It all started with an invitation. We invited one of my tenth-grade students, Rolando, to come to church with us one Sunday night at a church called Rio de Dios. After the service he asked when we would be back and said he wanted to go where we go. A short time later we returned to Rio de Dios and Rolando was there waiting for us. Since then, he has gone with us to some other church services and has decided he wants to know God more and share God with others. More recently, Rolando consistently attends Rio do Dios and helps us with the Church Identity study we are doing with them on Tuesday nights. The first night we started this study, we quickly realized a few of the people attending could not read. Rolando decided that he is going to make sure they learn how to read because he wants them to be able to read the Bible for themselves, so he goes to a man named Manuel’s house every weekend to help him learn and practice reading. This is a cool story about a teenager who is willing to be used by God, but wait, it gets even better! Now, Manuel is a guy that has been on our radar for a while. The last time we did baptisms with Rio de Dios Manuel was asking good questions and expressed interest in being a Christian. Rolando has invited other classmates to walk with him in helping teach Manuel how to read and they practice by reading the Bible together. Rolando’s willingness to go to Manuel’s house every weekend shows Manuel the importance of reading the Bible, but it also shows Manuel the Christ’s love expands outside the walls of the church. Not only is Manuel learning to read, he is asking more good questions. We have seen a significant change in Manuel, both in his demeanor and his reading ability. It is awesome how God collides stories like this if we are willing to be used by Him. Our motto “Come Walk With Us” is not just a catchy phrase we say here at 61 Isaiah, this is how we live. We walk with Rolando who walks with his friends who all walk with Manuel who walks with his girlfriend and two sons. It all starts with an invitation, then a challenge, and then God does amazing things when we submit to doing His work. So who is walking with you? Watch what happens when you and your church invite others to “Come Walk With Us”.
A Child of God
I sat across from a young man this week that said, “I am supposedly a Christian and look what I did.” There is no “supposedly.” Hear me now, fellow child of God: We are not Christians because we are perfect. We are Christians because we know we are not perfect and we have a savior who cleans us. Thank God for this! As someone who grew up in church, I can tell you that this is hard to believe. We are taught that we should be full of love, joy, peace, patience, kind, good and well you get the idea. And yes, we should. But this doesn’t make us a Christian. It is a reflection of our time with Father. Our judgement of Christians young in their faith (regardless of their age) does nothing but speak against the gospel. The entire gospel story is not what you do or how you act but what Christ has done. May we remember this when our fellow brother stumbles. And may we remember it when we stumble. And then remember it as you stumble into the Father’s arms.
As mature Christians, this is precisely the time that we come alongside our little brother and sister and catch them as they stumble. This is the time that we hug them and clean their wounds and lead them back to the Father who is so patient with our failures. This is not the time that we cast judgement, or gossip or lecture. We were once a young child too and am thankful for those who helped me grow in my faith through their encouragement and love. I am thankful that my status as a believer is not dependent on my behavior but on my heart; on my desire to please God. I am beyond thankful for a Father who forgives over and over and over. Who has lead you through this path? Who are you thankful for?
New Brothers in Christ
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7-12th grade which made this momma a little nervous. But Saul was on the same team and anytime I asked him to keep an eye on Tyler, he readily agreed. He is that kind of kid. He is also a great goalie and will sacrifice his body to stop the ball! However, he could best be described as a thinker. Since Shannon is high on faith and not naturally a person to analyze things, there have been many days this year that he has come out of bible class and said that Saul’s questions were driving him crazy. I love the questions though! From these seemingly endless questions about every single detail that Shannon brings up has come a faith not based on what someone else believes but on what Saul knows to be true. He has sought and found. While Saul has always been a good kid, being a Christian is about so much more! I truly hope that he does not stop asking questions but that as he asks those questions that he grows deeper in his faith and relationship with Christ.
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Javier, “Rise Up As a Nation’s Leader!”
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Papito Dios
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