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Church Plant HighlightMissionary Updates

Orlando and Debbie Collazo – Lorain, OH

By June 28, 2018August 1st, 2019No Comments
[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_text]The Lord has been doing many different things at Fellowship Baptist Church in Lorain, Ohio.  We have had the opportunity to reach out to our community in diverse ways.  One way is through our “open gym” nights where approximately 15-20 local teens and college students come, play basketball, and listen to the teaching of the Word and the Gospel.  We have so far had 3 individuals entrust their lives to God through this ministry.  Please keep praying for the many that come and hear about Christ but have not yet entrusted their lives to Jesus our Lord.

Another community outreach has been visiting the local shelter and taking food and clothing to them, and then sharing the Gospel with them.  We were able to even have a “family night” and provided transportation to anyone from the shelter who wanted to come.  Here we grilled, played games and just had a time to get to know them and anyone else in our community.  We placed flyers all throughout Lorain advertising this event, and God allowed us to make several contacts through this outreach.  From this activity, God gave us two families that have continued to come out.

Another opportunity that the Lord seems to be providing, is the opportunity to have a Spanish Bible Study.  We have now been blessed with several Hispanic families and have had opportunities to translate the sermon from English to Spanish and sing some worship songs in both English and Spanish. Please pray for us as we seek to begin a Spanish Bible Study on Thursdays for a few Bilingual visitors who are more predominant in Spanish.  We also want to thank the Lord for using Orlando in translating into Spanish a live-stream teaching module for people in South America taking the course. Last summer the Lord also gave Orlando and Debbie the opportunity to be the speakers/teachers at a Spanish Retreat in Iowa.  What a joy to be able to use both the English and Spanish languages to teach God’s Word!

At the end of June, we had a Bible Adventure Camp for children from the ages of 4-12.  The camp theme provided a camp experience for the many in Lorain who do not get the opportunity to go away to camp.  The Gospel was clearly presented during this week, and the Lord blessed our efforts with the salvation of a number of kids.  Please pray that this activity will result in more individuals and families entrusting their lives to Christ.  Please continue to also pray for us as we try to disciple our new believers and strengthen and teach the individuals who have been with us for some time.

God has given us several platforms here in Lorain – from contacts due to our son’s sports teams, the local YMCA, the local elementary and High Schools, the local Library (where our daughter works), and others.  Please pray that God would help us use these wisely in sharing His gospel to as many people as we can.

It is a joy to have the whole family involved in the ministry at Fellowship Baptist Church.  First, Orlando studies to preach the Word every week, (S.S., morning worship, Sunday evenings, and Wed. evenings).  He also works on the grounds as necessary (mowing/trimming, fixings, painting etc.) along with others at the church. He and Debbie work with the youth on Wednesday evenings and visit shut-ins weekly to bi-weekly, and disciple and counsel a few individuals throughout the week.  Orlando is also involved with bringing the devotional for the open gym sessions and yearly takes up about 20 children and teens to Camp Patmos during the week he is scheduled to speak.

Debbie and the children help Orlando in any way they can.  Debbie is involved in leading a woman’s Bible study, working in the nursery and in the tots department during Sunday evening Bible Clubs, and accompanying Orlando during visitation and counseling.  Their kids’ involvement includes, but is not limited to, the following:  Priscila helps out in the instruction during Bible Clubs on Sunday evenings, mentors some young girls at the church, plays the guitar at the camp fires during Adventure Bible Camp, takes photos of church activities and helps in the nursery.  She at times also sings some special music for the church service and paints murals around the church. Jonatan heads up the organization of the open gyms and is in charge of the audio-visual aspects of the church.  He is a small group leader and verse instructor for the Sunday evening Bible Clubs and is one of the team leaders for Bible Adventure Camp.  Josué is in charge of the communication and announcements aspects for the youth group. He is in charge of the game time during Bible clubs, is one of the team leaders for Bible Adventure Camp and is one of our official greeters on Sunday mornings.  Josefa is also one of our Sunday morning greeters and helps out in the tots division during Sunday evening Bible Clubs.  She substitutes in the nursery and other areas as needed and is constantly writing to and encouraging the young girls in the youth group.  Together, we basically fill in any area of the church that needs help.  We sometimes come as a family and clean the building and decorate it for different events.

Please continue to pray that God would give us strength to continue to serve HIM in Lorain, Ohio and be able to used to share the Gospel with more individuals in Lorain.[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_images picture_size=”auto” hover_type=”liftup” autoplay=”yes” columns=”2″ column_spacing=”13″ scroll_items=”” show_nav=”yes” mouse_scroll=”no” border=”yes” lightbox=”yes” class=”” id=””][fusion_image link=”” linktarget=”_self” image=”https://bcpusa.org/wp-content/uploads/camp-group-pic.jpg” alt=””/][fusion_image link=”” linktarget=”_self” image=”https://bcpusa.org/wp-content/uploads/20141026_094348.jpg” alt=””/][fusion_image link=”” linktarget=”_self” image=”https://bcpusa.org/wp-content/uploads/20151021_201043.jpg” alt=””/][fusion_image link=”” linktarget=”_self” image=”https://bcpusa.org/wp-content/uploads/20160609_140420.jpg” alt=””/][fusion_image link=”” linktarget=”_self” image=”https://bcpusa.org/wp-content/uploads/Orlando-and-Debbie.jpg” alt=””/][fusion_image link=”” linktarget=”_self” image=”https://bcpusa.org/wp-content/uploads/church-1.jpg” alt=””/][/fusion_images][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]