the COUNSEL of CHALCEDON 28

Report from Rev. William Farr

IGLESIA CALCEDON DEL ECUADOR
DEARLY BELOVED BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST,

GREETINGS FROM ECUADOR! Praise God for His indescribable gift! Praise God for another year to serve
the King here on earth. To make His name known, to rejoice in Him, to worship and adore Him! To Him who
sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever! Rev. 5:13
The side rooms all around the temple were wider at each successive level. The structure surrounding the
temple was built in ascending stages, so that the rooms widened as one went upward. A stairway went up from
the lowest foor to the top foor through the middle foor (Ezekiel 41:7)
Still upward be your onward course:
For this I pray today;
Still upward as the years go by,
And seasons pass away.
Still upward in this coming year,
Your path is all untried;
Still upward may you journey on,
Close by your Saviors side.
Still upward although sorrow come,
And trials crush your heart;
Still upward may they draw your soul,
With Christ to walk apart.
Still upward till the day shall break.
And shadows all have fown;
Still upward till in Heaven you wake,
And stand before the throne.
We should never be content to rest in the mists of the valley when the summit of Mount Tabor awaits us.
How pure is the dew of the hills, how fresh is the mountain air, how rich the food and drink of those who dwell
above, whose windows look into the New Jerusalem! Many saints are content to live like people in coal mines,
who never see the sun. Tears sadden their faces when they could be anointed with heavenly oil. I am convinced
that many believers suffer in a dungeon when they could walk on a palace roof, viewing the lush landscape and
Lebanon. Wake up, believers, from your lowly condition! Throw away your laziness, sluggishness, coldness,
or whatever is interfering with your pure love for Christ. Make Him the Source, the Center, and the One who
encompasses every delight of your soul. Refuse to be satisfed any longer with your meager accomplishments.
Aspire to a higher, a nobler, and a fuller life. Upward to heaven! Nearer to God! Charles H. Spurgeon.
It is our prayer that the Lord pour out His blessings upon each and everyone this new year; that you
may grow in His grace and love and continue to be used of Him in the expansion of His kingdom and the fnal
THEY WHO HAD NO NEWS OF HIM SHALL SEE,
AND THEY W HO HAVE NOT HEARD SHALL UNDERSTAND
Romans 15:21
THEY WHO HAD NO NEWS OF HIM SHALL SEE,
AND THEY W HO HAVE NOT HEARD SHALL UNDERSTAND
Romans 15:21
29 the COUNSEL of CHALCEDON
Report from Rev. William Farr
preparation of His Church for the great revealing. This year will be one step closer to that great revealing of the
Lords work in and through His Church; when the scaffolding for Gods spiritual temple, the kingdoms of this
world, will be thrown down, when the fullness of the Gentiles has come in Rom 11:25. The mountain of the
house of the Lord will be established as the chief of the mountains, and will be raised above the hills, and all the
nations will stream to it Isaiah 2:2.
Wars, revolutions and tumults of nations, are all working out Gods designs of mercy to the
world, by means of His Church, (2:22). Amidst all the convulsions of human history, the people of God
are safe, the gates of hell can never prevail against the Church. The past in this respect is prophet of the
future, (v. 23). The best protection for any nation, the surest guarantee for its political existence, is the
living, working Church in its midst; for as long as the stream of national life carries the vessel in which
Christ is carried, the stream shall fow on in safety. Sodom shall stand as long as a righteous Lot is
found in it, (v. 23) T.V. More, Haggai.
I can think of no greater prospect for the new year! Truly a glorious and wonderful year awaits the
Churchthough it will probably not be without much toil and strife.
I thank the Lord for this opportunity to write. The schedule has been very pressing these last few
months but as of February I will not have to worry about the high school as it will be on vacation for two
months. I hope to be able to bring you up to date during this time as far as the work goes here in Ecuador.
It is now the rainy season here, and though we have not had the normal heavy rains it does look like this
year will be a better rainy season than last year. It is very hot especially when the sun breaks through the clouds
to evaporate the fallen rains. It is like being in a sauna. The only thing you can do is sweat! This will continue
until the end of April or sometimes until the end of May. Travel during this time is somewhat limited as most of
the rivers and creeks are fooded and sometimes bridges are damaged. It is during this time that the majority of
the people of this province are dedicated to farm work. We usually have a very low church attendance during
the months of February and April.
Prayer request: I think that the most urgent is to continue to pray the Lord will raise up men in the
congregations. We only have three in our congregation and they are still in a process of maturity. As a general
rule the congregations here are made up of women and children. The very bad habits and false concepts of the
church taught by the Roman church for the past fve centuries has impregnated the culture to the extent that it
is a very hard task to change mens thinking. The church has come to be regarded as a refuge for women and
children; men are too self-suffcient and virile for such things. The men have need of the church only for their
baptism and extreme unction. As a general rule the people view the church as a service station where you go
to solve your material and social needs. To be spiritual now days is reserved at most for the old and sick. There
is a need for spiritual awakening. Pray that the Lord will be pleased to bring this about in the hearts of Latin
American men; that they should be brought to a true knowledge of God and spirituality.

Our special thanks to all of those who write us. There is something very special about a letter that
always lifts our spirits. Your letters are such a vital part in the ministry. I even think that it is a special gift
of God to be able to write and encourage others in the ministry. Thank you so much. As for now we will say
good-bye and God bless but I promise to continue to share the Ecuadorian ministry with you very soon.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
A DIOS LA GLORIA
To God the Glory!
William and Mercy Farr