If you have not yet received in the mail a hardcopy of our news letter you can read it below. We have posted the content. We have also posted some of the pictures that are in the newsletter. God Bless!

We Need Your Help

So many of you have been so gracious in the giving of financial support, and we are humbled and honored. Yet, over the past several months, we have met only half of our budget. In order to continue to live and work in Nicaragua, we need an additional $2000 a month in support. We would like to continue to support and establish the ISOM Bible Schools while at the same time work to transition this work with capable Nicaraguans that can continue the work once we leave. Our goal is to make this happen by June of 2009 and at then return to the U.S. Please help us complete this task by partnering with us with your support. It may be that you would like to give a one-time gift of $5000, $1000, $500 or $100 or it may be that you would prefer to support us on a monthly basis. We would be grateful for any amount you could give. Support can be mailed to:

Evangel Fellowship International
200 Evangel Road
Spartanburg, SC 29301
(in the memo line of your check write: Mark and Cindy Quillen)

Thank you so much for your help during this time. We also covet your prayers as we continue to serve in Nicaragua.

You Make it Possible!

You are impacting the Nation of Nicaragua in more ways than you may know. Through your support, we are targeting four new International Schools of Ministry to be started this year in 3 new departments. (Nicaragua is divided into 13 different departments just like the U.S. is divided into states.) On April 17, Mark will be hosting a training in Managua for Pastors who will function as coordinators of four new sites (Ciudad Sandino, Chinandega, Leon, and Juigalpa). Following the training, they will be prepared to begin to promote, administer, and lead an EFI ISOM school in their local church in their specific departments. Pastor Isaac Moraga and his wife Norma, who are students in our Managua school, recently shared that the teaching in the school has transformed their faith when it comes to praying for the sick. The two classes in particular are: Two classes in particular; Supernatural Living and Jesus Our Healer Today. They explained that a young man of 30 years old who is an attender of one of their churches was crippled with Parkinson’s disease. They said that recently they went to pray for this young man and prior to laying hands on him they encouraged his faith by reinforcing from what they had been taught on how God is willing and able to heal today and that God responds to our faith. They then challenged him to believe for healing from the Parkinson’s. As they laid hands on him, he was delivered from the Parkinson’s and immediately began to run and move around freely with no signs of the disease. They even said that the last time they saw him he was playing soccer and had no sign of the Parkinson’s!

What's Been Happening in 2008

In January, it was our pleasure to help with the EFI Nicaragua Pastors’ Conference that was hosted by our home church, Evangel Cathedral, from Spartanburg, SC. The conference was a tremendous success as approximately 280 people from many different departments of Nicaragua attended and received ministry. In February and March, we spoke in Ciudad Sandino, Chinandega, and Juigalpa sharing the vision, purpose, and practicalities of establishing an ISOM Bible training program. Mark preached in Ciudad Sandino at Iglesia Ciudad Shalom. It was a wonderful experience for Mark. It was like he was a part of the Evangel Life Changing Ministries Team as many people from the church came forward for an extended time of ministry and prayer. In March, we moved to a different home. We like our new home as it is more economical, and suits our needs. In March, we also hosted two short term mission teams that
were a delight to spend time with. One was from Cokesbury UMC in Chattanooga, TN. Their work consisted of hosting a women’s luncheon at Abundant Life Church, a special time of sharing for the women, and a time of foot washing and pedicures for all the women in attendance! Each woman also received a gift bag at the close of the meeting. The women are now asking for more meetings of this nature because they were able to share with each other on a level that they had not known before. The next day this team took their “traveling foot washing and pedicure ministry” to a local maternity hospital and ministered to new moms. Each mom received a pedicure, a New Testament and a nice snack. This team also painted the office area and nursery at one of our church here in Managua, built a petition to help create an area for our prayer room, and ministered at New Life Orphanage. Our second team in March was from Oakbrook Preparatory School. They ministered to children at a school in the dump of Managua, conducted Vacation Bible Schools at New Life Orphanage and House of Hope, and conducted an Upward Basketball Camp. They also painted the children’s church at Abundant Life Managua, helped fund the petition that the Cokesbury team had built, and installed paper towel, soap, and toilet paper dispensers at the church. The team also provided 3 car seats and suit cases full of diapers for New Life Orphanage. These two teams made a huge impact and were true ministers of God’s love and character.


Our Plans Moving Forward


As we continue on into 2008 and into the first half of 2009, we would like to focus on three areas: 1) Further development of the ISOM Program, 2) Continued work with the EFI church, Abundant Life Managua and 3) Hosting Short Term Mission Teams.

1) The ISOM Program: It is our desire to develop a Nicaraguan pastor or leader who can eventually take this program as their ministry. This person would function as director of the schools that operate throughout the country. Ultimately, they will be most effective as they can best relate and understand the culture and life of their native people and country.

2) Abundant Life Managua Church: We see our role at Abundant Life Managua as supportive to the pastor and staff and one of love to the local church family. We are currently serving as Associates with the responsibility of Mission Team Services. We hope that our work there will help others develop a heart to honor and serve their local pastor and church, to pursue the life and purposes of God for their personal lives, and to reach out and share their lives with the lost and see them come to Christ as a result.

3) Hosting Short Term Mission Teams: We feel it is important to host teams when possible. Short term mission trips give people a first hand look and experience of what our work and their support is doing in this country. It has been our experience that the lives of the people who come here to serve are touched and changed as much as the people of Nicaragua! It is definitely a win-win situation!


Our Family

Cindy and I celebrated our 18Th wedding anniversary on March 3! We did not know 18 years ago that we would be serving the Lord in Nicaragua, but we are thrilled with this opportunity. Our children are doing well and have grown to love it here. Here is a brief update: Stephen and Luke just completed their basketball season. Both played for the school on the varsity High School team. It’s quite different here as the courts are outdoors and designed for international play and the games are conducted with International rules. The team finished with a 7-3 record. The best in the schools’ 16 year history. Markie is doing great. She is enjoying her new group of friends and continues to do well in school. As far as Philip is concerned, he still is a man of few words, but he has developed a couple of friends:. Udrime, who is Korean and Santiago, who is Nicaraguan. Udrime, who knows 3 languages, likes to come to “the house of Philip” (Philip’s house).


We Need Each Other

I am convinced that we will not reach our full potential in God nor our full potential as the body of Christ without developing genuine safe relationships with each other. Through the years, I have had some close friends, but have always been hesitant to open up and be completely vulnerable in sharing my thoughts, troubles, ideas, joys, and dreams for fear that I might be exposed or that I wouldn’t be understood. But ,I am finding the opposite to be true. The enemy would like to keep us isolated and disconnected because when we are alone, we are an easy target for discouragement, confusion, and loneliness. When we are walking with God in openness, we are able to protect, encourage, and support one another. Relationships give us a place to express the grace, mercy, and compassion of the Lord to one another.
Please know that I certainly am not the expert on this matter, but I am asking the Holy Spirit to help me be a safe friend and to help me be open with those the Lord has put in my life.
James 5:16 “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.”
Proverbs 18:24: There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.

Love and Blessings,
Mark Quillen