Dear Friends & Prayer Partners;

Here we are, over a third of the way into the New Year, and I'm just now getting out the first newsletter of the year. Don't know where the time is going, but it seems to go before I even know it's here. But, as always, we've been very busy for the Lord.

-- IN THIS ISSUE --

• TRAVELS

• ANSWERED PRAYER

• WRITING & WRITING MORE

• THE (MINISTRY) FAMILY IS GROWING

• BIBLE CLUB

• FAMILY NOTES

• MORE FAMILY NOTES

-- TRAVELS --

This year has been, and looks like it will continue to be a year of lots of traveling. So far, I (Rich) have taken six trips, three into Mexico, and three here in the U.S. We have several more trips planned, especially in the summer.

The year started out with a five day trip to minister in Villahermosa, Tabasco. The church where we ministered at their youth conference last summer invited me back for five very busy days. In the five days, I ministered a three day worship conference, an all day youth retreat, and a leadership conference. The Holy Spirit moved powerfully while I was there, and the people were greatly blessed. We will be with that same church again in June.

In February, another church in Toluca, state of Mexico, invited me to minister for another five days. It wasn't quite as busy as the trip to Tabasco, but the ministry was just as good. Had a great time with them, and bonded real will with the congregation.

In March, I didn't go to Mexico; I went to Washington, DC. As president of the ministerial alliance, I am also a delegate to CONLAMIC (the national coalition of Hispanic clergy). We were there to talk with our representatives about a number of issues that interest the Hispanic community, and to show our support for both education and immigration reform. I never expected to find myself as a "political minister" but it looks like God is opening doors for me to speak with those in the political arena.

There have been two other politically oriented trips I've taken this year, both to our state capitol, Austin, Texas. The first was part of a rally, in support of the "School Choice Bill" (voucher system for schools). The second time was to meet with the Lieutenant Governor of our state.

Just a couple of weeks ago, I was again in Toluca; this time for two weeks. In that trip, I ministered in a number of churches throughout the city, including the church that I ministered at in February.

We're currently working on our travel plans for the summer. So far, we have a two week trip to Villahermosa, Tabasco scheduled. Fortunately, I get to take Deborah with me on that trip. I'm also trying to set up a trip in July, where she can go with me. With her teaching in the public school, the only time she can travel with me is in the summer, and we want to take advantage of that opportunity.

There's one more trip in the works, that's scheduled for the third week in August. During that time, I will be traveling to Cartegena, Colombia to visit Edwin, one of our pastors down there. We have been the spiritual covering for Edwin for three years, and this will be the first opportunity to see him in person. The churches there are looking forward to my visit. I'm already scheduled to preach in the two biggest churches in town.

-- WRITING & WRITING MORE --

As usual, I'm writing and writing and writing. During my recent trip to Toluca, I had lots of time to write. Since I didn't take anyone with me, I was basically free during the day. So, my laptop computer (Pentium II) and I spent a lot of time closed up in a room by ourselves.

During those two weeks, I wrote on a total of 11 different subjects. Some of the writings were short, for magazine articles, and others were the length of the studies I give out to the pastors. Some were in English, while others were written in Spanish. If I was to format all I wrote as book pages, it would make a book 105 pages long! Unfortunately, since it was over a variety of topics, I can't quite make a book out of it.

That's the most I've written in that short a period of time since I wrote "And God Created Sex." Typically, I write a study, and two shorter things in a month. So, I guess I wrote the equivalent of three or four normal months.

I guess it's a good thing that I'm writing more, because more is being asked of me. I now have two different monthly Christian publications that have asked me to write a monthly column. In addition, one of our weekly secular newspapers has asked me to write a column about the family.

So, the writing side of the ministry is not only doing well, but growing. Please pray that God give me more people to translate, or check my translations in Spanish. Although I can write in Spanish, and it is understandable, my grammar isn't that good. I really need someone, who is good at spelling and grammar, to check my work, and fix my errors.

-- THE (MINISTRY) FAMILY IS GROWING --

It seems like I've been getting at least one e-mail a week from some pastor, in some part of the world, who is trying to come into relationship with us. While many have different ideas about what that relationship means, and some are just looking for financial support, there are those who have the same understanding about spiritual covering as we do.

We are very careful about who we accept as our spiritual children. Although many are trying to build a big organization, we are more concerned about building strong relationships with the people that God wants us to form covenant with. We have never, and I hope never will accept anyone under our spiritual covering without clear direction from the Lord. If we do it any other way, we will have to minister to them out of our own strength, instead of the Lord's strength.

