| | On the edges of Lima Peru exists a small community that has sprung up atop an old garbage dump, aside a small river. Communities like this can be found around the world as people try and forge a living for themselves and their families.
The word community is important here. One definition of community is: a group of people with a common background or with shared interests in society. Common background? Check… everyone there came to find a new life. Shared interests? Check… they all want to believe that they matter.
Last November a friend of mine, Doug Reed, led a team to Peru to minister to local Pastor’s. In addition, they brought with them a group to build a church in this little nameless community. Digging a foundation for the new church looked like a far easier job than it turned out to be… at two feet they hit compacted trash… and at four feet they hit bedrock.
But the church still went up! Because of the delays, they were unable to construct the roof, but that didn’t stop the Pastor from Praising God and ministering in the Church that God built!
Doug Reed took us back to this continuing project last week to minister to the community of strong and faithful families.
We arrived to find that nearly the entire village had come to Christ (over 90%!) and many people were building more permanent homes in place of the ramshackle shacks that they had first settled in! Pastor welcomed us graciously and the team was amazing ministering to all… even playing a pick up soccer game afterwards.
But great things had happened behind the scenes as well: The Government had recognized the community and was setting up to install running water for everyone. The Mayor had asked the Pastor to be a community coordinator (not sure exactly what that entails) and to bring everyone together.
All because of the Church that had been built! It solidified the community and gave it focus. It provided a gathering place for families and taught love for your neighbor. It demonstrated that everyone was important and would be welcomed in the house of God. It gave people purpose… and they became the Church.
When we arrived the roof was still not built… nor was a floor laid throughout the church building. But the Church was there… built on the solid foundation of Christ Jesus… growing in health, size and structure… and sheltering all who would come.
Now isn’t that how the Church should be?
Still Climbing,
Jason
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| | Posted 6/18/2007 9:44 AM - 67 Views - 0 eProps - 0 comments
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