Praise the Lord for a great year of work in missions at Metropolitan New York Baptist Association.
Our work in the association building
In September 2009 we began rearranging the association building for mission team housing. This work continued until January 2010. We took down a wall on the 5th floor and set it up as a dorm room for male and females. This room houses 30 volunteer missionaries working with our local churches to reach our world in Christ. We also built two walls, and painted the 3rd floor. This was to section off meeting rooms and the dining/kitchen areas. We also emptied out the basement area from years of outdated material and trash.
We opened the dorm floor in February of 2010 and we have housed 28 teams with a total of 322 people.
Our partnerships
We have completed our second year partnership with the Georgia Baptist State Convention, and have had our first full year partnership with the North Carolina Baptist State Convention. We had made over 60 mission team request to our partners with great results. There have been hundreds of volunteer missionaries that have come to work hand in hand with our association churches doing back yard Bible clubs, VBS, surveys, witnessing, light construction, teaching, donating material, and helping financially. We have even had teams working in our association building doing construction and painting.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Doubt = Defeat
A few months ago my wife and I were faced with the biggest test of faith in our marriage.
We have been living by faith for the past 10 years relying on God to meet our every financial need. We had no doubt that He would not let us down. Most of our friends came to expect that we would trust in the Lord for our everyday needs.
Then God called us to a deeper walk of faith than we have ever been on before. I was told that I had only 6 months to live and there was nothing that could be done for me. After that news God told me that He was not finished with me yet. So we took it as a healing from Him, and we continued on with life believing that I was alright. Our faith walk expanded from meeting financial needs to healing from a death sentence.
We had a Christian friend tell us that we should consider preparing a funeral now just in case the worst happened. We would not do that because doubt = defeat. Amanda told that friend of ours that she was not going to prepare a funeral for me until I was dead and not a day before.
Luke 9:60 But He told him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and spread the news of the kingdom of God."
Another friend who was having trouble believing that God had healed me asks us if we were not healed then what would we do. We would not even consider that thought because in doing that it would promote doubt, and doubt = defeat. So I told him to ask me again in 6 months because I am still going to be here. Then we would see where his faith is.
Matthew 21:21-22 Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
For me this is a no brainer. If I doubt God has healed me then I die. I think we are all in the same boat. If we doubt that Gods word is true for our life then we all die spiritually, and we live our natural lives in defeat.
James 1:6 But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind.
Praise God!!!
We have been living by faith for the past 10 years relying on God to meet our every financial need. We had no doubt that He would not let us down. Most of our friends came to expect that we would trust in the Lord for our everyday needs.
Then God called us to a deeper walk of faith than we have ever been on before. I was told that I had only 6 months to live and there was nothing that could be done for me. After that news God told me that He was not finished with me yet. So we took it as a healing from Him, and we continued on with life believing that I was alright. Our faith walk expanded from meeting financial needs to healing from a death sentence.
We had a Christian friend tell us that we should consider preparing a funeral now just in case the worst happened. We would not do that because doubt = defeat. Amanda told that friend of ours that she was not going to prepare a funeral for me until I was dead and not a day before.
Luke 9:60 But He told him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and spread the news of the kingdom of God."
Another friend who was having trouble believing that God had healed me asks us if we were not healed then what would we do. We would not even consider that thought because in doing that it would promote doubt, and doubt = defeat. So I told him to ask me again in 6 months because I am still going to be here. Then we would see where his faith is.
Matthew 21:21-22 Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
For me this is a no brainer. If I doubt God has healed me then I die. I think we are all in the same boat. If we doubt that Gods word is true for our life then we all die spiritually, and we live our natural lives in defeat.
James 1:6 But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind.
Praise God!!!
Monday, November 8, 2010
God's powerful words
The words of God have all power and are more real than life itself.
Can we believe that and make it reality in our lives. Well I did.
Three months ago Gods words came into my life, and I was changed forever. I had just come from colon surgery the day before. The surgical team opened me up and saw with their own eyes the cancer that was spreading throughout my abdomen. I was told my life on this earth was over, and I had a very short time left. Lying in the hospital bed God spoke to me. He said I am not finished with you yet. You get up out of that bed. That was challenging words for this dying man. I have known God for 30 years and He has always enabled me to do what had asked me to do. I felt like that He would do the same now.
