Pray for the Vote in Venezuela

This Sunday millions of Venezuelans will vote on the Constitutional Reforms proposed by the Presidency of Hugo Chavez. This is a critical vote having great impact on the future of the entire nation and probably the entire region. Please pray for a large voter turnout and a safe and secure environment. Also, please pray that all the food shortages will not cause parties to resort to violence.

International Leadership Institute in Venezuela

The Seminario Wesleyano de Venezuela will host the first historic International Leadership Institute in Venezuela. This wonderful ministry was started by Drs. Wes and Joy Griffin after they had already founded the Theological Seminary in Estonia. The International Leadership Institute has trained local Christian leaders all across the world.

This session is being made possible by the sponsorship of the McEachern United Methodist Church. One of their senior staff members, Alan Richburg, will be one of the primary resource persons sent by ILI to make this a significant experience in the life of the Church in Venezuela.

Our Seminary Dean will host the event at the Assembly of God Bible Institute in Barquisimeto. This is the facility where we have had seminary for the last 5 years. While the space is inadequate for both the students and the team, it is adequate for the students and the class sessions. The team will be required to stay at a nearby hotel. This is unfortunate as the students will miss the interaction with the faculty during the down time each night. However, until the Seminario Wesleyano de Venezuela gets its own home, we will have to continue with this kind of situation.

This ILI event is a follow up to the two pastors we sponsored to the ILI Leaders Training event in July in Paraguay. Rev. Jose Gomez and Rev. Carlos Perona pictured here with Rev. Victor Ramirez (center) greatly benefited from the training and will be instrumental in the training event in Venezuela. (Unfortunately Victor was not able to attend the seminar in Paraguay due to some family responsibilities.) All three of these pastors serve very faithfully and take advantage of every training event we are able to sponsor as well as attending every session of the seminary. These are remarkable men and indicative of the leadership God is raising up for the United Methodist Church and other Protestant churches in Venezuela through Seminario Wesleyano de Venezuela.

• Please keep the seminar in your prayers for the week of November 12 -16.

• Pray for the Leaders to be fully dependent on the Holy Spirit as they teach.

• Pray for the students/pastors to be fully focused and open to the move of the Holy Spirit.

• Pray for the safety of all as the situation in Venezuela continues to be a challenge.
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• Pray for McEachern UMC in Marietta to be extremely blessed for their mission heart.

• Pray for a home for the Seminary.

Othopaedist to Venezuela

As I write this a good friend and Christian doctor is heading to Venezuela. He will land at the Caracas airport tonight about 10:00 being met by the Dean of the Seminary, David Cosby. They will stay tonight at a Mision Guest House before flying to San Cristobal tomorrow.

This medical doctor desires to take a full Orthopaedic Surgical Mission Team to Venezuela. He has been on such a trip to other Latin American countries. This is not going to be easy to do given the state of affairs in Venezuela. However, we know God is greater than any obstacles we face.


The Doctor, our Dean and his wife, Samuel Rojas, our Venezuela Now Ministry Assistant, and Raul and Teolinda Lavinz (Pastor of the First United Methodist Church of San Cristobal and his wife is a pharmacist) will be meeting with other doctors and visiting medical facilities to determine the feasibility of the mission and to work out many of the logistical issues required. This is a significantly complicated project and will require tremendous commitment from this medical team.

Please pray for the Doctor (name withheld for security), our team in Venezuela and for this entire effort. Especially pray for safety for all involved.