Ralph Hiatt's Argentina

Fake Man in Prayer

2012-02-29T12:22:00.001-08:00

It's a true story. I was just a wild teenage kid, full of mischief.

Almost every morning I awoke to the monotone voice of my father downstairs kneeling at the living room couch praying for his family. Daddy worked hard. Much of the time during the depression years he held down two full-time jobs... 16 hours a day! But Daddy arose early enough in the morning to take time to kneel in prayer. My oldest brother and sister were already out of the nest. My two remaining sisters and I slept upstairs. Sometimes we would come down for breakfast before Daddy left for work and we would find him covered with his bathrobe kneeling in prayer.

One day Daddy had already left, but I got an idea. I took some pillows and made the form of Daddy kneeling at the couch and put his bathrobe over it and his slippers showing behind it... something like the picture above. I snickered inside as I saw my sisters come down and tip-toe around not wanting to disturb Daddy at prayer. When they finally discovered the "fake man in prayer"... they chased me all around the house and I laughed and laughed.

Years later I realized that I could never have pulled off that trick if I had not had a Daddy that upheld us in daily prayer. What a heritage!

A friend of mine just visited their grandson in jail. He had a very abusive father. He hardly had a chance in life. Where would I be today if my parents hadn't given me that precious gift of a true Christian heritage?

Ralph

What Happened on H Street?

2012-02-23T16:32:00.004-08:00

I prepared this for Valentine's Day weekend and forgot to publish it. You are looking at some of God's choice servants doing "Jesus-stuff".

H Street? What's that about? It’s “Celebrate Recovery” for adults. It’s Tony and team giving out tons of free groceries for the needy on Wednesdays. It’s hope for the hopeless... as counselors introduce broken lives to Jesus. It’s Saturday Bible Classes for kids. It’s Jesus’ love in action. It happens in a building purchased by Neighborhood Church in a needy area of Modesto with the purpose of blessing everyone from little kids to the homeless in that area.

Today my son, “Pastor Tim” asked me to join with my grandkids and the rest of the team from my home church, "Neighborhood Church Modesto".

Puppets for happy kids...

Bible classes. Today's Valentine's Day theme: Love = Compassion

Today's Bible story: The Good Samaritan

One teacher and class sat on the floor.

A fun balloon game...

Making "I Love You" Valentine things for Mom...

Lots of love for Moms and Dads...

The "Pet Perfume, the Skunk" Ceremony...

Felipe does his take on the Good Samaritan... "Walking... Walking..."

Finally scrambled eggs, pancakes with maple syrup, cookies, birthday cake and punch for all!

And that is what happens on H Street on Saturday morning. Amen!

Ralph

¿Hugo? ¿Hugo who?

2012-02-21T22:38:00.008-08:00

Tonight I got a call from Argentina. It was Hugo. This time I recognized his voice and was delighted to hear about him and his lovely family.

The first time he called me, however, (July 2006) I was amazed. I was visiting Argentina along with Frances while hosting a wonderful ministry team. All thirty of us were seated at a long table eating dinner in a restaurant in downtown Buenos Aires. I had a temporary rented cell phone and only a few pastors had my number. My phone rang. I answered. An unfamiliar voice on the line speaking Spanish of course, said, "Hello, this is Hugo." "Hugo? Hugo who?" (I knew a lot of Hugos.) "Hugo! Don't you remember me? I'm Hugo, the mechanic that used to repair your car for you. Don't you remember when your pickup had broken down out on the highway and you took me out there to get it started? Don't you remember that you talked to me about Jesus all the way out there? Don't you remember that you prayed with me to receive Jesus?" I was starting to remember, but that was 17 years earlier! "My wife heard you preaching today on the radio and I called the church for your number." Now his whole family was serving Jesus and attending one of our churches.

Later we invited Hugo to bring his family out to the island church. I shot the above picture of him with his wife and 4 girls on a very foggy morning just before we got aboard the boat for the 3 hour trip. Two of their girls sang a beautiful duet that day. And my heart was warmed.

Tonight I heard again from Hugo. Thanks, Lord. You warmed my heart once more tonight!

Ralph

Captain "Cut-Throat"

2012-02-14T11:47:00.000-08:00

I have received many encouraging responses to my blogs and a few like, “Please remove me from your list”… but I have never published any of them... until today, that is.

This photo from a minister somewhere in Australia who responds to every blog, came only with the title "Captain Cut-Throat". It rocked my ship with shrieks of laughter. Even my skunk, Perfume, is included in my personal portrait.

Thanks, Denis.

Ralph

PS. If you haven't read my previous blog (just below this one) you won't have a clue to what this is all about... so arrow down a little.

"Cut-Throat"

2012-02-12T18:25:00.000-08:00

Well, that’s literally what happened. The surgeon had to cut open my throat and clear out an 80 to 90% blocked carotid artery. That happened one week ago, Monday, February 6 at Memorial Hospital in Modesto, CA.

As I was being discharged from the hospital on Wednesday, the nurse asked me if I would like to have a pneumonia shot and a flu shot as long as I was right there. I felt great, so I said, “Why not?” A few minutes later I had a shot in each shoulder.

Perhaps it wasn’t the best time to do the shots, though. The surgeon wanted me to call him if my temperature rose to 101 degrees or higher in case infection should set in. What I didn’t think of was that perhaps the flu and pneumonia shots could cause a rise in body temperature. So the first several nights at home I was fighting with flu symptoms and a fever. I watched it closely and it never reached 101 degrees, but came very close.

Final word: Now all is back to normal: temperature, heart rate, blood pressure… except my energy level which is rising every day. And except the ugly lump on the right side of my neck… which they promise me will eventually disappear.

The only reason that this blockage was discovered was the slight stroke I had Christmas Day. The hospital found it as they did all the necessary tests, scans and MRI. Otherwise I would have returned to Argentina with this blockage posing a possible threat to my health while there.

Thank you, Lord, for bringing about the series of miracle-events that caused this serious blockage to be discovered. It’s true: “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

Riding the wave of His blessing,

Ralph

Starters meet Finishers

2012-02-02T18:52:00.000-08:00

What a mix!
The two extremes of life’s spectrum, each with its challenges and blessings!

Little starters sit on the floor. They are just trying to figure what life is all about.

How can they get so much fun out of petting a “live” skunk?!

And a beautiful group of seniors watch the ceremony with delight and laugh as they listen to Felipe’s twisted Bible tales.
This is the second time Pastor Tom Witt has invited me to minister to his group of seniors at Bethel Church in San Jose. Both times they have brought in the pre-school kids to enjoy the first part with Perfume, the skunk, and Felipe.

Just before lunch was served I shared with the seniors the account of my personal “Secret Bethel,” “House of God” and “Door to Heaven.” Jesus was there. He never fails to bring His divine blessing. That must be why I’m having so much fun.

Pastor Tom and his lovely wife, Trella, have been serving for four years as pastors of the seniors of this great missionary church.

What a blessing they are! Trella even plays the piano for the singing.

Ralph

How do you sign, “Here I am, Send Me”?

2012-01-30T12:04:00.000-08:00

Arrow down to last Friday’s blog just below this and you will see a group of kids praying. Olivia Taylor, 6 years old, was part of that group.

She is Pastor Aaron Taylor’s daughter. She was excited to tell her parents Friday night that, while she was praying, God spoke to her down in her heart and said that she was called to minister using sign language. Apparently she had no previous indication of this. She is a sweet and very serious child and is already talking about where she can learn to sign.

It’s the “Who Knows?” factor in ministry. Who knows what the Holy Spirit is doing down deep inside a little child when he or she is kneeling face to face with God?

How do you sign, “Here I am, Send Me”?

Ralph

PS. Pastor Taylor read this blog and just now wrote: Wow! I am still amazed by God. In fact, we found on Sunday that her Sunday School teacher, Elisabeth, teaches in Cleveland using sign language. She was so touched by Olivia telling her what Jesus said Friday night that she has offered to teach her to sign her memory verse each week. Olivia came home Sunday knowing several new signs.

Thanks again for being obedient to the Lord and having an impact on my children!

God Bless,
Aaron

Young Saints with Visible Haloes

2012-01-27T21:00:00.000-08:00

Painesville, Ohio: I woke up this morning to this awesome view from the front door of the home where I am staying.

Why am I so far from home? It's a great idea that every AG church should capture! Tonight, Friday, Children's Pastor Carrie Garland put on a super deluxe BGMC Kid's Missions Convention and Banquet, all in a single night. The ticket to the banquet was the kids had to bring their parents... or at least one parent.

A BGMC Packet was given to every kid, complete with a "Buddy Barrel Box", a "Just Fill It" halo-frisbee and a BGMC Faith Promise card.

A first class, delicious international dinner was served.

I had the young saints come up for Felipe wearing their haloes for their picture.

Of course Perfume, the skunk, got well petted. Felipe told a Bible story and sang "Everybody doesn't know who Jesus is."

After a brief time of ministry I asked how many kids would say "Yes" to God if He should call them as a missionary. Then I invited them to come, kneel and pray. Good stuff can happen when kids really seek God.

Afterward we took up Faith Promises. One little girl came up with her card to explain how she had scratched out one figure and made a change... I think for a larger figure.

The cards added up to $3,600 for the year from about 35 kids! But the even greater value may be that these kids are beginning to feel the intense joy of helping missionaries around the world reaching out to needy children with the love of Jesus. And I fully expect at least one missionary to develop from this group!

Ralph

Tall Candles

2012-01-23T21:55:00.000-08:00

I have never thought of myself as a children's evangelist. I know there are some that dedicate themselves totally to this worthy ministry. But I do love little kids and the Lord never ceases to give me opportunities to minister to them.

Last Thursday I enjoyed ministering once again to K through 5th grades at Sacramento's great Capital Christian School. (Above) What a blessing to touch these little lives!

Yesterday and today I ministered in Sanctuary Christian Fellowship AG in Salinas at the invitation of my friend, Rev. Jim Wallace, who is directing their elementary school. Yesterday's Sunday morning services was mostly directed to the youth and adults.

This morning, Monday, I ministered to the beautiful group of kids at the Salinas Christian School, preschool to 5th grade.

They loved Perfume and Felipe and were highly responsive to the message.

In both Sacramento and Salinas, the best possible pictures were lost because they happened after the service was over and after the photographer handed the camera back to me. In both cases the littlest kids spontaneously gathered around me to hug my legs and ask questions. And this morning in Salinas, after almost all the children had gone back to their classrooms, the 3rd graders came rushing to me and showered me with love. The hugging scene was missed, but I handed the camera to Jim and they posed along with Gary Sawyer, their teacher.

Years ago, when I was teaching teachers, I placed two candles on the table and lit them. One was a tall candle and the other a little short one. Then I told the students, "One of these candles represents the little children we are teaching and other one the adults." And I asked them, "Which of these two candles represents the little kids?" Someone immediately pointed to the little one, but they were wrong. That little one represents my life which very soon will be all burned out. These little children are the tall candles that have their whole lives ahead of them to light up their world with the love of Jesus.

Ralph

"Let's go for a hike!"

2012-01-16T23:24:00.000-08:00

Tim and the grandkids had the day off since it is Martin Luther King Day.

At first we talked about going to Tioga Pass at the 9,900 foot level above Yosemite to take advantage of the fact that the snow has not blocked the roads yet and we could hike up to a lake.

That would have been fun, but it is an all-day trip. Anyway I talked to Jesus about it and, although I feel great, I decided not to push it that far after my light stroke Christmas Day and 3 days in the hospital.

So we drove up into the foothills to the Redhill area, near Chinese Camp,

parked the car and followed a trail to the top of a hill.
No big deal, just lots of fun. From the top we had a 360 degree view and could see all the way to the San Pedro Reservoir in the distance.

Check out how I can hold Evan in the palm of my hand.

Then we visited the "ghost town" section of Chinese Camp. Didn't find any ghosts, only a cute 16 year old blonde named Michelle.

One of the buildings had totally collapsed and others were locked up tight.

From there we enjoyed checking out antiques at Jamestown, plus a tasty lunch which included a wonderful peach-raspberry pie alamode. I should have taken of picture of that, but at the moment I could only think of devouring it!

Tomorrow I am scheduled to see the surgeon who may perform the surgery to clear out the 80 to 90% blockage in my right carotid artery. The Lord miraculously allowed this serious situation to be discovered, although I never could have imagined it. God is good! And he still may have a few things on His list for me to do... and for you, too. So hang in there. There is nothing like walking with God!

Ralph

Tim Tebow Doing the "George Washington Bow"

2012-01-14T13:02:00.000-08:00

I had heard of Tim Tebow, but never seen him in action until watching the Broncos play the Steelers last Sunday afternoon. Tomorrow we will see if he can come up with another win over the Patriots. But win or lose, Tim Tebow has got a lot of people either admiring his stand for Christ or hating it.

I was pleased to see his famous T-bow at the end of that game. I have heard that some players have mocked him when scoring against him or when he lost a game by making a similar gesture as a sarcastic joke.

One has to wonder how different it would have been if Tim Tebow were a Muslim and after each victory had bowed down Islam-style facing Mecca. Who would be mocking him or making snide comments on public media? No one would dare! It would be considered politically incorrect. And could even put the offender's life in jeopardy.

Someone posted a comparison of two pictures with these subtitles:

Tim Tebow’s “Te-bow” immediately reminded me of the almost exact position shown in the famous painting of General George Washington who was not ashamed to be a Christian when he knelt in the snow and prayed for his troops during the revolutionary war… while his ragged, tired men fought for freedom of religion, freedom of speech and freedom from undue taxation under the rule of the king of England. Years ago almost every school child used to see that painting displayed in his school room or in his school books.

Today our history books are being rewritten. It seems that atheism has become the official religion of the publishers of educational material placed in the hands of our children in public school. America, where are we headed? An obvious effort is being made to destroy the Christian foundation upon which this nation has been built.

So let's take a look back at our first president doing the T-Bow... or as my friend, Tim Weeks, suggested... "Tim Tebow doing the George Washington bow" since he became famous for his Christian bow first.

Ralph

Where is the Line to See Jesus

2011-12-25T22:15:00.000-08:00

I confess that my flow of tears kept me wiping my eyes during the Christmas Eve candle-light service. The chair alongside me where my darling Frances always sat, was vacant.

But I was cheered up by Christmas morning. There’s nothing like watching your own grandkids perform in the Christmas program. It’s worth coming home even if it means a 24 hour trip. 16 year old Michelle sang her first solo, “Where is the Line to See Jesus?” (See story and lyrics below) While Evan 14, played an obese Santa Claus receiving little kids on his lap in the mall.

And of course they finished up with children in costume doing the manger scene.

And as always, our son, Tim, is so inspiring as he leads the worship!

Oh yes, Felipe got into the act by telling his version of the Christmas story to the kids who sat on the floor on the platform. (Michelle was my helper.)

The service was capped off by a stirring message by Pastor Lance Lowell on “unreached expectations.” He started with several videos of disappointed and angry kids who didn’t get what they wanted for Christmas. They were tearing open their presents then in a tantrum, screaming, “That’s not what I wanted!” Then he reminded us how the promised Messiah, coming as a humble baby in a manger, did not meet the expectations of many Jews. They were expecting a powerful Victor to stamp out their political enemies, but this Victor triumphed over the enemy of our souls. They expected a worldwide kingdom to be established with the Jews in power. Instead King Jesus established a worldwide “spiritual Kingdom.” They were expecting a King that would aid the poor and stamp out the oppressor. Yes, He brought hope to the poor, but His battles were won against Satan, the “spiritual oppressor.”
Then Pastor Lance made it personal. We must each accept Him as the “promise fulfilled”. We must accept Him as our “personal Savior.” And we must “proclaim Him to all men.” Good stuff!
After church we shared a wonderful afternoon at Tim and Cheryl’s home, along with Cheryl’s extended family, opening presents and enjoying a delicious home cooked meal with turkey and ham and all the trimmings!

Tomorrow I will take Tim and Cheryl and the kids to the Rain Forrest Café in San Francisco where we will meet for lunch with Ron and Elisabet. Then later this week I plan to drive north to Portland, where, Lord willing, I will see Mike and Mary, and my three living siblings and the rest of my extended family in their regular January first reunion.

So… Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all!

Ralph

Song story and Lyrics: "Where's the Line to See Jesus?"

“While at the mall last year, my four year old grandson saw kids lined up excitedly to see Santa Claus. Having been taught as a toddler that Christmas is the holiday that Christians celebrate the birth of God's son; with the innocence of a child, he asked his mom, ‘Where's the line to see Jesus? If Christmas is Jesus' birthday, why don't we see Him more?’ As his grandpa, I was so happy that little Spencer understood the meaning of Christmas at such a tender age, and then the words for a song were jotted down in just a few minutes. The song was inspired by my grandson, and the message was inspired by my Savior. Out of the mouths of babes come profound truths that many adults can not understand. Hopefully Spencer's observation and our song will cause people to reflect on the love of Jesus, and the certainty that one day we will all stand in line to see Jesus. Merry Christmas everyone.”

(An Original Song)
Performed by father and daughter, Steve Haupt and Becky Kelley
Inspired by grandson, Spencer Reijgers
Written by Steve Haupt and Chris Loesch
The story behind the song, as told by Steve Haupt:

Lyrics

Christmas time was approaching,
Snow is starting to fall,
Shoppers choosing their presents,
People filling the mall.

Children waiting for Santa,
With excitement and glee,
A little boy tugged my sweater,
Looked up and asked me.

Where’s the line to see Jesus?
Is He here at the store?
It’s Christmas time, it’s His birthday.
Why don’t we see Him more?

Where’s the line to see Jesus?
He was born for me.
Santa Claus brought me presents.
But Christ gave His life for me.

As I stood in amazement,
At this message profound,
I looked down to thank him,
he was nowhere around.

Little boy at the mall,
Might as well have had wings,
As the tears filled my eyes,
but I heard him sing.

Where’s the line to see Jesus?
Is He here at the store?
It’s Christmas time, it’s His birthday.
Why don’t we see Him more?

Where’s the line to see Jesus?
He was born for me.
Santa Claus brought me presents.
But Christ gave His life for me.

In the blink of an eye,
at the sound of His trump,
We’ll all stand in line at His throne.
Every knee shall bow down,
every tongue will confess,
that Jesus Christ is Lord

Where’s the line to see Jesus?
Is He here at the store?
It’s Christmas time, it’s His birthday.
Why don’t we see Him more?

Where’s the line to see Jesus?
He was born for me.
Santa Claus brought me presents.
But Christ gave His life for me.

There is no place like Home

2011-12-19T15:16:00.000-08:00

Last Tuesday I arrived back at my home in Modesto… a whole world away from Rooster Camp and the Island Church in Argentina. It is always good to come home to family, our church family and our children and grand children.

Saturday afternoon I drove our son, Tim, and his kids, Michelle 16 and Evan 14 out to Knights Ferry, a quaint old town hiding nestled down in a canyon alongside a beautiful river in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

A long covered bridge adds atmosphere alongside the ruins of an abandoned mill. It’s always a fun place to go hiking.

Evan squeezed through the bars at the old mill.

Evan and I climbed the rocks.

Michelle sat on in a high place to draw a picture of a tree. She excels in graphic arts and has quite a collection of her pictures.

As the sun was setting, Tim, who is an excellent and highly experienced photographer, moved about with his camera shooting unusual portraits...

one of me holding my camera taking a picture...

another of me with Evan on the porch of that old rock building, one into the sunset a silhouette of Michelle drawing that picture. The shots of both Evan and myself on the rocks. I shot the one of Tim and the kids (top) with my little pocket camera.

California is filled with interesting places to visit. You can go for a drive and visit lakes, rivers, the sea coast, high snow covered mountains, famous gold-rush towns, the incredible scenery of Yosemite Valley, forests of giant Sequoia trees, old steam engines and much more.

But the best place to visit is home… where you can sit down with your own family and friends and share experiences.

Ralph

River Island Church

2011-12-10T12:40:00.000-08:00

I just got back at my borrowed "Prophet's Chamber" after a wonderful long day at the delta island church. It’s a 3 ½ hour trip out there on one of our five small church bus boats (35 to 45 passengers) and about the same to return. Left early this morning.

Pastor Cocholo is at the helm of the "Betel de los Alcanfores" boat and his wife, Lilia, always smiling, sitting beside him.

"Lip-burnng hot mate" (a strong tea drawn through a metal straw) is shared by all on board.

After one hour on Canal Arias, we turned to drive down a narrow canal for 25 minutes to pick up two families.

