Dear Livingsong Family, Greetings from Ohio! As we enter the final quarter of the year, it's incredible how quickly time has passed. We're excited to share some ministry highlights from September and would like to offer a biblical reflection on recent events, particularly the devastation caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Our hearts and prayers go out to the more than 10 million people across Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina affected by these devastating storms. The loss of homes, loved ones, and the task of rebuilding can feel overwhelming. In times like these, it’s natural to wonder, 'Where is God in all of this?' Yet for those of us who trust in Christ, we find peace and comfort in His promise: 'These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world' (John 16:33). These words are for you today, to encourage you to hold fast to the Lord Jesus amid any loss, and to remember that your true identity is found in Him, not in the things of this world. Disasters like these remind us of how fleeting earthly possessions are, and Scripture offers us divine wisdom to shape our perspective: 'Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal' (Matthew 6:19-20). Dear brothers and sisters, no earthly treasure can compare to the eternal security we have in Christ. In times like these recent events, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed and ask the question, why God? However please consider this passage. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,' says the Lord. 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9). Though we may not understand why certain events happen, we can trust that God is always in control and His purposes (while He may not always make it known to us), we can trust they are good. Be satisfied in holding on to the hope we have in Christ, even in the face of uncertainty. True faith means trusting Him completely, even when answers are out of reach. In the midst of life’s greatest challenges, may your heart rest in the assurance that God's grace is sufficient, and His mercies for you are new every day. While traveling throughout the month of September, we have been so encouraged by all of you who have stayed connected and engaged with us through social media and our newsletters. Your thoughtful comments and questions help us understand how and where we can best stay connected through these platforms while on the road! We are committed to continuing to develop these media spaces to share our ministry activities, so please stay engaged and we encourage you to share the content to help spread the word about the work God is doing through this ministry. A September update we don’t want to miss is a follow up report about World Vision. You may remember from our previous newsletter praise reports, we mentioned our partnership with World Vision. Watch the latest through the video below! |
|
|
As we continue seeking God’s will for the future of this ministry, He has been making it more clear as we continue to expand our efforts beyond borders. Back in April during our time in Cusco, Peru, we received an invitation to attend a missionary retreat from our dear friend Crystal, a staff member of the missionary organization, “Adventures in Missions”. The retreat was held September 5th through the 8th in Roan Mountain, Tennessee. Our role in participating was to lead worship during the worship gatherings, and during one of the evenings, to share a message on spending time with the Lord to encourage the missionaries in attendance. The entire retreat turned out to be such an uplifting experience filled with inspirational stories about missions in Cambodia, Swaziland, India, Guatemala and Peru, along with powerful sermons by the guest speaker, Pastor Steve Smith of Forest Lake Baptist Church. We also learned about some of the challenges of life abroad which was very insightful. A personal highlight was Friday evening when everyone gathered around to lay hands on us and cover us with prayers. It was a special and emotional moment that truly meant so much to us, especially in the season of not only growing in God’s word, but growing in confidence to trust Him beyond the comforts of what is familiar. |
|
|
We left that weekend feeling empowered, filled with gratitude, and asking God for a radical walk of faith in 2025! A special thanks to our friend Crystal, for inviting us and we also want to acknowledge and send our thanks to our new friend Nomcebo, who was gracious enough to operate the worship slides during all gatherings. |
|
|
After the retreat, we drove to Buckhill Campground in Newland, North Carolina to take two days off to rest and fellowship with our friends, Pastor Javier and Elizabeth, who were kind enough to join us. As you may already know, taking time to fellowship with like-minded believers is vital to our spiritual growth. The Bible reminds us in (Hebrews 10:24-25) “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” While life on the road can sometimes feel isolating, we truly treasure moments like these that remind us we don’t walk this faith journey alone. To our surprise, the owner of the campground turned out to be a fellow believer as well. After hearing about our ministry, he graciously invited us to host an evening of worship and testimony for the campground guests. In no time, we were welcomed by one of the friendliest campground communities we've encountered in all our travels. It's amazing how God continues to connect us to minister in unexpected places. |
|
|
After a precious time with our new friends at Buckhill Campground, we headed northbound again towards the beautiful state of New York to minister at two emergency shelters and recovery support programs: UCAN City Mission in Jamestown and Buffalo City Mission in Buffalo. We had the privilege of hosting chapel services for both the men’s and women’s programs, and as an added blessing, also for the staff at Buffalo City Mission. The leaders and staff who work behind the scenes serving those in crisis experience an incredible calling, and we were grateful for the opportunity to pour into their lives with a Biblical word of encouragement. It’s always a joy to encourage those who are giving so much of themselves to help others. |
|
|
