“Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.” (Romans 15:7)

Officially, our scheduled activities and sweet fellowship for our Bible School in Panama commenced on April 14th. The brothers and sisters of both the Panama City and Colón ecclesias eagerly awaited the arrival of those of like precious faith. We were blessed to welcome visitors from Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico, Honduras, and the United States, all eager to participate in a week focused on creating and strengthening our bonds of love in Christ. We are so thankful to the grace of God that everyone arrived safely, whether they joined us on the first day or during the week.

Gathering and Getting Acquainted
To encourage conversation and bring our diverse group together, the first few days were spent on local excursions. Trips to the iconic Panama Canal, a stroll along the vibrant Cinta Costera, an exploration of the historic beauty of Casco Antiguo, and a visit to the scenic Causeway served as wonderful icebreakers. These activities prepared us for the highly anticipated two-hour trip to the main Bible School venue in Santa Clara on April 17th.

Feasting on the Word
Once settled at the venue, our focus turned to diligent study of the Word. We were thrilled to have our brother, Juan Diego from Costa Rica, lead us in four insightful studies centered on the timely theme: “The Events Leading up to the Return of Jesus Christ.”

It was evident to everyone in attendance that the LORD had richly blessed our brother during his preparations and delivery. As Paul reminds us in Philippians 2:13, “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” Indeed, it was the LORD’s good pleasure to remind us (via our speaking brother) of the critical need to keep watch and remain vigilant during the dangerous times we are living in—both individually and as an ecclesia preparing for the coming of our Lord and the establishment of the Kingdom. We extend our heartfelt thanks to our dear brother Juan Diego for his significant labour of love.

In addition to the main lectures, the body was spiritually enriched by our dedicated class leaders. Brother Jose Menivar and Sister Damaris Abigail conducted interactive discussions for the men’s and women’s classes, respectively. Fruitful and honest discussion was had in both classes, which resulted in the spiritual growth of the body for the “edifying of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:16).

Fellowship and Memories
Beyond the studies, the memories created through our fellowship were innumerable and priceless. From the meals we shared, the sports played on the field, swimming in the refreshing waters, to the joy of singing hymns around the evening bonfire—the sense of family and brotherhood in Christ was wonderfully strong.

However, I think most will agree that the true pinnacle of the event was having our beloved pioneer sister Joan Hinds in attendance. Her presence brought a deep sense of history, inspiration, and continuity to the work in Panama, stirring a plethora of feelings in all who greeted her. She continues to be a powerful reminder of endurance in the faith.  It was a powerful reminder of the lasting legacy of the Christadelphian Bible Mission.

A Note of Gratitude and Prayer
On behalf of the Panama ecclesias, I would like to express our deepest gratitude to the Bible Mission for their generous support, which was instrumental in making this event happen and strengthening the faith of our region.

Unfortunately, we were scheduled to be the last group to use the venue before its impending closure. As we look forward to the next opportunity to gather our household of faith, we pray that our Heavenly Father will help us to find another suitable location where our Latin American brothers and sisters can once again meet for study, encouragement, and the vital strengthening of our spiritual bonds.