It is late spring and the flowers were blooming, especially the hydrangeas and camellias.

We stopped along the way to pick up more families, among them Juan and Juana Chico and their son, Victor. Juan was on the verge of suicide in 1984 when the Holy Spirit literally struck me in the chest alerting me to stop as I was driving the Messenger of Peace boat past their little shack alongside the river. Victor was a baby in arms then. He is now a musician who leads the worship at the island church.

I hugged and kissed the cheeks of some of the dearest people in my life. We reached many of them for Jesus years ago. One by one we stopped with the Messenger of Peace boat at their little shacks on stilts. We shared the wonderful story of Jesus with them and flooded them with His divine love. Some of them were little kids back then.

Now they are married and delighted to have their children meet Felipe. Many of our first converts are already with Jesus.

What a blessing to be able to minister to them one more time!

One of our five church bus boats, the Nelly, the one that hit a submerged tree trunk and sunk last year, has been restored. Some boys are the first ones aboard her as she will soon load up to carry many families back to their homes, some left their homes this morning at 6 AM and won't get home until 10 PM. All day at church with Jesus and His friends is the best day of the week for them... and for me, too.

It's bed time and I am exhausted and hungry. I lost the apple I was planning to eat for dinner… somewhere along the line. I'm hungry, yes, but so very full of the joy of the Lord!

Buenas noches.

Ralph

The Road to Rooster Camp

2011-12-01T07:28:00.000-08:00

The town is called “Campo Gallo” which translates “Rooster Camp.” It’s located about 150 miles from nowhere in the northern part of the province of Santiago del Estero. I enjoyed a great service there last night! Packed church! Many youth. Lots of little kids. Good people, loving people, hugs and kisses on the cheek from big men, elderly ladies and little children.

I am reminded of Jesus’ words when told that his mother and brothers were outside wanting to see him. He looked around at his crowd of followers and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers.” Some of my close family members live in “Rooster Camp.” (Spiritual family, of course.)

But the 150 miles of road to get there took me over 4 hours and then more than 5 hours to return in the dark. I have seen many roads of all kinds in my lifetime, but this one was without doubt the most difficult of any. It had been paved at one time and here and there would have 100 yards of pavement… or a half mile… but with huge potholes…

most of them about 8 inches deep and some so huge that they covered most of the road and 18 inches to almost 2 feet deep! Then the damaged pavement would come to an abrupt end and a drop off of about 8 to 10 inches onto a gravel road. Unfortunately parts of the former pavement were sticking up out of the gravel to grab the underside of the car. I had to slowly lower the car into deep holes and climb out on the other side… hundreds of them. Progress was slow going, but much slower in reduced visibility after midnight as I returned. There were cattle, horses, sheep, goats and pigs loose and grazing beside the road.

Most of the time mine was the only vehicle around. Sometime in the middle of the night on this lonely road I got sleepy and pulled off on a little spot I found by the road and slept soundly for maybe 30 minutes before going on. There were a few stretches of good pavement. I would get up to 40 mph or so and suddenly have to slam on the brakes again and lower the vehicle into a pit. Several times I was surprised by a huge pit and fell into it headlong. The poor car took a terrible beating, but kept on going even when I went through deep water… I don’t know how deep. I just know it sounded pretty deep as it made waves and then I came out on the other side. There were several stretches of miles of good road, but even then I dared not speed since a huge crater could appear at any moment and often did.

It was a challenge, but well worth it for the blessed fellowship we enjoyed as we worshipped as a family. After church the pastor begged me for a date to come back. The Wednesday previous they had gotten mixed up in the dates and had announced me for last week… and had a great crowd… only to find out they were a week early. So I could not consider leaving them out only because of a badly damaged road. I was safely back in my hotel at 5 AM.

Thank you Jesus! All is well. It’s now 3:30 PM Thursday and I think I’ll take a much needed siesta. Service starts here in the big city of Santiago del Estero is at 8:30 tonight. I continue preaching every day at least once. Recently I have had only about 4 or 5 hours sleep at night, but I’m doing fine, although I confess I would prefer 8 hours.

Ralph

The Storm

2011-11-21T07:53:00.001-08:00

Sunday night, November 20. I am ministering in the city of Oran, very near the Bolivian border. Just as people were gathering for the service, a powerful storm of lightning, thunder and a virtual cloudburst hit us. Families, who were walking to church, came running in... soaked to the skin. Some were mothers with little babies in their arms. Some were families of three or four riding through the mud on little motorcycles. I was surprised that in spite of this driving rain the church filled up clear to the back rows.

The pounding sound of rain on the metal roof was deafening. The audio system was a good one, but no match for the roar on the roof.

I called the children forward and tried to do something with Perfume and Felipe, but the storm pounded so hard on the roof that Felipe had to yell to even be heard through the speakers. His act was obviously much less effective than usual.

I was preparing to read Acts 20:24 as a text to minister when the lights went out and the sound system with them. Now in the dark all we could hear was the roar of the pounding rain on the roof. Within 5 minutes or so they got the church's emergency generator going and we had sound and lights again. I started to preach and in another 5 or ten minutes the city electricity came back on… so the generator had to be turned off… and again we were plunged into darkness with only the roar of the rain until the system could be restored and the sound turned back on. Still I had to yell through the sound system to be understood and even then I’m not sure my voice effectively reached the back rows.

The whole evening service a struggle. Like the disciples in the storm, Pastors Pancho and Susana Farias and I were pulling at the oars with all our might.

Finally as I was closing my message the rain let up some and the distractions lessened allowing for a great altar time. Almost everyone was on their knees seeking God, many until after 11 PM.

My regular reading through the Bible this Monday morning, took me to Matt 8:23-27. It’s the story of a swamped and sinking little boat with Jesus calmly asleep in the stern. Was that storm related to the powers of evil? Was the devil trying to drown Jesus? Or was the Father in heaven saying, “These boys are sailors. They’re used to this lake. These fishermen have been sailing it most of their lives. Crank it up a notch… more wind… higher waves… swamp that little boat until these sailors realize that it is out of their control… until they have no choice but to call upon their Master.” Maybe I am too self-sufficient. Maybe God is cranking it up a notch so that I’ll fall again at the feet of my Master and admit my helplessness.

Ironically the theme of my message last night was “God is with us and He never makes mistakes”.

This morning I wrote this little prayer: Father, You are in control of the wind and the rain. Perhaps I am not supposed to question the “Who done it?” and the “Why'd they do it?”, but to ride out the storms of life with total faith in You… for I am not alone… I am not alone! Hallelujah! I am not alone in this “boat of ministry”. You, Jesus, Creator of the sea, the waves, the wind and the rain… You are in the “boat of life” with me. Immanuel, God is with me! My little insignificant craft may be tossed about on the sea of life’s storms, but the Master of it all is resting in the stern… calmly at peace and in full control of every circumstance. Thank you, Jesus.

Your missionary with muddy shoes.

Ralph

God's Gentle Rebuke

2011-11-18T09:03:00.000-08:00

True, I have been running full speed, sometimes living in less than ideal circumstances, ministered 11 times in 3 days and looked up at God and said, “How am I doing?” I expected to hear angelic applause. Silence. Very LOUD silence!!!

So I went to my regular “read thru the Bible” scripture for today. It included where Paul is defending his apostleship: 2 Cor 11:23-29 “… I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? … In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.”

And God said, “Bro Ralph… What was that that you were telling me… (and bragging to everybody else on earth) about your achievements?” And I crawled into a hole and hid.

Ralph

Tears of Joy

2011-11-16T14:24:00.000-08:00

My hotel room is smaller than a single car garage; it smells stuffy since it has no windows except the transit over the door which opens to the dark lobby; the paint on the wall is cracked and peeling off in places; the plumbing leaks water onto the bathroom floor constantly; each time you flush the toilet you have to lift the lid on the tank and reach down into the water to raise the float that sticks and floods the floor; as is common in many older hotels here, the shower rains down on the whole little bathroom soaking everything; the pillow on the narrow bed is a stiff, hard bolster; I had to request towels and soap since none were in the room; the situation is not ideal. But here I am… hardly able to see the computer screen for tears of joy!

Today is Tuesday November 15. I rose at 5 AM for the two hour drive from Tucuman to Metan. My first ministry opportunity this morning was at 9 AM to more than 300 excited children K through 7th grade in a public school. This was followed by a short TV interview with Felipe. From there at 11 AM to another public school to minister just to the fourth graders… about 60 of them.

Had lunch with two pastors and a 45 minute rest and back at 3 PM for the afternoon student body of about 300 students in the first public school and at 5 PM 300 more in the other school . At 6 PM I was taken to a juvenile retention center to minister to three teenage boys. Rodolfo is a clean, sharp looking 14 year old, Domingo is 17 and looks like he might have had a rough life. Faustino is also 17. None of the three smiled much. All three listened intently to Felipe’s Bible story. Then I ministered to them in an informal way, finally leading the three of them and their two police guards in the sinner’s prayer.

I went back out to my car along with the two pastors that accompanied me and opened the trunk to put Felipe and my accordion back in. Suddenly I found myself bent over the open trunk sobbing… unable to see clearly for my tears. My heart breaks for those 3 teenage boys. Pastor Carlos, who ministers there weekly, has promised me that he will give them each a copy of Nicky Cruz’s book “Run Baby Run” in Spanish this weekend. I took no pictures of these boys, but their faces are imprinted on my heart.

So what makes me weep for joy while sitting here at the computer? It is simply the privilege God is giving me to touch so many young lives with the message of Christ’s love and hope for a brand new start.

I must leave now for the evening service…

Today four exciting school events, one TV interview, the Juvenile Detention Center and finally the church service. Almost non-stop 5 AM till midnight. A great day! So rejoice with me!

Ralph

Blessed by Eduardo

2011-11-10T07:41:00.000-08:00

Last night I was privileged to minister to a church full of children at the suburb town of La Florida. Pastor Nicolas Torrente, who had bussed them in from a low income neighborhood where their youth teams regularly minister, held the suitcase as my pet skunk, Perfume, came squirming out.

Every kid in the church that dared to risk losing a finger, reached out to touch Perfume. They should have known there was very little danger, since I had assured them that “She hardly ever bites.”

Eduardo, who lives in a wheel chair, enjoyed petting her, too.

Before leaving on the bus all the kids piled up on me and around me for this picture. A lot of these kids haven’t got much to look forward to… except the wonderful love of Jesus.

The bus drove away and Eduardo was wheeled to the front at his request. Here is a brilliant young man trapped in a twisted body that does not allow him to speak clearly nor move his limbs with full control.
Thinking that he had come for prayer, I prayed with him and sat beside him for a picture. Sometimes he could get out a whole sentence quite understandably, but other times his thick tongue could not be understood and I just nodded my assent. He told me how the Lord uses him to carry the message of Christ’s love to his classmates at his special school.

But now he was telling me something that I could not understand at first. Finally I discovered the real reason that Eduardo had asked to be wheeled up front. He wanted to pray for me! With obvious difficulty he raised his hand and placed it on my head and prayed a deeply earnest prayer of blessing on me. I understood most of it, but some words got blurred by my own sobs and some were obviously spoken in a beautiful heavenly language. The Lord Jesus, who was standing by very close to us, was listening and understood every word!

I drove back to my hotel counting my blessings: health, strength to walk, voice to talk and sing and the list goes on and on… and now an added “super blessing” by my friend, Eduardo.

Ralph

Retired Preacher’s Paradise

2011-11-07T14:08:00.000-08:00

Pastor Misael and I set out early last Saturday morning for the 120 mile drive. The little village of Mutquin is up a winding road climbing into the foothills of the Andes. You guessed it. That’s the road as shot from the valley floor. For over 25 years Pastors Misael and Sara Nieto have poured their lives into the provincial capital cities of Catamarca and Santiago del Estero and into many little towns like Mutquin. They have started more than 30 AG churches including the mother church in Catamarca that seats over 1,000.

Pictured is Pastor Misael (on right) discussing the work with a fellow minister.

Pastor Misael reminds me of Jesus. He touches people. He sits with them in their humble homes. He weeps with those who weep and rejoices with those that rejoice. Little children and the elderly alike come running into his arms.

As we drove into Mutquin a lady came running to the car window thrilled to see her pastor. (Photo) Store owners hugged him.

We visited several humble homes. One was this 94 year old saint, Francisca, who beamed with joy to see her pastor.

Another was this elderly lady, Segunda, known as the “soul winner”. She has been an instrument of blessing to this town. “Right there in that corner,” she said, as she pointed behind me, “right there is where the Baptist pastor received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.”

I turned and shot a picture of the moisture damaged “sacred corner.” How many had found Jesus there? Only the Lord knows.

The mountain above us was rumbling with an angry thunder storm leaving its top painted white with hail while worship rang out from the little church in Mutquin Saturday afternoon. What a blessing to be chosen to share God’s Holy Word!

Three hours later we were at a larger town called Sougil located in a valley as large as the San Juaquin Valley in California.

The service was held on the lawn in front of the church due to the heat inside. I’m not sure they could have squeezed that crowd inside anyway.

The Castilleros (youth) were all there early with great enthusiasm. Excellent young musicians, a sweet trombone, a soft sax, key board and guitar complete with singers set the backdrop. The crowd gathered as the sound of worship drifted across the town. Children beamed with delight at Perfume and Felipe. God gave me a special freedom as I preached to a responsive crowd.

Sunday evening I ministered in the mother church to about 800. Hundreds knelt at the altar service. God was there! Men, women and youth wept unashamedly as they dedicated their future to the Master.

How many of you retired preachers out there get to preach in 8 very different places in 6 days?! When one year ago the Lord spoke to my heart telling me that He had a new chapter for my life, I could never have guessed I was in for so much delightful fun.

Ralph

Catamarca cactus in bloom

Mission Accomplished!

2011-10-31T08:31:00.000-07:00

Tonight was a much bigger open air event than last night. This was put on by the “mother” church here… a church planted by Missionaries David and Carol Ellis along with a young Argentine Pastor, Alberto Ferrando, about 20 years ago. The mother church has now planted several other churches.

Three of these daughter churches are in needy areas and feed a full meal every day, except Sundays, to about 100 neighborhood children each. None of these churches receive help from the government. It is the Church in action with voluntary workers. I visited the kitchen where the ladies were stewing a huge pot of lentils that really smelled good. Kids of all ages were already seated at the table long before the food was ready. The mother church kitchen provides a hot lunch daily (except Sundays) to about 40 university students from the campus nearby. Chi-Alpha is alive and well in Argentina.

About once a month they choose one of their daughter churches to do an “outreach” event in an open plaza… using talent and medical specialists from the local church and the mother church. Today they took over the plaza all day.

They set up several special tents. Each one was attended by a specialist, dentists examining kids and adults and giving a new tooth-brush and paste to each with instructions on how to use them, a pediatrician checking babies, a gynecologist and his doctor wife for the women, someone giving free haircuts and more.

I think there were 16 medical people in all. Several of them were medical students from the university here. I don’t think they did a lot of treatments, but mostly consultations and health giving advice. In the meantime games were going on all day with the children.

At about 6 PM the kids’ program began… a couple of youth dressed as “magician and helper” pulled a string of colored cloth from an empty hat… and finally a stuffed rabbit. A clown act was well planned and really cute with a “wannabe clown” interrupting every circus act by sneaking on stage, trying to copy the act and getting scolded and pushed off,

a “terrifying” lion show with cute little kids dressed as lions and finally four women with identical expressionless face-masks and dressed as mannequins in a store window. This last one was designed more for adults (and there were lots of them there, too), and was very well done. A background voice spoke for them. When “the store closed” they took off the masks and came to life discussing what it might be like to be real people walking freely on the street. They knew their lines and mouthed the words very well. In all they put on a really good show.

Perfume and Felipe were hits as usual, delighting all ages. Then I preached to them about how Jesus treated an adulterous woman and how her religious accusers went slinking away in shame. I told about the “invisible miracle” that took place while Jesus lifted the burden of guilt and shame from her shoulders and took her guilt, her sin, her shame, her condemnation and her death upon Himself and gave her the free gift of a new life. Jesus was offering her a new beginning, a fresh start, which He calls being born again. That woman, trapped in shameful sin, represents each one of us. Then I gave the invitation. Many responded. I talked with a few of them afterward. Hugo is 48 years old, but I would have guessed his age as in his 60s. He has colon cancer and has been operated on many times. His wife is a pretty lady, but suffering from Lupus. Hugo obviously had never given a thought to spiritual things before and knew nothing… a round zero… about Jesus and the Bible. He told me that he was really touched by the story about that sinner lady and how Jesus gave her a new life. He and his wife are going to start their new life as of today.

Sometimes the best things happen after the lights have been turned off and the chairs taken up. God often leads me to somebody that is just standing around waiting for a chance to meet Jesus.

Check out the pickup that carries the chairs and equipment back to the church.

Mission accomplished! Buenas noches!

Ralph

Back to Square One

2011-10-29T11:48:00.000-07:00

Much of my life has been poured into what seem to be little insignificant open air meetings to help start new Assemblies of God churches.

I felt right at home last night as we gathered with Pastor Marcelo Villarreal’s dedicated “family-team” in front of their new little church building in Barrio La Bandera, La Rioja. We set up an open air service in an effort to win their neighbors to Jesus.

The Hawaiian guitar’s enchanting sound drifted across the landscape attracting the attention of interested youth.

As always, Perfume, the skunk and Felipe did their thing for the kids. Perfume was almost suffocated with love as hands reached out from all sides for the privilege of petting her.

Preaching Jesus came easy as these people sat in rapped attention.

At the altar call I picked up my old accordion and sang a translation of “There is Room at the Cross for You.” And they came, unashamed, maybe even eager… to meet Jesus at the foot of the cross.

In many places God has allowed me the privilege of returning to these locations after decades… to witness the incredible long-term fruit. What a Savior!

Early on while still in Bible School I made a feeble, flimsy, fumbling attempt to preach to the lost at “Victory Servicemen’s Center” in Longbeach, California. I knew I had failed miserably… and it was true. But that night 30 sailor boys knelt and wept through to salvation. That night changed my life… for suddenly I realized that even when the messenger’s delivery is a total failure, the “message” itself remains powerful to save.

I need your prayers as tonight I preach in another area in an open city park.

Ralph

Unborn Baby Stops Bullet

2011-10-26T08:20:00.000-07:00

After a great service at Pastor Hugo Perez’ church last Saturday night, his daughter, Eliana, and her husband, Maxi Barrios met me outside the church as I was leaving. They showed me a small scar on the right arm of their little son, Micaias, and told me the story of this unusual miracle.

Eliana was 7 months pregnant with Micaias. They had parked their little motorcycle in front of a place that sells fast food. Eliana stayed with the motorcycle while Maxi went in to purchase some sandwiches. Suddenly Eliana was approached by an armed robber who demanded the key to the motorcycle. She told him that her husband had the key. He shot her through the womb and was preparing to shoot her again when Maxi came up. Eliana was kneeling in blood in the street yelling at the robber. “My baby! My baby! You just killed my baby. Why do you want to kill me, too?” Maxi gave the robber the keys and he did not shoot again, but sped away on their motorcycle.

They rushed Eliana to the hospital and operated immediately. The baby was alive and only showed an injury in one arm. The doctors saw where the bullet had entered her womb, but were puzzled because they could not find where the bullet stopped or where it exited. They were shocked to discover the bullet lodged in baby Micaias’ tiny right arm. It did not break the bone or do serious muscle damage.

They claimed that if the baby had not stopped the bullet Eliana most likely would not have survived. Their story hit major news all over the country. On a television show Maxi and Eliana publically forgave the robber who shot her. Soon thereafter the repentant robber returned the motorcycle to the place where he had taken it. He was later apprehended and is now serving a 10 year sentence in prison.

Can an unborn baby’s arm stop a bullet? All over Argentina it was publicized as The Micaias Miracle.

Note: Pastor Hugo Perez tells me that 44 years ago he heard me playing the Hawaiian guitar in the city park where I preached every week and came close to see this strange instrument. He did not stay to hear me preach however. Years later he and his wife were invited by a neighbor to a home meeting. I happened to be visiting San Juan that day and preaching in that house. That night they both gave their hearts to the Lord. Several years later, with the approval of their pastor, Angel Vega (Pastor of the first Assemblies of God church which we helped to plant here in 1968) they started a church in another area of the city. Today it is one of 10 thriving Assemblies of God churches in San Juan.

