Fowler Bruce Judith 1977 PuertoRico

8/13/2019 Fowler Bruce Judith 1977 PuertoRico

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MISSION MESSAGESFr om th e Fowlers

Ongoing witness to the work of God in Puerto Rico

PUT ON, THEN, LOWLINESS. MEEKNESS. PATIENCE...(Col. 3:12Howstrange it seems to spend the day studyingSpani^,instead of mostly teaching, counseling, and preaching. Occasionally, r^nnants of my old salvation by productionsyndrome creep into my thinking again. Then I have toremind myself that, for now, anyway, our main ministryis to leam Spani^.~FoIId11ng the Spirit s leading into the less sensational

ministries is easy to justify to God s people...to feel theneed to justify it is the problem.I find that my old prideful nature would rather bet^ching people than having people teachme. Paul planted,ApoUos watered, God gave fte growth (I Cor. 3:6), but theFowlers are having a good time (to follow the anal(^)studying The Manual and repairing the farming equipment.And PRAISING our Lord Jesus.

JUST LIFTING UP JESUSOnce a Christiki really understands and experiencesthe Go^l, he doesn t have to LOOK FOR a ministry.That's been our experience here in Costa Rica during thesemonths in language school. Anyonewho followsJesusWILLbecome a filter of men. (Mk. l:17...That s a promise ofproductivity, not a command to evangelizeH e re s w h a t I m e a n :The other day, Curtis, our eldest (13 years old, in theseventh grade) delivered a sermon that blessed us: in aschool assignment. A non-Christian Englidi teacher whowanted the kids to write about friendship got introduced tothe Greatest Friend of All, when the Holy Spirit anointed

Curtis to outline the Gospel clearly, precisely, and powerfully in his Engli^ theme. Curtis isn t worried aboutconverts, succeeding in his ministry, or what gifts he hasbeen given. He just follows the Holy Spirit s leading, staysin close c on ta ct w ith Jesus; and God blesses it with fruitSeems to me chat s an elective basis for Christianmissions: in humility lifting up Jesus, who lifted up you.


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PRISON DOORS OPENING AGAIN...Attempts to minister to prisoners in the penitentiaryhere iii ^sta Rica have so far met with a closed door.Recently, the influence of a Catholic priest has been sufficient to officially bar all evangelicals from ministering inside

the walls.

UT WeVe been praying.We have in hand an official document from the TopAuthority here stating in black and white that Christ hasbeen raised far above all rule and authority and power(Eph. 1:21) including the political power controlling theprison system here. Not only that, but it hasbeen promisedto me in writing that this same Qower of immeasurablegreatness has been invested in us who believe (verse 19).That's where you come in. Will you believe and claimwith me an effective ministry in e prison during the

months wel l be here?. . . that guys in jail heie will come to know Jesus?. . . that they*ll accept forgiveness and a new life inChrist?Jesus says we have a right to do that: If two of you

agree on earth about anything they ask^ it will be donejorthem bymy Father inheaven. (Mt. 18;19)YAHOO By faith, I see it happening. Two days ago 1heard about a Christian official in the U.S. embassy herewhom God may use to bring it about keep youposted.YOU KEEP PRAYINGIn the meantime, remember, this is exactly the same thingthat happened four years ago in PuertoRico. Satan tried toRoman Catholic pressure and official government prohibition to keep me from ministering in the prison. ButPRAYER POWER of the saints plugged into Christ'sauthority, and a Jesus revival began in the prisons there.Do it again, Jesus

THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPONMEBECAUSEHE HATH NOEmomTOPREACHDELIVERANCE TO THE CAPTIVES....


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REPORT ONPRISONERS YOU VE BEEN PRAYING FOR;RICHARDHOUSER: Released in January without parole.Decided to stay in Puerto Rico to finish his collegedegree in preparation for full-time ministry. He s ministering both to prisoners and classmates with a pastor'sheart and gifts of teaching. Hold him up in prayer: the

first few months on the street are terribly hard for a newChristian right out of prison. Don't let him dov\m. He llbe helping us start the Christian House for ex-prisonerswhen we retmti-to Puerto Rico ip August.GEORGE BELL POUND: Released several months ago toa half-way house...but succumbed to Satanic attack, andis back in the pen again. Sobered. Somewhat discouraged,but stronger in the Lord for his experience. Please sendencouragement and spiritual support with your prayers.

