On Su
nday January 10th the Las Tablas Bible Study group switched their meeting time to Sunday Evening as many were not able to make the Friday evening meetings. For the last two weeks they have had great attendance. On Sunday January 17th TEAM missionary Mark Johnson led the Bible study. You may enjoy looking at some of the pics from the evening as they also celebrated David Chamorro’s 5th Birthday. Check it out at: http://nuevaiglesialastablas-madrid.blogspot.com/
Sunday Evening Meetings in Las Tablas
Posted in Las Tablas Service
McMillan family get together
Grace and Peace be yours in abundance to you who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours…
First we’ll share a few ways that Grace and Peace have abounded in our lives: Sharon had the follow-up visit with the surgeon on Nov. 11th but had to wait an additional week for the complete pathology report. She has DCIS (ductile cancer in situ) which is not invasive and the tumor was small, 7mm. This is all good news as far as cancer goes. She is still doing therapy stretching exercises with her right arm to combat the effects of the surgery. The next step is an appointment with an oncologist on Dec. 22 to determine what further treatment will be recommended.
Thanksgiving gave us a week to be with Melissa and some time with Sharon’s side of the family near Charlottesville, Va. This is final exam week for our daughter, Melissa who finishes her 1st semester at James Madison University and has adjusted nicely. Heather is in Hopewell, Va. with grandparents, working as part time church secretary for West End Presbyterian Church while preparing to leave in February to teach English as a second language in Seoul, Korea.
Getting better acquainted with brothers and sisters in Christ at both Occoquan Bible Church and Capitol Hill Baptist Church has been a priority. Besides having people in our home, we participated in a 7:00 am Tuesday morning class on counseling entitled, “How People Change”. We attend a home group which has been reviewing the book, Respectable Sins. The Sunday School class is studying I and II Peter. Besides this, we listen to lectures from a course called Islam Through Christian and Muslim Eyes. Sharon read the book by Orson Wells, Homage to Catalonia in which the author makes the observation back in 1936 that Spain seemed to be the most atheistic European country. We both helped out at the 2 evangelistic Christmas Teas offered at CHBC. Together with the Muhas we have been developing brochures and info packets to distribute to our supporters. Peter and Scott are also contacting new churches to see if they would be interested in pursuing church planting in Madrid. We are so grateful for the input of everyone who gives us ideas and helps to push our info technology ability to higher levels! We are trying to blog and twitter to help the younger generations keep track of us.
The hand of God is evident as events take place to prepare for the Muhas and McMillans to begin working in Spain. 5.84 million people live in the greater metropolitan area of Madrid, the 3rd largest city in Europe. Las Tablas is a new housing development on the northern side of Madrid comprised of various nationalities. Already a Friday evening get together has been established by a few local believers who gather with interested guests for a study through the book of Mark.
About 100 people attended the recently held marriage seminar. We communicate back and forth on issues relating to doctrine and practice as well as personal matters, to begin the process of team building since we have not worked together before.
The following is an excerpt from a church planter already working in a different area of Madrid:
“There were about 75 present (at the Thanksgiving dinner), a little less than half non-Christian, including multiple nationalities. At one table of 8, there were 6 different ones! That´s indicative of the reality of immigration in Europe that is changing the cultural landscape, and the way ‘church’ is done in Spain.”
As we prepare to serve the Lord in a new church plant in Spain one of the challenges we face is the need for additional financial support. Our monthly financial need for Spain is $8090 a month. That amount includes; salary, insurances, transportation, ministry expenses, retirement, and other services. We do not have a guaranteed salary with TEAM, just the amount that comes in through those who partner with us. Our present monthly income is an average of $4075, which means that we are at 50% of the level we need to leave for Spain in June of 2010. Please be in prayer with us as we contact those churches and families who will want to invest in the church plant in Madrid, Spain. With the additional medical expenses we have been stretched more than usual. When we move to South Carolina in January we will look for part-time jobs to offset recent expenses. We anticipate grace and peace to abound in our hearts as we follow and trust the Lord.
