Chiapas: Report
When I first heard of PBM going into Chiapas, Mexico to
assist with the first Timothy Leadership Training in the rural areas, I was
very excited. You see, the TLT component
is one that not many people are aware of, yet plays a vital role in the ministry with PBM.
Most people are aware of the house building and the medical
clinics that happen when teams from the States come down to Guatemala. This element has been happening for nearly 18
years. This covers the Evangelism side
of the ministry. However, the
discipleship side of the ministry has really taken shape the last few years.
TLT seeks out men and women, called by God to serve
villages, and provides training, support, theology, and encouragement. Basically, it is placing diesel fuel on a
small fire…..except it is all based in God’s spirit and glory!
We have seen wonderful results from blessing pastors and
then releasing back into the corners of the world (or at least Guatemala and
Mexico). Going into this Chiapas week,
we heard that there was some potential for persecutions towards Christians,
especially Americans. This information
came from another missionary. The
information that we found from the Internet showed that there could be some
truth to this story. Yet, we still felt
compelled to go to assist with this first TLT.
There were 20 pastors that were wanting, needing, and were crying out
for help.
So we went. We bathed
it in prayer and trusted in the Lord to lead us. The drive to the border was truly
amazing. The joys of trying to figure
out the border crossing and getting to Las Margaritas proved to be much longer
than we anticipated. There were many
obstacles placed in our way, but we took that as confirmation that we were to
go.
The week was filled with hospitality, spirituality, and
amazement. Our desire is to work with
this group of pastors. Train up the ones
that will graduate to become master trainers and then step back and watch God
work in the lives of the pastors living in the sticks of Chiapas!
Something is stirring.
God is moving and it is showing.
Let the pictures soak in and speak to you.
As this is being written, we are preparing for the first
team to come to the base and build houses and host clinics. For me, it is encouraging to the fullness of
what God is doing and moving among the people of Guatemala.
