On to Paraguay

This week, four people from our local fellowship in Ocala will be traveling to San Estanislao, Paraguay for a short term mission with E3 Partners ministry. We will be assisting local churches in discipleship and evangelism, in order to plant a new church.

So why is it important for Americans to travel all the way to a foreign country and share the gospel in person? Aside from simply being obedient to the Lord's command to go into all the world (Matthew 28:19-20), a couple of ideas come to mind...

First- sharing one's testimony strengthens a person's faith. When we tell others about Jesus, the gospel message is confirmed in our hearts and in our consciences. We are reminded of the truth that God has saved us to live a new life (1 Peter 2:24). As we tell others about God's great love, it reminds us of how much we have been forgiven!

Second- When we walk alongside others to share our faith- there is a mutual learning that takes place. When I hear someone else share their testimony, I find insights and approaches that I would not have thought on my own. Even more so, when sharing bilingually, it is important to make the basic message of the gospel clear: That an all-loving, all perfect God desires fellowship with his creatures. That he sent his only son Jesus to pay the penalty for mankinds sin, and that he raise Jesus from the dead to demonstrate his love and power, and that by believing in what Jesus did is the only way to have a relationship with God. As we work with translators to share the gospel, we will understand how to make things C-L-E-A-R, as one pastor likes to say.

Third- sharing our faith in a different culture requires that we depend completely on the Holy Spirit. In America it is easy to get caught up in the culture wars, battling liberal mindsets or skeptics, and trying to "one-up" someone in an argument. As we share the gospel message to people in a foreign context, we will be reminded that in order for someone to believe, God must-by the power of His Holy Spirit- make them born again. No amount or human argumentation, logic, compelling personal stories, or fancy words will change a person's heart. As Jonah prayed in the belly of the whale, "Salvation is of the Lord." (Jonah 2:9)

As the group is traveling, please pray for the following:

1. Good connections with local Christians and pastors who are planting churches.

2. Safe and efficient travel

3. Sufficient strength and protection from illness

4. An expansion of God's kingdom and the personal horizons of each person who is going- to see that God is at work in many different locales.

5. Boldness to proclaim the gospel and for people to come to faith in Christ for the first time.

As it says in Romans, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"