As many of you know, La Roca church is one of our main ministries here. As of January 10, I completed 5 years of being a pastor. As I look back on my time here as a pastor, I remember so many who have moved on to other things. I say this not to say that they have fallen away from the faith or have rejected attending our church, but seeing the church as seasonal time for some. God uses the church to grow new believers until they believe God is calling them to go to other places. There is only one young lady, Rosa (who is 18 and trying to figure out what to do with her life) that had been there when I started. It has been a growing process. I remember in the beginning not being able to speak Spanish well at all that I had to read my messages. It was horrible to those who were listening I am sure. But God has been gracious. I can now write minimal notes to preach a sermon and be able to preach what I believe God is instructing me to share. I never would have imagined doing this on the mission field. If you asked me before we came to Mexico "what do you see yourself doing in 5 years?" I would have said something like, working to bring people to Christ in the context of teaching English and working in a coffee house. Not that these things aren't effective, but I am convinced that the church is where a great growth comes. Through our time together in the word and chewing on passages of scripture on our bible study nights, God has given us the privilege of growing milk drinkers in to meat eaters. We continue to see areas in where God has yet to invade with his truth. For example, we are studying the book of James, and verse 1:14 says: But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
Our conversation started leading to fornication and being married. The question was asked if a couple is not married and have kids together, would you ask them to separate until they get married? We had to respond yes. There was a puzzled look on a few faces. We had to ask how do you define fornication and adultry? I don't want to go into all of what we said but it was clear to us, just how God allows us to see these moments as opportunities to speak from what scriptures say about the subject, having changed the way some view marriage.
Our conversation started leading to fornication and being married. The question was asked if a couple is not married and have kids together, would you ask them to separate until they get married? We had to respond yes. There was a puzzled look on a few faces. We had to ask how do you define fornication and adultry? I don't want to go into all of what we said but it was clear to us, just how God allows us to see these moments as opportunities to speak from what scriptures say about the subject, having changed the way some view marriage.