Archive April 2010
Guatemala City Surprises
Preaching at SETECA
The past couple of days I’ve tried to give an example of the sort of thing that I find myself doing in conferences like this besides the normal preaching and teaching that you might imagine. Today was no less busy and no less fascinating in the type of people with whom I am privileged to interact. But, I’ll spare you to tell of two surprises I had today.
The first surprise was to have a message pop up on my FaceBook that a high school classmate wanted me to give him a call. To say I was surprised is an understatement. This is a guy I’ve not seen since high school (Class of 66). For the past twelve years he has lived here in Guatemala City where has has an optical company. Too bad I found out about him the day before I leave, but at least I was able to speak with him by phone and promise to let him know the next time I am in the city.
This afternoon I went into the speaker’s green room to grab a cup of coffee and catch up on email. My friend Samuel who is pastor of a Spanish-speaking congregation came up and gave me a book. In addition to being a pastor, Samuel is a missiologist and has organized a series of important academic conferences over the past decade or so. In 2005 I spoke at one of these conferences in Madrid, Spain. My surprise was to remember that I wrote one of the chapters in this book that was just released. I had also forgotten that I wrote the introduction! My chapter and the theme of my address at the conference was Toward a Missionary Ecclesiology for the Third Millennium, in case you were wondering. And, no, it’s only in Spanish.
Para mis lectores hispanoparlantes, es nuevo el libro y todavía no llega al mercado o acaba de llegar. Es publicado por CLIE y Samuel Cueva es mi amigo y redactor del tomo. Creo que se llama Misio Dei o algo así. Preguntas por el nuevo de Samuel Cueva en CLIE.
The week has been a whirlwind of contacts, dreams and ideas. We’ll see how many come to fruition, but it has been both fun and stimulating, along with the chance to ministry individually to a lot of people as well as the work from the pulpit.
The response to the teaching on making disciples was greater than what I had imagined. You might say it was over the top. I talked about my Directions book this morning and unfortunately had given away the last copy of the four I brought with me. In Spanish the book is available now only from us in the United States and in the Southern Cone of South America published and distributed through CEC. Several people in the publishing field spoke to me about getting the book published in this region, so I’m praying that might be possible. We have so many contacts here in Central America and Mexico that this would be a great tool for leaders here.
Tomorrow I head home, getting into the airport in the evening. See you Sunday!
Thursday in Guatemala City
I can’t imagine why anyone might be interested in this level of detail, but sometimes people ask what it is that I do when I am at a conference like this. So, here are a few highlights from my day. I began with a 7:00am meeting with the senior pastor and several associates from the church where I formerly was pastor in San Salvador, El Salvador. I am speaking there the last of next month and we were coordinating the details. It’s been years since I spoke there and I’m excited for the opportunity to reconnect.
Once again I had my teaching session on making disciples at 8:00am. There are always people with questions and comments afterwards. One of the biggest personal blessings from being here this week is meeting people who were in the conference here where I spoke in 1984. Sometimes people are very kind to say that they remember that I spoke and they were blessed, but several people this week have been able to tell me what I preached and even remember the main points and illustrations that I used. I couldn’t have told you that and I was the one doing the preaching! I guess when someone says that what I said was a turning point in their life I have to take their word for it when they can remember what I said better than I can. Seriously, I am very thankful for that sort of feedback.
I spent some time with representatives of a church in the heart of Panama City, consulting with them on applying principles of making disciples of professional people in a very multicultural city. At one point I was engaged with one of the seminary leaders here discussing the state of theological education in Central America. I can tell you that it is far advanced from what it was when I lived here many years ago. To see positive changes and maturity has been a real encouragement this week. Late in the afternoon I joined several of the other speakers and some seminary officials in a television program where we answered questions about the Central American church and missions. I also had several conversations about working with our alliance of churches that share ministry to a specific group of people in the Middle East.
One of the day’s highlights was a lengthy conversation with another high-powered young woman. This young marketing executive is from Central Mexico and has been actively involved in significant missionary activities on several continents. Her vision is to take on human trafficking in South Africa using her professional skills. What a refreshing conversation to see the passion burning inside of her to make a difference. She the talent, training, energy, courage and contacts to be used in a significant way.
Our evening session just finished and the speaker was one of my favorites from this week. He is a dynamic Brazilian named Valdir Steuernagel. He is a powerful communicator and quite a thinker.
It’s late and I’m tired. In the morning I finish my speaking responsibilities by finishing up the teaching on making disciples. The conference ends in the evening and I head home around noon Saturday.
It’s Raining in Guatemala City
This is the time of year in Central America when the raining season is wanting to begin. It’s usually hot and everyone is anxious for the rain to fall and cool things off. The rain finally started coming down during the service tonight.
