^{Spanish Missions Bulletin}

Rev. Joel Silos, Director
P.O. Box 40398
San Antonio, TX  78229-1398
(210) 615-1945

February 2005

"Let the heavens be glad and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, the Lord reigneth." 

 I chronicles 16:31

Dear Friends in Christ,

Karen and I praise God for this New Year which offers new opportunities to serve Him.  As a family, we are grateful for the many blessings God bestows on us.  Especially are we grateful for you, dear friends, who pray for us, and for God's answers to those prayers.

David and Mary Elizabeth appreciate the Christmas gifts sent to them.  Praise the Lord for a special offering received to help pay for braces for Mary.  We also thank Him for the donation of a piano.

1,500,000 Gospel Tracts

 On January 4, 2005 we received 25 boxes of gospel tracts weighing 6,500 lbs.  Since 1978, ten years before I became Director of Spanish Baptist Missions, I have been personally involved in delivering literature (i.e., Bibles, New Testaments, tracts, hymn books) to Spanish-speaking churches in the United States and in Mexico.  The literature is specifically requested by the missionary pastors who are planting new works and organizing churches.  Please pray that the tracts may be disbursed by the churches to which we take them.

This past weekend, I made a trip to Mission, Texas on the Texas/Mexico border to deliver several boxes of tracts to Colonial Baptist Church, Roy Velez, pastor.  When I arrived at the church, I was greeted by a man and his wife, Marta, who were waiting for the pastor so they could go to pass out tracts and invite people to attend church.  Marta asked the purpose of my trip.  When I told her about the boxes of tracts, she proceeded to tell me of a male member of the church who was saved after reading a tract.  Not only was he saved, but he has won his family and many relatives to the Lord.  What a tremendous encouragement that was to my heart!  Not often do I hear personally of the direct impact this literature has in changing lives.  If only one soul is saved through this ministry, it is worth it all.

Rare Opportunity

Missionary Miguel Angel Flores, La Paz, Baja California S., reports that since November of last year (2004), he has had the rare opportunity of presenting the gospel at meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous.  In the first meeting, twenty-two persons accepted the Lord Jesus as Savior.  The church that Brother Flores pastors rejoiced when an ex-alcoholic, Maria de Los Angeles, made her public profession of faith in a service.

Brother Flores has had health problems for some time now.  Please remember Brother Flores and his wife as they had to travel to Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico for medical attention.

Annual Missionary Report

1,647 professions of faith

101 baptisms

1,311 church services

2,777 sermons preached

1,361 attended Bible studies

Camp

A camp is planned for the week of March 21, 2005 in Leon, Guanajuato.  The usual attendance is over 1,000 people, including men, women, young people, and children from area churches.  Many come to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, and many, especially young people, surrender their lives to full-time service.  Brother Isidro Ontiveros is the director.  The cost is $6.00 per person.

Roof for the church in a Colonia of Leon

A special offering was received designated to pay for the roof of the building Brother Felipe Urquieta and the men of his church are building.  The wind has torn most of the tarps used as a cover when the services are held.

Prayer request

The U.S. State Department has issued a warning that travel in Mexico has become increasingly dangerous for Americans.  Please pray with us for the Lord's safety as we travel in Mexico.  We plan to leave San Antonio on March 18, 2005 and return on the 28th.

An heir of God through Christ,

Joel Silos, D.D.