ? With the example of Colonel Gardner in years gone by, of Hedley Vicars, and Havelock in these modern times, I will not, I dare not take your excuse, nor do I think your conscience would permit it, but if, while the temptations are strong, and your strength is small, you really think that there you cannot serve God, then resign your commission, give it up; it were better for you to enter into life poor and penniless, and without fame or honor, than having glory, and pomp, and wealth, to enter into hell fire. After all, to come nearer to the point, is it your occupation at all? Is it true? Is it not your sin that has made your "but," and not your calling? Be honest with yourself, sir, I pray you. You say that your calling throws temptations in your way: be it so? Do not other men avoid the temptations, and because they hate sin, being taught of God the Holy Spirit, are they not able, even in the midst of temptation, to keep themselves unspotted from the world? It is, then, in your case not necessity, but wilfulness, that makes you continue impious and impenitent. Put the saddle on the right horse; put it not where it should not be, take it home to yourself. There is no objection in the calling, unless, again I repeat it, it be an objectionable calling; the root and real cause of your hardness of heart against Christ is in yourself and yourself alone. You are willingly in love with sin, it is not in your calling in providence."Yes, but," saith another, "if it be not in our calling, yet in my case it is my peculiar position in providence. It is all very well for the minister, who has not to mingle with daily life, but can come up into his pulpit and pray and preach, to make little excuse for men; but I tell you, sir, if you knew how I was situated, you would say that I am quite excusable in postponing the thoughts of God and of eternity. You do not know what it is to have an ungodly husband, or to live in a family where you cannot carry out your convictions without meeting with persecution so ferocious and so incessant, that flesh; and blood cannot endure it." "Besides," says another, "I am just now in such a peculiar crisis, it may be I have got into it by my sin, but I feel I cannot get out of it without sin. If I were once out of it, and could start again, and stand upon a new footing, then I might follow Christ, but at the present time there are such things in the house where I live, such circumstances in my business, there are such peculiar trials in my family, that I think I am justified in saying, 'Go thy way this time, when I have a more convenient season I will send for thee.'" Ah! but, my friend, is this the truth? Let me put it to you in other words than you have stated it. You say, if you follow Christ you will be persecuted. And does not the Word of God tell you the same? And is it not expressly said, "He that taketh not up his cross and followeth not after me cannot be my disciple?" Did not the apostle say, "He that will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution?" What! is nature to be changed for you? Must the apostles and the martyrs endure and suffer great things, and are the little trials that you have to bear to be valid excuses for you? No, by that host who waded through slaughter to a throne—the slaughter of themselves,—no, by the men who wear the crowns which they have won on racks and stakes I pray you do not think that this shall be any excuse for you at God's great day. Or if you think that it be an excuse that is valid for you now, remember, if you reject Christ you reject the crown. If you cannot bear the reproach of Christ, neither shall you have Christ's riches. If you will not suffer with him, neither shall you reign with him. You say that your circumstances compel you to sin, or else you would get into a world of trouble. And what do you mean by this, but that you prefer your own case to the Master's service? You have made this your God. Your own emoluments, your own aggrandizement, your own rest and luxury, you have set these up in preference to the command of the God that made you. O sir, do but see the thing in its true light! You have put yourself where the Israelites put the golden calf, and you have bowed down and you have said, "These be thy gods, O Israel!" To these you have offered your peace offerings. Oh, be not deceived! "If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." "He that would save his life shall lose it, but he that will lose his life for Christ's sake shall save it." Away, then, with these excuses about your circumstances; it is an idle one, and will not endure the light of the day of judgment."Yes," says another, "I would follow Christ; I have often felt inclinations to do so; and I have had some longings after better things: but the way of Christ is too rough for me. It demands that I should give up pleasures which I really love. I know if I should promise to give them up, I should go back to them very soon. I have tried, but they are too much for me. I did not think at one time that I was so thoroughly chained to them. But, when I tried to break away, I found the chains were not as I thought they were—of silk, but of iron, of triple steel. I cannot, sir, I tell you plainly, I cannot. If to be saved requires me to give up my worldly amusements, I cannot do it." Well, sir, I reply, you have spoken with the candour of an honest man. But, will you please to understand the bargain a little more clearly. Remember, soul, when you say, "I cannot give up the world" you have said, "I cannot be saved, I cannot escape from hell, I cannot be a partaker of the glories of heaven." You have preferred the dance to the entertainment of glory; you have preferred the revelling merriments at midnight to the eternal splendours of the throne of God. You have in cool blood—now mark it, you have in cool blood, determined to sell your soul for a few hours of giddiness, a little season of mirth. Look it in the face, and God help you to understand what you have done. If Esau sold his birthright for a mess of pottage, what have you done? Lift up your eyes to heaven, behold the golden harps, and listen to the harmony of the glorious song, and then say, "But I prefer thy music, O earth, to this." Look yonder to the golden streets, and the joy and the bliss which await the true believer, and then coolly write it down, and say, "I have chosen the casino, I have preferred the house of sin to this." Look up and behold the draughts of joy that await believers, and then go to the tavern and sit down in the tap room, and say, "I have preferred the enjoyments of intoxication to the mirth of eternity." Come, I say sir, do look it in the face, for this is what you have done, and if, after weighing the two things in the scales together, you find that the momentary enjoyments of the flesh are to be preferred to the eternal weight of glory which God hath reserved for them that love him, then choose them. But if it be nothing in comparison with eternity; if the flesh be but dross in comparison with the spirit, if this world be emptiness when compared with the world to come, then reverse your foolish decision. May God the Holy Ghost make you wise. The only wise God choose your inheritance for you."Oh," says another, "but it is not exactly my pleasures; for I have found no pleasure in sin. It is some time since iniquity ministered pleasure to me; I have drunk the top of the cup. The froth I have already daintily sipped, but now I have come to the dregs."—I know I am speaking to some men to-day, in this very state.—"I have jaded myself," says such-an-one "in the race of pleasure; I have exhausted my powers of enjoyment, and yet though the wine yields no lusciousness to my taste, I drink, for I cannot help it; and though lust affords me no longer any exquisite delight, still impelled as by some secret force, I am driven to it. From old habit it has become a second nature with me, and I cannot, I have tried, I have tried awfully and solemnly, I cannot—I cannot break it off. I am like a man whose boat is taken up by the rapids. I have pulled against the stream with both my arms, till the veins start like whip-cords to my brow, and the blood starts from my nose in agony of vigor, and yet I cannot reverse the stream; nor can I set my boat's head against it. I can see the precipice; I can hear the roaring of the dashing water as it leaps the cascade, and I am speeding on swifter, and swifter, and swifter, till my very blood boils with the tremendous vehemence of my crimes; I am speeding onward to my merited damnation."Ah, man! yours is a solemn "BUT" indeed. If I thought you meant it all, I would rather speak to you words of encouragement than of warning. For remember this, when you are ready to perish God is ready to save. And when our power is gone, then the plaintive cry, "Lord, save, or I perish," wrung from a despairing heart, shall reach the ears of the Most High, and he that delighteth in mercy shall stretch out his arm to save. There is hope, there in hope for thee yet. What! is the boat's bow already out of the water, and does she seem to leap like a live thing into the midst of the spray? O Eternal God, thou canst save him yet. Thou canst come from above, and take him out of the deep waters, and pluck him out of the billows that are stronger than he. Yet say now, is this just as you have described it? I fear lest perhaps you make "cannot" only a substitute for "will not." Do you not love those ways of the transgressor? Can you honestly say you loathe them? I do not believe you can. Remember the dreadful alternative. When you say I cannot renounce these things, and will not look to God to enable you to do it; you have said, "I cannot escape from the flames of hell; I cannot be rescued from the wrath to come; I am damned." You have, in fact, forestalled your own doom. That awful sentence you have pronounced upon yourself. You have sat in judgment on your own soul, put on the black cap, and read out your own sentence; you have put yourself upon the death-cart; you have adjusted the rope about your own neck, and you are about to draw the bolt and be your own executioner. Oh! weigh your words, and measure your acts, and wake up to a consciousness of what you are about. Do not take the leap in the dark. Look down the chasm first, and gaze a moment at the jagged rocks beneath which soon you must lie a mangled corpse. Now, ere you drink the cup, know the poison that is in the button of it; make sure of what you are doing, and if you are determined that you will clasp your sins with the spasmodic and terrific grasp of a dying, drowning man. Then grasp thy sins and lose thy soul; then keep thy sins, and be thou damned! Hold fast to thine iniquities, and be dashed for ever from the presence of the Eternal One. If it be horrible to hear, how much more horrible to do. If it be dreadful to speak, how much more solemn to perform in cold blood that which our lips have spoken. "But," saith another, "that is not my case. I can say I will follow Christ, but I am of such a volatile, changeable disposition that I do not think I ever shall fulfill my purpose. When I heard you preach a few sabbaths ago, sir, I went home to my chamber, and I shut the door and I prayed. But, you know, some acquaintance called in; he took me away, and soon every good thought was gone. Often have I sat shivering in the pew while the Word of God has been quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, piercing to the dividing asunder of my joints and marrow, being a discerner of the thoughts and intents of my heart, but the world comes in again; so that I seem sometimes as if I were almost a saint, and then again, the next day I am almost a fiend. Sometimes I think I could do anything for Christ, and the next day I do everything for the world. I promise but I do not perform; I vow and break my vows; I am like the smoke from the chimney—soon blown away and my good resolutions are like a morning cloud, they are there but for the morning, and soon they are gone." Well, certainly you have described a case which is too frequent. But will you allow me to put that also in a true and scriptural light? Soul, dost thou know thou hast played with heaven? Thou hast made game of eternity, thou art like those men in the parable of whom it is said "they made light of it." Thou hast thought that the things of this world are more engrossing, to thee than the things of the world to come. Thou art perhaps less excusable then any other, for thou knowest the right and doest it not, thou seest thy sin, and yet thou clingest to it; thou perceivest thy ruin, and yet thou goest onwards towards it; thou hast had wooings of love, thou hast had warnings of mercy, and yet thou hast shaken all these off. Oh remember that text, "He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy." "Because I have called," saith God, "and ye refused, I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; but ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity, I will mock when your fear cometh." You may perhaps soon be given up to a seared conscience. The Word may be powerless upon you. You may become hardened and desperate, and then, ah! then, not the devils in hell are in a more hopeless condition than thou shalt be.I have thus gone through the most prominent excuses which men make for scattering from themselves those good thoughts which sometimes seek to get possession of their hearts. "I will follow thee Lord, but—." I cannot of course point out the distinct persons in this large assembly who are in this condition. That there are such is certain. I pray God the Holy Spirit to find them out, and make them judge themselves that they be not judged.II. I shall now come to the second part of my discourse. May the Lord be our helper. Soul, thou who sayest, "I will follow Christ, but—," I now come to EXPOSE THINE IGNORANCE AND THE ILL STATE OF THY HEART.Soul! thou hast as yet no true idea of what sin is. God the Holy Spirit has never opened thine eyes to see what an evil and bitter thing it is to sin against God, or else there would be no "buts." Picture a man who has lost his way, who has sunk into a slough; the waters and the mire are come up to his very throat. He is about to sink in it, when some bright spirit comes, stepping over the treacherous bog, and puts forth to him his hand. That man, if he knows where he is, if he knows his uncomfortable and desperate state, will put out his hand at once. You will not find him hesitating with "buts," and "of," and "peradventures." He feels that he is plunged into the ditch, and would come out of it. And you apparently are still in the wilderness of your natural state. You have not yet discovered what a fool might see, though a wayfaring man, that sin is a tremendous evil, that thy sin is all destructive, and will yet swallow thee up quick and utterly destroy thy soul. I know that when God the Holy Spirit tell me to see the blackness of sin, I did not need any very great pressing to be willing to be washed. My only question was, "Would Christ wash me?" Ask any poor penitent sinner that knows what the burden of sin is, whether he will have it taken off his shoulders, and he will not say, "I would have it taken off; but—." No, he will need but the very mention of the removal of his load; "Lord," saith he, "do but take it away from me: do but take it away, and I am well content."Again: soul, it seems plain to me that thou hast never yet been taught by the Holy Spirit what is thy state of comdemnation. Thou hast never yet learnt that the wrath of God abideth on thee. So long as thou art out of Christ, thou art under a curse. If that word "condemnation" had once been rung in thine ears, thou wouldst have no ifs and buts. When a man's house is on fire, and he stands at the window, and the fire escape is there and his hair begins to be crisp with the hot tongues of fire that scorch his cheeks, he has no "buts" about it, but down the escape he goes at once. When Lot began to see the fiery shower coming down from heaven, he had no "buts" about making the best of his way out of the city and escaping to the mountains. And you, O may God the Holy Ghost show to you, sinner, where you are to-day! Oh that he would make you know that your sentence is pronounced, that God's messengers are out after you to take you to prison. Then you will leave off your "buts," your presences, and excuses, and you will say, "Lord, what wouldst thou have me to do? "And be it what it may, your soul will make no demurs about it.Surely, methinks you cannot have felt the danger you are in of daily destruction. If you have not felt that, I do not think the Spirit of God has ever come into your soul after a real and saving fashion. You have no proof that you are one of Christ unless you have felt the danger of your natural state. Do you see there?—there is a scaffold raised; a man is brought out to execution,—there is the block and here stands the headsman with his sharp gleaming axe, gleaming in the morning sun. The man has just laid his neck upon the block in the little hollow place shaped out for it; there he lies, and the headsman has just lifted up the axe to cleave his head from his body As that man lies there, if a messenger should come from the king and say, "Here is a pardon, will you accept it?" do you believe he would say, "I will accept it, but—? No, springing up from what he thought would be his last resting place, he would say, "I thank his majesty for his abundant grace, and cheerfully do I rejoice in accepting it." You cannot have known where you are, or else "but" would be impossible to you. Such is your state, remember, whether you know it or not: you put your neck upon the block of insensibility, but the axe of justice is ready to smite you down to hell. The Lord help you to see your state and put the "buts" away from you.It seems to me, too, that you are ignorant altogether of what the wrath of God must be in the world to come. Oh! could I take you to that place where hope has ever been a stranger: if you could put your ear a moment to the gratings of those gloomy dungeons of which despair is the horrid warder—if I could make you listen to the sighs, the useless regrets, and the vain prayers of those who are cast away, you would come back affrighted and alarmed, and sure I am your "buts" would have been driven out of you. You would say, "Great God, if thou wilt but save me from thy wrath, do what thou wilt with me, I will make no conditions, I will offer thee no objections; if I must cut off my right arm, or pluck out my right eye, he it so, if from this place of woe thou wilt but save me. Oh! from this fire that never can he quenched, from this worm of endless folds which can never die, great God deliver me. If rough be the means, and unpleasant to the flesh, yet grant me but this one request,—save me, O God, save me from going down into the pit. "If a soul were just sinking to hell, and God could send some bright angel to pluck it from the flames just as it entered there, can you imagine its being so mad as to say, "I would be plucked as a brand from the burning, but—?" No, no. Glad to embrace the messenger of mercy, it would rejoice to fly from hell to heaven.Again, sinner, it seems clear to me, inasmuch as you say, "but," that you can have no idea of the glory of the person of Christ. I see you sitting down in your misery, in the bare uncomfortable cottage of your natural estate: yourself naked and filthy, with your hair matted over your eyes. Behold a bright chariot stays at your door, the sound of music is heard, and the King himself, stepping down from the chariot of his glory comes in, and he says, "Sinner, poor, hopeless, weak, miserable, look unto me and be thou saved. The chariot of my mercy awaits thee, come thou with me, my chariot is paved with love for such as thou art. Come with me, and I will bear thee to my splendours away from thy degradation and thy woe." You sit there and you will not look at him, for if you did look, you must love him. You could not behold his face, you could not see the mercy that is written there, the pity that trembles in his eye, the power that is in his arm, but you would say at once, "Jesu, thou hast overcome my heart, thy gracious beauty is more than a match for me.
"Dissolv'd by thy goodness I fall to the ground,And weep to the praise of the mercy I've found."What shall I say more? Yet this once again I will admonish thee. O thou procrastinating, objecting sinner, thou hast never known what heaven is, or else thou wouldst never have a "but." If you and I could peep but for an instant within the pearly gates; could you listen to that seraphic song; could you behold the joy which flows and overflows the bosoms of the blessed; could you but spell heaven, not in letters but in feelings; could you wear its crown a moment, or be girt about with its pure white garments, you would say, "If I must go through hell to reach heaven, I would cheerfully do it. What are ye, riches? ye are bubbles. What are ye, pomps? ye are drivelling emptinesses. What are ye, pleasures? ye are mocking, painted witcheries. What are ye, pains? ye are joys. What all be ye, sorrows? ye are but bliss. What are ye, tribulations? ye are lighter than feathers when I compare ye with this exceeding and eternal weight of glory. If we could have but a glimpse of heaven, but a shadow of an idea of what is the eternal rest of God's people, we should be prepared to endure all things, to give up all things, to bear all things, if we might but be partakers of the promised reward. Your "buts" betray your ignorance; your ignorance of self, ignorance of sin, ignorance of condemnation, ignorance of the punishment, ignorance of the Savior's person, and ignorance of the heaven to which he promises to being his people.III. Now, I have my last work to do, and that would I do briefly. Oh, may strength superior to mine come now, and tug, and strive, and wrestle with your hearts! May the Spirit of God apply the words which I shall now use! "Lord, I will follow thee: but—." Sinner, sinner, let me SHOW THEE THY SIN. When thou saidst, "But," thou didst contradict thyself. The meaning of that rightly read is this, "Lord, I will not follow thee." That "but" of thine puts the negative on all the profession that went before it. I wish, my hearers, that this morning you would either be led by grace to say, "I will believe, "or else were permitted honestly to see the depravity and desperate hardness of your own hearts so as to say, "I will not believe in Christ. "It is because so many of you are neither this nor that, but halting between two opinions, that you are the hardest characters to deal with. Sinners who reject Christ altogether wilfully are like flints. When the hammer of the Word comes against them, the flint gives forth the precious spark, and flies to atoms. But you are like a mass of wax moulded one day into one shape, and moulded the next day into another. I know a gentleman of considerable position in the world, who, after having been with me some little time, said, "Now that man is going away, and I shall be just what I was before;" for he had wept under the Word. He compared himself, he said, to a gutta-percha doll; he had got out of his old shape for a little while, but he would go back to what he was before. And how many there are of you of this kind. You will not say, "I will not have Christ," you will not say, "I will not think of these things." You dare not say, "I disbelieve the Bible," or, "I think there is no God, and no hereafter," but you say, "No doubt it is true, I'll think of it by-and-bye." You never will, sinner, you never will, you will go on from day to day, harping that till your last day shall come, and you will be found then where you are now, unless sovereign grace prevent. I could have more hope for you if you would say at once, "I love not God, I love not Christ, I fear him not, I desire not his salvation," for then methinks you would get an idea of what you are, and God the Spirit might bless it to you. Let me show you again your sin in another respect. How great has been your pride! When Christ bids you believe on him, take up his cross and follow him, he tells you to do the best thing you can do, and then you set up your judgment in contradiction to him. You say, "But." What! is Christ to mend his gospel by your whims? What! is the plan of salvation to be cut and shaped to suit you? Does not Christ know what is best for you, better than you do yourself? "Will you snatch from his hand the balance and the rod, rejudge his judgement, dictate to God, the Judge of all the earth? And yet this is what you attempt to do. You set up your throne in rivalry to the throne of grace, and insist upon it that there is more wisdom in being a sinner than in being a believer, that there is more happiness to be found apart from God than there is with him, which is to make God a hard Master, if not indeed to call him a liar to his face. Oh! you know not what is the quintessence of iniquity which lies within those words so easily spoken, but which will be so hard to get rid of on a dying bed—"I will follow thee, but—"I close when I have just, in a moment or so only, described your danger. Soul, thou art quieting thyself and saying, "Ah! it will be well with me at the last; for I intend to be better by-and-bye." Soul, soul, bethink thee how many have died while they have been speaking like that. There were put into the grave, during the past week, hundreds of persons, no doubt, who were utterly careless, but there were also scores who were not careless, and who had often been impressed, and yet they said "But, but, but," and promised better things, but death came in and their better things came not. And then, remember how many have been damned while they have been saying "But." They said they would repent, meanwhile they died. They said they would believe, meanwhile in hell they lifted up their eyes being in torments. They meant they said, but inasmuch as they did it not they came where their resolutions would be changed into remorse, and their fancied hopes turned into real despair. On such a subject as this I could wish Baxter were the preacher, and that I were the hearer. As I look around you, though there be full many who can read their title clear to mansions in the skies, yet along these pews what a considerable proportion there is of my hearers who are only deceiving their own selves! Well, sinners, I will make the road to hell as hard for you as I can. If you will be lost, I will put up many a chain and many a bar, and shut many a gate across your way. If you will listen to my voice, God helping me, you shall find it a hard way—that way of transgressors; you shall find it a hard thing to run counter to the proclamation of the Gospel of Christ. But why will ye die, O house of Israel, why will ye die? Where is your reason fled? Have beasts become men and men become beasts? "The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib," but ye know not. What! are you become like the silly sheep that goes willingly to his slaughter? Are the swallows and cranes more wise than you? for they know the senses and they judge the times, but you know not that your summer is almost over, that your leaves are falling in the autumn of your life, and that your dreary winter of despair and of hopelessness is drawing nigh. Souls, are these things fancies? If so, sleep while I preach of them. Are they dreams? Do I bring out these doctrines but as bugbears to alarm you as if you were some children in a nursery? No, but as God is true, are not these the most solemn realities that ever rested on the lip of man or moved the heart of hearer? Then why is it, why is it, why is it that you make light of these things still? Why is it that you will go your way to-day as you did before? Why will ye say, "Well, the preacher has warned me faithfully, and I will think of it, but—; I was invited and I will consider, but—; I did hear the warning, but—?" Ah, souls, while you shall be saying "But," there shall be another "But" go forth, and that shall be "But cut him down, why cumbereth he the ground?" Wake, vengeance, wake! The sinner sleeps. Pluck out thy sword, O Justice! let it not rest in its scabbard, come forth! Nay, nay, oh! come not forth devouring sword! oh, come not forth! O Justice, be thou still! O Vengeance, put away thy sword, and Mercy, reign thou still! "Today if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts as in the provocation," but if ye harden your hearts, remember he will swear in his wrath that ye shall not enter into his rest. Oh! Spirit of God, do thou the sinner turn, for without thee he will not turn; our voice shall miss its end, and he will not come to Christ.

