Missionary Newsletter from:

Steve & Sandra Brauning

DMG 13923

7990 15^th St. East

Sarasota, FL 34243

Serving with Christian Reformed World Missions in the Dominican Republic

E-mail: stevebrauning@yahoo.com Home phone: 809-530-9008 Office: 809-565-9601

O ne of the favorite things for me to hear these days is, “when can we start Evangelism Explosion?”. It’s also something that nearly sends me into a panic! And I have been hearing it a lot lately.

When we made our plans for this fiscal year (running from July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2005), we projected about 42 participants being trained in Evangelism Explosion, in eight Christian Reformed churches, in 4 zones. Based on that, we planned the material purchases, the budget, and scheduling my time and that of the other evangelism promoters.

During the past week, I got calls from people in two more churches, and with them we will surpass 80 people in training, in 13 churches, in five zones!

For this we praise the Lord, and as they used to say, “pass the ammunition”. In this case, the ammunition is the E.E. student packet. But my panic comes mostly from the fact that those packets are getting scarce, and we are all out of the cassette tapes and the new converts’ follow-up booklet. I will have to go knocking on the doors of other churches to get them.

Another thing that makes me panic a little is that each new group starting up means another time commitment for me. And there are just so many days in the week and weekends in the month, and most of the classes operate on weekends. Thankfully, in most cases I can participate in an introductory class and leave the local trainers to continue.

Pastor Miguel Joseph from the Christian Reformed Church in Monte Plata called me several days ago. He attended an E.E. clinic last November, and now is ready to start with four new students. I will have to track down the rest of the materials, then go up there. A young fellow from another church near the capital, Samuel, has committed to help out by going up every week to serve as the teacher-trainer.

This growth is due to the multiplying nature of the program. It starts small, with a few people from a church attending a training clinic, then each of them training two people at a time in their church. The key is that the training is not only to be evangelists, it’s to be evangelism trainers! So after each four-month semester, the number of trainers triples!!!

We ask for prayer for the trainers, the students, and the churches involved. We ask for those unchurched people that are hearing the clear message of the Gospel of salvation by grace through faith. And we ask for prayer for the ministry of E.E. here in the D.R. and worldwide.

-Jesse is a senior this year at the International school and is in the process of college hunting. He has been accepted at both Calvin and Dordt Colleges, but has not decided yet.

-Our cat, Skanky, is about to have kittens!!! Our dog, Honey, on the other hand, has not shown a propensity to having puppies. Yes, she’s a she.

-We’re about to get a new mission vehicle!!! Because of Steve’s back problems, he is not going to be driving a manual transmission. Our new van will be automatic.

-we subsidize the cost of the E.E. materials so that churches only pay about half the real cost. If you would be interested, you can donate towards this by sending an offering to the address below here. Designate it for D.R., Evangelism Explosion Materials.

-we are struggling to maintain our monthly support level. If you feel led, please designate an offering to us at:

Finally, thanks to all for your interest, for your prayers, and for your support. The Lord has worked through you to continue the coming of His Kingdom here in the Dominican Republic!