Box. A.F., Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico 00928DAVID DONOVAN: What a beautiful new brother Transferred to Massachusetts but healed of two terminaldiseases: one physical, the other spiritual. He writes:All the (formerly) important things are now meaninglessto me compared to staying true and firm in the love andstren^K of Jesus Christ... He asks prayer for directionfor future ministry and strength to prove worthy in his

current imprisonment.ED SCHUPPE: Transferred to California. Bitter discouraged. Decided last month to deny his faith and rejecthis Savior, when he wasn't released by the date he prayedfor. Pray for softening of his heart, solid Bible teaching,

and a return to the Lord.RAPHAEL CARBONELL DIAZ: Recommended to take

over Richard Houser's ministry inside the P R. Penitentiary. Raphael is in a key position to win many inmatesto the Lord. Pray for strength, faithfulness, spiritual insight, submission to HolySpirit'sguidance.CARLOS CEBALLO VALLS: Brand new in Jesus. Havinga productive ministry in the penitentiary.

GEORGIE TORRES MELENDEZ: Same situation asGeorge B. Pound above. Shows how desperately weneed a Christian half-way house

QMS sha be made


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OUR SPIRITUAL COVERING...IS YOU...the elders and leaders of Ae congr^ations

of Christ 8 Body. The Lord has been reminding us again ofthe importance of submission to this covering...and of thecovering s responsibility to reaUy take the spiritual authority that has been assigned to you.For us on the mission field, assurance of your constantintercesaon for us is not just a happy extra. It's a life-or-death, indispensable necessity. It's tiie critical prerequisitefor our being ableto serve on a foreign field, e^ecially one

as spirituallyvolatile as the prisonministry.As simple as this: without your spiritualoveHiead in theform of teal concern, your blessing, communication, confirmation, admonishment, and constant prayer-intercession,WE JUST COULDN'T BE HEREWe sense a need to have confirmation and Spirit-guidedadvice from you on the followingmatters:

1. TEAM MINISTRY with Fowlers, Joe Prenevost family,and Greg Combs family. Currently. Pj-ienevosts are backin the'Statespraying for God's direction about their placeon the team in Puerto Rico. Cq]^ are here in Costa icastudying Spanish with us fey aspects seek prayer-direction: arrival dates for each ^mily respective responsibilities of each team member, guidance toward goodcommunication (one with another and with homechurches), etc.

2. Possibility of a SURVEY TRIP TO PUERTO RICO for aweek or so before language study is finished. Purpose: toestablish Greg and Joe in the ministry there, secure housing, re-establish ties with prisoners I haven't seen for overa year, and provide on-the-spot support for several prisoners who are having a really hard time right now. Weneeddirection on IF, WHEN, HOW (it'll cost about $400 aperson), and PRIORITIES on times for the few days we'll e th ere

(Continued...)

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3. Possibility of OBSERVING ESTABLISHED PRISONMinistries Chuck Colson chaplain Ray etc.) in theStates, on our way back to Puerto Rico next July orAugust.4. Confirmation and direction for PLANS OF MINISTRYafter our return to P.R.:a. Continuation of prison ministry (new approaches?directions?)b. Christian House for parolees. Should we accept gov

ernment financing if available? or have strings onlyto the Body of Christ? Intercession needed for muchm o n yc. Leadership training programs in churches in PuertoRico.d. Establishing a Christian Community Counseling Center.How? Personnel? Financing?)

5. Possibility of SHORT-TERM PRISON MINISTRY HEREin Costa Rica during language study. (See article above)We feel need for confirmation of priorities.

PRAISE-WAYS; (Raising Praise Pays)YOUR PRAYER NSWERED God raised up^^eJQfeerghto take over the prison ministry in Puerto'TtiTO while

we re gone.BRUCE S DAD is healing exceptionally well from a serious

burn accident in December that kept the folks fromvisiting us here on Christmas.GOD IS BLESSING OUR SPANISH. But keep praying...

Ours seems to be an exceptional case of natural inability.THANK YOU, JESUS, for each person who shares with us in

this letter. Convey our love and Yours to them througha special blessing today.

