August Newsletter

Fabian & Rebekah Sanchez, NTD U.S. Missionary Candidates

Plant, Grow, & Develop Hispanic Ministries

www.The SanchezFamily.org

AG - Account# 289113

Family Update!!! Traveling long distances as a family presents its challenges but it also brings great joy as we are able to be together and sit in some of the best chairs in town!

Samuel and Belén, our kids are growing up so fast and are beginning to play with one another, which makes it a little easier on mom. Thank you Jesus. We are also exited to have our third baby in early October or late September!

Please keep the birth and our family in your prayers.

Ministry Update!!!

We are now in our eighth month of itineration sharing our vision for the Hispanic Initiative and have put thousands of miles on our vehicle! Since our last newsletter we have traveled to Arkansas, Kentucky, and many places here in Texas. As we have been traveling and meeting pastors in urban and rural communities we have become more aware of some of the great needs and challenges our local pastors are facing here in the USA.

The average church in the U.S. has about 80 to 120 members, is understaffed, and has a low operational budget.

Most pastors have to wear many hats. In many cases the pastor has to be the preacher, teacher, janitor, secretary, book keeper, greeter, a professional in childcare and development, know how to handle youth ministry, conduct jail ministry, do outreaches, and be an expert in technology and marketing- just to name a few! Many work a full-time outside job to support their families, and some personally financially support their church. Thankfully, many church members are willing and excited to serve in ministry in their local churches! In fact, statistics show that 80% of the work is done by 20% of the people. We have realized that many pastors are overwhelmed by these responsibilities, and need help with professional practical-ministry training for their congregational ministries and volunteers.

We believe the Lord has called us to inspire and equip the church to plant, grow, and develop Hispanic ministries; and part of our vision is to help pastors and congregations throughout the US with online training resources, focusing on volunteer and congregational ministry needs. Developing practical, bilingual tools and resources for the Hispanic Initiative will not only help Hispanic churches but also the average church in America, the 80 to 120-member church.

Thank you! With your prayers and monthly financial partnership, we can develop online, engaging, and even fun short video lessons and other training resources to better equip our ministries and volunteers. We want to enable volunteers to learn from home, at their own pace, and have access to 24/7 professional training, taking a heavy load off of pastoral leadership. With these resources, we believe pastors will be better equipped to train their volunteers and hand off some of those hats and responsibilities.

"'that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. John 17:21