Joy, Pain, and a New Beginning

Hello everyone and thank you for coming to read my blog today. I am sorry that it has taken me so long to write you but a lot has been happening. I’m sure some of you may be wondering about the title of this blog post. Let me start with “Joy” first. I got married! I got engaged to Rosemary on February 5th and the time flew by as we planned the wedding and the reception and took care of so many details that come with such celebration and ceremony. The church ceremony was at the new chapel at Camp Chacauco on November 26th and it was beautiful. I say the “church ceremony” because here in Ecuador you have to get married before the government first which we did on November 18th at the Civil Registry in Guayaquil. The staff at Camp Chacauco helped us so much we honestly could not have done it without them! Fellow missionary Steve Thompson performed the ceremony and we had a wonderful time at the reception. It was great to have my parents and my aunt Shauna there with me and the prayers of so many of you with us as well. But that’s where “Pain” comes in. As many of you are aware, my brother Rob had been suffering from stomach cancer for over a year and November 18th he passed away. At around 11 o’clock the morning he passed away after 13 months battling cancer. My parents called me at around noon and told me. It was hard. It made me all the more thankful to God to have Rosemary with me. I hope someday soon we will be able to travel together and visit the rest of my family and to meet our brothers and sisters in Christ in Dahlonega. Thank you so much for your prayers for my brother Rob, for my parents, for my brother Andy and for me. The Lord has helped sustain us and to give us peace during this difficult time.

Now to talk about a “New Beginning.” In the fall I began teaching in-person classes again at Huachi Chico Baptist Church. We had a great response at first but attendance has diminished somewhat as the year is coming to an end. Please pray that I will find new ways to get more students involved so that they can hear the Gospel and know the Lord more through His Word. Also pray for Rosemary and me as we begin our life together. May the Lord lead us and guide us in life and in ministry as we serve the Lord together. May God use our marriage for His honor and His glory. May our marriage make us more effective in ministry than we have ever been before. The need is great but our God is greater. May the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ shine through us to guide others into His kingdom. Please pray for me as I continue to minister in the men’s ministry of Huachi Chico Baptist. Pray for the men that they would find the time to gather together to study God’s Word so that they may be equipped for every good work that Lord has prepared beforehand for them to do.

As this year ends, I ask that you would also give to continue to support this ministry. I am so thankful for all those who have given and continue to give. But I also hope that we would have more monthly support. Times are tough. Inflation is on the rise and costs are higher than they have been in years. That is why I don’t ask for this support lightly. But I pray that God would prosper you and your family and free you to give generously to further His kingdom work. I pray that you would join with Rosemary and me here in Ambato, Ecuador to help the light of the Gospel to shine brightly in 2023 and beyond. Thank you and God bless you!

To close, I will leave you with the words of David from Psalm 31. David was in the midst of great trials. Saul was seeking to take his life. The people had abandoned him and had even begun to spread slanderous rumors about him. But even in the midst of such suffering, David said this in verse 19:

'Oh, how great is Your goodness, Which You have laid up for those who fear You, Which You have prepared for those who trust in You In the presence of the sons of men!' Psalms 31:19

So remember how great the goodness of our God is. Remember how He saved us through the blood that His only begotten Son shed upon the cross to redeem us, to rescue us from sin and darkness and to adopt us as sons and daughters of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Look to Him always. Especially in difficult times. Remember that our God is faithful and will always keep His promises. God bless you all!

Jonathan Green

Strikes, Protests, and the Sovereignty of God

Hello everyone and welcome to my blog! I hope that this blog post finds you well! If you haven’t heard the latest news from Ecuador you may be wondering why I chose the title of this blog. The nation of Ecuador had been in lockdown for almost 3 weeks because of protests across the country but centering primarily in the mountain and jungle regions. I had been unable to get basic necessities like food and other supplies because the roads were completely blocked off by protesters. But, by the grace of God, the protests ended on Thursday the June 30th. In spite of everything happening I was still able to continue giving my classes online encouraging my students through the sharing of God’s Word.

