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H  I  S  P  A  N  I  C      C  H  R  I  S  T  I  A  N      M  I  N  I  S  T  R  Y   
A Ministry of Covenant Reformed Church of Toronto in Partnership with
Faith United Reformed Church of West Olive, Michigan

February, 2010
MINTS—El Salvador Report

It is a privilege on behalf of the Lord to present my first ministry report on the month of February of the current year. It is hard to believe that although February is the shortest month of the year, it was concluded with extensive ministry accomplished.

February 1-10, 2010

Beginning on Monday, February 1 I made my first visit to Metapán to make contact with the Claro offices regarding the internet. On Thursday, February 4 I had the opportunity to make two contacts in San Salvador. I met with Brothers Oscar Grande and Jaime Olmedo, from which there was much fruit. Oscar Grande will be starting a MINTS Study Centre in the church where he is one of the leaders. This Centre expects to have at least ten students, although he still needs to receive the approval of the pastor and elders regarding the proposed project.

I was discussing with Jaime Olmedo the possibility of opening a Study Centre in his church where he is a volunteer pastor. However this changed when the senior pastor arrived. While he supports the project and has allowed it to be started, he prefers not to be involved in its development. But this sometimes happens and doesn’t present an obstacle to the work because God continues to be in control. I have to recognize the blessing of making contact with Brother Jaime since through him I have made other contacts which I trust will be interested in MINTS. I returned home that day at about 8 pm.

On Friday the 5th I returned to Metapán to look for a better option for Internet service. This is a problem for me because I don’t have any financial record in the country.

On Tuesday, the 9th, I went to Santa Ana to by things that I need for my office since my shipment had not yet arrived.

On February 10 I met with Brother Hilario in Santa Ana. This brother is the facilitator of the Study Centre we are developing in the ELIM church of this city. All went well. They are encouraged to continue developing theological education in their cell groups wherever possible. They completed the course on Hermeneutics and will soon begin with the two courses of Canon of the Scriptures and Introduction to the Bible.

On this same trip I travelled to Sonsonate, about two hours from Santa Ana, to meet with Brothers Edgardo Colindres and Benjamin Trigueros. With sadness in my heart I have to report that at this meeting Br. Benjamin confessed to me that he had fallen into alcoholism and is currently in a restoration plan. I would ask for your prayers for this brother who I believe is an important part of what we hope to accomplish in El Salvador. However Br. Edgardo has committed himself to continue extending the vision of the seminary. He spoke to me about 14 – 17 students who are pastors. This was very motivating for me, although I returned to my home about 9 pm that night.

February 11-20, 2010

On Friday, February 12, I met with Br. Oscar Grande again in order to bring him some documents and to see how things were going in his church. With sadness he reported that they are opposed to the idea, but he believes they will change their minds. I also had an opportunity to meet with Br. Jaime Olmedo to plan some things. He introduced me to some pastors in order to explain MINTS to them. They said they would get back to me. Some have responded while others have not. But this does not stop the work of the Lord.

On Saturday, February 13, I met with Br. Marvin Argumedo in Santa Ana till about 4 pm. This brother brought me a well developed proposal which we hope to develop. He has also committed himself to help me develop the “study cycles” which we hope to implement in the different parts of the country. He also lent me an Internet wireless USB “stick”, although I was unable to install it in my computer. On February 13 I had an opportunity to speak to students of the first and second year of high school at the “City of Toronto” Educational Complex in Las Majadas, the village where I live. I spoke on the second table of the ten commandments. This was such a blessing that there were comments that they were going to ask the principal to allow me to teach more classes on this theme. The principal was in agreement with that and will give me an speaking agenda that fits into my schedule.

Thursday, February 18 – While all of my previous days were a blessing, this was probably the most blessed with regards to making contacts. I had the opportunity to make contact with Brother Alfredo Reyes, president of an assiociation of pastors and the director of a Bible Institute in Zaragoza, la Libertad. Pastor Reyes hopes to have his institute receive recognition through MINTS for their advanced degrees. During the week following he contacted me to confirm that the plans were in progress but that it would be a few weeks before he would be meeting with the board of directors of the Bible Institute where he will present the project proposal.

February 21-28, 2010

On February 22 I was in Santa Tecla visiting Bread of Life Church. This church is very interested in opening a MINTS Study Centre among their members. This church is made up of many members who are professionals with government jobs, private business or in chain stores. I believe the presence of MINTS will be a great blessing because this is a very dynamic group with formal education, although with limited theological knowledge. The pastor tells me that there may be 15 students in the Bachelors level of theological studies.

On February 23 I went to Santa Ana to the central offices of Claro where Brother Atilio Umana co-signed for me in order to get connected to the internet since I can not do it personally. The brother has a sister who works as a zone leader as well as being the director of these Claro offices. She helped me get the internet in Br. Atilio’s name.

On February 24 I made contact with Brother Miguel Rivas in San Salvador, a contact that was made through Br. Jaime Olmedo. This brother has a Bachelors of Theology with the Lutheran University of El Salvador. He wants to get into the Masters of Theology program with MINTS. He told me that there are seven other students who are qualified to study at this level.

From Saturday, Februrary 27 to Tuesday, March 2 I had a visit from Rev. Eric Pennings. With him we attended an extensive series of activities. For example: Review of MINTS materials, including preparation of a curriculum for El Salvador. The truth is that the visit of this brother was a great blessing and warm encouragement to me to continue in this work as ministers of the gospel in the Kingdom of God in this world.

In addition to all of this I must add that for over two weeks I have been running errands and making contacts in order to retrieve my shipment from the El Salvador customs which were sent from Toronto. Fortunately after many complications I was able to take out my goods without any damage.

Although this is the first month in my role as MINTS-El Salvador coordinator I can say with Samuel “Ebenezer” – God has helped us to this point (1 Samuel 7:12)

In the service of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Prof. José Jesús Ramírez
Missionary of Christian Education of Covenant Reformed Church of Toronto
Miami International Seminary (MINTS) Regional Coordinator for El Salvador