A pastor in a village about 30 minutes from our area has been suffering financially for some time. He has sold all his cars, most of his possessions of value, and has now been forced to consider selling his house, all because he does not make enough at his job and offerings from his church to pay the mortgage on his house. This is not normal for him, but rather, is the result of a depression in the income of the body of believers at his church, who are all suffering financially, as well.
Our church family heard of his delimma, and nearly a month ago, began taking up an offering. Since this concept of an offering is new to them, and they wanted everyone to feel involved, they did what most new believers do to make something happened: they formed a committee! It’s quite funny to watch these babes in Christ taking steps out on their own as they enter the childhood years of their faith, but at the same time, we seek to support them and guide them biblically to seek the Holy Spirit in all things. We have come to realize that it’s not so much important to necessarily control their growth, but rather, to keep them on the right path of Biblical doctrine as the Lord forms this church.
The church collected an offering and set a day to visit pastor Armando and his church. When we visited the church, we were all very blessed by the worship and teaching. Afterwards, in the company of Armando’s family and his welcomed invitation to his home for “carne asada tacos” (tacos with salted steak that is grilled over charcoal), the principal brothers presented Armando with the collected money, which added up to almost 1,000 pesos.
After visiting the church of Armando, the body here has become increasingly interested in the order of the services. Since Greg Wilke, the principal missionary who began this church, has been handing over the leadership of the church to Uriel Amaya, we have all watched these young believers struggle to get their foothold in the Word of God. They have survived false doctrine entering the church, abandonment by the missionaries as we fled to the states to make more money for living expenses, and the terrible sadness of watching brothers and sisters slip back into a life of sin. Through all of these trials they have become stronger. However, this is the first time that they are experiencing divisions in the church.
Most of the Mexican believers thought that our insisting on the children being quiet and reverent in the services was only because we were Americans and ignorant to their culture. But after visiting Armando’s church and seeing a fellow Mexican pastor govern a church of reverent children and on-fire believers, without the presence of an American, they have become increasingly frustrated. All the parents have lacked discipline in their homes, and this has given fruition to unruly children who openly mock their parents and laugh at their parent’s pleas for calmness. So, rather than look at themselves and see what they should change, they are doing, AGAIN, what every new believer does – they are blaming everyone else for the problems in the church.
This division has become incredibly prominent between two very good friends, who now refuse to attend church together because of their animosity for the other woman and her children. The pain of this division has affected every believer, and the women have both laid their hearts out to Lacy. Lovingly, Lacy has directed them both to sit together and talk to each other about their grievances, but they seem unwilling to come to a solution. Quite drastically, this tight body of believers has been divided over a very simple proverbial teaching: Children are not the rulers of the homes, but rather the parents.
Please pray for us as we attempt to make avenues for these believers to forgive one another and work together as a Body of Christ. Lacy seeks to begin a Women’s Bible study with the ladies in the fellowship so that they can study the word deeper together, but this idea has been put on hold because of the animosity that has sprung up between the women. We seek to guide the women to repentence, forgiveness, and peace, but in the end, we know that we are only guides, and it is the Holy Spirit who can complete this work in them, not us.
Our church family heard of his delimma, and nearly a month ago, began taking up an offering. Since this concept of an offering is new to them, and they wanted everyone to feel involved, they did what most new believers do to make something happened: they formed a committee! It’s quite funny to watch these babes in Christ taking steps out on their own as they enter the childhood years of their faith, but at the same time, we seek to support them and guide them biblically to seek the Holy Spirit in all things. We have come to realize that it’s not so much important to necessarily control their growth, but rather, to keep them on the right path of Biblical doctrine as the Lord forms this church.
The church collected an offering and set a day to visit pastor Armando and his church. When we visited the church, we were all very blessed by the worship and teaching. Afterwards, in the company of Armando’s family and his welcomed invitation to his home for “carne asada tacos” (tacos with salted steak that is grilled over charcoal), the principal brothers presented Armando with the collected money, which added up to almost 1,000 pesos.
After visiting the church of Armando, the body here has become increasingly interested in the order of the services. Since Greg Wilke, the principal missionary who began this church, has been handing over the leadership of the church to Uriel Amaya, we have all watched these young believers struggle to get their foothold in the Word of God. They have survived false doctrine entering the church, abandonment by the missionaries as we fled to the states to make more money for living expenses, and the terrible sadness of watching brothers and sisters slip back into a life of sin. Through all of these trials they have become stronger. However, this is the first time that they are experiencing divisions in the church.
Most of the Mexican believers thought that our insisting on the children being quiet and reverent in the services was only because we were Americans and ignorant to their culture. But after visiting Armando’s church and seeing a fellow Mexican pastor govern a church of reverent children and on-fire believers, without the presence of an American, they have become increasingly frustrated. All the parents have lacked discipline in their homes, and this has given fruition to unruly children who openly mock their parents and laugh at their parent’s pleas for calmness. So, rather than look at themselves and see what they should change, they are doing, AGAIN, what every new believer does – they are blaming everyone else for the problems in the church.
This division has become incredibly prominent between two very good friends, who now refuse to attend church together because of their animosity for the other woman and her children. The pain of this division has affected every believer, and the women have both laid their hearts out to Lacy. Lovingly, Lacy has directed them both to sit together and talk to each other about their grievances, but they seem unwilling to come to a solution. Quite drastically, this tight body of believers has been divided over a very simple proverbial teaching: Children are not the rulers of the homes, but rather the parents.
Please pray for us as we attempt to make avenues for these believers to forgive one another and work together as a Body of Christ. Lacy seeks to begin a Women’s Bible study with the ladies in the fellowship so that they can study the word deeper together, but this idea has been put on hold because of the animosity that has sprung up between the women. We seek to guide the women to repentence, forgiveness, and peace, but in the end, we know that we are only guides, and it is the Holy Spirit who can complete this work in them, not us.
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