Ralph

Serious Puppy Love

2011-10-15T07:45:00.000-07:00

Do I miss my sons, their wives and my grandkids? Yes! Oh so very much! Once in a while I get to see them via Skype. But do I miss loving and being loved? Not at all!

Look at me! I think Pastor Alberto Marin’s little girls have adopted me as their “grandpa”. I’ll be at their house for lunch again today. The littlest one will come running to grab my leg. They call her Sammy and she is as sweet as the morning breeze carrying the fragrance of jazmine blossoms.

There is one problem though. I have to love ‘em and leave ‘em. I may not see them again for years. If Jesus tarries and I’m still around they’ll come running to me as teenagers or adults with the same wonderful expressions of love. It happens again and again.

So, don’t feel sorry for me. Envy me!

PS. This was not a posed picture. It was happening so I handed my camera to someone to record the moment.

Ralph

Awesome Stuff!

2011-10-12T17:38:00.000-07:00

Meet Enrique Strohschein, National Superintendent of the Assemblies of God in Argentina, a true man of God, and his wife Irma. The national conference was a thrilling event with great preaching, including his message the final night. He is famous for insisting that every one of us should spend “at least one hour in prayer daily.”

So many people had asked me about Felipe that he was allowed a spot that final night. Then our national superintendent ministered to about 2,000 of us with a powerful message backed up with many references to God’s Word… which is typical of his preaching.

The following Saturday night, October 8, I was privileged to minister in the city of San Martin where the old church is being remodeled. Both little children and adults enjoyed Perfume and Felipe. Later they were just as responsive to the ministry of the Word.
It was in this same building that in the year 1965 I witnessed an 18 year old girl, who knew no English, worship God in perfect English for nearly 30 minutes as she was being filled with the Holy Spirit baptism! Awesome stuff!

Sunday October 9, I ministered in the city of Rivadavia with Pastor Omar Coronel in their beautiful new sanctuary, dedicated only two days previous.

The pastor’s father, Ernesto Coronel, was there. For me it was a precious moment. This brother had received me into his home when we first arrived in Argentina. Only seconds before this picture was taken his son, Pastor Omar Coronel, had just remarked that the two of us on the front row reminded him of Belgrano y San Martin, which would be like George Washington and Abe Lincoln in the USA. It was a LOL (laugh-out-loud) moment.

What a great church! Youth up front in enthusiastic worship… and at the close of the message practically everyone on their knees offering something important to the Lord and receiving something better from Him. Oh, how I would like to see our USA churches get back to the “altar service” where life-changing things happen!

Ralph

City Park Invasion

2011-10-10T16:56:00.000-07:00

Last week a large group of Castlleros wearing red shirts (King’s Castle Kids) gathered in Mendoza at the foot of the great Andes Mountains for the Argentine Assemblies of God General Council.

On Thursday, October 6, they decided to invade the main plaza of the city of Mendoza. With their dramas, mime and interpretive dances they attracted quite a crowd.

They asked me to bring Felipe. As always, Perfume, the skunk came out first (almost invisible in my hands in this picture). Missionaries Shari and Kim Babcock serve as the national directors of “Castilleros.” Shari, who herself is an excellent ventriloquist, did the humble task of holding the suitcase for me.

Once again Felipe got to do what he likes best… sing and talk about Jesus in public places. Click on this picture to check out the smile of delight on his face. He sang his favorite chorus, “I have a Friend, His name is Jesus.” When he asked the public to say the Name of his Friend, the place literally exploded with that Name that is above every name, the Name of Jesus. Then he told one of his Bible stories.

Afterwards I took a few moments to tell the public about the wonderful Gospel of "New Beginnings.” Jesus offers to reset your odometer to zero! He calls it being "Born Again."

Ralph

"Beautiful People"

2011-09-30T10:32:00.000-07:00

Where do I start? How filled with the joy of the Lord I am this morning!

Santa Rosa was not as I expected, but new places never are, I guess. I drove by the town early on purpose to check for a hotel. It is a tiny country town. I asked around and discovered that the nearest hotel was in San Martin about 25 miles further west. I did not call the pastor, because I knew they would have offered me their own bed and probably would sleep on the floor. I drove on to San Martin and settled in a humble, but clean, hotel room. I arrived at 6:30 PM at the church, although the service wasn’t scheduled until 8.

Here is what I wrote in my devotional journal this morning: Zechariah 9:16-17 “The LORD their God will save them on that day as the flock of his people. They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown. How attractive and beautiful they will be!”

"Beautiful people that sparkle like jewels?!" This morning, before reading the above scripture, I was recalling the meeting last night in a small country community in the middle of thousands of acres of vineyards.

The pretty little church, built entirely by the hands of their pastor, was filled to overflowing with people standing in the doorway. There were lots of youth, adolescents and children.

A whole Sunday School class of boys and girls about 10 to 14 years of age had all been rounded up by their teacher, a lady that was obviously giving herself to win them for Jesus. She brought the whole class up to me after church for special prayer. My eyes fixed upon a 10 year old boy who was grinning and making jokes, his eyes just sparkling with fun and wit. That kid is going to become a leader. I told him so. I encouraged him to lead many people though those pearly gates into heaven.

Then there was the elderly lady on the front row and the young couple with a tiny baby who asked me to bless them, and several pastors of other little country churches within up to 20 miles that gathered around and prayed for me and wanted me to come to their churches, too.

So this morning I reflected upon the whole scene with joy in my heart and I said to myself, “Beautiful people!” Minutes later my devotional reading through the Bible took me to Zechariah 9:16-17 as the Lord describes his people. “They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown. How attractive and beautiful they will be!”

I happened to be sitting where the sunlight touched my hands and I noticed one tiny golden sparkle on each hand. I have no idea where they could have come from and I am not trying to suggest that these two tiny sparkles were something miraculous or mysterious at all… probably just something I had brushed against. But strangely enough I found myself rejoicing in those two tiny sparkles as though they meant something special to me.

And I prayed, "Jesus, make me to sparkle like a tiny jewel in Your crown and may I bring glory and honor to You and to our Heavenly Father as I move about among these, Your “beautiful people!” (End devotional journal)

In the middle of my message last night, a neighbor lady who was visiting the church for the first time, rose from the front row to leave with her grandchild. She had been attentive, but the little child by her side had been pestering her to leave for some time. I had met her and spoken to her earlier. I stopped my message and stepped down off the platform. She extended her hand and was telling me she had to leave. I asked her quietly if she would like to open her heart to our wonderful, loving Lord Jesus. She responded positively. So I lead her in prayer and took a few minutes to pray with her. I felt I should not allow her to escape without having the opportunity of meeting my Jesus. Then I jumped back up on the platform and picked up right where I had left off. I believe God was at work in many hearts, young and old.

At midnight I joined with the pastor’s family around their table for empanadas and delicious home-made vegetable soup. It was just what I needed.

I suppose that some could look at these photos and say, “These people don’t look like anything special." I think maybe you have to look at them with the eyes of Jesus. He calls them “attractive and beautiful” and so do I.

Ralph

Second Blessing

2011-09-27T14:50:00.000-07:00

The church service had concluded almost an hour before. Most of the congregation had left. A humble little child came up to me and asked if he could see Felipe. His family had arrived after I had already finished with Felipe and was preaching.

So, for that little child I brought out Perfume and Felipe and soon a small crowd had gathered for a “second blessing.”

This often happens since many parents work very long hours then walk long distances to church. I wouldn’t want one little child to return home disappointed, so I always am ready for a second Felipe show. I think Jesus would have done that. Don’t you?

Ralph

Sowing Seed in the Plaza

2011-09-24T23:00:00.000-07:00

I left La Serranita midday on Friday. Destiny: Villa Merlo on the western side of the Cordoba mountains. The old gravel road that crossed the 3950 ft. high summit has now been paved and greatly improved. There are lots of switchback curves and endless beautiful scenery.

I thought I was never going to get to Villa Merlo since I kept stopping to take pictures high in the mountains. Villa Merlo is a tourist city well known for its steady micro-climate there on the lower slope of the mountains.

Pastor Angel Gras and his wife have purchased a lot and built the front section of their church building. Friday night I was surprised to find a good group of believers.

Pastor Gras’ daughter took lots of pictures during the service with her nice Nikon camera.

Maybe it is due to Felipe and the importance I give to little children, but a group of them came to me at the close of the service and asked me to pray for them individually. I take this very seriously and consider it an unusual privilege. In this day of moral decay, may God raise up a generation of holy young men and women destined to change their world for Jesus!

Saturday afternoon we ministered in the central plaza. Several men showed great interest in the Hawaiian guitar. One retired couple started dancing to my music.

Only God knows if these Gospel seeds planted there will take root and grow.

Petting Perfume brought great delight to this little girl.

And You can tell by Felipe's expression on his face that he loves to do this stuff.

Ralph

Fixed Attention

2011-09-22T08:23:00.000-07:00

Today is Thursday so I get to rest. At breakfast, Brother Antonio, who runs this establishment, told me that there is a small public elementary school in this little town with only 23 kids of all ages… and he knows the principal… and “Would I be willing to do a little thing with Felipe and Perfume during their recess?” Why not? Felipe can sow seeds of the love of Jesus in places where preachers fear to tread. That’s coming up in a few minutes. On my day off I just do fun stuff like this.

(An hour later) Check out the fixed attention on those faces. They didn’t miss a thing! I gave the school principal a DVD of Felipe’s Bible stories. She seemed delighted. I have a feeling that the kids may get to see the whole thing in the classroom soon. Felipe just keeps “preaching… preaching… preaching…” in places even I can’t go.

Ralph

Rest under "The Arbor"

2011-09-21T11:35:00.000-07:00

Every day is another adventure here in Argentina. Today is the day they greet you with, “Feliz Día de la Primavera” meaning “Happy First Day of Spring.” There will be big festivals and fireworks. It is a holiday and all the kids are out of school. I have just driven up into the foothills to a retreat hostel called “La Pergola” meaning “The Arbor.”

It is operated by one of our AG Argentine minister couples. They have it especially for ministers and wives that need a rest. I figured I needed a break after ministering ten times this past week.

A few moments after I arrived, Ernesto Villareal, the pastor of one of our AG churches in Carlos Paz, about a 45 minute drive from here, got the word that I was here and has asked me to preach there tonight. I am delighted to do it. I'll rest tomorrow.

Friday morning I will take a winding highway that climbs the Cordoba Sierras to the top (3950 feet alt) and descends on the western side of the range. There in a tourist town called Villa de Merlo, Pastor Angel Gras and his family are starting a new church. I will minister to their small group of new converts on Friday night and then we will do an open-air evangelistic outreach at 4 PM on Saturday in the plaza with Felipe and the Hawaiian guitar. Later Saturday night I’ll drive another two hours to Villa Mercedes to preach Sunday AM and then to the city of Justo Daract for the evening service.

Wish you were here. I know you would love this stuff.

Ralph

Rough Life!

2011-09-19T07:32:00.001-07:00

Sunday morning: Great service at the Catedral de Alabanza (Cathedral of Praise) in Cordoba with Pastors David and Hilda Ledesma!

My skunk, Perfume, doesn’t hold still for a picture.

My ancient accordion still sings.

At the close there was a good altar service with the whole church on its knees dedicating lives, young and old, to Christ anew.

The “girls” gather around for hugs and a picture.

Check out the house where I have been staying for the past two weeks (below)
and drool over my Sunday dessert: a stack of dipped ice cream with crunchy cookies between dips topped with whole almonds and bathed in hot chocolate sauce! It's this restaurant’s version of a “Charlot”. Then go weep for me as I “suffer” here in Argentina! Ha!

Ralph

Surprise!

2011-09-17T12:53:00.000-07:00

Last night, Friday, I ministered at a local church Bible School in the CCC, Centro Cristiano of Cordoba. They do Bible classes for the kids and youth simultaneously with the adults. I had Perfume and Felipe come out for the whole group before they split up into classes. Then they allowed me to minister to the youth and adults together.

This church was planted by Don and Melba Exley clear back in 1977 and has become a great world missions church, not only the top missions supporting church in the nation, but also the greatest sender of missionaries from its own congregation! 18 families have been sent out into many countries from this one church! Their pastor and his wife, Juan and Lidia Masalyka are in Spain right now holding a spiritual retreat for Europe’s missionaries. Good job… Don and Melba… and congratulations to Juan and Lidia… all great servants of Jesus!
During my message I told the story of a baby girl named Mabel Murua who was miraculously healed of a large tumor on her neck when we were planting a church in San Juan years ago.

When I passed around a picture of her taken with Frances and me and her folks in 2007 (40 years old in the picture and still beautiful) along with another picture of many of her family members that came to the Lord as a result of the miracle, I noticed a lot of excitement among the people. They all started talking at once.

Someone ran out and brought in a young man that I immediately recognized, Luis Murua, Mabel’s nephew! I did not know that he now lives in this area and attends this church over 300 miles from where the miracle occurred. They yelled, “Surprise!” and here came Luis running into my arms.

Then he took the mike and testified how his grandparents (Mabel’s parents) and all eleven of his great uncles and aunts gave their lives to Christ through this miracle, some went into the ministry, others now are in heaven. I especially like these miracles that can be confirmed as genuine. Jesus is alive!

After their classes some of the kids returned to gather around me to pray for me.
Another day of superb blessings!

Ralph

500 Smiling Faces

2011-09-15T15:53:00.000-07:00

Up at 5:10 AM: A shower, a time with Jesus and His Word. No time for breakfast.

7:20 AM: Arrived at William Morris Christian School in downtown Cordoba to set up my little sound system even though they told me that it wasn’t necessary, since they have their own system. In Argentina I’ve learned to have a backup when possible.

7:45 AM: Enjoyed the privilege of leading a brief devotional time with the dedicated teaching staff of this great Christian school.

8:00 AM: 500 children gathered, packed into the open patio. They sang a song as they raised the Argentine flag. As they were introducing me their sound system sputtered and quit. No problem; I invited them to my microphone, powered by my little Roland amp running on AA batteries. The sound was loud and clear.
500 faces lit up with delight as Perfume, the skunk, wiggled out of Felipe’s suitcase and showed her face. 500 smiling faces charged the atmosphere with laughter as Felipe did his thing with a Bible story and a conclusion. Then I got serious and prayed for them and the staff before they were dismissed to their classrooms.

8:45 AM: I was requested to do another devotional time for some “special teachers” that arrive later. Small group. Good time!

12:45 PM: Drove across town to the Mediterranean Bible Institute for lunch with the students and Missionary Steve Wallace, Bible School Director. Steve invited me to share with his first year Missions class. How inspiring to participate in the lives of future missionaries and ministers!

8:00 PM: Enjoyed event number 5 for the day, ministering at Iglesia Betel, pastored by Santiago and Lidia Zapata, dear friends since 1966. After church they took me out to dinner. We finished after midnight.

2:00 AM Thursday: Off to bed thinking on the goodness of our God. He rescued the meeting with 500 energetic kids by having my backup sound system ready to go. AND miracle of miracle, my voice held up well for all 5 events! Leave it to Jesus! He’ll come through for you!

Ralph

No Duds Here!

2011-09-13T15:01:00.000-07:00

I never cease to be amazed at the quality of our missionary team here in Argentina. As I hang around these people more, I get more and more impressed. And certainly the Babcocks are up there near the top of the list. Their passion for the lost, their dedication to the youth, their heart of service to others… bat 1000… and the list goes on and on.

I was having a terrible time trying to get a cell phone that can be paid by the month here. I was having to buy terribly expensive minutes and always was running out. Kim invited me to ride on his plan like I was one of his sons. We went into their office together. After looking at us they weren’t too sure if I could pass for his son… ha… but they accepted the idea with no problem… except it still took him almost two weeks and many hours of his valuable time including two visits to the Movistar (cell phone) office to get my new plan activated. Both he and Shari are incredible people… and have what it takes to get the job done. And they are reproducing hundreds of their own kind in this fertile land!

I am now in Cordoba staying with Steve and Sonia Wallace… another incredible couple. He directs the Bible School here. I am so thrilled that Argentina gets the best of the best. Sonia is a good cook, too.

What do you call a firecracker when it fizzles? A dud? If so, we have no duds here! Praise God!

Ralph
PS. The world needs to know. A lot of these dedicated people don’t blow their own horn much. So somebody’s got to do it for them… ha.

Clear the Tracks!

2011-09-10T16:30:00.000-07:00

Cordoba… north central Argentina. I have been invited to stay in the lovely home of Missionaries Steve and Sonia Wallace, the directors of IBM, our Assemblies of God “Instituto Biblico Mediterreano.”
Check out my comfortable room. And Sonia is a good cook, too.

Via Skype last night I was able to talk to my son, Tim, his wife Cheryl and my grandkids, Michelle and Evan, while watching them on my computer screen, (see photo.) It was almost as good as a visit to their home. I may “camp out” here for another week or so while ministering in schools and churches in this area.

I came to this area primarily to speak for a youth camp. King’s Castle team leaders from several provinces are meeting for a spiritual retreat. These are mostly teenagers who lead groups of other teenagers in their churches. The “Castilleros”, as they are called here, are talented, leadership-oriented youth who are sold-out for Jesus.

The King’s Castle ministry is blessed in Argentina to be led by a very special missionary couple, Kim and Shari Babcock (photo). The services are packed with enthusiastic worship and thirsty hearts are wide open to drink in the messages from God’s word.

Last night, Friday, at the closing invitation, much time was spent in fervent prayer. Many were weeping as God was at work deep in their hearts. An hour later, while I was picking up my Hawaiian guitar and sound equipment, I noticed an unusually large puddle of tears where I had seen one teenage boy kneeling. There can be no doubt, sincerity was there.

I know I am looking into the faces of young men and women that soon will become powerful leaders in God’s service. Some of them already demonstrate qualities of leadership that astound me. One girl, Noetlia, now 19 years old, spearheaded and organized a powerful and very successful children’s event for her city officials with a response of over 5,000 kids when she was only 16!

Noelia is the girl on the left in this photo. Among many other results, the mayor and his wife were converted and now faithfully attend our AG church there!

(Sound effect... Wooo WOOOOoooo...train whistle) Clear the tracks! Here come the “Castilleros!”

The Fun Begins

2011-09-05T09:28:00.000-07:00

What a joy to be “used of God!” Last Friday I awoke early in the morning and sensed immediately that I should reverse my decision to not accept the invitation of a lady pastor of a small church in Buenos Aires. I had already told her that I had turned down many invitations and was trying to reserve my voice this weekend by preaching only on Sunday morning. Now God seemed to be telling me to call her and tell her I would come Sunday night after all. She was delighted at my reversal.

It happened at that church last night at the close of my message. I had just begun to give the invitation. A young man, named Gustavo, who was there for the first time, picked up his back pack and stepped into the aisle. At first I thought he was going to escape out the back door. But, no, he almost ran to the front. He seemed so desperate for God in his life. I think I forgot that I had the accordion strapped on me as I tried to kneel down to help him pray to receive the Lord into his life. Afterward he hung onto me and would hardly let go. I just hope he hangs on to Jesus that firmly!
Then there was a powerful altar service where God was at work in many hearts, preparing men and women, youth and even little children for “heavenly adventures” just ahead.

We were "picking up the pieces" at the close when a group of little kids wanted to take their picture with me. I couldn’t turn that down!
The fun has just begun!
Ralph

Explosion of Spontaneous Worship

2011-08-29T07:02:00.000-07:00

Last night here at the Centro Familiar Cristiano (founded by Missionary Donald Exley)in Martinez, a suburb of Buenos Aires, Missionary-Pastor Nathan Grams (Rocky Grams’ son) preached a beautiful message before serving communion.

He told the story of Mephibosheth, son of Jonathan and grandson of Saul. (II Samuel 9) A nurse snatched this child to save his life and ran to escape from the raiders that were determined to kill every living descendent of King Saul. She was carrying this small child in her arms as she ran. Suddenly she tripped and he fell from her arms breaking both his legs and leaving him crippled for life. She saved his life, but his life was not a pleasant one. He probably suffered low self esteem as a useless cripple plus fear as a fugitive. He was carried far away from Jerusalem to Lo Debar and remained there a fugitive, hidden from King David’s angry warriors.
Then one day, years later, King David, who had a heart after God, asked if there were no descendents of Saul left anywhere. Probably the informers thought that David was wanting to stamp them out if there were any left. Someone told him about Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth. And David sent for him to come. When the king’s men knocked on Mephibosheth’s door, surely he thought that his day had finally come. He had been in hiding all these years, but finally he had been discovered and would be condemned and killed for his grandfather’s crimes. Instead, David shows him love and takes this crippled fugitive bringing him and his family to the palace, giving them a place to feast at the king’s table with all the richness of his blessings for the rest of their lives!

