VOICES FROM THE FRONTLINES: Sowing the Seed and Serving the Saints in Maracay, Venezuela

Update From Rafael Rodriguez and Community of Grace Biblical Mission

Greetings to my dear brothers and sisters, may the Lord bless you. Here is a report on the work.

By the Lord’s grace, the Comunidad de Gracia (Community of Grace) Bible Mission celebrated its 7-month anniversary on June 10th. The Lord has sustained and helped us this entire time.

Please do not stop praying for us to grow in love and unity, and that in every sermon, study, and time of fellowship, the Lord would be glorified and exalted.

Church Activities

At the moment, we are continuing our consecutive Sunday preaching series through the Gospel of John, and we are currently in chapter 6. In Sunday school, we have covered several topics:

• Fundamental Doctrines
• The Attributes of God
• And we are now studying Biblical Theology

By the grace of the Lord, we have begun a practice we call a congregational “agape meal,” where once a month we stay after the Sunday service to eat together and share fellowship. These have been very good times of edification and getting to know one another better.

We have a prayer meeting on Tuesdays at 6 pm at our location, although we face a challenge with transportation as many people live far away and cannot make it at that time.

Our online studies have continued every Wednesday night. We are currently studying Church History Century by Century, highlighting the most important figures and events of each era. It has been very beneficial to learn our history.

Also on Wednesday mornings, we have our evangelistic outreach where we go to a place called “la casa de los abuelos” (a local home for the elderly) to preach and bring arepas. Approximately 60 arepas with juice are distributed there every Wednesday morning, benefiting many vulnerable people while the gospel is preached to them.

Evangelism

Twice a week, around 7 am, I go out to preach at a gas fueling station near where I live. I hand out about 100 tracts and deliver an open-air sermon.

We have also continued the Bible study in a nearby community called Santa Rita. I am teaching the Doctrines of Grace there every Saturday at 9 am. Our desire and plea to the Lord is to see many people come to Christ in every community and to establish biblical churches.

Every two weeks on Tuesdays, I meet online with three pastors from Colombia. We have fellowship and are studying the book “What is New Covenant Theology?” It has been very profitable, and we pray and desire to advance with this theological perspective in Latin America.

Ministry Development and Prayer Requests

As you can see, the ministry keeps us very busy. Every day we pray for the Lord to raise up men for service in the mission and for the advancement of the kingdom here in Maracay, Venezuela.

Important progress has been made in our Strategic Partnership Plan regarding meetings and contacts with potential candidates to join the Biblical Christian Missionary team. Please pray for discernment and for these men and their families who are being considered.

Please do not stop praying for the political situation in Venezuela. These last few months have been tense, and the economy has been affected once again. We are in the Lord’s hands, but our desire is that we may soon have a better government.

Please do not stop praying for me, that the Lord would preserve me to be faithful to His Gospel in all aspects of my life.

Pray for my wife; we are expecting again, and she has been having some complications. She is on absolute bed rest, which requires me to dedicate more time to some responsibilities at home.

Thank you very much for your love, prayers and support.

Sincerely,

Rafael Rodríguez

Missions Coordinator

Serving in Maracay, Venezuela🇻🇪