The Way

In Proverbs 22:6 we read, "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." (NIV) It is interesting because it says that if we want mature adult christians then we must train them when they are children. As I have written in my newsletter once when I first came down here to serve I struggled with the fact that much of the ministry was to children. It seemed like a waste of time for me. I wanted to see the finished product. I wanted to share deep theological truths with adults. Now I see that children's ministry is just one part of the work that God does in the church. A farmer first has to plow the ground and then has to sow the seeds then he has to water the first sprouts. It is not till years later that the tree gives fruit. God is the farmer and we are called to work in his fields whatever the season. Here are some of the children we are training in the Way.

World Cup Fever

With all the world cup fever going on a group from Koinonia decided to play soccer one day on a near by court (In Peru soccer is played on a concrete slab). As you can see from the photos just like the rest of the body of Christ we were a mixed group. I also noticed something interesting, during a world cup game just about every T.V. in every store and home in Peru (and probably the rest of the world except U.S.A.) has the game on. It makes me think about the prophecy in revelation that describes the bodies of two witnesses from God being seen by people all around the world. "Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves." Revelation 11:9 (NKJV)

Playing Tag.

Well I did it again I said I was going to update the blog weekly but it's turning out to be monthly. Well much has happened in the past month. We had our first service in the new building, we had a group come down from Gainesville, I turned twenty six and my Mom visited me. Much more has happened but those are the highlights. Here's a picture of the children I teach the bible to in Playa Hermosa. They are divided into boys and girls because I took the picture as they were getting ready to play a game of group tag.

As I watch them there game reminded me of an aspect of the Christian life. They break up into two teams one team is "it" and the other team tries not to be caught by "it". If someone is caught by "it" they go to jail. The other team members then try to free the caught team members by running by the jail and touching them. This much like what we are called to do as Christians. We have the gospel which is the power of God to free people from the jail of sin. But we have to risk ourselves and go into enemy occupied territory and get close enough to people to get to know them. Our enemies aren't people but spiritual principalities and powers. The metaphor isn't perfect but what metaphor is? Be encouraged to go out and win souls for Christ. God is on your team you can't lose. Risk it all and you will gain so much more.