None of what has happened here in Ecuador was by accident. Despite the chaos of the past 3 weeks I know that God has always been and always will be in control. He has allowed these things to happen for a reason. To help the Ecuadorian people to appreciate what He has given them. It is often in times of crisis that people are most open to the Gospel. Pray for me and the churches of Ecuador. Pray that we will be faithful to reach our communities with the Gospel and that many will repent and receive the gift of salvation in Jesus Christ our Lord. May we always remember that, no matter what is happening in our lives or in the world around us, our Heavenly Father is always in control. He is sovereign. He has reigned from Creation until now and will continue to reign for all eternity as the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. When we are suffering let us remember the precious promises that He has given us in His Word and remember that He has promised is faithful, He will surely do it.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog today! I hope that this message has encouraged you rest upon the promises of Lord today. If you are led to participate with me in my ministry here in Ecuador there are a number of ways to do that. First of all pray for me, for my students, and for all of the people that I come into contact with. Pray that I would share with boldness the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Pray for Huachi Chico Baptist Church and all of the churches of Ecuador. Pray that they would remain faithful to the preaching of God’s Word and to the work of evangelism in their communities. But also, please consider giving so that I may continue to serve the Lord by teaching and preaching and sharing the Gospel. You can give directly online through this link: https://globaloutreach.org/giving/missionary-details/jonathan-green

Or you can give through Dahlonega Baptist Church (DBC) by designating funds to “Jon Green Missions.” That way your funds will make it to the right place. You can either give in person at DBC or online through this link: https://pushpay.com/g/dahlonegabaptistchurch

Thank you once again for your time and may God bless you!

Blessings,

Jonathan Green

New Year Update

Hello everyone and welcome to my blog! I’m glad you’re here because we have a lot to catch up on! The end of last year was good for me here in Ecuador. I continued to teach my classes in the afternoons and I split the 3 o’clock class into two separate classes; one that meets twice a week and another that meets three times a week. I did this to accommodate a schedule change for my students and to bring in some new students. I will be looking to make some changes to the class format this year in order to bring in more new students and reach more people with the Gospel. Most of the students that have stuck with the courses long-term are already Christians and attending church somewhere so I hope to make short-term courses that will be more useful in reaching people who are not Christians with the message of salvation in Jesus Christ.

I have preached twice since we last caught up and it went well both times. I shared from Titus chapter 2 on the roles of the members of the Church in different stages of life and how the Church is to work together as the body of Christ. The second sermon was from Isaiah 58 and the focus was on worship and prayer and all the interactions we have with God and how we should always have the right motives. We shouldn’t only be focused on ourselves and our loved ones and the things we want and need, but we should focus on others and most of all on God and His will for us.

I had a wonderful Christmas holiday that I spent with my girlfriend Rosemary and her family in Guayaquil. It was great to spend a few days together before I came back here to Ambato. The New Year has been a little bit difficult. Rosemary was sick for several days and I have been sick a couple of times this month also. But, by God’s grace, we have recovered and are doing very well. Please continue to pray for us that God would continue to lead us and guide us in all things.

Please be in prayer for Huachi Chico Baptist Church. The church has begun to build a new building but they still do not have all of the resources to finish construction. The church is selling a piece of property to help fund the construction but it has not sold yet. Please pray that the Lord provide what is needed to complete the building.

Continue to pray for me as I look for new opportunities and ways to serve the Lord and the people of Ambato, Ecuador. Thank you so much for your prayers and your financial support which are absolutely vital for me to continue to share the Gospel and to teach others from God’s Word. I pray that this year we may see the hand of the Almighty at work in our lives, in the lives of our families, and in the lives of our communities and the nations.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog today! I hope and pray that you and your family are well and that you know the love and the peace that can only come through faith in Jesus Christ and the forgiveness of sins that comes through Him alone. May God bless you and keep you each and every day!

Blessings,

Jonathan Green

An October Update

Hello everyone and welcome to my blog! I am so thankful that you took the time to read my blog today! There’s a lot to get to so let’s get started. These last few months have been a lot busier with more classes starting and more students signing up. I have been using some new material for my classes and that has been going well also. My afternoons are full until evening because most of my students are adults or are studying in a university. It is such a blessing to me to be able to share with so many the message of reconciliation, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This past Sunday, I was also given the chance to preach at Huachi Chico Baptist. Part of my preaching time was cut off due to a breakdown with the wireless signal; but I hope that you will be blessed by watching other brothers and sisters in Christ worshipping our Lord.

