I have a birthday request for all. I invite you to support the Book Angels project at www.MissionFrontier.info/BookAngels. Your donations can make a big difference in the lives of needy youth by providing them with the gift of books to read.
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I'm so excited to introduce my new children's book, 'Pants The Squirrel' – now available in both English and Español! Delight your friends with the gift of adventure! Get your copies today by simply clicking the pictdure below. Thank you for your support!  Hello from El Salvador! I am extremely grateful to be writing to you today, feeling completely restored and back to my true self. It has been a long journey, but just two weeks ago, I experienced a resurgence of energy and felt like the driven and enthusiastic Lawrence that I have always been. I want to express my deepest gratitude for the unwavering support and countless prayers you have offered during the months of illness, pain, and surgery. Your encouragement has been an invaluable source of strength and solace. In the midst of my afflictions, there were numerous moments when my spirit plummeted into depths of darkness, a place I wouldn't wish upon anyone. Yet, even in those lonely times, truly, the Lord never wavered. God unveiled my understanding to see that His grace, longsuffering and love do reach deeper than I previously knew. During my time confined to that bed of affliction, I was granted with courage and strength from God to write a few books. Among them is "Pants the Squirrel," a captivating children's book about a squirrel courageously goes on an adventure of a life time. The story will be an exciting adventure for your children to learn about courage. I am thrilled to announce that this book will be available for purchase on July 1st in both English and Spanish. Additionally, God helped me to write a book delving into the topic of suffering. In this heartfelt book, I openly share personal stories of profound suffering that I have experienced, including sexual abuse, homelessness, suicide, and much more. The book shares a focus on how God has been my source of strength and preservation throughout. My genuine intention for this book is to offer encouragement and valuable support to those who are currently going through suffering. I hope to release this book in the winter. A few months ago God gave me a new friend who has taken on the task of translating some of my books into Spanish. What brings me immense joy is that there have been many Spanish speakers over the years who have expressed their desire to read my works. It appears that the opportunity has now presented itself. I am grateful that now Spanish speakers can find encouragement through these translations. Some of my books in Spanish are now available on Amazon and my ministry’s website at www.MissionFrontire.info. Since returning to El Salvador, it’s a great joy to engage again with Salvadorans about our Lord Jesus Christ. While it is true that nearly everyone here knows about Jesus, only a few truly know Him. In regaining my health and fitness, I have made it a habit to walk two miles to the gym regularly. Along these walks, I pass out gospel tracts. Sometimes a mere second encounter turns into meaningful conversations, allowing me to discuss individuals’ personal need for Christ. During these almost two years in El Salvador, God has given me steadfast friendships, cherished memories, and abundant opportunities to labor in a work that many said was impossible. I moved to El Salvador with the purpose to reach youngsters ensnared in Satan’s violent gangs. From my very first week, I witnessed God's extraordinary grace and favor as He enabled me to walk the dangerous streets of their neighborhoods, and get to know many of these unreached youngsters. Though most Salvadorans feared them, I did not fear them; I loved them and told them that Jesus loves them. Many allowed me to spend time with them, sitting down and talking about the Bible’s message of hope, redemption, and restoration. It has been such a super privilege to share Christ’s love and message to them, as well as to invest my life into some of them for Christ. El Salvador has experienced great violence for decades because of the gangs. However, a couple years ago the government initiated a military offensive against the gangs, and was successfully able to apprehend tens of thousands and incarcerate them. Consequently, my ministry to gang members was thwarted a year ago. For the past year, a few pastors and I have quietly prayed. I have tried to continue to carry out regular ministry in evangelism, discipleship, and serving whomever God brings into my path. It gradually became evident that my time in El Salvador has come to a close. Over the course of time, God pressed upon my heart through various scriptures to consider leaving El Salvador. Then during one particular afternoon while reading 1 Kings 17, God clearly resounded in my heart His direction that a new horizon in ministry awaits outside of El Salvador. My dear friends, my heart overflows with cherished memories of a magnificent God who performed the impossible, defying the doubts of many. With a heart wide open and filled with anticipation, I eagerly await the unfolding of God’s will as I move on to minister elsewhere. At the end of this month, I will bid farewell to El Salvador. In the coming months, I have scheduled trips to various nations, some of which are engulfed in the grip of gangs, violence, and satanic darkness, desperately needing the proclamation of Christ's gospel. I seek the Lord’s heart in where He is directing me next. I look forward to continue serving and getting more familiar with the youngsters in these needy places. And I look forward to getting involved in the next adventures God takes me. Would you please pray for me? I request your prayers that I may be sensitive to God's guidance regarding where I should serve in the future. I sure would appreciate it! THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT! Lawrence Bowman www.MissionFrontier.info  El Salvador for decades has grappled with gang violence that has caused chaos and destruction throughout the country. The notorious MS13 and Calle 18 gangs have been at the forefront of these troubles, wreaking havoc on communities and perpetuating a cycle of poverty and despair. After the election of President Nayib Bukele, he launched a major offensive against the gangs, deploying the military and police to capture tens of thousands of gang members and throw them in prison. While this operation has successfully dismantled the power of the gangs and make El Salvador a safer place, it has also resulted in serious human rights abuses against countless innocent people.
