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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

Dear HCM Supporters:

As I return from another “whirlwind” schedule of activities, I’m impressed with the increasing need there is for the training of leaders in developing countries. I’m thankful for the privilege I have to be a part of extending God’s kingdom through preparing leaders in effective gospel ministry where they are. During this trip I had the privilege of supporting the ministries of three different ministry colleagues in their respective ministries.

During my five days in Costa Rica I had the privilege of teaching The Canon of the Scriptures in three MINTS Centres. Rev. Nicolas Lamme’s church is in the process of establishing a MINTS Centre. They have had contact with another larger church in their community which is also interested in training their leaders. During my visit with them, this church has also decided to form a MINTS Study Centre and have 15 students in the process of registering. The pastor of this church has had on-going contact with both Revs. Bill Green and Nick Lamme for several years. It is encouraging to see his interest in the Reformed faith, particularly in the training of their leadership team. I was able to do a combined conference for both of these new MINTS Centres while in Cartago.

Another of the churches with which Rev. Green has been working has had MINTS training its leaders for almost a decade now. They have graduated several students already. While they have had their challenges in motivating students to continue studying, this visit was particularly encouraging as they met with me to make plans for encouraging more of their members to benefit from the ministry of MINTS. Eight students showed up for the course I taught there on The Canon of the Scriptures.

While in Honduras during the second week of this trip, I had the privilege of participating in the examination of two leaders in the churches that Rev. Ernest Langendoen has been planting in Comayagua and in Tegucigalpa. Orlando and Felix (my MINTS-Honduras country coordinator) are a part of his leadership team and together with Rev. Harry Bout we were able to examine them for the privilege of preaching. It was impressive to see their passion to be prepared to preach and teach faithfully.

I also had an opportunity to teach a course on Introduction to Christian Education in two MINTS Centres in San Pedro Sula. One of the Centres is struggling to keep its students involved in the program, but the other has been adding several students each time I come to teach a course. This has been very encouraging to see, as they now have about 20 students taking the courses that are offered on each visit I make.

I was also introduced to the leadership team at a Korean Presbyterian Church in San Pedro Sula. In addition to ministering to the Korean community that is working there, they are committed to social ministries in Honduras as well as a program of leadership training among various Honduran churches. I was asked to teach a conference on the book of Nehemiah for them on the topic of “Developing Christian Leadership for Honduras”. If all goes well, this will take place in the new year.

As we come to the close of this year, I would like to encourage the HCM supporters to remember us in our current financially critical situation as reported on in the last newsletter. We began the year with surplus funds, but during the year our expenses have exceed our income by about $19,000. We have suspended several ministry projects to adjust to this reality, but we ask you to consider the ministry of Hispanic Christian Ministry in your year-end giving.

In the Service of Christ,

Rev. Eric Pennings, Missionary, Covenant Reformed Church of Toronto
Miami International Seminary (MINTS) Central America Regional Coordinator

Canadian Donations:
Hispanic Christian Ministry
c/o Covenant Reformed Church
265 Albion Road
Toronto, Ontario    M9W 3P1

US Donations:
Hispanic Christian Ministry
c/o Faith United Reformed Church
8270 120^th Ave.
West Olive, Michigan   49460