Calling Forth Missionaries

On Mother’s Day Sunday, I was invited to preach at Centro Christiano de Filadelphia, a church in the Colon province.  I was given a translator for this event.

I’ve seen the church on several occasions driving back and forth (when we rent a car).  For a while, it didn’t have any walls – this year, it has finally enclosed the walls.

The sound system wasn’t working right, and the roar from torrential downpour slamming the steel roof presented some acoustical challenges.  Outhouses in the back served as the facilites.  The humidity level was 100, with very little breeze.  Though the church had some fans hanging on the walls to create a breeze, it wasn’t enough to prevent me from having to use a handkerchief several times.

No complaints, just describing some of the setting.

The people of this congregation were very friendly.  Ushers wore uniforms that set them apart from the crowd, creating a wonderful first impression.  They guided us to our seat, and introduced me to the pastor and her husband.

The song set was loud, and the words were not projected at this time.  As part of the church’s growth, I can see the setup where they will eventually have a data projector.  The screen was a tarp strung with shoelaces to a frame made out of electrical conduit.  Resourceful.

I was asked to preach on a missions calling.  I was joined by a team from IPET, a group of the students that I’ve been teaching in Colon.  They brought a drama, testimony and song as well.

Psalm 67:1-2 served as the foundational text:

“May God be gracious to us and bless us, and make his face shine upon us, that Your ways maybe known on earth, Your salvation among all the nations.”

God’s blessing is for a purpose == the proclamation of His name.

So often, as individual Christians, and as churches, we are so focused on seeking the Lord’s blessing, but we disconnect it from the purpose of blessing.

This was the leading for that Sunday.  About 150-200 people in attendance.

The call you see pictured are for those who wanted to receive the filling of the Holy Spirit to accomplish the work of being witnesses.  We had already spent some time in repentance for selfishly holding on to our blessings, and committing to the purpose of our blessings, the proclamation of God’s name.

In that moment, we also prayed for those who are discerning

• a call to global missions internationally, or
• a calling to be intercessors for missions.

Both are important work, and several people raised their hand to indicate a need for prayer in each category.

This work this Sunday was only a seed.  IPET will likely stay in touch with those sensing a call to missions to help nurture that calling and provide some of the training to fulfill it.

A word of Thanks

Thanks to all of you who are praying for us here and choosing to support or work in Latin America.  Moments like these are the fruit of your partnership with us here.