FEC has been around since 1865 playing an active part in global missions. In March, thousands gathered to celebrate 80 years of God’s incredible work through missions in the Dominican Republic (DR). It began in 1946 when an exploratory team observed the most unreached part of the DR was in the southwest and sent a missionary team as a result.
In the years since, 51 churches and 13 church plants or “chapels” reside in San Juan, Santo Domingo, El Cercado, and the frontier lands. To celebrate, three gatherings took place in March that hosted thousands of attendees. Nine missionaries shared stories, pastors who trained under some of those missionaries preached, and dignitaries like a representative of the Dominican President attended. All of this was to honor one mission: Bring glory to God for the good work he has done.
Lynnette Hyde, a previous missionary with her late husband Harry from 1976 to 1982, was deeply moved when she traveled to the DR for the celebration. “It was just so thrilling to see people that I knew, that I’d heard of, and to see the number of people at the celebrations,” says Lynnette. “It was mind boggling. These were small churches when I left.”
Hal Lehman, who served with his wife Suzie from 1986 to 1992, was encouraged to see how many young people have risen up from the days when he taught in seminary years ago. “The gospel has spread like crazy. All I can say is, ‘God you have done an incredible work in 80 short years’.”
Much of the mission work done in the DR centers around training pastors and teachers, but it also has included a sponsorship program much like Compassion, short-term building projects, and a great deal of church planting. Lynette is excited by the prospect of more Dominican believers stepping out in the mission field to spread the gospel beyond their homeland, expanding the kingdom for God’s glory even more.
