EVANGELISTIC REPORT

ACTIVITIES MADE INSIDE PUERTO PLATA AND OUTSIDE THE CITY, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.

FOR JUNE 15 UNTIL DECEMBER 2012.

“Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise”.

Dear supporters, brethren and friends in the Lord, is our prayer that wherever you go and whatever you do, God be with you in this year 2013.

We are very grateful with God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ for blessing us so much in the year 2012, and for help us to stay firm in Him about the painful  trial that we have suffering. James 1:2-4, Romans 8:31. And also, we are very grateful with you for support us, and to preach the Christ’s gospel together at us in the Dominican Republic, specially in Puerto Plata city and areas around.

ACTIVITIES MADE INSIDE PUERTO PLATA CITY.

As all the God’s sons, I have had some trials about my health, however, that has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. It’s because, “is all things God works for the good of those who love Him”. God in his mercy has helped me to training men and ladies in Him, therefore the church goes ahead inside and out of the city, and they have been testing their own ability and talent that God is giving them. That team of workers is doing a good job in the Lord under my supervision. But I have been doing my work little by little, and I traveled to Juan de Nina together at a group of brethren from Puerto Plata to participate about a meeting and to baptize a lady there. That’s a new congregation that we are forming there. Juan de Nina is countryside of Puerto Plata. It’s the area more difficult that we have to arrive there, because we must cross a river and it’s on a high mountain with a difficult road, however it’s a nice place. To we get arrive there we must walk a long distance climbing the mountain. Brother Genezaret Peña, who is one of our young men in Puerto Plata, is who is leading that work there with our help. Around fifteen people, who were participating in the Pentecostal church’s meetings, now they are participating in our meetings, because they are understanding the church of Christ´ doctrine. We are preparing others people there, who will be immersed in Christ next days. And also, I have been travelling to Gran Parada to visit a sister who is needing our advices. She has many problems with her husband. Gran Parada is at fifteen (15) minutes from Puerto Plata.

Many years ago we worked in Juan de Nina and we had a nice congregation there. Several of our brothers and sisters slept in the Lord, and others one got move to La Vigía and Puerto Plata. Many years ago, we had the honour to have with us to our brothers Larry Roper and Tomas Hook (father) who came from the United States to visit us in Puerto Plata, they traveled with us to Juan de Nina and participated in a meeting. It´s was a nice experience.

MEETINGS AND PERSONAL EVANGELISM.

In Puerto Plata we have been doing many activities, for example:

Our regular meetings are the days Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, however, we have done special activities which are: vigils. It’s a long meeting at night. We celebrate special meetings to friends. It’s that each brother and sister invite a friend or a relative to participate about that meeting, where they have the opportunity to listen the God’s word. It’s a good way to do personal evangelism. And also a group of brethren go on the streets to give pamphlets to the people and visiting them house to house. And also we are celebrating a week of prayer from time to time. It’s of Monday until Friday at night. We celebrated several meetings in the houses of brethren and friends, when they request us to do it there and many people have the opportunity to listen the God’s word.

YOUNG PEOPLE ACTIVITIES.

A group of our young people is visiting at the hospital to visit the sick people there, to pray for them, and also last Sunday afternoon, a group of them went there to give presents to the pour babies, and they made a good job there.

CHRISTIAN LADIES ACTIVITIES.

Our ladies are making a good job. They participated about a breakfast together at a restaurant, and also about a special meeting in the sister Mirna Olivarez house who is a invalid lady. Puerto Plata church of Christ’s ladies are celebrating meetings every Tuesday at 4:00 pm. My wife and a team are leading that ladies Christian’s program. They are doing a good job to the church.

ABOUT THE CHILDREN.

The children’s program is very good and growing every day.

ABOUT THE RADIO PROGRAM.

Our Radio Program goes ahead. But we have had some difficult about the internet, but the broadcasting Station manager is working to solve it.

OUR TEAMS OF WORKERS.

Our teams of workers and I continue leading our ten (10) working areas inside and outside the city, and several of them are travelling there every Sunday afternoon. On December 31-2012, we gave certificates to all our workers who are leading congregations, in appreciation of services rendered in the Lord.  1Corinthians 15:58.

VISIT OF PREACHERS FROM SANTO DOMINGO AND SANTIAGO TO PUERTO PLATA.

On June 7-2012 twelve preachers including two ladies, traveled to Puerto Plata from Santo Domingo, and from Santiago city to see and visit me. Puerto Plata church Mission Committee and I received them at the church building. They came to pray to me, give me God’s advices and also give me a good economic help to my health (medical services). It was great to God’s glory and my blessing. They said us that they want that I take a rest for a time during my medical treatment and others one who couldn’t come in that trip, called me to tell me that they and many congregations in all the country are praying to me. They love me very much in the Lord, and I’m very grateful with them. I’m working little by little, I have taken my rest, and the work more difficult and heavy is being made for the brethren in Puerto Plata, who are helping me very much and who wish that me be well as soon as be possible with God’s willing.

