Update from Richard Suarez in Venezuela

by Pastor Jerry Theckston

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I thought it might be helpful for you to have the latest update from our dear brother Richard Suarez in Venezuela, as you know, the U.S. recently captured its leader, Nicolas Maduro.

In 2020 our dear brother, Juan Carlos Jimenez, invited me to go to Colombia, S. America, to participate in a month-long boot camp for pastors. Most of these pastors had little formal religious training and many were going into dangerous places to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ!  It was an exciting time for me and also very challenging.

We had very limited food, only cold water for daily showers, up by 5 am for prayer and worship, at least 8 hours of classes, work details and fasting as many as three days at a time!  It was all about devotion, personal discipline, study and submission to authority! I loved it, learned a lot, made many lasting friendships and lost 20lbs!

Richard Suarez was my roommate along with Juan Carlos.  After the graduation Richard has continued to lead “School of Christ” seminars in both Venezuela and Colombia preparing many pastors for ministry in some of the most difficult situations anywhere!

We are helping to support some of these Schools from donations for this purpose through the Missions arm of Life Matters Church.  Below is an update from our dear brother: 

School of Christ

School of Christ

Dear Pastor Jerry,

At this moment Venezuela is relatively calm; we will wait until tomorrow to see how the citizens take it.

The military operation only took place in Caracas; the rest of the country is fine.

The border with Colombia is still open and airlines have already begun operating.

The church is praying that God will be in everything

The vice president will take office and then call for elections.

Thank you, beloved pastor, for your prayers.

We will be traveling to Bogotá on Tuesday.

Beloved Pastor Jerry,

My wife and I have decided to return to Venezuela

Uncertainty still lingers in our country; they might suddenly close the border and we wouldn't be able to return. Therefore, we will be returning today.

Pastor Jerry, blessings. We arrived home in Barquisimeto last night. The trip was good.

So far there is calm in our country; it is up to us to pray and wait on God to see how everything evolves.

Thank you for your prayers.