The missionaries of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) in Panama have been called and sent by the Synod through the Board for Mission Services, for the purpose of proclaiming the unconditioned Gospel of salvation by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, so that:
In order to efficiently and effectively complete the goal of the establishment of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Panama, in keeping with our purpose, the following are priorities on the Panama mission field:
1. FAITHFULNESS to the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the inspired Word of God and the only rule and norm of faith and of practice, and to the Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, which are a true and unadulterated statement and exposition of the Word of God.
2. EVANGELISM, with primary emphasis on the greater metropolitan area using coordinated follow-up of Plan Acts 18:10, radio adds and literature of Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones, family and friend networking, and home Bible studies.(Colon on the north, Panama City on the south, Chorrera/Arraijan on the west,.and Tocumen on the east, population 1 million plus), reaching out into the country of Panama as the Lord opens doors and Panamanian workers are supplied.
3. NATIONAL CHURCH ORGANIZATION, with an emphasis on training and equipping the growing Evangelical Lutheran congregations to function as an interdependent church, capable of evangelism, mutual spiritual enrichment, and service to all men, using their own resources.
4. LEADERSHIP TRAINING, with an emphasis on equipping the members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church to be pastors, deacons, and teachers, able to teach others, through sufficient theological studies, in accordance with the doctrines and practice of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and guided practical work, supported when necessary with scholarships.
5. SOCIAL CONCERNS, with an emphasis on community health care and evangelism in selected areas through Project Matthew 25:40; encouragement of congregational involvement in charitable concerns; offering opportunity for service by volunteer workers from the USA toward essential skill enhancement of church leadership; and other emergency and/or community development projects as the needs arise.
6. FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY, with emphasis on responsible sharing of resources supplied by the BFMS and other donors and complete and open sharing of information on the use of such resources in light of our purpose and overall goals.
7. ARMED SERVICES/CANAL WORKERS ENGLISH WORK. (Currently in discussion)
In October of 1982 the BFMS approved funding of "a new mission field" in Panama. The two existing English language Redeemer congregations were to serve as base for this work. Missionary Merrell Wetzstein arrived in 1980 to work in Panama City, Missionary Theo Kuster in March of 1982 to work in Colon, Missionary Greg Klotz came to David in 1985, Missionary Phil Reed arrived in 1986 to work on the east side of Panama City, and Missionary Landon Schkade came to Chitre in 1985. Klotz left for studies in the US in 1988 and Reed left for a parish assignment in Texas in 1989. Schkade moved to Panama City in November of 1987 to continue the work on the east side of the city and to begin the Lutheran Bible Institute of Panama. Ross Stroh arrived in January of 1991 to serve as financial consultant. Eric Moeller has been called as full-time theological professor and is expected to be on the field in September of 1991. Vicar Don Wiley from Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne arrived in September of 1989 and will complete a 2 year vicarage program in June of 1991. Vicars Nicolas Wirtz and Don Neumann, both from Ft. Wayne, will arrive in September 1991.
Since October of 1989 the congregations are meeting as a national church in formation. Since April of 1989 the Lutheran Bible Institute of Panama has been operating, with 30 students in the first year.
Since October 1990 the radio programs of CPTLN, which have been aired in Panama for the past 6 years, were integrated into an urban metropolitan evangelism project called Plan Acts 18:10. A contact office was opened October 14, 1990, at a downtown location and a group of evangelists began training for organized follow-up.
Since January of 1988 a planned community health/evangelism program called Project Mateo 25:40 has been working in an area near Colon, Quebrada Ancha, and has recently extended to two new areas, Rio Rita and Villa Unida.
Wetzstein and Kuster were sent by the BFMS as missionary pastors to Redeemer Lutheran Church in Balboa and Redeemer Lutheran Chapel in Margarita, respectively, with the assignment to use those facilities in outreach to the Spanish speaking population, and to serve the English congregations "as long as the need existed."
As projected the political and economic changes brought on by continued Canal treaty negotiations caused the expatriate population to dwindle. The Margarita congregation began conducting Spanish services in 1988 after a transition period of bi-lingual services, and today is 100% Panamanian in membership.
A number of Bible study groups along the highway between Colon and Panama had been busing to the service at Margarita. These groups separated and formed two small congregations during 1988-89. Another congregation was formed from Bible study groups in the Rio Rita area by Vicar Wiley in March of 1990.