Having worked with gang members myself, I have seen firsthand how poverty, lack of education, and broken families can impact the lives of young people. I have also witnessed the destructive consequences of gang violence, which only further exacerbates the cycle of poverty and hopelessness. That's why I believe that it was necessary for the government to take strong action against the gangs, and I fully supported President Bukele's efforts to do so. As a missionary living in El Salvador, my primary focus was working with young people in the MS13 and Calle 18 gangs. My goal was to reach them with the love of Jesus Christ—that they might surrender to Christ and to help them learn to live a productive, righteous life. Each week, I walked the streets of their neighborhoods, approaching gang members with love and respect. Many of them were stunned that I was speaking to them, as they were used to being feared and hated. But I did not fear them; I loved them and told them that Jesus loves them. Many allowed me to spend time with them, sitting with me and listening to the Bible’s message of hope, redemption, and restoration. When the government began its crackdown on gang members, I was torn. On the one hand, I understood the need to address the violent troubles of gang violence. Justice indeed needed to be executed. On the other hand, I saw firsthand the injustices that were being committed against innocent people too. Countless people were arrested without cause, based solely on their age or appearance or the whims of the soldiers who were detaining them. Many were beaten or harassed by soldiers without any recourse. I knew of individuals who were falsely accused and arrested, including my friend (in the picture) who has been in prison for a year now. Speaking out was risky. President Bukele had made it clear that anyone who gave aid to gang members would be arrested and charged with association. The embassy warned me in a private meeting that I could be arrested and detained if I continued living in El Salvador, and that they would not be able to help get me out. In addition, a Salvadoran high ranking official on a phone call told me he would not be able to assist me if I was arrested. Despite these overwhelming risks, I sought guidance and fervently prayed of what I should do. God gave me a deep sense of peace and affirmation that I should remain in the nation to keep ministering in the work of God. However, as I continued to serve Salvadorans, I was witness to many human rights violations that I could no longer remain silent about. Now, I believe it is time to speak up publicly. It is important to acknowledge the success of President Bukele's needful campaign against gang violence, but at the same time we cannot ignore the injustices that have been occurring. Innocent people have been arrested and detained without cause, and their human rights have been violated. As a servant of God and a concerned human, I humbly implore President Bukele to investigate and rectify these injustices, and to ensure that the rights of all Salvadorans are respected. These human rights violations not only go against our moral values but also undermine the government's efforts to curb violence and promote public safety. Treating young people in marginalized communities as potential criminals risks further marginalization and radicalization, and may thwart future positive messages and interventions. To conclude, it is of utmost importance to protect the rights of innocent individuals and prevent any unfair targeting. I am grateful for God’s great grace and favor to have had the opportunity to work with young people in gangs. In my view, preaching Christ, exhibiting love and respect to those who are often ostracized and feared is the key to bringing about sustainable peaceful change. While justice absolutely is important, restoration is also possible. Thus, my prayer is that every Salvadoran, irrespective of their background or affiliation, should receive dignified and respectful treatment, and that we collaborate to construct a better future for El Salvador. Only when we uphold the rights of every Salvadoran can we forge a safer and more equitable society for the generations to come.  📣 Exciting Announcement! 🙌
After a long wait, I'm thrilled to share that I have finally been able to create a brand new Facebook account! 🎉✨It has been since last September since my previous account was suspended by Facebook, despite no wrongdoing on my part. But today, I'm overjoyed to invite each and every one of you to join me once again, so we can stay connected, share prayer updates, photos, and so much more! 🤝🙏📸 I believe in the power of community and the healthy impact it can have on our lives. Through this new Facebook account, we have an incredible opportunity to strengthen our bonds and encourage one another. 🌟 So, my dear friends, I humbly request you to take a moment to search for my new Facebook profile and hit that "Follow" button. Together, let's embark on a journey of prayer, encouragement, and celebration. Let's uplift one another, share in each other's joys and challenges, and make a wonderful eternal difference in the world around us. 🌍💫 Stay tuned for regular updates, thought-provoking messages, inspiring photos, and many other great things that I can't wait to share with all of you! 🙏❤️📆📢🤗 CLICK HERE FOR A DIRECT LINK TO MY FACEBOOK PAGE  Hello friends of the ministry,
I would like to first express my gratitude to so many of you for your kind words. Your efforts to reach out to me via Facebook, email and phone calls have been greatly appreciated. It is heartwarming to know that I have friends who care enough to check on me and help lift my spirits. Thank you so much for your continued friendship and support. I must confess that coping with health issues and chronic pain at times has taken a toll on both my mind and body. However, the Lord has shown great grace toward me, and I do not say that lightly. On January 30th, I traveled back to El Salvador, accompanied by my mother. Her presence was a tremendous blessing, and I cherished the ten days we spent together. When she left, I was disheartened as I should have been on the same plane headed back to America for additional medical help. Despite the intense physical pain I was experiencing, I felt a spiritual urge to stay in El Salvador. Each week I have made a conscious effort to join fellow believers in Christ to go talk with people about the gospel. Although it has brought me great joy, immediately afterwards I have promptly returned home to seek rest in bed. Throughout my life, God has graciously allowed me to publish numerous books, many of which came about through dark times which God saw fit for me to experience. After my mother's departure, I found myself confined to bed, writhing in agony. Nevertheless, I knew that God was with me, and I felt a stirring within my spirit to write another book, regarding a difficult topic: SUFFERING. With newfound determination, I sat up in my bed and began writing. To my amazement, God performed a miracle, providing me with words and chapters to write. For hours on end, day after day, I worked tirelessly on the book, and in just three weeks, it was finished. My heartfelt prayer is that this book will provide encouragement, support, and upliftment to those who are suffering and facing bewildering troubles. I hope that it will help individuals turn their hearts toward God and understand that the sufferings they experience are meant for their good and the glory of Christ. Upon completing my book, I felt a sense of peace from God that it was time to return to Ohio again. However, I couldn't afford the exorbitant prices for a one-way airplane ticket, which amounted to over $600. Thankfully, our Father always has our need. Two days later, a dear friend I hadn't heard from in twenty years contacted me; she was a Godsend. That very evening, I had an airplane ticket! God’s provisions are limitless. I am constantly amazed by the unique ways and people God brings along to assist me. Over the past decade, I've witnessed countless miracles, and I must say THANK YOU to God, my friend and her husband, and all the countless people who over the years who have played a role in these acts of grace. After arriving in Ohio, my parents took me to the emergency room at Ohio State University Hospital, where the medical staff could see the extent of my suffering. The staff conducted several tests, including three MRIs. They discovered that I had a bulging disc that was pressing against a nerve. The following morning, I underwent surgery and remained hospitalized for five days. I am currently recovering at my parents' home, and I'm grateful for the additional time I have to read the Bible and spend time in more prayer. Some of my friends have already visited me, and it has been such a joy to catch up with them. In my previous prayer letter, I didn't mention that besides hosting a Podcast for listeners, I have also started writing a blog that covers important topics that we all face. My articles touch on a wide range of issues, including hopelessness, feeling forgotten, anger towards God, slander, guilt, and many others. I strive to share my personal thoughts and experiences in a way that is practical and relevant. My aim is to strike a balance between lighthearted humor and more serious discussions that will resonate with readers. You can find my articles at www.MissionFrontier.info/blog, where they are available in both English and Spanish. If you haven't connected with me on Facebook yet, I would be delighted if you did so. I can’t remember all the lost contacts I had before my previous account was suspended last September. However, I'm grateful to have this new account now, and I'm excited to stay connected with you all. Please feel free to reach out to me anytime, and with all sincerity, let me know how I can pray for you. It would be my honor to intercede on your behalf before our gracious and mighty God. Thank you, Lawrence Bowman  I have some good news to share—I was blessed with the means to purchase an airplane ticket and will be returning to Ohio this Friday. I am in desperate need of more specific medical care, as I have been struggling with a series of health issues since September.
