Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-19
This month our team is partnering with YWAM (Youth With A Mission) in Potrerillos Arriba, Panama. One of YWAMs main ministries is their discipleship school. Jesus never asked for converts, he asked for disciples. He doesn’t just want people to know about him, He wants people to follow him. In response to the great commission this YWAM base puts on intensive courses on what it means to be a follower of Christ. They teach their students for several months, and then they send them out to do the same.
Our week in the mountains brought all sorts of excitement to the community here. It marked the start of the very first indigenous discipleship school conducted on indigenous lands, in their own indigenous language. Earlier this year a large warehouse building was constructed to hold the discipleship courses, as well as to serve as a community building.
The local indigenous pastor, Rafael, is an incredible man. Two years ago God told Rafael to leave his home and start a church in this small mountainside community. God also told him that one day a road would be built to reach that community. So, Rafael picked up his family and left. They walked 10 hours into the mountains with nothing more than the clothes on their back. When they arrived the community did not accept them. In fact, Rafael, his wife, and his children all slept under a tree in the pouring rain for three straight days. It wasn’t until the third day that a local man decided to make room for them in his home. That man became the community’s first Christian. Then Rafael starting teaching and preaching in the community. During the past two years, 10 churches have been established by Rafael. His ministry has seen over 900 people come to know Jesus. I think the most incredible part of this story is that Rafael will never be recognized for what he does (at least while he remains here on Earth). If Rafael lived in the US he would be famous; people would glorify his faith and his commitment. But Rafael does not live in the US. Rafael lives in a small hut with a mud floor and a few sheets of metal to cover his head. His life is one of complete humility.
So why does he do it?…
Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:34-40
By the way… today there is a road that reaches the mountain community. The end of the road is right in front of the new YWAM base.
While the full time YWAM missionaries were helping to conduct the discipleship school, our team had the opportunity to hang out with the local kids. We put on a vacation bible school and spent literally 12 hours a day entertaining everyone. It was exhausting, but they loved every minute of it!