The English speaking Balboa congregation was faced with the prospect of disbanding during 1989, and plans were made to turn the facilities over to the small Spanish speaking congregation which began meeting at the location during the Advent of 1989. However, the US invasion of December 20, 1989, the subsequent increase in US military personnel in the Canal area and the change in the political and economic climate has brought new English speaking membership. Spanish services have been held since December 1989 and a small Spanish speaking congregation has been organized at the Balboa facility.
Wetzstein serves a small congregation in the rural village of Sora, over an hour west of Panama City. This work began in January of 1981 after a local woman married a US serviceman attending the Redeemer Balboa congregation.
While in David and surrounding areas, Klotz gathered a number of small groups using the home Bible study method. Efriam Muñoz had become interested in the ministry during evangelism visits made by Wetzstein in early 1981, and at present, under the guidance of the Lutheran Bible Institute of Panama, is serving two small groups near his home in Volante and Concepcion. David, with a population of more than 100,000, is the major agricultural area of Panama. Efforts to continue the work in David, with the regular visit of a missionary from Panama City, have not been successful. At present the small group in David is attended by Muñoz.
A small congregation was gathered by Reed on the east side of Panama City. This group worships in the AMiLPa built parsonage. Schkade is serving this area, since August of 1989, and beginning to use the facility as a central gathering point for home Bible studies scattered throughout the area. The goal is a number of congregations in that parish district before the end of 1991.
Ezequiel Gonzalez rejoined the mission effort in Panama at the end of 1989. He is a graduate of the Seminario Augsburgo in Mexico City, was ordained and worked with the LCMS during the 1970s in various locations. He was hired by the Redeemer Balboa congregation as ecclesiastical worker from 1979 to 1983. He is currently serving two small congregations and a 30 member Mother's Club in the San Miguelito area, east of Panama City. In February of 1990 he began Plan Acts 18:10 to coordinate the follow-up of contacts from the radio broadcasts of CPTLN. A downtown contact office was opened in October of 1990. Volunteer evangelists are trained and coordinated from this office.
Fiscal responsibility has been enhanced with the formal organization of the expatriate missionaries as the Association of Lutheran Missionaries in Panama(AMiLPa) in 1985, and the establishment of a business office in Panama City in 1988. Previously these functions were combined under the legal status of the Redeemer Balboa congregation. However, as the mission grew it became prudent to separate the financial responsibility, to define and clarify the goals of the Redeemer Balboa congregation, the goals of the expatriate missionary force, and the goals of the growing Evangelical Lutheran Church in Panama.
Edmundo Archibold, who worked for 7 years as bookkeeper of the Redeemer Balboa congregation was named business manager of AMiLPa in 1988, with the opening of the business and administration office. Jerona Preston, the secretary, has been with the mission since 1985. Office helper Cristian Ramos completes the administration office staff.
Servant Event youth volunteer Ted Viers taught conversational English to.students of the Lutheran Bible Institute of Panama from August to December of 1990. Lori Hughey.arrived in Panama on May 20, 1990 as a volunteer with Project Matthew 25:40 for a six week period.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Panama is beginning a period of growth, due to the Lord's blessing through His Word on the following activities:
Two months of planning by the 12 member evangelism committee working with Plan Acts 18:10 resulted in a Reformation Week-end program which found between 475 and 500 people attending the Sunday service, possibly the largest group ever.to meet in that building. The evangelism committee interviewed visitors and.gather dozens of names and addresses which might be possible sites for future home Bible study. The current goal is to have 12 small congregations in the greater metropolitan area of Panama City by the end of 1991.
The "national church" has been meeting monthly for 18 months. Three delegates.represent each small congregation. A Secretary and a Treasurer have been.selected. Committees have been organized and have functioned successfully to.make and implement plans for evangelism, fiscal responsibility, leadership.retreats, and a project to sent 5 youth to the Board for Youth Services Youth Event in New Orleans.
A constitution has been written by a special committee meeting for the past 11.months, and will be presented to the general assembly at the August 1991 meeting.