2009-06-05T09:13:00.000-07:00

We are proud of you John Glenn! Love Mom Dad, Julia, Jason and Steven

2009-06-05T07:47:00.000-07:00

Boletín de Junio, 2009; Iglesia LA ROCA

Estamos de vuelta, después de casi 6 semanas fuera, tanto en los USA, en Brasil, y en Asunción. Llegamos de los estados Unidos, donde tuvimos una agenda muy apretada y frutífera, y el otro día partimos para una conferencia de 5 días en Brasil. Después estuvimos unos 3 días en casa y otra ves viajando a Asunción, para terminar la parte final de nuestra radicación en Paraguay. Ya somos residentes permanentes! Por este logro damos gracias a Dios…

En los Estados Unidos pudimos presenciar la graduación de nuestro hijo John Glenn. El se recibió de licenciado en dos áreas; Ciencias Políticas y Filosofía, con honra. A Dios sea la gloria! En Setiembre el plan de el es de comenzar su Master en Administración publica. Oren por el, por favor.

Steven e Iracema estuvieron en Virginia con Julia y Jason, y yo estuve predicando en estos días en la Costa Pacifica de los Estados Unidos. Compartí el Evangelio un total de 18 veces en este mes, y vimos muchas personas entregar sus vidas a Cristo. Iracema y Steven también compartieron 2x en la iglesia del Pastor Todd Ellis. (El estuvo aquí el año pasado, y ahora es casado con Kelly). Talvez en el año que viene nos van a visitar.

Supe de que tuvieron buen culto en nuestra ausencia, el mes pasado. Quiero agradecer a Elvio y Carla por su continua paciencia y generosidad en prestar este lugar para nuestro uso para las reuniones. También a Martín por la buena palabra que les compartió, y al hermano Heber quien nos ayudo con la música.

Evento para destacar: El próximo culto será un acto de celebración, por nuestro segundo aniversario de nuestra existencia, de la iglesia LA ROCA. Es difícil creer que hace 2 años comenzamos con un pequeño grupo de unas 10 personas. Dios nos ha bendecido, y queremos celebrar esto en el mes que viene! No falte para esta celebración tan importante. Posiblemente tendremos bautismos.

