Today we celebrate an incredible milestone – eight years of missionary service in Ecuador! As we reflect on our journey, we can clearly see three distinct phases of our ministry.
Phase One: The First Three Years
During this initial period, we focused on deepening our connections with the local community and practicing the Spanish language. While we had studied Spanish grammar in Costa Rica for a year before moving, these first three years in Ecuador were dedicated to practical application. However, we felt pressured by external expectations, which challenged our approach to ministry.
Phase Two: A New Direction
Our ministry took a significant turn when we joined a local church and left our previous organization. This decision brought us peace and better prepared us for the challenges ahead. When COVID-19 hit, we adapted by initiating the Matthew 25 food distribution ministry. Despite legal restrictions on gatherings and free movement, we continued to serve the people of Ecuador through the Church of God. We’re immensely grateful for the generous donations from supporters worldwide that allowed our churches to be beacons of hope during dark times.
Phase Three: Post-COVID Growth
As we emerged from the pandemic, we entered our current phase of ministry. We’ve redesigned our seminary program to better serve both ongoing students and the Church of God as a whole. We’ve switched from annual week-long sessions to monthly meetings and expanded our outreach through conferences for the general church community. Following guidance from the national committee of the Church of God in Ecuador, we’re now focusing on fostering healthy leadership in churches.
This year, we’re excited to offer an advanced seminary class to a select group of students, which will provide much-needed leadership in several of our churches. Timothy has been prolific in writing curriculum, having authored 18 books since moving to Ecuador. Of these, 14 are seminary materials, one explores Ecuadorian folklore, one was written to encourage ministry partners to visit, and another is a cookbook co-authored with Esperanza. Many of these books are available online in both English and Spanish, and we’re currently translating some into Brazilian Portuguese.
Looking Ahead
We’re in the process of purchasing a farm that will support both sustainable food distribution and the seminary program. We’re also committed to creating a retreat space for pastors to rest and rejuvenate.
The future looks bright, and our foundation is strong. We owe a great deal of our success to you, our ministry partners who have walked this mission path with us. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you! We pray for you often and hope to see you soon here in Ecuador, sharing in our mission journey!
With heartfelt gratitude,
Timothy, Angelita, Tim 2, Esperanza, Ezequiel, Elias, and Adalina
Dear friends,
We hope you found our update inspiring and informative. If you feel called to join us on this incredible journey, we’d be honored to have you as one of our ministry partners. To support our mission, please click on our photo to visit our secure giving portal. Your generosity makes a world of difference!
Thank you in advance for your consideration. We’re excited to see where God will lead us together as we continue to serve in Ecuador.
Books
If you’re interested in exploring any of the books mentioned in this update, we invite you to browse our collection below. Simply click on any of the book covers to be directed to its Amazon page.
