Disciples making disciples in Zaracai

"Open your eyes," the small voice prompted me. I lifted my head, "...for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these" His Word echoed (Mat 19:14). God was pleased to be present in the hearts of these children in the barrio of Zaracai (Santo Domingo).

Pastor Jorge invited me to this growing outreach that he was leading through two of his disciples, Miguel and Suzana. I was encouraged that our pastors training program was able to help equip, pray for, and encourage Jorge in this evangelistic ministry.

Pastor Jorge (top right), encourages Miguel and Suzana as they lead this local outreach to the children of Zaracai. 


* Please pray this week for the development of our pastor's discipleship group. In Quichua culture it is not easy for them to grasp the power of the informal setting in non-western Biblical and theological education. 

*Pray God would continue to guide pastors and leaders to study in the context of Discipleship.

*Pray for Miguel and Suzana (pictured above) and other "disciples of our disciples" who are on the front lines of evangelistic and discipleship ministries in places few missionaries visit.

Four nations worship under one Tsachila church roof!

Left to right: Spanish Pastor Marco and his wife Maria from the Nazarene Church in Santo Domingo, Quichua pastor Jorge Herrera one of our students who is based out of Chimborazo and ministers in several places across Ecuador, Tsachila church leader, Primativo,  (and his grand daughter) from the Tsachila church in Congoma, yours truely, (Ross), Pioneers USA Missionary based in Riobamba, Luis (Quichua) and his wife Jessica (Tsachila), and their three kids, members of Quichua Pastor Lorenzo's church in Santo Domingo (Lorenzo is one of Ross' students - not pictured above).

The Tsafique words came over the sound system; "Junni acola, soquila, Diosi nulaca laquiranan..." "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy...." (Click the words above to hear Romans 12:1 in Tsafique). Primativo, one of the four Tsachilas believers who showed up for the service, stood up and gave a brief summery in Tsafique of the message Pastor Marco was about to preach in Spanish.

It was a special opportunity as a North American to worship alongside the Tsachila, Spanish, and Quichua cultures in one service. Primativo and Pastor Marco and his family, gave us a warm welcome. After the service we sat together sharing stories of how God was working in our lives. Primativo shared of another church in another Tsachila settlement that was meeting. In both churches there was a growing hunger to learn more about God and His Word. As we were leaving, Primativo called out "Come to my house on your next visit and we can talk some more." 

Please continue to pray for our Tsachila outreach through the Quichua. Pastor Marco was open and interested to hear about our ministry to train indigenous pastors. This outreach also serves as a platform to train our Quichua students about missions. Please continue to pray for our vision to train Tsachila leaders to pastor and reach out to the greater 98% of the Tsachila nation who do not know Christ. 

"And they sang a new song, saying, 'Worthy art Thou to take the book, and to break its seals; for Thou wast slain, and didst purchase for God with Thy blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.'"(Rev 5:9 NAS)

...Jesus simply said "Make Disciples!"

"Therefore go to the un-reached,  plant churches, and set up theological schools in all nations teaching them to obey...”  “No hermano David," (Ross’ Spanish name),  "It does not say that,” A student interrupted, “Jesus simply said 'Make Disciples!'”

Pastor Jose and Pastor Pedro at El Corderito (the Sacrificial Lamb)

 Pastor Lorenzo,  began to read from one of our texts “It all started with Jesus calling a few men to follow him….” (Robert Colemans’s The Master Plan of Evangelism.)

What if we could learn about God in the same way Jesus taught His disciples… if theological education was more than learning about God … but part of our calling to know Him... to serve Him? Would you leave “your nets” if the master asked you to follow Him? 

Pastor Lorenzo from Santo Domingo (and a leader from his church), Pastor Antonio from Capolusipungu, and Jorge Moyolema, director of the SINAI seminary in the first meeting of our Pastors Discipleship Group.

Lorenzo continued, “His concern was not with programs to reach the multitudes, but with the men whom the multitudes would follow.” (ibid)

Pastor Jorge Herrera co-teaching a Bible course with Ross as part of the Earthquake Crisis Response project in Pedernales.

Please pray for the formation of our Pastors Discipleship Group. We have six students committed to study right now and are asking the Lord to raise up four more who desire "follow Him" through our program of Discipleship Training.

Father, I Choose to Forgive... in Capulispungu

It was a cold wet morning on my journey up the Quichua mountain just past the little town of Guamote. Dark stains of mud from recently cleared landslides, quilt-like patches of hand and oxen plowed fields, and the thin (12,000 ft) air of the Andes were all part of the journey to Capulispungo, the remote Quichua village of one of our students, Pastor Antonio. I stopped to wait for a small group of drunken men as they danced in front of my Jeep to the irregular beat of an out of tune hand drum. Today was Carnival, (the MardiGras of Latin America), a religious holiday that spans three days of fiestas that celebrates the coming of Lent. The Evangelical Quichua often host conferences and workshops this time of year to provide their families with an alternative to the drunken revelry that is laced throughout the fiestas. For this little church, Carnival is a time when families travel great distances to gather and worship together in their home town. 

I was privileged to lead this humble church through the portion on forgiveness from Neil Anderson's Steps to Freedom. We took some time to look at the bondage of bitterness, and how forgiveness can set us free from the heavy burdens of broken relationships. We moved into small groups and they asked God to reveal the names of those who have hurt them in the past. Then one by one they began the process to forgive and release their pain. Some wept, others just poured out their hearts before the Lord. It was a time of healing. 

Please pray for the Quichua church of Capulusipugu. The process of forgiveness often evokes spiritual opposition.

Pray for pastor Antonio as he continues to guide his church through this process.