Written By
Uri Rafael Barbosa
Director, Guatemala Bible Seminary
Director Uri gave this message as a dedication of the Studios
September 10/25.
The builders work, but the Lord blesses the house.
We gather together with a single purpose: To Give thanks!
So let’s understand that all is the work of God. Why is that? Here are three ideas to consider:
1. The project manager: Our first lesson comes from Psalm 127:1, “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” Where does the vision and money come from for this project? It comes from our brothers and sisters in Canada. Let’s think about it for a moment. There are people thousands of miles away, who may never come to this Seminary, who may never know us personally, but whose hearts were touched to give.
The apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 9:8-11 that “God can make all grace abound,” and He gives us “all sufficiency in all things at all times,” because he wants us to “abound in every good work.” The money that came from Canada wasn’t just a cheque; it was a manifestation of the Grace of God that “abounded in their lives,” but was spilled over to us. They are the branches, but God is the root. Their generosity not only built a studio, but produced thanksgiving to God, here in Chimaltenango! He is the trusted manager, the accurate supervisor of the work, and the faithful provider of the funds. We are merely the workers He hired for this heavenly project.
2. The construction operators: Alright, if God is the project manager, the volunteers (foreign and local) are the brave constructors/operators. Their labor brings a memory of Nehemiah 2:18, “And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for the good work.” How do the volunteers react to the GBS need? Their answer was, “let’s rise and build,” same as Israel reacted. They never said, “this is too hard”, “this is not mine”, or “this is not part of my local church project” but rather they said, “let’s do it!”
The Word of God values physical effort, discipline, and sacrifice for his glory. The studio isn’t just concrete, drywall, insulation, lights, cameras, and wiring. Yes, it’s a priceless gift, but the real lesson is the volunteers’ service to God, which isn’t just words, but with generous handwork and precious feet.
3. The purpose of the work: At the end, what is all of this about? It is to communicate the Word of God. Before, our communication was more traditional, but now the world is on YouTube, Facebook, podcasts, and TikTok. This studio is not just to make GBS visible, but it is from this place that we want to proclaim the word of God; we want to extend beyond these walls where we don’t have missionaries. This studio is in God’s hands to build His kingdom, proclaim His gospel, and prepare this new generation of leaders to use these tools for the glory of God.
Conclusion: We don’t want to be only a beautiful studio. We want to become a catapult for the gospel. May God use this studio to proclaim His word, and have the people listen and be transformed. And may this work, which began as a room of old cables, become a powerful instrument in the hands of our great God.
Written By
César Arreaga
CMRC Associate
I’m deeply astonished by the details the Bible presents when it describes the events it narrates. For example, the detail and explanation in 1 Kings 8:63 when it says that “Solomon offered as peace offerings to the Lord 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the people of Israel dedicated the house of the Lord.” It is amazing! I honestly can’t imagine such a massive offering taking seven of the fourteen days of celebration to offer it.
Just as I can’t imagine that event, it is impossible for me to understand or comprehend how God shakes and motivates hearts to offer gifts for the construction of a place that will serve as a studio for communicating His commands, ordinances, and counsel through video, TV and radio. I don’t know how many people God had motivated to give; my mind can’t grasp the marvelous obedience of each heart that offered to help in some way. My heart overflows with emotion as I watch God’s plans come to fruition when his children unite in a project that brings glory to His name.
I want to thank CMRC volunteers because I know that you left your home and made the trip to be here. Thank you for your time, hard work, and wisdom as we solved the problems we found during the construction. Thank you for the time we spent together doing, talking, laughing, buying things, and eating “gringas”, of course, haha.
Also, I want to thank CMRC supporters. I want to honor your offering, I want to dedicate a time of prayer in gratitude to God for your life, for your business, for your work, for offering the amount God led you to give, and which was obediently invested for the remodeling of our studio. Thank you so much because today, God allows me to be aware that while I am in this place, “the studio,” I am accompanied not only by God’s presence, but also by your prayers, your offerings, your support, your encouragement to continue creating classes, sermons, training, and everything that will serve to proclaim and say that God continues to be good. Today I want to say, “thank you so much” for being part of the project that God inspired in Douglas and Terry’s heart, and that is a reality that allows us to continue with the vision of the Guatemala Bible Seminary and Christian Mission Resource Center.
To God be all the Glory!
Prayer RequestS
- Please pray for the pastors in Cuba who generally live on the poverty level but are strong in their serving God and the people around them.
- Pray for Douglas and Marni Springer as they travel to Northern Ontario to share the mission in Spring Bay Church.
- Pray for the young women in our education program in Iquitos Peru. Pray for their focus to be on learning and studying and their walk with the Lord.
- Pray for Karen as she leads the education program and mentors the young ladies.
- Pray for Douglas and Terry as they travel to Lima on the October 11th for 2 weeks. Pray for safety and good health and protection. They will be visiting in Lima with Jesus regarding the coffee project as well as flying into the Jungle to meet with Karen and the young women. They will also be dedicating our most recent church build down the Amazon river. (hopefully see some pink dolphins)
