Have you heard the news?  Did you know that Ecuador was in serious problems?  Political problems, personal vendettas, killing, attacking, president against an ex-president, words that hurt, actions that cannot be redone, and many more serious situations happened September 30.  Can that happen in this beautiful country?  Yes it can and it did.  The day started calmly, but by noon the country was in major difficulties.  The national police were not in the streets and so the people took to the streets to take advantage of the situation.  Stores were cleaned out completely.  Banks were robbed.  The president was taken by force to the police hospital.  He was rescued from there by the special military force.  Five people died with 193 injured.  The Bible makes sense when it says the heart of man is deceitful.  Now you can pray for these requests for our country. 

1.      Pray for our president Rafael Correa.  He is not a believer and needs God’s salvation from sin.

2.      Pray for the congress that really does not have the same power as congress in the USA.  They seem to be puppets for the democracy in Ecuador. 

3.      Pray for the political parties who desire power, criticize others, and gain personal privileges.

4.      Pray for the police department who has many problems within their ranks.  It is sad to see that the Ecuadorian people do not respect them.  As a result of what happened yesterday, this will be worse.

5.      Pray for the military forces as they do their job of protecting the country from anarchy.

6.      Pray for the mayors of each city and town.  They have major responsibilities as they serve their local citizens.

7.      Pray for the judges of the justice department.  In Ecuador they are a forgotten group.  Many lawyers are corrupt while the judges are looked upon as unnecessary. 

8.      Pray for the pastors of Ecuador who are preaching the Word of God.  Lynford knows many who are outside our fellowship of churches who preach the truth without fear.

9.      Pray for the Ecuadorian missionaries within the country and on foreign soil.  The Berean fellowship has four family units serving inside of Ecuador and one serving in Bolivia.  There are more to be sent out real soon.

10.  Pray for the many faithful elders and deacons, along with their wives, who have held the banner of the Word high for all to see.  They are truly servants of our Lord. 

11.  Do not forget to pray for each member of our churches.  The number is more than 2,000 who attend Sunday services.  Can you believe that 17 years ago that number was 300?  God is building His Church.

12.  Had you ever thought that prayer for the country where missionaries serve is important?  If it were not for the freedom of speech we have here in Ecuador, missionaries could not serve openly.

Thank you for praying for us and our country, because we know that God answers the prayer of a righteous one.  Elijah is our example to follow.  God answered the prayers of Elijah and has answered yours also.

1.      Ninety-two students enrolled in the first semester of studies in the Bible institute.  God has answered prayer.

2.      The professors are involved in teaching their classes.  God provided even though four professors are not teaching this semester.  In answer to your prayer God met every need for teachers.

3.      Three very capable young leaders, grads of the Bible institute, have offered to help with the church planting process of the fellowship of churches.  One is an evangelist; the other will be a very good pastor; and finally the third will learn a whole lot during his first official mission. 

4.      The “mission possible” for this year is North Quito.  The evangelist is ready to spend one morning per week, leading a team of students with the purpose of evangelizing in different suburbs. 

5.      Following up on the work of the evangelists are the men and women who desire building one another up in their faith.  Discipling the new believers remains a key factor in permanent growth in a new church. 

6.      What we need now is a student leader who will work with the children’s workers, as they begin the children’s Bible club ministry.  This is sending chills up my spine just writing this.  How God answers is truly amazing.

7.      Do we have enough people to do all this?  That is the best part.  With 92 students we can do this in three or four areas.  So we want to divide our student body into three different groups.

8.      Pastors and students have located four other locations for new churches.  Wow, is that all!  Well, for us that is enough.  What we need is a person with a spiritual gift of administration.  He will organize all of this from Quito. Know of anyone? Sorry, has to be an Ecuadorian.

9.      Remember, Lynford will not be involved in these church plants directly.  Organizing behind the scenes, while the students and grads do the work.  That sounds like fun from his perspective.  How about you?  Want to be involved?  Keep in touch with more prayer requests.

10.  Oh, one problem.  Where are you going to meet for the home Bible studies that will be started?  God has answered that wonderfully.  Jaime and Miriam are ready to open their home.  He is studying in the Bible institute too.  That’s another answer to prayer.  Keep praying!    

Because God guides His servants,

Lynford and Sharon Regier

Quito, Ecuador