An unexpected Ministry
Minding our own business (or I should say, minding the business God gave us), we were working in Ecuador in the Andes mountains near Quito. Then suddenly came a tremendous curve ball. Debbie got the opportunity in March 2008 to take a team of youth to paint the creation story murals on the Galapagos Islands! It was a once in a lifetime opportunity, or so we thought...
May 2008
This past March 208 brought an unusual and blessed time of ministry in the Galapagos Islands, painting the creation murals in the birthplace of evolution. An unexpected byproduct came out of that time as well. I became aware of something that shocked me... the fact that there are more cults on the island than churches. This troubled me greatly, and continues to stay on my heart. Coincidentally, during our time there, I was invited back to teach the Bible in home settings. The person who invited me back exclaimed that many groups come to do social work, or to do construction projects, or to have internally oriented conferences, but no one teaches the Bible out among the people. This is not a church-attending person, but one interested in God and his word. He is a native and tuned in to the pulse of the people there, and a reasonably influential person on the island.
On my return to Quito after the ministry trip, I could not shake this strong desire to bring God's word to the island. I find it profoundly disturbing that there is no well grounded, non-charismatic doctrinal option anywhere in the Galapagos islands for those who would choose that course... with a focus on and hunger for God's word as the sole guiding light for their spiritual life.
We have been praying fervently on what to do with this burden, and have come to the decision to take this person's offer as a God given opportunity to return for 6 weeks and start at least one home Bible study group, with the goal of identifying and developing some "Timothies" and perhaps some cell groups. Beyond that; where all this might lead is completely in God's hands.
We’ve raised up a competent, devoted, and well organized group of Ecuadorians here that can carry on our work in the mountains of Ecuador while we are on our "ministry adventure". I don't foresee abandoning this work in Quito, but do see the possibility of expanding our ministry to encompass another area of operations if that what God wants. Empowering Nationals and building teams from within the host country allows such visions to become real. Whatever the case, I am totally about seeking and following God's will for my life and see this as another adventure that He is sending us on. Please be praying for us as we continue to live "beyond the comfort zone".
