Backwards or Forwards or Both

Young people's Bible study has seemed like a weak point in our current ministry. Recently we re-started it with a different emphasis and with the assistance of a young married couple in the church. I am really pleased with the changes made and with the results so far. The meetings emphasize daily devotions, church attendance, prayer, and scripture memorization. Since there isn't loud music, sports, constant outings, and "anything-but-Bible-study!"; it isn't all that appealing to a lot of kids. At my age, and with a thousand responsibilities, I can't deal with the entertainment aspects of youth ministry. Yet, we are seeing the kids who do attend consistently really blossom. Some of them are helping or teaching in the children's ministries on Sunday. Others have become regular attenders of the Sunday morning Bible studies and worship hour. More are reading the Bible on a daily basis. During the Saturday afternoon meetings we try to answer the questions they have that arise from the reading during the week and we talk to them about making application of the Scriptures. We want to allow God to influence their lives at home, school, work, and among peers.
A couple of weeks ago, I noticed that a couple of younger teens who come to church on Sunday AM with their parents hadn't come to the Saturday meetings. I suggested that they try it out. They didn't come the first time so I encouraged them again. They seemed very shy about it, and I remembered how hard it is for kids their age to break into a new peer group--the fear factor. I smiled and asked them to try it, "Please." Last Saturday they came. They quietly participated in the opening game time, smiling, saying a few words, and starting to come out of their shells. We all shared and learned their names. The challenge lately has been to learn the names of the books of the Bible in order. I joked with one of the regulars about whether or not she could say them backwards yet. Everyone laughed. On Sunday the new kids were at small group Bible Study and worship. "How'd you like it yesterday?" "It was good. We want to go all the time now." Big smiles from really shy kids. Yesterday I got a text message on my cellphone. "Pastor, it's me, J... I know all the books now. Backwards and forwards. I'll be saying them on Saturday.'' Awesome. I can deal with that.

A Time for Work and a Time for Rest

On Sunday we had 90 in church and had our first work day at the new property later in the afternoon. There is a lot of dried brush and trash on the lot. Clearing it gives us a chance to work as a congregation, have fellowship, and build a sense of teamwork and unity. I believe that holding regular "mingas" (an Ecuadorian term for community workdays) at the property and on the building as it goes up will be very positive. Several of the faithful men got together this time, and I expect the number will increase in future opportunities.
Work is a good thing. Too much work is not. God gives us the ability to work and to produce, but he also expects us to take a break. The principle of the sabbath involves both rest and worship. Step away from your labors and give thanks to God, remember who He is and what He has done. Refresh yourself and recharge. In our ministry I have seen people who struggle because they do not have the ability or the opportunity to work, to use their abilities, and to provide for their family's needs through their labors. God always comes through somehow to prove that he will not leave them or foresake them. Others struggle because they work too much. They are afraid of what might happen if they took a break, rested their bodies, and spent time nurturing their families or serving the needs of others. Could God supply if they acknowledged their need for sabbath rest? God has his ways of getting their attention.
What is your attitude toward work and rest?

Chicken?

This past Sunday (Oct. 7) we had a special time of fellowship after the morning service. We prepared and served lunch to everyone present who cared to stay. This is the first time we have done this at our church in Manta, but we hope that it becomes a frequent practice. A couple of the church members had been planning it for the past few weeks. They planned a menu and enlisted the help of several good cooks. They served rice, a delicious vegetable salad, and a very tasty chicken dish.
Because our rented space is spread over three stories there was some inconvenience in serving the meal. The kitchen is on the bottom floor and the large gathering area is on the top. Eight or ten of the men hustled up and down stairs with styrofoam containers. We don't have enough tables for everyone, so we just ate with our styro-plate on our laps. No one complained. It was great to see a high percentage of the adults work together on something like preparing and serving the meal. It will work out much better when God blesses us with a facility designed for church food and fellowship. Meanwhile, God has blessed us with people willing to serve in less-than-ideal conditions.
Many people were invited to visit the church because of the lunch and we had 115 people in attendance. We believe that the love and service were a good testimony to all.

