URCNA MISSIONS
Greetings in our Lord’s precious name! Please allow me to introduce myself. Together with my wife Aletha and our four children, we have served in church planting, theological education and the production of theological materials since 1985. Our work has been mostly in Central America (we live in Costa Rica), butsince 1997 my work has taken me to most of Centraland South America as well. We have helped establish aself governing congregation in San José, Costa Rica -with a national pastor and consistory (the Tepeyac church), have worked for the establishment of a congregation in a marginalized community (the Los Cuadros church), and are presently involved in the planting of a third church (Pacto de Gracia). We have also helped establish a Christian grade school and high school which serves 200 students at present and has a staff of some 35 people. We are presently in the middle of the construction of the high school, having finished the grade school some years ago.
In 1997 we joined the newly formed United Reformed Churches, and I was called by Bethany URC in Wyoming, Michigan, to serve as Executive Secretary for the Latin American Fellowship of Reformed churches (CLIR in Spanish). The main goal of CLIR is to advance Christ’s Church in Latin America by providing means for training pastors, elders and leaders. There are many Reformed churches in Latin America, but they are disconnected and many are struggling. By putting the stronger churches in touch with the weaker ones, wonderful things are happening. Also, God has raised up good leaders in some countries - but their gifts and teaching do not benefit those outside their small circle. Our Fellowship is seeking to change that, and we help pay for plane fare for these professors and pastors so that they can participate in conferences in other countries. In this way the Reformed faith is being strengthened greatly through the cross-fertilization and teaching ministry of those whom God has equipped in special ways. Over the past 15 years tens of thousands have benefitted from our conferences, and although the spiritual battle rages fiercely, many people are experiencing - some for the first time - the power of the doctrines of God’s sovereignty and grace.
There has been much sacrifice to bring us this far - for those who support us, the nationals with whom we work, as well as our own family. But God is good, and has sustained this ministry, and continues to open doors for us, in the midst of opposition. We would like churches in the US and Canada to be better informed with regard both to the struggles of our ministry, as well as the potential for further work that God has provided. Toward this end we ask for urgent prayer. We ask for prayer for all our network of Reformed churches throughout Latin America. We would also like to strengthen our financial support base. At this point our level of support must increase in order to be able to sustain the present ministry, and hopefully to move forward to take advantage of many open doors.
By God's grace and the generous support of His people, the classrooms of the High School construction were finished in 2018, and the building has been named "The Costa Rican Reformed Ministry Center" since it serves the school, the CLIR print shop, and the Pacto de Gracia congregation. There is one more stage to be completed - the administration building. All prayers and gifts toward this are appreciated" Rising postage costs affect our theological journal distribution. Travel costs affect the ability to provide our conferences. We need to strengthen our support base, and for this reason we ask you to consider our ministry for support. Any donations can be sent to Bethany URC (see below). There are four main areas that we need support for:
(1) Rev. Bill Green - salary.
(2) The work of the Fellowship - CLIR.
(3) Tuition support for needy families.
(4) High school construction.
I have written several articles regarding various aspects of missions, and they can be found on our website: www.reformedmissions.org
If you have comments or questions, please write me at: clirprint@gmail.com
Thank you so much for your consideration, and may God bless you richly!
Your fellow servants in Christ,
Bill & Aletha Green
Website: www.reformedmissions.org
Email - clirprint@gmail.com
Website in Spanish: www.clir.net
Contributions should be designated (see above) and sent to:
United States:
Bethany United Reformed Attn: JVC
5401 Byron Center Ave Wyoming, MI 49519
Canada:
URMA, 1100 40th Ave N., Lethbridge, AB, Canada T1H6B7