We sure do love youThe Fowler Family:Bruce, Judy, Curtis, Christy, Craig Cathy

Mr. Mrs. Bruce Fow lerApartado 10240San Jose, Costa Rica


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MISSION MESSAGESFrom the Fowlers

May-June, 1977

BACK TO PUERTO RICO )In the last days of the language-study-stage of our ministry,

our schedule looks like this:June 1-17June 17-23

June 24June 25-July 9July 10July 16July 22August 1

Final lessons in SpanishGet Central American visas, say good-byes inthe prison and church here, and watch Godperform some healing miracles on our car.Leave Costa RicaDrive through Nicaragua, Honduras, ElSalvador, and Mexico to the West Coast of USAIn Boise, Idaho, for visit with Judy s familyIn Salem, Oregon, for visit with Bruce sfamilyDrive to Washington, DC, to visit ChuckColson s prison ministry.Ship our car and fly to Puerto Rico fromlew York

Through the middle of July 1977 contact us through Judy smother: c/o Mrs. Eunice McFarland

400 Bacon DriveBoise, Idaho 83702Phone: (208) 342-6476

After August, i977, our temporary Puerto Rico address willbe

P. O. Box 50048Levittown, Puerto Rico 00950

News Flash Costa Ricans say that Spanish is going to be theofficial language in heaven. Will some of you Bible scholarsplease check that out and let me know?


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ANOTHER RESURRECTION FROM THEJPEADIt haai*t happened yet . . but it will have happened by thetime you read this: OUR CAR, RAISED FROM THE DEADDuring much of our time here inCosta Rico, our Ford van hasbeen sitting in front of our apartment terminally ill ; andfinally has been pronounced dead from natural causes of200,000 miles, affecting such vital functions as carbeurator,electrical system, front end, transmission, tires, etc. Some nec-essiti^ parts are either unavailable in Costa Rica, or are tooexpensive for us to buy. SO. . . i t seems like the command in

Matthew 10:8 ( Heal the sick, raise the dead. . . ) ou^t toapply to Fords too.Don't laugh. He told us to talk to mountains and makethem move. (Mark 11:23) Just think what He can do with our

car

I nOKING BACK ATI ANGUAGE SCHOOL

The other day, I broke a cardinal ruleof good preaching ( Never start asermon with an apology ), and paidthe consequences. Intending to sayto the congregation that I was embarrassed by my frequent mistakesin the Spanish language, I inadvertantly said that I was PREGNANT( embarazada ) instead. Sometimesthe words of my mouth don t fitwith the meditations of my heart

Axlihefipirt99veth^iflferance

We praise God for several opportunities lately to use our newlanguage in preaching, both to church groups and to non-Christian business groups, to counsel and pray with peoplewith serious needs, and in one-to-one witnessing.

We have been getting some insight into Moses' feelings ofverbalinadequacy. (Exodus 4:10~that's his eloquent I'm slow ofspeech speech.) But we've taken comfort in God's answer:Quit whining Man I made your mouth and Pm going touse it. Your inadequacy doesn't hinder My adequacy a bit *'(Revised Fowjer Version).


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mOUR FINANCES

Since we first came to the mission field five years ago, wehave felt God s leading not to directly adi the Omrch to meetspecific financial or physical needs, nor to use our newsletterto ask for money. Nor were our visits to stateside churchesused to raise support

God has promised to meet every need of (ours) according/ / to His riches. . and in the same chapter (Phil. 4) tells usto/ let our requests be made known to GOD (not to ^^ple)with/ thanksgiving and without anxiety. Most of the time we ve tried to do that God has been faithful in touching the heartsof many of you to help meet ourneeds.

Most of our financial support comes from individuals, notfrom congregations, nor in specified or pledged amounts. Asfar as we know, after this month, we receive no set amountfrom any church budget, nor have we ever, as missionaries,had a bank account to draw from in case Godhas asked

/ / us to trust Him to give usthisday ourdaily bread. Excit-/ edly enough that has been avery literal promise lately-oftenjust enough for one day. As for bank accounts, there have been too many immediate needs to justify our saving for security ssake

O JESUS is our security, Philippians 4:19 is our only bank account His promise to heal (I Pet 2:24, etc.) is our onlyhealth insurance policy, and the rapture isour only retirement

plan.Other missionaries have a^ed in amazement, But who isfinancially responable for you?God is

