Sunday Morning in David, Panama

This morning my team will split up and go to worship in 3 different churches in the Chiriqui area. We will get a chance to speak during the worship service, and Will is going to be preaching at Pastor Teodoro's church this morning. It is exciting to see and hear what a revival is going on in Panama.

This afternoon we will venture even farther away to Bocas del Toro, on the other side of the volcanoes from here. There the partnership is providing horses and riding gear to the churches. We will also see areas where they wish to have churches built. The plans are already drawn up for a concrete slab foundation and steel roofing. They desire 7 churches to be built in the area. It is anticipated that seven workers can build a church in one week. What a blessing it will be if Virginia Baptists work side by side with Panama Baptists to get this done early in 2011.

hasta la vista,

Panama Bob

God At Work in Panama

Today, Saturday, we got an early start from the town of David (pronounced Dah-veed) and traveled far to see and hear firsthand of the church needs in the western part of Panama. Nearly all churches need some kind of discipleship training to grow their members into missional lay persons. Most churches have some kind of outreach, then once they obtain members it is difficult to keep them engaged and active.

We traveled from David to Boquete, Cerro Punta, and other parts of Chiriqui. There was lots of car riding to get us back and forth.

We met the pastors and some of their members at the churches and were touched by their desire to do God's work with very little in the way of materials. In all we visited six different churches in our 12 hour travel day.

Adios Panama Baptist Convention

On Friday morning we had to leave the Panama Baptist Convention before it ended in order to travel back to Panama City by bus (2 hours). Once in Panama City we took another bus 7 hours to the town of David, in the western part of the country. It was a very long day and we are ready to see the potential mission sites and hear how God is working in the remote areas of Panama.

Va. Baptists and Panama Baptists Partnering

Jerry Jones from the Virginia Baptist Mission Board briefly addressed the Panama convention on Wednesday evening. Hopefully I attached a video of Jerry's brief and inspiring comments and you can hear in English and Spanish. Jerry is wearing a shirt made by the Kuna people.

Peace and Grace.

Panama Bob

Baptist Leaders

Greetings from Panama! Here are some of the world's great evangelism leaders all in one place. It has been a pleasure to rub elbows (that is not a strange Panamanian custom) with Abel and Francisco (Vice President and President of the Panama Baptist Convention), along with Jerry, Daniel, and Dennis. We have made many new friends and soaked in all the warmth of this place.

Peace and love,

Panama Bob

Wednesday Night Service

What a joy it has been to be in the company of some of the world's finest Christians! On Wednesday we got to hear great music and singing, seeing amazing dancers performing, hear wonderful testimonies, and feel the presence of unity and love. I (hopefully) have attached a video of the dancers so you can have a taste of that experience.

We got reports of snow and cold weather on Wednesday in Virginia. The weather here? Upper 80's with lots of sun, unbelievable flowers and trees, with a nice tropical breeze off the ocean at night. Tough duty, but someone had to step up and take it on!

The Holy Spirit is moving in great ways here in Panama. What about where you are?

Blessings on you!

Welcome from the Panama Convention President

This morning we were warmly welcomed by Francisco Medina, President of the Panama Baptist Convention. His challenge to the Convention attendees will be to become more missional as individuals and to take back to their respective congregations a focus on looking outwards to the needs of their communities. Many congregations have been looking inward, by habit, and they seek a change.

We had lunch with some of the early Convention attendees, and I got to practice a little Spanish while trying to communicate with Panamanian brothers and sisters.

The Panama Convention leadership message was also that we should seek to glorify God will all the works of this new partnership.