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March 24, 2007
Hooray, our fellow minister Jose Lopez!
I am back from Chiapas with a joyful update. It increased my gratitude as I enjoyed teaching a group of the Word-lovers. Pastor Jose Lopez (far left) with 16 students welcomed me for a week class on spiritual leadership. They include Francisco, Cristina, Felipe, Betty, Federico, Samuel, Raul, Marbella, Roda, Oscar, Lucas, Jose Antonio, Eloy, Rosa, Maria, & Jose Manuel. Special thanks to Cristina, who was also busy nursering her 4th son. Her husband is so supportive--unusual in their culture--that allows her study off home. She is from Nueva Esperanza, a village on a different mountain.
It's been almost 7 years since we opened the Institute and pastor Jose was one of the first students. His Spanish was as bad as my Ch'ol was. He graduated two years later. Not only his Spanish but his Bible knowledge also improved. He was one of my sharp and wise students. The time passed by so fast. About 1 1/2 years ago, right before our departure to USA for home-service and then our permanent move to Cuernavaca, I called the students and reminded them, for the last time, the importance of this teaching ministry and the urgency of its local ownership. It seemed hard for them to grasp my words and thoughts. I thought my words were hitting the wall. It was my latest thought even after the last year visit to Tocob campus.
The things changed. My thought changed. I was wrong. I am glad that I was wrong on this. Last year, pastor Jose did resign from his pastoral duty at his hometown church in order to serve the Institute on full time. It was not an easy decision for him to make but he did it anyway. He told me that he did finally buy my words on local ownership of the Institute and the reason to raise the younger generations for Christ.
One morning, he woke up very early and disappeard into dark mountains to collect firewoods in order to serve the students with hot coffee and tasty dishes. Francisca, his wife, has been all day long in the church kitchen cooking with other ladies. The simple looking foods tasted even delicious. It was a heaven to me. I am so pleased to have known and discipled such a pastor whose heart is now available for his people: Cho'ls of Tumbala and Tila.
Please join us in prayer for pastor Jose and his ministry at "The Good Seedsower" Reformed Bible Institute of Chiapas. May his vision enrich and multiply the number of students!
Posted by nanana at March 24, 2007 08:16 PM