The Colon area (5 small groups) is being organized into a parish district to deal with opportunities and responsibilities distinct to that part of the country.
| PANAMA CITY: | COMMUNICANT | TOTAL |
| "El Mesias" Los Andes II (Schkade, est. 1988) | 23 | 45 |
| "Redeemer" Balboa (Wetzstein, est. 1989) | 35 | 70 |
| "Jesus El Buen Pastor" Sinai (Gonzalez, est. 1990) | 12 | 80 |
| "Dios con Nosotros" Samaria (Gonzalez, est. 1990) | 15 | 80 |
| Bible study groups | 05 | 125 |
| TOTAL PANAMA CITY: | 90 | 400 |
| WEST OF PANAMA CITY: | COMMUNICANT | TOTAL |
| "Emanuel" Sora (Wetzstein, est. 1980) | 10 | 15 |
| "Sin Nombre" David (Wetzstein, est. 1985) | 4 | 10 |
| "Sin Nombre" Volante/La Colonia (Munoz/Wetzstein, est. 1989) | 4 | 25 |
| TOTAL WEST OF PANAMA CITY: | 18 | 50 |
| COLON PROVINCE: | COMMUNICANT | TOTAL |
| "Redentor" Margarita (Kuster, est. 1985) | 28 | 65 |
| "El Buen Pastor" Rio Rita (Wiley, est. 1990) | 37 | 90 |
| "Emanuel" Upper Quebrada Ancha (Kuster, est. 1989) | 15 | 45 |
| "Prince of Peace" Lower Que Ancha (Kuster, est. 1989) | 26 | 80 |
| Bible study groups | 10 | 45 |
| TOTAL COLON PROVINCE: | 116 | 325 |
| GRAND TOTAL PANAMA MISSION: | COMMUNICANT | TOTAL |
| 224 | 775 |
With the arrival of Eric Moeller, as the director of the Lutheran Bible Institute in September, 1991, we would expect a strengthening of this program. The program began in 1989 when Landon Schkade gathered a group of seven future leaders for classes. The program grew to so that presently there are ten young men (Erick, Porfirio, Tomas, Pedro, Juan, Casimiro, Fernando, Luis, Efraim,.Amado) in leadership positions; they will have an evaluation of their courses and practice and move into a new set of studies; much as a freshman class moves into their sophomore year. In the same way the 20 deacon students, including the women working in Project Matthew 25:40, will find an enhanced program.
Depending on the growth of the individual congregations, the first pastors might be called and ordained by the end of 1994. The student enrollment should go to 60 by the end of 1992. We expect all the missionaries and the vicars to participate in teaching courses in the Institute, in addition we expect to call periodically upon the valuable help of the talented missionary wives. A project funding proposal has been submitted for the Institute
Project Matthew 25:40 will gradually, during 1991, leave responsibility for the social/evangelistic work in lower Quebrada Ancha to the Mother's Club at the "Prince of Peace" community house and to the "Prince of Peace" congregation.
The Project Matthew worker in Rio Rita, a spin off of the.Quebrada Ancha work, will similarly turn responsibilities over to local leadership by the end of 1993. The workers trained during the past two years will begin new projects in other suitable locations; by the end of 1992 there.will be two additional Project Matthew sites. A project proposal for the funding of Project Matthew is currently before the Lutheran Women's Missionary League convention in Cleveland, titled "Nurse for Panama".
With the successful completion of his "terminal" one year vicarage, we would.expect Don Neumann to stay on in Panama as a full-time missionary. A final decision on vicarage placement will be made upon successful completion of orientation and language studies, in consultation with him, at the beginning.of March 1992. There is a strong possibility that he will be working in the Colon district, living in the AMiLPa property in Sabanitas.
There are.currently 4 new areas among the rural/urban population of the Colon/Panama City trunk highway, being investigated by the members of the Colon area churches. With the introduction of regular Bible studies in the homes of.these areas we project another 3 congregations, in addition to the 5 already established, by the end of the new missionary's first full year; March of 1993.
Plan Acts 18:10, combined since May 1, 1991, with the Panama CPTLN office,.will cease to operate when the current funding plan terminates at the end of.1993. At that time we expect all the functions of evangelism and contact visitation to be assumed by the congregations which will result from the Plan. The CPTLN mass media concept will be assumed by the "national" Church; a commission or committee of volunteers having been trained. If a Panama director of CPTLN is necessary, we would suggest Ezequiel Gonzalez, who with two secretary/receptionists and a group of volunteer workers, is currently directing the combined program and doing an excellent job.