I was weak and dying from cancer and surgery, but I was determined from that point on to get up out of that bed and try with the best of my ability to go back to doing the work God had called me to do before I got sick. I must admit the road I am on is a difficult one. Most people around me looked at me like I was a dead man. My body had many days when it would give out on me and I would have to lie down and rest. Every pain would remind me that I was not the same person that I use to be. But I know my God. He speaks and the universe is created. He speaks and the world is created. He spoke to me and now I am not dying anymore. I live and I will speak of the mighty works of my God almighty. He healed this broken body without chemotherapy or medicines, but by His mighty words to me. His mercy is great and His power is great. He truly loves us all.
Can we believe that and make it reality in our lives. Well I did.
Three months ago Gods words came into my life, and I was changed forever. I had just come from colon surgery the day before. The surgical team opened me up and saw with their own eyes the cancer that was spreading throughout my abdomen. I was told my life on this earth was over, and I had a very short time left. Lying in the hospital bed God spoke to me. He said I am not finished with you yet. You get up out of that bed. That was challenging words for this dying man. I have known God for 30 years and He has always enabled me to do what had asked me to do. I felt like that He would do the same now.
I was weak and dying from cancer and surgery, but I was determined from that point on to get up out of that bed and try with the best of my ability to go back to doing the work God had called me to do before I got sick. I must admit the road I am on is a difficult one. Most people around me looked at me like I was a dead man. My body had many days when it would give out on me and I would have to lie down and rest. Every pain would remind me that I was not the same person that I use to be. But I know my God. He speaks and the universe is created. He speaks and the world is created. He spoke to me and now I am not dying anymore. I live and I will speak of the mighty works of my God almighty. He healed this broken body without chemotherapy or medicines, but by His mighty words to me. His mercy is great and His power is great. He truly loves us all.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Where is the Hope?
It’s been three months now since I was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. I came home from the hospital 142 pounds at my lowest weight. I could barely walk and talk. The doctors told me that I was done for, and there was no hope for me. God told me that He was not finished with me, and to get out of that death bed. So I put my hope in God to see me through this.
Today I weigh 162 pounds, my voice is strong and I walk for miles at a time. The Lord has allowed me to share with over 800 people in Arkansas and New York about His mighty works and his love for us through Jesus Christ.
God gives all of us hope when there seems to be no hope. PRAISE THE LORD GOD!!!
To see videos of our Testimonies go to www.markamandaburgos.com
Today I weigh 162 pounds, my voice is strong and I walk for miles at a time. The Lord has allowed me to share with over 800 people in Arkansas and New York about His mighty works and his love for us through Jesus Christ.
God gives all of us hope when there seems to be no hope. PRAISE THE LORD GOD!!!
To see videos of our Testimonies go to www.markamandaburgos.com
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Our Hospitial visit
Our Hospital visit August 10, 2010 – August 25,2010
We went to a health clinic on Monday August 9th and had a blood test taken to check my potassium level. I weighed 200 pounds. On Tuesday morning the clinic called me and told me that my potassium level was dangerously low, and that I needed to get to an Emergency room as soon as possible. On August 10th we went to the hospital around 1 pm. That night I was admitted around 8 pm. On Wednesday the 11th I had a colonoscopy. They went in about 17cm and found a blockage. My stomach area had a massive amount of fluid in it. Later that afternoon the doctor came into our room and told us that he was sure I had colon cancer, and because of the fluid it for sure had spread to my liver and kidneys. I told Amanda it looks like I was going home to be with Jesus. She said no God was not finished with me. The next 3 days consisted of cat scans, x-rays, and a mri. The doctors were looking for evidence of widespread cancer in my body. On Friday the 13th I was tapped in my abdomen to drain the fluid from my midsection to relieve the pressure. They took 5 liters of fluid about half of what was in there. On Monday the 16th they tried to put a stint in my colon to help me pass the stuff that was backed up in my colon. It didn’t work the largest stint was a lot smaller than the stretched out wall of my colon. On Tuesday the 17th they decided to do surgery on me and remove my colon and then hookup my small intestine to my rectum area. This surgery did not work either. When they opened me up they discovered that I had what they called a mesh of tumors all around my colon and on part of my small intestine making it very difficult to remove anything from my body. They decided to put in an ileostomy, and a colostomy, sucked out the remaining fluid from my abdomen, and colon. Over 6 liters. Then closed me backup. Then the surgeon told my wife that they could make me comfortable for 6 months with chemotherapy. I was thinking that I was ready to go home to heaven to be with my Lord Jesus Christ. Amanda my wife did not believe this. She was sure that God was not finished with me here on earth. On the 18th I got a word from God around 8am. An African nurse from Ghana whose name is Mercy came into my hospital room and told me she had been praying for me. She was telling me that God was not finished with me yet, and that I was going to be healed. As she spoke, prayed, prophesied, and proclaimed the power and love of God to me for that hour, I could feel the presents of the Lord there. Then as God’s angel of mercy was speaking to me I looked deep into her eyes and I saw God looking back at me. He said to me you get up out of that bed I am not finished with you yet. If you believe that I will heal you need to proclaim this. He said many other things to me that encouraged and strengthened my soul. On Wednesday the 18th of August my life changed from believing I will die and go home to heaven, to believing Gods miracle in my life and continuing His work here on earth.
