This may seem like a boring picture, taken 10 years ago today, but it really should have been a video.
10 years ago the church in the community of Jesús María didn’t have a building – they were renting the biggest place available in the neighbourhood, and were still packing it out every Sunday.
There was no place for the kids to be taught, so we would pack them into our blue van and ship them somewhere else, and then bring them back.
The van would arrive, and every door would open – even the back hatch (it’s just starting to open in the picture) – and kids would pour out!
Thank the Lord, the church now has its own building, and plenty of room for kids and teens and adults and community events and all kinds of evangelism and discipleship!
Ten years ago today we were doing a Christmas program at the community centre in the community of Jesús MarÃa. It included a pastorela (a Christmas play) (see the actors on the right), some sing-a-long music, presentations to students, and a devotional from Rod. And, of course, some hot ponche for all at the end!
We were actually brand new in Jesús MarÃa at the time. There was no church in the community (that would start in March). So the participants were made up of people from our church planting team, people from the church in Santa Bárbara, and people that we had met through the community centre.
We invited family and friends of our students to attend, and had a great time.
Baking classes and English classes were big, and so the music was intentionally bilingual. Shari and I did some special music, singing “Good News” by our friend Mark Sorell, with one chorus translated into Spanish (one line quoted at the beginning of this post, of course!). So – here we are – ten years ago tonight!
Shari has been warming up – quite literally – for the baking classes that will be happening later this month. A team from Word of Life Chapel will be arriving on the 22nd of June, and this is one of the ministries that they will be involved in in Jesús MarÃa, at the community centre.
Just a little baking? Well, it’s not simple. The team will be teaching some typical Pennsylvanian recipes – which, of course, need to be translated into Spanish. And tested at a high altitude. And perhaps some ingredients need to be replaced with something available in Mexico. And will the timing be right for the class?
So Shari and Mayra have been preparing – testing and translating recipes. Rod recently posted this on Facebook, along with the above promo poster:
On the very first day of promoting this event we had 40 non-churched women respond to a Facebook post! Add another 20 women from the church, and you have a good problem…too many interested women! Please pray for these coming months of ministry.
Yes, pray! This is a very big undertaking. But baking classes have also been and can be a fruitful ministry in the community. And in less than two weeks, ovens will be hot!
Two major activities in two days in two neighbourhoods! And both a great success.
First was the soccer/fútbol tournament in Las Palmas. 22 teams, and for much of the day four games going on at the same time. Half-way through the day there was a break, and someone shared about how God saved him. And then the finals, and the awards ceremony.
Yesterday was the fourth annual Easter egg hunt in Jesús MarÃa. First, decorating cookies and dying eggs. Then a break and a presentation about Jesus’ death and resurrection. And finally, what everyone was waiting for – a mad dash to find the plastic eggs, each one with a little surprise inside!
According to Tina, there were 600 cookies decorated, about 150-200 hard boiled eggs, and 700 stuffed plastic Easter eggs!
Thanks to all the amazing people who organized and helped with and prayed for these events. Lots of new friendships were made!
I said a few words at the two closing programs for our community centres. Here’s what I said (except I’ve written it in English instead of Spanish for your convenience)…
Who knows what the motto of our cultural centre is?
Give more Life to Your Life!
No matter what your age, gender, religion, or previous experience, you can experience more life here! More English, to communicate with other people in the world. More music to enjoy. More food — to eat! More crafts to create. More friends. More LIFE!
But, where did life come from?
Eighty eight years ago, some scientists started to talk about the “Big Bang Theory”. The idea was that the universe started with a big explosion.
But back then, most scientists (well, those that didn’t believe in God), said,“Big Bang?! No way! If the universe had a beginning, then . . . it must have had a Creator to start it going! And we don’t believe that.”
And now some scientists are trying to create new scientific models to say that the universe didn’t have a beginning after all.
But unless the universe appeared out of nothing all by itself, there are only two possibilities. It has always existed, or God has always existed. The source of everything is . . . well, rocks . . . or the source of everything is God, and he created it all.*
Look around you! (No, seriously – LOOK around you!) There’s life, there’s movement, there’s energy! Someone started the spinning top** of the cosmos spinning.
But at the same time, life seems to be fading as well. The top stops spinning. There is evil. Violence. Cancer. Flowers wilt. The car runs out of gas.
So next week is Holy Week – who has holidays? I imagine you’ll be more alive during your holidays, right?***
During Holy Week we remember a man who claimed He was God. But this man died. Life had gone. But then . . . His eyes opened . . . He moved his fingers . . . He could jump and shout. LIFE. Life had returned!
During Holy Week we remember Jesus. He said,”Life is more than food. You can’t even add to your own life. But there is such a thing as never-ending life, life that goes on, a life with forgiveness. In fact,” said Jesus, “I AM the LIFE, the only way to God.”
And so enjoy Holy Week. Enjoy your holidays (if you have any!). And I hope we’ll see you back here at the cultural centre in the future, to give more life to your life!
But think BIG! Think in purpose, freedom, life that doesn’t end. This life is only found in Jesus Christ. And if you’re not sure that you have it, I have good news to share with you, if you would like to talk.
* This is imprecise, but I think it’s accurate, if you use “rocks” as an illustration of the physical universe. No matter what you say about the beginning of the universe (here’s Stephen Hawking’s attempt to explain away a “need” for God), you can’t get around the fact that it is either the fundamental reality, or something outside of it is – by definition, God. ** trompo – a popular toy in Mexico, where a spinning top is flung out from the hand, and a string is pulled to start it spinning. *** Funny, I got two different answers. In one community, a resounding YES! In the other community the kids preferred school!
Two major activities in two days in two neighbourhoods! And both a great success.
Who knows what the motto of our cultural centre is?