Esperanza

I want to start a series of blogs that highlight the three assemblies or local churches that we minister to here. I will start with the first established of the three, and the one closest to us, Esperanza. We live in Esperanza. It is a highly populated city that is not very large in terms of square-footage. So in other words, it is dense. Crowded, rough, dusty streets, on which a never ending parade of "motors" (motorcycles) and "pasolas" (scooters) zip by, marks this area (as many others). Among the busy streets, you will always find children playing with homemade kites (which can be quite impressive), or throwing rocks (one has already hit my windshield). At all times of the day, you will find students walking to or home from school. There are so many kids that they have to stagger-start the times in which they attend.

If you walk long enough in any direction, you are bound to come upon a park of some sorts, though there is usually one main one in each town. They are spots where many come to rest under the shade during the heat of the day, and to "hang-out" on a Friday or Saturday night. They are spots where we hope to preach the gospel in the near future. And sadly enough, if you walk in either direction long enough, you will probably also pass a Jehovah Witness or a Mormon. We live smack-dab between a newly built Mormon temple, and a Kingdom Hall (both among the nicest buildings here in the city).

A couple of blocks East of where we live is the main Avenue. I pray each time before I pull out onto this street. There really aren't lanes, and motors have the right-away....ALWAYS! One ran into Tony a while back because he didn't let them pass him on his left side before he turned left! Often, there will be three lanes (though there's supposed to be only two) and only inches separate you from the other vehicles. And when you see a huge truck carrying tons of rice, barreling down the road, it doesn't make things "pleasant!" However stressful and difficult it may be, the Lord has seen us through every time so far. I don't "knock on wood," I just pray harder! If you take the Avenue North a few more blocks, and then turn right and head a few more blocks East again, you will come to a little corner that houses a small building being rented. This is where the church at Esperanza congregates.

Pastor Jose praying before I preach and Tony translates

As we know, the church is the believers, so let me describe the believers here to you. Now that us missionaries are here, we are a mixture of three cultures: Dominican, Haitian, and American. Though there is a lot of racism between the Dominicans and Haitians in the D.R., we have the God-given joy of all worshiping together. I believe the church is growing-and I'm talking about what matters-in terms of spiritual growth, not numbers. Though, it appears we might be growing in numbers as well. The last 4 or 5 services have not afforded more than 3 or 4 empty chairs. It was in great timing that God enabled us to rent a larger building right next-door to ours. We plan on putting a doorway in the wall to connect the two and use the existing place for a Sunday-school room.

In mentioning the growth, I can only measure in what I see by way of passion. Not yet can I carry on a in-depth conversation, though I long for that day. So, I do not have the ability to gather too much from them yet  by simply conversing. However, when I preach or teach, I try to have a keen eye on the visible marks of the Holy Spirit moving. I observe as well, when Jose and Tony preach or teach. I have noticed more of a "leaning into" the speaker, more of a flicker in the eye as well. Also, many ask questions and want to comment during the teaching times. The crowd on Wednesday nights is as large or larger than Sunday mornings usually. Some have shown great interest in going with us to the other churches, and in helping us minister there. As well, there is a small group of young men, ranging from 12 to 20-something, who have invited us into their homes to answer questions, and want us to come back to do it regularly. So, there seems to be some positive signs of the Holy Spirit moving.

Celia and Tony singing a song...in Spanish!

Yet, I cannot honestly say that I am satisfied. Perhaps, no matter how much the Spirit brought the church along and brought others to Christ, I'd still not be satisfied. And I am OK with that as long as it is just a man wanting more and more of God- wanting Him to mature His church more and more, and wanting Him to always save more. But, I know there is a loooooong way to go for Esperanza. There is still little knowledge of the Holy. We are trying to help (and praying for) that to change because the one thing we are to boast in is that we KNOW the Lord (Jer. 9:23-24). And the more you know Jesus, the more you love God. Not just mere facts that cause a big head (1 Cor. 8:1), but an intimate relational knowledge that leads to change. And though I mentioned the services are packed, one is not..the most important -prayer service. As well, the day we corporately go out to witness in the streets yields one, maybe two followers. That's quite pitiful, and it reveals one major weakness to me-quite honestly, a crippling weakness. It means that Christ is not special enough to you that you want to make Him known to others.

And if I am correct in that deduction, then the church at Esperanza still has to mature a lot. I think if that statement is true, there are a lot of us (everywhere) who have to mature in our love for Christ a lot. Just because it is not mainstream or popular these days for Christianity to be about evangelizing, does not mean that it is not a major problem. Yet, I'm afraid that it is very difficult to share the good news of Jesus, when so many of us do not experience the good news in our lives. Sure, we can always say at least He saved us-and that would be enough-except for the fact that He promised more. He promised to live in us! Why so much defeat then? I believe it is because though we may have died unto life once-we are forgetting to continue to die unto self, and though we might have drunk the waters of life once (Jn. 4:14), the verb is written in the present tense, telling us to keep on drinking unto life. Not to become saved again (for the Bible speaks nothing of being born again...and again), but to grow in Christ. Brothers and sisters, we have to crucify the flesh! It is our life-long privilege now until we enter into Glory and no longer have the flesh to contend with.

In saying all that and sort of addressing everyone, I guess I am saying that Esperanza struggles like us all...like Ocala, like Dunnellon, or like Trenton does. Just like the Villages, or Yankeetown, or Fallbranch, or wherever you may be reading this. However, the scriptures promise hope. In fact, Esperanza is translated "hope." The scriptures tell me that our Sovereign Lord WILL bring about the sanctification of His bride (Phil. 1:6 and many others). And mysteriously, even though God works His good pleasure through us, we are responsible as well (Phil. 2:12-13). And so I ask for your prayers for Esperanza. She is the "hub" for the other churches at the current time. But more than a strategic importance, she is made of people. Real, live, brothers and sisters in Christ. God has ordained them to good works (Eph. 2:10), so please ask God, on our behalf, to make good on His promise. We can only ask this because He has bound Himself to His Word; and far from being impudent, it pleases God for us to come boldly before Him in this manner (Heb. 4:16).

God bless to all who are reading this. May grace and peace be yours in Christ Jesus. Next time, I will write on the church at Boruco. A few years ago, it was about 5 strong. Now it ranges from 50- sometimes over 100.

The church at Esperanza