The next day Thursday the 19th Amanda started to fast and seek Gods guidance for our life. Later that day the chemotherapy Dr came in and wanted us to start chemo soon. I didn’t have a good feeling about this, and Amanda told the Dr that she was going to send our records to a cancer institute in Kansas City to get a second opinion. The Dr left only to come back around an hour later with a consent form in her hand wanting me to let them start chemo that day. I told her that I will not sign anything without talking to my wife first. God spoke to me and clearly impressed in my heart NO CHEMO. Amanda had come back into the room with the Dr and God had given her the same message. Amanda told the Dr that they have given me a death sentence and now two days after major surgery they wanted to give me a treatment that will make me sick. We choose to wait for a couple of weeks to heal from surgery before making any kind of decision about the future. I personally believe that satan was trying to kill me by starting the chemo right after surgery. God wants us to wait on Him. Not make decisions from what pagan doctors stay but get our answers from Him. That night around two a clock in the morning I started throwing up green stuff. Then around 7 am on the 20th the doctors put in an N G tube in my nose to suck out the green fluid in my stomach. On Sunday morning the 22nd the tube was taken out. They had collected almost four liters of green stuff out of my stomach. On Monday the 23rd my potassium level was starting to drop and it needed to be 3.0 for me to get out of the hospital. Tuesday the 24th every one was sure I would go home so they took the staples out of my stomach area and started working on my discharge papers. Later that afternoon my potassium level had dropped to 2.5 so going home was not going to happen. The next day God sent a nursing student our way and we were able to share with her the love of God for her. Around 4 pm that day we were told that my potassium level was 3.2 and we were able to checkout of the hospital around 6pm on August 25th.
Things we took away from our hospital visit
I went into the hospital weighing 200 pounds and when I left the hospital 16 days later I weighed around 160 pounds.
I think all the fluid and bowl removed from my abdomen and colon area was around 26 liters.
I went into the hospital thinking I was going home to heaven. I came out of the hospital knowing that God was not finished with me.
Amanda and I have had people praying for us from all over the world, thousands of people from different religions who trust in God.
Amanda and I have experienced more of God’s grace, blessings, assurance, and closeness than we have in all of our marriage.
Pray for Us
Pray and give thanks for Mercy the nurse and all the others that God sent our way to pray with us!
Pray for wisdom as we make decisions about treatment.
Pray for us as we endure pains from the surgery.
Pray for us as we share our testimony with others.
Pray for the people of NYC that they will know HIM.
Pray for us as we continue to do the work that God has called us to do!
As you pray GIVE GOD GLORY and thank Him that He is the Great Physician who heals us! He is the Mighty King Master of everything HIS NAME IS WONDERFUL JESUS OUR LORD!!
By Mark and Amanda Burgos
August 31, 2011
We went to a health clinic on Monday August 9th and had a blood test taken to check my potassium level. I weighed 200 pounds. On Tuesday morning the clinic called me and told me that my potassium level was dangerously low, and that I needed to get to an Emergency room as soon as possible. On August 10th we went to the hospital around 1 pm. That night I was admitted around 8 pm. On Wednesday the 11th I had a colonoscopy. They went in about 17cm and found a blockage. My stomach area had a massive amount of fluid in it. Later that afternoon the doctor came into our room and told us that he was sure I had colon cancer, and because of the fluid it for sure had spread to my liver and kidneys. I told Amanda it looks like I was going home to be with Jesus. She said no God was not finished with me. The next 3 days consisted of cat scans, x-rays, and a mri. The doctors were looking for evidence of widespread cancer in my body. On Friday the 13th I was tapped in my abdomen to drain the fluid from my midsection to relieve the pressure. They took 5 liters of fluid about half of what was in there. On Monday the 16th they tried to put a stint in my colon to help me pass the stuff that was backed up in my colon. It didn’t work the largest stint was a lot smaller than the stretched out wall of my colon. On Tuesday the 17th they decided to do surgery on me and remove my colon and then hookup my small intestine to my rectum area. This surgery did not work either. When they opened me up they discovered that I had what they called a mesh of tumors all around my colon and on part of my small intestine making it very difficult to remove anything from my body. They decided to put in an ileostomy, and a colostomy, sucked out the remaining fluid from my abdomen, and colon. Over 6 liters. Then closed me backup. Then the surgeon told my wife that they could make me comfortable for 6 months with chemotherapy. I was thinking that I was ready to go home to heaven to be with my Lord Jesus Christ. Amanda my wife did not believe this. She was sure that God was not finished with me here on earth. On the 18th I got a word from God around 8am. An African nurse from Ghana whose name is Mercy came into my hospital room and told me she had been praying for me. She was telling me that God was not finished with me yet, and that I was going to be healed. As she spoke, prayed, prophesied, and proclaimed the power and love of God to me for that hour, I could feel the presents of the Lord there. Then as God’s angel of mercy was speaking to me I looked deep into her eyes and I saw God looking back at me. He said to me you get up out of that bed I am not finished with you yet. If you believe that I will heal you need to proclaim this. He said many other things to me that encouraged and strengthened my soul. On Wednesday the 18th of August my life changed from believing I will die and go home to heaven, to believing Gods miracle in my life and continuing His work here on earth.