Que Dios les bendiga!

Les amamos,

Pr. Timoteo e Iracema

PD, Fechas a llevar en cuenta…Prójimos cultos, 5 de Julio, 09;00 Casa de Elvio y Carla, 2 de Agosto, Casa de Elvio y Carla, 6 de Setiembre, Casa de Elvio y Carla.

sSpanish posting. Stewardship of all we have and are: La mayordomia de TODO lo que somos y tenemos

2009-04-18T08:06:00.000-07:00

MAYORDOMIA ESPECIALMENTE EN EL LIBRO DE LOS PROVERBIOS DE SOLOMON.

Intro: Muchas veces como pastor a través de los años, me han pedido que hable sobre la mayordomía. Siempre esto me deja un poco confuso. Porque peden a mi, que no soy su!! pastor, que yo!! hable de esto?? Porque el pastor de ELLOS? no les puede convencer que lo hagan? Y si ellos no puedan, o no han podido, aun, como lo haré yo, especialmente en 1-3 horas??? Cuando se habla de la mayordomía, en círculos evangélicos, normalmente se refiere a la administración del $; o de cómo animar a los que concurran, que den sus diezmos, y ofrendas. Pero será que es tan así? Para mí la mayordomía, se refiere Bíblicamente a TODO!! lo que nos concierne; nuestro cuerpo, nuestras posesiones, nuestras actitudes, decisiones, etc. Veamos esto en este libro precioso:

1. La Mayordomía del Cuerpo. Desde el cuero cabelludo, hasta las suelos de nuestros pies. Hagamos un paseo:

-Boca, labios; Vea, 4;24, 13;3, 15;1, = clave! 16;28, chismes, fofocas; 17;27, oír mucho, hablar poco, Nótense que tenemos una boca y 2 oídos! 18;7, 18;21, 20;15, 21;6, En la lengua hay poder para vida o muerte; lengua mentirosa. 21;23, GUARDE SU LENGUA!! Contrólela!! 25;11, 15, 26;4, 20, 23, labios lisonjeros, (flattering), muchas veces mencionado… 24;28, lengua falsa… 29;20.
-Oídos, oye, lo + no oye lo – Vea; 22;17, inclina tu oído. Preg; a que escuchas? A quien?? De quien tomas consejo? 23;19, 22 oye!!! 25; 12, 28;9, aparte los oídos, de algunos!
-Ojos, Vea. Especialmente 3;21, caps. 4-5. Esp. 4;25 y 6;25 = clave!! (Párpados!), no mire a la derecha ni a la izquierda, 23;26, Ojos altivos. Párpados, levantados! 30;13.
-Corazón: Que es ¿??
-Estomago. Apetitos, glotonería, vino, cerveza. Vea espec. 25;16; 31;4. El vino y la cerveza no son para los reyes y los príncipes. Preg. Queréis tu ser rey? Príncipe?
-Nuestro apetito sexual, y la parte de reproducción. Los consejos contra caer en adulterio, fornicacion, etc. Vea especialmente, Caps. 5-7; Preg. Cada niño nace porque Dios lo quiso? Hombre como co-creador con Dios.
-Pies: No te detén, no te acercas, a la ramera/adultera! 5;8, tiene boca suave y convenciente! No te vayas, ni cerca de ella! etc. MUCHOS consejos así. Vea espec. 1;15, 7;22, 14;16, el muchacho necio, se marchó atrás de ella como buey, al la muerte; no se detenga con los bebedores de vino, 14;6, huye del hombre necio!25;17, no quede demasiado en la casa de otro! Preg. Quien manda en tus pies? Illus. La canción…
Manos. Tener manos de un trabajador! Diligentes!!! Vea la comparación, de la diligencia, y la negligencia en Prov. El perezoso, que da vuelta en su cama como las bisagras de una puerta! 10;4, 24;30, CLAVE = 27;18, y 23. Conocer del estado de tus rebaños, cuide tus campos, olivares, etc., y así comerás pan y te saciaras! Vi los campos de un perezoso! Vea, 24;30-34. Preg. Como esta tu auto? Tus animales? Tu perro? Lo cuidas? La mujer virtuosa. Su manos no paren! 31;13, 16, 19, 27. No come el pan de balde.

11. La Mayordomía de la Parte No Material de lo que Somos.

Se lo llama Corazón, Espíritu, Alma, etc. en la Biblia. Clave: 4: 23. JC también habla mucho de esto. Vea espec. Mat. 12:34-35; 15:1-20!! No se corrompe a NO, los que comemos; las manos no lavadas, etc. Nos corrompe lo que ponemos en nuestro corazón, y lo que queda allí, y que después sale para fuera. Preg. Como entra en nuestra corazón, o alma estas cosas negativas o positivas? Illus. Los dos perros. Quien gana la batalla? Vea Ef. 4;20-32, y Gal. 5;16
Vea, esp. 4;23, 2;2, 21;2, 22;5, 23;19, 24;12, 26;24, 28;14, Todo aquí se refiere al corazón. Debemos cuidarlo, Dios lo pesa, lo escudriña, de el mana la vida! Debemos cuidar con que lo alimentamos; “Hijo mío, de mi tu corazón”! 3;26. A quien lo darás?
-Se lo podemos endurecer, ( 28;14),
-Al alma, debemos cuidarla, alimentarla, 22;5, 24;14,
-Debemos poner rienda en nuestro espíritu, domar nuestra lengua, cuidar nuestros labios, ver como respondemos a los demás. 16;32 = clave!, y 25:28
-Nótense que el hierro afila hierro. Con quien tu te estas afilando? A quien prestas cuentas? 27;17 = clave!
-La memoria!!! Illus; Entró y no sale nunca. Illus. Sabe todo lo de la FIFA y no sabe de memoria los 66 libros de la Biblia!
-Tiempo: Úselo bien! Úselo para adquirir sabiduría! No de tus años, tu fortuna, tus trabajos, a una extraña y sus familiares! 5;9! Illus. DPGS vea; 20;13,

111. La Mayordomía de las Actitudes.

-Envidia, 23;3,, 27;4, 13. Codicia, avaricia, amargura, voluntad; Vea, 1;10, Honor, buen nombre. Como lo protegemos. Votos; 2 que recomiendo a mis discípulos; (bebidas alcohólicas, y estar en situaciones comprometedoras con miembros del sexo opuesto, siendo casados). 5;9, 22;1 = clave… 27; 4, 28;16, 22, 15;18; Tardo para airarse. (Ira). 16;32, y 20;22, 29;11, No vengarse. Pensamientos puros. 21;4, 24;1. Enojo, 14;17, 28, 15;18, 16;32, 19;11; Ignorar ofensas.
-Ser dulce. Vea cuantas veces se habla de la mujer rencillosa!! 25;24, 19;13, 21;9, 27;15. Preg; donde encontrarás una buena novia? Novio? En la discoteca???
-Apetito sexual: Beba de tu propia cisterna! 5;15, 21 = Clave! Sáciate con tu!!! Esposo/a. Beba de tu!!! cisterna. “Quien halla esposa halla buena cosa, y obtiene favor de Dios”! 18;22; Alégrate con la mujer de tu juventud! 5;18; No des a la mujer extraña tu fuerza! 31;3; 5;9-11. Si no, tus fuerzas, honor y bienes van a pararse en casa de estraños! Quien frecuenta rameras, perderá sus bienes! 29;3. Illus. DPGS.
-Apetito físico; 23;1 Contrólate al sentar en una mesa! 25;16
-Ser humilde de espíritu! 29;23. “El que confia en Jehová será exaltado”. 29;25.

IV. La Mayordomía de las decisiones:

-Amistades: escoger bien tus amigos. 24;19, Dime con quien andas y te diré que sos! No te pares con los glotones, ni con los bebedores de vino. Cambie los demás, no deje que ellos te cambien a ti. Vea 11 Tim, 4;12, Vea Salmo 1. Uno para, se detiene, y participa en pecados ajenos. 12;1, No seguís vagabundos, necios, y fatuos; seguí sabios! 20;19, “No te ajuntes con el suelto de lengua.” Illus;. Usar folletos en tu bolso de la camisa, pulseras evangelisticas; sea contagioso/a con tu fe! Vence el mal, con el bien!! Rom. 12;21
-26;17. No te metas en pleitos ajenos!, 28;7, Elija bien tus batallas!
-NO CUBRE TUS PECADOS! LAS CONFIESE, Y LAS DEJE!! 28;13. CLAVE!
-CAMINE EN SABIDURA! 28;26. 17;18,
-$$ No salir de garantía! No pedir prestado. No preste! DE LO QUE PODES “PERDER”!!! 6;1, 11;;15, No fíe tu palabra! 28;8, no seas usurero. Pida a Dios ni riqueza ni pobreza. No seas sanguijuela! 30;8-9.
-19;17 Quien da al pobre presta a Dios!
-DEJE LAS BEBIDAS ALCOHOLICAS DE POR VIDA!!! 23;20, 23. Al lado de los tomadores de vino, hay, pleitos, ojos morados, ayes, rencillas, heridas de balde!!
Vea 20;1, 23;20, 29, 31;4-4, Gen. 9;21, Is 28;7, Hosea, 7;5.

V. La Mayordomía, de los Hijos, y de la Vara.

-El que sabe instruir/corregir su hijo, levantará hijos sabios, que le darán gozo y alegría en la vejez. Quien produce los sensatos? Buenos padres!! Y los necios, y los fatuos? MALOS PADRES!!! Dios nos da los hijos, como un pizarrón con poco o nada escrito en ella. Lo que se escribe en ella nosotros!! tenemos que controlar. Illus. Jóvenes con TV, y Internet en sus habitaciones; TV prendido en hogares 11 horas por día, Stats: 6-7 horas por día, los niños vean TV. Preg. Quien este instruyendo a ti? Quien instruirá tus hijos?
Vea; 17;21, 22;6, 23;24.

La Vara: Se habla mucho que el padre bueno, va a corregir su hijo; lo va a castigar. Se debe usar la corrección, no por errores, mas si! por rebelión. En castigar tu hijo, no lo matarás. Le salvarás del la muerte. Illus: Se veo mi hijo en un grupo que hace mal, a quien corrijo? Porque? Heb. 12:6. Hay peligro para ti, si haces el mal, y no sos corregido. Muestra que no sos hijo!! OJO!!
Vea 13;24, , 23;13, 26;3, 29;15, 17. El muchacho consentido…

CONCLUSION: Porque debemos seguir estos consejos? El que así anda hallara favor del y en el Señor! Será confianzudo como el león! 28;1, Tendrá hijos, sabios, tendrá descanso dulce, no le sacaran sus prendas, ni su cama, no repartirá con extraños, su fortuna, no va a tener embarazos no deseados, no tendrá pleitos, contiendas, efectos de las borracheras, no se endeudará, tendrá sus campos bien cuidados, y sus celeiros llenos, tendrá felicidad en el hogar, no tendrá enfermedades venéreas, no tendrá miedo, del esposo enfurecido, tendrá hijos prósperos, y sensatos, etc. etc.!!! Tendrá paz!!! Nótense. JEOVÁ ESTA MIRANDO! 24;18, OBSERVANDO! El ve, 15;3, El escudriña, el pesa los corazones!!! 21;27; Como estas tu? Como esta tu corazón, tu alma??? EL nos dará la victoria! 21;31

“Toda palabra de Dios es limpia, El es escudo a los que en El confían.” 30;5

Un Abrazo, Pr. Timoteo Kunkel tikunkel@gmail.com

Baptisms and combined LA ROCA service yesterday in Cuidad del Este Paraguay!

2009-04-06T09:38:00.000-07:00

PTL!

Yesterday in our combined house churches we had over 60! We baptized 3!! Pr David baptized for the first time! He is a young pastor I am mentoring. Please pray for us! Blessings, THE KUNKELS

2009-04-01T12:34:00.000-07:00

Boletín de Abril, 2009; Iglesia LA ROCA

Hoy es otro día feliz en la vida de la iglesia LA ROCA. Hoy pretendemos celebrar otra vez bautismos! Como me alegra ver personas que se rindan a los pies de Dios, y que le aceptan DE VERDAD como el Salvador y Señor de sus vidas. Luego comienzan en un proceso de discipulado, y después, con mucho coraje y fe deciden obedecerle, también en el acto del bautismo. Muchas preguntan: y el bautismo que experimenté como niño, esto no es valido?