With that in mind, I received an e-mail from a pastor in Honduras in January, seeking to establish a relationship with us. After sending him information about us, our understanding of spiritual covering, and the spiritual father/son relationship, we started praying. We have come into agreement with him, that this is a relationship the Lord wants us to form.

So, we now have our first black, Hispanic son. His name is German Palacios. He is pastoring a new work in the city of Trujillo en the state of Colon, country of Honduras.

On the local level, we have a new pastor under our covering here in the Rio Grande Valley. He is a Hispanic pastor, pastoring a English speaking congregation. We found the church several months ago, and started visiting there on the Sundays that we weren't scheduled to minister anywhere else. Hector Rodriguez, the pastor is very sensitive to the move of the Holy Spirit, and regularly changes the service as the Holy Spirit leads him.

We've liked his church so much that Jenni & Josh started going there. Then he came to me to ask about covering. In a way it's a little funny, pastoring a pastor who is pastoring my own children. But, we have a great relationship, and enjoy being with them.

Please add both of these pastors to your prayer list. As with many pastors who are truly striving to move with the Spirit, they have both come under attack. They need our, and your prayers in order to accomplish what the Lord wants them to.

-- BIBLE CLUB --

As most of you know, Deborah went back to teaching in the public schools about a year ago. For the last three months of the last school year, she was teaching junior high math in Donna school district, which is supposed to be the worst school district in the country. This school year, she has been teaching French in a High School in the town of Mission.

However, right from the start, she has had the attitude that she wasn't just there to teach, but to minister to the kids in her school. In this regard, the Holy Spirit has given her a number of ways to reach out to the kids; especially the trouble makers.

Most, if not all, of these trouble making kids are that way because they are essentially abandoned at home. In some cases, they are literally abandoned, living with their siblings, and no parent in the house. In other cases, there are parents in the house, but they don't have the time, or energy to show love and interest in the lives of their children.

The trouble those kids cause is a cry for attention. Deb has sought out those children, and instead of just yelling at them, she's listened to them; showing an interest in their lives. Some of those same kids, who started out problems, are getting to be friends.

She has also started a Bible club at the school, both to minister to the Christian kids, and as an outreach to the same ones who are crying out for attention. The club is part of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, which have an excellent program for schools. So far, it has been a great success. She will be taking her kids, along with the FCA kids from two other schools on an all day retreat in a couple of weeks.

-- FAMILY NOTES --

In March, Rebekah came to us and said that she wanted to quit homeschooling, and go to public school. Since we've homeschooled our kids ever since the beginning, this was quite a shock. However, since Deborah's teaching in the school, and I'm busy in the ministry, she has had a struggle keeping herself motivated to do her work.

Reluctantly, I gave her permission to try it out, with some conditions. One of the conditions was that she was going to go to the school where her mother is teaching. Little did I realize how much of an impact she was going to make in that school.

First of all, any time there's a student in a school, who has a parent teaching in that school, they are somewhat of a celebrity. Secondly, the population in our area is 87 percent Hispanic, so with her very white skin, and light brown hair, she really stands out. She could have guys lined up to take her out on dates every night of the week, if she wanted, but that's not why she's there. However, it isn't her looks, nor her mother being a teacher that's made the difference, the difference was, and is, her stand for the Lord.

On her first day of class, she had classmates asking her what drugs she's tried, and how many guys she's had sex with. Her answers were blunt, strong, clear, and full of her love for the Lord. She didn't enter into that school like just another student, but as a spiritual earthquake!

-- MORE FAMILY NOTES --

As I mentioned earlier, Jenni and Josh are going to pastor Hector's church, Door of Hope. Not only that, but they are now both on the worship team, and Jenni is the leader for the youth worship team.

Jenni is now completing her junior year at the university, and Josh is completing his sophomore year. They are both doing excellent in their classes, and are both considered among the best in their chosen majors. Josh is playing classical pieces that the seniors won't try. He's doing so well, that the school keeps calling on him to play at various official events and luncheons.

Today, Jenni is starting lessons with her first voice student. She has been working at a clothing store in the mall, and getting more and more tired of it. Now, she's starting as a voice teacher in a new music store, which will not only pay better, with better hours, but will ultimately help her with her career direction.

As you can see, we're all keeping more than busy here. At times, it seems like we're all running in different directions. It's an event when we can all sit down together as a family. But, even with all that, we've managed to stay close together.

One thing that has helped us is that my office is in the house. When everyone comes home from their various schools, they all congregate in my office. That's our place to talk about the day, and what's happening. It's also our place to pray together, when we need to. It feels a little crowded at times, but I'd much rather have my office crowded with my family, then everyone hiding in different rooms of the house.

Blessings in Jesus,

Rev. Rich Murphy