Then Missionary Nathan compared this act of David to the kindness of Jesus. We were fugitives, trying to hide from God, guilty of treason, deserving of death, when Jesus found us. God knocked on the door of our heart and called us out of our hiding place. It was judgment and death that we deserved, but Jesus intervened for us and paid the price for our sins with His blood. Now He invites us to His table. He does not just say, “Come and find a seat somewhere.” He has a special place for each one of us. Our name is on it! My name is on it! And this is not a “one meal” visit… this is to become our permanent dwelling place, close to the King of kings!

Then Pastor Nathan compared all this to the communion table and invited us to draw near to God without fear. If we have trusted in the work of Christ upon the cross, our sins which demanded eternal damnation were paid in full by the death of the perfect Son of God. Surely Mephibosheth was taken into the presence of King David fearing for his life and were it not for the washing of our hearts by the blood of Our Savior, we should certainly fear in God’s presence. But Jesus has opened the way to the Father. So…“Let us come boldly into His divine presence.”

After the communion service there followed a time of spontaneous worship. The team of worship leaders sang on the platform as the people continued standing to worship. Several times Pastor Nathan took the microphone and it appeared that he began to close the service and dismiss the people, but then suddenly the glory of the Lord seemed to overwhelm us all canceling all possibility of dismissal. Nobody was leaving! God was there! And He was doing a work in our souls. Nobody was going around laying on hands. Nobody was falling down, although I fell to my knees in worship. Nothing weird was happening, except powerful spontaneous worship. It was an extended time of heavenly glory as crystal clear waves of God’s presence seemed to rise high and then break over upon us. I don’t know how long it lasted. Time loses all importance in the presence of the King of kings. I cannot speak for others, but I was bathing in the richness of God’s glory… and today, Monday, I can still feel it bubbling up from somewhere deep in my soul!
Ralph

"Pull the Plug!"

2011-08-28T16:41:00.000-07:00

I made up my mind to take it easy on my voice these first 10 days or so here in the Buenos Aires area accepting very few of many tempting invitations. This morning I preached in a very nice little church. The pastors, Juan and Silvia Ferrer, are the ones that picked me up at the airport, helped me find a car and this coming week will be helping me do several other things to prepare for my long trip into the interior. I surprised them by offering to minister at their church in Boulogne this morning. They and their people received me with great joy.

I have only preached there once before. I did a trial run and gave them the full package, the whole shebang; played my Hawaiian guitar, taught a chorus with my accordion, my little skunk Perfume charmed the little kids, Felipe did a Bible story and of course I prayed with the kids.

Then I preached. My voice held up quite well. At the very end it was clogging up and cutting out a little, so I cut my message down to 45 minutes or so… ha. Maybe it was the Lord telling me to “Shut the machine down, look for the off-switch! Can’t find it? Just pull the plug!” But it is really hard to stop when the people are so obviously into it with you. In many of the Argentine churches they are accustomed to 3 hour services or even much more and seem to feel cheated if you cut the message too short.

Have a great day!

Ralph

Vehicle Already Purchased!

2011-08-27T14:38:00.000-07:00

There is no doubt! The prayers of my spiritual partners are heard in heaven! One wrote that they would be praying that I would find the right car quickly. I arrived in Buenos Aires last Wednesday and on Thursday found a 2000 model Peugeot car with only 35,500 miles on it, which is very unusual. It was being sold by a used car dealer for a private owner. It is 11 years old, but appears to be in excellent condition, almost like brand new! It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles that some do, (no electric locks or electric windows) but the engine is diesel powered, whereas many Peugeots are gasoline powered. The diesel engine is a benefit here since they usually keep running about 100,000 miles further than the gasoline powered engine before needing rebuilding. Besides diesel fuel is cheaper per gallon in most places here and a gallon typically takes you further than a gallon of gasoline.

The low mileage and general excellent condition, the diesel engine, the large trunk allowing space to carry my Hawaiian guitar, accordion, amplifier and suitcases out of sight and the fact that is not a fancy car that will attract attention, convinced me that I had found what I was seeking. It is almost identical to the one Missionary Eddie Echevarria has loaned me during my last two trips here, only this one is several years newer than his.

I had thought that I might have to spend up to $20,000 or even more for a reliable vehicle, but I purchased this car for $9,600 (and $2,072 of that was supplied by a special offering from Pastor Wayne Clark's 1st AG in San Antonio Texas)! I will still spend some money on it however. It is due an oil and filter change and new serpentine belt. Next week I intend to complete the registration and add an alarm system and electric locks for security.

I am staying in the prophet’s chamber above the Martinez Church and Christian School and have committed myself to minister to the children here next Friday morning. Some of the teachers remember Felipe since when they themselves were little kids. They came running to greet me with their Argentine kisses on the cheek. One darling little school girl who remembered me with Felipe from last February, came running up to me with a big hug and just hung on! That made my day complete!

I just can’t stop thanking the Lord for His many blessings! He just keeps raining them down on me non-stop!

Ralph

Gotcha Covered!

2011-08-21T23:14:00.000-07:00

The past few days I have been basking under the covering of the prayers of God’s choicest saints. Thursday it was the students and leadership of the School of Urban Ministries in Oakland as they gathered around me at the close of that great meeting. Then again last night, after I had ministered to the nice group of seniors at my home church, Neighborhood Church in Modesto, they gathered and prayed for me.

Finally this morning at the main service of Neighborhood Church, Pastor Lance Lowell called me to the platform to send me away with the blessing of the Lord. And to cap it off, it was my son, Tim, who serves on the pastoral staff there that stood behind me, with his guitar hanging on his shoulders and led in that prayer! That was an awesome moment that I will treasure. Frances and I have prayed daily for each of our three sons for years, but it was powerful to sense this gift of love as Tim led in prayer for his dad.

Ralph

“Perfume” the Skunk

2011-08-21T18:10:00.000-07:00

Last night I enjoyed playing my Hawaiian guitar along with Joe Jones on the rhythm guitar while we led the singing with the “Cruisers”, the growing group of sparkling seniors at Neighborhood Church.

Felipe came out and did his thing for all these grown up kids and Julia caught this wonderful picture of her mother, Florence, trying to get up the nerve to pet my little “Perfume” that was wiggling in all directions trying to kiss her hand which kept dodging the kiss. (Double click on photos to enlarge.)

It was a beautiful time of spiritual and physical refreshing with the Word of the Lord and ice cream sundaes! Not a bad mixture!
Ralph

Oakland's "School of Urban Ministries"

2011-08-18T16:41:00.000-07:00

Although I have been trying to reserve my voice for ministry in Argentina, I could not resist the invitation to minister again at Oakland’s School of Urban Ministries. SUM is an exciting center of theological learning which couples classroom education with practical ministry. For me, each visit has been an exciting, blessed experience.

Of course, Felipe had to show his face. Reverend Ken Searle, Dean of Student Ministries held the famous suitcase.

And my accordion did its thing as I presented them with an old chorus that was new to them.

About sixty students listened to the challenge… not just with their ears, but also with their hearts as I shared a brief testimony.

In response to the altar call their lives were scattered on the floor like seeds planted in the earth. God’s eternal law of the harvest guarantees “much fruit”. So tighten your seat belts for take-off… as God is up-to-something bigger and better than you expect.

Some of these students, armed with the Holy Spirit of God, will become “world-changers.”

At the close the service, Rev. Ken Searle and Mrs. Jimenez, Dean of Student Life, joined the entire group of students as they prayed for me. Believe me! I need all the prayer backing I can get as I set out next week for almost four months of concentrated ministry in Argentina.

By the way, if you are looking for a serious Bible School that is on fire for Jesus… I encourage you to go online and check out SUM, the “School of Urban Ministries in Oakland.”

Ralph

We Will Carry the Torch!

2011-08-16T23:01:00.000-07:00

Thanks for your prayers. My voice held up miraculously well while sharing with the 8th grade class at Modesto Christian School this morning.

I had their Bible teacher, Mr. Martin Cross, take a few photos as I tried to teach the kids the chorus of a great song, “We will carry the torch. We will lift high the flame. We will march though the darkness with the light of His name. Till the glory of God is seen by the world. We will carry the torch of the Lord!”

The kids seemed attentive as I challenged them to light up their world with the One who said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12) I even brought my own torch.

Years ago, deep beneath the surface of the earth in a huge cavern at the Oregon caves the guide turned out the light. There was total darkness as Frances and I and other tourists clung to the railing. Then suddenly one tiny match flame lit up that entire huge dark cavern!

One Christian life, washed by the blood of Jesus and filled with His Spirit can make an unbelievable difference in this dark world. I briefly shared my call to missions and closed with the story of the Paraná Delta River island ministry… a dark sub-culture now illuminated by Jesus, the Light of the World! May God call some of these brilliant youth into His service!

Ralph

Answering Machine Message

2011-08-09T23:06:00.000-07:00

My son, Ron, just wrote me:

“Dad: It may be intentional, or maybe you just haven't been able to bring yourself to deal with it, but I thought I should remind you that your home answering machine still says, "You have reached Ralph & Frances Hiatt”… I hope this doesn't sound wrong, but I miss the two of you, together, as much as I miss Mom. I'm not saying you’re less than a full person. I'm saying that together you made up a "super-person"; even more than what two people can be separately. 1+1 = 2 is only true in silly things like math.” Ron

Dear Ron,

Oh my! Who ever listens to their own answering machine message? I’ll have to change that! Mom now lives at a new address where communications operate on a different frequency. Think of it! No daily calls offering to lower your interest rate! Must be quiet up there… except for that ultra-harmonious background music of angelic singing.

Your right, Ron. I’m really only half here… actually a little less than half. Mom was my brain. I always asked her, “What’s that pastor’s wife’s name?” and “Do you remember that paper I did in Bible School on Sermons in the book of Acts?” (Back in Bible School days I hand wrote everything and she typed my papers while I handed her the script. We were crammed together in that little 27 foot trailer house… and baby Ronny was crying and our pet parakeet kept landing on her head. 40 years later at my request she could dig up that term paper out of the heap of old boxes. She listened and observed and retained almost everything. I wouldn’t have gotten anywhere without her. Beside all this, she was so nice to everybody (even to me) that she was loved by all.

Knowing what a “fly by the seat of my pants guy” I was as a teenager, it was only God that kept me from marrying a gorgeous girl named Jill. She was very talented and beautiful. I was madly in love with her and (“God be praised forever!”) she jilted me for another guy and broke my heart. She married that guy… I later heard they divorced and who knows what happened after that and where she is now, if she is still living? I didn’t often pause to think things through as I should have. I was far too “happy go lucky” and emotionally driven. Only one thing saved me from major shipwreck. God! I really did want to do His will and sought His plan for my life over and over. But He never answered me. Or so I thought. He never clued me in on the future. No words from heaven. He knew I couldn’t handle that. So I just ran full speed ahead until I hit a wall and bounced off and then ran full speed in another direction. As you know I haven’t changed that much really. I still run full speed and bounce off walls. It just takes me longer to pick myself up off the floor these days, but you’ll soon find me running in some other direction with all I’ve got.

And all the time I still feel like that teenage kid trying to do a man’s job.

Love,

Dad

Hawaii in Modesto

2011-08-08T22:25:00.000-07:00

Life seems never to get too boring for me. There is always ample variety. Last week it was the Assemblies of God General Council in Phoenix and today it was “Hawaii in Modesto.” In just a few weeks now school classes will start again at Modesto Christian School. So the school board created a special Hawaiian Luau celebration for the entire staff of teachers and spouses. It was held in the spacious back yard of a family in the church. I was requested to supply a part of the “island flavor” with my Hawaiian steel guitar.

I played a series of hymns and gospel songs while they were gathering and then accompanied the church secretary and her husband, Kim and Karl, as he sang and she played the ukulele with the cute Hawaiian song, “My Little Grass Shack”. What fun!

It was a lovely evening of delightful food and fun. They even brought in a family of genuine Hawaiians to bless us with their charming movements and Hawaiian music.

Our new pastor, Lance Lowell, who was just verified by a landslide vote last night at a church business meeting, capped off the evening with an inspirational message for the teachers.

Ralph

Holy Traffic Jam

2011-08-04T23:12:00.000-07:00

General Council Report 3

I know you would have enjoyed this. Tonight at the altar call there were so many down front (mostly youth dedicating their lives to the Lord and seeking the Holy Spirit baptism) that the stadium guards stopped me and the huge stream of others at the base of the stairway.

The crowd was too thick for safety I guess... Holy Traffic Jam. AG General Secretary James Bradford preached. He is actually a genuine rocket scientist… and pastor. The following is just the abbreviated notes I scribbled on the back of a receipt that I had in my pocket which I just now typed into my computer for safe keeping. You will have to read between the lines.

“Unless you go with me I will not go.” Moses

Intro: The God who created us has acted to rescue us.

Jesus looked his disciples straight in the eye and said, “Go into all the world… etc… but please don’t go on your own. Wait for the promise of the Father. Exod. 33: God says to Moses, “I will not go with you. I’ll send my powerful angel to destroy the Amorites, Hitites, Jebusites and all the other ites (even the mosquito-bites). I’ll get your people into the land flowing with milk and honey, but I won’t go with you”.

Are we settling into God’s blessings without His presence? What else will distinguish us from any other people? In our churches what will make us different from the government social workers, the doctors or social clubs and community social efforts? It must be God’s presence.

In our focus on Praise, let us not forget Prayer. In our focus on Leadership let’s not forget Love. In our focus on Models let’s not forget Discernment. In our focus on Creativity let’s not forget Encounter. In our focus on Serving others let’s not forget Evangelism!

What makes us different? The presence of God! In every service there must be a tangible encounter with God! God wants us to go deep before we go wide.

In Num. 11 the people were sick of manna and were complaining, each one sitting in front of their tents and moaning. Moses said to God. “I can’t handle this… just kill me now.” But God gave him 70 new leaders. He gathered them in front of the tent of meeting, but 2 of them didn’t make it there for some reason. Traffic jam… whatever. There in front of the tent, God’s power fell on the 68 who were present and they began to prophesy. And the other two who were far away also had the presence of the Lord fall on them and they began to prophecy. Joshua got all worked up about this and reported it to Moses as though it was a bad thing. But Moses waved his hand in a wide stroke and said, (vs 29) “I wish that all God’s people were prophets!”

Well in Acts 2 the Spirit fell on the whole bunch and all of them were filled and spoke in tongues. But Jesus let us know that when we get filled the Holy Spirit we will not just speak in tongues, we will be different. He gave us tongues as a sign that He wants to use our tongues to declare His name… as witnesses. He has called us to speak as oracles of God. God was saying, “There’s going to be a lot of people in your future and I love every one of them.”

The story of Rachel Siessler of the Azusa Street Mission. (Not sure of last name. Showed her picture on the screen) As she lay on her back in God’s presence she saw a dove descending upon her, but it stopped and hovered over her as she heard the words in her soul, “Are you willing to die to your reputation?” When she answered “Yes” she says, “It was like there was a great open space in my heart and the Holy Spirit of God came in and filled it.”

I don’t want your promise, God, without your presence! If you do not go with me, I cannot go! And I was thinking Argentina!

Ralph

Full Color in Black and White

2011-08-04T23:06:00.000-07:00

General Council Report #2

I wrote the following to a pastor friend:

Thanks for your response and comments about the churches you visited in making your choice for a home church after retiring as a local pastor yourself. Much has been said during this General Council about a “healthy church” and excellent special resources are being offered to be of help each pastor to achieve this goal.

One of the special guest speakers this morning was Pastor Rick Warren, the author of “The Purpose Driven Life” and “The Purpose Driven Church.”

I was amazed at the emphasis that he gave on the Holy Spirit, including the use of “tongues” in the church. He said he reads the Pentecostal Evangel every week and that we should not be ashamed to keep that word “Pentecostal” in the title. I cannot quote him exactly, but here is my personal take summarizing some of what he said: “It is the move of the Spirit that brought us this far. We should not curb the gifts of the Spirit. He encouraged us to allow the Holy Spirit liberty, but for the sake of new visitors to “clearly explain what was happening in the church bulletin.” He also insisted that any healthy, mature church should reproduce… not just winning the lost to fill its own pews, but giving birth to new churches. He told how he started with just his family and the work did not grow quickly. But when they still only had 80 members and a total attendance of around 100, they reached out and started another church. Since then they have helped start a church every year, then two churches a year and three churches a year and now many more every year. Some were churches started in other countries, some in local neighborhoods. He said we should not judge our churches and pastors by the size of the congregation, but by if it is a healthy church. Any healthy living organism will by nature grow. He said if a church grows from small to thousands quickly it is probably inflated with thousands of Christians floating in from other churches. He said that is not growth. That is a swollen baby! His message was exceptional. And he closed by saying he loved the Assemblies of God and that he would join the AG if they would let him. It was a “tongue in cheek” remark I suppose, but I would not be surprised that hidden there was the fact that to join the AG he would have to declare tongues as the initial evidence of the Holy Spirit baptism… which I doubt he is willing to do.

Yesterday we had another very interesting visitor speak briefly. He is a black brother representing a church organization called “The United Pentecostal Council of the Assemblies of God”. At first I was shocked thinking that they were allowing a “Jesus Only” church minister in our pulpit. But this is not the “United Pentecostals” that I have been acquainted with. Before letting this brother speak, Brother George Wood told a little bit about the history behind this movement. Many years ago during the first years of the Assemblies of God, a black brother felt called to go as a missionary to Africa. He applied to the Assemblies of God and was turned down because in those days there was still a strong racist influence in our organization. He was denied appointment solely on his ethnicity and color! This eventually sparked another organization which they called the “United Pentecostal Council of the Assemblies of God.” Their doctrine is identical to ours and they have used our AG materials for years.

This brother “Thomas Barclay” spoke with a great deal of enthusiasm typical of the blacks and got us all really excited about what God is doing among them. His brief message was a breath of fresh air tossed into the middle of a business meeting. I would not be surprised at all if there may be a close cooperative fellowship between this black group and the AG sometime in the future, perhaps even a merger.

What a privilege to be a part of an organization that is willing to admit its past errors and welcome to its pulpit at the General Council some that are not a part of our immediate fellowship!

Ralph

General Council Report

2011-08-02T23:18:00.000-07:00

This week I am enjoying great fellowship at the Assemblies of God General Council in Phoenix, Arizona.

I confess that recently I had begun to think negative thoughts about the future of our Assemblies of God movement. I was looking back at the glory of our “old temple”. I even was thinking maybe the Lord will have to start over with another group who are willing to seek God on their faces until the fire falls. After hearing Supt. Dr. George Wood's message tonight my hopes were raised. I am convinced that there is still hope for the Assemblies of God. Brother Wood gave us a clarion call back to the moving of the Holy Spirit.

He took the little book of Haggai as his text. Haggai was given the task by God to stir up His people to complete the task that they had begun. 18 years had passed since work had stopped on the temple and only the foundation had been laid. Delay, Discouragement and Defilement set in. But Haggai knew that he had a message from God Almighty and He was calling them to quit looking at the past, at how great the first temple was, or even on the present depressed situation, but to focus on the future. The fourth D was Destiny. We are called to lift our eyes and know that if we focus on the future with Holy Spirit anointed leadership, anointed preaching and anointed ministry we will become a people of Destiny.

He closed with the touching story of John and Cuba Hall, missionaries to Africa. He told how He, when visiting Africa, found in a cemetery a marker with the name “Billie Hall 6 months.” Later he happened to see Cuba Hall and asked her if that was their baby. With tears in her eyes she told the story of their beautiful firstborn boy who was so sickly. They prayed fervently for his healing. And they heard the African Christians discussing if God would hear their prayer and heal little Billie. The Africans wondered how the missionaries would react if he died. Would they pack up and leave? In the extreme heat and unhealthy environment and far from doctors… their firstborn, little Billie died at only six months.

They packed his body in ice to carry him the four hours to the city to bury him in a cemetery. They refused to become bitter and accepted his death as God’s will. And this fact became a major factor in opening the doors of the people’s hearts… because the fact was that most of the mothers there had lost at least one child in infancy. Little Billie’s death allowed them to identify with them in a way nothing else could have provided. The Halls translated the New Testament into the Mossi language and spearheaded the translation of the Old Testament. John personally typed the entire Bible in Mossi on mimeograph stencils six times! When he finished mimeographing a book of the Bible they would have pastors with their bicycles lined up at the door ready to take those sheets and pedal out to distant places to preach that Word. Today the Assemblies of God have almost one million faithful believers in a country of only 16 million!