La Biblia es muy clara con respecto a esto. El único bautismo que sirve es el de una persona que se sumeta a hacerlo, entendiendo lo que hace. En el bautismo celebramos la muerte del “hombre/mujer viejo/a” Es señal que nos hemos arrepentido de nuestros pecados, y que estamos dispuestos a seguir Cristo; muestra adelante de todos que no tenemos vergüenza de Jesús. Es por esto que es un acto de pública profesión de fe, y se hace por inmersión. (Vea Mat. 28:18-20, Hechos 2:38., y Romanos 6:1-4).

Hoy dentro de poco, nuestra iglesia hermana, ROCA DE LA SALVACION, su pastor, David Barudi, y algunos candidatos para el bautismo de ellos, van a llegar. Junto vamos a participar en esta ordenanza preciosa del Señor.

Otra vez les animo, los domingos, que no tenemos cultos acá en LA ROCA, a ir, a ROCA DE LA SALVACION. Se reúnen en la casa del pastor. Barrio San Miguel; llegando al club CARDUMEN, doble hacia al río, 100 metros. En la primera esquina, mano izquierda, casa blanca con rejas color crema. En la parte de atrás donde esta el garaje, se entra… Hora 09;00.

Quisiera ponerles al conocimiento de otra actividad: Iracema esta haciendo evangelismo en el MERCADO de ABASTO, y haciendo visitas hospitalarias, una vez por semana. Se le gustaría de participar en esto con ella, por favor, avísela.

Les amamos,

Pr. Timoteo e Iracema

PD, Fechas a llevar en cuenta…Prójimos cultos, 3 de Mayo, 09;00 Casa de Elvio y Carla, 7 de Junio, Casa de Elvio y Carla, 5 de Julio, Casa de Elvio y Carla.

KUNKEL PRAYER GRAM FEB 27, 2009

2009-02-27T07:30:00.000-08:00

KUNKEL PRAYER GRAM; FEBRUARY 27, 2009

Dear friends, family, and prayer partners,

We did not want to let this month pass without connecting with you all. This month marks our completion of 19 years of overseas missionary service. Yes on 2/13/1990 we were commissioned in Richmond VA, by the Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Commission as missionaries to Uruguay. We served there for 15 + years, and for the last 4 years have been assigned to and or lived in Paraguay. God has been so!! good to us. How could we ever repay to Him the debt of gratitude we owe Him, for ALL! He has done for us??? He has saved us, he has given us an unfading inheritance reserved for us in heaven, which cannot be taken away. ( I Peter 1); He has called us, and He allows us!! to be His co laborers, to rescue the perishing, care for the dying, and proclaim Him, who called us out of darkness into HIS MARVELOUS LIGHT! (1 Peter 2). What a blessing it is to be His ambassadors, (11 Cor. 5), and your missionaries in South America. How much we appreciate those of you who daily pray for us, give to the CP and the LMCO, and support us in so many ways! Thank you all!

MINISTRY NEWS.

Our church planting efforts continue well. We are about trying to start a Church Planting Movement, ( CPM ), of simple house churches. This is where we lead people to Christ, and then disciple them. We then begin to meet with them, in homes, under trees, anywhere a group of 5-50 people can meet and worship the Lord. We have seen three such churches come into existence in the 2.5 years we have lived in this city. One runs about 30-40, the other one fizzled out, and a new one we have helped to start has been up and running now for 6 weeks, and runs about 18 on average. We are busily passing on the vision, and disciple individually about 30 new Christians. We are discipling and or mentoring 6 new couples. Four of them, are baby Christians, and have brought with them MUCH BAGGAGE from their time in the world; broken relationships, infidelity, children with multiple partners, accusations, debt, etc., etc. To help them get past all this baggage is EXAUSTING. I spend sometimes 4-8 hours a week with 1-2 of these couples.

The counseling part is EXAUSTING, and Iracema almost cannot do it. It really affects her health. So please pray for us, in this regard. The goal is 100 house churches in this area. Once they get up and running, and start self perpetuating, this is a possibility, but it is a GOD SIZED GOAL, to be sure.

PLEASE PRAY FOR:

-A new outreach group ( NOG), in a local beauty salon. In this business 1x per week, Iracema groups together the beauticians and leads them in prayer and Bible study. Pray for the 6 ladies that participate in this. Several have made decisions for Christ.

- The workers in the mesitas. ( Little Tables ). These are ladies that work in the sidewalk flea markets near our home. Iracema visits them, and gives them Bible studies on the street. About 20 or so people participate in this study. They mainly fill in the blanks, and then she picks up the studies a few days later.

-Please pray for the workers in especially one large warehouse galleria, at the MERCADO DE ABASTO. (A more established flea market neighborhood, where we have another 15 or so involved in Bible studies like the one I just described). Many baby Christians are in this one place. Most of them work 12 hours per day 6-7 days a week, so it is VERY hard to get them together for worship. They are like slaves to their low paying jobs, but many have found new life in Christ. Pray for us as we disciple them.

- Those who we will baptize soon. Please pray especially for Beatriz, Olga, and Felix, all of whom we are preparing for this BIG STEP, which in the case of at least one will severely damage his relationship with his family. To follow Christ, he will pay a price of ridicule, and even possibly, by some family members, abandonment.

- For a young couple I am preparing for leading a new church. Please pray for David, and his family. For the two couples I am mentoring, on an almost daily basis.

-For a couple whose home is FULL of pagan deities. They want to worship them, AND JESUS. I have told them this is an impossibility. No one can serve idols and the one true God. Please pray that the bondage of idolatry will be broken! I meet weekly with them, to story the Gospel to/for them, and to counsel them.

-For the lost Japanese expats that live in Paraguay. Steven studies in a Japanese school, and also is getting more and more involved with a Japanese church in the nation’s capital, Asuncion. Please pray for Pastor Koki, and his wife Mari. Please pray for Steven as he ministers alongside of them, most every month, in camps, and in their home church.

- For Steven and the Japanese pastors as they go to Japan for two months later this year. Please pray for the logistical and financial aspects of this 60 day or so trip, to and in this land of so much spiritual lostness and darkness.

-For the 6 couples that make up the core of our new CPM; for us to walk in holiness and purity. For them to continue to progress in the Christian life.

-For a new NOG, in an exclusive Country Club Neighborhood, that will begin, in mid March. This will be for 10 or so lost ladies of the upper Class. Iracema will lead this on Friday afternoons. Pray that they will come to salvation.

FAMILY NEWS.

-We thank the Lord that Steven graduated from High School, in the last month. He finished the U of Nebraska, Home Study HS. Please check out a picture of this on our blog. johntkunkel.blogspot.com He is now enrolled full time, via distance ed. in Univ. courses, and is pursuing an A.A. Degree in General Studies. He plans to live at home with us for the next couple of years, and continue to develop his ministry with the Japanese people here in Paraguay

- John Glenn will finish up his univ. studies and GRADUATE!!! with his B.A. Degree from California Baptist University, this May 2nd. We plan to be there and cheer him on. Most semesters he has been on the dean’s list, and he will get a double major in Philosophy and Pol. Sci. He plans to immediately pursue at CBU an M.A. in Public Administration. Please pray for him, as he seeks housing off campus, and scholarships, loans, etc, to fund this second part of his education.

-Julia and Jason continue to live and work in Norfolk, VA. Julia teaches Special ED. students at a public school. Jason just got a new job as a loan officer. Please pray for him, as he adjusts to this new position, and this new field of work.

-Iracema was able to spend Christmas with her 94 year old mother, Ruth. She is doing quite well. She lives with Cema’s older sister. She is now a widow. Her health is good, and we thank the Lord for the great Christian witness she is to all. Her father was won to Christ by Baptist Missionary William “Buck” Bagby in the 1880’s in Rio! So Cema is a 3rd generation fruit of missionary efforts. Exciting, no?

-My parents, Glenn and Jackie, are doing well. My mom, is largely homebound, and is not too mobile, but from her chair she is a real prayer warrior, and counselor of/to/for a vast multitude. My dad had another heart operation this past year but he came through it well. He goes to his office at the Christian University he helped to start about 4-5x per week, and works there in the mornings. Please pray for them,

AND FOR ME,

“ … That whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me, so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the Gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly as I should”. ( Ef. 6: 19-20).

Your fellow servants in HIS Harvest.

Tim, Iracema, and Steven Kunkel

Ciudad del Este, Paraguay

johntkunkel.blogspot.com also on FACEBOOK.

Spanish post re Prayer Pensamientos sobre la Oracion

2009-02-25T01:50:00.000-08:00

PENSAMIENTOS SOBRE LA ORACION

Intro: Hemos visto que en Lucas cap. 18 Jesús nos habla de tres tipos de oración: Persistente, Prepotente, y Penitente. Dos le agrada a Dios. Uno Le es un asco. Ahora vamos a concluir haciendo un ejercicio da la oración modelo que JC enseñó a sus discípulos. El PADRE NUESTRO:

PADRE NUESTRO: Tener padre quiere decir que hemos nascido: (Natural), _________ y nascido de nuevo: ( Espiritual). __________. Ponga fechas, por favor.

Que esta en el cielo. Nótense. El ve, observa, cuida, sabe, y SE IMPORTA!!

SANTIFICADO SEA TU NOMBRE!! Nótense, el nombre de El será o no!! será santificado, por hoy in mi vida por lo que hago, digo, pienso, como actúo, como invierto mi tiempo, $ etc. No es una cosa automática. Dependo de cómo yo vivo! Aquí JC nos enseña a orar que así sea, mas DEPENDE DE nosotros!!!

VENGA TU REINO!! = DONDE DIOS REINA. PREG. EL REINA EN TU VIDA???

R D DIOS R D satanás

GUERRA/CONFLICTO

HAGASE TU VOLUNTAD EN LA TIERRA, COMO EN EL CIELO!
Nótense. En el cielo la vol. de Dios se hace. Es así también en tu vida? Bajo tu??? paragua de influencia??? Depende de ti! En tu recinto, casa, terreno, en tu matrimonio, finanzas, con tus hijos, con todo lo que tenes, que tu controlas, etc.???, El reina??

EL PAN NUESTRA DE CADA DIA DANOS HOY! Nótense, es pan, que el cita aquí, no picania! Dios nos dará por lo menos, el esencial, no necessmte. nuestros “mimos”.

NO NOS DEJA CAER EN TENTACION. Nótense aquí el libre albedrío / elección; TU, YO decide/decidimos. Somos libres. Pero como!!! pagamos caro nuestros errores!! Nuestras caídas. Mejor es evitar! LIBRENOS DEL MAL. El es capaz de hacer esto, si Le obedecemos; si cedemos el gobierno de nuestras vidas a El.

TUYO ES EL REINO, EL PODER Y EL DOMINIO PARA SIEMPRE!!!!!!! AMEN!
Dios les Bendiga, Pr Timothy Kunkel

STEVEN GRADUATES FROM U NEBRASKA HIGH SCHOOL!!

2009-01-31T08:18:00.000-08:00

PTL!! We want to thank God for his faithfulness! With what happened last month, (12/22/2008), we now have all three of our kids with graduation diplomas!

-Julia is a HS, College and Grad School grad! She teaches Spec. Ed. kids in VA.

-John Glenn, is a HS GRAD, and will graduate University (Cal Baptist U), this spring. He will receive a BA with a double major!! He plans to go immediately into an MA program... Master of Arts on Public Administration... We are gratful to the Lord and proud of them all.

