THE REFORMED FAITH IN PUERTO RICO

This letter is sent to those whom we believe may have some interest in knowing about our ministry in Puerto Rico and in praying for us. We send greetings to you by the mercies of the Lord and tell you plainly that we desire your prayers for us.

It has been a while since I have written, so this letter will not be short and in part will reflect even on last year. Mainly because of difficulties in the large book distribution work of the church, last year was tough, affecting the church in different ways. With shame, I had to recognize that my own weaknesses contributed largely to a situation in the book ministry whose effects are still being felt. However, we have seen the Lord demonstrate His mercy and grace in a way that has humbled and surprised us. (But isn't God´s grace always full of marvels and surprises, truly amazing?) The man who was in charge of the book distribution work began his own distribution work, with our help, in an agreement to work cooperatively. However, at his request that agreement was terminated in mid February and he also left the church.

Nevertheless, there seems to be a great deal more peace, unity, zeal and desire to press forward. The Lord has been my helper. The preaching ministry has focused on Acts and other passages. Attendance at the services has increased in spite of the loss of that family. People have stepped forward to work voluntarily in outreach (a Saturday class for children among other things; arranging to sponsor a radio program with messages from IBSJ of Santo Domingo) and in the book ministry; thus we continue on. I have had the joy of seeing others begin to teach and exhort in the church.

As to the book ministry, sometimes the Lord lets us get a glimpse of how he has used our work in literature. January 20 was the day of Estela's and my 1st wedding anniversary. However, we did not celebrate much that day, as it was the Lord's Day, and a very unusual one at that, because I was invited to bring greetings and be a witness at an early afternoon service constituting a new Presbyterian church - The Reformed Presbyterian Church of the Caribbean (its name as translated to English).

What is interesting is that almost all their leaders at one time were Pentecostals and are now adopting the Westminster Confession accepting a cessationist position in regard to the revelatory gifts (prophecy and tongues). They testified plainly that they arrived at a reformed position through visiting our book service and reading the literature we have distributed on the island. I would like to have seen reformed Baptist churches established, but I am thankful to see the progress so far, and thankful to have a good relationship with them.

In December we invited several pastors for a half-day conference with pastor Eugene Piñero doing the teaching. Pastor Piñero also preached for us 3 times. At that same time we also expected Pastor Barker to be with us as part of Trinity Baptist Church's care for us, but he became ill and could not make the trip.

This year we have set apart the first Saturday in October to continue this effort with the pastors of PR in what we pray will be for the good of many. We hope and pray to do this annually with a couple other meetings in between to see how we can promote the truths most surely believed.

For the time being I also continue with the commitment to help Francisco Guzmán in the Haitian ministry for pastoral training. The Lord willing, we will be ministering in Terrier Rouge giving instruction to pastors and leaders on the 22nd and 23rd and preaching in the churches on the 24th. Pastor Guzmán plans on leaving 2 days earlier to go to a place called Hinche, accompanied by Pastor Stu Johnston of Grace Reformed Baptist Church in Mebane, NC, the translator Jan Pierre Kawas, and the driver. The Lord willing, Alexis Baez and I will meet them in Haiti on the 21st.

Alexis pastors a Baptist church in the Dominican Republic and he helped out in the instruction on our last trip. My subject this time is Repentance.

Upon return from Haiti, the Lord willing pastor Stu Johnston will come over to PR to teach at our annual church retreat, March 28-31. His wife Beth hopes to come to meet him here. We look forward to his ministry among us. Part of the time we expect him to teach on Evangelism.

We have some family news. We had the joy of having all our children and their families with us at the end of 2001. On the Lord's Day December 30, eighteen of us (we two, plus 7 children, 4 spouses and 5 grandchildren) were gathered with the church. It is my prayer that all will be gathered in the the presence of the Lord forever, along with the great multitude of the redeemed. Bert and Atie Dekker from Trinity in Montville were with us that day, shared a meal and took photos of the whole family. Shortly after the blessing of having all together, my son David and his wife Karen received their first child, a baby boy (Noble David Vater III) born Januany 12. Also, Estela's son Jossue has become engaged to be united in marriage to Sharon Adams in early June at Covenant Reformed Baptist Church of Flemington, NJ (pastor Alan Dunn), the Lord willing.

Estela and I visited Mexico for 5 days in February and spent a few days in San Antonio with her 2 sons, and the folks at Free Grace Baptist Church. We got to see Jossue give Sharon the engagement ring.

Please pray for us.

Noble Vater
NVater@compuserve.com

Summary:
1. Give thanks that the Lord has kept us as He has and pray that we would be enabled to reach out efficaciously toward the unconverted.
2. Pray that the Lord would free me from the present distractions of the literature ministry in order to be the pastor that I want to be and must be in every way before Him.
3. Pray that we can follow through quickly and successfully with the reformation of the book ministry and that our web page would be of real service in the Lord´s kingdom.
4. Remember the upcoming ministry in Haiti - March 20, 22-24 - for blessing on the teaching and protection of soul and body as we travel and visit.
5. Please remember the church retreat with pastor Stu Johnston.
6. Pray for our labors with other pastors and churches in Puerto Rico and the conferences we plan on having.
7. Pray that we would be able to air some messages from the Iglesia Bíblica del Señor Jesucristo of Santo Domingo in order to promote truth and reach out in that way also.