The identity of the Ministry Leader - Workshop August 10-14, 2025

This past August 10–14, it was our time to sit and receive. Our entire missionary team, together with David, had the opportunity to participate in a leadership workshop led by the IBAC team. While much of our time is spent serving, teaching, leading, and investing in others, these days give us the opportunity to pause, learn, and allow others to invest in us. This was an important part of our ongoing commitment to strengthening and equipping the MG Panama team.

The workshop centered on a foundational truth for anyone serving God: our identity as leaders is more important than the position or role we hold. Three truths, in particular, challenged and encouraged us:

1. Who we are comes before what we do.

Biblical leadership begins not with our responsibilities, but with our identity before God. Before asking, “What am I called to do?” we must first consider, “Who am I before God?” Our ministry flows from who we are, and it is godly character—proven and consistent over time—that ultimately sustains our service.

2. Different roles, one calling: caring for God's people.

We explored four biblical pictures of leadership: the Shepherd, who cares for and protects the flock; the Servant-Leader, who leads through humility and credibility; the Priest, who helps God's people remain in communion with God; and the Prophet, who calls God's people back to faithfulness to His covenant. Each of these identities gave us an opportunity to examine our own lives and recognize areas where God is calling us to grow.

3. The flock belongs to God, not to us.

One of the most meaningful reminders was that we are stewards, not owners. The people God has entrusted to us ultimately belong to Him. We are accountable both for how we care for them and to the One who has entrusted them to us. This truth brings humility to our leadership, while also giving us a deeper sense of purpose and responsibility.

We are deeply grateful to the IBAC team for their investment in the lives of our missionaries and for their commitment to strengthening and equipping MG Panama. We thank God for these days of learning, reflection, and renewal—a precious opportunity to step back from our usual responsibilities and simply receive.

Please continue to pray for us—that what we received during these days would move beyond the workshop and become a lived reality in the character, leadership, and ministry of each missionary as we faithfully serve the people God has entrusted to us.

David & Talsidia

Bible Institute - Oct ‘21 - Update

Bible Institute - Oct ‘21

Our excitement to reach Cerro Miel and re-open the Bible Institute classes was overwhelming because to have fellowship with our brothers and sister with whom we had more than 1-1/2 years without seeing has no words. Who was going to be there? How many will attend? 

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In total, we had 15 students, and many were not able to make it. Two pastors went to be with the Lord due to COVID; others had other commitments and decided not to continue. We are grateful to those who were there to continue with the classes. On this occasion, with “Doctrine of the Holy Spirit.” My mother had the blessing of teaching together with the teachers that came from Costa Rica. 

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The subject brought up many questions, mainly on the baptism, fullness and speaking in other tongues, questions well answered by the teachers, student’s participation was outstanding; by being open on sharing, we could see that their desire to learn and grow in the Word. Our hearts are grateful that God’s grace is abundant and His love has no limits when He brought us together for such a time like this.  

On this occasion, the classes had to be given at Pastor Enrique’s place, for the school had a vaccination campaign, but we must say we are happy with the site. It accommodated the team. The kitchen was right there, so enabling the fast  distribution of meals.

Always grateful for your prayers and support enabling the work of equipping to continue.  God bless you.

In Him and until He comes back

David & Talsy 

Mission starts with you.    

B&PSchools - Bible Institute Jan 28-Feb2, 2018

Bible Institute

In this occasion we had more students than expected and others for strong reasons were not able to attend but are committed to catch up with the module.

Telling the Bible Story - Nitzia Javilla

Pastor Jim and Mickel are good exponents of the Word of God and open to answer any question the students might have.  This group of students is more proactive, they are not afraid of asking questions and they are good questions, one of the things we tell them is that it is very important not to go home having doubts, better to ask than to keep not knowing.  So that is what they are doing.

Participation - Bernabe.  Oops we have a dog in the class.

Pastor Enrique, who is the one coordinating the place to stay, the cooks and did the invitations supervises many of the pastors attending the Institute therefore he follows up with them in anything they need in reference with the Institute and materials needed.

We appreciate your prayers for the next class that is programmed for the end of May and in this opportunity the Church that sponsors this Institute will be sending a few teachers, among them is the Senior Pastor, brother Todd Calaway.  So also keep them in prayers, for any need there might be with their trip.

May God keep you and bless you as you serve Him in the calling He has given you.

Talsy and David.  

18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. Eph 6:18[g]NLT

April 2017 Report

1. T4T Training in Costa Rica:

Is good to tell you how was our time in Costa Rica.  Mateo and Hector went with me, they are hard workers in the ministry,  we went to Costa Rica for a training about how to evangelize make disciples and plans churches more effective.

God expanded our minds and gave us a new refreshing time, not just for me but for Mateo and Heitor too.

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Our small team of three with brother O'Connor.

From day one we agreed to, look, hear and learn everything we can, but with an open mind to what God wants to show us.  Trying to find God in everything and trying to hear His plans. Because at the ends of this training I will like to heard how God is showing you how to use this tool, and this is how we started the training; with a mind willing to hear God and how He wanted to use everything we were going to learn.

Our time was a real blessing, we learned so much but better than that we now know how to use these tools, we have a strategy that we going to start to use in Mateo's and Heitor's places.

In Him,  David

2. YWAM Translation:

The group integrated by students around the globe including Ngobe from the mountains. 

Two weeks translation, besides been a challenge is spiritually enriching.  One of the things I take pleasure on doing besides evangelism and discipleship is translating,  for in some way in builds up the life's of others as well as mine.  

The first week was dedicated to "Relationships" with others, with God and with ourselves.  How attitudes affect our surroundings, our communication with the Holy Ghost and our life is affected consciously or unconsciously.

The second week, well, is something we all want but little we understand  how this works, and is "True Freedom".   In Him we have been made free from the guilt of sin, but because we collect things as we grow and go through life, it becomes hard to believe that we are truly free.  Understanding the lies the enemy made us believe up to the point in which they become part of our core of beliefs, is when our true freedom starts.  He made us unique in Him and His heart is for us to grasp His desire to brings us back to that uniqueness we have when He is the all in all in our lives.  

Thanks so much for praying, our heart is to be able to serve Him full-hearted.  The migraine  was gone for the rest of the translation time, Praise Jesus.  

In Him,  Talsy 

3- May

May is a month in which a lot of coordination needs to be done, for at the end of May and first week of June, we have the first graduation from the Bible Institute coming and at the same time we have a small team that will be doing some construction at the Balsa's Church building, because the summer wind blew it down.  In the second week and five days after the Bible Institute and Construction team leaves, a youth team from Alabama will join us in order to break the ice in Hacha and try again to start a preaching point in this small area. 

Your prayers are important to us.  Pls pray for good weather, grace before the local churches, community members, schools etc.  That our hearts may be sensitive to the Holy Ghost guidance. 

In Him and until He comes back again.  MGPanama.

"... for by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not of works, that no man should glory."  Ephesians 2:8-9