The Work in Puerto Rico-- ACTION PLAN

 

1)    Phase 1 Acclimatization – Began January 15, 1999--Completed March 2000

a)      Get to know the brethren

b)      Identify integrity and commitment amongst key members

c)      Assimilate cultural identity and challenges

d)      Lay groundwork and framework for different ministries

i)        University

ii)      Music

iii)    Marriage and Family

iv)    Youth

v)      Neighborhood Watch--Evangelism

vi)    Radio Ministry

vii)  Internet & Postal Ministry

2)    Phase 2 Organization – Began April 2000

a)      Dedicating the Leadership to the work

i)        Prayer & Personal Counseling Meetings—Gentle guidance—Discussion, planning, selecting and committing

ii)      Fellowships—Motivationals, Revivals

iii)    Cultivating Accountability (Mentoring)-Trust and Respect

b)      Implementing Care Groups-Neighborhood Watch

i)        Personal Evangelism

ii)      Personal Accountability

iii)    Personal Counseling

iv)    These will reflect the preparedness of the leadership

c)      Establish Ministry leaders—those who are able to teach

i)        Those who are self-Motivated

ii)      Consistent

iii)    Possess character--conviction

iv)    Filled with the Holy Spirit

d)      Formalizing our Curriculum (Bible Classes)

i)        For newcomers

ii)      For adults

iii)    For youth

iv)    For children

v)      For special cases

e)      Adopting Policies

i)        Children’s Ministry

ii)      Pre-marriage Counseling

iii)    Marriage Counseling

iv)    Fellowships

3)    Phase 3 –Cultivating Growth

a)      Relationship Counseling initiative

b)      Leadership Training

c)      Deacon & Elder Watch

d)      Developing various ministries and cultivating spiritual gifts

 

I’m always welcoming ideas to add to this Plan. 


5/10/2000 

San Juan, PR 

 

Greetings dear brethren!

It is an honor to be able to share these words with you by way of e-mail.

As some of you have been following our work in Puerto Rico from the newsletters we send (http://www.licoc.org/newsletter/newsindex.htm) , you know that it has been a challenge for us to lay down the only foundation that can be laid, Jesus Christ. Many accept the name, but not the lifestyle nor the confession that makes the name-wearing worthy before the eyes of our Lord. Nevertheless, we are hopeful in prayer, patient in affliction and filled with the Holy Spirit to continue bearing the Good News to the people of Puerto Rico and being a source of encouragement and edification for the church in San Juan.

Since my arrival in January 15th, 1999, the church membership has increased by 15 through baptisms, placement of membership from other congregations on the island and restorations. We fluctuated between 35 and 45 in attendance on Sunday morning the first couple of months I was here and now we are fluctuating between 55 and 60 in Sunday attendance.

We are searching the talents our membership has to organize ourselves into a more efficient body of service and edification for those who want to have a personal relationship with Jesus.

Some of the presently active ministries are:

 

  1. College Ministry-sharing the Gospel on-campus and developing Bible Talk discussion groups with current church members and their friends.

  2. Internet Ministry-sharing the Gospel online locally and conducting studies through the e-mail locally. 

  3. Teen Ministry 

  4. Children's Ministry 

  5. Mail ministry-same as Internet ministry but doing the Bible studies through the Postal mail system. 

  6. Personal Evangelism-organizing groups that go out weekly to different locations such as plazas, malls, parks and beaches to do surveys with community residents or just speak to them about the Gospel. 

  7. Community Involvement-this is an extension of personal evangelism, but requiring the whole commitment of the church since it needs financial backing. Good Samaritan road service; food and clothing collections; free medical, social welfare, family, educational , financial, and spiritual counseling; religious plays and family sports programs are some of the things we've tried to attract the community and show it that we care. We are blessed with members who are recognized by the state in many of these services they offer. 

  8. Counseling (Marital, Family & Pre-marital)-This is a much needed service for Puerto Rico, and one that is very popular in our community.

  9. Order of Services- This involves teaching and training members who are willing to participate in the collective encouragement and edification of the body during the times we assemble together. This program includes training for preaching, public praying, song service, Scripture reading and overall public appearance during our services for maximum efficiency and organization.

  10. Mentoring- A much maligned, but needed way of getting involved in each other's lives for the purpose of spurring one another on towards love and good deeds and teaching each other all that Jesus commanded.

All the ones that are bolded in Green I have helped develop during the last year.

Part of the curriculum I've developed for the congregation is as follows:

 

Most of these studies were developed at the Long Island Church of Christ and are being translated into Spanish as I share them in Puerto Rico.

May God continue to bless you richly and powerfully as you let His Spirit work mightily in you, 

 

Love in Christ, 

Pedro & Claribel Gelabert 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pedro G. Gelabert <///>< 
Evangelist 
San Juan, Puerto Rico 
Pedro-Gelabert@usa.net 
http://www.licoc.org/gelabert.htm 
If Jesus were to come today, would you be ready to go to Heaven to be with Him forever?

Find out! ---> http://www.licoc/Gospel/Gospel.htm