We had our outreach service on Saturday night on the basketball court in San Pablo. When we arrived Pastor Antonio was already helping get the sound system ready. I knew when I saw the speakers that this night we be nothing less than loud and powerfull.
The speakers were huge and totally ready to blast out the sounds of our worship, our drama, our testimonies, and the message of our Lord. We set up chairs for the people to sit in, and there were also plenty of seats alongside of the court that resemble bleachers. The sounds guys also came with a huge nice keyboard for Pastor Antonio to play, and I think he really enjoyed the opportunity to get some good sounds out of those black and white keys. They set up a microphone on the side for the youth of the church. They all play drums, maracas, or tamborines. We have quite the percussion section, and you could see the joy on their faces as they came on stage to show off their talents.
While everyone was getting ready, Gary hooked up his laptop to the sound system and started playing some David Crowder, John Reuben, and Grits to attract a crowd. The music was just the way I like it… LOUD! Kids starting coming in and came down to the front to investigate. One of them had a basketball, and so I offered them the opportunity to see my skills. (My skills really are quite limited, but I think the show was entertaining none the less.) Katherine came over and the two of us had a great time, making the kids laugh. She´s got some basketball skills of her own, don´t be fooled.
Finally, people started to come and fill the seats. They came on Guatemalan time, meaning about 6:30 rather than the start time of 6:00. We´re getting quite used to the adjustment though. Pastor Antonio and our team organized an order of service and prayed together. We laid hands specifically on Pastor Antonio because he was to give the sermon that night on the Prodigal Son. It seemed apropriate that he go ahead for the sake of skipping out on two translations.
The music started and a great atmosphere of praise and worship surrounded the court. It was full of the sounds of songs in Spanish, keyboards, lots of drums and maracas, kids playing on the other end of the court, and the bustling street. The wind started to pick up, almost like God was saying… “HEY! I´m here.” The night was going great.
Soon it was our turn to take part in the service. We sang a song in Spanish that we have been learning and Pastor Antonio played the guitar. It was one of better singing performances. As soon as it was over I broke out the iodine and bleach and went to work telling the Gospel through my object lesson. The kids always like to see what´s going to happen to the dirty water when you add a little bit of bleach-filled Jesus. Their eyes grow ten sizes and their mouths drop to the floor.
The time finally came for the drama. I introduced the idea behind the drama. God creates two girls. The first one rejects Jesus, and in turn is opened up to the attack of Satan. I play Satan and get to sneak up behind the girl and trap her in her sin. The other girl accepts the Lord though, and lives a life that glorifies and praises Him. Satan doesn´t like that very much. So I sneak up behind the bad girl and lure her deeper into sin. Finally, disgusted with her life, she turns to Jesus with the words, “What´s going on inside of me! I despise my own behavior!¨ Jesus´look of compassion falls on the girl, and He breaks her from from her sin with powerful force. Satan is now done for, laying face-down in the corner. Both girls then set out to worship the Lord, and the song ends with everyone praising Jesus!
I was so proud of the team. Many of them hadn´t been involved in these types of dramas before, but they learned so quickly and acted powerfully. Sarah was convincing as the bad girl, and Katherine´s big smile really did praise God throughout the drama. Gary has a soft heart, so he played a very compassionte Jesus. Casey, though she wasn´t in the drama, was a big help in starting the music and making sure it faded out on que.
My quick glances through the crowd during the drama showed a very attentive crowd. The kids were struck with awe. The adults´hearts were beating fast, and people were stopping all along the street to see what was going on up on the stage. The best part came after the drama though. While everyone´s attention was on the stage, Sarah came up and shared her testimony. She spoke about her connection with the character in the drama and how after giving her life to Jesus, she finally found true joy. I´ve seen the drama done lots of times, and I´ve heard lots of testimonies to go after the drama. But Sarah connected in such a way that nobody could dismiss the saving power of our God. It was an amazing visualization of God´s grace and love.
Pastor Antonio finished up with his sermon on the Prodigal Son. I couldn´t understand any of it, but he spoke with a unparralled passion and conviction. The little town of San Pablo experienced an evening dedicated to grace. We didn´t have any salvations that night, as far as we know. But the light of Christ shown throughout the town. It was like Joshua´s trumpets were bringing down the walls of sin and lies over the San Pablo. Christ is coming in, and it´s been great to be a part of that work in Guatemala. I can´t wait to hear stories throughout the year of how God is changing hearts and lives here.
Philippians 2:14, 15
“Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which
you shine like stars in the universe.”