Since January 5th I live with debilitating nerve pain in my hips, lower back, glutes, legs, and feet that at times is tormenting. Despite trying various medications, exercises, and doctor treatments, my condition has not improved and I am mostly confined to my home. I am hopeful that a doctor will have an answer for me, and I am praying for a positive outcome. I do not know how long I will be staying in the U.S., but I humbly ask that you keep me in your thoughts and prayers during this time. I am also praying that God will provide me with opportunities to be a blessing to those around me. Thank you for your continued support and prayers.  Hello friends of the ministry,
Spending time in solitude can be a mixed blessing. On one hand, it can be incredibly lonely and lead to feelings of desperation. On the other hand, it can serve as a precious and valuable opportunity to sit before the Lord. I have always been a very active person, but the past many months have been a real challenge for me. From mid-September to November, I was frequently bedridden due to a series of illnesses that led from one infirmity to another. This lack of activity resulted in sciatic pain in November and December. Then on January 5th of this year, I awoke with relentless pain. My mobility was severely limited and I quickly worsened into a constant tormenting pain. Most of the month of January, I lay on the floors of my apartment for hours each day, experiencing intense pain like someone was repeatedly stabbing my lower lumbar and legs. Furthermore, my hips and leg muscles consistently felt like they were being torn apart too. I felt so distant from God and would beg God for relief, and it seemed as though my prayers were going unanswered. However, in one moment of immense pain, God reminded me of 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, and I realized that my prayers were not aligned with God's will. Instead of asking for my own relief, I started asking, "Lord, what do You have in mind?" This became a turning point for me; though my body and mind were in torment, yet I can testify that God has enveloped me with an abundant grace, for which I am truly grateful and undeserving. On January 19th I flew to Ohio for a quick trip to visit my doctor and do some medical exams, including an MRI, to hopefully find out what is ailing me. My mother did something awesome! She flew back home to El Salvador with me. For ten days we had a wonderful and very memorable time together. We did some resting on the beaches, as well as she got to meet and spend time with various dear friends. One evening at my apartment, a bunch of friends came over. My friend Kathy (who is the realtor that got saved last fall) brought two of her sons. The greatest miracle happened that night - one of her sons sat down on my balcony with a friend to listen to the gospel, and he made the decision to accept Christ! At times in life, the darkness surrounding us can obstruct our view to see that God is always near and working on something amazing. One night, as I lay in bed suffering from intense pain, the idea of writing a children's book suddenly came to me. I knew from experience that once the words are in my mind, I have to act right then and there or risk losing them forever. Despite the miserable discomfort, I mustered the strength to grab my laptop, and that evening an adorable children's book was birthed, entitled "Pants the Squirrel." The book is inspired by a real squirrel in my parents' neighborhood that earned its name due to its appearance, and I am blessed to have a talented illustrator working on the pictures. I am hoping to publish the book this summer, which can be purchased at www.WaymakerPublishing.com as well as other retailers. With 9+ books under my belt, I have always created books with the aim to make an impact on my readers' lives. You can also visit my ministry's website www.MissionFrontier.info, and there you can purchase some good books. Do you listen to podcasts? God recently gave me the opportunity to start hosting a podcast each weeknight, titled "Dinner With Lawrence." My aim is to maintain a level of authenticity, openness, and sincerity when discussing significant topics that impact our daily lives. I see the podcast as an opportunity to be a friend to my listeners, offering support and encouragement to those who tune in. Currently, "Dinner With Lawrence" is available on both Spotify and Google Podcasts platforms, and I hope that you will tune in and listen. Lastly, I have fantastic news! Once again, I have a Facebook account for those who want to stay better updated on my life and know how to best pray for me. Please feel free to look me up on Facebook. Thank you, Lawrence Bowman  Hey everyone! I am happy to announce that beginning today I am the host of a new podcast: "DINNER WITH LAWRENCE." It's free to listen on Spotify and Google Podcasts. You may listen to it each week on Spotify or click the picture.  Need a good read this 2023? Then pick up one or more books from the written collection of Lawrence Bowman. Lawrence has written and published on various topics, including a memoir based from a loved one's survival from domestic violence Left Alive, children's books, Christian literature, and as well as one important extraordinary book, Voices Against Sex Trafficking in Americawww, that he helped to co-author. Visit the BOOKSTORE to order your copies today for the New Year!  
 Merry Christmas!
