I am encouraged this morning as I reflect on the activity and ministry that happened this weekend among our little fellowship of house churches.
On Saturday afternoon, Martin and Rosa called from La Piedad—just to connect and see how our week had gone. They shared about their week and their ministry among addicts and their ongoing desire and efforts to see God’s kingdom come more powerfully to their own family. Martin told me that his older sons and some of their teenage friends were planning to be together with the church that meets in their home on Sunday—that he was praying about the time they would have together and was preparing himself to tell them the story of Jesus’ encounter with the leper. I wonder how it went. But I’m encouraged to know how they are thinking and trying to live into their faith…
A few hours later on Sunday morning early, Jose Luis and Juliana called me from the street. My family and I were with them and their church last Sunday in their colonia the week before—as about 25 members of their family and friends met to eat, sing, pray, share their hearts and read the Bible together. Yesterday, they called saying they were on their way to visit and meet with Omar and the band of Jesus followers in and around Omar’s house in Jocotan (another area of the city). Since the group with Jose Luis and Juliana doesn’t usually meet until the late afternoon, they wanted to take advantage of the early part of the day to visit and meet with the other church. Nancy and I felt so encouraged at the news of their leadership…their initiative…the sense of love and responsibility that is developing among these groups. They seem to grasp the importance of living in and incarnating Christ in their own neighborhoods and among their own families—yet they also know they are part of something larger than just this—they form a part of the larger body of Christ in their city.
I had breakfast this morning with Omar—he told me that the day was great—he told of the encouragement he and his group felt from Jose Luis and Juliana—of how Omar’s wife is being drawn to Christ by the transformation in Omar’s life and by the community of Jesus followers around Omar.
At the same time all of this was happening on Sunday, Gerardo and Carola and a few of those from the church in their colonia had plans to begin something new among a family on the other side of the city. They planned to enter into this “house of peace” and to begin sharing and proclaiming Jesus as God gives them opportunity. Their prayer is that this will be the beginning of a new Jesus community—a new church. I wonder this morning how it went.
But I’m encouraged to see evidence that God is moving among my dear friends…
Posted by chaddsch 