Missionary Merrell Wetzstein, pastor of the English congregation in Balboa, will continue in that post. In late 1989 there was some fear that the English congregation would disband, but since the US invasion of December 20, 1989 the English speaking population of the Canal Zone area is expanding once again. The congregation can be counted on for support of the Spanish work at the Balboa facilities. The Spanish congregation at Balboa could be expected to double, from 40 to 80, by the end of 1992. Sora will continue to be visited, with little expectation of numerical growth.
Missionary Landon Schkade, currently assigned to the Los Andes II area, will most probably expand his focus toward the east end of the metropolitan area and, emphasizing the new urbanizations between the city and the airport, work with Plan Acts 18:10 urban evangelism, helping to train and oversee volunteers in calling and Bible studies, guiding the Bible study groups through the first stages or growth as they seek to break the "property barrier" and deal with the "edifice complex", coordinating between the existing congregations and strengthening them to be able to take the responsibilities of on-going evangelism when Plan Acts terminates, and helping in supervision of the field practice of the Bible Institute students in the urban area.
Financial Consultant Ross Stroh arrived in January 1991. In addition to his duties as link between AMiLPa and the BFMS on finance and budget, he has revived a Bible study location in the city of Colon at the home of Ms. Luz,.originally begun in 1983. The group meets every Wednesday and has grown to an average attendance of 10, mostly older English speaking descendants of the people who built the canal.
Lutheran Deaconess Dorothy Krentz, a member of Redeemer Balboa and a specialist in golden agers accompanies Ross. We would.project that this group will become active in evangelism and visiting of the older population in Colon during 1992.
Vicar Nick Wirtz, arriving in September 1991 on a two year vicarage, pending successful completion of his orientation and language study, and in consultation with him, could possibly be assigned to work with the urban evangelism plan in metropolitan Panama City. We project that by the end of a 2 year vicarage he would be completely trained in Latin American urban evangelism; from first evangelism contact, through home Bible study, to organized congregation, with an emphasis on the use of local renewable resources.
The strategy of the missionaries in Panama is to establish home Bible studies with the goal of a small congregation developing. Until 1990 the new groups were begun through networking of friends and relatives in existing groups. Possibly 350 souls were under the spiritual care of AMiLPa at this time. As Plan Acts 18:10 was introduced in 1990 to coordinate the contacting of the people from all over the metropolitan area writing and calling as a result of.the CPTLN radio programs, the number of souls looking to the mission for spiritual and/or material help doubled.
The advantage of the small group Bible study is in offering the missionary and the trained volunteer evangelist the opportunity to meet people on a regular weekly basis in a non-threatening setting. The group tends to grow along natural lines of family and friends. Evangelism efforts are centered in the area of the Bible study, where the people are, not necessarily where a church building might have been located. Leadership can develop in a non-stress setting; concern for material and physical needs is met through prayer and charity on a personal basis. The new Christian tends to be more committed to his fellow believer and to his friends and neighbors while living and practicing his faith outside church walls. It would be expected that the home Bible study groups would be better able to withstand and overcome opposition and persecution.
Responsibility is placed on the group from the beginning, using culturally accepted participatory techniques. Decisions are made by the group. Leaders are chosen by the group. The missionary, at first must function as an evangelist and pastor, but as soon as possible, assumes a role as trainer, catalyst and enabler, and finally withdraws completely.
The goal of the Association of Lutheran Missionaries in Panama is the establishment of The Evangelical Lutheran Church, made up of a number of interdependent congregations (pastors and laity) who are enabled by the Lord of growing spiritually and of reproducing themselves through faithful use of the Means of Grace.
(Currently under discussion by the Commission of the IELP charged with oversight of the Lutheran Bible Institute of Panama; a funding proposal has been submitted to the BFMS.)
4. MUSIC PROGRAM:
(Currently translating "The Christian Choir Member" by Carl Halter, CPH 1959, for possible use in a mini-course in the Institute and for introduction in the congregations to emphasize the use of Lutheran music and forms. A number of youth are learning to play recorders and other instruments and are accompanying hymn singing in services.)
(Summary of notes from latest report to BFMS/BFSM)
SPIRITUAL: Evangelization of Quebrada Ancha completed. Congregation "Prince of Peace" with Deacon in charge of service under direction of missionary; regular average Sunday attendance of 10 children, 5 teens, and 15 adults for total of 30; Sunday School with 15 children taught by two volunteers. All homes have Bibles, Portales of Prayer, and a number of home Bible studies are conducted by church members. All children in area are baptized.