My favorite word in all language is a word found only once in the Bible: Emmanuel. This magnificent word means “God with us.” Matthew 1:23 describes the account of God coming to Earth: “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” It is a marvel that God came to Earth, but even more profound is the truth that God is with us. We have great hope knowing that our God can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities. When you are acquainted with grief, despised, rejected, or afflicted and carried with sorrows, remember to be of good cheer with a merry heart, knowing that the chastisement of our peach was upon Christ. This is a reason to celebrate Jesus Christ the Lord on this wonderful day. This is God’s report. God asks two important questions in Isaiah 53:1: “Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?” Do you believe His report? God’s is actively working among you. I encourage you to testify to others about what God, through Christ Jesus, is doing in your life. One opportunity God gave me this month was a Christmas campaign called “Bags of Love.” I felt led to distribute bags of love to the numerous prostitutes standing in front of their scant lodges in the vile brothels of San Salvador. A dentist, a secretary from a local clinic, and an employee from a radio station, along with social media influencers, all got involved to help. The bags were filled with a John/Romans booklet, gospel track, toilet paper, soap, baby wipes, toothbrush and toothpaste. The best report is that most of the women allowed me to share some of my testimony and explain the magnificence that Jesus Christ loves them so much. As I got to know some of the women and listen to their stories, thoughts vividly came to my mind that these outcasts each have a name and are living souls that are acquainted with grief, despised, rejected, afflicted and carrying sorrows. It was merry to be able to proclaim with cheer the good news that the chastisement of their peach was upon Christ. One woman named Sandra began to cry as I told her how much she is loved. She told me that she has been working in the brothels for 18 years. Another woman told me that before I arrived, she had been lying on her bed thinking about leave the work, but she doesn’t know how to leave or what to do. It grieves my heart with sorrow that there are so many individuals ensnared by Satan, whether in prostitution, the gang life, or addiction to drugs and alcohol. There is such a great need for all of us to proclaim Christ Jesus and to get involved in the lives of individuals. Therefore, I am begging God to send forth labourers in His harvest, because the harvest truly is plenteous but the labourers are few. God is not praying for more pastors, evangelists, or missionaries; God is praying for labourers. On this Christmas day, I pray that you and I will be faithful labourers because the need is great and the King of Kings is soon to return. The Christmas chapter of the Bible, Isaiah 53, ends with this magnificent warning: “Therefore I [JEHOVAH] will divide him [CHRIST] a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." Merry Christmas my friends. I am grateful for our friendship! Lawrence Bowman
 WHO CAN YOU HELP TODAY? Look around you today and you just might me a "Victor." This is Victor and he is handicap. Everyday he sits in the middle of an intersection begging for money. I surprised him with a Christmas $10, a gospel track and a John/Romans book. Most Salvadorans are happy if they earn $10 in a day. Victor was so happy that he pulled me down to hug him.   This dear family was super surprised when I showed up on December 16th with a Christmas tree and decorations. The father has been dealing with a fatal sickness for a year, and I found out that they don't own a Christmas tree. So with your monies that they donate I was able to purchase this beautiful tree for them! Christmas is always so much better when there is a beautiful Christmas tree in the midst. THANK YOU!   The capitol city of San Salvador has a lot of drug addicts, alcoholics and prostitutes in various neighborhoods. This Christmas I will be hitting the streets to pass out "Bolsas de Amor" (Bags of Love) filled with soaps, toothbrushes, tooth pastes and toilet paper. I want these people on the streets to know that there is a God in Heaven and people in this city who love and care for them. Addictions can be lonely, and especially during Christmas. Please donate today to help me purchase a minimum of 50 Bags of Love filled with toiletries and gospel books. THANKS!   Hello friends of the ministry,
Sometimes you just do not know what God is doing with your prayers for me. I am so grateful that I have prayer warriors such as you! In my last prayer letter I did not mention that I was ill and growing worse. I had contracted Dengue from a mosquito bite, which led me to becoming very ill for six weeks. In particular, for two days in October, I sensed that my soul was ready to depart for Heaven. I requested the Lord that He might allow me to live if there should be more souls that I could be part of seeing saved and discipled. I had extreme high fevers, body aches, bronchitis, weakness and fatigue. I eventually went to an emergency room and tests revealed that my body was filled with infection. Much rest, a lot of medication, and the grace of God have given me my strength again. I feel almost like the Lawrence I know. It really is a joy to be back involved in the lives of people instead of lying in bed for weeks. One teenager from our church, Kevin, has a hunger for God. Each Thursday we meet together to study important topics from the Bible. Last week he asked me a question that gave me great joy. God is patiently doing a good work in his heart. Kevin informed me that he's trying to encourage his friend William to do weekly Bible studies. Kevin asked me if I could disciple his friend William. I told him that we could pray for William and that I would talk with him about it sometime. Would you also pray for both of them? The President of El Salvador for the past couple years has elevated his war against all the gangs. Since the end of spring this year, it seems the government has eradicated all gang members. Tens of thousands have been arrested and sentenced to decades of time in prison. Meanwhile, many other gang members successfully fled to Mexico and the USA. Since there are no gang members to serve and minister with the gospel of Christ, and the government will not allow us to do prison ministry, my pastor and I have been praying about many other troubles that afflict people here. Satan is still busy destroying lives through drunkenness, drugs, and sex trafficking. It is common to see drunks and drug addicts passed out lying on streets in many communities. There is one neighborhood, in particular, where women sell themselves for less than $5 in small brothels lined down the streets. The sights are appalling and my heart is burdened for these people. These souls are enslaved by Satan and need rescued. I request your fervent prayers! We need God to get involved and do something, which is a matter of God doing the impossible. On a couple of occasions I have driven to this neighborhood and walked the streets to talk with individuals about Christ. These people remind me of gang members. They are outcasts to society. The world has been cruel to them. We must go to these outcasts and declare that Jesus Christ offers life. Please join me in praying for these people. Next month is Christmas. For the first time in my life I will not be spending the holidays with my family in the USA . I have decided to stay among Salvadorans and be a blessing. My church and I have a beautiful plan for Christmas. On Christmas day, some of us are going to drive over to this wretched neighborhood and share the love of Christ with these forgotten people. We plan to prepare sandwiches along with small kits to distribute to everyone on the streets. The kits will include a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, and a John & Romans booklet along with a gospel tract. We desire these individuals to know that there is a God, a church and people who love them. We are praying that God will in His time do something marvelous in their lives. We need your help. Would you be part of this Christmas project and financially give to help us purchase all the needed items? You can give through Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, or online at www.MissionFrontier.info/give. You also can send a check to Mission Frontier, 686 Edendale Court, Columbus, Ohio 43207. Thank you so very much, Lawrence Bowman  Dear Friends of the Ministry,