Steven is doing a General Ed. AA degree online, and will continue to live with us here in South America.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY. Love the Kunkels

LA ROCA SPANISH BULLETIN POST 2 2009

2009-01-31T08:03:00.001-08:00

Boletín de Febrero, 2009; Iglesia LA ROCA

En este segundo boletín de 2009, quiero seguir hablando sobre el tiempo. Hemos visto que la palabra tiempo traducido al Español, desde el Griego del NT, viene de dos palabras: (CHRONOS), tiempo, común y corriente, y KAIROS, el tiempo oportuno de Dios. Leyendo en los profetas últimamente, he visto como Dios ama y busca a su pueblo. Cuando ellos no le aman de vuelta, y cuando ellos adoran cosas creadas y no El Creador, esto le causa dolor, y enojo. El compara la idolatría, (adorando cosas creadas, y no al Creador), como adulterio espiritual. Por esto El permita que venga sobre Su pueblo toda especie de maldades. Esto ayuda ellos a caer en si, y volver a El. Podría ser esto que esta pasando con el mundo, AHORA? He hablado con muchas personas últimamente, y casi TODOS están apavorados. Parece que TODO se nos viene abajo, en el mundo económico. El “dios” del materialismos se esta derrumbando. Ha mostrado que tiene pies de barro… Tiempos difíciles, parece que se nos avanzan. Como vamos a reaccionar? El pueblo de Israel también paso por momentos así. Y el Profeta Habacuc, así escribió, de su fe en Dios, y de Su provisión:

“Aunque la higuera no florecezca, ni en las vides haya frutos; Aunque falte el producto del olivo, y los labrados no dan mantenimiento. Y las ovejas sean quitadas de la majada, y no hay vacas en los corrales. Con todo yo me alegraré en Jehová, Y me gozaré en el Dios de mi salvación. Jehová el Señor es mi fortaleza, El cual hace mis pies como de ciervas, y en las alturas me hace andar. ( 17-19).

Será que el año de 2009 pueda ser el mejor año de nuestra vida; el mejor año de nuestra peregrinación, con El? Yo creo que si!! Hagamos metas alcanzables, razonables, y medibles para este año, que comenzó días atrás.

Ejemplo. Ore por mi, para que yo pueda (a través de ejercicio, -caminar el lago, 4x por semana-, y el cuidado con los alimentos), perder 10 kilos mas en 2009.

Ahora, una meta para cada miembro de LA ROCA. Leen TODA la Biblia en 2009. Como hacerlo? Por leer 4 paginas por día, UD va a leerla todo, hasta el 15/12/2009. No te gustaría de hacer esto? Nótense con respecto a las metas propuestas: El 80% de ellos mundialmente se quiebran, hasta el 31/1 de cado año. De que hace la gente las promesas? Para perder peso, para ser mas espiritual, para ahorrar mas, para salir de la deuda, para hacer gimnasia, para comer mas sano, para ser mejor esposo/a, padre, etc. Porque no guardamos las metas propuestas así? Uno es por que son mi irrealistas, y son neblinosas, (no muy claras y definidas), y también porque no ponemos personas positivas y PESADAS para hacernos contabilidad. (Para que les prestemos cuentas a ellos). Ya estamos en el segundo mes del año. Como estas tu con tus metas? Las estas cumpliendo?
Les amamos,

Pr. Timoteo e Iracema
PD, Fechas a llevar en cuenta…Prójimos cultos, 1 de Marzo, y 5 de Abril 09;00 Casa de Elvio y Carla, Vigilia de oración. 14 De Marzo, 20;00-2400 (Sábado).

Spanish post LA ROCA Church Bulletin for January

2009-01-02T07:29:00.000-08:00

Boletín de Enero, 2009; Iglesia LA ROCA

Como el año de 2008 se nos fue! Paso la época de la Navidad; el tiempo cuando acordamos de que Dios, nos dio, un don inefable; (2 Cor. 9:15); algo tan!! grande que palabras humanas no son adecuadas para poder describirlo.

Para Iracema, Steven y yo, esta fue nuestra segunda Navidad en este país. Somos muy, pero MUY agradecidos, por TODOS ustedes; por tu crecimiento espiritual; por tu apertura de oír de nosotros y del Espíritu Santo de Dios, el llamado a la salvación, y/o a una vida de discipulado verdadero con El. SIGAN ADELANTE! En 2009, veremos mucho mas!!

“Porque nos otros no somos de los que retroceden, a la perdición. Al contrario, somos de los que tenemos fe para la preservación de la alma…” (Hebreos 10; 39).

En este primero culto del año, quiero hablar sobre tiempo, Griego (CHRONOS), tiempos y el tiempo oportuno de Dios (KAIROS). Leyendo en los profetas últimamente, he visto como Dios ama y busca a su pueblo. Cuando ellos no le aman de vuelta, y cuando ellos adoran cosas creadas y no el creador, esto le causa dolor, y enojo. El compara la idolatría, (adorando cosas creadas, y no al creador), como adulterio espiritual. Por esto el permita que venga sobre su pueblo toda especie de maldades. Esto ayuda ellos a caer en si, y volver a El. Que el año de 2009 sea el mejor año de nuestra vida; el mejor año de nuestra peregrinación, con El. Hagamos metas alcanzables, razonables, y medibles para este año, que comenzó horas atrás.

Ejemplo. Ore por mi, para que yo pueda (através de ejercicio, -caminar el lago, 4x por semana-, y el cuidado con los alimentos), perder 10 kilos mas en 2009.

Ahora, una meta para cada miembro de LA ROCA. Leen TODA la Biblia en 2009. Como hacerlo? Por leer 4 paginas por día, UD va a leerla todo, hasta el 15/12/2009. No te gustaría de hacer esto? Nótense con respecto a las metas propuestas: El 80% de ellos mundialmente se quiebran, hasta el 31/1 de cado año. De que hace la gente las promesas? Para perder peso, para ser mas espiritual, para ahorrar mas, para salir de la deuda, para hacer gimnasia, para comer mas sano, para ser mejor esposo/a, padre, etc. Porque no guardamos las metas propuestas así? Uno es por que son mi irrealistas, y son neblinosas, (no muy claras y definidas), y también porque no ponemos personas positivas y PESADAS para hacernos contabilidad. (Para que les prestemos cuentas a ellos). Porque no hacemos metas así, para nuestras vidas esta semana? Les animo que lo hagan!
Les amamos,

Pr. Timoteo e Iracema
PD, Fechas a llevar en cuenta…

Prójimos cultos, 1 de Febrero, 09;00 Casa de Elvio y Carla, 1 de Marzo, 09;00 Casa de Elvio y Carla, Vigilia de oración. 14 De Marzo, 20;00-2400 (Sábado).

Christmas at Kunkels' House; Navidad en la casa de la FLIA KUNKEL

2008-12-06T11:07:00.000-08:00

Boletín de Diciembre; Iglesia LA ROCA

Como el año se nos fue! Estamos en la época de la Navidad; el tiempo cuando acordamos de que Dios, nos dio, un don inefable. (2 Cor. 9:15). Algo tan!! grande que palabras humanas no son adecuadas para poder describirlo. Mas de esto hablaremos en el mensaje!

Para Iracema, Steven y yo, esta es nuestra segunda Navidad en este país. Somos muy, pero MUY agradecidos, por TODOS ustedes; Por tu crecimiento espiritual; por tu apertura de oír de nosotros y del Espíritu Santo de Dios, el llamado a la salvación, y/o a una vida de discipulado verdadero con El. SIGAN ADELANTE!
En 2009, que se nos acerca, veremos mucho mas!!

“Porque nos otros no somos de los que retroceden, a la perdición. Al contrario, somos de los que tenemos fe para la preservación de la alma…” (Hebreos 10; 39).

En el mensaje de hoy, hablare de cómo nosotros damos, a los demás. Pero como debemos dar también a Dios? El Apóstol Pablo así habla a la iglesia en Roma; (Rom 12:1-2).

“Así que, hermanos, os ruego por las misericordias de Dios, que presentéis vuestros cuerpos en sacrificio vivo, santo, agradable a Dios, que es vuestro culto racional. No os conforméis a este siglo, sino transformaos por medio de la renovación de vuestro entendimiento, para que comprobéis cuál sea la buena voluntad de Dios, agradable y perfecta”.

Les amamos,

Pr. Timoteo e Iracema

PD, Fechas a llevar en cuenta…

Prójima vigilia, 31 del 12, 20;00-24;00 Casa de Timoteo y Iracema. Por favor de confirmar tú presencia. Habrá mucha comida, oración y compañerismo.

Prójimos cultos, 4 de Enero 09;00 Casa de Elvio y Carla

1 de Febrero, 09;00 Casa de Elvio y Carla

KUNKELS NOVEMBER PRAYER LETTER

2008-11-28T06:14:00.000-08:00

KUNKEL PRAYER GRAM 11/24/2008

Greetings from Cuidad del Este Paraguay

We are doing fine, and prospering in this new post of ministry. I say “new” because we are coming up now on 2.5 years here in country and 3.5 years with the new position. In contrast to the 15 years we spent in Uruguay, we really are newcomers here! God has blessed us here with new friends, families, and churches. We can say that many people have heard a clear presentation of the Gospel, because you all have sent us here, and support us in prayer and faithful giving. How could we ever thank you and the Lord enough? Every time we lead another person to Christ, see families, changed and couples reconcile, we know we could not do it without you; the churches and individuals who support us in love and prayers year in and year out. As we come up on THANKGIVING how thankful we are to the Lord and you all for the privilege it is and has been to know and to serve Him in missions these almost 19 years! Coming up, on 2/13/2009 we will have been under missionary appointment 19!! years. TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

As we come up on the Christmas season, we say with the Apostle Paul, THANKS BE TO GOD FOR HIS UNSPEAKABLE gift!! (II COR. 9:15). Oh how great and above human words it was/is!! The baby Jesus was unique, the only one of His kind, He was JUST what this world and you and I needed, and He was wrapped in thoughtfulness and love!! God had planned on this for millennia, past, as Jesus Christ was and is “the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world”!! (John 1:29). This is the main emphasis of the message that I gave to a school assembly last week, and 170 people heard the Gospel, in it. Yes, let us continue to tell people about God’s unspeakable gift in Christ!!

This Christmas we thank you all in advance for what you will do through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. This will be taken up in the Christmas season, in our churches. Please remember that about ½ of the entire budget for 5400 IMB SBC missionaries is raised in this one offering. We want to say a sincere thank you in advance for what you will do in this. We also want to thank you and the churches you attend for the way you also support us all year long in Cooperative Program giving. Thanks again for this.

We also know that hundreds of our friends, family and supporters have our prayer cards in your Bibles, on your refrigerator doors, and on your church bulletin boards! We can feel your prayers. As we serve in this place which is one of the pockets of darkness and oppression in the world, of corruption, and danger, we know that without the prayers of God’s people on our behalf, we would be in desperate straits! Thanks for holding the ropes for us in prayer.

Allow me to tell you of just one family that we have send transformed by the power of the Lord this year. We met Olga when she came crying to our house. Her common law husband with whom she had lived off and on for 6 years had left her again. He had been unfaithful to her on numerous occasions, as had she with and to him. She was tired of her sinful life, and the constant trouble, and suffering. The day she came and saw us, we told her of the hope that there is to be found in Jesus; that He could forgive her and give her a new life. She prayed to receive Christ. She gave me the phone # of her husband Pablo, and I called him. He respectfully came to see me, and I told him of the decision that Olga had made. I asked him if he was happy. He said he was miserable. I asked him to consider giving his life to Christ, and get his life on track with the Lord. He did, and that VERY NIGHT I took him back home. A couple of months later they were legally married, and then I baptized them.
They are not perfect They still have things to work our in their lives but they are on track!! We meet every Thursday night with them in their home. They are growing, and telling others about the Lord. Now I ask you this, How much is one family worth? And when we also begin to talk about others such as Elbio and Carla, Cepeherino, and Celia, Rumina, Gabi, Camila, Luana, Elizabeth, Carlos, Jose, etc, etc. All new Christians, or their children, newly married, and people who are learning to take off the old man, and dress or clothe themselves in Christ’s character. WOW!!! Is all we can say. (See Eph. 4:20-24) It is true, if ANYONE be in Christ, he/she in a new creation. The old is past; the new has come!!! (11 Cor 5: 17-21).

Family News: My parents are doing quite well. My mother is quite limited due to a lot of pain and rheumatoid arthritis. My dad has had two heart surgeries in the last 18 months, but the last one, in which he has three stents inserted, apparently has helped a lot. I had the privilege to be with them in October of this year. I praise the Lord for this.

Iracema’s 94 year old mother Ruth is doing quite well. Iracema will spend Christmas with her. Steven and I will “rough it out” alone this year, but we really wanted her to be able to see her mother and spend Christmas with her. Steven will be on a tour with the Japanese church, and I will hold the fort down here. I am not sure who I will spend Christmas Eve with, but it will be with some of our adopted Christian family here, I am sure.

