There were a lot of worlds changed today. First and most importantly we are so grateful that God is using the team to impact Somatillo, Nicaragua for Christ. Seven more lives were changed by the gospel message and now their worlds are changed.
The team split up to work effectively today. We had carpenters laying the ground work for new cement to be laid for the church office plus roof preparation for the radio staton. God brought a hard-working team of men to work along side our guys to help lay down a great foundation. The medical team lead by our team nurse saw a record number 111 patients. These people wouldn't have sought medical help had there not been a mobile clinic going to their community.
The kids ministry team painted fingernails, played a lot of soccer, and shared Christ with a paper airplane. The women's ministry was encouraging and encouraged with prayer about their prayers for their community. The language of the Holy Spirit transcends every language barrier.
We met Pastor Martin who simply loves people in his community and wants them to know Christ like he does. In fact, this pastor walked the dirt roads of his small community inviting everyone to a special church service this evening. I got to tag along and invite too. It was a joy to see the faces that he prays for. It was a greater joy to share in the vision of this pastor at the sight of the new church bulding. He says they have out grown what they are using right now. He is believing and hoping for many more.
While walking, he turned to Pastor John, from Sugar Grove Church, and he said, "We are very small." But I love Pastor John's reply..."you are very important to God." That spoke a word of encouragement to me too. There are times when doing what I do feels small and insignificant. But God spoke quietly to my heart as well in this little community of growing faith to say "you are important and what's important to you is indeed important to Me."
The community of faith maybe small in Somotillo, but it's growing by leaps and bounds. Tonight Pastor John told the group that it was time "to fight in faith for their families, their community, for their world, for change, for justice, and for what matters. God encouraged us all to be warriors in the world. He told of the warrior builder Nehemiah. I'm always inspired by Nehemiah's service to the Lord. He fought for righting a city that had gone to ruins. He helped restore a place that need re-building. He championed through with a plan to involve everyone inspite of the enemy attempts. He fought for what mattered.
Every warrior has a cause to fight for whether it be good or bad. God wants us to fight for love and justice. Every warrior without a cause fights for the wrong thing. Pastor John also encouraged us that we can't do this faith fight on our own and can only fight with God's power. He then asked for the men in the church to step up and stand in the gap for their community. There was silence, but then one man came forward and said..."I will be that man!"
Our lives were changed when we saw the bold people stand in the gap for their community here. They are standing on faith, in prayer, and sheer strength that rises up from the inside and a supernatural kind of power that comes from the Lord. They are not only changing their world, but changing ours too.
It was a good day!
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