Christmas 2015

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Anzalone family. Last week we had a couple of great outreach opportunities. First, the women's ministry has been delivering handmade diaper bags and gifts to the maternity clinic at one of the local community health centers. Our church was invited to participate in the Christmas party held for senior citizens, patient with disabilities, and all of the expectant mothers. We shared presents, candy, puppets, music, and a Gospel message with over 200 people present plus the health center staff and administrators. It was a great opportunity.
Since June, one of the families in our church has been inviting neighborhood children for a Saturday Bible time. This weekend we were invited to attend their Christmas program. The number of kids has grown to between 30 and 40. Parents from the community attended to see the kids sing and portray the Nativity. We also told the Gospel through the Christmas story. Pray for this outreach ministry to continue to grow.

Food Pantry Christmas Party

On Saturday, December 5, the church prepared a Christmas activity especially for the women and children of the households served by the food pantry ministry, Bendecidos para Bendecir. The Women's Sunday morning Bible class prepared food, games, arts and crafts, and a special devotional. The children were treated to a great program of puppets, music, refreshments, stories, and candy, all prepared by our generous Sunday School staff. The men and teens who were present were given a New Testament, and heard a personal explanation of the Gospel story. Every "ministry client" received the usual box of staple food items, plus fresh vegetables and chicken. Thanks to generous donors of extra money, we were able to provide over 90 children with Christmas gifts to take home too! Everyone, both givers and receivers, were joyful, blessed, and grateful. Pray for this ministry as Gospel seed is planted and hard ground is cultivated and watered, that God will give a great harvest.

November 2015 Prayer Report

Help Wanted

Our November prayer report relates three areas where we need your help in prayer and giving. Here is a brief summary, but you can download the full report from this link: Anzalone Prayer Nov 2015

1. The Taylors have been serving with us as short-term missionaries for over 18 months. They need more financial support.

2. The church in Manta will be sending out and supporting Pastor Darwin Moreira and his family to plant a new church in the Manta area. You can help with the start-up and support of this new work.

3. Our food pantry ministry has been going strong for 7 months. We need your help in order to take the next steps in this service opportunity.

Contact us if you would like more information about being a partner in giving. 

Baptism Sunday

We are thankful for the way God is faithful to bring new disciples to our family of faith at Iglesia Bíblica Bautista de Manta. We regularly see men, women, young adults, teens, and children give public testimony of their new life in Christ by means of baptism. When we first planted the church it was necessary to hold baptism celebrations at the local beach -- a very beautiful, public place--but many in our church family were not able to be present to witness the event. Since we have been using the baptismal pool in the auditorium, everyone present on Sunday morning gets to share in the excitement!
Another blessing in recent years is seeing many of the children who have attended Sunday School since their early years acknowledge Jesus as their Lord and Savior. This is due to the influence of the real Christian testimony of their parents, and of the faithful ministry of our many fine Sunday School and Children's Worship teachers throughout these 10 years of ministry in Manta. David was baptized on the last Sunday of August, his mother and older sister are also following Jesus. David demonstrates good understanding of the Gospel, but even more importantly, he gives evidence of personal saving faith in Christ.

Prayer Report July 2015

Here is a link to our latest prayer report on things that have been happening in our ministry. Thanks for your prayers. We depend on you!

Anzalone Prayer Report July 2015 PDF

David Proaño Family

Our church has the privilege of being a part of the support team for Evangelist David Proaño and his family. They do a great job as part of Open Air Campaigners. They use mime and painting to accompany preaching of the Gospel in settings such as parks, plazas, and other public places. On their recent visit to Manta, among other locations, they visited the Playa Murciélago. A crowd soon gathered around and some listened intently to the whole presentation. Several stayed around to talk and received the Gospel of John to take home to study. David also taught an evangelism seminar at our church and preached twice on Sunday, May 31. Several people prayed to receive Christ as their Savior during their time with our church. We are thankful to be partners in their ministry.

Pastor Tim and Megan Duggins

In May Pastor Tim Duggins of Mountain View Chapel of Stanardsville, VA came for a visit with his daughter Megan. Tim and Megan were blessings in many ways during their stay. They collaborated in several sessions on the Christian home. The teaching was of great benefit to our church. Tim taught leadership principles on two Thursday nights. They joined in a number of ministry opportunities including a visit to a local medical clinic to distribute Bolsas de Bendición (women's ministry gives small diaper bags to moms of newborns). Mountain View Chapel is one of our very committed partner churches. We're thankful that they would send Tim and Megan to encourage us.

May 2015 Prayer Report

We have been working with our church in Manta, Ecuador to get two new ministries off the ground. These are outreach and service ministries designed to put “Love in Action” around our church and community.

One of these is called Bolsas de bendición, (Bags of Blessing). Women of the church make small diaper bags, receiving blankets, and bibs. They fill the bags with other needs for newborns. Then they visit maternity clinics and local hospitals to give these gifts to moms of newborns, to pray with the mothers, and share some loving kindness. Doors have already opened for sharing God’s love and the message of the Gospel. One of the local clinics has invited the women’s group for weekly visits to speak to needy moms.    

 The church has also started a food pantry. The ministry is called Bendecidos para bendecir, (Blessed to Bless). Needy families are invited to receive a generous amount of 20 to 25 basic food items once each month. On May 3, we served our first group of 20 households. Besides food, our clients receive an evangelistic message, personal prayer and counseling, and a warm, loving welcome from those who serve. Both givers and receivers experience immense joy!

Please pray that these ministries and other service and outreach projects would bring a spiritual harvest. We would be very grateful for any special monetary donations that you may be led to give for these projects. Please contact us to find out how to be a partner with our church in putting “Love in Action” in Manta.