BRAUNINGS' BY-LINES

by

Stephen & Sandra Brauning & family

serving with  

Christian Reformed World Missions

in the Dominican Republic

May 3, 2007

 

Greetings to all our faithful supporters and prayer partners! 

 

Perhaps you recall that for about three years, we were praying and asking you to pray for the Lord to raise up laborers for the harvest field, especially in the area of youth ministry.  The Lord has answered that prayer, although not with a North American missionary.  Mario Matos, from the Dominican Christian Reformed Church, was able to go to Calvin Seminary, where he excelled as a student.  He has returned here and is serving as national director of Liderazgo Juvenil an international youth ministry and World Mission partner.  He also is a consultant with the Christian Reformed youth ministry here.  So our prayers have been answered, although not exactly as we were praying.  But the Lord knows best.  Mario is a dynamic, talented and very dedicated Christian worker and a real blessing to work with.

 

Mario also happens to be a member of the same CRC that we are members of here.  As part of his ministry, he is reaching out to high school students at the local Christian Reformed school.  Many of the students and their families are not Christians, and this outreach is helping fulfill the evangelistic vision that we have.  There is now a bi-weekly youth seeker service at which many youth and some family members are attending.  Our church also now has two services a week in Haitian Creole, thanks to the efforts of Brother Nasón, a Haitian member of our church.  He is also a very talented and gifted leader, and in a few short months, has been able to reach many Haitian immigrants in the area, having up to 40 people attend the services.  Our little church is growing in the process, since the Haitian and the youth services are part of our outreach.  We can see the Lord’s work in reconciling the lost to Himself, but also reconciling Haitians and Dominicans, and youth who often feel alienated to the church.  Please thank the Lord with us for these exciting ministries and pray with us for continued growth.

 

Steve is getting back involved with the interdenominational ministry of Evangelism Explosion here in the D.R.  There are a number of churches and pastors involved besides the Christian Reformed church, but consistent leadership and involvement are hard to maintain.  Right now the national board is without a president and seems stagnant.  Without the work of this board, the ministry is not able to expand.  Steve has been meeting with national director, Baptist pastor Ernan Castillo, to discuss the best way to get involved.  We trust that the Lord will guide in this process, relating to a ministry that has had significant impact in training evangelists and reaching people for Christ.  Pray with us for wisdom and for open doors and willing workers, so that the Gospel will go out even more through this effective ministry.

 

Our family is well.  We have plans to go the Rebecca’s graduation in New Jersey in June.  We look forward to seeing Jesse there too.  He has two summer jobs lined up in Sioux Center. 

 

Thanks again for your prayers, support, encouragement, and love. 

 

For Christ and His Kingdom,

 

Steve & Sandra Brauning

Mailing address:  Agape DMG13923,   100 Airport Ave.,   Venice, FL 34285

Home Phone: 809-530-9008; office: 809-565-9601    stevebrauning@yahoo.com     www.oocities.org/crwmdr

 

Christian Reformed World Missions,   2850 Kalamazoo Ave. SE,   Grand Rapids, MI 49560