We had a very special service, in which the children participated in leading worship, being ushers/greeters, and even teaching for the Word of God. It was wonderful to see how the Lord works even through the little ones. Take a look at the video located here:
Advanced School of Ministry Meetings
During the last week of January, we were in Cuernavaca for the Advanced School of Ministry leadership training seminar. Around 1,000 pastors and leaders were present this year to receive four days of training. Both Sara and I had the opportunity to share during the general sessions. I also interpreted for Dr. Tim Hamon during his sessions.
Church Christmas Dinner
On December 21, we had a Christmas dinner with our church. This year, we were able to borrow a party hall for the event. We moved the entire church platform, sound system and instruments to the location of the dinner, about 10 minutes from our church.
The dinner was organized kind of like a pot-luck. Every table had a representative who was in charge of decoration a coordinating who would bring which dishes. That way everyone was able to participate, doing their own small part. Several families did a fantastic job decorating their tables. Over 300 people were present for the dinner.
We had a time of worship and singing of both Christmas songs and worship songs. After the time of worship, our girl’s choreography group presented a special number. They did a beautiful job!
Fall Leadership Group Studies
During the Fall months, we have been having a weekly Bible study with our core leadership group each Tuesday night. Our goal has been to seek the Lord, to establish Biblical leadership values in the hearts of our leaders, and to study the Scriptures which relate to church government.
Each week, we have had a meeting in our cabin to pray, read our study material and enjoy an informal dinner together. It has been a time of growth in both relationships among our leadership members and in the Word of God.
During our time together, we have discovered many Biblical principles which we have then applied in our Sunday services and in the life of the church in general. Our study of the area of church membership was especially edifying, both for us, as leadership, and for the church. Many of the points that the Holy Spirit emphasized to us were later shared in messages to the congregation during Sunday morning services.
Besides these studies in our cabin on Tuesdays, we have also spent time weekly with all of our cell group leaders each Monday night. During these meetings, we pray for each leader and I often share a teaching that has something to do with leadership or Christian doctrine in general.
Pastor Oscar, from the town of Cerro Colorado, and his wife have attended many of these leadership meetings with us, and it has definitely been a time of growth and spiritual edification.
Mexican Independence Day
Since it was on a Sunday this year, we had a special service and lunch together to celebrate. We tried our best to unite the groups of both of our Sunday morning services into a single group. We put a projector and sound system outside in our parking lot, under a tent, and those that didn’t fit inside the building sat outside. When the service was over, we all had lunch and a few games together.
It was good for the church to get together, not just to worship, but also to eat together. Remember, this was a vital part of the life of the church in the book of Acts.
Acts 2:46: And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart…