I have also been able to travel to the city of Guayaquil to visit my girlfriend Rosemary. I have been able to visit her more often lately because some fellow members of the church she attends have been kind enough to allow me to stay in their homes. I am so thankful to God for them because it allows me to spend more time with her and to get know them as well. By God’s grace I have been able to travel safely to see her and to spend time together with her and her family and friends. I am in good health and I am looking forward to what God has in store for me in the future. The pandemic continues to affect all of us here in Ecuador. Not only are we dealing with the virus, but because of the economic effects, crime is on the rise. Please continue to pray for me, for Rosemary, for Huachi Chico Baptist Church, for Ambato, and for the nation of Ecuador. Thank you all so very much for your prayers and support! Without them, I know that I would not be where I am today! May God bless all of you who have supported me financially through your generous gifts. These gifts allow me to give my classes free of charge and that encourages my students to come and to learn English and, more importantly, to hear from God’s Word in every class and to know how they can be saved and how they can grow in their Christian faith. Thank you!

Thank you all again for taking the time to read my blog today! May God sustain you and uphold you and your families with His righteous right hand!

With blessings from Ecuador,

Jonathan Green

A Long Expected Update

Hello everyone! I am so sorry that it has taken me this long to update everyone but a lot has been happening. Since my last update I have continued to teach my classes 5 days a week. It has been great to see how my students have improved over time! But most importantly we have time each class to read God’s Word and to talk about it a little bit, sometimes it takes up almost half the class time! I continue to attend Huachi Chico Baptist Church. Pastor Carlos Paredes is well but the congregation continues to be hit hard by the pandemic. Every family has been affected, either losing a member of the family or struggling to recover from the disease. Vaccines are continuing to roll out but the majority has yet to be vaccinated. Please continue to pray for the people of Huachi Chico and the Ambato area during this difficult time. The Lord continues to be faithful to us, to give us peace in the midst of the storm. The Lord has also given me some opportunities to preach. I will include the links to the church Facebook page with my sermons but, if you don’t speak Spanish, you won’t be able to understand what was said but I hope you will enjoy seeing other brothers and sisters in Christ worshipping God together.

This is the worship service from April 11. My sermon begins at around minute 27.

And this is the worship service from July 18th. My sermon begins at about minute 31.

Please continue to pray for me to be faithful to preach God’s Word and to share the Gospel. Continue to pray for the people of Ecuador that the Lord will continue His work through His faithful servants. I pray that all of you would see where God would have you use the gifts and talents and resources that He has given you. That you would use them for the honor and glory of His holy name. I give thanks to God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ for all of you. I pray that the Lord would bless you and your families so that you might bless others.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog today!

May the Lord bless you and keep you and make His face to shine upon you and give you peace!

Blessings to you from Ecuador,

Jonathan Green

A New Year, a New Opportunity

Hello and a belated happy new year to you and your loved ones! Thank you for taking the time to read my blog today! It is my hope and prayer that you and your family are well and that you have had a blessed Christmas season. Although our celebrations were not the same, our God is the same. His Word and His promises are sure, even in these times of uncertainty.

In times like these, it is more important than ever to teach the Word and to share the Gospel. I continue to teach my classes each day during the week. It has been difficult to maintain a strong connection with my students online, but I still have a faithful group that continues to attend and to hear the Word of God. I had a very good Christmas spending time with my girlfriend and her family. Now the New Year has begun and I’m looking forward to what God has planned for me this year!

I have been reflecting on a number of things lately. As one year ends and another begins it invites us to look back and to look forward. Looking back at 2020, we might think that it was a disaster. Natural disasters, a global pandemic, societal and political upheaval in the United States and elsewhere around the world. All of us have been affected by these things but I believe that Christians should view them in a different light. The Lord has spoken to us through His Word and gave us advance warning of things to come.