What a day! After my session on making disciples this morning I thought maybe things might be a bit more relaxed, since my evening session was last night. NO! From the moment I finished speaking this morning until the present I have been involved with discussions literally all day long.
What is it that I would discuss? I spent time with Roscoe Brewer of Epic International, Ramiro Martinez of Mexico and Tony Vasquez of Spain brainstorming on the place of the Latin American church in global missions. I counseled with a pastor trainer ministering in the Mexican state of Oaxaca about how to apply the relational principles relating to making disciples. In the state of Oaxaca there are over 182 different dialects of over 16 major language groups and cultures, all different one from the other. Most places are almost inaccessible from the outside world. Imagine the challenges this brother has as he travels from culture to culture, language to language having only a couple of days to spend in each place trying to train pastors, many of who are illiterate. Want a challenge?
I spent a great deal of time talking with a most remarkable young woman from Costa Rica who has such a passion for God’s mission that I couldn’t even begin to describe it. The list of things she has accomplished in her young life is very impressive. I left convinced that she could be a key instrument to convey a global vision to a new generation of churches in Costa Rica. She is part of a relatively new church plant having a significant impact on the upper classes and student population. I don’t have time to tell you of the incredibly ambitious plans she has in her heart.
Somehow there was time to connect Guatemalan dentist who ministers to the Roma people in Spain, having served previously in Romania, with one of our key contacts in Croatia who also works with the Roma there. Already feeling like a switchboard, I was able to make a key contact for a Salvador couple seeking to renew their business visa for the Asian country in which they serve with my Panamanian lawyer/pastor friend who may have some key contacts in that country’s embassy in his country. I just finished introducing them to each other by email.
The day has also included extensive conversations with a Guatemalan pastor who is so excited about what he’s hearing about making disciples and the church as the missionary that he is making plans to visit us with some of his key leaders. I’m sure I’m leaving some things out, but this is how I spent my day. It’s not quite over. When I finish typing this I have another meeting to attend.
Tonight I was blessed in the evening service to hear my friend Jose Cruz who works in the Middle East share God’s mission as found in the Old Testament prophets.
Tuesday News from Guatemala
I just finished preaching this evening on Psalm 67 on the theme A Missiology of the Heart. The point was to show that the mission comes directly from God’s heart. Therefore, it’s impossible to touch the heart of God without being touched by the mission that burns in his heart.
While I was preaching, my friend, Pastor Ramiro Martinez from Mexico City, snapped this picture with his i-phone and posted it on his FaceBook. I stole it and put it here.
This was a long day! After opening the day teaching on making disciples, I was in constant meetings all day long until I preached tonight. But, what a blessing to be around people who are leaders in their areas of specialty and be challenged and stretched by them. It’s been a wonderful time to share ideas and learn from each other. I just finished a great conversation with Tony Vasquez, my Salvadoran friend who has spent many years ministering in Spain and Samuel Cueva, a Peruvian who pastors in London.
Tomorrow I open the day after breakfast with my second study on making disciples. I’ll do the same thing Thursday and Friday.
First Report from Guatemala City
Greetings from Guatemala City! I arrived safe and sound yesterday afternoon at SETECA, the fine seminary here that is connected with CAM International. CAM is the old Central American Mission that was founded by C. I. Scofield of reference Bible fame, who was also a Presbyterian missionary here in Guatemala. The seminary has been around for over 80 years and is widely recognized all over the Spanish-speaking world. In their 80 year history, this is the fifth time they have had what they call a Magna Conference to focus on global missions. I was honored to be one of the speakers at the second such conference in 1984 and now I am here again after a quarter of a century. Wow! That makes me feel really old. No comments!
This evening I am the keynote speaker. Last night was the opening and my friend Dr. Bill Taylor spoke. For those of you who are my students in the missions class in Shepherd School, this is the guy who wrote the textbook you have been studying this semester. Each of us this week is taking a different sector of the Bible to show how God’s mission is threaded through. I have the Wisdom Books and will preach from Psalm 67. Each morning I am the first speaker and discussing the biblical foundations of making disciples. I just finished that session not long ago and it went well.
I have had a great time reconnecting with old friends, many of whom I have not seen for years. Times like these are also good for making new friendships.
MELO UPDATE – many of you ask, and I was able to verify tonight that Melo and his tourists were able to complete their mission and delivered over half a ton of product. They are all back home and doing well after some exciting adventures. Many of you have no idea what I’m talking about, but many of you do.
I don’t have access to the Internet from the room where I am staying, so I will be giving you updates as I have opportunities. Thanks for your prayers.