Newsletter from Martha (Saint) Berberian

Newsletter from Martha (Saint) Berberian

Guatemala, April 29, 2013

If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go with others.  

PANAMERICAN UNIVERSITY. I have been teaching various courses to theology students since 1977; it is a blessing to invest in the lives of my students. Year by year God sends us new students who choose to study theology to enrich their ministry in their churches. This year we have 70 students signed up in first year; half study on Saturdays at Naranjo Campus and the other half study Thursdays at Central Campus.  In 3 months they learn to research and write an excellent monography through the course Techniques of Research. We use my book Tesis en 3 Meses (Thesis in 3 months) whose principles serve for either long or short research papers.   

EDICIONES SA-BER – a book can change your life. Ediciones SA BER was founded in 1983 to provide inspiration and edification on different topics, including textbooks. In 2012, over 1,800 books were sold, published by my small editorial. There are 20 titles in the catalog at present, and the favorite book continues to be Cómo Predicar, (How to Preach) very useful for beginning preachers. Other popular books are: Enseñando con Eficacia (Teaching Efficiently) and La Mujer y Su Ministerio (The Woman and Her Ministry). I admit that I am not good at promotion and distribution; I need to
work on that. We have 5 books available on  www.Amazon.com. They are: Tesis en 3 Meses, Hombre Integral, Mega Iglesias en Guatemala, Principios para una Familia Integral and Federico Crowe-Precursor Valiente. The books are at the shipping center run by LetraViva Books in Miami directed by  Gladys Amador-Ortiz, where there are 1,500 titles produced by ten Latinamerican editorials. You can see the catalog in quetzales and dollars at:  www.edicionessaber.wordpress.com

FAMILY. We thank God for each of our three children (Esteban, Elizabeth and Susy) and their spouses. Each family has four children, so we have 12 grandchildren, between 12 months and 23 years. In the picture, Marcos, the youngest grandchild, gets a bath in the sink in Haiti. We traveled to Haiti in February with Sam to participate in Ivan and Susy’s ministry. I shared in a ladies’ meeting: “5 tips for women with husbands in leadership”.

HOLD UP AT THE FREDERICK CROWE INSTITUTE. In the picture to the left are the students using the 26 computers donated in March 2012. One Saturday in November  six men entered with guns. Sam’s head was covered with a black plastic bag, everyone was forced to lie down on the floor, while the computers and other valuables were stolen. God is providing new and used computers through generous people. Classes began January 15, and there is a nice group of 97 students in the week-day program, and also 46 adults in the Saturday program. Brother Heri Muñoz, President of Doulos Foundation, provided a metal gate at the entry, with electric lock, to enhance the security.

When Jesus was anointed at Bethany, many criticized the woman, but Jesus said: “She did what she could” Mark 14:8. This is what Jesus Christ asks of us today: to do what we can with the means He has given to each one.   

With much love,

Martha Saint- Berberian    BerberiansInGuatemala@gmail.com

News from Samuel Berberian

News from Samuel Berberian

Apartado Postal 1602, 01901 Guatemala

Dear friends,                                                                               April 29, 2013

Writing to you once again, we cannot but look back to see what has been done, to ask ourselves if we have pleased the Lord, being useful to those the Lord has called us to serve. Beyond our regular activities and the preaching in the churches, we see that the Lord has called us to a diversity of ministries, requiring us to be flexible.   

Haiti. In February we were invited with my wife to Haiti where we had several meetings in a Spanish church (see the picture), and two more in a church where it was necessary to translate the message from Spanish to Creole. It was an interesting and valuable experience. Puerto Príncipe is still recovering from the earthquake of 2010.

Panamerican University. This year has begun with new challenges, including the restructuring of some of the programs in the School of Theology, and evaluating how to manage our age, opportunities, and training leaders who will eventually take our place. Well, we will not be in this work forever, but we need to be faithful until the time the Lord indicates that changes need to take place. On the 14th of March I was given recognition for the 15 years as Dean of Theology. On the left is Mynor Herrera, President of the university and on the right is Saúl Sosa, Director of the Bible Society of Guatemala. Last year we had 185 students studying theology: pastors, leaders, professionals, and others desirous of serving the Lord.     

Frederick Crowe Institute. The high school graduation was November 10. Some of our best students are from very low income families; they are able to study because a donor provided a scholarship ($250 per year). Our library continues to grow, with 14,000 volumes classified by Lesslie Ruiz, our librarian. As to the building, since now it is ours, we are doing some modifications with minimal expense. We thank every friend who is helping to pay the monthly mortgage of $2,100. We invite you to be a part of this vital project (institute and library) that blesses so many people, especially during these next three years until the Institute can be self-supporting.

