Not Glamorous But Necessary For The Kingdom

Almost no one wants to dig ditches or pour footings for Jesus. Most of us want to serve "on flowery beds of ease," as the old Gospel song says. However, great work for the Kingdom requires doing whatever is necessary for the sake of the Gospel. How many miles did the Apostle Paul walk to spread the Gospel throughout Asia Minor and eastern Europe? How many times was he beaten, shipwrecked, cold and hungry? Why would he endure such hardship for the sake of the Gospel? He had been captured by the grace of Jesus and was compelled to share that Good News.

Sharing that Good News in 2009 in Venezuela through the Seminario Wesleyano de Venezuela requires digging in the hard ground to pour footings for the security wall surrounding the property. At this time, this is the most pressing structural need of the Seminary. Not glamorous, but necessary for the Kingdom.

Therefore, the work is progressing in preparation for the arrival of a mission team from Due West UMC, Marietta, GA. The foundations will be poured so Due West can construct the walls around as much of the property as time will allow. They will need to be folowed by successive work teams to complete this very large project. Not pretty, but absolutely necessary.

"Thank You" to those who have given, to our Veneezuelan partners who are working and the team from Due West UMC. It matters! For eternity!

Testimony of Student/Pastor Ramirez

Toby Ramirez is the pastor of the House of God United Methodist Church in Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela and a 6th year student at the Seminario Wesleyano de Venezuela. This leader of the United Methodist movement in Venezuela recently had this to say about the seminary:

"The Wesleyan Seminary has affected my life in more than a positive way, in a great way, because without the Wesleyan Seminary I would not have been able to withstand or persevere in the practical day to day ministry. Pastoring is not easy, nor is teaching the word of God but the Wesley Seminary of Venezuela has affected my life. For the first time I saw holiness in the Bible and also learned the inductive Bible study method. I have come to know persons very different from me who have been examples of how to love and serve the Lord, such as the brothers that come from the United States, Pastor Warren, Dan Dunn, David Cosby and many others, as well as their wives, who have been touched by the power of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have learned many things that I have put into practice in my church and shared with other pastors. I have shared the materials I have learned at the seminary with other people and in truth it has been a beautiful experience. We give thanks to God and to all the brothers that have given each dollar and given other things they have sent down, I give thanks to God for you all. Thank you for helping to see that Venezuela would also be won for Christ. God bless you."

We (all of us at Venezuela Now, Inc. and the Wesleyan Seminary of Venezuela) are so blessed to know wonderful people as Pastor Toby and Pastora Elizabeth Ramirez. What a great opportunity God has given us to be in partnership with such effective Christian servants.