The next day Thursday the 19th Amanda started to fast and seek Gods guidance for our life. Later that day the chemotherapy Dr came in and wanted us to start chemo soon. I didn’t have a good feeling about this, and Amanda told the Dr that she was going to send our records to a cancer institute in Kansas City to get a second opinion. The Dr left only to come back around an hour later with a consent form in her hand wanting me to let them start chemo that day. I told her that I will not sign anything without talking to my wife first. God spoke to me and clearly impressed in my heart NO CHEMO. Amanda had come back into the room with the Dr and God had given her the same message. Amanda told the Dr that they have given me a death sentence and now two days after major surgery they wanted to give me a treatment that will make me sick. We choose to wait for a couple of weeks to heal from surgery before making any kind of decision about the future. I personally believe that satan was trying to kill me by starting the chemo right after surgery. God wants us to wait on Him. Not make decisions from what pagan doctors stay but get our answers from Him. That night around two a clock in the morning I started throwing up green stuff. Then around 7 am on the 20th the doctors put in an N G tube in my nose to suck out the green fluid in my stomach. On Sunday morning the 22nd the tube was taken out. They had collected almost four liters of green stuff out of my stomach. On Monday the 23rd my potassium level was starting to drop and it needed to be 3.0 for me to get out of the hospital. Tuesday the 24th every one was sure I would go home so they took the staples out of my stomach area and started working on my discharge papers. Later that afternoon my potassium level had dropped to 2.5 so going home was not going to happen. The next day God sent a nursing student our way and we were able to share with her the love of God for her. Around 4 pm that day we were told that my potassium level was 3.2 and we were able to checkout of the hospital around 6pm on August 25th.
Things we took away from our hospital visit
I went into the hospital weighing 200 pounds and when I left the hospital 16 days later I weighed around 160 pounds.
I think all the fluid and bowl removed from my abdomen and colon area was around 26 liters.
I went into the hospital thinking I was going home to heaven. I came out of the hospital knowing that God was not finished with me.
Amanda and I have had people praying for us from all over the world, thousands of people from different religions who trust in God.
Amanda and I have experienced more of God’s grace, blessings, assurance, and closeness than we have in all of our marriage.
Pray for Us
Pray and give thanks for Mercy the nurse and all the others that God sent our way to pray with us!
Pray for wisdom as we make decisions about treatment.
Pray for us as we endure pains from the surgery.
Pray for us as we share our testimony with others.
Pray for the people of NYC that they will know HIM.
Pray for us as we continue to do the work that God has called us to do!
As you pray GIVE GOD GLORY and thank Him that He is the Great Physician who heals us! He is the Mighty King Master of everything HIS NAME IS WONDERFUL JESUS OUR LORD!!
By Mark and Amanda Burgos
August 31, 2011
Friday, May 14, 2010
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Sunday, March 7, 2010
The Wave
March 7, 2010
While reading My Utmost for His Highest today I found it very interesting that it talked about the thrill of the wave. Yesterday we went to the beach in Far Rockaway and there were people surfing. You may think that this isn’t strange but last weekend we had 18” of snow on the ground and one week later there are people surfing in the same area. God shows us that things can change quickly.
What I wanted to say is Mark and I have many changes happening in our life. We will soon be moving to Manhattan and really are not sure what will happen after that. We have made plans and are trusting that God will provide for our replacement at the David Dean House so we can continue with our work in Manhattan.