God amazes me! Such as how He can lead us along to talk to the right people. On three separate occasions during this past month, God has allowed me to help three ladies come to meet Christ as Savior. One of the ladies, Kathy, is a real estate agent who greatly assisted me to locate a new apartment to rent. I asked if I could meet her at a restaurant and talk to her about something important from the Bible. Over lunch, she listened with tears as I showed her scriptures of how much Jesus loves her and [was] calling her to Him. There in the restaurant, she bowed her head and lifted such a beautiful prayer to God. I too almost cried. I found an apartment that sits on the side of our local volcano. (I can’t believe I am living next-door to a volcano!) My apartment has a balcony that overlooks the city. Each morning, I get to sit on my balcony and spend time with God in prayer and reading the Bible. It’s my favorite time of the day with God. I just finished reading the fascinating book of Job. God amazes me! God has given us one holy book filled with stories of His choicest servants, and yet God unabashedly doesn’t hide their irresponsible failures and insubordinate offenses. Job was God’s servant who feared God and eschewed evil. Nonetheless, Job was arrogant: he challenged to judge God; he disannulled God’s judgment, and he condemned God (Job 40:8). Yet Job repented and God greatly blessed him again. If that doesn’t motivate someone to serve God, I don’t know what will. I love serving along with my pastor and church here in El Salvador . Our small church stays active with many activities to see people saved and grow in God’s Word. Pastor Rosales and I recently were talking about how great it would be to host some friends to come serve alongside us in a short mission trip for 7 to 10 days. Would you be interested in getting your feet wet in mission work in a needy third-world nation? I promise that you will leave El Salvador as a different person. Lamentations 3:51 reminds us that, “Mine eye affecteth mine heart.” Please contact me if you might be interested. God will amaze you! Since September 4th my Facebook account has been disabled and Facebook won’t let me create a new account. I filed a report with the FBI regarding the hacking that occurred last month; now it out of my hands. I truly appreciate God’s co-laborers who pray and financial give to the work here in El Salvador. THANK YOU. You, too, are always welcome to write me. I love receiving emails; it is an honor for me when someone writes, requesting if I join in prayer for various concerns. Some of you know that my dear friend, Missionary Bill Pierce went Home to be with Jesus. I dearly enjoyed talking about God and praying with Bill often. He certainly was a man who communed with God, and you could hear it in his voice when he prayed with God. Bill immensely loved and knew God’s Word. Bill’s heart had a heartbeat for God and souls, and he labored greatly for souls. Bill personally helped hundreds of gang members and criminals find Jesus Christ. He loved outcasts so much that each week for over 30 years he wrote sermons and distributed thousands of them. Bill understood that faith comes by hearing of the Word of God, and the heart of man only can be transformed by the Word. Bill longed for people to know what God says about a topic more than his own opinion; therefore, his sermons were filled with more scripture than his commentary. Bill was an author of two books—one book regarding the rapture of the church—and the other book entitled So Great Salvation. So Great Salvation can still be purchased on Amazon and other book stores. Bill wrote So Great Salvation in simple language with much scripture in order to plainly explain the many precious treasures that we believers have in Christ. It truly is a book that everyone must have in their library. I miss Bill, and I look forward to fellowshipping with him again soon in Heaven, along with many of you too.  Many of you follow me on Facebook to keep aware of what God allows me to do here in El Salvador. I have relied on Facebook interaction for many years to keep many of you update to day almost daily with posts.
Last night it seems my Facebook account was hacked while I was attending a wake. Here in El Salvador they do wakes at night time. My account has been suspended on Facebook because the hacker posted a vile picture of a female child. In an email that FB sent me, they said that my account was logged in from: Windows Operating System Browser Chrome IP address: 174.251.65.109 Carrier: Verizon. I do not own a Verizon phone or computer. My phone is a Consumer Cellular phone, and my computer is a DELL. I do not know anything about IP addresses, but I would assume that an IP address can show that it was not me. Some friends in the United States have told me that this IP address detects a location in Tennessee. In addition, my Google Maps shows that I have been in El Salvador and not in the United States. Could you please pray about this horrible matter? And if you know of anything about IP addresses or if you know a way to help me, could you let me know? I would appreciate it. I have filed a detailed report with the FBI at their website www.IC3.gov. Thank you. Lawrence  Hola! Much of the world views the nation of El Salvador as insignificant; but God views these six million people as significant, indeed. Last year on August 10th I believed God and boarded an airplane bound for this tiny nation. From the day I stepped foot onto this needy land, God has enveloped me with His peace and filled my heart with a love determined to serve these beautiful people. I cannot believe one year has flown by so fast. The evidence of God’s grace has been magnificent. So many times over these twelve months God has given me great opportunities to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with MS13 gang members. Their behaviors personify malignant fighters, but their eyes yearn for love and peace. They wander like sheep without a shepherd, but when the Shepherd’s Bible is declared they pause to listen. Their minds are suspicious of all, but their hearts possess interest to hear and believe God. Evil and injustice are the mainstream but grace does much more abound. If there is one matter that I have learned more than any other this year it is a better understanding of injustice and grace. My own eyes have seen grievous injustices inflicted upon people—anguish committed by gangs, as well as distresses caused by government authorities. My heart has lifted up many prayers to God for those suffering. Many people fear the gangs as well as their own government. Many people know of a loved one who has been murdered. Many others can testify how they have been unreasonably robbed of fundamental human rights. It is by God’s grace that I happily continue to serve the Salvadoran people. Whether my