I hope that answer doesn t sound super-spiritual because 1have to plead guilty to conunitting the sins ofanxiety, whining,and questioning God s promises more often than you might suspect a misfflonary should. But in our better moments, it s a

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very simple matter of recognizing that it'sfinancially realisticto take God atHisWord. Simply. And that's notgreat faith.It's finanrial dependence. . . representing one more area that,little by little, is being committed to C OM PLE TE D EPEN DENCE on the Lord. Easy words to say. . . tooeasy, inview ofthe magnitude of the goal they represent,ReaUy, this is no more of a faithministry than getting asalary from a company, or a congregation, or a misaonboard.Besides, His promise of providing us with sufficient money tohave enough to be able to GIVE in abimdance to every goodwork (II Gor. 9:8) is not even conditional upon our faith butupon God's faithfulness. . . and upon our giving to others,according to the context of II Cor. 9. odis faithful to His anxious kidsW e generally publish a financial report once ayear to inform

those whose interest in our work is expressed financially.Here's a simplified veraon:This year's total income (from May, 1976, to May, 1977),,wa8 12,088.21. (Average: 1,007.35 a month.) Ourlivingexpenses this next ye^ in Puerto Rico will be about 1,500

a monthWe are feeling called of the Lord .tc^lidp stai^^ ilhrista^.Halfway House for parolees in Puerto Rico. After th> mitialrostsTprope^ and furnishings) we expect operating expenses

of the home to exceed $2,000 a month beyond our own sup-port. We are starting on this project with not one penny financially allotted, but with all the riches in Glory in our faithaccotmt according to Phil. 4:19.

Will you pray for ourwisdom and sensitivity to His direction in this? One of the first projects after our return toPuerto Rico will to find five or Sx Spirit-led people whom( God has chosen to constitute a board of directors for the Home.

Bcept .tfe MThebut^ HoI 63 iiwaln it

Overheard at our house: I must be making progress. . . I'mforgetting my English


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THANKS FOR PRAYING... GOD ANSWEREDRemember our main prayer request in the last newsletter-that God would cut through opposition and allow me to min

ister in the penitentiary here?WeU,He did itiOf course. He promises it (Mt. 18:19, etc.), you pray, andI walk right inlike a son of the King I've had freedom to roamaround and share the Gospel with all the prisoners God leads

meto. Now I'm taking other missionaries in withme to carry- on after we leave in JuneIsn't it just like God He didn't use the political weight ofany influential person to open the door as I expected. InsteadHe used the need of a poor slum family with whom Iwas counseling. In one session the mother accepted Jesus as Lord and

asked me to share also with her son in the prison.So I did Simple asthat... because you paved theway with

prayer

I really want you to realize the difference it makes in ourministry when you pray You don't even need to pray hard. . . (His power works the same if you pray soft )... becauseit's not your prayer force that does it. It's the

. . . immeasurable greatness of HISpower in us whobelieve, according to the working of HISgreat might,which HE accomplished. . . (Eph. 1:19)

THANK YOU, each one, for praying for us so faithfully.THANK YOU for your solid expressions of love and support.TH NK YOU Court St^hijrtl^Church, for printing these

newsletters fo r usTHANK YOU, BevLebold committee,for typingand arranging them so beautifully.THANK YOU, Jesus, for giving ussuchsupportive brotherhood

with your people. And for freedom from all guilt.And for a job too big to do on our own power.We love you

Bruce Judy Fowlerand Family


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d

MISSION MESSAGESFrom the Fowlers

September, 1977

Crisalida No. 54, Urb. MutToz Rivera)Guaynabo, Puerto Rico 00657

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PRAISE GOD YAHOO HE IS FAITHFULOur car was resurrected from the dead. . .