In life we must realize that we are not in control. The wave that we ride we do not control and praise the Lord that we don’t have to. God controls the wave and we just have to enjoy the ride. Does it get rough sometime, well of course, but just knowing that God is in control makes the ride good. We must realize that the ride is only good if we are in His will. The things that the normal person would be afraid of, like not knowing where the money is coming from gives me a thrill. This is my huge wave and I am the surfer that rides this wave looking to see what may happen. I know that God will supply all our needs, because His Word tells me so.
Read this and remember to enjoy the thrill of your rides.
March 7, 2010
The Source of Abundant Joy
In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us —Romans 8:37
Paul was speaking here of the things that might seem likely to separate a saint from the love of God. But the remarkable thing is that nothing can come between the love of God and a saint. The things Paul mentioned in this passage can and do disrupt the close fellowship of our soul with God and separate our natural life from Him. But none of them is able to come between the love of God and the soul of a saint on the spiritual level. The underlying foundation of the Christian faith is the undeserved, limitless miracle of the love of God that was exhibited on the Cross of Calvary; a love that is not earned and can never be. Paul said this is the reason that "in all these things we are more than conquerors." We are super-victors with a joy that comes from experiencing the very things which look as if they are going to overwhelm us.
Huge waves that would frighten an ordinary swimmer produce a tremendous thrill for the surfer who has ridden them. Let’s apply that to our own circumstances. The things we try to avoid and fight against— tribulation, suffering, and persecution— are the very things that produce abundant joy in us. "We are more than conquerors through Him" "in all these things"; not in spite of them, but in the midst of them. A saint doesn’t know the joy of the Lord in spite of tribulation, but because of it. Paul said, "I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation" (2 Corinthians 7:4 ).
The undiminished radiance, which is the result of abundant joy, is not built on anything passing, but on the love of God that nothing can change. And the experiences of life, whether they are everyday events or terrifying ones, are powerless to "separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" ( Romans 8:39 ).
Amanda
While reading My Utmost for His Highest today I found it very interesting that it talked about the thrill of the wave. Yesterday we went to the beach in Far Rockaway and there were people surfing. You may think that this isn’t strange but last weekend we had 18” of snow on the ground and one week later there are people surfing in the same area. God shows us that things can change quickly.
What I wanted to say is Mark and I have many changes happening in our life. We will soon be moving to Manhattan and really are not sure what will happen after that. We have made plans and are trusting that God will provide for our replacement at the David Dean House so we can continue with our work in Manhattan.
In life we must realize that we are not in control. The wave that we ride we do not control and praise the Lord that we don’t have to. God controls the wave and we just have to enjoy the ride. Does it get rough sometime, well of course, but just knowing that God is in control makes the ride good. We must realize that the ride is only good if we are in His will. The things that the normal person would be afraid of, like not knowing where the money is coming from gives me a thrill. This is my huge wave and I am the surfer that rides this wave looking to see what may happen. I know that God will supply all our needs, because His Word tells me so.
Read this and remember to enjoy the thrill of your rides.
March 7, 2010
The Source of Abundant Joy
In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us —Romans 8:37
Paul was speaking here of the things that might seem likely to separate a saint from the love of God. But the remarkable thing is that nothing can come between the love of God and a saint. The things Paul mentioned in this passage can and do disrupt the close fellowship of our soul with God and separate our natural life from Him. But none of them is able to come between the love of God and the soul of a saint on the spiritual level. The underlying foundation of the Christian faith is the undeserved, limitless miracle of the love of God that was exhibited on the Cross of Calvary; a love that is not earned and can never be. Paul said this is the reason that "in all these things we are more than conquerors." We are super-victors with a joy that comes from experiencing the very things which look as if they are going to overwhelm us.
Huge waves that would frighten an ordinary swimmer produce a tremendous thrill for the surfer who has ridden them. Let’s apply that to our own circumstances. The things we try to avoid and fight against— tribulation, suffering, and persecution— are the very things that produce abundant joy in us. "We are more than conquerors through Him" "in all these things"; not in spite of them, but in the midst of them. A saint doesn’t know the joy of the Lord in spite of tribulation, but because of it. Paul said, "I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation" (2 Corinthians 7:4 ).
The undiminished radiance, which is the result of abundant joy, is not built on anything passing, but on the love of God that nothing can change. And the experiences of life, whether they are everyday events or terrifying ones, are powerless to "separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" ( Romans 8:39 ).
Amanda
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Saturday, January 9, 2010
December 2009 Newsletter
It was a great month for us in December.
We are looking for a great year in 2010.
Check out our last newsletter for 2009.
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