Two Answers to Prayer (or, what was in the shoebox) (podcast)
A new podcast about some answers to prayer this past Saturday.
Ministry glimpses
Evangelism in Iztapalapa
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Over the last few months, many of the churches in the area have had special evangelism days. People from other churches join them so that they can do a special outreach. You may remember the day of evangelism that we had here in Santa Barbara in March.
Today the outreach was in Iztapalapa, a part of Mexico City about 25 minutes from us. The host church was Iglesia BÃblica Peña de Horeb (Rock of Horeb Bible Church).
I have to say, Iztapalapa is a happening place – and the church made it even more happening! There were activities for the kids, music, crafts – lots going on.
I enjoyed talking to a few people, kids, youth and adults, including two people named Carlos. I seem to talk to a lot of people named Carlos.
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I would appreciate it if you pray especially for one Carlos that I met. We had a good talk about the Gospel. It seems that the Lord has really been working in his heart, shaking him up through some time he spent in jail.
Please pray that he will continue to think about and read God’s Word, and that God will clear things up in his mind. He has a wife and three children.
Someone had carved this elaborate image of “Saint Death” into a living tree in the park. It looks like someone left an apple as an offering. If we “appease” the spirit of death, can we escape the power of death? Of course not.
So please pray for the ministry of the believers in Iztapalapa. Thanks to their efforts, there are many people who now know the One who really conquered death – completely.
Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.
(Hebrews 2:14-15)
Drama/Theatre/Cinema 101
 The waiter – just taking an order? Or is the lady about to be robbed? |
Tonight was the first class of drama/theatre/cinema at the community centre. As I suspected, the class was basically made up of people waiting for the other class to finish – the popular kids’ crafts class. 😉
So, I had three parents and our friend Fabian, and a little girl of three who was there with Mom. Oh, and a dog named Lili. Who, actually, participated as well and was quite hilarious.
But actually, it ended up being a pretty good group, an we had a good time. We went over some of the “house rules” – just some of the basics to get everyone started with acting. Then we did some exercises and games and had a lot of fun.
Everyone did a great job for the first week – I was pretty impressed, actually. So we’ll see what happens in week 2!
Community Centre – Fall Season Announced!
We just received the official schedule for the fall at Centro Cultural Tiempo de Vivir – the community centre in Jesús MarÃa! The excitement begins next week (right after Independence Day). Here it is –
In case you don’t read Spanish yet, here’s an overview. Every weekday – exercise class! On Wednesday and Thursday, the coffee shop is going to be open again.
On Wednesdays we have a kids’ workshop – I think it’s baking and crafts, depending on the week. And – a new addition – drama class! I wonder who’s teaching that? Oh yeah – I am. 🙁 🙂
On Thursdays – baking class (Shari is teaching some of those), English class, country dancing, and guitar class.
On Fridays there’s a movie, apparently. And on Saturday morning, soccer – and my keyboard class.
So there you have it! We basically have 12 weeks of classes, bringing us right up against the Christmas season. Lord willing we’ll have a special closing program in December.
Thanks for your prayers! Let’s do it!
Wheelchair Presentation (video)
I joined Rod yesterday as he went to present some more free wheelchairs to four people in need. These people were contacts that Rod made through a local doctor. I met the doctor in Jesús MarÃa, but he lives in another area not far from our neighbourhood.
The people you’ll see in the video below had a need for various reasons – cerebral palsy, chemotherapy … but whatever the need, all these people and their families also need the Lord. See the latest wheelchair recipients here.
If you’re a supporter of this ministry, this is one of many things that we would like to say thank you for.
If you’ve seen the old wheelchairs, these are a new type – the next generation.
When The Church Is Being Built…
As upset neighbours looked on, the notices were posted around the church’s construction site. Work suspended.
But – why in the world would work have to be suspended? Did we do something wrong?
Some of you have heard bits of what has been going on from our newsletter and email update*. There are a lot of things that we don’t write on our blog, for various reasons. But since this is pretty public business at the moment, I’m going to give you a bit of an overview.
As most of you know, our church has been purchasing property this year to use as a meeting place. We’ve been renting what is pretty much the biggest place in the area – and we’ve been packing it out.
Regarding the property, we’ve been doing things – well, in a way you might not expect. As we’ve been doing the paperwork, getting permits, and proceeding with construction, we’ve been trying to do it all – well, I might as well just say it – legally.
I know, it’s a shock. But we’ve been working hard to get all the papers we need, and to go through all the proper channels.
But there are a few people who quite frankly don’t want a church meeting in their area. A few very vocal people.
So, work has been proceeding – slowly. It’s amazing – whenever we’re about to make some progress, an official of some kind seems to arrive to question some document or tell us to stop for some other reason.
And yet when someone came and robbed the site, stealing a lot of materials worth a chunk of change – well, no one noticed.
Last week, we** were trying again to get something done, and a crowd formed, very upset at what was going on. That’s when I sent out an email update asking for prayer.
It was at this point that some public officials showed up. Although one admitted that our paperwork was completely in order, eventually others put up the notice that work was suspended. Why?
Talking to some people in our church, we’ve started to think about it this way. It seems like things go beyond legalities – to politics. And behind the politics – well, you’ve read it before, right? For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood… (Ephesians 6:12).
We did see God working, through your prayers, last week. It seems some good contacts may have been made, and – we’re not sure what will happen, but there are some hopeful signs.
Work will actually continue. There’s no legal reason to stop it. Tomorrow some of our church leadership will be meeting with officials from the municipality. And we hope to make some more steps forward – tomorrow, and through the next few weeks.
We have a lot of friends in the area – people who know we’re there to serve the community. Of course, we’re sharing God’s Word – and we don’t expect unbelievers to understand that. But we’ve also had clubs for kids, healthy activities for youth, we’ve provided free wheelchairs, we’ve helped keep public spaces clean, we’ve helped kids with their homework. And so I think at this point, as I said earlier, there are just a few vocal people who aren’t happy.
But we’re here to serve them too. So if you’re praying, pray for us – but pray for them as well.
I keep remembering Jesus’ prayer in John 17:14-17:
I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
Someone else reminded me of Jesus’ promise from Matthew 16:18 – …I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
No, He doesn’t promise that we’ll get a building built (though if it’s His will, we will!). He promises that the Church will be built. That’s the people. And that’s what is happening.
Our pastor Ismael reminded us of these words this morning as he talked about the struggles with the property –
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.
1Peter 2:9
And so, construction or no construction, we will continue to proclaim His excellencies. Right?
*(Incidentally, we’ve send out three email updates and one newsletter in August and September. Normally we don’t send out so many updates, but you can see the reason. Anyway, if you’re supposed to be getting them, and you’re not, let us know!)
**I keep saying “we” not because I personally was present but because we’re a part of the church and help where we can. Generally speaking most of the on-site work is being done by others at this point. In this case, I got the news from several people who were present at the time.