At the close he called us to our knees and many of us hurried forward for a time of fresh dedication.

Sorry, I did not intend to give so much detail, but there you have it.

Ralph

Lake Tippacanú Adventure

2011-07-31T21:03:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday my son, Tim, and Grandson, Evan, invited me to accompany them on an adventure in the wild. We drove 2 ½ hours into the Sierra Nevada Mountains to Utica Lake, one of many lakes in this scenic area.

There we launched Tim’s canoe and explored the lake looking for a spot to camp on one of the islands.

We found a beautiful spot, put up the tent quickly and then returned about one mile rowing across the lake to get all out gear. Now we loaded all our stuff into an inflatable raft, piling food containers, sleeping bags, chairs and table and tying them securely. We looked like an aquatic version of the Hollywood Hillbillies as we towed the raft with the canoe… all three of us rowing hard back to our island home.

It was a beautiful evening. Tim fixed us some peanut butter and jam sandwiches which we devoured as we sat and watched the sunset across the lake. Tim’s wife, Cheryl, had prepared and packed wonderful meals with all the trimmings. The second night we had corn on the cob roasted in foil over the open fire, cooked squash and potatoes baked in foil. And all this together with delicious BBQ New York steaks! Tim has a double grill invention that hold steaks sandwiched between the two grills so they can be held over an open fire and turned over while being barbequed. They were so good!

Friday we hiked all over the island, through dense forests and climbing to the top of huge rocks for awesome views.

All went well until... Yes, there has to be an “until.” We had loaded up the canoe to take me back to my car since I was returning home while Tim and Evan were staying another night. Tim and Evan were in the canoe, with my suitcase and ready to row with me the one mile across to my car. I put one foot in the canoe and was pushing off from the shore when I lost my footing and tipped the canoe over and dumped us all nicely into the lake. It was a hilarious sight! Tim grabbed my suitcase in time to save my Bible from damage. My devotional journal now has that “authentic antique look”. Actually I was surprised to find that the water was not uncomfortably cold. But I hurried out of the water because I had my little camera on my belt. Digital cameras, just like their old fashioned ancestors, do not like to be baptized by immersion… ha. When I got home I took it all apart and have the main parts sealed a baggy with rice to see if I can dry it out. I think there might be hope to salvage it. The pictures I had taken had not suffered damage.
I have decide to rename this lake with an old Indian name, “Lake Tippacanú”… ha!
(Click on pictures to enlarge.)

Scars and Stripes Forever!

2011-07-27T17:55:00.000-07:00

Last night a friend and I were discussing my recent “graveside” blog. We had a brief conversation on the phone related to opening up our lives and allowing our pain to become visible to others. Later I received the following insightful note from my friend, who prefers to remain anonymous. I requested permission to publish it on my blog.

“After we were done talking on the phone last night, I turned on TBN just for a few minutes, and Pastor Paula White came on and read the Scripture from John 20:20 +27 "And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side." and then in the same chapter vs 27 "Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side;" After this I turned the TV off. I don't know what she preached, but because of our previous conversation, that Scripture touched me deeply. You know, when we have deep, deep hurts that come through our lives, we are so eager to hide them. We just don't want others to see or feel our deep hurt, we rather cover them up and cry by ourselves, cry by our bedside, or graveside.

But, what did Jesus do? He showed them his scarred hands and feet, which we shall behold for all eternity, the innocent Lamb slain for our sins. He uncovered HIS side, to show them the scar on HIS side, for all to see. I'm one that does not like to see scars, nor like to show mine. But HE did. FOR US. I think this was just the lesson from the Bible that I needed after our conversation. It said to me: "Don't hide your grief, don't hide your scars."

Notice that it strengthened the Apostles' faith. Do our scars strengthen other disciples’ faith? After time, you forget your scars, they heal, and many times you just can’t see them anymore, because of the Balm of Gilead: Jesus. I don't know what Paula preached, but the Holy Spirit clearly spoke to me. Hope this blesses you too.”

Now allow me to add: Rev 5:6 “Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne…” The totally perfect Savior-Lamb of God today carries eternal, shameful scars of torture and disfigurement. But as I stare in awe at them, He becomes more beautiful because they are scars of His love for me.

Ralph

She's Not Coming Back

2011-07-23T15:45:00.000-07:00

A few days ago I drove to Sacramento and back, 3 1/2 hours round trip, for a business appointment. On the way back my radio just happened to land on a country music station and, because there was a steel guitar (used to be called Hawaiian guitar) playing in the background, I listened… mostly since I like to check out the style of other musicians. Well, the sad country song was all about how "She left me this time without any tears in her eyes and now I'm sitting here on the front porch steps looking down the road wondering if that meant she'll never come back." Suddenly the lyrics of this song hit me kind of hard because I know there is no chance that my darling is coming back. I was close to the cemetery where Frances was buried so, with that sad song still ringing in my head, I pulled off the highway and went once again to visit her graveside.

I knelt in the wet grass and bawled my heart out forever… well, not quite forever. Then I prayed in the Spirit and worshipped my wonderful Lord Jesus that has been holding me together so faithfully these past ten months. And I started to sing, “Speak my Lord. Speak my Lord. Speak and I'll be quick to answer Thee. Speak my Lord. Speak my Lord. Speak and I will answer ‘Lord send me.’" And once again I promised Him that I would seek His guidance and follow Him back to Argentina or wherever He leads me. The ticket is purchased and reserved. I arrive back in Argentina on August 24, Lord willing, and I don't expect to return to California until mid December.

It seems so sad, but true. She’s not coming back! But “Praise be to God” I’ll be meeting her again soon at the feet of Jesus! I hope to meet you there, too.

Ralph
Psalm 30:5 "Tears may flow in the night, but joy comes in the morning." GNB

God’s Creative Art: Beautiful People and a “Blue Torch”

2011-07-20T17:44:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday and again this morning I had the privilege of filling in for Chaplain Jim Hill at the Bethel Retirement Home in Modesto. It is a charming facility with two separate units; one for the elderly who are self sufficient called the “Independent” unit and the other for those that need “Assisted Living”.

My good friend, Dan Middleton, helped me in the two services (one for each unit) on Sunday and again both services today, Wednesday. On Sunday I revived my Hawaiian guitar (lap steel guitar) and Dan accompanied me on the acoustic Spanish guitar. After a fun time of singing, I pulled out Felipe who told a Bible story. Then I preached a short message. The people seemed to really enjoy the music, the worship, Felipe’s antics and the "Word."

Today, Wednesday, just for variety, I took my accordion. This time we sang a medley of ancient choruses, the ones we used to sing when Frances and I were teenage kids. Dan helped me lead the singing since my voice is still very weak. Today he accompanied me on the piano, which he does very well. Again I ministered to both groups. I was dashing away for the second service this morning, when a lady called me to her chair. She said that while I was praying her eye, that apparently had been totally blind, suddenly was able to see “the light over my head”. She was rejoicing, so I am rejoicing with her. (She is the lady nearest the camera in the photo above.)

I enjoy shooting pictures of God’s creative art. In this case: these beautiful people and this flower that blooms in my back yard every year at this time.

I call it my “Blue Torch” since the blue part resembles a flame. Click on it to enlarge the picture and enjoy the intricate detail while you recall Jesus’ words, “Even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these!”

Ralph

With the Homeless on the Streets of San Francisco

2011-07-11T17:30:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, Sunday, I enjoyed an awesome day on the streets of San Francisco with Pastors Evan and April Prosser and their wonderful Homeless Church! At the last minute I decided to take my Hawaiian Guitar. I think I had not played it since Frances went to be with Jesus last year. It attracted some attention,

but not as much as Felipe. In both open air locations AM and PM he had a captive audience. One of the workers said that even some hecklers stopped to listen with fixed attention. I’m convinced that every adult has a little kid in there somewhere.

Pastor Evan plays a mean violin. He can really make that thing sing. And he’s got a good sound man that is also a converted professional guitarist. Great stuff! Worship was beautiful.

I felt a powerful anointing when preaching in both services and could sense that the Word was sinking deep into hearts. Invisible miracles that last for eternity were taking place down inside. At first only one brave man responded to the AM altar call. His name is Jesse. Others came later for prayer. A larger group responded at the afternoon service.

Jesus came for broken people and this is a work of love designed to reach them.

After each service they feed the entire homeless world right there on the street. You’ve heard of “service with a smile”. This is “service with visible love”. Check out the sister serving up breakfast and tenderly stroking the homeless woman’s forehead.

I looked at these faces and thought, "These are real people with deep needs just like all of us."

Thanks for your prayers. Some of you even fasted and prayed! My voice held out AM and PM with not much left over.

I think my ribs survived all the squeezing. Wounded people, when touched by Jesus’ love, can sure hug you tight!

Ralph

What’s in a Rose?

2011-07-01T12:24:00.000-07:00

What’s in a Rose?

A memory. A fond memory of long ago… when we fell in love.* When I first dared to take your hand as we walked together. The drops of morning dew on its tender petals remind me of the freshness, the purity of that moment!

Where are you now, my love, my darling? Are you surrounded by glorious angels? Are you enjoying the fellowship of those that have gone before? What is heaven like? Can you look down on me? Can you see my tears? If so, don’t take it as grief, but only as an expression of my deep love for you. I long to send you a letter, an email message, a rose, a touch. I miss the touch of your soft, smooth skin.

Where are you my darling, my love? Today I saw you in a rose.

Forever yours.

Ralph

*On our first date I called ahead to find out what color Frances would be wearing. Then I took her a delicate yellow rose corsage to pin on her blouse. From that day forever her favorite flower was the yellow rose. She was 16 and I was 17. I picked her up in my recently purchased 1933 Oldsmobile. That classy old car had belonged first to my grandmother, then to my mother. Finally I bought it from my mother for 100 hard-earned dollars. That Saturday night we went to Youth for Christ in downtown Portland. As we walked together from where I parked the car to the Portland Civic Auditorium our hands touched and sparks flew. Then I built up the courage and took her hand. 500 volts charged through my being! I can remember that moment like a picture, even where we were on the sidewalk when it happened. She was my love, close to me for over 60 years, first as “going steady” for nearly two years and then almost 59 years faithfully by my side through bright days and dark nights as my darling wife.

Because her favorite flower was the yellow rose, our sons would sometimes buy her a plant of yellow roses to adorn our garden. The one in the picture is from a plant, a gift to her from our son, Mike. Today its beauty called me into the distant past. Yet just ahead we have another date coming… and I can hardly wait! Lord Jesus, maybe you’d let me take her a yellow rose.

Unsung Heroes

2011-06-26T23:17:00.000-07:00

There’s lots of them out there! They serve as pastors of small, seldom mentioned congregations. They are not looking for recognition or honor. They are giving their lives to bring people to Jesus and see them mature in Christ.

Leonard and Gloria Trembley are two of those heroes. I had the joy of ministering to their exciting, bilingual congregation at the Monterey Assembly of God this morning. I asked the people to gather together in the middle of the sanctuary to get a picture of the group. On Saturdays they minister to a still larger group of children and parents… 145 of them yesterday (Saturday) and 165 the previous week! Frances and I ministered at one of those powerful Saturday gatherings in 2009.

Check out the little boy, Manuel, in a checkered grey jacket standing in front of Gloria.

(Photo) During the service when Gloria asked if anyone had something to say he came forward and with the mike in hand, in deep sincerity, admonished the church with a brief message about the power of the shed blood of Jesus. You could tell it was not something memorized. It just came from his heart… and perhaps straight from the heart of God.

Leonard and Gloria are dedicated to making a difference in these lives. Jesus spoke about “bringing forth fruit that remains.” Here is a labor of love with eternal consequences. Today I honor Leonard and Gloria Trembley!

Ralph

Day of Rest

2011-06-26T10:07:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Saturday, I drove to Felton to visit our son, Ron, and his Argentinean wife, Elisabet. Ron and I drove to a lonely little beach nestled among the rising cliffs. We stood and watched with awe as the massive breakers smashed against the rocks. Two little birds floated effortlessly right at the most turbulent spot of all. They rose to the top of the crashing breakers and appeared at the other side as calm as ever. There’s got to be a spiritual lesson there somewhere.

(See photo)

Ron and Elisabet live in a pretty little log cabin nestled in the Santa Cruz mountains.

(See photo) They happened to be hosting a BBQ for a group of the leadership of their Santa Cruz Faith Community Church complete with horseback rides for all the kids on their two highly trained, beautiful Arabian horses.

(Photo) Then the kids enjoyed playing in the creek. (Photo)

After enjoying their BBQ, I drove to the Santa Cruz beach where another son, Tim, and his family were celebrating both our grandkid’s birthdays (Evan 14 and Michelle 16) along with a group of church friends that had all driven down from Modesto. We cooked hotdogs over the fire and enjoyed potato salad and delicious homemade chili. Happy Birthday Evan and Michelle!

What a beautiful day of rest! Thank you Jesus!

Ralph

Sonshine Rose

2011-06-23T11:39:00.000-07:00

Hey!

I was impressed by this rose in Sister Heidi Griessmann’s flower garden in Oregon City during a visit to Oregon and Washington last week. I’m calling it the “Sonshine Rose” because it looks to me like it has the sun on the inside… like maybe when it opens fully it is going to blind you with its bright light.

May the Son be so bright within us that His divine light shines through the cracks and creases growing always brighter as our lives open into full maturity and ministry!

“The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.” Proverbs 4:18

Ralph

Friend of Sinners

2011-06-06T14:54:00.000-07:00

This morning and tonight were my last services in this Missions Congress here in Templo La Hermosa, Tijuana. Many people responded with Faith Promises to support their Mexican missionaries. Pastors Delfino and María Ibarra (Photo)

have a well balanced Church with many activities.

Faith Promise Sunday morning the Royal Ranger awards were given out. (See Photo)

Their children are responsive and beautiful. (Photo) And their people know how to seek the Lord in prayer. (See Photos)

Jesus was heavily criticized by religious people because he hung out with sinners. Surely they whispered among themselves the proverb, “You can judge a man’s character by the friends he chooses.” Tonight I preached, “Jesus, Friend of Sinners.” Five responded for salvation, 2 men, 2 women and a young boy. Hey! That’s what it’s all about, isn’t it?

Ralph

Home for Abused Children

2011-06-05T11:13:00.000-07:00

This afternoon I was taken to a home for abused children here in Tijuana, Mexico. All of the kids there of all ages have been taken from their parents due to mistreatment. It is like an enclosed community of houses. Each house has a permanent “mother” who accepts the children that are assigned to her house as if they were her own. She keeps them until they are old enough to live on their own… 18 years old or even 20 years old or more.

We did a service outdoors under a patio with a shade roof. Josué and Carla, a young couple from Templo La Hermosa where I am ministering, hold regular Bible classes and games for the kids here. Some of the mothers allow their kids to come, others do not. It was sad to see one “mother” run out of her house yelling and demanding that “her children” do not listen and watch Felipe as he told a Bible story. Finally she came and grabbed three small children by force and dragged them away crying. One must understand that this “mother” has been taught that she is protecting her “children” from a false sect.

The kids all seemed to enjoy the class. After Felipe’s Bible story, Carla continued with more teaching, prayer, games and nice prizes for all. Thank the Lord for Josué and Carla who, like hundreds of other lay people in our churches, do not sit idly by doing their own thing, but without prompting, seek out a ministry to touch the lives of others with the love of Jesus.

Ralph

Josue y Carla teaching abused kids

Flowers at Home for Abused Children

Felipe Visits Home for Abused Children, Tijuana

You Stayed with the Stuff

2011-06-04T11:12:00.001-07:00

This morning I wrote this note to one of our long-term faithful supporters, but after reading it I realized that it belongs to many others of you, too, that have “stayed with the stuff.” See 1 Sam. 30:24 and the context: “As his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike.” Hallelujah!

I don’t know if you can ever know what a blessing it has been across all these years to have you guys as our faithful friends and supporters in prayer and finance. Every victory on the mission field was your victory, too. One day, not far in the future, you will receive the applause of the heavenly host while our King Jesus gives out His accolades to those who have faithfully “stayed with the stuff” and who, along with their prayer support, have passed the necessary supplies on toward the front lines. I confess that Frances and I have received so much honor here on earth from our mission leadership, our fellow laborers and our churches in both the USA and Argentina that I personally feel that I have already received my reward… and far more than I deserve! Your turn is coming soon!

This morning in my devotions I read Romans chapter 16 where the Apostle Paul names 24 of his fellow laborers and refers to many others without naming them. He mentions the good things they have done and how some had suffered for Christ’s sake. We all see and applaud the wonderful work that this first missionary apostle did, but he and the God Who inspired his writing did not want these precious men and women of his support team to go unnoticed.

Your grateful friend,

Ralph

Templo La Hermosa, Tijuana, Mexico

2011-06-02T11:33:00.000-07:00

Tijuana, Mexico. I’m back in the hotel after tonight’s meeting. Great crowd for a Wednesday night! (See two photos)

It started at 6:30. The kids and adults, too, all loved Perfume and Felipe. After preaching, I opened the altars at about 8:50. Finally around 9:30 the pastor interrupted the prayer time to take up the offering. I felt kind of sorry about that, since many were still praying and I had not been able to get around to pray with all of them. I think he felt it was necessary and he probably was right. Several remained in prayer anyway.

Long after almost all the people had left, one mother was left sitting with a sleeping child in her lap. I came close and realized that she was weeping with tears just pouring. I stayed and prayed with her a while and then snapped her picture. She didn’t seem to notice. (See Photo)

Who knows what God was doing in her heart? I think it was something good. I was reminded of the night in 1962 when I was sitting in the balcony and had my little Mikey sleeping on my lap. It was a District Youth Convention and God had recently called me to Argentina. While many others were at the altars praying I sat there with my Mikey sound asleep and wept my way through to a very special experience with the Lord… far too much to tell tonight… but it helped prepare me for Argentina.

Be blessed!

Ralph

Top Security at Oakland Airport

2011-06-02T08:35:00.000-07:00

Hey! This was too hilarious not to share with you.

Noon today and I’m in the Oakland airport from where I’m flying to San Diego.

As usual my little Felipe, who was sleeping calmly in his case, abruptly stopped the security belt when seen by the x-ray lady. She called a group of security people who gathered around to look. Then the conversation went like… “Sir, what is that in this case?” “I’m a ventriloquist. It’s my dummy.” “Can you make him talk?” “Only if you let me take him out of his suitcase.” The lady left the x-ray thing for someone else to operate. She came to check it out. I opened the case and took Felipe out. He started talking to her in Spanish. “Hola! Yo soy de la Argentina,” He said. She answered him in Spanish, so now we knew that she was bilingual… and he kept the conversation going in Spanish. Then I heard this little rascal, Felipe, tell her in Spanish, “Este hombre que me tiene en sus manos no habla nada de español. El pobre no entiende nada de lo que estamos diciendo.” For you who need the interpretation thereof, he was saying: “This guy that is holding me doesn’t speak any Spanish. The poor guy has no idea what we are saying.” At this, I interrupted in English. “Hey, Felipe, what are you telling this lady? You know that’s not true. I speak Spanish, too.” By this time I was caving in with laughter and so was the lady. Sometimes I don’t know what this little guy is going to say until he has already said it… ha. It was a struggle to get him back in his case. He always protests. And then I showed her my delightful skunk, Perfume, which she obviously enjoyed. Fact is, when Felipe is with me, I never know what dangers and/or joys await me at the security check.

Ralph

Friends, Fun and Fish

2011-05-26T08:20:00.000-07:00

San Antonio First Assembly is always an exciting experience for me. Pastor Wayne Clark had invited me to preach their May 22nd Mission Sunday and stay a few days to share in their staff retreat at Port Aransas on an island near Corpus Christi. The main emphasis on Sunday morning was their mid-year Faith Promise booster, but as I was closing my message I felt impressed to give a rather strange altar call. “If your heart is crying out, ’Lord, I don’t want to just be a spectator in missions. I want to be personally involved. Let me in! Jesus, Let me in!’ then come down here and get on your knees.” The response was sudden and serious! God was at work. Missionaries are being called into His service! Praise be to the Lord of the Harvest! Among those at the altar were the son and daughter of my dear friends, Kim and Shari Babcock, missionaries in Argentina. Becky and Jeremiah Babcock are each destined to do great things for the kingdom of God. (See photo of them with me and Pastor Clark.)

