November, 2025
“Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.” Isaiah 40:26
Dear Friends and Brethren in Christ,
We want to thank you all for your prayers, and give glory to God for His mercies and the blessings at our July winter camp. The theme was “Discovering the Greatness of God”, from Isaiah 40. The chapter is a needed reminder to us, as we serve in Chile, that the offer of the gospel we preach is backed by an incomparable God, His eternal and unchanging Word, and His sustaining strength.
There were moments when it looked like camp would be hampered by many things. Arica university students had earlier been on strike for about six weeks, which postponed their winter break. Since nearly half of our young people are university students, we didn’t know how that would affect our camp. The Lord overruled, and allowed us to have a wonderful camp. Although these students were not able to attend much during the day, most were able to attend the evening sessions and were still blessed by the camp and were a blessing to everyone else.
Camp was bolstered this year by help the Lord sent. Pastor Juan Farias from Chillán gave several of the messages on Isaiah 40. The Saturday before camp he led a very profitable round table discussion, answering Bible questions asked by our young people. Pastor Farias also prepared a special treat in the kitchen the last day of camp: Chilean empanadas for everyone!
We also thank the Lord for the visit and help of Keith McCoy, our dear friend and elder from our Collingswood, NJ, BP church. He was such a blessing, and all of our young people enjoyed him (and the candy he brought!) He directed our young people in several special choral numbers as well as giving several workshops on the Bible and Science.
Then, too, we had our niece Hanna Holman from near Nashville, TN, come to visit us and help as camp nurse. She was a blessing to all and for us to get to know her better.
Another great blessing God sent was our youngest daughter, Debbie, who came to help during her summer break. She is now in her 3rd year of studies at Bob Jones University. Her sweet spirit and love for the young people helped make camp special; also, she put her talents and special area of study, film, into practice by making a video of camp highlights as a special remembrance that all could have of camp. Her dear friend, Nayra, who is currently studying at the University in Viña del Mar, also came for camp and helped in leadership and devotions along with Debbie.
Seven young people joined from the BPC in La Paz, Bolivia and participated in camp. Several others came from our churches in Iquique, Santiago and Chillán. Three Venezuelan young people attended as well as seven from Pastor Jonathan Jara’s church. Together, with our young people and others who attend our youth group, we had over 60 campers. We have seen growth in some that were struggling, and others are struggling still, but we believe the message of Isaiah 40 is still resonating and having impact on their lives.
Would you pray for continued results and growth and changes in the lives of our young people. In September, twelve young people that attend our youth group traveled down South to Curicó for the annual Youth Congress of our churches in Chile. The Congresses are held during the Chilean Independence Day holidays. For several, it was their very first time. We pray the Lord will continue to work in their lives.
Melody also traveled south to give a message to the young teen congress, held in nearby Molina, on “Our Value in Christ.” We thank the Lord for this opportunity to serve Him!
We thank the Lord for the special activities we were able to have on October 31st, to celebrate 32 years of God’s faithfulness to our “Manantial” church here in Arica. It’s hard to believe it’s been that many years since the first worship service in our house where we started. Eight years later, we were able to have services in the newly constructed church building. God is so good!
We’d appreciate your prayers for all the end-of-the-year activities coming up. On November 14th and 15th, we will be having a Ladies’ Conference. Pray that it will be a blessing to all. Then the 16th is Election Day here in Chile, and it is a requirement to vote since it is a presidential election. Please pray for Chile! The following week we will travel to the US to spend Thanksgiving with our children and grandchildren in North Carolina. We are so excited, and Jim will get to meet Becky and Jake’s daughter, Maddie, for the first time!
Of course, December means getting prepared for our Christmas program. This year the program is entitled, “The Lamb in the Manger.” We always have visitors; family members of the children and young people who are a part of the program. Please pray for God to use this program to bring ones to Him.
As we have done the last four years, we again ask you to pray for our “Venezuelan Christmas Project”. We try to buy gifts for all the children of the Venezuelan families that have been attending our church. We have five families, (mothers and children) that come faithfully, as well as a few other children and youth. Our young people help wrap the gifts for the children and then we deliver them the day before Christmas. We also take a “care package” for each family with food for them to make their typical Venezuelan Christmas dinners. The Venezuelan refugees that we work with are so poor and live under difficult circumstances. But we are thankful that they are faithful and seem to have a real desire to learn about God and His Word. It has been such a joy to share the love of Christ with these ones through these Christmas gifts. If you feel the Lord would have you to help with this project, please designate your gift, “Venezuelan Christmas Project.” Thank you so much.
Looking ahead to 2026, we’d like to ask your prayers for several of our young people who will be traveling down South to Chillán to attend our Teacher’s Training Course, a two week extensive “camp” to prepare people to be Sunday School Teachers and workers in their churches. We have two young men (Felipe and Joel) and one young lady (Alejandra), that are already planning and are excited to go. We hope there may even be a few more. We have been praying for God to raise up new leaders and workers in our church and feel this is a wonderful way for them to be trained.
Something else we are praying about is the Lord’s leading in possibly attending the ICCC Congress in Kenya in July 2026. Jim served as a missionary in Kenya, teaching in the BCEA for four years before marrying Melody and going to Chile. So, of course, we’d love to see God’s continuing work there as well as seeing many brethren in Christ. Also, since many brethren from Chile and South/Central America are planning to attend, Melody could be used to help translate. However, it IS a very long trip and would cost quite a bit as well. So, we’d ask prayer for God’s leading and providing if He would have us to go.
We are encouraged by Isaiah 40:26, that He who created the stars, knows each one individually, leads them through the universe and upholds them by His might does the same for us and each of those that belong to Christ that He has called us to serve.
Thank you for your continued interest in us, and your faithfulness in prayers and support. May the Lord bless you all with a wonderful Thanksgiving, Christmas and blessed New Year!
In Christ’s love,
Jim and Melody Bjur