Our Son John Glenn is doing well. He will graduate from Cal. Bap U, this coming May. We plan to be there!! I hope we can see some of you there as well! He is a 3.65 GPA student and we are proud of him. This past summer he was a youth pastor intern in Forks WA, and spent part of the summer in Europe. He is a blessing to us! He plans to begin an MA degree this next fall. He will most likely stay in SO. CAL…

Steven is doing great. He is finishing up his HS diploma, and has had a great experience in it. He will live with us for the foreseeable future and do an online AA degree. He continues to study Japanese and work with the Japanese churches here in Paraguay. He is also a great joy to us. By the way if you want to send him a graduation card, that would be fine. Please send it to the USA address at the end of this letter…

Julia is doing great; she is married to Jason Jordan. The both live and work in Norfolk VA. I was with them also for 2 days in November. They have developed into a great Christian couple and family, and it is always a privilege to be in their home… We thank God for our first born child, and her husband!! She and all of our kids are a blessing from the Lord! (See Psalm 127).

THANKSGIVING. Yes, this Thursday we will celebrate. We will get a turkey and I will make dressing from scratch. We will make real pumpkin pie (no boxed Stove Top stuffing, or Libby’s pumpkin mix here)!! We have already invited a non Christian family to spend it with us. Please pray for Daniel, Luiza and their 2 precious children. Please pray that the real meaning of Christmas and Thanksgiving might be made VERY CLEAR to them this holiday season.

Final thoughts: Occasionally look at our blog. I occasionally post a few things there.

jtkunkel.blogspot.com

We love and appreciate you all!

Tim, Iracema and Steven Kunkel

Can one celebrate Thanksgiving in a foreign land?

2008-11-28T05:29:00.000-08:00

THANKSGIVING AT THE KUNKELS!!

CUIDAD DEL ESTE PARAGUAY, 2008

Can one celebrate Thanksgiving in a foreign land? YES YOU CAN!!

I was recently reading Psalm 137 (NKJV)...

1 By the rivers of Babylon, There we sat down, yea, we wept when we remembered Zion.

2 We hung our harps upon the willows in the midst of it.

3 For there those who carried us away captive asked of us a song, and those who plundered us requested mirth, saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”

4 How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a foreign land?

5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem, Let my right hand forget its skill!

6 If I do not remember you, Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth—

If I do not exalt Jerusalem Above my chief joy.

SO HOW DID WE DO IT? Well we bought a pumpkin, and boiled it down, then scraped out the "meat"...

We then used ground clove and Cinnamon, and sweetened condensed milk, and made much better than LIBBY'S pumpkin pie. For "Cranberry Sauce" we used plum jelly. We toasted bread (white and whole wheat), and made cornbread from scratch. ( No little 3/1.00$ packages of cornbread mix here, or OROWHEAT stuffing). We then used a little sage and poultry seasoning, that friends sent us from the States and made some of the best turkey stuffing in town ( it may have also been the ONLY turkey stuffing in town, as well! :-)

We then stuffed the turkey, and made all the trimmings. We then invited a family that had never experienced an American TG. They are too, far from home. They are from Argentina, and are some of our friends. They are Luisa, Daniel, Augustin, and Micaela. We ended the evening over dessert explaining the meaning of TG and Harvest Festivals. Note that here we are in spring!!

We then prayed and each one gave a list of the things we are most thankful for, that we have received in 2008...

This is a TG tradition that we have had on the mission field for many years. We do TG as an evangelistic outreach. Please continue to pray for us, and for the people and families that we daily come into contact with for the Lord.

In His love and service,

THE KUNKELS

Thanks be to God for his CREATION

2008-11-26T11:18:00.001-08:00

Thanskgiving colors

2008-11-26T11:16:00.000-08:00

Fall and Thanksgiving colors.

2008-11-26T11:09:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanskgiving to all.

Love the Kunkels

A Long and Busy Missionary Day!

2008-07-21T14:45:00.000-07:00

Today Sunday, the 20th of July, we spent the whole day in the rural eastern part of Paraguay. We got up, at 05;30, and saw the brilliant sunrise coming in from the East. Note it in the picture below. It shows the sun rising above Cuidad del Este, Paraguay, from the Brazil side of the Friendship Bridge. To the right of the sun, is the Arab Building, with its gold mosque dome, at its base. The picture was shot from the balcony of our apartment, about 240 feet above the street, on the 22nd of 23 floors. Every morning we are reminded of HIS creation, and faithfullness, and perfect timing as we see this scene played out for us.

After driving almost three hours we arrived at the rural home of Celia's family. She had not seen them in 2.5 years. Her mother had never seen the new baby Rumina. They are VERY poor, and a 12$ bus ticket is not within their reach. Iracema and I helped them buy the tickets for this much needed trip home to see the family. Their desire was to tell them the Good News. They had met Jesus, and their lives had been changed.

In the picture above please observe Iracema explaining to Celia's mother Antonia the plan of Salvation, with the Billy Graham tract, STEPS TO PEACE WITH GOD in her hand. Sadly she said NO to the Gospel invitation!

Celia's brother, Elpedio, however did accept Jesus Christ as his personal savior PTL!! He is sitting in the middle of the photo... Please pray for him...

Above is a one hour "Evangelistic Church service", in the shade of their three room home where about 8 people now live... . I gave them three Bible Stories straight out of Luke 15. The lost sheep, the lost Coin, and the lost son. In all three , something of great value was lost, the owner was worried about it, and sought it out, and there was great joy upon the reencounter. Surely the son of man, has come to seek and save that which was lost ( Luke 19:10). What a privilege that we too can do this, for the lost in the world. Have you?? told anyone about the change Christ made in your?? life this past week? Why not, if the answer is no? Tell them your story. How your life was before knowing Jesus. What to hear another amazing thing?

Celia and Zepherino went out and did door to door witnessing in over 200 homes the 4 days they were home. WOW!!! is all I can say. How a new babe in Christ shall lead them/us. Pray that the Lord will give you too, a passion to see the lost won, and reconciled with the father...

Here we are served a traditional lunch of manioc root, and manioc root breaded pastries, filled with ground beef, a cool aid type beverage, and a type of cornbread made with fresh cheese (called SOPA PARAGUAYA). Celia is on the right. The girl in the middle is her sister Noelia, and she is 17. She prayed to recieve Christ with us as well. PTL! Please pray for her as well.

At the end of the day we went to visit Cepherino's brother Miguel in a high security prison. He is 29, and has been in and out of jail, over 20 times. Cepherino had not seen him in over a year. He did not know of Cepherino's conversion. How emotive it was for me to see him weep and pray over his younger brother. He desparately needs the Lord. While there I ministered to several inmates. In one cell (8' x 4'), I saw 4 men, and they has one single matress on the floor, for all to sleep on. I guess they sleep in shifts. One of them begged me for about a dollar. I shared the Gospel with them. They looked like caged and pacing animals.

At 11.PM, we arrived back home, exausted but filled with the Glory of the Lord. Thanks for all you do to love and support us!

In His service, THE KUNKELS

2008-07-17T13:54:00.000-07:00

Baptizing Celia in her Backyard. Launch of LA ROCA # 2. April of 2008

KUNKEL GRAM 7/13/2008

Dear friends, family, supporters, and praying partners,

Greetings to you from Cuidad del Este, Paraguay,

It is hard to believe that today marks 2 years since we have lived here full time in this blessed land. We accepted this post which was offered to us, by our regional leadership, in April, of 2005. So technically we have been linked to Paraguay over three years. After accepting the post, after seeing up close what was entailed in it, we went back to Uruguay, and then packed up our home and things from 15 + years of ministry and life there, and went to the USA for a one year stateside assignment or furlough. During that year we were based out of Jefferson City, MO, and spoke throughout the USA 158 times in total regarding missions. From the USA we also did the strategy coordination for a part of Paraguay. So essentially we have been in this post 38 months, and on the field uninterrupted, 24.

God has been so good and so gracious to us. With the prophet Samuel, we can surely say, here we raise an ENENEZER stone. Up to this point the Lord has helped us.
(I Sam. 7:12) Implicit in this saying is the secure belief that since He has done this in the past surely He will continue to do so in the present and future.

Some of our Blessings:

-We have been privileged to help start 2 simple house churches. What is a simple or house church? It is a church that meets in homes, or any other place it provides for itself. (Some simple churches even meet in the open air, under a mango tree, etc… ) We believe that the church is the people, not a building. In the NT the people met in homes did they not? They did not build buildings specifically for churches until centuries after Christ’s ascension. A church will have 5 characteristics, I believe:

1) It will be a group of born again and baptized (by immersion) believers.
2) They will have regular meetings. (usually weekly).
3) The members will have a passion to serve the Lord and win the lost to Christ.
4) They will have accepted leaders that will naturally arise from within the group. These leaders may or may not be Bible school, or seminary trained.
5) They will regularly practice the 2 ordinances of the Lord Jesus Christ. a) Baptism by immersion, and b) The Lord’s Supper.

We believe that if you have this, you have CHURCH!!!

Our desire is to see hundreds of these simple house churches flourishing throughout Latin America.

In Uruguay we participated in many of these church plants. Here we are now on two, and working on the third. The folks of LA ROCA (THE ROCK) may some day build or rent places for regular worship, but this will not be funded by the Baptist Mission. They will do this with local resources as the Lord of the Harvest leads them/us.

-We have been privileged to see REAL AND RADICAL CONVERSIONS. Wow!! When we think of people like Elvio, and Carla, Cepherino and Celia, Carlos, and Olga and Pablo, we can hardly believe the way that they have changed and grown. To see people in the throes of sin, who used to walk in darkness see and come to a great light, is one of the greatest emotions that a person can experience. To see lives transformed by the power of the resurrected Christ, gives us great joy. What a privilege it is for us to be about this. And we can and do our work here, because folks like you believe in us, pray for us, and faithfully support us. How can or could we ever thank you enough?? Please see Hebrews 6:10). Thanks for your support of us through the CP, LMCO, and in other ways!

Challenges:

In my personal Bible study I recently came upon an interesting statement of the Apostle Paul, that great missionary and church planter. “Because a great door for effective work has opened for me, and there are many who oppose me”. (I Cor. 16:9, NIV). We have seen much opposition, especially in the new neighborhood called San Alfredo, where we have established LA ROCA # 2 . The new believers there are daily subjected to ridicule and name calling. Their dog has been poisoned. They have been the targets of several schemes. Their marriage is under attack. We have been threatened to be met with a hail of stones upon our arrival in our vehicle. To go there at night is quite dangerous. But in spite of this, they and we continue on. The man who is the future leader of this new work, (I believe), used to meet the bill collectors at the gate of his house with a machete, threatening to cut their hands off. Now he humbly meets them, and is paying off all of his debts. He was an accomplished street hustler, and con man. He served 7 years in one of the largest and toughest prisons, in Latin America. He has been transformed by the power of the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ!! He used to drink and beat his wife. He now loves her with the pure love of a Christian man, explained to us, by Paul, in Ephesians, 5:22-32. All this has transpired in less than 4 months!

Some however are weak, and afraid. Some are falling by the wayside, and this deeply concerns and saddens us. One man recently told me. “I cannot continue on in Bible study and discipleship with you, pastor. All my friends and family are ridiculing me, and they no longer want anything to do with me”. In spite of my pleadings he has abandoned the way. With the Apostle Paul we must say, as he did say regarding Demas, P****, O***, N****, and others “have forsaken us, having loved this present world”! (11 Timothy: 4:9). Please pray for them.

Some are under demonic attack. One of the new couples recently baptized and married, after having lived together for 7 years, yesterday called us quite alarmed. Their two year old daughter was frantic and had not slept all night. She repeatedly was seeing and hearing something in the room. She said it was a monster. She also saw “blood” on her hands. It was undoubtedly a demonic presence that was coming against them. We went to their house and prayed for them, the little girl, and removed from the house some demonic artifacts that their servant girl had introduced into the home. This for us, is par for the course… I just talked to her and last night the little girl slept peacefully. Please do pray for them. The little girls name is C*****…

Prayer Requests:

-For the two new Churches. One in the Parana CC Neighborhood, and the other in Barrio San Alfredo.

-For the preaching points or New Outreach Groups, in the CENTRO, MERCADO, AREA, 4, And in Km 7.5, Acaray. Pray that they soon will become simple Churches.

-For Steven as he finished HS in Dec, and begins online study for his AA degree.

