"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." 
Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

I am a "jack of all trades" that wears "many, many hats;" that is how William Tua (pronounced Two - uah) describes himself and the work that he does in Eastern Puerto Rico.  William is responsible for the church planting work in the eastern part of the country and in the metro areas.  He has been a church planting missionary since 1996, receiving this appointment from the North American Mission Board.  Previously he was the director of social ministries from 1982 - 1985 then the director of religious education from 1985 to 1996 for the old Home Mission Board.  He was appointed as a Church Planting Missionary during the transition from the Home Mission Board to the North American Mission Board.  William has been married for 33 years to his lovely wife Vivian.  They have 4 children, all of whom are married, and 5 grandchildren with two more on the way. 

William stated that the Southern Baptist are "late comers" to the island having started mission work on the island in 1964; therefore, Southern Baptist are not as well established as other main line churches.  His desire is to help the "older" churches to start "new healthy" churches.  To accomplish this he puts on his many hats, because William  is a recruiter, organizer, administrator, trainer and mentor.  Truly a "jack of all trades!"  Presently, he is the interim pastor at the Iglesia Baptista Cathedral Monte Sion, assisting them until they call a new pastor.

Vision
To start one healthy church in every town by 2007

When asked how he plans to accomplish this vision William shared his six goals for this year:

1. To plant healthy churches every four months during 2001
2. To create awareness of the resources of the North American Mission Board
3. To present opportunities for Key Churches to start new churches
4. To recruit and train three new church planters by the end of the year
5. To lead and organize Multiplying Church Network in the East Region.
6. To educate, train and lead pastors to start healthy churches

  William said the Nazareth Baptist Church sponsored one such new start.  Last summer World Changers came to Calmito, an improvised, dysfunctional community in his region.  They worked on many houses and the people were very appreciative and receptive to hearing the Good News of Jesus Christ. They were "very open to the Lord" he said.  Enter Jose Perera, a retired real estate agent who wanted to start a church to reach people for Christ.  William was able to help the Nazareth Baptist church and Jose Perera get together and that is how the Calmito Baptist Mission started.  Jose started visiting the people who he found very open and hospitable.  There have been many decisions.  William shared that one of the ladies who was attending the mission was expecting.  The women of the sponsoring church in an act of love and wanting to minister to the mission and this woman gave her a baby shower, as a result of their love and concern this woman accepted Christ.  Needless to say, both the mother church and the mission rejoiced.

Prayer Requests

• Pray for William’s family.  His wife has a pinched nerve in her elbow and for his daughters and the new babies who are on the way.
• Pray for the workers they are training that they will do an effective job
• Pray that assisting churches will feel the urgency to start new churches
• Pray for Jose Rodriguez, a young man who wants seminary training.

MISSIONARY SPOTLIGHT ARCHIVE

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