WEDDING IN PUERTO PLATA.

On July 21-2012, brother Jorge Luis Almonte Severino, and the sister Raquel Salazar Elena get married. The Raquel’s parents are Christians many years ago in Puerto Plata church of Christ. Sister Raquel was immersed in Christ several years ago, but she stayed a time out of the church (out of communion) but she stayed visiting us. She was reconciled one week before her wedding. Jorge Luis, who stayed for several months visiting us at the church, was immersed in Christ one day before the wedding. That wedding was very nice, and both of them are firms in the Lord.

ACTIVITIES MADE OUT OF PUERTO PLATA CITY.

NATIONAL PREACHERS CONFERENCE.

On October 5-7- 2012, we celebrated the III National Preachers Conference in Juan Dolio, San Pedro de Macoris. In that opportunity 92 people stayed there for three (3) days, plus nine (9) who couldn’t stay there for the three days. Many wives were there too. Brothers Luis Alvarez and his wife, Brother Joaquin Reyes Parra and his wife, my wife and I travelled there and we enjoyed very much about that. Brother Luis Alvarez is member of the organizing Committee, and was the principal director of songs. Many preachers couldn’t be there, however we have a good attendance.

VISIT OF A GROUP OF YOUNG PEOPLE FROM SANTO DOMINGO TO PUERTO PLATA.

On November a group of 25 brothers and sisters traveled from Santo Domingo to Puerto Plata, to do a good job with us here. It was great. They are the national young people leaders, who organize the national young people conference every year. They are professionals, including doctors and so on. Brother Josué Perez, who is physician, was the leader of that group of brethren. We enjoyed very much about that work in the Lord, and it was a good blessing to us.

BILINGUE MEETING IN SANTO DOMINGO, AND VISIT OF OUR BRETHREN FROM THE UNITED STATES, BRASIL AND NICARAGUA TO PUERTO PLATA, TO CONTINUE CELEBRATING THE PANAMERICAN CONFERENCES.

On November a group of fifty (50) professors, preachers, brothers and sisters from the United States, Brasil and Nicaragua arrived to Santo Domingo to celebrate the Panamerican Conferences between themselves, but on November 4-2012, was celebrated a Belingue Conference, where participating the church of Christ’s congregations from Santo Domingo. It was celebrated in the Independence conferences room of the Armed Force, Santo Domingo, and some preachers, sisters and brothers from some congregations of several cities of the country. The attendance was around two thousand (2,000) people. We enjoyed very much about great activity. It was very nice to see again after many years to the brothers Dan Coker, Jim Frazier, Bob Brown, Henry and Linda Calvin, and to meet many brothers and sisters as Diana and Steve Teel, Haward Norton, Enio La Torre and wife, David Catalina and all the group.

On November 7-11-2012, our brethren arrived to Puerto Plata from Santo Domingo, to continue celebrating the Panamerican Conferences. These conferences are celebrated every year in different countries. In this opportunity they began these activities in Santo Domingo and finished them in Puerto Plata city, at the hotel Celuisma in Playa Dorada. Puerto Plata church of Christ was blessed very much, because part of them was with us on Wednesday 7, to participate in our prayer meeting. Brother Steve Teel was who preached that night. He spoke about the importance of the Christ’s blood to the humanity. It was great. His wife Diana Teel was with us too. And also were with us Brother Bob Brown, who was in Puerto Plata visiting us many years ago, Brother Dan Coker, who is a doctor in theology, university professor, and principal speaker of the global conferences, which are celebrated in different countries every year. I had the honour to met him in Baxter Institute, Honduras, CA, and to participate together at him and many brethren from the United State and others countries in Santiago de Chile, in the global conference in the year 1981. And also were with us in that prayer meeting in Puerto Plata others brothers and sisters from United State and Brasil. It was great.

MEETING WITH BAXTER INSTITUTE´S GRADUATED.

On November 8-2012, for request of the Brother Haward W. Norton, who was Baxter Institute’s president for several years until January 2013, and brother Steve Teel, who is the new Baxter Institute’s president starting on January 2013, brother Calvin Henry, who was Baxter Institute’s president several years ago, Sister Diana Teel, who was director of World Radio, and who is the brother Steve’s wife, and also almost all the Dominican preachers, who are Baxter Institute’s graduated, celebrated a meeting at the Celuisma hotel in Playa Dorada, Puerto Plata. And also were there as invited, brother Prudencio Rodriguez and other brother from Mao Valverde. Brother Prudencio and his wife Nuris, were who in 1975 came to Puerto Plata to form the church of Christ. Brother Luis Alvarez, who is El Ranchito de Los Vargas’s preacher, my wife Jeannette and I are part of that work. And also was there as visit brother Cándido Estrella, who is Las Flores Church of Christ’s preacher, in Puerto Plata. In that meeting brothers Steve was who led that meeting, brother Haward, gave us a report about Baxter, brother Calvin spoke about his experience there, and the Baxter’s graduated gave them a report about our experience inside and outside Baxter Institute. After that, we enjoyed about a delicious lunch at the hotel, and after that we continue and finished our meeting there. It was a great experience to everybody.