Further Updates

On September 23, we enjoyed a beautiful sunny Sunday. After the morning service a group from the church gathered on the beach to baptize a young married couple. They gave testimony to how their lives have changed since they began to follow Jesus. They were happy to have the opportunity to provide a living symbol of Jesus's death, burial, and resurrection.

On September 30, Ecuador held nationwide elections to fill the 130 seats of an assembly to write a new constitution. It appears that an overwhelming majority of the representatives will be from the political alliance formed by President Rafael Correa. Many Ecuadorians hope that the nation can change its reputation of corruption, bad government, and instability. We pray that all things will work to open doors for further ministry and freedom for the Gospel.

Why'd He Do That?

As the father of a five-year-old boy, I've gotten used to fielding questions all that time, anywhere, and about anything? Teddy takes nothing for granted. Why did you do that? What is that? What does it do. Try watching a TV show or a movie with him: Who's he? Is he a good guy or a bad guy? What's going to happen next? When we read him Bible stories he questions as well. He wants to know if the characters and events made God happy or sad, and if the outcome was good or bad. Sometimes he questions God's reasoning, and he is skeptical of symbolism. His concrete mind isn't always ready to accept abstract concepts and metaphors. He has perfected his own sort of diagram to illustrate "the vine and branches" with all the pruning and fruit-bearing. Sometimes his relentless questioning is too much for Dad, but most of the time I am grateful for his lively and flexible intelligence. He is developing the ability to think and reason.

As a church-planting missionary who has spent many years helping to guide followers of Jesus, I continue to appreciate the wonder and excitement of those who seek and find, ask and receive, knock and discover an open door. In our discipleship ministry we can almost always identify those who are truly studying the lessons, reading the Bible, and trying to make sense of it. They seek the underlying truths and the practical applications. They ask questions. Their spiritual minds are developing like Teddy's is in the cognitive realm. Others read the Bible and prepare their lessons in a superficial way. They never ask questions and never seem all that interested in allowing Jesus and his Words to shape the course of their life. It's that first bunch who keep me going forward. I thank God for them.

Public Service

This year of political campaigning in Ecuador continues at a frantic pace. Right now more than 1,000 candidates are wrestling for seats on the assembly to write a new constitution for the country. The constitutional commitee will meet in Montecristi, a small town just 10 minutes from Manta.

We recently saw a terrific example of public service as the USNS Comfort spent a week in the port of Manta. Comfort is a hospital ship. The officers and crew colaborated with local doctors and hospitals to see thousands of patients and to do hundreds of surgeries during their stay. It was our privilege to thank some of the men and women of our US Navy for their outstanding service.

This past week we were invited to the home of a family that had made a couple of visits to our church services. They expressed great appreciation for the preaching and teaching of the Bible, and for the classes for all members of their family. We learned that the husband and wife are professional mourners, providing music and prayer at funeral services and masses. Both husband and wife confessed that they wanted to open their hearts to Christ and hope to learn more of God's word. They prayed, trusting Jesus as their Lord and Savior. They ask us to pray that the Lord will provide another way for them to earn their living.

It's Already September

Let's catch up on some things that happened in August:

Joy and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary.

Our daughter Ashley celebrated her 22nd birthday.

Joy's parents visited us for about 3 weeks. Joy's father, Rev. Ted Wille, preached a series of sermons on the subject of stewardship for our church.

The response to the stewardship messages was excellent. The congregation made a faith promise of over $300 per month for our building project, and over 20 people commited to tithe faithfully for the general needs of the church's ministry.

We started weekly youth Bible study. The young people are accepting the challenge to read and memorize the Bible. In the weekly meetings we answer questions about their daily reading and talk about applications to their life. Luis and Melanea are assisting me with this group.

We are thankful for the way God has provided the needed funds for the purchase of the land for a future church building. Thank you for your generous contributions and prayer support for this project.