This post is one of the hardest I've written. Sam and I have been missionaries here in Mexico City for nearly 24 years. Overall we've had a wonderful time serving our Lord here. Yes, there have been hard times in the ministry but the good times outweigh the bad by far. Lately, however, we've been bombarded with discouragement. It seemed like for awhile we were learning something bad every day. I didn't want to answer the phone. (of course we did) To say all this has worn us down would be an understatement. But at the same time, we have been comforted from God's Word.
God is on His Throne and He is the only one that can save us! Sometimes when Life is going good we forget who God is and who we really are. We forget who to live for. We forget who should truly be praised. Pray for us as we continue to grow in showing God's love no matter what the circumstance. Sam challenged our church from the Word on loving each other as God would even in the midst of a sticky situation. Our mission hasn't changed, folks are still hurting and need a Savior.
Psalm 66:1-5 "Shout joyful praises to God, all the earth! Sing about the glory of his name! Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds! your enemies cringe before your mighty power. Everything on earth will worship you; they will sing your praises, shouting your name in glorious songs." Come and see what our God has done, what awesome miracles he performs for people! "
God's deeds are awesome! We remind ourselves everyday that God is good and He is in control. We as a church continue to be in a limbo state. Our church meets in three homes on Sundays. We look forward to the time when we are able to have our own place. Please continue to pray for us and our church Nueva Vida en Cristo (New Life in Christ).
10/25/2014
3/18/2014
Moving to the next chapter...
This year in April our church Nueva Vida en Cristo, will be celebrating 10 years! I can't believe ten years have past. Our congregation has experienced both highs and lows, but it all has been good! This is how God wants us to view life and it's difficulties. It is easy to enjoy the highs but the lows are things we don't care to repeat if we have a choice. But as in all things, God has a plan and has a lesson which will shape us into reflecting more of Himself. Church planting is like the best story or movie ever written. We have gotten to watch God take people that are bogged down with sinfulness and see them blossom into tools that God is using to bring others to Himself.
Life is hard sometimes and folks at Nueva Vida are learning that they always have God on their side if they choose to do "life" His Way. As a church body we are growing in loving each other better and striving to love as God has loved us...sacrificially. But this isn't always easy is it?
Like the parable that Christ shared, we too have had some folks act as though they were followers of Christ, only to learn that when a biblical choice needed to be made, they chose a path of their own. Our hearts have ached over these folks and still ache. Nueva Vida is God's church and He is in the gardening business. He is the one that allows the seeds to mature into fruit producing plants and trees. All trees need pruning and most often it is very painful. Some trees shrivel up and die once they are pruned because they couldn't handle it. Others produce more fruit as a result of having eliminated worldliness in their lives.
We have much to be thankful for! God is always at work in our lives and others around us! His Church is growing in godliness! We are now taking that next step in the life of a church plant--buying property! The first five years we were meeting in our house until we were busting at the seams. The past five years we've had the privilege of congregating in a recreational park called Cholita. Meeting at a park is very attractive to folks and we've gotten to see who is truly serious about loving God with everything they have. Recently since our Christmas program God has brought more visitors than ever before which has been very encouraging! The ministry however has been limited to mainly activities on Sundays due to renting. We are so excited to see what this next chapter God has for us! Pray with us for wisdom as we have to find the right property at the right price! We know that God has a perfect place for us!
Pray with us as these properties might be what God has planned for us. We are looking at purchasing nearly 1/2 an acre. We could have a lot of different kinds of ministries on this size of property. The place we've been renting for the past five years has sold and the need to find something is now more urgent. Of course, this isn't a surprise to God. He has known since the beginning of Time that this would occur at this exact time and He also knows the future! We are preparing ourselves for another chapter in this wonderful adventure!
Life is hard sometimes and folks at Nueva Vida are learning that they always have God on their side if they choose to do "life" His Way. As a church body we are growing in loving each other better and striving to love as God has loved us...sacrificially. But this isn't always easy is it?
Like the parable that Christ shared, we too have had some folks act as though they were followers of Christ, only to learn that when a biblical choice needed to be made, they chose a path of their own. Our hearts have ached over these folks and still ache. Nueva Vida is God's church and He is in the gardening business. He is the one that allows the seeds to mature into fruit producing plants and trees. All trees need pruning and most often it is very painful. Some trees shrivel up and die once they are pruned because they couldn't handle it. Others produce more fruit as a result of having eliminated worldliness in their lives.
We have much to be thankful for! God is always at work in our lives and others around us! His Church is growing in godliness! We are now taking that next step in the life of a church plant--buying property! The first five years we were meeting in our house until we were busting at the seams. The past five years we've had the privilege of congregating in a recreational park called Cholita. Meeting at a park is very attractive to folks and we've gotten to see who is truly serious about loving God with everything they have. Recently since our Christmas program God has brought more visitors than ever before which has been very encouraging! The ministry however has been limited to mainly activities on Sundays due to renting. We are so excited to see what this next chapter God has for us! Pray with us for wisdom as we have to find the right property at the right price! We know that God has a perfect place for us!
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