December 2023
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6) |
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STS/Westminster Seminary joint apologetics conference, "En Defensa de la Verdad." Pray as we plan for an even larger conference in 2024.
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| | Santiago Theological Seminary - Praise God for our second annual apologetics conference in September, done jointly with Westminster Theological Seminary. God exceeded our expectations, with 600 in attendance, 2000 watching live on-line, and close to 300,000 having watched one or more sessions on YouTube in just over two months.
- Our Certificate in Christian Counseling has proven to be popular, so we are expanding to a second site in Santo Domingo (the capital). We already have a full class of 80 registered for Jan.
- We praise God for the graduation of 37 students with a Certificate in Christian Counseling on December 8. I was able to participate in this first-time event. Some who are lay leaders are already assisting their churches in the counseling load.
- We continue to work at recruitment for our GAP Year, and we decided on an excellent couple to be the resident directors. See website at https://gap.stsantiago.edu.do Continue to pray for the students God has for us.
- I was able to have an in-person meeting with the STS board this month at which several important decisions were made. I also met with a pastor/physician who is being considered to be a new board member. He is a former student of our seminary whose church and ministry was radically transformed through what he learned.
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| | Here is the cover of my new book entitled: Biblical Authority, Tradition, and Prayer in Roman Catholicism: A Reformed Response, published in Spanish by our new publishing house Editorial Gracia y Verdad. |
| | Family Update - Pray for Kaleah's nut allergy desensitization program. She recently experienced an anaphylaxis setback. Pray for asthma symptoms that developed this week, for which she has started medication.
- Praise God Kaleah is in a mainstream class in kindergarten. Pray for the Lord's direction for first grade as she just interviewed at three schools in Santiago in November.
- We praise God for the safe birth of Bruce's daughter Brooke Nearman's twins.
- Aaron and Abby's son Ace (1) was dedicated at their church in November.
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| | | Our grandson Miles (left) and twin sister Camile born in early October. |
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Prayer Requests & Answers
- Thank you for praying about our family moving next July to Santiago. We had a great visit in the Dominican Republic in late November in preparation for our move, including school interviews.
- Pray for the Lord to bring just the right students to become part of our GAP Year program as we recruit for next September. One of these is Stanley, a Haitian student involved in leading Bible studies at his adoptive father's ministry at a drug rehab center. He needs a full scholarship.
- Thank you for praying for Chris Istrati and me as we led a seminar with 17 church leaders this month. The training was regarding evangelizing unreached peoples of the world through sending out Dominicans. Pray that this nascent movement would grow so churches see it is their responsibility.
- Pray for additional administrative support for STS to be able to grow in its programs. Pray for Bruce's visit to San Pablo Seminary in Merida, Mexico January 24-27 to learn from their experience and possibly incorporate one of their programs to STS.
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| Partner With Us
Mailing address for support checks:
Reformed Evangelistic Fellowship PO Box 847 Bristol, TN 37621-0847
Be sure to include "McDowell ministry" on memo line of check so it goes to correct account. Include your email address. Or donate on-line:
https://www.refglobal.org/mcdowell-bruce.html |
| | | Bruce's Website
Check out Bruce's website. There you can read his blog on things concerning Scripture, the Lord and our world, and find his books, sermons and recorded teaching: http://bruceamcdowell.com .
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| | Santiago Theological Seminary
Non-Profit Website
ACTS Beyond is the fundraising arm of STS. Donations for the seminary can be made through http://actsbeyond.org .
The STS website: https://stsantiago.edu.do/wp/ |
| | STS counseling students meeting with mentor at restaurant, Santiago, DR; Graduation of 37 students!
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