September 2007

1 Corinthians 3:6 ...God gave the increase.

Greetings from muddy Panama. Praise the Lord for the trials and rescues. I have officially met my match with muddy roads. Twice I have had to be rescued by good country folk, three of them helping to push my motorcycle up an extremely steep hill. The government came in to repair the road, and conditions have worsened. I have to laugh because it is impossible to level out a dirt road in rainy season! It takes away all the gravel from the top and loosens everything. When it rains you get a foot of mud! The mud mingled with rocks plugs up the wheels of my motorcycle, and it will not move. I just continue to press on and am thankful that I can.

September 11-18, I had the opportunity to go to Managua, Nicaragua to preach at a pastors conference organized by Missionary Oscar Chavez. I preached on the authority of the true church, the government of the church, and the interdependence of true churches. I had been given warning that some convention, association, and mission board pastors were invited. I found out after my first sermon that most were not true independent Baptists. Some of them understood for the first time that their church was never organized by a local church but an organization and, therefore, had no authority. There was a question and answer session that lasted four hours. I believe the Lord was glorified in it all.

Thank you for your prayers for the Colón congregation. They prepared themselves for the Lord’s Supper. I baptized three new members! We were able to get everything corrected member­ship wise and practiced the ministry of disciplining those who did not want to continue. It was com­mented by many new members that they had never seen this done, and it gave them a better appre­ciation of the functions and worth of a true church. I believe that the Lord had a victory in this and that this mission will continue to grow and be blessed of the Lord.

Please continue to pray for a building to rent here in Penonomé. I am also in the process of printing tracts to continue evangelizing new areas in the province of Coclé. Pray that the Lord will work in people’s hearts for salvation and following him in baptism.

We are truly thankful for your prayers, concern, and support for us and the work here. Our prayer is that the Lord will continue to bless you in all things.

In Jesus’ name,
Michael Lea and family