Another move is approaching: #19. We love everywhere we go, but it hurts to leave from wherever we are at present! New address as of January 5th: 137 Haywain Drive,Chapin, SC 29036
Joyfully in Christ,
Peter & Sharon McMillan
Posted in McMillan Update
Meet the McMillans
In September of 1989 after a year of Language School in Costa Rica, Peter and Sharon along with their two children, Ben and Heather left for a camping and church planting ministry along the coast of North Eastern Venezuela. They were assigned by TEAM (The Evangelical Alliance Mission) to work with the national church organization to find land and develop a camp and lay training center. A 50 acre farm was purchased in December of 1990 and the development began. Over the next eight years 21 work teams from the USA and the regional church organization worked together to build 8 buildings to house the 200 plus campers and staff
During those years at the camp Peter and Sharon also served as church planters. Rivers of Living Water Church started off as a children’s ministry. Gradually adults began to attend the church services. After taking 17 adults through a two year Bible training program, Peter was able to appoint 3 of them as elders. When Sharon was not homeschooling the children or attending newly born daughter Melissa, she was helping out with the church music or teaching and training teachers for Sunday School. In 1995 the church assigned a team to begin a new church plant which they supervised for about two years. Then, in 1998 they began another church in the mountain village of Gran Pobre as well as work with the youth. With a ‘67 Ford Pick-up truck they hauled helpers up the mountain and picked up eager children each Sunday morning. During those ten years Peter had a part in helping the church organization change to a elder ruled leadership. In 1999 Camp Chuparipal was turned over to the regional church organization, with its own camp director and board.
After home assignment Peter and Sharon began a church in the city of Lecheria. For the next 10 years Peter was the team leader for Metropolitan Bible Church. Along with his role as an elder, Peter was in charge of Bible Institute program and the overall administration of the church plant. Sharon again played a key role in the children’s ministry, training, teaching, planning children’s programs, discipling ladies or teaching English class as an outreach. Together Peter and Sharon would visit and counsel couples. In any given week they might attend a group baptism conducted at the beach or a river, respond to the security alarm at the church building, read by candlelight at night during one of the numerous power outages, visit a member or relative of a member in their home or in the hospital, spend hours texting people by cell phone. The Metropolitan Bible Church now has a Venezuelan full time pastor and two elders to lead over 200 in attendance.
After twenty years in Venezuela, the Lord has now called Peter and Sharon together with fellow TEAM Venezuelan missionaries Scott and Lorna Muha to a new church plant in Madrid, (Las Tablas) Spain. They will be partnering with the Chamorros, an Argentinean family and the Tablante family who were former members of the Lecheria church in Venezuela. Spain is less than 1% evangelical with 7000 cities with no established church. Together we are trusting the Lord for much fruit as we endeavor to plant a church in an area of more than 100,000 inhabitants where there is no established evangelical church.
Peter and Sharon are presently in the USA and working on their transition to Madrid. Pray that all needs will be met so that they can begin this new ministry by June of 2010. Ben is married to Hannah, Heather is preparing to go to Korea to teach English and Melissa is a freshman at James Madison University.
Posted in Meet the Team
Muhas Fall Update
Happy fall, everybody!
We’re sitting in a doctor’s office waiting for Scott’s bi-annual, bladder cancer check. By the way, it turned out clean. Thank you for your prayers. It seems we’ve been spending lots of time in hospitals lately. I guess that means we’ve passed the 50 mark (not “just” passed, but looong passed it) and the appointments mirror that fact. In May, as most of you know, I returned from Venezuela early to begin radiation. Thankfully, they were able to double my dose and I was finished in half the time, three weeks rather than seven, with few side effects. I’m now on hormonal therapy, taking a pill a day, for the next 5 years, again with few side effects. I’m so thankful that what began as, “Positive?”, “Did you say malignant?”, “What did you mean carcinoma and subsequent treatment?” turned out to be Stage 0, contained and non-aggressive. I praise God almost everyday that I didn’t have to hear “Stage 4”, “chemo”, “little we can do”, as four dear Christian saints have heard and have had to bear up under. What a blessing they’ve been to us as they, in their suffering, have been a light to the world, a city on a hill that can’t be hidden, they shine so others can see their faith and know the God who is their rock.
In between doctor visits, we’ve been enjoying Tigers’ games (…well, sadly, not any more), college football (watching is so much funner-yes we teach English- than reading them on Gamecast). We’ve eaten strawberries, blueberries and all the other fresh fruits, corn on the cob, ice cream… in cream puffs (thanks, Mom)…with Sander’s hot fudge over the top. Speaking of “over the top” that would be our weight. Of course, I have my hormonal therapy to blame for that. Scott, on the other hand . . . hey, I’m just sayin’ . . .