Also Sunday morning our lifetime friends, Erwin and Edna Bush and their son, Chuck came to Sunday School and church. (Photo, Edna in wheelchair) When we were kids Erwin was big and powerful and I was skinny and weak. He would grab me from behind and hug me so tight I thought he would break my ribs. Our pastor William Booth-Clibborn would take time an hour before Sunday night services to teach two young boys to pray. We would ride our bikes about 5 miles across the city of Portland, Oregon to kneel with him in the prayer room. Later, at our pastor’s suggestion, we would often ride our bikes out into isolated places in the woods to kneel and pray together. Pastor Clark invited the Bushes to join us at a nice restaurant after church. Then Sunday evening I accompanied Erwin, Edna and Chuck to an excellent Bible Study taught by their other son, Norrie, at Calvary Chapel in Universal City. What a blessing!

I’ve known Pastor Wayne Clark since he was a teenage PK in the Sacramento area. He and his wife, Judy, are always such a joy to be with! On Monday he hooked up his fishing boat and drove to Port Aransas. If you know Pastor Wayne Clark, you know he is not only an excellent “missionary-minded” pastor… he is also a great fisherman. He loves to fish. I think every time I have preached in his church he has taken me fishing. We caught lots of fish of all sizes and many different types. We had taken the Teen Challenge cook, Melvin, with us to prepare breakfast for the staff. Melvin had been a destitute alcoholic before coming to Jesus at Teen Challenge. Now he is a delightful brother. He was so appreciative of being included in this retreat and to be able to go fishing with us. And Melvin caught the biggest fish of all… a 35 inch Red fish! (photo) This afternoon I also had the fun of catching a very nice 26 inch Red fish. See photo.

Tomorrow I fly back to Modesto to be with my family for the Memorial Day weekend before leaving for Missions Week at Templo Hermoso in Tijuana, Mexico.

Ralph

Sitting here bawling and typing

2011-05-10T20:18:00.000-07:00

I’m heading back to the USA this evening. This past weekend has been awesome!

I cannot resist the feeling that I will be back here in Argentina soon. The opportunity is almost overpowering if such a thing is possible. As I look out upon the vastness of this ripened harvest field I feel quite like a farmer that sees the golden grain blowing in the breeze over his hundreds of acres of land stretching to the distant horizon. He cannot rise early enough to get at it. He is anxious, eager to get moving. He knows it is bigger than he is and will require getting many others involved. He will have to raise up many harvesters or it will be lost. Sleeping, eating and goofing around seem to lose their appeal. The harvest is waiting! My God! The harvest is waiting! If it was just wheat that would be one thing. But we are talking about the harvest of eternal souls. Oh God, wake me early… give me guidance… Here am I… send me!

Tears flow as I write these words. Please forgive me for being so emotional. You would have to have lived what I have lived this past weekend to fully understand. I’m a mess. New invitations, some to huge mega churches here, keep coming in. Yet I am drawn to the distant places at the edge of nowhere. I suppose I could stay here in the capital city of Buenos Aires and never exhaust the flood of opportunities. Wherever I go I find myself challenging men and women, youth and children to get involved in the harvest. I have never before in my ministry seen so much weeping and wailing at the altar calls. God is up to something. And whatever it is… may it touch this nation and extend to distant parts of this staggering planet!

What am I doing… sitting here bawling and typing? I've got to pack my bags and get myself to the airport... ha.

Ralph

Most touching moment

2011-05-10T08:16:00.000-07:00

Our most touching moments usually can’t be captured in a photo. Tonight that moment came when I was stepping carefully through the huge crowd of kneeling people and quietly praying with many that were weeping as they dedicated their lives to the Lord. One little girl, probably less than two years old pushed ahead of me to get to her daddy who was kneeling in the crowd. He was bent low with tears running down his cheeks. The sweet little child bent down and looked up into her daddy’s face and then tenderly reached up with both hands to wipe away his tears. I can still feel the beauty of that tender moment.

Earlier in the same service I was praying for the kids after finishing with Felipe. I had my eyes closed and was just finishing my prayer when I felt little people all over me. They had climbed the platform steps to lean on me, touch me and sit close to me. (photo)

I don’t know how Felipe does it, but I often get swarmed with little hugging kids after Felipe does his thing. One big tall handsome man came to tell me that when he was 8 years old he came to Christ in a meeting where I was ministering with Felipe. Rewarding indeed!

Saturday I ministered in the city of San Miguel in a new church building with a unique architectural stadium design. (Photo)

Today, Sunday, in three more wonderful services … two AM services in San Telmo which we planted in 1982 and in Catedral de la Fe (Cathedral of Faith) Lanus, another grandchild church of the La Boca church. It is only 2 years old and already has over 400 faithfuls! About 25 first timers came forward for salvation and, as almost always, many of all ages knelt in dedication to their Master at the close.

This is my final service before leaving for California again. Today I felt like I was going out in a burst of glory… God’s glory! I saw at least 35 new people open their hearts to Christ in these three services.

I’ll see you soon, Lord willing, in the USA! Oh yes, thanks for praying, my voice is already strengthening and the cold symptoms disappearing. I never had to miss a beat! Praise God!

Ralph

Preaching in San Miguel

New ones responding to altar call, San Telmo 2nd AM service

Tiny Feet

2011-05-06T14:17:00.000-07:00

I must have been hit with a virus or something on Wednesday. Last night, Thursday, I could barely speak at Lujan, a church we helped to plant in 1989. I made it through, but with difficulty. Even Felipe did his thing. I was particularly touched by a mother and young son that prayed together.

(photo) After a blessed time of prayer I could hardly speak and that with a lot of pain in my severely swollen throat. The little kids gathered around to pray for me so I knelt down. There was something special about this hallowed moment. I looked down at the circle of tiny feet and felt their little hands on my shoulders and arms and even messing up my hair. Little kids can learn to pray. And the God I know listens to kids.

Their faith has not yet been seared by doubt. Their confidence in the living God has not yet been tainted by all the atheistic and agnostic influences that surround our 21st-century culture. They prayed … and they were not in a hurry. They didn’t stop till they were through. Then I was hugged to pieces by little arms.

Tonight I will be in Villa Urquiza at the Catedral de Vida (Cathedral of Life) with Pastors Gustavo and Graciela Calardo. Gustavo is another one of the boys that were saved while we were preaching in a city park in La Boca (Ghetto Church). He now has served as National Secretary of the Assemblies of God here for more almost two decades I think, while continuing to pastor this church.

My throat feels better, but my voice is pretty much not there. I’m not canceling any of my five remaining services this weekend. I’m counting on God answering the prayers of those little people with the tiny feet.

Pastors Walter and Rebecca Diaz and family

Ralph

Resurrection of a church

2011-05-05T14:08:00.000-07:00

Guillermo and his wife, Marta, and family are members of the Pacheco church where I preached last night. They have accepted the challenge to resurrect a church that was closed years ago in a needy barrio in Gran Bourg. Gran Bourg is a huge area with many needy neighborhoods located about 20 miles from Pacheco. They collect nice used clothing and on Saturdays they distribute it to the children and serve hot chocolate and a light snack. A local bakery provides sweet rolls. Marta and their three kids dress as clowns, have games for the kids, then a time of singing, Bible teaching and a devotional. Already parents are coming with their kids and some have given their lives to Christ. This story of reaching out with food and clothing for the needy is being repeated over and again in many churches throughout the country. They don’t advertise what they are doing. They are not asking for help. It is a service to the Lord Jesus. I am confident that Guillermo and Marta will see this church “rise again”.

Hot dogs for hungry kids

Local bakery supplies sweetrolls

Marta, dressed as clown, serves the kids

Pastors' kids help out

Latin American Child Care Making a Difference

2011-05-05T10:21:00.000-07:00

This has been a busy day. A pastor came to pick me up at 11 AM to minister to the middle school and high school kids in the Moreno Prince of Peace Christian school. Then at 12:30 PM the 1st through 7th grade kids filed into the same auditorium for a second service.

Finally at 2 PM they brought in 90 little kids from 3 years old through Kindergarten for my third service there with Felipe and Perfume. (Photos) The smallest children just love to touch Perfume, the skunk. This school was in disastrous condition and about to close in 2006 when I took Pastor Caleb Klinge from Novato and Pastor Steve Reyes from Sonoma and a group of their people to minister there. These churches came to their rescue with a burst of financial help. We also prevailed upon Latin American Child Care (LACC) to get involved. Now Missionaries Ed and Cecilia Dabello who represent LACC are here doing a great job in this needy neighborhood in the city of Moreno. There are about 450 kids in all grades. These lives will have hope because somebodyv… through LACC has invested in them.

Now it’s 2 AM and I am back in my borrowed apartment on the fourth floor under the huge water tank at the Martinez church. Tonight I had the joy of ministering in the Catedral Emanuel in the city of Pacheco with my dear friends Pastors Alberto y Ermelinda Aranda. They called a special service just for me this Wednesday night. The church was crammed to the doors with about 400 people! What a fiesta! Unbelievable musicians! A guitar player that is absolutely awesome! Fabulous harmony in the choir! Well over an hour of spontaneous worship! While the choir sang a beautiful rendition of “The Savior is Waiting to Enter Your Heart”, Pastor Alberto gave an invitation to the visitors to come for salvation before the sermon. The Holy Spirit was at work and 9 responded. (Photo)

After the sermon and an extended time of earnest prayer, an elderly brother, Alberto Dacosta, (photo) came to tell me that he was saved in the huge stadium services that I was directing way back in the 1980s with Jimmy Swaggart. Alberto has served God faithfully all these years along with hundreds of others, some of them in the ministry. Jesus said, “I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18) and He has proved faithful to His word. Praise God!

Ralph

La Boca Ghetto Church

2011-05-04T03:00:00.000-07:00

It’s 3 AM and I have arrived back at the prophet’s chamber. Tonight I had the joy of preaching again in the church we planted in the slums of Buenos Aires in 1973-74, Barrio La Boca. Pastor Jose Manuel Carlos and his lovely wife, Isabel, were very young when we turned this church over to them in 1976. They are now grandparents, but just as vibrant as ever. (Photo)

Great Tuesday night crowd! (Photo) Lots of kids! (Photo) Saturdays they have two youth meetings back to back. First, 70 teenagers meet in the late afternoon, then that evening about 70 college age and older youth meet for worship.

I met Walter and Cinthia after church. (photo) They are part of an outreach team that is ministering in a neighborhood where many young teenage kids smoke some strange new drug using a pipe. La Boca church was born in street evangelism and they haven’t lost their fervor. They are reaching out to their crowded world with the love of Jesus. Tonight I preached “the harvest is plenteous”… unlimited possibilities… a mission field at our door step! Pastor Jose Manuel Carlos tells me that so many youth have gone out of the church into ministry that he lost count after it past 87 several years ago!

I must hit the hay. I have three meetings to preach tomorrow; morning in Prince of Peace Christian school in Moreno, afternoon in the same building but a totally different crowd of kids and evening in the Catedral Emanuel in Pacheco. (See ad)

Ralph

Just for Missionaries

2011-05-01T12:57:00.000-07:00

I could never… and still cannot just stand up and start talking without detailed preparation and sensing that I have a word from the Lord. Many times I spend long hours preparing and at the last moment I sense that this message which I worked so hard on is really for another time and place. Then the Master rescues me, taking me to some text or thought that better fits the situation. That’s what happened yesterday morning as I sat before our wonderful, dedicated missionary team here in Argentina. I had struggled several nights and long hours writing down ideas and organizing them… just for a 20 minute devotional. I had handwritten notes all ready. At the last minute I just couldn’t use them and had to take another text that kept invading my thoughts… actually several texts. The worst part is that now I don’t really have a written record of what I said. I always try to keep a record lest I repeat myself at some future date.

I’m trying to remember now as I write. Oh yes, I asked permission to lift a few words from the Bible out of their context. I normally would not do this, but felt the Lord would not be displeased. So I lifted from 2 Cor 5:14 just the words “For the love of Christ constraineth us…” (King James); “For Christ's love compels us…” (NIV) “Porque el amor de Cristo nos constriñe…” (Reina Valera) I talked about our motivation. Jesus clarified the motivation behind the Father sending His Son with John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave…” Jesus was compelled into this world by His Father’s love… driven to lay aside His divine glory and the splendor of heaven to become a missionary to stinking, rebellious sinners. He hung out with them… bringing the criticism of the religious crowd down upon Him. “This guy likes to hang around sinners!” (Luke 15:2) They may have mouthed the ancient proverb, “You can tell a man by the company he keeps.” Why did he sit at the table with nasty sinners? He loved them. That’s why. He was driven, compelled, constrained by His Father’s love. My God! Where would I be if He had stayed behind polished pulpits?

What drove us from our comfortable homes in the USA? What caused us to take our little kids and break into another culture and language? Why are we here in Argentina? Are we driven, compelled, constrained by the love of Christ to hang out with sinners? Are we more comfortable to do Starbucks with our companion missionaries or our best friend? The risen Christ shows us the scars on His hands and feet and says to us, like He did to His disciples, “In the same way that my Father sent me, so send I you”. Paul adds, “Let this same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus…”

Prayer: Jesus, shower your divine passion down upon us until we are compelled and constrained, driven by Your love into the depths of darkness to sit beside a lost sinner… not because we have to, but because we want to. Amen.

PS. Check out this unusual piece of art setting beside the road in the coastal city of Pinamar where we had our missionary meeting this past weekend. Bring it up close to see it better.
PPS. I should be back in Modesto for a week or so on May 10.

Old man and kids

2011-05-01T07:50:00.000-07:00

Meet Claudio Salazar and family. (Photo) Claudio worked full time for us for several years just after he got married. It was a time of extreme activity and heavy responsibility. This remarkable young man handled tens of thousands of dollars as we managed gospel TV programs reaching millions of people, the purchase of new church properties and church planting crusades. Claudio had no intentions of becoming a pastor himself, but years later planted a successful and growing church in Gran Bourg. He has invited me many times in the past. Finally last Wednesday night I was able to minister there and witness what God is doing with his life and that of his family.

Now here is an old man that doesn’t know that he is old. He can’t thank the Lord enough for the privilege of touching the lives of little kids, again and again. This time it was last Thursday morning at Martinez Christian school in Buenos Aires. (Photos)

Friday I was invited to preach at our largest and highly productive Bible Institute, IBRP (River Platte Bible Institute) near Buenos Aires. What a joy to minister to 270 dedicated students, ready to give their very lives to spread the love of Jesus to the world! (Photos below) After an extended time of prayer some were rising, IBRP Director Rocky Grams looked at the floor and then at me and commented, “I think we’ll need to mop up the tears again!”

Julie leaves for college

2011-05-01T05:50:00.000-07:00

This weekend our South American Southern Cone Area Directors, David and Carol Ellis, honored me with the privilege of participating in their MF (Missionary Fellowship) business meeting in the coastal city of Pinamar. They even asked me to give the Saturday morning devotional. I was blessed to tears to be back among my precious missionary family of many old friends and several new ones. Our youngest MKs enjoyed getting acquainted with Perfume and Felipe.

Tears flowed freely as Julie Dabello, a 17-year-old beautiful blonde, was surrounded with prayer and hugged to pieces. She has graduated from high school here and is now leaving for college in the USA. These are among the most painful times for a missionary family as one of their children leaves the shelter of the nest to live and study often 8,000 miles away. Julie will need our continued prayers as she steps out of this loving missionary environment and into the cold, hard realities of the US college culture. Some of these missionaries live separated up to 1,000 miles from the other members of the team, but they are as closely knit as blood-related family.

Ralph

Area Directors Dave and Carol Ellis

Good job, Jesus!

2011-04-30T11:35:00.000-07:00

Meet Jose Barrionuevo. (Photo) I found him worshiping last night at the Merlo church. He is a builder and leading a team of his local church members in building a well designed extension of the sanctuary that will more than double its capacity. Volunteer workers have been building with him for a year, mostly on Saturdays. Now it is almost finished. When I greeted him he told me this remarkable story: 24 years ago he was practically an invalid with a bad knee and could only walk with a special support cane. He claims that I went to his house and prayed for him and that he was instantly healed and gave his heart to Christ. He was younger then and joined others playing soccer for years. (You need to know that grown men here love to play soccer.) He has never used a cane since. Good job, Jesus! You did it again!

And check out this youth group! (Photo)

We started this Merlo church in 1977-78 with 15 hopelessly addicted drug addicts, pushers and young prostitutes in the middle of “sin city”… with a 20-month nightly tent crusade. Now the neighborhood has changed entirely and is filled with nice homes. Good job, Jesus! There you go… doing it again and again!
Ralph

Riding in on Felipe's shirt-tail

2011-04-26T23:59:00.000-07:00

Wow! Our minister son, Tim, just sent me the site to watch the three short Easter videos he produced for his local church! He often makes videos for his church and offers them for sale on Sermon Spice. If you wish to check them out, just click on: http://www.sermonspice.com/bundle/39424/he-loves-you-this-much-bundle.

Today I watched again Frances’ Memorial video that Tim prepared for his mother’s funeral. It is fantastic to have this as a keep-sake. I cried and laughed and sang all by myself sitting here in this prophet’s chamber. I miss Frances so much! But the Comforter is always present with me. I feel like I am living on the edge of something wonderful. Invitations and possibilities abound. I should be curled up somewhere feeling sorry for myself, but God has pushed me out into a new and quite different life with almost zero stress and maximum blessing. These Argentine churches often give me a “love offering”. And when I am with them they don’t let me spend anything… except by anonymously giving in church offerings. So I mostly spend those pesos on long distance travel and on food and lodging when I am alone, and since I am preaching almost every day at least once… that “alone thing” only happens when I make it happen. Yesterday afternoon and this morning I was alone… and I think I really needed it.

This afternoon I met with Missionaries Kim and Shari Babcock. Kim and Shari are wanting to schedule me in their King’s Castle youth leaders events in a couple of provinces in July and September. I turned July down in order to get my feet on the ground in the USA during the summer, but am considering the possibility of September. I think this event may be in Cordoba, in which case I could probably schedule those three Christian schools, too, plus many churches in the area. The Lord still helps me to connect somehow with kids, teenagers, young adults and even the aged. Actually, to give credit where credit is due, my sidekick, Felipe, is the one in heavy demand. I just ride in on his shirt-tail and behold… he lets me do the preaching.

At Merlo tonight two little boys remained quietly in prayer for at least 40 minutes, long after the adults and youth had left the altar area. One looks like he is 8 and the other maybe 11. Who knows what God is doing inside those tender hearts? (Photos)

Ralph

Prophet's chamber

2011-04-25T18:29:00.000-07:00

What a well behaved group of 400 school kids sitting on the floor! They had no idea about what was coming. I look at these faces and know that every one of them is a treasured jewel worth dying for. Each one a “life to be lived.” Potential unlimited! The next time I go to Cordoba, they want to set me up with three Christian schools. One of them much larger than this one.

I have arrived safely at Martinez, suburb of Buenos Aires. “I’m not a prophet nor the son of a prophet” (Amos 7:14), but am now comfortably moved into the church’s “prophet’s chamber,” fourth story, light in the window, just under the water tank. This is Missionary Don Exley’s church plant (a great church and a great school) and they are building a massive structure for over 1500.

Ralph

Meet me at the flag pole

2011-04-24T22:44:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the confusing title yesterday. No…“Midway” is not a place. Actually I was just trying to find a short way to say “Altar Call in the middle of my sermon”… so I came up with “Midway Altar Call”. This altar call happened in one of our newer AG churches in the city of Cordoba.

I preached this morning, at a beautiful Easter Service in “Cordoba Christian Center”… a church planted in the 1980s by Missionaries Don and Melba Exley. It has become a national leader in missions giving. They are making a difference in the world. Tonight I ministered in our oldest church here in Cordoba “Bethel Church” (Iglesia Betel). It was there when we moved to this city in 1966, but now is in a new location. This happened to be Santiago and Lidia Zapata’s 30th anniversary as pastors of this church. It was a free-for-all as people ran forward to smother them with confetti and love. They have been our dear friends since 1966 when he was CA president (youth president) at this same church. At the close of the message several visitors came for salvation, among them “Somebody’s son” came home to Jesus.

Tomorrow morning I take a plane to Buenos Aires, but first I’ll be driven to a Christian grade school at 8 AM to minister to about 400 kids at the raising of the Argentine flag just before catching that plane. I don’t want to miss anybody… ha!