We have been in Guatemala since 1977 and continue to work with all the evangelical churches, especially in the training of their leaders. You are a part of what has been accomplished through your prayers and gifts, permitting many nationals to be trained.   

I preached not long ago from Jeremiah 35:1-19, about the Racabites, who did what was correct, not necessarily what they liked. The Scripture promises that God will supply our “needs” not our “wants”, but in today’s society we are bombarded with self-pleasing spending. God shows us a different way. May we make decisions that glorify the Lord.   

Your brother in Christ,

Dr. Samuel Berberian      Samuel.berberian@gmail.com                     www.BerberiansInGuatemala.blogspot.com

For an income tax receipt, write your check to C.M.M. (Christ’s Mandate for Missions), P.O. Box 7705, Charlotte, North Carolina, 28241 (Jorge and Ana Marie Parrott direct this ministry). Please designate your gift for scholarship, building, library or other. Thank you!

Update from Martha (Saint) Berberian

  Update from Martha (Saint) Berberian

January 2013

If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.

God has permitted Sam and me to serve the Lord full time in Guatemala for 35 years. My ministry has focused on teaching, writing and publishing. For example, in October I coordinated three one-day-seminars for writers with our guest teacher, Joyce Ellis, from Minnesota, with 25-35 participants each day. Joyce and I prepared a total of 65 pages of handouts; to be honest, we hardly slept those days, but the joy on the faces of the participants made it worth it all when they got their diploma. Each participant dreams of writing articles, their autobiography, or maybe a book.

WRITING, PUBLISHING AND EDITING. I have been writing teaching material since 1980. Most of my books grew out of my courses, though my newest book, Mega Iglesias en Guatemala (Mega Churches in Guatemala), published in June, came from personal research. With 70 pages, it describes 14 mega evangelical churches in the greater Guatemala City area. I admit that I am a good writer, a better editor, but a bad distributor, especially outside Guatemala. I usually take a box of books when we visit churches. The people are glad to have the books brought to them instead of having to go to a bookstore. They especially like the low prices and practical topics. I will try to place some of my books on Amazon.com by March. Please pray for this new venture. www.edicionessaber.wordpress.com

MINISTRY OF TEACHING. We finished the third trimester Dec. 1^st at the Panamerican University School of Theology. I have taught two or three classes a week all year with 20-30 students in each class. It is a blessing to invest in the lives of students. And now I am taking a course, learning how to teach virtually using BlackBoard, not easy for me, but challenging.  We need to be innovative and creative. Yes, I’m the one who takes all the pictures, and do some filming too, of my students, Sam’s preaching, trips. Love it! A valuable ministry tool too.

FAMILY. Grandchild number 12, Marcos, was born in April to Susy and Ivan, joining his two sisters and one brother (see picture of the 4 kids in bed). Since May they are living in Haiti with much to do with social and spiritual ministry. Lisa and Estuardo’s children have grown up; Andy (18) and Martin (15) are taller than us now; Daniel is 13 and Natalia is 7. They come to Grandma's one afternoon a week. Steve and Elaine’s children are also growing up (in Houston). We are thankful for each of our three children, their spouses, and all twelve grandchildren, and one great grandchild too, Kristina and Mark’s son, Ryan Samuel.

HOLD UP AT THE FREDERICK CROWE INSTITUTE. In the picture on the left are the students using the 26 computers donated last March. Saturday afternoon, November 24, two young men came in asking to sign up to study. Sam showed them around, they left, and ten minutes later six fellows came in with guns. Sam’s face was covered with a black plastic bag. He and other staff members were forced to lay face down while all the computers and other valuables were taken during the next 30 minutes. The necessary statements were given to the police but it is doubtful that the things will be recuperated. So the old computers were taken out, others have been donated, so now there are 15. May God cause the thieves to return the merchandise, or provide in some way so the students can have their computer classroom set up when classes begin January 15. 

When Jesus was anointed at Bethany, many criticized the woman but Jesus said: “She did what she could” Mark 14:8.That’s just what Jesus asks us to do today: to do what we can with the means He has given to each of us.

With much love,

Martha Saint-Berberian, BerberiansInGuatemala@gmail.com – www.BerberiansInGuatemala.blogspot.com