“He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.” ”

— Luke 21:8-9

We should not be surprised that we have had a year like 2020. What we should be thinking about and focusing on is what the Lord is communicating to us and what He would have us do. Our Heavenly Father has placed us where we are for a reason. He has given us gifts and talents for a reason. He has given us resources for a reason. Now more than ever, we should reflect on how we are using what He has given us for the Kingdom work that He has called all of His people to participate in. To be attentive to what God would have us do we must be attentive to Him. In a world so filled with distractions and distortions, consistent prayer and the reading and meditation on God’s Word are essential. How can we speak the truth if we do not know it ourselves? How can we live in integrity if our minds and our hearts are not filled with the things that are above?

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

— Colossians 3:1-2

It is easy to get distracted. It is so easy to complain about the state of our nation and our world. But complaining doesn’t solve anything. The Lord has commanded us to love Him and to love our neighbor. This love is not a passive love. The love that Christ showed us was not a passive love. It was active. So I encourage all of you who are reading this today to be actively praying and seeking how God would use you in His service and to take concrete steps for putting it into action. The world needs to hear the message of the Gospel, the Word of Truth. But, perhaps, you are thinking that you are just one person. So start with just one person. If God uses you to change the life of one person this year, you will have done something truly amazing. Talk to that one person today. Call them. Go and see them if you can. Because if this past year has taught us anything it’s that people can be here today and gone tomorrow. So let’s reach out to our neighbor. Let’s love just as Christ loves us.

Thank you so much for reading my blog today! I thank you so much for all of your prayers and support! I am so grateful to God for allowing me the privilege of serving Him here in Ecuador. A special thank you to all of you who have given to my ministry! God has blessed me and has blessed my students through you! I have some new opportunities to expand into other areas of ministry and outreach but for that I will need your continued support! I also will need new partners to join with me in reaching the people of Ambato, Ecuador with the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. If the Lord has led you to give to my ministry there are two ways that you can give online. You can give through Global Outreach International by clicking the following link: https://globaloutreach.org/giving/missionary-details/jonathan-green Or, if you prefer, you can give through Dahlonega Baptist Church being sure to designate the funds to “Jon Green Ministry:” https://app.securegive.com/dbch/dahlonega-baptist-church/donate/category

I would like to thank you again for taking the time to read my blog and I pray that you and your family are well and that the Lord would bless you and lead you as you walk with Him!

Blessings,

Jonathan Green

Suffering and the Glory of God

Hello everyone and welcome to my blog! I’m so thankful that you took time out of your day to read about what God has been doing here in Ecuador. I hope that this post finds you and your family well and that it will also bless and encourage you to seek a deeper relationship with God the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The past two months have flown by as I have continued to teach my students English and, most importantly, from God’s Holy Word. I have a small and faithful group of students and I continue to come up with new ways to teach them despite the challenges of an online format. Please pray for my students. Pray that their hearts would be open to receive the Gospel and to put into practice what is written in God’s Word.

Restrictions have lifted somewhat here in the country and churches are finally allowed to meet so long as they follow strict guidelines. Everyone must continue to wear his or her mask and each person’s temperature must be taken prior to participating in the church service. Yesterday marked the first Sunday that Huachi Chico Baptist Church met in person since the pandemic began. We met across the street from the church in an open space so that we would have more ventilation, but it also gave us the opportunity to share the gospel with all of our neighbors too! It was such a blessing to see everyone in person again!

Over the past few days, I have been reflecting over the suffering that we see all around the world. Suffering is not to be unexpected in the Christian life but rather it is to be expected at different times throughout our walk with Christ. The Lord says to us through Peter in 1st Peter 4:12:

“ Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;”

— 1st Peter 4:12

So we should not be surprised at the trials and tribulations of this life. But we should take each trial, each “fiery ordeal,” as an opportunity to grow in faith and to have a deeper love for our Savior as we depend upon Him. The Lord also tells us in the book of Romans that He is always working for the good of those who love Him:

“ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

— Romans 8:28

So in Christ Jesus our sufferings have meaning. God is accomplishing something in us that can only be accomplished by allowing us to suffer. But what could be so good that it is worth the pain that many of us are going through right now?

“ Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. ”

— Romans 8:17-18

So the glory of God that will be revealed in us is so great, that Paul, who suffered so much throughout his ministry, said that it is not even worth comparing the two. But these verses do not address the significance behind suffering. What is suffering achieving for us?

“ Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

— 2nd Corinthians 4:16-18

And here we have the Lord’s answer. Many times we feel like our suffering is meaningless. I am sure the apostles felt this way while Jesus was in the tomb. Martha and Mary could not understand why Jesus delayed in coming and let their brother Lazarus die. All of us, while we are in the midst of our suffering begin to doubt and to ask the question: Why? This is our answer. God allowed suffering to happen to Mary and to Martha so that His glory would be revealed. God also allowed His one and only Son to suffer and die to save sinners. Not because we deserve it, but for His honor and His glory. We have all suffered throughout this year. We all had hopes and dreams for this year that did not come to pass. Some of us have lost our jobs. Some of us have lost loved ones. But God says to you, that if you are in Christ Jesus not one second of your suffering is wasted. It is achieving for you an “eternal glory” that far exceeds the “light and momentary troubles” that you are facing today. So I urge you, if you have not repented of your sins and received the gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, do it today! Let today be the day of salvation for you! All of the suffering that you have gone through has brought you to this moment, has brought you to the foot of the Cross so that you might be saved and that you might share in Christ’s glory. For those of us who know Him and have been called according to His purpose, let us trust Him. Let us take our eyes off of the “light and momentary troubles” that we are facing and let us fix our eyes “…on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

Thanks again for taking the time to read my blog today! Please continue to pray for me and for my students and for the people of Ecuador. If you feel led to give to this ministry, I would greatly appreciate your support! There are two ways that you can give online. The first is through this link: globaloutreach.org/giving/missionary-details/jonathan-green or, if you are giving through Dahlonega Baptist Church, you can use the following link: app.securegive.com/dbch/dahlonega-baptist-church/donate/category and designate the funds for “Jon Green Ministry.”

May God bless you and keep you and uphold you with His righteous right hand.

Blessings,

Jonathan Green

The Heart of Man and the Heart of God

Hello everyone! Thank you for coming to read my blog today! I hope that you and your loved ones are well and seeking the Lord in prayer and in His Word each and every day! Here is a quick update about what has been going on with me and what is happening here in Ecuador. I am well. By God’s mercy and grace, I have not gotten sick and the Lord continues to sustain me through His peace. I continue to give my classes online throughout the week, sharing from God’s Word to encourage and to convict. Attendance has been up and down lately, as many of them are working online and are required, at times, to work outside of normal business hours. Continue to pray for me that I might teach with clarity and conviction from the Scripture and that I would also be constantly searching for new and dynamic ways to teach English, so that they would feel encouraged to continue to study English and to hear the Living Word of God.

The situation here in Ecuador is very delicate. Cases continue to rise across the country and the healthcare system is not adequately equipped to handle the cases of COVID-19 in addition to all of the other healthcare needs that they would normally face. In spite of the dangers, people are going out and working and gathering in groups. Everyone is wearing a mask because it is required by law. If someone is found outside without a mask, they are fined. The masks have helped the situation from getting completely out of control as people have to work in order to provide for themselves and their families. Please be in prayer for the people of Ecuador, especially for those who are going out and working. Pray for wisdom for all of the government officials. Pray that they would be honest, as we have seen some high-profile cases of corruption, that they would recognize that they will have to give account to the Lord. Pray for all of the pastors and churches, so that the Gospel may continue to be preached throughout Ecuador and more and more Ecuadorians might be saved.

I pray that you would take joy in putting His commands into practice and in sharing with others the promises of God. I pray that you would humbly help others to see the sin in their lives and, out of love for God and for them, you would lead them to the foot of the Cross. This a challenge for all of us but this challenge is not optional. It is the command of our Savior and our Lord (Matthew 28:18-20). The Lord has called us to love Him with all that we are and all that we have, and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:36-40). But we are called to love not as the world loves, but love as God loves. We are called to love with patience and forgiveness and we are also called to love by convicting others of their sin and their need for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. This is the same love that Christ showed us. He made us aware of our sin, and the consequences, but he also made a way for us to be with Him and to avoid the punishment that each of us deserves because He took that punishment upon Himself. He helped us to learn that the heart of man is sick and stained by sin and that the heart of God is to redeem a people for Himself and for His glory. In Christ Jesus, we have the perfect example of the love that flows out from the heart of God and all Christians are called to be imitators of Christ, to pour out the love that Jesus has shown us into to lives of those around us.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog today! I hope and pray that you and your family and all of your loved ones are staying safe during this public health crisis. Always remember that our hope is in Jesus Christ. He has promised that He will be with us to the very end and He keeps His promises.

