Mutually Encouraged
by Felipe Martinez
The first set of Indiana mission travelers have arrived in NQR. We have people from Indianapolis Northminster (Cancun), Columbus Fairlawn (Cancun), Indianapolis Tab (Cozumel), Indianapolis Orchard Park / Anderson First / Dubuque (Playa del Carmen), Indianapolis Second (Playa del Carmen).
Today I had the opportunity to greet people from Second and Anderson/Orchard Park, as we are all staying in the same hotel ( http://www.haciendamariabonita.com ). Both groups went to their respective partner churches (Second to Nicte Ha and Anderson/Orchard Park to Ejido). I joined the folks going to Ejido at 10 a.m., where pastor Joel gave us a gracious welcome. We spent time with the congregation singing praise songs (some of them we knew in English, which emboldened us to sing out the Spanish lyrics) and then we had a time of Sunday School. Worship will be tonight at 7 p.m., and the group will be back. I will connect with the Second's team to go to Nicte Ha for tonight's worship.
It was interesting that this morning's Sunday School lesson at Ejido was about Christian Stewardship. The pastor is planning to teach on this theme for several weeks, to remind the people that what we have comes from (and ultimately belongs to) God, to encourage the people to be good stewards of those gifts, and to challenge them to give with a glad heart. I admire the stewardship of the churches here, because they work hard with limited resources and are able to lift up new congregations to serve the people. And yet, one of the examples the pastor used was how these "visitors from the United States" modeled good stewardship as churches and members generously donate from their time and their money to come to Playa del Carmen to help with God's work. I am humbled that he lifted up our efforts as an example, since I consider them a model to emulate as well. I guess that's the point of the partnership: we learn from each other and are encouraged by one another.
I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith. Romans 1:11-12
The first set of Indiana mission travelers have arrived in NQR. We have people from Indianapolis Northminster (Cancun), Columbus Fairlawn (Cancun), Indianapolis Tab (Cozumel), Indianapolis Orchard Park / Anderson First / Dubuque (Playa del Carmen), Indianapolis Second (Playa del Carmen).
Today I had the opportunity to greet people from Second and Anderson/Orchard Park, as we are all staying in the same hotel ( http://www.haciendamariabonita.com ). Both groups went to their respective partner churches (Second to Nicte Ha and Anderson/Orchard Park to Ejido). I joined the folks going to Ejido at 10 a.m., where pastor Joel gave us a gracious welcome. We spent time with the congregation singing praise songs (some of them we knew in English, which emboldened us to sing out the Spanish lyrics) and then we had a time of Sunday School. Worship will be tonight at 7 p.m., and the group will be back. I will connect with the Second's team to go to Nicte Ha for tonight's worship.
It was interesting that this morning's Sunday School lesson at Ejido was about Christian Stewardship. The pastor is planning to teach on this theme for several weeks, to remind the people that what we have comes from (and ultimately belongs to) God, to encourage the people to be good stewards of those gifts, and to challenge them to give with a glad heart. I admire the stewardship of the churches here, because they work hard with limited resources and are able to lift up new congregations to serve the people. And yet, one of the examples the pastor used was how these "visitors from the United States" modeled good stewardship as churches and members generously donate from their time and their money to come to Playa del Carmen to help with God's work. I am humbled that he lifted up our efforts as an example, since I consider them a model to emulate as well. I guess that's the point of the partnership: we learn from each other and are encouraged by one another.
I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith. Romans 1:11-12
posted by NQR Team @ 3:43 PM
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