-For continual inroads into the Japanese communities here through the ministry of Steven who is studying Japanese and feels a call to missions with them. This week he has teamed up with Japanese itinerate missionary/evangelist and his wife, and is visiting the Japanese communities spread out throughout Paraguay.

-For John Glenn, who will soon finish up his forth consecutive summer as a pastoral intern, this time in Forks WA, and then he is off to Europe for 2 weeks, and back to Cal Baptist University for his senior year there.

-For John Glenn and another friend, who are feeling led to start a church plant in Riverside Ca. They want to reach out to an unreached segment of folks there. It is a Holy desire that he and his buddy have and we are proud of them, and we are supporting this effort. Pray that they will stay pure and close to the Lord, and do His perfect will.

-For Julia and Jason. They are doing well in Norfolk. Jason just had his 30th birthday June 16th. Julia will be 29 on August 18th. Send her a card if you can! They are faithful members of FBC Norfolk, and are working hard.

With the Apostle Paul, I say and ask that you might pry also for

18 me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak (KJV) (Ephesians, 6:11)

II Cor. 5:

11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men;
13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

What a glorious passage. It is what we and missions are all about.

Please continue to pray for us,

Your missionaries in Cuidad del Este, Paraguay, and regions beyond.

The Kunkels

Today marks our two year anniversary of our arrival in Paraguay

2008-07-13T16:45:00.000-07:00

Two years ago TODAY!! we arrived in this blessed land. It took us about 30 hours in 4 airports. We has 21!!! pieces of luggage!! I can say with the prophet Samuel,

( I Samuel 7:12) EBENEZER!! Up to this point the Lord has helped us!!!

After serving in Uruguay for 15 years , three years ago we accepted the challenge to come to this part of the world. We came here briefly and then went to the USA for a one year furlough. During that year we shared the mission's challenge 158 times!!!

Here the evangelical Chrsitian rate is less than 2% It is one of the pockets of darkness in Latin America. It is considered a place of danger and corruption. In the midst of all of this the Lord has allowed us to:

-Plant 2 house churches, and has allowed us to baptize 11 people. We have 19 members now in LA ROCA. We have been prospered and helped in every way.

- We have a nice place to live.

-We have good transportation.

-Our children are doing well.

-Our elderly parents are doing quite well and are well taken care of.

-Our things arrived here fine from Uruguay.

We have made many friends and contacts here. Some of them you see in the pictures below. We have so much to be thankful for. Please join us in praising the Lord of the Harvest who has sent us into this HIS harvest field. Blessings, THE KUNKELS

Wedding Bells!

2008-07-13T16:38:00.000-07:00

God is really changing and impacting lives. This month two of the couples who are members of LA ROCA, have been married. Please join me in congratulating Elvio and Carla, and Pablo and Olga. God has a great plan for these choice folks. Please keep them in your prayers,

Love the Kunkels

I year Anniversary of Cuidad del Este Paraguay church, LA ROCA

2008-07-09T11:55:00.000-07:00

Cuidad del este, Paraguay,

July 9, 2008,

Dear

Greetings to all of you who love us, pray for us, and support us, in our evangelism and church planting efforts!

I wanted you to get a few pictures of our first year anniversary of our new church. We are calling it THE ROCK, as Jesus and his message is The Rock, upon which we must build our lives. Note here the cake and the baptisms. I baptized a couple we won to the Lord, this day, as well. (Pablo and Olga). We also recognized their marriage (when we met them, they had lived together, for 7 years, and had two beautiful daughters. Sin, and jealousy had led to them to a separation). The Lord used us to minister His grace and pardon to them, and to rebuild their family.

We also dedicated a baby, and gave out diplomas for finishing discipleship courses…

Please re read 1 Samuel 4-7. In it, it talks about the routing of the Israelites due to their sin, their belief in the Ark of the Covenant (but not in the God of the Ark!!! ), their misery, and their lamentation, to the Lord. After repentance, and God’s pardon, they were able to recapture their territory, and achieve God’s forgiveness, and peace. After this the Prophet Samuel, led them to erect an EBENEZER STONE; a stone of help and remembrance. Up till this point God has helped us!!!, he says. Let us not forget it!

The idea is this. He has helped us in the past. He will do so in the present and the future. Beware lest we forget Him, His goodness kindness, and His past and present mercies.

I felt led to lead our people (we had 55+ in attendance, and now have 17 baptized members, and many more preparing for baptism), to Erect an EBENEZER stone… We also anointed it with oil, representing Gods anointing over our lives, families, and church. It was a beautiful day!!!

Thanks again for your love and support of us, and this church planting ministry. Without you this work would not be today what it is!!

We love and appreciate you,

The Kunkels

Thoughts I have on the eve of the first year anniv of LA ROCA...

2008-07-05T13:32:00.000-07:00

Note that in thinking about why some people choose to believe in God, and in His Son Jesus Christ, in the end, I think that some have a certain bent to believe in God and others do not. Some are pure hedonists, and don't give a thought to the future; why they are here. etc. They just do not care. They are convinced that this life is all there is, and they go on their merry way to eternity. Others have a spiritual bent, and are seekers.

The man you see me baptizing here a year ago, when we launched LA ROCA, is a perfect example of this. He (Carlos), had it all. Money, lots of women, a good job, and all the vices that come with that mix sans Jesus Christ. I led him to the Lord, and he now has TRUE JOY, and a peace that passes all human understanding. As an evangelist, and church planter, I look for people like this. I am but a beggar that knows where I found good bread and had my hunger saciated. I can show interested "beggars" where to get it too. If however they have no hunger, showing them the awesome bakery where the Bread of Life can be had, for free!!!!!!!!!!! will do them no good.

I wander about, with a prayer on my lips. "Lord make me an instrument of your peace"; (Francis de Assisi) an agent of reconcilliation. St Paul, (11 Cor. 5:17-21). Let me show others through my life that you exist, and change people. AMEN!!

This next Sunday I plan to baptize three new people that the HS, and I were able to convince that this is so! It is winter here and the swimming pool will be at about 45degrees farenheit. To the world, yes we are fools for Christ!! (11 Cor.5:13) Blessings on you, JTK

Spanish entry one year anniversay of the church we started in Paraguay: LA ROCA

2008-07-04T12:41:00.000-07:00

7/2007

Innaguracion

de La Iglesia LA ROCA,

CDE Paraguay

Boletín Anual. Iglesia LA ROCA…
6 de Julio, 2008-07-04

Hemos llegado a nuestro 1 aniversario! Es difícil creer que hace 12 meses comenzamos LA ROCA. con 7 miembros fundadores, en la antigua casa de los hermanos Elbio, y Carla, en el otro lado del PCC. (Miembros fundadores, Timoteo, Iracema, Steven, Elbio, Carla, Carlos, y Elizabeth)… En aquel día, se lanzo un sueño; una visión; una iglesia sencilla en una casa, con dos bautismos, y la cena del Señor. Desde aquel día, nunca se dejo de reunir, y nuestra concurrencia ha sido siempre m/m 25-35 personas. Nuestra concurrencia mas alto fue de 78 personas. La mas baja fue de 19.

LOGROS. Bautismos: (9), Carlos, Elizabeth, Miriam, Romilda, Norma, José, Cesar, Ceferino, y Celia. (9)… Los últimos 2 hacen parte de LA ROCA # 2, Barrio San Alfredo… Hay unos 6 mas preparándose para el bautismo. DIOS ESTA OBRANDO!

Por la incorporación, a la membresía, de la iglesia, de la hermana Ligea, ahora contamos con 17 miembros oficiales en LA ROCA…

Reuniones regulares; Cada domingo 1ro hemos reunido, para alabar a Dios, para orar, para escuchar la predicción de Su Palabra, para recibir la Cena del Señor, y para entregar nuestros diezmos y ofrendas. No se olvida: una iglesia Neotestamentaria, es un grupo de creyentes en el Señor Jesús, que

1) Se reúnen regularmente,
2) Tienen una pasión de ganar los perdidos para Cristo,
3) Que practican las dos ordinancas del Señor JC, y
4) Que tienen un líder que les lleva adelante.

Todos estos requisitos hemos tenido desde el inicio. Entonces somos una Iglesia del Señor. No se olviden; que por los primeros 3 siglos de su existencia, la Iglesia del Señor hizo sus reuniones en las casas de los hermanos. Trate de encontrar un templo Cristiano en el NT. (No hay!! J ). Que nos enseña esto?

Esfuerzos evangelisticos, y misioneros. En dos ocasiones en este año, hemos recibido hermanos del exterior que nos ayudaron en grandes esfuerzos evangelisticos, y comunitarios. El primero fue en Setiembre pasado, cuando recibimos 7 hermanos de los EUA, y 3 del Uruguay que trabajaron con nosotros, en el PCC, y varios otros barrios de CDE, y hasta en Caazapá. En Marzo de este año, recibimos nuevamente 11 hermanos de los EUA, y mas tres del Uruguay, y trabajamos en el PCC, en el Centro, en Hernandarias, en el MERCADO de Abasto, en el KM 14, y especialmente en el Barrio San Alfredo. En este Barrio, se hizo un proyecto comunitario, donde se pintó una esquela en un barrio necesitado, (5 aulas,), y ¾ parte del exterior también. Se arreglo las paredes, se compro 4 ventiladores de techo, y se pintó hasta los pisos. Se compro 50 sillas para los niños, de la escuela. Con los alumnos al lado, se pintó todos su sillas y mesitas de escritorio. También se hizo cortinas. Con la colaboración de 2 misioneros de Inglaterra, se puso en esta misma escuela, 5 lindos cuadros, con temas Bíblicas, que ellos mismo donaron, y pintaran. En la inauguración de la “nueva” esquela, se regalo a todos los visitantes y estudiantes, porciones Bíblicos, folletos, y a la esquela misma, dos lindas Biblias en Guarani. Todo esto representó una donación, de m/m 12 millones de Guaranis, y 80 jornales trabajados, por los voluntarios. Un este barrio 39 personas hicieron “decisiones” por Cristo. Allá cada semana estamos reuniendo 5 personas, y discipulando los nuevos creyentes. Hoy aquí esperamos la presencia de algunos de este barrio. En la casa de una familia del barrio, practicamos los primeros bautismos. Es allí donde estamos haciendo reuniones. Hemos recibido oposición, en este Barrio. Hay un sentir que “Este Barrio y Paraguay es un país Católico. Que piensan ustedes que están haciendo aquí?” Pero, esta sensación, se esta disipando.

Parcerias: Con la Asociación de Iglesias DELTA VALLEY, STOCKTON, CA, USA, estamos formando una parceria; un aquerdo mutuo. Por dos años, ellos van a venir regularmente a CDE (2-3x por año), para ayudarnos, en evangelismo, y en obras sociales. Los días 7-12 de Agosto estará aquí, un equipo de 5 pastores, para planificar conmigo, este trabajo… Por este motivo, estamos cambiando la fecha de nuestra reunión de Agosto, para el segundo domingo. El Día 10 de Agosto, será nuestra prójima reunión. Ellos, en esta reunión estarán hablando un poco de la visión que tienen para hacer la obra misionera; como podemos trabajar juntos, etc… . Yo con el director ejecutivo de esta Asociación de Iglesias hemos tenido una amistad profundo de hace 12 años. El hasta hizo el casamiento de nuestra hija! Estamos expectantes de lo que el Señor hará a través de esta parceria.

Discipulado: Yo y la hermana Iracema estamos discipulando m/m 30 personas. Estamos tratando de llevarlos adelante en la vida Cristiana. La idea es esta: dentro de poco, lo que ellos han aprendido de nosotros, ellos van a pasar a otros fieles, capaces de enseñar otros! Vea 11 Timoteo 2:2, para ver este concepto revolucionario, descripto en la Biblia. Tenemos reuniones/contactos regulares con estas personas, en el Centro, (en la calle), en nuestro hogar, en un salón de un Shopping, o galería, en un pasillo del Mercado de Abasto, en el supermercado Stock, en el Burger King, etc. Algunos de ustedes ya están se preparado para discipular otros. Que están esperando??? Un manantial que recibe y da agua no queda estancado. El que recibe y no da se estanca, y se infla/pudre. Sea fuente de vida eterna para otros. Ore al Senior del la cosecha, para darte un o 2 discípulos este año…

Financias de LA ROCA. M/m ½ de lo que recibimos en diezmos y ofrendas (anda en m/m Gs. $800,000 por mes) damos a la obra misionera. El pastor no maneja el dinero que todos dan. Hemos hechos aportes en este año, a la obra misionera local (de la asociación), a la obra nacional, (de la Convención Bautista del Paraguay), a las misiones internacionales, y a pobres y necesitados. Hemos mandado ofrendas en 4 ocasiones al exterior del país. Si usted es un miembro de LA ROCA, los libros están abiertos para que vea todo esto. Vean como estamos administrando estos fundos que ustedes contribuyen! Sea fiel en entregar su diezmo al Señor. Serás bendecido! Es una promesa del Señor. (Mal. 3:10-11)

DESAFIOS para el año entrante…

El apóstol Pablo así, escribió, en su 1a carta a los Corintos, 16: 9, y 13

“Porque se me ha abierto puerta grande y eficaz; y muchos son los adversários.” (v. 9)
“Velad; estad firmes en la fe. Portaos varonilmente, y ESFORZAOS!!!” (v. 13).

