Disciples Making Disciples

    Our first calling, our first commissioning, as the body of Christ was to "Therefore GO and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." -Matthew 28:19-20 

    I love the exponential nature of the Kingdom of God. Making disciples in a ripple effect. A pebble tossed in a still pond. One life transformed that then goes and touches more lives than could have been initially imagined. 

     In this new year each of our Nicaraguan pastors have been able to raise up and empower leaders from within their churches. I remember when I first arrived in Nicaragua and you barely saw other men in the church. Now we have a strong group of men who are amazing dads and honest, faithful husbands and leaders (men like Erwin pictured right with his youngest daughter, Lisa). I love watching them be discipled by our pastors, rise up into leadership positions, and to see how their transformed lives help the church continue to grow.

    Last week I had commented to Walther that the Sunday school program in Santa Matilde had grown so much in this past year. Walther responded, "It's because of Erwin. The boys in the neighborhood love him. He is always spending time with them and now they follow him around and show up at his house whenever they need advice. Since then, they started coming in droves to the church too." I love watching our leaders love the community to Jesus. It is incredibly beautiful.     

    And then you have other amazing men of God like Hector and Joel in Nuevo Amanecer (Joel pictured below left with his family). These men have powerful testimonies, are such hard workers, and spend a great deal of time fathering their own children and other kids and teenagers in their village. I love that anytime I wander by the Castro's house that Joel's sons are there spending time with their dad. I love to watch the way that he patiently teaches and encourages so many of the teenage guys as he teaches them how to play musical instruments. It is an amazing ministry that he has among them.

    Hector loves his family so well (Hector pictured with his daughter, Evelyn, at her graduation). He walks through life and works with such diligence and joy. He has recently been named youth pastor in Nuevo Amanecer. This church is growing so much right now and I believe that Hector will lead these youth into deep waters with the Lord. I believe that his faith and his joy will show them all the goodness to be found in walking with the Lord. 

   We have men like Emilio in Candelaria. He is soft-spoken and kind. He works hard and loves his family well. Despite his health struggles, he works tirelessly both teaching the youth in Sunday school and walking alongside Pastor Alex as he leads the church in Candelaria. These men have come up with beautifully simple ways to bring the Word to life in the church. One of my favorite examples is that after studying the church's start in Acts they decided to begin adding a new dimension to our church's offering making space for families to bring in offerings of rice and beans to be distributed to families in need. I love the way that they are bringing the Scriptures to life:  "All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need." -Acts 4:32-35 

     These men are just a few of the leaders that have recently been raised up and commissioned as leaders. The church is growing. Leaders are rising up. We are making true disciples. I'm thankful to be a part of this church family.