Beginning in the the early 1980s, civil war ravaged the country of El Salvador. When the war ended in 1992, over 75,000 people had lost their lives. Because of this conflict, most all of the American missionaries fled the country.

Since that time, God has been working.  Today, El Salvador is a ripe harvest field, and Lancaster Baptist is among the first independent Baptist churches to send forth laborers into this field.

Over the last two years, the Lord has been working in an amazing way in El Salvador. This year, the Lord directed our youth group to El Salvador for our 2008 Central America Missions Trip.

Just a few weeks ago, after much prayer, planning and saving, my eldest son, Larry along with thirty-three teens and chaperones headed for El Salvador. As soon as they arrived, they hit the ground running…literally! The Emmanual Baptist School challenged our teens to a soccer match. Needless to say, our teens played well, but came up short of a victory.

After the game had ended, Brother Joey Weaver, a WCBC graduate and missionary to El Salvador, stood before the students and preached his first message in Spanish. This was a huge milestone in his personal ministry.

After their time in Cojuetepeque, they traveled north to the city of Metapan. It was just a few months ago when a smaller group from Lancaster Baptist had hosted an evangelistic rally and, shortly thereafter, the Fundamental Baptist Church of Metapan was started. Brother Kyle Charters, a missionary sent from Lancaster Baptist, is now pastoring the work there.

During their time in Metapan, the Lord gave them many opportunities to preach the Gospel. Before their arrival, Brother Charters had arranged for our leaders to preach in the local elementary and high schools. At the end of the day, they saw over three-hundred souls accept Christ as their Saviour. After the their time in the public schools, they hosted a basketball tournament which allowed them to preach the Gospel to nearly two-hundred teens. When the invitation was given, seventeen teens accepted Christ as their Saviour.

On their last day in El Salvador, they received word that the president of El Salvador, Antonio Saca, desired to meet with the leaders of our group. As they headed toward the presidential house, none of them knew what to expect, but God had great plans in store. As they sat down with President Saca, he began to tell them of his desire to see missionaries come to his country. He went on to say that the greatest needs of his country were spiritual. At the end of this meeting, President Saca offered to facilitate any needs we may have in our efforts to preach the Gospel in his country.

From El Salvador, our group traveled to Costa Rica to spend their last two days with Brother Ed Bordell, a veteran missionary supported by Lancaster Baptist Church. In a unique way, Brother Bordell challenged our group to live for God, support missionaries, and consider God’s call on their lives. It was a pleasure for our group to be with Brother Bordell and see the great things that the Lord has allowed him to do in San Jose, Costa Rica.

We praise the Lord for this open door and look forward to seeing how God will continue to work in Central America.

This past week, Mrs. Em Wallis, a dear member of Lancaster Baptist Church, went home to be with the Lord after a long battle with cancer. Though she struggled with her health for many years now, she has always kept her eyes focused on Jesus.

This past week, I stopped to ponder how the Lord had worked in Em’s life. Nearly twenty years ago, a young junior high girl named Angie Migliore shared the Gospel with Mrs. Wallis during LBC teen soulwinning. At the time, Mrs. Wallis was hesitant to discuss her eternal future with the young teenage girl at her door, so she thanked Angie for her invitation and closed the door. Moments later, however, the Holy Spirit had already begun to convict Mrs. Wallis of her need for a Saviour, and she accepted Jesus into her heart.

As a church family, we grieve her loss, but not as those which have no hope. We are joyful in the fact that Mrs. Wallis is in Heaven now. Psalm 116:15 says, “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.”

Please pray for Bro. Bill Wallis during this difficult time. Also, pray that God will work in a special way through the homegoing service of Mrs. Wallis this Wednesday morning.

I was first asked to serve as a speaker at the National Sword of the Lord Conference by my dear friend, Dr. Curtis Hutson.  Dr. Hutson was called home to be with the Lord thirteen years ago and I have missed him greatly ever since.  I will never forget hearing Dr. Hutson sing “I’m on the Winning Side” in one of his final preaching services at the Northside Baptist Church in North Carolina.

Last night I had the privilege, once again, to speak at the Sword Conference.  I appreciated the hospitality of Dr. Bobby Roberson and his wonderful church.  I did my best to encourage those in attendance to faithfully follow our Saviour during this present day.  We truly need a revival in our land and a return to the old time religion espoused by Dr. John R. Rice, the founder of the Sword of the Lord, and those who have walked in his steps.

Please pray for God’s servants today who faithfully preach His Word.