Estos adversários puedan ser hasta miembros de nuestras familias. Hemos tenido personas que han comenzado bien en la carrera, pero han dejado el camino, derrotado, por temor a lo que la familia decía de ellos, o por la burla de sus amigos. No se olviden lo que Jesús mismo ha dicho sobre el discípulo. “El que ama padre, madre, hermanos, hijos o hijas mas que a mi no es digno de mi. Y el que no toma su cruz y siga en pos de mi no es digno de mi”. Mat. 10; 36-38… Nótense también sus palabras: “Los enemigos del hombre serán los de su propia casa.” Mat. 10:36

Como esto se aplica a su vida??? Vea también Lucas 14:25-35).

Digo con el Apóstol Pablo, “Demas me ha desamparado, amando este mundo.” (11 Tim. 4:9), “Pero, el Señor estuvo a mi lado y mi dio fuerzas.” (v. 17). ALELUYA!! EL!! no nos va a abandonar!!!

No se olvidan de sus votos. Vea Salmo 61:8 El salmista así dice, “Así cantare su nombre para siempre, pagando mis votos cada día.” Algunos de ustedes han hecho votos; de dejar de tomar, de no estar en situaciones donde hay sospecha de mala praxis, especialmente con miembros del sexo opuesto, con respecto al culto personal diario, con respecto a los vicios que antes tenían. Como están en esto? No olviden tus votos! CUMPLANLOS!!

El adversario de la comodidad. A veces la pereza nos toma. Si esta lloviendo, no vamos a la iglesia en el Domingo. Pero lunes no hay lluvia, ni frío, ni calor que no nos permita ir a trabajar. He hablado en broma, “Si pagamos los hermanos ellos van a venir a la casa del Señor”! J Una persona así no agrada al Señor. Dijo el Salmista, “Me alegre con los que mi decían, a la casa de Jehová iremos”. Sal 122; 1. David también decía, “Prefiero ser portero en la casa del Señor que habitar en las moradas de la maldad” Sal 84:10 Si no nos cuidamos; se no guardamos nuestro corazón, (Proverbios 4:23) nos enfriamos. Como la brasa junto a las otras brasas de un fogón, no se apaga, usted no se apagará en su fervor con el Senior, si usted se reúne con otros hermanos, semanalmente. Pero si se separa, el inevitable pasa. No desayune hasta que no haya tenido su tiempo con el Señor; su desayuno espiritual! No falte de ir a la iglesia en los Domingos. Si hay una reunion familiar, vaya en la tarde a la misma. Dedica las horas de 0900-12.00 al Señor en SU!! día. Si llegan familiares de visita, felicítales, e invíteles que te acompañan a la iglesia, Dígales que ahora es creyente en el Señor, y que Domingo va a la iglesia. Así ellos sabrán que esto es ahora tu nueva vida!
En los Domingos que por ahora no hay cultos en LA ROCA, ande a la Iglesia Bautista mas prójima a tu casa. No falten de congregar!!!

Decimos con Josue, “EBENEZER. Hasta aquí no ayudo Jehová”!!! (I Sam. 7:12).

Que el Señor les siga bendiciendo!

Les Amamos,

Timoteo e Iracema

PD, Fechas para tener en cuenta:

-Vigilia de Alabanza y Oración; Sábado día 2 de Agosto, Casa de Elbio y Carla, 1900-2400. Venga para un tiempo lindo de oración y búsqueda del Señor.

-Domingo, 10 de Agosto 09.30 Casa de Elbio y Carla.

-Domingo 7 de Setiembre, 09.30 Casa de Elbio y Carla

-Domingo 5 de Octubre, 09.30 Casa de Elbio y Carla

2008-06-30T08:38:00.001-07:00

Dear prayer partners,

Thank you for all of you who prayed for my special day.

It was a “for girls only” party. Tim helped me doing the grocery shopping and preparing some food for the party and disappeared until the party was over. Steven went to Asuncion for the weekend. The house was just to us.

We started the Birthday Party Bible Study at 2:00pm with some finger foods and followed by the Bible and by 3:30pm some of the ladies had to go home earlier and did not eat the cake. (Too bad). These ladies in the picture are the ones I invited as prospects to be part of my new EBCI (Community Bible Study International) Bible study and 15 of them will be starting next Thursday. They are from different religions and countries. Four of them are Brazilian, one Lebanese, one Japanese, another one from Germany and the others are Paraguayan. God has put them in my life and I have been praying for them for a while.

A miracle happened, too: It was raining during the past three days and God held the rain between 1:00pm and 5:30pm. What a blessing!

Many people asked me "what did Tim give you on your birthday"?
He gave me a beautiful gift, the one I will treasure for ever, a Brazilian book about how to make bread from all over the world. There are recipes from the 195 member countries of the UN. It is called "PAO DA PAZ"

Thank you for praying for this event.
It made a difference!

Working together for His kingdom,
Iracema Kunkel

Great Poem I dedicate to my Dad, on his 81st Birthday.

2008-06-25T07:49:00.001-07:00

My Daddy's walk
By Tony W. Cartledge

My father stays in shape by taking at least one good walk every day, but it's not always easy for him. A lifetime of hard work and a heavy dose of arthritis have played havoc with his hips. He had the right one replaced and the doctor wants to fix the other one, but Daddy's not inclined to go back under the knife.
The pain in his hips and knees contributes to a distinctive limp that I can recognize a hundred yards away.
As years go by and my own frame grows older, I've noticed that my joints are stiffer and sometimes painful, especially when I've been sitting for a long time.
Occasionally, when I get up from a low chair and limp away, Jan will remark that I'm starting to walk like my Daddy.
I wish I could.
My Daddy limps, but he walks as straight as any man I've ever known.
His faith is quiet but deep, understated but steady.
He walks with honesty and integrity.
To his friends and family, he is true, dependable, consistent.
To his church, he is unfailingly supportive, generous, willing to do what needs to be done, with no need for credit.
He is good with dirt in the garden, good with wood in the workshop, good with dishes in the sink, and good with children in his care.
As "Daddy Bill," he is a grandpa extraordinaire.
He played fullback for the county high school 60 years ago, earning the nickname "Bull." He continues to support and follow the team, and they have no more faithful fan.
My Daddy is the mental image I get when reading my favorite verse in the Old Testament: "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God" (NIV).
Walk like my Daddy?
I wish I could.

My dad's 81st Birthday

2008-06-25T07:36:00.000-07:00

Today I want to honor my father, Glenn E. Kunkel He turns 81 today. I can still remember riding on his shoulders down the hill of the Galindo St cul de sac. He has been a GREAT father. I often tell people, that I have NEVER seen in him, an act or deed that I would question. A impecable example, a man, of Impeccable character. Dad today I honor you!! I hope you have a great birthday. Love TIM

The following is the letter I wrote him a year ago on his birthday;

Hello, It has been 80 years since you were born… !! My o my how time passes!! What a milestone for you, as for me as well, as this 26/12 I will hit the big 50!!! I can hardly believe it. I still feel like I am a young man. How life passes by so quickly!!!

I just wanted to take a few minutes today to thank you for the great Dad you have been and were to me. I could have asked for no better. Many times in witnessing to folks I talk to them about the difference a Christian, or Evangelical Christian upbringing means to a person. To never have seen an alcoholic beverage in the refrigerator, to have NEVER seen my dad with a beer in his hand, to have never have seen my dad cuss or use profanity, to have never seen him disrespect or mistreat his wife and my mother. WOW!!!!!! What a heritage… You were and are SO exemplary. I love and respect you so much. I pray you have a blessed birthday… Below are some quotes about dad’s that touched me, and reminded me of you…

" I watched a small man with thick calluses on both hands work fifteen and sixteen hours a day. I saw him once literally bleed from the bottoms of his feet, a man who came here uneducated, alone, unable to speak the language, who taught me all I needed to know about faith and hard work by the simple eloquence of his example." -Mario Cuomo

YOU WERE ALWAYS SUCH!! A HARD WORKER…
"The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother." - Anonymous
YOU DEFINITELY DID THIS..
"A Man's children and his garden both reflect the amount of weeding done during the growing season." - Anonymous
"The greatest gift I ever had Came from God, and I call him Dad!" - Anonymous
"A father is a guy who has snapshots in his wallet where his money used to be." – Anonymous
THIS MADE ME LAUGH…
"He didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it." - Clarence Budington Kelland

POWERFUL… YOU DEFINITELY DID THIS…
"One father is more than a hundred Schoolmasters." - George Herbert
Fatherhood is pretending the present you love most is soap-on-a-rope." - Bill Cosby

I thought this was funny. We can identify with this, no??
"Small boys become big men through the influence of big men who care about small boys." – Anonymous
WOW!! SO TRUE…

Please also see the Tony Cartledge article attached…
So on this your 80th Birthday, please be reminded once again of my deep love and admiration for you. The times at the Berkley Pier, at Putah Creek, and at Whiskey Slough were great. The watching you eat lunch at the General Tire company (outside in the car with us kids and mom), at the Redwood Park picnic grounds, etc. All great times, and learning opportunities… The long talks when I cam home from seminary etc. Yes Dad you were there for me BIGTIME!
Happy Birthday, and beleated Father’s day too,

Love your son, JT KUNKEL

House cleaning!

2008-06-25T07:34:00.000-07:00

HOUSE CLEANING DAY FOR THE LORD

As Sunday approached I started reminding our disciples to go to church. O.M. was one of them who was needing special attention. She prayed to receive Christ in February but had stopped coming for discipleship. Our first meeting was through a phone call. She read a written testimony, distributed by one of our volunteers, on a prayer walk (London Bridge Baptist Church), given out on the street and contacted us. She was glad I called her again and insisted with her to come to church with us. The sermon Tim preached touched her heart and after church, we spent the afternoon together. As we talked, she felt like telling us why she had stopped coming. This was one of the longest counseling sessions we have ever had with anyone!! (6 hours!!) It was late when we learned that she still had many “idols” in her house and in her heart. We offered her to do a cleaning of all the “idols” that were keeping her from following the Lord. We went to her home and took with us two bags. One of them we burned in an incinerator, at her place... The security gaurds watched from afar. Afterwards she told them she was "burning her sins"!! The other we packaged to send back to her parents. They were family gifts and she did not feel comfortable burning them. But at least they are out of HER home...

Her life was a mess. Wherever sin you can imagine she was involved in. She was in a spider web for sure. Her job and her life were in danger. She has a very high position in the government. It was late but we went to her house and there we started doing the house cleaning. She gave us all types of objects that kept her from worshiping only God and some of them were family gifts. We prayed in each room of her house. O. is free today and calls us her adopted parents. Pray for her as she tries to live a holy life. She is a divorced young lady with a 13 year old boy. She is the only Christian in her family. God cleaned her house and her heart. Praise the Lord.

Please keep praying for us, and for the more than 30 new Christians we are dealing with weekly...

Love Iracema and Family

2008-06-12T13:40:00.000-07:00

This Blog is a first for me.

God is good and faithful. We have now been involved in missions and church planting in Latin America for 18+ years. We are seeing much fruit of our labors.We are involved in Church planting mainly of house churches, and in the discipling of new converts. We did for 15 + years in Uruguay. We now have been doing the same in Paraguay for almost 3 years. We have started here two house churches called LA ROCA, 1and 2, The Rock 1, and 2. In Uruguay we also started a church called LA ROCA with a national Uruguayan pastor.