We only have three days left here in Arroyo and only 6 till we get to
Guatemala.
It’s been a good experience with few surprises.
The culture is still very westernized if rural.
Males tend to dominate, women are expected to work hard at home, have babies and feed everyone.
Ministry is hard here.
Mexico, in general, is incredibly religious thanks to the Catholic influence yet this tends to work against the efforts of the living, passionate church.
In Spanish, people “saber” the truth (as in they have acquired the information) but they do not “conocer” the truth (they are not intimately familiar with it in a life-changing/relational sense).
The pastors spend their time trying to explain this difference and challenging people to make the shift.
Some don’t believe they need it and that their childhood catechism is sufficient, many are terrified of the confrontation.
It’s not an incredibly aggressive evangelistic method – people don’t make eye contact when speaking, for instance.
I haven’t seen almost any church structure or hierarchy beyond the pastoral role.
Services in the churches are the only ministry the churches have.
Music is a somewhat trustworthy barometer between the living and the sleeping churches.
Testimony and sermon are okay, but I haven’t seen engagement as much from the people during these times.
Prayer and worship in the awakened churches are highly expressive.
Very few pastors have any kind of training and even fewer have relationships with other ministers.
The Catholic and Presbyterian churches here in Arroyo, for example, are incredibly critical of Marcos and his little charismatic congregation and want nothing to do with these “overly-emotional” believers.
One of the most basic church growth tools, assimilation, is mission from the pastors’ visions for their churches.
Visitation is frequent but follow up is non-existent.
The most commonly referenced scripture passages come from the Psalms even at the other churches here in town.
No one but the pastors have Bibles even though they are in Chol and are incredibly affordable.
No good reasons have been given for this yet.
Whether from lack of training or an underdeveloped (or non-existent) gift of discernment, the charismatic manifestations can easily get out of control.
They understand spiritual warfare but don’t tend to use it properly.
For example, every sick individual is assumed to be possessed or tormented by a demonic spirit.
Herimias, our mentally-handicapped friend, is viewed by everyone as being possessed.
It doesn’t help that there were, in fact, spirits attacking him that we had to get rid of.
We, as Americans, are asked constantly to pray for healing.
The pastors need training.
They need Biblical and theological teaching so they can lead responsibly and effectively.
They also need leadership training for how to set up and run a church.
Church growth strategies, discipleship methodologies and development of purpose and vision would all greatly enhance their ministry.
In general, mentors, apostles and teachers are needed.
Pastors fly solo with almost no encouragement or spiritual relationship outside their walls.
They need money as well-especially in the poorer communities.
Having said all that, our team is setting up a fund to bless our pastor Marcos to have him attend a two year leadership and Bible training program.
The details are still being worked out, but soon the call will go forth to have many of you reading be a part of changing the life of the place I have called home during January.
The two years will include a two months on, four months off cycle.
It’s free to pastors, but they need money to support their families.
We have estimated that to make this a possibility it will take $150 a month to make this a possibility for Marcos.
With only 8 official months of engaged schooling, we’re talking a grand total of $1200 give or take.
Please be in prayer with Team 61 on how you can be a part of this life-changing ministry.