. . . by the laying on of hands (and wrenches , anointing withoil Havoline Motor oil, type lOw-40 , and prayer. But itwasnH the hands, the wrenches, the oil OR the prayer thatgot that old Ford from Costa Rica to U.S.A. It was the faithfulness of His Sovereign Majesty, Jehovah, the Lord of lords(also of mechanics). Through CostaRica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatamala we drove, praised, and fellow-shipped with God s people along the way. But in southernMexico the car (let s call it Lazarus, O.K? died again. Justlike Jesus resurrected friend Lazarus eventually died again.The autopsy reported that death was due to a massive coronary of the water pump resulting in fatal inflamation of theradiator. During the eight or ten hours it took to make aChevy part the right shape to fit a Ford, I passed out tractsin the little town and watched several fellows accept J esus asLord. They were as joyful as Satan was mad.On the road again that sameevening, the transmission wentout. One point for Satan. The next day, the transmissionspecialist shook his head over the damaged part and said a

new one would be expensive and almost impossible to get inMexico. We consulted The Boss, who assured us again of HisRoyal Faithfulness in all situations. The mechanic agreed toput the broken part back into the transmission if we thoughtGod would fix it.

He put it back together. . .We prayed. . .Held o u r breath. . .AND. . .I t d i d n t woik. mwfMiL,

(The suspenseful saga of Lazarus continues on page 2.)


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Page 4O U R MISSION S T R A T E G Y

PRAYERS PRODUCE PLANS. . .)The plan immediately is to reestablish and expand theministry. (Prayer groups, Biblestudies, drug therapy by Jesus-power, evangelistic teams among the prisoners, etc.) Satan'sinfluence in the prison has taken advantage of our 1-1/2-yearabsence to take away our office and scatter (transfer, parole,etc.) many of the newborn brothers. However the church inthe prison still meets daily for praise and preaching, and thepromise God is giving is Psalms 68:9: Thou didst restore thyheritage as it languished, He assures us He is Faithful andable to keep that which has been committed to Him.I have been taking advantage of manyrequestsfor speakingengagements in churches and other groups already in this first

week we ve returned. We ll continue to minister in th e freecommunity as God opens doors.

(. . .PLANS PRODUCE PROBLEMS. . .;As we have prayed together about our plans and directions, God seems to be confirming the following needs:

1. The need for DIS IPLING of the prison converts. Inaddition to the more sensational evangelistic ministries,to give deliberate, careful attention to the slow, patientprocess of maturing the new Christians. Too little emphasis has been given to this in the past.

2. Our need for a local eldership under which to submit ourministry. The men we are askingGod for would need to bea) indigenous to the Puerto Rican culture (preferablySpanish-speaking or bilingual), b) Spirit-filled men of Godwith gifts of eldership, and c) able to share the vision andresponsibility of the prison ( other) ministries.

(. . .PROBLEMS PRODUCE PRAYERS. . .)3. The need for a Community Ministry Center that wouldprovide Body-of-Christ fellowship and a center of operations for the Christian parolees who need constant supportin adjusting to the free conmiunity. It would be a centerof support for these new Christians (by helping find jobs,provide room and board, provide spiritual counsel andBody-support ) as well as providea meansby which thesenew Christians could minister to the community aroundthem through our cassette tape ministry. CommunityCounseling Center, prayer ministries, etc.

(Continued on page 5)


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Page 5

4. The need for a Christian Community Counseling Center.The initials (4 c*s make an ear~(that*s our part of thebody; see I Cor. 12:16-20)~tuned both to listen to people'sneeds, and to God^s direction.Hopefully, such a Community Counseling Center wouldprovide counseling services in the name of Jesus to themillion and a half people in the SanJuan area, using pastors and counselorswho have been given pastoral gifts andministr ies .

(. . .PRAYERS PRODUCE PRAISE .5. The need for a large multipurpose building to house the^ operation of these ministries. have already found a ten-(yes, 10 ) bedroom house with separate office and laigemeeting area. Located ideally, it would provide for the

counseling center, church meetings, parolee housing andsupport, tape ministry and ingeneral, be the centerof operation for the Christian Ministry Center in this area. Sincewe have no set income and no employer other than Jesuswho canguarantee payments, we don't qualify for conventional bank loans. We need some way either to get a loanor to come up with Would you holdthis up in prayer and contact us wheiTtlTe Lord gives youdirection or insight?

(. . .AND PRAISE PRODUCES )Thank you again for your love and support

Much love in Jesus,Bruce Judy Fowler and Family

HERE S OUR NEW ADDRESS AGAIN:Crisalida No. 54, (Urb. Murvaz Rivera)Guaynabo, Puerto Rico 00657

Note: are^losmOur_^Levittovvn P.O. Box

Fowler Bruce Judith 1977 PuertoRico

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