If you feel led to give to this ministry, I would greatly appreciate your support! There are two ways that you can give online. The first is through this link: globaloutreach.org/giving/missionary-details/jonathan-green or, if you are giving through Dahlonega Baptist Church, you can use the following link: app.securegive.com/dbch/dahlonega-baptist-church/donate/category and designate the funds for “Jon Green Ministry”

Blessings from Ecuador,

Jonathan Green

Independence Day

To everyone from the United States, I want to wish you a happy Independence Day! I hope that everyone who reads this blog is well and I pray that the Lord would bless you and your loved ones and guide you all closer to Him!

You may be wondering why I chose the phrase, “Independence Day,” instead of “Fourth of July” or just “4th.” I chose this phrase for a reason. I chose it because while we as Americans celebrate our independence from Great Britain, many of us choose to remain enslaved. Many of us who say that we love freedom choose to remain in chains. It is not only an American problem, it is a human problem. I am sure some of you are wondering what I am talking about. Some of you know the only source of true freedom. Jesus Christ. Most of the people in the United States that are celebrating freedom today are in bondage to sin and death. Let us read God’s Word, given to us through the Apostle John in the third chapter of the Gospel that bears his name:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.”

John 3:16-21

Here we see the heart of man and the heart of God. We see that God loved the world, but the people loved darkness. They love the darkness because they know, even if they do not recognize it consciously, that what they are doing is wrong. That the thoughts, attitudes and feelings they have toward God, toward others and toward themselves, is wrong. But they love the darkness, because the darkness does not make them confront their sin. The Light does. Christ does. For my fellow Christians, we are called to be salt and light by our Savior and our Lord. We are set free from slavery to sin and death. But, sadly, many of us still have the minds and hearts of slaves. Much like the Israelites in the desert, we have been freed from Egypt, but our minds and hearts long to go back there.

What we have seen throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the killings of African-Americans and the protests and violence that were sparked in their wake, has been the heart of man revealed for all to see. We have seen selfishness, pride, greed, corruption, hatred and violence. Things that were hidden behind a mask during good times have been revealed during these times of crisis that we are all facing. The question that now faces us is this: “What do we do?”

Now more than ever, we must first confront the sin in our own lives. We must examine our own hearts and minds by the light of the Word of God and see where we are falling short so that we can use what we have learned to help others. Let us read the words of Jesus, recorded for us in the Gospel of Luke:

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

Luke 6:41-42

This does not mean that we ignore the sins of others but it means that we always begin with ourselves. We do this not only out of humility, recognizing our own imperfections, but so that we can more clearly see the problem that others are facing and help them through it. How can we show others the light when we cannot see it clearly ourselves. We need to ask ourselves some hard questions. What are some of the thoughts and feelings I have towards God? Do they honor Him? Or do they mistreat Him? And what of my thoughts for others? Do I love others as I love myself? Or do I harbor hatred for those that are different than me? Do I dismiss the suffering of others as being exaggerated? And what about the thoughts about myself? Do I view myself as being without sin? Do I compare myself to others and think ‘I’m better than them?’ These are more than just superficial questions. Each of us needs to take the time to examine ourselves, seeking the Lord’s guidance in prayer, and holding our lives up to the light of Scripture to see if our attitudes, our thoughts, our desires and our deeds are good or evil.

It is when our union with Christ is made more perfect that we will experience a more perfect union in our nation and our world. We know that not all who hear the message of the Gospel will receive it, but we do know that some will and that God will always receive honor and glory for it. So I encourage you, as I encourage myself, to not only proclaim the light of the Gospel, but to live the light for others to see.

