As I look out into the congregation from behind the piano all I notice is the sea of gringos, only sprinkled with a few brown faces. Where am I? This doesn’t look like Panama. I’m at Gamboa Union Church with Pastor Bill Wilbur. This quaint sanctuary is situated directly across from the Panama Canal in the previously US controlled territory of Gamboa. The sign on the front of the church reads, “God loves tourists.” To say this church is “unique” would be an understatement. But, who knew God had such a great story of encouragement for me this month and the setting would take place right here.
We met Pastor Bill through the director of the YWAM base. His family and several other students attend this church and invited us to tag along. When we entered the church we were greeted by a friendly white man in his seventies. It was Pastor Bill. He later told us that he and his family had moved to Panama over 30 years ago because the Lord was calling them to Pastor a church. This man is amazing. His main ministry here in Panama, outside of the church, has been prison ministry. He even invited us to go along with him.
In the prison we were able to have a time of worship with the inmates. To watch some of them worship with such a passion was a hightlight for me that day. We also shared some testimonies about how the Lord used hard situations and bad decisions in our lives to show that it’s never do late for redemption. We shared a message of hope that assured the men that God is looking for reasons to restore His children back to Him and not the other way around. We told them how God had cleansed our hearts and made us whole and how He can do the same for them. While it was much too short of a time, I enjoyed sharing Christ with these men.
After that first day, Pastor Bill took us under his wing and truly blessed us throughout the month. He had a special lunch delivered whenever we were at the church for us to enjoy. He encouraged us in worship and gave us many opportunities to lead on Sundays. He introduced us to a wonderful couple that later has us over for the nicest dinner we’ve had in 6 months. He would call me just to say something encouraging or let me know he and his wife had prayed for me that morning. He even had us over for a movie day.
What I loved most about my time spent with Pastor Bill was that he doesn’t just talk a good game, his life truly represents Christ. I admired how he serves his church, the love and compassion he has for the prisoners, and to how he took such great care of us and blessed us because he recognized we were doing the Lord’s work.
Without even trying, Pastor Bill was a genuine encourager this month. He showed the love of Christ is such tangible ways that I can only hope to imitate his willingness to serve in the future. I’m so thankful that I was allowed to meet him and experience his love.
Thanks Pastor Bill.
