Rev. Edwin Melendez
Field of Labor
Panama
David, Chiriqui
God's Calling
How God found a laborer for the harvest
In the 90s, we first visited Panama after being invited by a minister there to come for 2 weeks of revival. Our Pastor L.E. Westberg and Sis. Westberg had visited the country before with members of the church family in Faith Tabernacle and felt a special burden for Panama. Our Pastor encouraged us to go. We visited once again a couple years later with our Pastor and a group from our church. During our time there, we held services in a sector of David called Las Lomas. There was a small group that met for service every 2 weeks. We talked with Bishop Westberg later about how we felt God working on us to go to the city of David. They also felt a burden for the city and were praying for a Pastor for this area. He confirmed but said we should take our daughter with us to see how it felt as a family to be in Panama. We visited once again for 2 weeks with her. We returned home, and God confirmed His will for us as a family to move to Panama.
From the Front Lines
What God is doing in Panama
We have at this time two established churches in the north area of Panama. One is located in Concepcion and the other in the city of David. We also have other works in different communities in this same province. We are giving home Bible studies and are seeking to open more works in both churches. We also have 4 ministers actively enrolled and beginning their second year in the Spanish Bible institute program in Tulsa, OK under Elder Short.
Dreams for the Kingdom
What your support would mean for Panama
At this time, we are seeing the Lord fulfill our greatest dream through the brethren and churches that support us, which was to have our own church building in David. We have been renting for over 20 years. Right now, we are working on final details with the architects and engineers for the blueprints of the building. We are working in phases on this building project. We will begin soon with construction of the main sanctuary, bathrooms, nursery and offices. Lord willing, we would like to be able to add on rooms for Sunday School and school as well as a fellowship hall, kitchen and minister's quarters as the Lord provides.