Caribbean School of the Diaspora (CSD)--

 62 students 5 different countries

 What an exciting few months we’ve had seeing our dreams for the Caribbean School of the Diaspora get launched with students engaged in their studies and eager to grow.

We are encouraged to see some of the dreams we’ve had for this newly created network of churches coming into a greater clarity as their emerging leadership embrace their destiny.

Patti and I were able to visit four of the five Diaspora countries to help jump-start their Bible School Program.   

We taught the first four lessons of the Synoptic Gospels to model how the classroom dynamic could flow with Berean self-studies.

In September, we’ll be in Antigua to do pre-summit planning for the first year anniversary of the Spanish Diaspora.

The CSD students are presently in St. Kitts, Nevis, Antigua, St. Martin and Saba.   As I am writing this blog, the church in St. Martin is growing at a rapid pace and the church in Nevis is planting a church in the neighboring Island Montserrat.

Please pray for God’s wisdom and His provision as we dream of expanding and reaching more countries in the West Indies.

Newly formed network of church-planters Eastern Caribbean West Indes

13 minute video (in Spanish) of the summit meeting.

Spanish Diaspora birthed November 7, 2018

Our call to reach the dispersed Hispanic groups throughout the Caribbean came as a God-given burden that was confirmed by our colleagues*.   In our extensive travels throughout the Caribbean and the West Indies, we kept meeting isolated people groups now living away from their birth countries but hungry to be networked for a fresh wave of church planting in their new host countries.    

By God's grace, that fellowship was birthday November 7, 2018

Sensing God's call*

Newly elected leadership: Rev. Rafael Mota Felix, Superintendent (below left),  Rev. and missionary Billy Roman, Vice-Superintendent, Rev. Rudel (Mega) Foe, Executive Treasury, Rev. Juana Jimenez, Executive Secretary, Pastor Prisila Torres, Executive member from St. Maarten, Antigua, St. Kitts, Nevis and Saba respectively.

¡Prospera donde Dios te planta!

¡Prospera donde Dios te planta! por Esteban (Dale) Coad

Jeremías 29:11 (Dios Habla Hoy) "Yo sé los planes que tengo para ustedes, planes para su bienestar y no para su mal, a fin de darles un futuro lleno de esperanza.   Yo el Señor, lo afirmo."

Jeremías 29:11 es uno de los pasajes de las Escrituras más citados.  En la primera lectura, instantáneamente captura nuestros corazones con la sensación de que Dios sabe dónde estamos y hacia dónde vamos.    Es estar lleno de esperanza y de una sensación de bienestar para el futuro.    Aunque en sí mismo, este pasaje nos habla poderosamente, habla aún más poderosamente a la audiencia original, la diáspora de ese día.

Sorprendentemente, cuando los israelitas exiliados en Babilonia escucharon por primera vez la declaración de Jeremías, no era lo que querían escuchar.   Israel como nación estaba siendo castigo por desobedecer a Dios.   La diáspora de Israel que vivían en Babilonia quiso creer las mentiras del falso profeta Hananías de que iban a volver a casa rápidamente.   Jeremías los exhortó a no encontrar esperanza superficial en una narrativa falsa.   A pesar de sus circunstancias, Dios todavía era Dios.  Él tenía un plan y un propósito para ellos, incluso en su hogar adoptivo.  Jeremías los animó a abrazar el diseño soberano de Dios para sus vidas independientemente de las circunstancias fuera de su control.

Jeremías (Jeremías 29:4-7) los exhortó a "construir casas y establecerse," a "casarse y tener hijos e hijas"y a "buscar la paz y la prosperidad de la ciudad a la que te he llevado en el exilio."  A medida que la comunidad de la diáspora honraba a Dios donde vivían, debían orar por su nación anfitriona, "porque si prospera, también prosperarán."   Independientemente de las circunstancias de sus vidas, Dios tenía planes para prosperar y asegurar su futuro.

A pesar de las circunstancias de nuestras vidas, debemos abrazar el plan de Dios para nuestras vidas.   Nuestro futuro está en sus manos, donde sea que estemos plantados.    Cuando prosperamos donde vivimos, bendecimos a la nación donde vivimos, incluso si somos inmigrantes en esa nación.

Abraza todo lo que Dios tiene para ti en el presente.   No permita que un anhelo de recuerdos de su pasado ó falsas esperanzas para su futuro obstaculicen el trato de Dios con usted en el presente.

¡Prospera donde estás! Tu presente y tu futuro están seguros en Èl.

Prosper where God plants you

Prosper where God plants you by Dale Coad

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)  "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11 is one of the most quoted passages of scripture.   On first reading, it instantly captures our hearts with the sense that God knows where we are and where we are going.   It is pregnant with hope and a sense of well being for the future.   Although in and of itself, this passage speaks powerfully to us, it speaks even more powerfully to the original audience, the diaspora of that day.

Surprisingly, when the Israelites exiles in Babylon first heard Jeremiah's pronouncement, it wasn't what they wanted to hear.   Israel as a nation was being punished for disobeying God.   The Israelite diaspora living in Babylon wanted to believe the false prophet Hananiah's lies that they were going home quickly. 

Jeremiah exhorted them not to find superficial hope in a false narrative.   Regardless of their circumstances, God was still God.   He had a plan and a purpose for them, even in their adoptive home.   Jeremiah encouraged them to embrace God's Sovereign design for their lives despite circumstances beyond their control.

Jeremiah (Jer. 29:4-7) exhorted them to "build houses and settle down," to "marry and have sons and daughters" and to "seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you in exile."   As the diaspora community honored God where they lived, they were to pray for their host country "because if it prospers, you too will prosper."   Regardless of the circumstances of their lives, God had a plan to prosper them and secure their future.

Regardless of the circumstances of our lives, we must embrace God's plan for our lives.   Our future is in His Hands, wherever we are planted.   When we prosper where we live, we bless the country where we live, even if we are immigrants to that nation.

Embrace all that God has for you in the present.   Don't allow a longing for memories of your past or false hopes for you future hinder God's dealings with you in the present.  Prosper where you are.

Your present and your future are secure in Him.