personal troubles are brought on because of myself or because of the wrong decisions of others, I am reminded of the words of King David in 1 Chronicles 21:13: “…let me fall now into the hand of the LORD; for very great are his mercies: but let me not fall into the hand of man.” Whenever we are troubled on every side, I have learned that we should humble ourselves before God and beg for grace and mercy. Man very seldom knows how to extend abundant grace and mercy but God delights to demonstrate His loving-kindnesses through mercy and grace. I recently got back to El Salvador from a trip to the United States. The most important part of my trip was for me to sit down face-to-face and talk with some of you. Although I did not get to meet up with everyone as I hoped, perhaps the future will grant us personal time together one day. As mentioned in my previous two letters back in June and May, I made a mess of things which caused dilemmas in my life. I made some corrections (and we are still praying that soon I may get to sincerely apologize to Mrs. C.) God sustained me. Many friends reached out to me. THANK YOU. And I have been able to move forward. I am grateful so much for the care, concern, prayers and honest words of friends God has given me. Proverbs 27:6: “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” I also traveled to Mexico for a scheduled trip. God opened the opportunity for me and a friend to talk with gang members associated with the cartels. At first we were met with dark opposition but God gave us great grace. We declared the gospel of Christ’s light in a very dark locality. We pled with various individuals to give their lives to Christ and to watch God miraculously free them from Satan’s strongholds. Oh that more Christians would bow the knee and pray for them! Please pray for them as well as the movement of gang members in Colombia, Central America, and Mexico. These are individuals who have an eternal soul who need Christ. In another city my friend and I got very lost using the city bus transportation. We asked a college student sitting next to us for directions. He went out of his way to help us. He didn’t just give us directions; he got off the bus and walked us over a couple blocks to another bus stop. Then he boarded the next bus with us, sat and talked with us until we arrived at our destination. Thank God for kind people! You just don’t meet too many people, especially young people who will go out of their way to help like that these days. The greatest news is that in our conversations with him, we got to talk about eternal matters. When we all got off the last bus stop, we thanked him for his help. Then my friend point blank asked him, “We’ve explained the gospel. Do you want to receive Jesus right now?” I was so happy to hear the young man respond, “Yes.” Right there on the street he called on Christ to save him! We were grateful that we ended up getting lost. Our getting lost importuned us the divine opportunity to help a spiritual lost man find his way to Christ! PROVIDENCE! Oh how God prearranges everything in life. Romans 8:28: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” I cannot express how grateful I am to you for your prayers. THANK YOU. I hope you always remain a partner who intercedes in prayers on my behalf before our God’s great throne. Lastly, any future financial support that God would invite you to help in the work can be given through Zelle, Venmo, or Paypal at www.MissionFrontier.info. Thank you! Sincerely, Lawrence Bowman  For personal reasons, I am requesting that you contact me if you would like a copy of my Spring 2022 Prayer Letter. Please click on Contact and send me your name, email and phone number. And I will be in contact with you. Thank you for your patience and understanding! 
Hello friends of the ministry!
During the past six months it has been a joy for me to live with Pastor Rosales and his family here in El Salvador. Our friendship has enriched my life, and the Rosales family has taught me much. I am happy to report that on the 1st of February, I moved into my own apartment! As I did when I lived in the United States, I desire to use my home with an “Open Door” policy so that I may be a better servant to the people around me in various ways. I can't wait to host prayer meetings, dinners, and game nights. We have such a kind God, and over the years I have learned that He always provides for our needs. One way He provides is through your giving! For example, back in late November, I began to ask God to provide the ministry with a much-needed truck. Within a few weeks, a Salvadoran pastor heard that I was looking for a truck. We talked about it, and he agreed to sell me his Ford pickup truck for only $4,000! Then within a month, God provided all the necessary funds through the generous giving of supporters. And I must express how thankful I am to so many of you who give of your resources to co-labor with me here in El Salvador. THANK YOU! The truck is used often to pick up youth for church services, Saturday Youth Clubs, and many more activities! THANK YOU. Each week I have the privilege of meeting new youth on the streets in neighborhoods where I visit to share the gospel. I love going out and talking to people about our wonderful Lord Jesus Christ. It breaks my heart that so many people are deceived by Satan in various degrees of darkness. One manifestation of Satan is through the gangs. The devil has so many thousands of youngsters blinded by deep gangs. Yet God gives me great grace and favor to get to know gang members. Just last week I met another gang leader. “D” told me that he had just gotten out of prison. “D” allowed me to spend 15 minutes sharing the promises of Christ with him. He listened carefully, and he agreed that he needs Christ and that his sins do not satisfy him. But sadly he thinks, “Today I can’t, but tomorrow I want to give my life to God.” I cringe every time I hear those words because I understand that for most people “tomorrow” shall never come. PLEASE fervently pray that these youngsters will understand that TODAY IS THE DAY OF SALVATION and that they will have thirsty hearts to join in Bible studies and activities so that they can grow in their understanding of God’s Word. I want to thank you so much for faithfully praying for me! One reason I covet your prayers is so that God would shield me by placing a hedge of protection around me always. Although I feel peace and security, I continually seek to be ever more sensitive to God’s Spirit. There have been a couple of times when the Spirit altered my plans, which turned out to be His providence. I am always amazed that God gives me favor among gang members. They most generally are respectful and kind toward me. They permit me to talk about spiritual matters with them as we get to know one another. Back in November, God allowed an interesting incident to occur that turned out for His glory. While I was visiting friends in another city, I learned about a gang in a section of that town. A faithful brother from a friend’s church took me on his motorcycle to go and search for the young guys involved in that gang. When we found them and parked the bike, all of a sudden about 15 gang members surrounded us. They were very agitated and began to strictly question us. I felt no fear; instead, God filled me with compassion and love for them. I quietly prayed as I held my red Bible, and I tried to speak to the leader. I kept repeating to him, “Jesus loves you very much. I love you. And I just want to share Jesus' words with you.” And then God got involved! I don’t have words to describe the divine intervention, but instantly the hostile environment became an indescribable peace. The gang members' mannerisms, speech, and eyes were