MATERIAL: Government department of health recognized medical post organized.with local area health committee. Full-time nurse maintains and monitors complete health records for everyone living in area. Mother's Club of 10 meets weekly; active in baking projects for fund raising to cover most of the costs of the Community House. Noon lunch for 35 children. First Aid class graduates are available for emergency, carry-out of sick, health information dissemination. 10 home gardens with year round vegetable production. Caged chicken raising program for food and home garden fertilizer. On-going community health program resulted in all homes have latrines, garbage burning holes, patio and weeds cut, monthly fumigation of houses.
EDUCATION: Kindergarten with 12 children, full-time teacher, 5 hours a day. 200 volume library with school books for children who can't buy them, dictionaries and reference works, emphasis on family, teen, and health.
NEEDS: Potable water and electricity. Wind speed gauge from Ammons has been monitored during March, April and May for possible installation of windmill to pump water. Large cement water tank has been constructed by Community House. Plastic tubing brings clean water from temporary clean water source to tank.
BRIDGE: The community was poled and felt that the first need was access. A bridge constructed over the past 8 months by members of the community is near completion, lacking only a tractor for filling and earth moving. Community spirit and participation have been observed.
SPIN OFF: In the second year of Project Mateo 25:40 one trained community worker was assigned to Rio Rita where Vicar Don Wiley was beginning his home Bible study and church planting practice. A similar project has resulted in Rio Rita with the formation of the congregation "Good Shepherd", average attendance at Sunday services 40, service directed by local Deacon, Sunday School taught by volunteers, Mother's Club, Youth Club, noon lunch for children, kindergarten, attention to medical emergencies, etc. Isolina Martinez, the nurse in charge of the Project, is beginning in May to visit Villa Unida, a population area near the Chagres River, midway between Panama City and Colon, with two women who worked for a year with the Project in Quebrada Ancha. The goal is to reproduce the Project in that area.
STAFF TRAINING: Weekly meetings with the workers in Quebrada Ancha, Rio Rita and Villa Unida. Meeting includes a study of community health and development theory with emphasis on participation, review and study of religious material, coordination of emphasis, problem solving, review of goals and positions descriptions, review of individual weekly reports of activities, etc.
(Summary from latest report to BFMS/BFSM:)
During 1989 Project Matthew 25:40 began working in lower Quebrada Ancha. An.immediate need was clean drinking water. The normal source of water is the brooks and springs feeding the main stream. With the increased population of humans and animals most of this source has become polluted. The need was mentioned in the video "Panama: A New Beginning". Dr. Clarence Zimmers, a volunteer medical doctor who visited Project Matthew 25:40 in January of 1990.agreed. A survey of possible well sites was conducted in March. Correspondence during the next few months resulted in a Project Proposal being sent to the BFMS and BFSM and funded in June of 1990. The Well Project was to begin in July of 1990 and end in December of the same year. The Ammons windmill was considered as a possible source of power. The purpose of the Well Project was to provide pure water to eliminate health problems caused by use of water from creeks and ditches in the Quebrada Ancha area.
Including the following measurable goals:
Ezequiel Gonzalez began grass-roots organizational work in May of 1990. A series of meetings with the community identified the priority needs as:
Gonzalez turned over this activity to Isolina in August of 1990, the community nurse with Project Matthew 25:40. After consultation with an architect, plans were drawn up and work began on the first priority, the access bridge in September of 1990. It is finished, waiting the arrival of a tractor to fill and move earth. Junior Valverde was to watch-dog materials delivery and interface with architect and political officials. This position was turned over to a community member named Amado Nunez in January of 1991.
Project Matthew 25:40 began to stimulate community participation through work with the Mother's Club at the "Prince of Peace" Lutheran community center. The existing pro-electrification committee never got off the ground; light posts which were obtained in October of 1989 are mostly still lying on the ground. $500.00 in funds were "lost" by the last board of directors and the pro-electrification committee ceased to exist.
A number of young men in the community are showing strong leadership and are working long hard hours in the construction of the access bridge. The women and children joined the men in carrying all the cement, steel rods, cement blocks, etc. approximately 1 kilometer from the highway to the work site. Large part of gravel and rock excavated locally and hauled to site by community. Wind speed indicator installed at site end of March 1991 and is monitored three times daily.