Ralph

Midway altar call

2011-04-23T23:59:00.000-07:00

You should have seen the packed church tonight! (Photo) The time was right so I gave an altar call in the middle of the sermon. Six responded to give their hearts to Jesus, five young men and one lady. (Photo) After praying for salvation with these “first timers” I sent them back to their seats for the second half… ha. Resurrection is all about new life… abundant life! All six of these were back praying again at the end of the service… the tall fellow was seeking deliverance from cigarettes. The resurrected Christ is in the liberty business. “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36

Ralph

Night of Forgiveness

2011-04-22T23:59:00.000-07:00

The night of His betrayal Jesus took a basin of water and a towel and started washing his disciple’s feet… and he didn’t stop until he had washed the feet of Judas Iscariot, His betrayer. He knew that only moments later those feet would run to sell their Master for 30 pieces of silver. Picture the King of kings on His knees in front of His betrayer. That’s a forgiving, loving heart stooping low! Many years have passed since I had witnessed a “foot washing service”. But Pastor Pancho Buono, (who was saved as a teenager one night in 1967 when I was preaching in this city) has this special “Foot Washing Service” every year during Holy Week. He calls it “Night of Forgiveness.” Pancho has raised up an awesome church that is actively starting other churches even in distant provinces, more than twenty, plus another twenty in process. Tonight after I preached, he told the people that he had requested the privilege of washing the feet of his “spiritual father.” (photo) It was a powerful experience, a time of expressed love and appreciation. Each Husband was kneeling in front of his wife tenderly washing her feet… then visa versa. (photo) Love and forgiveness flowed like a river. Everybody was laying their hands on their loved ones and praying for them. Elderly widows washed each other’s feet. Pancho washed the feet of his board members. And I requested the privileged of washing Pastor Pancho’s feet. (photo)

After the service I was shuttled to the home of the couple that are in charge of the “Castilleros” (King’s Castle Kids). They had been out preaching on the streets. They sat me in a chair in front of them and said “Preach!” It was totally unexpected, but when you give me a bunch of charged up teenagers, you don’t have to beg me too much. I shared with them how God had thrust me into ministry even though I was shy and incapable of speaking in public… and how a group of 30 service men surrendered their lives to Christ the very first time I tried. I had made a total mess of it, but I discovered that the power is not in the delivery, but in the message. It was now almost midnight and Pastor Pancho’s car was waiting outside to take me “home” to the IBM.

Before church I shared my testimony with Sergio, my taxi driver, a father of three kids… for 30 minutes… all the way from the Bible Institute to church. Then there in front of the church, seated in the car, he prayed with me to receive the Savior that died for him and rose again. Who Knows? Sergio may become another Pancho! This is going to be a good weekend. I’ve still got three more churches to go!

I invite you to check out my blog (now at a new address). Just double click on http://ralphhiatt.blogspot.com/

Ralph

Church Planters in Action

2011-04-21T23:59:00.000-07:00

Tonight, the Thursday before Good Friday, I ministered in the city of Jesus Maria about 50 kilometers north of Cordoba with a pastor that served as my right hand when he was a teen-age kid. Samuel Daniele was a PK who played the accordion well at 15 years old. Together we did street meetings in the city of Cordoba. Later he found his wife, Lidia, at IBRP our Bible Institute in Buenos Aires. They graduated and immediately entered full-time ministry. Samuel and Lidia have started several churches and tonight I ministered at their most recent church plant. They are still worshiping in a rented hall. (Photo)

Recently they purchased a lot and will soon begin building a church. Tonight they are doing an all-night vigil. I was asked to launch it with my message. It was also Lidia’s birthday. I shot this photo of them as the people were singing Happy Birthday to her. This congregation obviously loves their pastors. For weeks I have been ministering late into the night and getting very little sleep so I did not stay for the all night vigil. The church will continue in prayer and worship until 3 or 4 AM.

My ministry part is finished at the IBM (Mediterranean Bible Institute) at least for now. I will continue to live here while ministering four more times in this area. Monday I fly to Buenos Aires to continue ministry there. Tomorrow night I will minister in an unusual “foot washing service” at a church planted by Pancho Buono. Pancho was saved as a teenager here one night in 1966 when I was preaching. A teenage girl invited this lost kid, who had a wild reputation in his neighborhood, to come hear the Hawaiian guitar. He came. He reminded me recently that I preached on John 12:24 that night. He responded to the altar call and gave his life to Christ. After graduating from IBRP he traveled as an evangelist to Chile and to other countries including the United States. He learned English in his travels and made numerous trips ministering in the USA. He remains single. About 20 years ago he went back to his old neighborhood, where he had a previous bad reputation, and started a church. And it is a great church! Pancho calls me his spiritual father and says he wants the privilege of washing my feet. I agreed on one condition, that I may wash his. We never know who will come to Christ when we preach the Word! I probably won’t be around to see all that the Lord will do with the dedicated youth here at the IBM… but you can count on it. They will, like the apostles of old, invade Satan’s territory, plant new churches and steal the captives from the devil’s grip, freeing them into a life of victory.

This is destined to be an exciting weekend, Friday night with Pancho, Saturday night with a pastor I recently met, Samuel Medina, and Easter Sunday both morning and evening ministering with dear friends from long ago. I will need physical strength, a voice that keeps going and a special anointing from heaven. Did you see that picture (yesterday) of the IBM students praying for me? If I mess up this weekend it won’t be their fault. They prayed the power of God out of heaven down upon me!

Ralph

Another grain of wheat falls and dies

2011-04-20T23:59:00.000-07:00

This afternoon I translated into Spanish Pastor Mehdi Dibaj’s beautiful defense which he presented in an Iranian court. His sentence was death. (**See Ken Horn’s note below.) He served 9 long years in prison for apostasy and for preaching Christ. In his defense he does not plead for his life. He presents Christ Jesus, the loving Savior, to all present. In a separate statement he says, "I have always envied those Christians who were martyred for Christ Jesus our Lord. What a privilege to live for our Lord and to die for Him as well. I am filled to overflowing with joy; I am not only satisfied to be in prison. . .but am ready to give my life for the sake of Jesus Christ." Five months after his release he paid the supreme sacrifice.

IBM Directors Stephen and Sonia Wallace

My text for the students at IBM tonight was the verse that has most impacted my personal life, John 12:24. “Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it will be forever fruitless, but if it dies it will bring forth MUCH fruit.” I already have this verse inscribed on my tombstone which I share with Frances. Her favorite passage Prov. 3:5-6 is beside her name.

I believe there was a deep work of God taking place in many of these 50 young students of God’s Word tonight. They knelt and some lay face down around the altar burying the seed and letting it die. As at other times, there were some significant puddles of tears left behind. The abandoned shoes made me think of Cinderella. (Photo) Physical death never comes easy and this dying to one’s self can also be painful. Later there was a great time of singing and rejoicing. Little joyful “prayer-huddles” formed here and there around the room. Praise God, this kind of death is never the end! It is rather the beginning of a new kind of life. The seed lies dormant and cold beneath the soil, then a tiny root seeks water and sustenance and a weak little sprout pushes its way through stubborn soil toward sunlight. Resurrection joy can never be experienced without first suffering the pain of death. What a celebration of resurrection joy among the students! (Photo) God’s promises will not fail them. Jesus says there will be MUCH fruit!

Ralph

**Special thanks to Ken Horn, editor of the Pentecostal Evangel, who responded to my urgent request today, sending me the information below along with pastor Dibaj’s defense.

Rev. Mehdi Dibaj who was born into a Muslim family became a Christian 45 Years ago. On December 21, 1993 an Islamic court in the city of Sari condemned him to die. The conviction was based on the charge of apostasy, i.e. that Rev. Dibaj had abandoned Islam and embraced Christianity. Once the news of Rev. Dibaj's death sentence reached the rest of the world, the reaction was one of disbelief followed by prayer and action. One of the persons who worked very hard to overturn Rev. Dibaj's sentence was Bishop Haik Hovsepian-Mehr. Bishop Haik, an Armenian pastor, shared the news of Rev. Dibaj's death sentence as well as other violations of religious freedom of Christians in Iran with the world. Due to the world's reaction, Rev. Dibaj was released on January 16, 1994. Five months after the release from prison, Rev. Mehdi Dibadj was abducted mysteriously and suffered martyrdom in June, 1994.

Things kind of got out of hand

2011-04-19T23:59:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter Week!

I flew into Cordoba yesterday… the city where we lived with our three little boys in 1966-67. Wow! It has grown! Check out the shot I took of just a little part of downtown from the plane as it was landing. I am now settled in at the Instituto Biblico Mediterraneo (IBM). The campus is located just outside the city. What fabulous ministry opportunities Jesus is giving me!

Easter week here is “Spiritual Emphasis Week” and I have been invited to minister three nights starting last night, Monday. Tonight, Tuesday, things kind of got out of hand… well, out of my hands at least. We preachers kind of like to think we have things under control. Well, I confess that idea flew out the window tonight. The bass player set his instrument aside and dropped to his knees, the singers quit singing, the drummer quit drumming. One young man left the prayer area and started walking back down the aisle. I watched, wondering why he was leaving. Suddenly he collapsed in a heap and remained lying there in prayer in the aisle for a long time. We all know that the Day of Pentecost comes 50 days after Easter. But here at the IBM I think it’s started early. Tonight the staff was having a hard time shutting the altar service down. Since dinner is served at about 11 PM after chapel, and since they are using the dining room for a chapel, things were being shuffled around to make it work. The service was officially ended, but the altars left open for those who were still praying (and there were many). Meanwhile they set up the tables and served dinner to the others. After dinner I finally left to retire to my room. Some students were still on the floor praying earnestly.

Maybe God is up to something. Don’t blame me! It was out of my hands!

Ralph

IBM 11:37 PM. Some eating, many still praying.

Invisible Miracle

2011-04-18T13:15:00.000-07:00

Almost everybody would like to see a miracle like a blind person made to see… or a paralytic made to rise and walk. But what about the invisible miracles? Often they are the best kind. Here’s a picture of that best kind of miracle, taken last week by someone’s camera without a flash. The picture may be weak, but the miracle is strong. Martin Jacobson just sent it to me with these words:

This is Felix Olazabal — he is the young man from Horacio Balbi’s church who God RADICALLY saved out of alcoholism and now with a heart aflame for evangelism, he and his wife, Jessica, and young son, Mateo, are SO EXCITED to be preparing for ministry at IBP! Before coming to Christ, he attempted suicide on more than one occasion and was found frequently passed out from alcohol. He is always one of the first to the altar, crying out to God for a deeper relationship and interceding for the lost.

Listen up you agnostics and atheists! There are no hospitals, no expert surgeons; no psychologists or psychiatrists than can imitate this miracle. Our powerful resurrected Jesus Christ is the only One that can take such a broken, hopeless wreck and lift it from the jaws of death to vibrant life!

Hey! It’s “Resurrection Week!” Let’s celebrate Jesus!

Early this morning I left the Patagonian Bible Institute behind. Martin took me to the Trelew airport with my new destination our AG Bible Institute in Cordoba where the director, Missionary Stephen Wallace, and about 50 students are waiting for me to minister to them beginning tonight. Oh, God! Who am I to stand among such resurrected miracles?! Ah! But then I remember that I, too, am one of them… a recipient of the life-giving grace and power of Jesus Christ. Hallelujah!

I always need your prayers, but especially during this Spiritual Emphasis week.

Ralph

Preaching in The Feathers

2011-04-17T10:21:00.000-07:00

Special thanks to Heidi for the tempting apple pie recipe. Martin told me that Charlotte will try it as soon as she gets a chance. Unfortunately I leave here to minister in Cordoba early Monday morning and probably won’t get the opportunity to taste it.

I had a delightful surprise when I arrived at the Patagonian Bible Institute earlier this week. My long time friends, Jerry and Vickie Brown are teaching here for two months. (Photo) They were missionaries sent from our Northern California Nevada home district to Ecuador and now are teaching courses in Bible Institutes throughout Latin America. Last night at dinner we enjoyed a great time sharing church-planting stories until long after bedtime.

Tonight, Saturday, I arrived back at the Patagonian Bible Institute at 11:30 PM after preaching in “The Feathers” (Las Plumas, Argentina). Historians say the town’s name comes from the practice of the indigenous population trading feathers and wild guanaco meat with the early Welsh settlers for bread and butter. I assume that the feathers were those of the abundant rheas that roam this high desert. The rhea looks just like an ostrich, but is smaller, standing only about 5 feet tall. I often see them alongside the road and always dodge widely in case one should step out in front of me. The last thing I need is a car decorated with feathers!

12 years ago Pastor Jim Heden’s church in Richmond, California provided the funds to build this little church in Las Plumas. I drew up the simple plans. Argentine Christian brothers from Trelew drove the 200 kilometers many times pulling a trailer full of bricks and other materials to build it. Most of the money was from a Memorial Fund of Richmond’s former pastor Harold Steward. The black marble corner stone displays in Spanish the following text: “This Temple is dedicated to the Memory of Rev. Harold F. Steward of Richmond, California USA and to the God of love that he served, April 11, 1999.” Check out the home-made wood stove. (Photo) It’s amazing what you can do with a retired washing machine! It sets right up front near the pulpit. And believe me we needed that heat! 30 minutes before church time, while the sun was just setting, we shot a picture of the group that had arrived early. (Photo) As always the kids enjoyed petting my little skunk puppet, Perfume, and hearing Felipe’s Bible story.

Ralph

Apples on the ground, pie in the oven

2011-04-15T10:41:00.000-07:00

I have never seen so many apples on the ground. This has been one of their best years for apples here at the Patagonian Bible Institute. Some of the apples are as big as a softball. They are already harvesting some. They take them to a special cold storage place that keeps them fresh until November so they can continually use them with meals for their 59 students.

I am staying in the very nice director’s home on campus here. (See photo) Directors Martin and Charlotte Jacobson, (photo) missionaries from Kentucky are two of the best of the best. This afternoon Martin picked up some apples off the ground and made us all a “smoothy” by combining chopped up apples and bananas. Uuuummm delicious! This couple works tirelessly during all their waking hours. They are constantly in a building program. Their dorms are fairly well finished on the inside and filled with students, but need to be stuccoed and finished on the outside. The large library/chapel building has a roof, but is far from completed and cannot be used. Naturally, like always, they are out of money. So building on the library/chapel has been halted awaiting another miracle. If you happen to have $60,000 hidden under the bed and don’t know what to do with it… well, just send it to the AGWM Missionary Ralph Hiatt account #283632 marked Patagonian Bible Institute. I’ll make sure it gets where it’s supposed to go.

Years ago, when Frances and I were here with our MMM (Mobile Ministry Module) they were trying to get the academic building up and going and had finally reached the end of all resources. Charlotte wept because they would now have to send the main builder, a wonderful brother, back home and close down the progress on the construction. About that time I received an email from a name I did not recognize asking me “What would you do if you had $100,000?” I thought it was just another gag and didn’t even answer it. But then a pastor wrote reminding me about the letter that his secretary had sent me. I knew this minister. He pastored a small church that was meeting in a school classroom. I responded, presenting him with the need of the IBP academic building. He immediately sent me (through the AGWM) $65,000 which I gave to the Jacobsons just after they had been in tears because they were having to shut down. The building was completed and classes started right away in those classrooms. I never asked that generous pastor what he did with the other $35,000… ha. I’m sure it, too, went for a good cause.

Lord, we need another one of those miracles… any time now, please.

Ralph

Seeking His Passion

2011-04-12T13:23:00.000-07:00

Every Christian father and mother’s heart breaks for the sheep of their little flock that have strayed away. One never ceases to pray for them. Sunday night I preached from Luke 15, the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son… using some ideas from a sermon by AG Supt. George Wood. The lost sheep became lost by his own carelessness. With his face in the grass and never looking up he wandered away from the flock and the care of the shepherd. The lost coin became lost because of the carelessness of someone else since a coin cannot lose itself. Somebody who should have been responsible failed that take care of that coin. May God help us who have the responsibility to care for a few of His precious coins! The son became lost by his own rebellion even though he was part of a family with a loving, generous father. The father was deeply concerned for his lost son. He was not happy with 50% of his family inside his care. The woman was concerned for one coin even though she still had 90% of her coins in hand. The shepherd was concerned over one lost sheep even though he had 99% within the safety of the flock. It is of little comfort to tell a mother whose child has disappeared, “Don’t worry. You have another child.” Would we not be elated to have 50% of the lost in our city all saved and in church? But would Jesus be satisfied? Would we not be proud if we had 90% of the people in our town in our church? We would be on national TV and writing top-selling books. But would Jesus be happy? We would be flying super high if we had 99% of the people in our community saved and in church. But would Jesus be happy? God is not willing that any should perish. Our Good Shepherd will leave His flock and run to the mountains in the middle of a dark night to save that last bleating lamb from the jaws of the roaring lion that is hanging out nearby. God, give us the passion of Jesus!

The Patagonian Bible Institute (IBP) is a beautiful place. It our southernmost Bible Institute in the world I am told. The whole 10 acres was an apple orchard. The Welsh Christians that first settled in this area developed a wonderful system of irrigation powered by waterwheels driven by the river current and lifting the water high enough to run through irrigation canals. One of these little canals runs right through the campus. (Photo) They have had to remove many apple trees to make room for the academic buildings, kitchen, library and dormitories, but there are still hundreds of wonderful apples of all kinds on the 300 apple trees that remain. (Photo) The Lord seems to walk with you when you stroll among the trees. There are presently 59 students studying. They have just added a fourth year. The key figures in the development of this seminary are Martin and Charlotte Jacobson from Kentucky. They are so full of Jesus, so kind, tender and loving and yet so highly structured and self disciplined that they tend to reproduce these qualities in their students. The assistant directors, Eddie and Diana Echevarria, are also among God’s choicest servants. This morning I preached to the student body and staff. They extended the typical chapel time to allow for a good time of prayer. Who knows what God will do with these fervent students? I always say, “Watch out world! Here come the Argentines! Either step to one side or get run over, because they are going places for Jesus!”

Tuesday night I felt impressed to change my prepared message only an hour before arriving at the Rawson church, which is very unlike me. Once again I ministered on Jesus’ passion for the lost. I had no idea that this church had taken a theme for this month: “Seeking His Passion”. There was a strong congregation for a Tuesday night. The photo shows only a small portion of them. Most remained seeking His passion until around 11 PM!

God is treating me well. I still have a voice, not a super powerful voice, but a voice! It’s almost incredible! This week I’m only preaching 5 times. I have three days off to get ready for next week’s Spiritual Emphasis Week at our Mediterranean Bible Institute (IBM) in Cordoba.

Ralph

Weekend Spin

2011-04-11T13:24:00.000-07:00

Check out the excited youth group in the young Las Grutas church! (Friday night Photo)

I spent all day Saturday in the hotel in Las Grutas praying and preparing for a weekend of ministry in Sierra Grande, Puerto Madryn and Trelew. I took no time for anything else… didn’t even stop to eat. I finally finished a rough draft of a message for my Sunday night message just in time to load my suitcases in the car and get myself 130 kilometers down the road to Sierra Grande for the evening service. I arrived in time to spend some quality time with the pastors, Jorge and Norma Coba, before the service. Here the pastors are a dear couple that many years ago were my students at River Platte Bible Institute in Buenos Aires. They served for a time as missionaries to Brazil, then later, something like 7 years in Bolivia. Sierra Grande is kind of a ghost town whose mine closed down years ago. The church is small and has suffered some set-backs. The pastors said it had only 3 or 4 people in it when they came here 7 years ago. During the prayer time at the close, the keyboard player was keeping the music going while praying fervently down on his knees. I couldn’t resist clicking the camera. (Photo) Later I invited the married couples to gather up front for special prayer. There were 12 couples, plus the pastor and his wife…. (See last photo) That’s a pretty strong Saturday night congregation for a ghost town.

