NORTH AMERICA

Sam Clements,
General Presbyter

Today, we can reverse the norm and share how that missions in the world are returning to bless our outreach here in the U.S. This is a trend that has been seen in recent years, and the expectation is that it will increase dramatically. Many believe it is one stream of renewal for outreach and church planting for the kingdom of God in America. So, we rejoice to see what God is doing!

Korean Outreach

Our Overseer in Korea, Brother Rhee (Lee), has the vision that he can help touch thousands of Korean people that live in the U.S. He has begun that effort by supporting several workers to live here in the U.S. and to work in outreach. The most successful effort in this right now is in Alexandria, Virginia, which was started by previous Pastor Larry Dotson. He connected with Brother Rhee (Lee) and his workers to start holding Korean services in his church. There is a large Korean population in the Washington, D.C. area that provides a ready harvest field. One amazing aspect of this effort is that the Korean worker is being supported by our church in Seoul Korea! Brother Rhee (Lee) does not want to depend on U.S. funds to reach Korean people. This is his vision.

Hispanic Outreach

Most have heard that the harvest of souls among Hispanics in the U.S. is ripe and ready. One testimony to this is found in the Eastern Spanish regions of ministry for the church. In Brother Gandia's region, Spanish Northeast, they have doubled their membership just in the last few years. In the Spanish Southeast Region, about 15 new churches have been planted in the last two years, and they now have over 600 members-and growing! That story can be repeated for Iowa, Nebraska, and Minnesota as far as better outreach than those areas have seen for years with the current Spanish thrust.

Ghanian Outreach

Again from Alexandria, Virginia, the Ghana connection has come into being. Brother Dotson had shared fellowship with a Ghanian church over the recent years. Ultimately, this church felt they would like to be a part of a larger body, and they realized our church held the same convictions, worship styles, and Pentecostal faith. That congregation has now united with the church. Along with that, Brother Dotson has met another man from Uganda that wants to minister, and now a service for Ghanian ministry is held each Sunday at the Alexandria Church as well. For those that are counting, this makes four services each Sunday at the church in four cultures (including Spanish)! Wow, this could be a wave of the future for the U.S.!

Russian Outreach

Many have heard there are many pockets of Russian people living in the U.S. now. Recently, John Doroshuk was able to travel around the U.S. to make contact with some of those who had touched our churches in some way. This is certainly a preliminary investigation, but the Russian/Ukrainian people here love to see someone with ties to their homeland. That is why Brother Doroshuk's work is so helpful. His work this winter has opened doors into at least eight of these pockets. He believes our ministry in the Ukraine and CIS can have a positive impact on U.S. outreach to Russians as well.

Ethiopian Outreach

In Arizona and Nevada, several Ethiopian congregations have found our churches to be accepting and compatible with their own faith and ministry style. Overseer Jose Rivera is excited about the possibilities to work with vet another culture. Pastor Wallace Pratt, from Phoenix, is involved with one of these churches, and he is optimistic that this is a great opportunity to reach Ethiopians in that region and over the nation.

Portuguese Outreach

Along with the Spanish harvest, our ministry has run over into Portuguese. In Orlando, Florida, a man heard of our new Spanish churches in that city through a ministerial fellowship Dissociation. He was from Brazil and was working to plant a Portuguese church there in Orlando. He shares that the timing of all this must have been in the hand of the Lord since his home church was calling him to return to Brazil due to low funds and needs at home. He felt the Lord had a purpose for him in Orlando and realized he could continue his work through the church. With the blessing of his Brazil church, he is now pastor of our first Portuguese church in the U.S.

Who could have predicted as we left the Assembly of 1998 that in two years time we would see outreach to five new ethnic groups open up in the U.S.? But, today, the testimony is evident. God has opened doors of opportunity, and we no«- have the start of national outreaches to at least five new ethnic ministries in the U.S. We trust this stirs your heart and confirms that God is still able to open doors that seem improbable and even impossible. He can do this in a nation, or He can do this in your life personally. Have faith and be encouraged in Him today!

CENTRAL AMERICA
Nicaragua

Christ by All Means

Nicaragua organized more than 20 churches this year, making a total of 350 churches. Brother and Sister Ramon Rodriguez truly stay busy working for the Lord in this country.

We were blessed just recently to visit this country for the dedication service of a building that will be housing a new project called "Home for Children," which will house children that were left without parents during Hurricane Mitch. This is a joint effort by the country of Nicaragua, the office of the Area Presbyter, One Child Fund, Global Outreach, and the Spanish Voice of Salvation ministries. The Good Samaritan, an arm of social service of the Spanish Voice of Salvation, was able to raise $12,000 to assist with this project. The local church provided the land and the workers to build this strong and comfortable building. The other areas mentioned above also allocated funds for this wonderful project. We praise God because this endeavor will supply a great need in this country. They are planning to start with 12 children and are in the initial stages in the selection of personnel and other matters related to such a large project.

While in Nicaragua, we visited two powerful radio stations. They will begin broadcasting our program next month. Several other local stations already broadcast our program in the interior of the country. Channel 23 in Nicaragua telecasts our program every day. Both the radio and the television programs are serving as excellent tools to reach souls throughout the country. We praise God for this great blessing!

Guatemala

The country of Guatemala has also experienced a beautiful increase-thirty-one new churches were organized. Brother and Sister Flavio Rosario made great efforts this year. We conducted a very fruitful meeting related to the communications work and lead a wonderful evening service-the altar was tilled with seeking souls!

We also visited and preached at a local independent church that had made good use of our video-teaching series when they began at the house of the pastor, Dr. Luis F. Solares. Today they have 8,000 members, a radio station, and a television channel. They broadcast both of our programs free of charge in appreciation for our service to them in their beginning, so the capital city of Guatemala is blessed as they study the scriptures with us.

We were truly blessed to see what the communication ministries have accomplished in these countries and the contributions God allows us to still do in behalf of the people that need the lord. We give God all the glory and honor for what He is doing!
Jose Reyes, Director Spanish Voice Of Salvation





SOUTH AMERICA
Miguel Mojica, General Presbyter

Bolivia

In 1992, this nation had a membership of less than 1,400 members. By 1995, they had doubled to about 3,000. By 1997-98, they had again doubled to approximately 6,000; and a few months ago, the record showed they had 9,000 members! In this report, it can be seen that their decade growth rate is 560 percent, and they have seen an increase this decade of more than 7,300 members. God is surely stirring the harvest in Bolivia!