A spirit of participation and community has begun to take shape; the people are talking about "our" bridge, and "our" water project, and how this community project with "church people" at the nucleus seems to be succeeding. About $5,000.00 left in funding, which is to be used to complete the drilling of a well, estimated around $2,500.00 and the possible installation of an Ammons windmill.
(This section is currently under discussion by both the missionaries and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Panama during the writing of the church constitution. Many definitions are tentative.)
Composed of communicant members of the congregation, having the following offices:
For purposes of church planting, in the largest urban area of the country chosen, place a team of three evangelistic missionaries with minimum level 3 LAMP language proficiency, with backgrounds in parish ministry, business management, theological education and community health, for a 10 year minimum commitment, stagger terms between 33/3 and 22/2, so only one is off field at a given moment. No property is purchased. Team lives in rented housing which includes space for study/office. One missionary is assigned as missionary counselor and maintains communication with Field Secretary for Latin America. The strategy uses the "cell" or "home Bible study" approach, currently (May 1991) being used in Panama.
Pre-survey research in university and/or friendly mission library. Extended visit to field, visit as many mission groups and churches as possible, especially reviewing the strategies used by those mission agencies working in church planting, tour extensively, gather information on cost of living, transportation, child schooling, press and mass communication, political climate, etc. Obtain legal advice. Purpose to become acquainted with the general mission area, to refine proposed strategy, to facilitate decisions on where to begin work and where to place missionaries.
Evangelize all initial contacts made during the survey stage, in addition to.other contacts made in specific areas of mission activity which were chosen during the survey stage, and develop same. Evangelize extended families and.friends. Team is in place on field. Make final decision on areas of missionary responsibility.
Develop weekly home Bible studies with each contact family. Each of three missionaries with maximum of 5 locations. Introduce song, prayer, catechism. Local leadership encouraged through participation in Bible study and monthly joint meetings; the current social and cultural modes of leadership are respected; the future leader (servant) is chosen by both the missionary and the group. Begin monthly joint meetings of area and/or district. One man assigned to guide concern for social ministry using local leadership. The development of the mission strategy is from this point on circular; the home Bible studies continue to develop throughout the life of the mission/church, and later the congregations continue to stress home Bible study as the primary.evangelistic tool to plant congregations in new areas.
Larger home Bible studies and/or group of same in specific area obtain site for worship with 20 or more confirmed members. Leadership (servants) take participatory role in Word and Sacrament ministry as talents are discovered and developed. Leadership organized as AD HOC volunteer board of directors. Regular offerings gathered, program of continued home Bible studies for evangelistic outreach encouraged using local leadership. Introduce Sunday School, VBS, Christmas program, and catechism for all age groups using local leadership. Local leadership continues to promote and direct home Bible studies in new areas. Social ministry becomes a part of the work of the local.group. One missionary assigned to theological education as Bible Institute.begins to train working leadership. National Church concept introduced with monthly meetings of representatives of each congregation in formation. Volunteers chosen by representatives of the local congregations to fill roles of board of directors. National church member chosen to work with missionaries to direct evangelistic outreach.
Each group has official legal incorporation with constitution and bylaws and full responsibility for its own property. Leader and/or student pastor is recognized and supported at least in part. Social ministry is the responsibility of the congregation. Congregation assumes responsibility for evangelistic outreach through home Bible studies with friends and relatives scattered throughout the country.
Congregations form synod-like organization at national level. Fellowship ties sought and established with other LCMS missions and churches. Bible Institute has one or more national teachers. Social ministry administered by National Church. National leadership capable of assuming all evangelistic, church planting and social ministry responsibilities. Missionaries become support and resource for national leadership.
Goal 1: Follow up the mass media contacts generated by the programs of Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones in the metropolitan Panama City area.
Goal 2: Motivate the members of the two existing congregations in the metropolitan area ("El Mesias" Los Andes II and "Redentor" Balboa), and the students of the Lutheran Bible Institute, to become involved in this follow up, and to coordinate the work as Bible studies are developed in the homes and the converts begin to form congregations in their neighborhoods.
Goal 3: Contact and integrate at least one family in each of the 24 districts of the metropolitan area in an active home Bible Study. (Accomplished before Reformation Day, October 31, 1990).
Goal 4: Select an easily accessible walk-in location in the center of Panama City which would serve as a CPTLN literature pick-up point, where the public might be served with mid-day and early evening services, meetings and Bible studies, giving special attention to the governmental and private sector employees. (Accomplished May 1991)