An example of a Church that is alive!!
Ometepe may be a small island in the second poorest nation in the Americas (Haiti is first), but it is a place coming alive with the passion of Christ. There is love here, flowing out of every member of the ever growing Centro Cristiano de Ometepe.
On Sunday mornings in Los Angeles, Nicaragua you will find a service with a 2 ½ hour mixture of dancing, singing, listening, laughing, and the resounding of “Amen” echoing through the blue cinder block building. The church moves, lives and loves like one body with one purpose – to reach the lost with the message of Christ. We continue to be amazed and encouraged by our brothers and sisters here in Ometepe, as we serve alongside one another.
The church currently has a total of 17 cell groups that meet once a week to worship together, play games, discuss the previous week’s sermon, for prayer and accountability. They are currently praying and working towards growing more cell groups in a wider area. Almost every member of the church is involved in a cell group and as a result, each person is actively involved in the church, from teenagers to older adults. That is close to 200 people fighting for the hearts of the lost on the island of Ometepe!
We prayer walked the other night through the neighboring town of Esquipula and there were about 70 people from the church that joined us in interceding and covering the community in prayer. On Saturday we had an outreach night on the basket ball court in the middle of Moyogalpa, the port town on the island. (This was our second of 3 outreaches in various communities on our side of the Island) Alissa and Chad preached, James participated in a skit with some of the youth, there were performances of dancing, singing from church members and worship with the praise band. The rest of the church was there as support, to pray with and talk to the people of the community that came to watch. The Gospel was preached, people were saved – God was glorified!
As a team we have learned so much from our time here in Ometepe. God is teaching us through the people around us to be more outward focused. Don’t settle for a great church full of believers when there are still people out there that are lost. Go get them! The vision of Centro Cristiano is to reach the entire island for Christ. There is a picture hanging in the front of the church that reads “Ometepe Para Cristo” – Ometepe for Christ! What an awesome reminder of the mission of the Church (and that is the Church with a capital C)! Sundays are for worshiping our God; the rest of the week is for finding the people to worship with us.
To HIM be all the glory!