A sobering moment during our time with the women at the Buffalo Rescue Mission occurred just before the service began. As we gathered to pray, the program leader, who had come to join us in prayer, suddenly received an emergency suicide risk alert. The gravity of the situation immediately shifted the focus of our time together. In these places, sometimes deep despair leads some to consider taking their own lives. That evening, the woman in crisis, a young mother struggling with suicidal thoughts, came to the chapel. At the end when the altar call was given, by God’s grace she responded, came forward, and fell on her knees at the altar. Through prayer, surrender, and feeling God’s love through the arms of us all who wrapped ourselves around her, she experienced a powerful breakthrough. God’s timing is always perfect isn’t it? That evening, we encountered the Lord's presence in a way that felt especially near, not because of the music or the words spoken. In humility, we came to God as we are, with all our hurts and brokenness, and He met us right there and then. Thank you Jesus. “The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit. (Psalm 34:18). So what's next? We have so much to share in our upcoming October newsletter about our time serving once again in Canada! 🇨🇦 After that, with the Lord’s favor, we’re planning to escape the colder weather to Georgia. 😊 We have a few stops to serve along the way, including Nashville, Tennessee, after six long years! Of course, this is a projected route, but as always, unforeseen circumstances could change things. However, with your prayers and support, we trust that God will guide every step of the way. We extend our heartfelt thanks to our dedicated family of ministry partners who contribute monthly to further the spread of the Gospel. Your steadfast support continues to motivate us to keep pushing forward. Thank you all so much! Pastor Andrew Delong - Angela Uhle - Barbara DuBrul - Dave Kennon Debi Schuster - Pastor Dennis & Tamara Jones - Diana Strickland - Doran Edwards Kelly & Kyle Pryce - Kanani Kimmanee - Michelle Link Sharma - Pat Smith Patti Gumerson - Pastor Paul & Tracy Lucas - Randy & Christeena Imler Roberta Renk - Living Hope Church Englewood FL
We're also still making preparations for our return trip to Peru, organizing flights, lodging, and equipment transport. During this trip, we aim not only to serve in outreach and visit orphans in Cusco, but also to potentially record additional original worship songs. If you haven’t heard it yet, our latest song, “Holy is Your Name,” was recorded and produced in Lima. We hope it blesses you, and we encourage you to share it if it resonates with you.
|
|
|
As always, your wisdom and advice are invaluable to us, please feel free to reach out as we continue preparing for what God has in store. Your prayers and monetary support mean the world to us, and we cherish every season of this ministry journey with you. Thank you for being part of God’s mission. Let’s keep pressing forward in faith, knowing that God is at work, even in the midst of life’s storms. Together, we are bringing light into darkness and spreading the hope of salvation through Christ our Lord. God bless you all. Happy Reformation Day, Manny & Erika Lynn Garcia Livingsong |
|
|
Praise Reports - Happy September Birthday to our sisters in Christ, Michelle Link and Diana Strickland! We are truly thankful for both of you and your unwavering partnership in ministry. Your commitment and support have been a great blessing, and we praise God for the ongoing work He accomplishes through your help. May this year overflow with His abundant blessings, and divine guidance in all areas of your life. - We want to take a moment to express our sincere gratitude to our one-time donors for the month of September who have generously supported our ministry efforts. Your faithfulness in giving has made a significant impact on our mission, allowing us to share the love of Christ and bring hope to those in need. A special thank you to Pastor Javier & Elizabeth Guzman, Judy Zilliox, Buffalo NY City Mission, Adventures in Missions in GA, Sally Summey, Edward Jones, G.A. and L.F. Bunce, Stanley and Beverly Arnold, Lt. Qwantyonia & Captain Stanley Weems, and Bruce & Barbara Baehr. - Through our ongoing collaboration with the leaders at Elim Orphanage, we’re excited to share that we’ve found a way to ship much-needed supplements to the children at the orphanage! 🙌 Our goal is to send all supplies during the first week of December. There is still time to participate in this important mission. Will you prayerfully consider joining us in providing for these precious children? If you feel led to help, you can order supplements directly by clicking to the image below! Please send your order of vitamin supplements to our ministry mailbox at Livingsong, 304 East Pine Street, #1221, Lakeland, FL 33801. We ask for your continued prayers over this endeavor. Your support is a tremendous blessing and a reflection of God’s heart for the vulnerable. "So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7) |
|
|
Prayer Requests - We humbly ask you to partner with us in prayer over the ongoing conflict in Israel and the surrounding regions. We pray for the safety and protection of all innocent lives caught in the crossfire, including families, children, and communities who are suffering from the violence. May God grant wisdom to leaders and decision-makers, guiding them toward peaceful resolutions and reconciliation. We ask for healing for those who have been affected, both physically and emotionally, and for unity among believers, that we may advocate for peace in our prayers and actions, not forgetting the love and compassion that Christ calls us to share. - We humbly ask for prayer regarding our motorhome generator, which has reached the end of its lifespan. The electrical board is no longer functioning, and after a recent inspection at an RV shop, we learned that replacing it isn't a feasible option given the extensive hours of use since 2016. With numerous ministry projects and travel commitments, we haven't had the opportunity to respond to this issue. We hope for the Lord’s divine wisdom and guidance as we navigate this situation, especially in preparation for the upcoming winter months. Thank you for your continued prayers and support during this time. - We are deeply thankful for the feedback and encouragement we’ve received on our first video in our YouTube new series "Answering the Call". These videos are created to freely help, equip, and encourage those of you considering the Lord’s call to ministry service. We ask for your prayers that this series will inspire those seeking to answer His call. For those of you who have asked for these resources, thank you for your patience, we look forward to providing more. |
|
|
If you have found inspiration in our newsletters, and are considering becoming involved in our mission, we humbly request your prayers over becoming a monthly partner. As the Lord leads, we extend an invitation to click the icon below, which will lead you to further details on our ministry and how you can join our efforts to advance the Gospel of Christ. |
|
|
Get our monthly newsletter |
|
|
|
|