After church I drove another 135 kilometers to Puerto Madryn, arriving at my hotel at 1 AM. I got right to bed at 2 AM so I could be up and at the church at 7:45 AM for the 8:30 morning service where I was scheduled to minister. What a great church we have in Puerto Madryn! Pastors Horacio and Julia Balbi are the greatest! They have been like family to Frances and me. This is the area where the Welsh Christians settled many years ago. Madryn is a pretty city facing the sea. During certain times of the year huge “Right” whales can be seen playing in the waters. They say they come here to mate. I even saw one breach clear out of the water here once. Another time Frances and I and a bunch of tourists watched several of these monsters only about 150 feet from the shore just hanging around “tourist watching”… whispering to each other, “Hey Moby… Check out that guy with the striped shirt, short pants and dark glasses!” The Madryn AG church has Sunday School for the kids after the Sunday morning service and I stayed to have Felipe share a Bible story with a bustling church-full of kids of all ages. Then I drove the 84 kilometers to the Patagonian Bible Institute in Gaiman where I will now be staying in for a week in the home of Directors’ Martin and Charlotte Jacobson’s. They served me a delicious Sunday lunch. Then I crashed for an hour before rising to finish preparing my message for tonight in Trelew. Pastors Ramon and Blanca Saucedo have a powerful work going in Trelew with its fingers reaching out for hundreds of kilometers in several directions. I preached from the three parables in Luke 15: Lost Sheep, Lost Coin and Lost Son… and asked the congregation of about 300 to come seek God for the same passion for the lost that Jesus demonstrated. This church is always good for a great altar time… and I was not disappointed.

Hey… It’s 2:30 AM again… past my bedtime. Good night.

Ralph

Miracles come in many colors!

2011-04-08T17:26:00.000-07:00

This afternoon I was driving only two blocks from the hotel, returning from a delightful lunch with Pastors Stella y Jorge Orellano, when I heard a strange sound under the car. I thought I had caught a wire or something in a wheel. I drove the two blocks and parked at the hotel, then looked underneath the hood. The main serpentine belt that runs everything important to the function of the motor and steering was disintegrating into long strings of flapping rubber. I asked the hotel desk man, Hector, if he knew a mechanic. He was just getting ready to change shifts and leave someone else, but he knew one and called a friend to get the mechanic’s number. I called the number. The mechanic’s shop is only two blocks from the church where I preach tonight. The mechanic knows the pastor. Moments ago he came and towed the car away to his shop. (See photo)

Well, what’s so miraculous about that? I’m so glad you asked. I have just driven 5,357 miles in this car on some of the most isolated roads on this earth. 95% of these areas had no cell phone service available, no mechanics, no tow facilities, no smiling faces to rescue me… unless some daring soul were to stop out in the middle of nowhere. In some cases there was only one car every ten of fifteen minutes! So the serpentine belt decided that it had no more to give and surrendered… exactly in the most convenient possible place! Had it broken at 3500 RPMs on the open road, damage could well have happened to the engine before I could bring it to a stop. Did you ever hear of anyone whose car broke down… who yelled a big loud “Thank you, Jesus!” and really meant it? Well… now you have.

I know it! I know it! You have been praying for me again. What a joy to be in His divine protection! When Frances knew that she was in her last days on this earth and I brought her home from the care center at her request, I posted two signs in large letters on the wall where she could see them. One was “Welcome Home, My Darling!” and the other “The Eternal God is thy refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms.” Deut. 33:27. Oh, what security and comfort in those everlasting arms!

Bless you, each prayer warrior! Keep it up. You are a vital part of this team!

Ralph

Just Do It!

2011-04-08T13:00:00.000-07:00

Much of Las Grutas beach totally disappears when the tide comes in… so scramble to safety!

I was pleasantly surprised tonight to find that Pastor Julio Chazarreta (photo) has enlarged and fixed up his church building very nicely. His was the first Assemblies of God church in San Antonio Oeste. Twenty two years ago he was a deacon in Valcheta, 65 miles to the west. At that time Juan Sepulveda, another son of old Brother Pedro Sepulveda, was his pastor. He says that Pastor Juan Sepulveda just told him to move over to San Antonio Oeste and start a church… no money, no house, no property and no back-up plan. It was a repeat of old Pastor Pedro Sepulveda’s style… “Just do it!” and his kids caught the virus. The church is small. The people humble. God’s Word is important… important enough to carry a ragged, well used Bible even when walking with your family a long way to church.

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Please understand that I am finding it very time consuming to keep up with my ever changing list of email addresses and may soon be forced to rely on my blog site to reach you. So please be sure to check out my new blog by simply double clicking on this site: http://hiattargentina.blogspot.com/ Thanks for your understanding.

Ralph

"Dead" Child Raised to Life

2011-04-07T13:30:00.000-07:00

So much to tell! Last night I ministered at San Antonio Oeste. The city of 17,000 sets in a cove where fishing boats set out for the sea.

Pastors Ricardo and Alicia Espejo, founders of this new church, reminded me last night of how they were called into ministry. In 1995 Frances and I were visiting several small towns out in gaucho territory south of Buenos Aires, towing our living quarters with us. We called it our MMM “Mobile Ministry Module”. It served as our only home for 6 years. We were leaving one town when we were informed of a teenage girl and her family that wanted so much to go to the camp meeting that was just starting, but had no way to get there. So we offered to take them although it meant that Frances and the mother and daughter would have to ride inside the mobile house. We had to go about 80 miles out of our way on a back road filled with huge potholes. I remember having to slowly drive off the edge of the broken pavement many times with a huge drop off. It was stuff that no 8 ton fifth wheel should ever be forced to endure. When we got to the camp their preacher had not arrived, so I was invited to preach. Ricardo and Alicia were one of the young couples among the several hundred campers. That night I preached John 12:24 “Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains sterile, but if it dies it brings forth much fruit.” Ricardo and Alicia responded to the call to come forward and plant the seed of their hopes and dreams in the fertile soil of God’s will. That night God called them into full time ministry. They left everything, sold their home and their car, took their family with them and rode a long distance bus to Rocky and Sherry Grams’ River Plate Bible School in Buenos Aires.

Upon graduation they felt a powerful call to San Antonio Oeste. They had nothing at all. Only a call, no backing, no money. Today they have a thriving church in a rented hall.

Pastor Ricardo is an unassuming guy that lets his wife, Alicia, do the talking. As we sat in their tiny borrowed house eating a midnight dinner at their table, she told of miracle after miracle, some last week, one the previous day. She says sometimes when her faith was very weak, her husband would make scary faith declarations.

Check out this recent miracle. There she is in the group of kids at Felipe’s feet. (See photo) She is standing on the far right wearing white shoes, a pink blouse, a big smile and a sparkle in her eye. She is a four year old whose mother is an alcoholic. Several months ago her mother gave her sleeping pills to calm her down and put her to sleep. Either her mother in a drunken stupor gave her an overdose or perhaps the little girl herself had access and took them all. The result was she did not wake up the next day. Her mother tried to awaken her but it was hopeless. She was limp as a rag doll. A lot of time passed. Much later her grandmother found her still in this condition and rushed her to the hospital. The doctors said it was too late to pump the stomach. The deadly medication was already in her blood stream. There was nothing they could do. The grandmother had been attending Ricardo and Alicia’s new church. There was no sign of life in the little child, but she carried the limp, apparently dead body to the church and interrupted the service. At her desperate pleas Ricardo stopped preaching. He took the limp body in his arms. The arms and legs dangled down. There was no indication of life whatsoever. He prayed for her and then they placed the slumped over little body in a stroller that someone had there. Pastor Ricardo announced to the church that before the service was over that little girl would walk out of there on her own. Then he went on preaching. Alicia admits she was worried. “After such a declaration, what will happen if she still lies there dead? He will be called a liar.” To the amazement of everyone the little girl awoke, climbed out of the stroller and walked around normally and with no brain damage. Everyone broke into praising God.

Last night a young lady called as she was returning home from the hospital in far away Buenos Aires. She had been suffering migraine headaches. Here in San Antonio Oeste the scans showed an ugly tumor inside her head, high in the frontal area. The doctors here were sending her to a hospital in Buenos Aires for the delicate operation. But Pastors Ricardo and Alicia laid hands on her and prayed. Then Alicia says, “He just announced to everyone not to worry because when she got to Buenos Aires the tumor would already be gone.” Again Alicia thought, “How can he dare to make such a statement?” Well yesterday this young lady called her pastor and announced that they had done all kinds of scans and x-rays and that they can find no trace of the tumor. The doctors are stymied. They have the previous scans in hand that clearly show the tumor, its size and location, but now it could not be found. They said there is no explanation and just sent her home. So now she is on the bus heading about 800 miles back to San Antonio Oeste. To God be the glory!

I’m asking the Lord to bless again tonight at our other AG church in San Antonio Oeste. Next week I am actually planning a couple of days off! I just checked and I have ministered 20 times in the past two weeks! The remarkable thing is that I still have a voice.

Ralph

Try It Sometime

2011-04-06T13:31:00.000-07:00

If you think I am suffering too much, check out the view from my hotel balcony. The delightful sound of crashing surf tickles my ears as I write this. I have been looking forward to my four days ministering nightly in this area. Frances and I always loved to stop here at Las Grutas with our “mobile-home ministry”. This popular seacoast resort is named after the natural formation of hundreds of tiny grotto-like caves and strange formations in the long cliff that descends to the beach. I captured some photos as I walked on the beach early this morning while the sun was just rising over the eastern horizon. Check out that “Tall Dude” (photo below).

Last night I ministered in Valcheta, 65 miles to the west. This is another one of the many churches started by the late Pastor Pedro Sepulveda. The place was packed with curious kids, adults and even the kid’s school teacher, all anxious to see a real live ventriloquist. Of course first my friendly little skunk, Perfume, had to come out and be petted by all the kids. I always let them know that she “hardly ever bites.” Who could ever have dreamed that kids would be so delighted to pet a real live (well almost) skunk puppet? She wiggles a lot and is made of real fur and a touch confirms the illusion that she is the real thing. (Photo) Then Felipe tells a Bible story and messes it up good so I have to straighten him out. (Photo) He never learns. Finally, now that I have the kids of all ages in the palm of my hand, I can share the wonderful story of Jesus and His love. I get to do this every single night… Wow! The Felipe gig brings ‘em in and captures their attention. Then I get to minister to both kids and adults. At the end last night the whole place was enveloped in power-packed prayer. Those that were kneeling filled the front, then the center aisle, then they stacked up the plastic chairs to make room for more.

When people get down close to ground level and do business with God things happen… like conviction, repentance, salvation, cleansing, Holy Spirit baptism, healings, miracles or a call to ministry. Our USA churches ought to try it sometime.

The tide is in. The sun is out. It’s a gorgeous autumn afternoon in Las Grutas, Patagonia… my beautiful Argentina.

Ralph

Invasion of God's Love

2011-04-03T13:34:00.000-07:00

This morning in Choele Choel I did a “Good News-Bad News message” for the Sunday School kids with a reversible happy or sad face. Francisco, the 6 year old in the photo was quick as a blink and sharp as a pin.

After SS I drove three hours to Viedma where I just finished another dynamite service. The church was packed to the hilt, about 250 I would guess. I felt that I had a message for Christians tonight and asked if Pastor Raul Diaz would like to give an altar call for the unsaved before I preached. He did a super job of explaining Christ’s loving offer of salvation and 12 people came forward just like that! I sneaked off to one side and captured a shot of Pastor Diaz praying with these new people (photo below).

Many of the AG churches in Argentina are doing a simultaneous “Invasion of God’s Love”. They have printed up attractive folders with a tear off part. They are going house to house, explaining that they are having special prayer at their church and simply asking people if they have any special needs. They fill out the tear off portion with the names and addresses of the people together with their requests. They have been doing this for weeks and have hundreds of serious prayer requests. In a week or so they return to these houses to see if their prayers have been answered. This morning they just completed a 24 hour prayer vigil… taking turns with groups of people praying at the church for these requests around the clock. The result is that miracles are happening and many of these new people are showing up at church.

Recently I have not been taking pictures of the prayer services after the preaching since they almost all look alike, but to me they always comprise a touching sight. Almost the entire church is down on their knees, many sobbing their hearts out in total surrender asking God to give them a new chapter in their lives similar to what He has given me. If I can get a fresh start at 79 years old, who knows what God may do with these younger saints, each with an exciting new chapter!

Ralph

Little Mischief

2011-03-31T13:35:00.000-07:00

Yes, tomorrow morning I fly south, from the semi-tropical north back into the colder Patagonia. Actually it is autumn here and not very cold yet in the area where I will be. My flight time was changed. It leaves at noon instead of 10 AM… better for me… and with less layover in Buenos Aires. I still should arrive in Neuquen at 7:40 PM in time for the 8 PM service in the city of Plottier.

The Province of Misiones has been a pleasant experience each of the many times I have been here and this was no exception. Every service has been filled with God’s presence. Tonight was very different from the other services. This is a church that was started by “Castelleros” (King’s Castle Youth). Instead of having the service in their small church hall, they acquired the neighborhood “Polideportiva”. (see photo) and 85 people from this humble neighborhood gathered to see the strange old man from the USA with his little gaucho. This was strictly an evangelistic effort by the young enthusiastic Castillero pastor Sergio Miranda and his team. There were many first timers hearing the Gospel message and a large group came forward at the altar call. One was an alcoholic man named Román. I think he really wants to have his chains broken. I know that our faithful God is doing His part. May Román do his part! The church people know where he lives and will follow up on him. I stayed for an hour or so to pray with everyone that had a need, sicknesses, out of work, kids in the hospital (two cases… one was a 3 week old baby girl), husbands bound by alcohol, homes in disarray, etc. One young girl about 16 years old did not want to discuss her problem, but wept so hard that I felt sure that she is either being sexually abused or perhaps pregnant not by choice. So many precious lives struggling there in the darkness! I preached Jesus who said, “I am the Light of the World, he that follows Me will no longer walk in darkness”, (John 8:12) It is interesting to me that this verse immediately follows the story of the adulterous woman who escaped a shameful death and stepped out of her darkness of condemnation into the glorious light of Christ’s freedom and His real love. The religious leaders that dragged her into the temple to trap Jesus in His words did her the best favor of her life. They took her to the only One that could give her a fresh start in life.

A mother had her baby girl in her arms when she came for prayer. The baby reached out her little arms wanting to come to me. So I couldn’t refuse. She was so cute that I asked someone to take our picture. While the guy with the camera was taking aim, little mischief decided to borrow my glasses. (see photo)

Ralph

Fisher of Men

2011-03-30T13:37:00.000-07:00

My voice continues to be unusually strong for all its use after preaching six times on the weekend and every night before and since. And my zip still hasn’t zapped yet. There is only one explanation. God is answering your prayers. Thanks for joining the team.

I just got in from another great service in the city of Alem. Many years ago I preached several crusades there and in the surrounding cities. I painted a picture each night in pastel chalks on special art paper to illustrate the message and to serve as a prize for the person who brought the most new people the following night. I did this all over Argentina, but here in several cities in the Province of Misiones the competition was always tense. Tonight an elderly sister was in the service who had won one of my pictures as a prize for bringing the most new people one night in one of those evangelistic crusades many years ago. She brought the picture with her! It was a representation of Jesus on the shore of the sea of Galilee calling his first disciples. She reminded us that she had brought 54 new people that night and her son was there to confirm it! THIS LADY was a real fisher of men! (See photo of her with me and her son). I remember that night. A brother had brought 40 and had lost it to the lady with 54! I painted another identical picture during the next day and publically presented it to him. It just wasn’t right not to reward him after that effort. I would often have around 100 first timers there every night. Somebody would bring 15, another 20, and others lesser amounts and somebody would win the picture. It was a lot of work carrying around the easel and equipment, but the bottom line is that many people heard the wonderful good news of Jesus for the first time and I think a conservative estimate would be about 75% responded to the altar call. I expect to see a bunch of them in heaven.

Ralph

Spiritual Hold-up

2011-03-27T13:38:00.000-07:00

I finished my ministry at the youth leaders camp this morning. They are “Castilleros” (King’s Castle Kids… a growing powerful AG youth movement now in many countries.) 72 fabulous dedicated youth, mostly teenagers! (See photo)

The time is now 2 AM and I’m back home in the hotel. I thought I was going to preach one service tonight at the mother church, but it was two, back to back. The adolescent youth… up to 19 yrs of age comprised the first group at 8 PM and then at 10 PM the youth group 19 and above. I guess none of these come on Sunday in order to leave room for others in their three back to back Sunday services 4 PM, 6 PM and 8 PM. So far my voice is miraculously holding up… three preaching services today and again three tomorrow. Then one every night this coming week. My voice may be reaching its limit. My strength is great. To me it is invigorating to preach. If I ever feel sick or exhausted I just get up and preach and never feel sick or weak again until after it is all over… ha. Go figure! Anyway, please keep “holding me up” in prayer.

Speaking of “holding me up”… at the youth leaders camp today I heard this testimony. This Christian “Castillero” kid was walking home late one night last week. He was approached by a bigger kid pointing a gun at him and demanding everything he had. He handed over his cell phone and was fishing around in his pockets for money. The big kid with the gun was very nervous and kept telling him to hurry up and to take off the back pack… “I want everything!” So this kid started to tell him… “Hey, Jesus loves you, man. He really can make a change in your life. He did it for me and he can do it for you, too.” And he kept talking about Jesus and his love. As he handed him his back pack… he offered to help him pray the sinner’s prayer to start a new life with Jesus. The robber now had everything this kid owned in his hands but was obviously jarred by what this Christian kid was saying. Finally he tucked his gun in his belt, handed the kid back all his stuff and agreed to join in praying the sinners prayer which he did right there on the street. After praying, the “would be robber” gave this Christian kid his address so that he can take along some friends and visit him this week.

So keep “holding me up”, but IN PRAYER… please, ha.

Ralph

The Night Watchman Will Let Her Out

2011-03-24T13:40:00.000-07:00

As I look back, I see that God was preparing me for this time of ministry in a unique way. You may remember that Frances and I lived in a large fifth wheel mobile home the last 6 ∏ years of our ministry here. In response to our Argentine leadership we dedicated ourselves to the remote corners of this huge land, taking our rig anywhere and everywhere we heard of a need. When someone would tell us of a young Bible School graduate that was trying to start a work off somewhere near the edge of the earth, the Lord would often speak to our hearts and without hesitation we would hook up again and make our way, sometimes nearly 1,000 miles to join in the effort. We helped them find a building to rent, contacted Argentine pastors of established churches that we had earlier helped to plant… to cover the rent for the first year and to donate musical instruments and sound equipment. Then we stayed there for weeks or months helping to move some walls, painting, fixing it up, painting a sign, printing flyers and then preaching their first campaign to win souls.

In other cases we visited pastors and families in remote little towns. Some had never had a visiting preacher. They had raised up a church without outside help. God was their only source. Nobody had ever come by to check on them and tell them what a great job they were doing. Frances dedicated herself to the PKs, giving out fluffy, stuffed animals supplied by one of our churches. When she discovered that the only Bibles some of these PKs could have were the old broken up ones with pages missing that had been left on a church bench, she got Bibles from “Light For The Lost” or somewhere and made sure that every PK had his or her own new Bible. One 9 year old PK drummer, sat at his drums before church practicing and every time someone would come in the front door he would stop and raise his new Bible in the air and proclaim, “Look! I’ve got my very own Bible!” Always we would invite the pastor and family into our luxurious mobile home. They could not believe the way their feet would sink down into the plush carpet. The kids would all want to sit on it. We would serve them a good meal at our table and, well… just try to bless them. Many of these choice servants of God would beg us for a date when we could return. In those final years we knew it could never happen and we wept with them when we left them.

Neuquen Wednesday kids and adults ready for Felipe (photo, left)

But NOW… yes now that the Lord has thrust this 79 year old retired preacher/missionary into a brand new chapter of his life… God is saying to me, “Take your little Felipe and go back there to visit these saints and their kids.” I am now over 6,000 miles into this wild adventure (counting last November and December) all of it in a borrowed car. You cannot imagine the reception I have been getting. Beautiful young people in their late teens and early twenties rush up to hug me till it hurts. They remind me of the stories that Felipe told when they were little kids sitting on the floor. Some still have their stuffed animals. Many are going on to Bible School. Some have already taken over the church that their father previously pastored.

Can you imagine what it is like to literally have hundreds of dear friends almost begging you to come to minister? Love flows like a river. At the prayer time, youth and adults are seen kneeling all over the floor pouring their melting souls out as living sacrifices. I’m sure some are being called into ministry. Last night, Wednesday, well over one hundred people were on their faces down front, some for over an hour. Finally, closing in on midnight, the pastor was trying to close the church. The lights were turned off. Everyone had left except one young lady that was still sobbing her heart out at the altar. I commented to the pastor about her. He said, “Oh, she’s okay. The night watchman will let her out.”

I have been carrying a promo display for the Patagonian Bible Institute directed by Missionaries Martin and Charlotte Jacobson and Eddie and Diana Echevarria (what a team!). Almost all the large stack of registration forms have been picked up by interested youth! Only God knows where He is taking this.

Ralph