Over the past 3 1/2 months I have had the opportunity to preach at local churches in the Brazilian outback, the Southern Andes in Ecuador, the mountains of Costa Rica and the Northern Desert of Mexico. These churches represent different stages of development and struggles. Each a living organism given life by the creator of all things. Each given the same mission to be the hope of the world, to be the gospel.
All of these churches represent very different and diverse cultures. Some are just beginning their life cycle and others have been around for years. As any living organism some are in moments of great health and others are sick. As I stood in the pulpit of Living Waters Baptist Church in Agua Prieta Mexico and looked over almost 100 people in attendance I was impacted by the fact that God was at work in a place that was under great distress. The US State Department rates areas in the world according to their danger. They give them a number 1-4, 4 being imminent danger or in other words don't go there because we won't come for you. Syria is currently a 4. It is amazing to think that the US State department has declared 5 Mexican states a number 4 and many others like the State of Sonora where Living Waters Baptist Church is, a number 3.
Within 5 minutes of the US border this church sits as a hope to those who live in danger, struggling to find jobs and care for their families. This church, like all local churches, is central to bringing hope to this community. The power of God flows through the church in a place where water is scarce, where life is dangerous and gives hope to those who look around them and can't imagine solutions to their many problems. When Christ stated He would build His church, He promised to build it in even the most difficult places as a center of amazing power. He promised to create the most powerful organism this wold has ever seen, the local church. Please pray for Living Waters Baptist Church as they struggle to raise up leaders. They currently do not have pastors and are in great need of help to raise up men and women to care for the sheep and extend the Kingdom!
All of these churches represent very different and diverse cultures. Some are just beginning their life cycle and others have been around for years. As any living organism some are in moments of great health and others are sick. As I stood in the pulpit of Living Waters Baptist Church in Agua Prieta Mexico and looked over almost 100 people in attendance I was impacted by the fact that God was at work in a place that was under great distress. The US State Department rates areas in the world according to their danger. They give them a number 1-4, 4 being imminent danger or in other words don't go there because we won't come for you. Syria is currently a 4. It is amazing to think that the US State department has declared 5 Mexican states a number 4 and many others like the State of Sonora where Living Waters Baptist Church is, a number 3.
Within 5 minutes of the US border this church sits as a hope to those who live in danger, struggling to find jobs and care for their families. This church, like all local churches, is central to bringing hope to this community. The power of God flows through the church in a place where water is scarce, where life is dangerous and gives hope to those who look around them and can't imagine solutions to their many problems. When Christ stated He would build His church, He promised to build it in even the most difficult places as a center of amazing power. He promised to create the most powerful organism this wold has ever seen, the local church. Please pray for Living Waters Baptist Church as they struggle to raise up leaders. They currently do not have pastors and are in great need of help to raise up men and women to care for the sheep and extend the Kingdom!
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