Well, for those of you, who have not yet heard, it looks as if we might, possibly, maybe be on our way to Madrid. Why so hesitant? We just haven’t seen the writing in the sky nor had that burning bush experience from the Lord saying in that deep, James Earl Jones voice, “Go to Madrid!” But we have researched the great need there, sought the Lord out in Bible study, prayer and fasting and believe He is working in hearts there. Now, we have committed to go and join that work. The target area is just within the city limits of Madrid, which makes it a bit more expensive (uh-oh, I may start talking about raising additional support; you might want to stop reading right now!!!). It is also within walking distance of the subway, which makes it more accessible. Just eight years ago this area was a pasture where sheep grazed. It is now a thriving, urban neighborhood where apartment buildings have grown up and are housing more than 140,000 people, mostly young families. There are two Argentine families, who arrived a couple of years ago and are trying to start a church in Las Tablas. Presently, some 20-30 people meet on Friday evenings to study the Bible. Wow, in Spain, that is like . . . miraculous!!! Samuel and Viviana and Oscar and Cristina are very excited to have us come alongside them, since they work full-time and are unavailable to dedicate 24/7 to the ministry. From our limited time getting to know them, they seem to be sincere, humble, charismatic people who love the Lord and have a heart for the people of Spain. Also going along with us are Pete and Sharon McMillan, former missionaries to Venezuela. Some of you may remember a Woodside Project Build team going to Venezuela in 1996. That team built several cabins at the camp the McMillans started. Along with Pete and Sharon there is another couple from their church in Venezuela. We are excited about how God has put this international team together when we are talking about starting a multi cultural church.
We’re preparing to leave the U.S. toward the end of January. Upon arrival in Madrid, we’ll need to buy a car, find an apartment and furnish it (we’ll be taking very little with us), and because of language and cultural differences we may spend a year, more or less, orienting ourselves to “sounding and becoming more like Spaniards.” I’m thinking that means a lot of watching, listening and learning. During that time, we’ll be assisting Samuel and Oscar and their families in whatever way we can.
From what we have observed, European culture is much more reserved than what we are used to as Americans and from what we were exposed to in Venezuela. We need to learn to be cordial without being overly friendly, respectful of their time and space, sensitive to the Holy Spirit concerning with whom we share Christ and worst of all (for me, especially ), we need to learn to listen and let them take the lead in initiating the conversation. 
We’d like to ask for your prayers for the following:
Zachary will be taking the GMATS this Tuesday. He’s thinking about continuing his education and going back for his MBA. Please pray that God would bring to mind all that he’s learned and studied, that he would have God’s peace and not be nervous and that, if this is God’s will for Zach, that God would lead him to the perfect university setting. Addison – please pray that she would know God’s direction for her life and have the faith, fortitude and focus to follow it through. Financial Support will increase due to higher costs in Europe. Please pray that God would provide it. Let us know if you or your church would be willing to join with us in reaching Madrid for Christ. Wisdom in using our remaining time here in the States. Our future co-workers, Pete and Sharon McMillan. Sharon has recently discovered she has breast cancer. The surgery went well. She will most likely continue with radiation and hormonal therapy. Please pray for her complete recovery. Thank you so much for your prayers, for your faithful support, for your calls, cards and emails and for the encouragement we receive from you loving and caring for us. Love, Scott and Lorna
Posted in Muha Update
Meet Scott and Lorna Muha
Scott and Lorna Muha have been in the ministry since 1977, where they served with the Christian Service Corp at their headquarters in Washington, DC. Scott worked as a placement counselor and Lorna in graphic arts and recruiting. Following that two year commitment, they then accepted an assignment at the Micronesian Institute of Biblical Studies in Chuuk, Micronesia. They served as professors, house parents and administrators. Returning to Michigan, the Muhas were on staff at Woodside Bible Church in Troy, where Scott was pastor of children ministries and global outreach.
In 1990, the Muhas joined The Evangelical Alliance Mission (TEAM) and left for Costa Rica to study Spanish. They arrived in Caracas, Venezuela in 1991 and for the next 18 years were part of two church planting teams. Both churches are now in the hands of national leadership. Due to TEAM terminating their ministries in Venezuela, Scott and Lorna are being reassigned to Madrid, Spain. Their children, Zachary and Addison, are presently residing and working in Florida.
Posted in Meet the Team