Take time on this Independence Day to reflect on whether or not you are truly free from sin and death. If you are not yet free, I ask you to come into to the light. To repent and ask for the forgiveness from God that awaits all those who are willing to receive it and to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. For my brothers and sisters in Christ, I ask you to reflect on your walk with your Lord. Seek His presence, daily, in prayer and in the meditation on His Word. Abandon the mindset and the “heartset” of a slave to sin and experience the freedom that our Heavenly Father has given to all of His children.

Please be in prayer for me as I continue to serve the Lord here in Ecuador. Please consider becoming a regular-giving partner in this ministry, so that I can continue to share the Gospel and to drive away the darkness with His marvelous light. I pray that you would join me carrying the message of hope, the message that Christ lives and offers an abundant life of freedom from sin for all who would receive it. Conditions here are difficult. Hospitals and clinics all over the country are filled to capacity, with more seeking treatment. Pray for those that are suffering. I ask, specifically, for prayers for Ivonne Almeida. She is the wife of pastor Jonathan Constante, pastor of First Baptist Church Ambato. She is currently in a diabetic coma in one of the hospitals here in Ambato. Normally, she would be taken directly to ICU, however, because of the pandemic, all of the ICU beds are full. Please pray for healing for her and that God would comfort her husband and two children and all of her family.

Thank you for stopping by my blog today! I hope that this message was challenging and edifying at the same time. If you have any questions you can contact me via email at: chacaucojon@gmail.com. If the Lord has led you to give to this ministry, you can do so online at: https://globaloutreach.org/giving/missionary-details/jonathan-green

May God bless you, your loved ones and the United States of America!

Jonathan Green

Life and Ministry Under Quarantine

Hello everyone and welcome to my blog! I’m glad that you dropped by today and I hope that you and all of your loved ones are well in the midst of these difficult times! I am doing well given the circumstances. I have stayed in good health and I have everything I need here at home. The restrictions here in Ecuador began in earnest around the 12th of March when the ban on large gatherings went into effect. Churches had little time to adapt for the first Sunday after the ban but some pastors were already transmitting their sermons live from their homes and have continued to do so during this quarantine. Curfews were also put in place soon afterwards and became more and more strict as time went on and is now from 2 p.m. to 5 a.m. I go out as infrequently as possible. I go to the supermarket once every two weeks and that is the only time I spend outside my home. Ecuador is very vulnerable and has suffered a lot because of COVID-19. Please pray for the people of Ecuador during this trying time. Pray for God’s provision for those in need, pray for protection for the doctors and nurses and all essential personnel who are keeping things running, and pray that the Lord would be at work in the minds and hearts of Ecuadorians and that they would realize that God is in control and that they would recognize their need for a relationship with Him through faith in Jesus Christ.

In spite of the quarantine I have been able to continue to give some of my classes online. It was difficult at first, trying to find the right methods and the right materials to use in an online format, but we have been able to find a rhythm that has allowed me to continue to teach English and to share God’s Word. My students have been so thankful to have the classes and have shared how it has helped them and has made these days of quarantine easier to bear.

There are a lot of uncertainties ahead, but I continue to trust in the Lord that He is with me and that He will provide what I need. No one on Earth is certain how long this will last or what the world will look like afterwards, but the Lord knows. The Lord knows and I trust Him. I hope that you will join me in prayer for all of those most affected by this pandemic. For those that are ill, for those that have lost loved ones, for the doctors and nurses who are fighting every day to save lives, for those who have lost their jobs, for those who are literally dying of hunger, for wisdom for all governments and leaders of all nations and for ourselves. May we all seek the Lord more and more and may we place our faith and our trust in His love and in His goodness. May we turn our eyes upon Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. May God bless you and protect you and your family. And, when all of this is over, may we celebrate together by giving the honor and glory to our Lord and our Savior, Jesus Christ. I will end my blog with the priestly blessing of Aaron for the nation of Israel. I join with them in lifting this prayer for you and all of your loved ones:

24 “‘“The Lord bless you
    and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face shine on you
    and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord turn his face toward you
    and give you peace.”’

Numbers 6:24-26

May God bless you all.

Sincerely,

Jonathan Green