Summer vacation is over.  It is September and the children are back in school.  Fall activities are gearing up for a great opportunity to serve our Lord.  This newsletter is packed with new items for prayer and rejoicing.  God is good all the time and especially in the times of trial and difficulty.  “Looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” writes the author of Hebrews while the believers in the first century church were suffering.

BEREAN BIBLE CHURCH in QUITO

BUILDING IN USE

The building is finished.  The windows are installed.  The paint is on the ceiling and walls.  In the next week we will be putting up more pictures on the website for you to see and enjoy.  Two weeks before we left Ecuador, we visited the church and the benches were almost filled that Sunday, too.  Then our son-in-law gave a vocal music concert in that new building with another great bunch of people attending.  This building will be used to house the Quito extension classes of the Berean Bible Institute.  The pastors are expecting thirty students this year.  God is using the buildings for His honor and glory.

BEREAN BIBLE INSTITUTE

STARTING THE 15^TH YEAR

The ministry of training men and women for ministry continues with a strong urgency to see God’s work accomplished in Ecuador.  The goal this year is to teach 155 students in three extension locations and the main campus.  Lynford is not there this year to direct it, however the ministries continue with lots of excitement as the Word of God is taught.  Would you pray for the teachers in our institute?  Here are their names:  Holguer Molineros, Manolo Carrion, Sally Malenke, Alfredo Zurita, Luis Simbana, Marco Cruz, Nicanor Alvear, Orlando Castro, Dave Meyer, Fernando Bassler and Monica Eguiguren.  Pray that these faithful teachers would teach the Word of God with love and truth.  Should the Lord bring in the amount of students expected, this year will be the largest attendance ever.  AND Lynford is not there to help teach.

NATIONALIZATION PROCESS

ADVANCING

The process of nationalizing the Berean Bible Institute continues, however not with the same speed as before.  That is okay for us.  The timing is in God’s hands as always.  Therefore, we must take the proper precautions as the process continues.  The doctrinal issues are key to the future ministry of the teaching of God’s Word.  The main doctrinal issue up for discussion is the “role of the woman in the local church”.  Each and every church must face doctrinal issues and search for the truth in God’s Word, then apply it to the church and the ministry God has given her.  That is what the association of Berean churches is struggling with now.  We are content to wait and encourage them in their study of God’s Word on this subject.  Our prayer is that the Holy Spirit will be in agreement with their conclusion.  Pray with us also!

LYNFORD’S HEALTH ISSUES

Many of you have prayed and are very concerned for the condition of Lynford’s heart.  The doctors in Quito found out that his heart has a thickening of the septum due to a heart disease that he has had for years.  As a result of this thickening of the wall the electrical impulses are blocked.  There are two major blockages not allowing the electricity to reach the lower parts of his heart.  After five major problems with arrhythmias and fibrillations of the heart during the last month, the electro physiologist in Quito determined that Lynford needed a defibrillator installed.  That procedure was accomplished in the HCJB Missionary hospital, Vozandes, where the care and attention were great.  Now Lynford is recuperating and enjoying the adjustment process with the defib causing little problems.  During the four weeks that the apparatus has been in his body there have been no incidents to report. We praise the Lord that the cardiologists found out the disease and the needed care to continue living a “normal” life.  Those are the words of the cardiologist.  However, that normal way of life must change.  During our home ministry assignment we will be praying, searching and receiving guidance as to our following years of ministry in Ecuador.  We do NOT see any reason to quit ministry for this health condition.  Therefore, we will be here in the USA until May of 2010 and then returning to our ministry.  We would ask you to pray for us as we make the necessary adjustments to our ministry.

TENTATIVE THOUGHTS ON

NECESSARY MINISTRY CHANGES

1.      Lynford will be delegating many of his responsibilities in the Bible institute to other Ecuadorian leaders.  That move will encourage the nationalization process.  Leaders who are very capable will be working toward future growthy. 

2.      The church planting ministry will be handled by the Ecuadorian missions committee.  They can do it and now will be given the opportunity to put into practice what they have been taught.  We’ll see not only one new church plant in 2010, but ten!  What a blessing to see others involved. 

3.      Lynford will not be doing a whole lot of church building anymore.  Doctor’s orders given clearly.  So he will be centering his teaching toward pastoral leaders and missionary families.  Counseling will remain a major emphasis of his ministry.

4.      Sharon will be continuing her children’s ministry emphasis.  That does not need to change.  She loves those children and will continue to serve them.

HOME ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULE

Call us for a service in your church or a visit in your home!  

Because the battle is the Lord’s,

Lynford and Sharon Regier

217 S. Main St.

Newton, Kansas 67114

Cell phone: 316-217-2083 

E-mail Address: lynford.regier@crossworld.org

Find us on the web at www.ecuadorecho.com