On November 11, other group of them participated with us in our worship, (Sunday morning) In that opportunity was with us our brother Jim Frazier, who is the director of the global conferences, which are celebrated every year in different countries, his wife Milal. I met him in Baxter Institute, Tegucigalpa, Honduras, and also, I was in Chile participating in the Global conferences. The doctor  Don Delukie, who has been preacher in Luisiana for four around (40) years, and who is a Bible teacher by internet, his wife Jean, and brother Enio La Torre and his wife also were with us in  our prayer meeting in Puerto Plata. The La Torres is Brasilians and brother Enio has been preacher there for many years. In that worship brother Enio was the preacher, and he spoke us about the God’s love. It was great. Brother Delukie led us in an English prayer, and Brother Frazier spoke some words in Spanish, and also he led a Spanish prayer. We enjoyed very much about these blessings from God.

HUMANITARIAN ACTIVITY.

Brother David Catalina, who formed part of the group who came from United States, brothers Pedro Sarita, and Cándido Estrella and I from Puerto Plata, visited a old home (catholic institution to take care of old ladies and men) and also we went at the hospital to carry medical help there.

THE JEANNELLY´S GRADUATION.

On November 24, our daughter Jeannelly got graduates as odontologist (dentist) at UNIBE UNIVERSITY, which is one of the best universities of the country. Thanks to God and several brethren and relatives, who helped us to get it. That ceremony was very nice. Now she is to obtain her documents as professional, to be able to get a job. Later, when be God’s willing she will do a speciality. Now we must pay the credits in FUNDAPEC little by little with God’s help.

NATIONAL YOUNG PEOPLE CONFERENCE.

On December 20-23- 2012, was celebrated the young people national conference for the year 2012. It was in Palo Quemado, Jarabacoa. In that opportunity six hundred (600) people were there. Puerto Plata church of Christ sent there twelve (12) young people and three (3) adults. They enjoyed very much about that activity. Several were immersed in Christ, and others one were reconciled in Christ. One of our young from Puerto Plata was baptized there. His name is Jorge Luis Ventura. In that activity nine (9) young people were immersed in Christ, and three (3) were reconciled in Christ. Brother Pascual Perez, who is Los  Mina church of Christ´s preacher, Santo Domingo, was the speaker there. He made a good job about that.

TEN (10) IMMERSED IN CHRIST IN PUERTO PLATA AND AREAS AROUND.

On June 24- 2012.

1)   Aniel Carballo

2)   Gertrudis Polanco

3)   Gaudenci de la Cruz

4)   Nelson Cruz Rodriguez

5)   Isabel del Carmen Rodriguez.

Nelson Cruz and Isabel are married (a couple) and they are from Tamboril, Santiago. As they are sellers, every week they travel to Puerto Plata. They visit the church of Christ in Tamboril when they are there and visit us when they are in Puerto Plata. They are good Christians.

On July 12- 2012.

1)   Jacinta Almonte. From Juan de Nina.

July 20-2012.

1)   Jorge Luis Almonte.

July 29-2012.

1)   Jorje Rafael Espinal Heredia.

September 13- 2012.

1)   Juan Carlos Ureña.

December 23- 2012.

1)   Jorge Luis Ventura.

MY SITUATION OF HEALTH IS THE FOLLOWING:

On January 2013, I was plan to be operated on my turbinate bones, to solve a difficult on my neck if is God’s willing, however, a doctor put me a treatment to see if is possible to resolve that situation without to do the operation. Next days, I will be visiting the doctor to take a decision about that. After that I will be operated about my vessel, because I have PURPURA.  TROMBOCITOPENICA IDIOPÁTICA. It’s a process where the vassel eat the blood platelets. There is a treatment that has a cost of around $300,000.00 pesos, without the hospital’s expenses, but it has a margin of error around a 10 or 20 x % that can fail, therefore, we consider that’s better to do the surgery on the vessel. Is possible that my health security help me with part of that amount. Many brethren are praying about that, and we hope in God He resolves me that situation. Seven physicians saw me at the Unión Médica in Santiago city. One of these health studies (bone marrow) was made in the United States, and thanks to God I have not cancer.  I had a small inflammation in my prostate, and a small infection in my left kidney, but every thing is under control. My haemoglobin is very good, however my blood platelets which are go down, and sometime get to go up a little, because my vessel is eating the smallest of them little by little. But as I’m using good natural products, they are under control thanks to God. Later I will be operated of my vessel if is God’s willing.

For God’s mercy last year 2012, the Lord helped us to baptize fourteen (14) people and seven (7) were reconciled in Christ.

Is our prayer to this new year 2013, that our God let us “be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; and be strong in Him”.

Our love, gratitude and greetings to you.

Lucrecio Mercado Hernández.

Minister.