completely transformed. The gang leader then said that we could talk, and he would like to hear what the Bible says. I spent an hour with them getting to know them and sharing various Bible verses of Christ’s promises with them. Amazingly, the leader, "M" asked me to come back another day to do another Bible study. And he was serious. Two days later he texted me, asking when I would return. I have gone back one time to teach the Bible. I often stay in touch with "M" via text, and I am planning to travel back to his city this month to do a third Bible study. Please pray for them! There is one last matter I ask you to pray about with me. The Bible says that Jesus went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil (Acts 10:38). And in 1 John 3:18 we are instructed: “…let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” I cannot heal people, but I do preach the truth, and I desire to do more good with these youngsters so that God can heal their hearts. One grave problem many youngsters face is feeling no purpose in life because there is little work to be found. Therefore, I and several dedicated believers here are preparing to open a panadería (bakery) ministry. We need $4,000 in capital to start this important ministry. It will allow us to give youngsters an opportunity to work (a sense of purpose) so then their minds can be at ease and we can train them in spiritual and practical truths. I desire not just to “fish for a man and feed him for a day." I desire to "train a man to fish so to feed him for a lifetime.” If you have any questions, please contact me anytime. In addition, if you ever need someone to pray for you about something, please email me and I will be happy to spend time in prayer for you. THANK YOU. Lawrence Bowman p.s. For months Adan has been selling to me my vegetables at a local market. I gave him a gospel track 2 weeks ago. Last week he told me that he read it. So I got his phone number because I was curious if he might have learned from the Bible verses. Tonight he went to church with me and afterwards we went out for pizza and to study the Bible. For 90 minutes we examined the scriptures about what does salvation mean. Adan decided that he should receive the Lord Jesus into His heart by confessing His sins to God. It was beautiful to pray right inside the restaurant! He feels as if a load has been lifted off of him. And he is correct. The load of sin has been lifted at Calvary. Hallelujah! Dear Praying Friends, Psalm 126:3 says: "The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad." I AM GLAD! In these three months of living here in El Salvador, I have seen the mighty hand of God graciously do great things for us down here; whereof we are glad! Several times each week I visit neighborhoods where Satan has strongholds in gang activity. My heart is so burdened for these young men and boys. They must hear the gospel that Jesus Christ loves and cares for them! They must be confronted so that they can have life and not death! People literally are killed down here everyday! Though I've only met about 75 gang members out of the estimated 60,000 who live in El Salvador, most of these young men have kindly given me some of their time to share the gospel with them from my red Bible. My time with them is crucial. I try to be a true friend, someone they can trust. My friendship with them is important to me because I want to encourage and serve them in their many needs so that one day they can learn to humbly walk with God. They listen, but when confronted to make a decision to follow Christ right now, they respond, "It's beautiful what you teach from the Bible, but tomorrow." Hell must be full of people who intended to trust Christ tomorrow. They believed the gospel, but never trusted Christ. They were so close to Heaven's gates, but they believed Satan's lie of "tomorrow," not knowing that the death angel was nearby to throw them into hell's abyss. Therefore, we must persistently warn people! I praise the LORD that He has made it possible for our church to undertake some new ministries. One ministry that Pastor Rosales and I initiated is a Monday Soccer Ministry. I must admit that soccer two-and-a-half months ago intimidated me very much. But over these past months I have been learning to play soccer. Now I am loving the game! I enjoy the aggressiveness of playing with friends. It makes me feel like I am a child again. On a serious note, each week I get to teach a brief gospel Bible message to the guys who come to play. I've been able to make friendships with some of the guys, which I hope may continue to be enriched with them coming to walk with Jesus! A month ago, we were able to begin a weekly Youth Club on Saturday evenings. Youth can get off the streets and play games, enjoy good food, and learn practical, important Bible lessons for their lives. I am really enjoying this, and I am so happy that we have this important ministry. I am only surprised that more teenage boys are attending than young ladies. May God raise these youths up to be servants of Jehovah God! We also have added a Sunday School hour to our Sunday-morning services. Pastor has given me the responsibility to lead and teach the teens class. Which I am enjoying very much. God has allowed me each week to take time and meet one-on-one with youngsters to mentor them. We study Bible doctrine, and we also talk about matters of life that they face down here in El Salvador. Sometimes we have a Bible study in the living room, and other times we go to an ice cream shop. It's pretty cool to see a teenager eating ice cream with his Bible open in a public setting. We have a great time talking about God's Word. I just wonder what God wants to do through their lives over the next decades. I want to end this letter by sincerely thanking you for taking time to pray for me. I do have many obstacles (opportunities for God to show Himself) in my life. I still have not been able to locate an available home for me to rent. I am so thankful that Pastor Rosales and his family and I get along great, and I am still living with them. A Catholic elder man has offered to sell his land to me near our church. It is beautiful land that would be perfect for my ministry to construct a Mission Ranch. Although this is something I was hoping to do a year from now. I have not given him an answer because we are praying and seeking the Lord's heart, as well as I wonder how God would supply the money for what seems to be a great opportunity. We shall see how God leads. THANK YOU to all of you who pray for me and who faithfully give to my ministry. You can always go on Facebook to see pictures that I regularly post, or you also can visit my website, www.MissionFrontier.info. Please contact me anytime if you ever need someone to pray for you about something specific. I believe it is an honor for me to pray for each individual and the churches who lift me up through their prayers and financial support! THANK YOU! Lawrence Bowman
Dear Praying Friends, Today makes six weeks that I have been living here in the beautiful nation of El Salvador. Almost immediately, God began to give me great ministry opportunities to serve people in many ways. I am grateful for Pastor Ernesto Rosales and some of the members of the church I serve with. Their hearts for the lost to be saved and a desire to see young people discipled is something that greatly encourages and challenges me. Five weeks ago I took a city bus to visit a new friend who is part of the church. During my time with him, I got my hair cut. We talked about the ministry which God has put into my heart. The woman cutting my hair was excited to hear my plans to help her people. Because she has a salon, she knows a lot of people. Afterwards she took me down the street to meet one of the leaders of the street gang. And gloriously, these past five weeks I have taken a bus to go visit these young men who are ensnared by Satan. Each time I go visit them, God gives me great times with them. I get to explain the gospel over and over; I get to answer their questions, pass out gospel tracts and give them Bibles. I am convinced that God is doing a patient work in their hearts. Over the past two weeks, God has allowed me to begin doing one-on-one Bible studies with several teenagers. Please pray that their hearts will continue to be tender to God and that they should learn to walk near our wonderful LORD and cherish His Bible. One teen in particular has had a troubled life as well as involvement with gangs. My heart cries for him. I hope that he will give me the opportunity to be a friend and demonstrate some stability in his life. One reason youth get into gangs down here is because of the absence of a father and the lack of structure. The Lord is faithful and abundant in grace to daily give me joy, strength and a focus on Him in the work. Though at the present, I lack many things that we Americans take for granted, I am refreshed to trust God and be content with Him. My greatest work that I personally need, which I find to be the most important, is to spend extra amounts of time alone with God in prayer. The need here is overwhelming spiritually and physically more than I can explain. My heart grieves often because almost everyone I meet allows me to share the gospel with them, but they have a grave problem: their hearts are indifferent. There is such an overwhelming amount of fake Christianity that many people’s hearts have become dull of hearing the precious name of Jesus Christ. They do not consider that they must make a decision with Heaven’s glorious name JESUS CHRIST. I still need a home. We have diligently been searching for a house that I could rent. I even have had a realtor look for a house, and to no avail there are no houses or apartments for rent in this area. Meanwhile, I continue to reside at Pastor Rosales’ home in an extra bedroom he has. There are plenty of properties for sale, but nothing to rent. Therefore, we are seeking the LORD to understand if perhaps I should somehow try to buy some land in order to build upon. Of course, this would be much sooner than I had been considering. So please keep these matters in prayer. THANK YOU for your financial support and prayers!!! And thanks for writing me. Lawrence Bowman P.S. I have had great difficult getting my computer access to internet. I was able to email my Quarterly Prayer Letter four weeks ago. If you never received it, please email me or contact me on Facebook, and I will send it to you again. Thank you for patience!
Dear praying friends,
Hello from the beautiful country of El Salvador! I have finally arrived! A glorious new chapter of my life is just beginning, and I am truly looking forward to seeing how God will glorify His Son, Jesus Christ, during the next weeks and months, as well as the years ahead (that is to say, if Christ doesn't rapture us soon). Pastor Rosales picked me up at the airport. For a brief time I will be living with him and his family until I can find a suitable home to rent. He is patiently assisting me with the heap of necessary paperwork as we jump through many hoops required by Immigration. I have been told by several people that if one little jot of my paperwork is incorrect, I will have to restart the application process in the coming months. It is my prayer that I can obtain my Resident Visa as soon as possible. Without it, I will be classified by the government solely as a "Tourist," and that would limit my effectiveness in ministry here. In addition, I would be required to leave and re-enter the country every 90 or 180 days. So please keep this in prayer! Thank you! Before moving to El Salvador, my schedule for the past three months was very active. I traveled here and there, visiting churches in California, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, and Tennessee. Meanwhile, I had to sell my home, as well as sell or give away most of my earthly possessions. God surprised me with a big relief just one hour before my realtor was to put my home up for sale on the market. A buyer offered me exactly what many of us had been praying for! Hallelujah! And so the house was sold without ever being listed by the realtor. While visiting churches in the U.S., I was blessed to go out and do some soulwinning in various towns. In California, one church I visited hasn't let the government mandates stop their evangelization efforts. Instead of going door-to-door to share the gospel with folks at their doorsteps, we went out into parking lots of big-box stores. I was surprised that not one person refused a gospel tract from me. And several people allowed me to share the gospel with them. One man in particular told me that he had been thinking about finding a church because of "everything that is going on in the world." He had some good questions, and it certainly was a joy to show him the answers from God's Holy Bible. Back in June, I was able to visit and speak before a college ministry from my alma mater. One young man expressed his desire to learn how to approach people on the streets and share the gospel with anyone. I wish every Christian had the same desire to learn to do what God commands and demonstrates in the Scriptures. So one afternoon, this young man and I hit the streets in his town with the sole purpose of walking up to strangers and talking to them about eternal matters such as hell, sin, judgment, and Jesus. Near the end of our time of witnessing as the young man and I began walking back to his car, we met a young, oppressed man named Travis. We spent a good amount of time talking to Travis, showing him many infallible proofs from God's holy Word. Travis turned and looked at me and asked, "How can I get saved?" As Paul and Silas did in Acts 16:31-32, we showed Travis the word of the Lord, and said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved." And right there on a street bench, Travis called out to Christ to save him. Hallelujah! I always need to express a heartfelt thank you to so many of you for the kindness you have shown toward me this past year. It has been a sincere joy to my spirit to get to know many of you brothers and sisters in Christ. I have enjoyed our conversations, suppers, times of pray walks together, playing games, soulwinning together, and many other activities. My heart is filled with many wonderful memories. In addition, recently, some of you have contacted me through Facebook and email to let me know that you are praying for me. THANK YOU. Your words are refreshing to my spirit. Each time I hear from friends, it means so much to me to know that someone is praying for me. THANK YOU! Lastly, please keep in mind that my home/sending church in Ohio does not have a full-time secretary. I ask that you remember to send all financial support checks to All Points Baptist Mission, who is assisting me from the American side. Their mailing address is: All Points Baptist Mission, P.O. Box 977, New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663. And please remember to write on the memo line of the check: "Lawrence Bowman." Thank you! Lawrence Bowman PLEASE ENJOY this five minute presentation video! I want to thank Brett Weston for taking the time to create this short presentation video about my upcoming ministry in El Salvador. I am not a good photographer, but he skillfully was able to take my amateur pictures from my Fall 2020 Survey Trip to create this delightful video. I hope you enjoy and are inspired! |
Hey there, friend!
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