Wow. So much has happened in the last two weeks. I don’t even know where to begin so I’ll try. I arrived at Generation 42 in Mijas, Spain about two weeks ago. Eager and a little anxious about the new decision. There was a lot of thoughts on what I expected. A lot of mystery surrounding this new season. When I explained to a lot of my supporters what I was doing it was hard. I knew the overall goal was learning to build missional communities but that’s about all I could say. Even after being here for two weeks I can’t fully explain it. The goal is to train leaders to go out and change the world. No more school or trips but go do the dang thing. So that’s exciting news.
What I have learned so far is that this is where I need to be. There’s an incredible presence of the Lord here. The leaders in the class above us and the staff who has been teaching us. They all have sacrificed massive roles that to the world seem perfect. Many have turned down opportunities to be at mega churches or doing something else the world says is successful to be here in the classroom on the side of a mountain in Spain. Because the believe. They believe in Christ. The believe that the message most of us have received about Christianity and what it is about isn’t what the Bible says.
I know for most of my life I believed that you believe in God, you get saved and you live your life trying to do good and help others then you go to heaven. But what if heaven isn’t point? Actually, thank God heaven isn’t the point. The point is that we were born to be loved. If you take everything else away that truth remains. We were created to be loved and in turn to be love. Because I have found that I don’t want to just sit and waste time trying to do good until the Lord takes me away. I want to live. I want to come alive. I want to walk around in this time I have on this earth free of fear and free to love whoever needs some love. The kingdom is here already and I think a lot of us are focused on the future kingdom but what if we’re missing the bigger picture.
One thing that I’m learning is that we don’t serve a God of the past. He’s not ancient and tucked away in a book. He’s living and moving daily. He’s inside of me and inside of you. And he wants to do things and change things. A huge thing that’s spoken here is that the point of discipleship is to see Christ formed in ourselves. For us to kill away our old selves of the world that have already been paid for and to become Christ incarnate. Jesus didn’t come to leave. He came to show us the way to know how to do things, how to break chains of oppression and disease, how to love the people we normally wouldn’t and how to walk with the Father. What would the world look like if it wasn’t full of people who were really really good at studying the word of God and going to church but more so people who desire to be like Christ in the world every single day. Don’t get me wrong. I love church and it’s great but I do think sometimes we get so caught up in knowing God intellectually we miss out on knowing him experientially. On knowing his relationship aspect. The entire reason he created us. Abram didn’t have the scriptures of even the Torah to read and learn about God. He had relationship with God. And we have that too. We can hear him. We can see him. We can do create with him. We can also change the world with him and that’s what I’m planning on doing.
Something I learned quickly is that I want to learn to build missional communities but that isn’t why I am here. One of the things that they have here is Men if God. Something I’m not custom to being fully surrounded by. I was extremely uncomfortable the first few days honestly. I realized how much not having a man in my life growing up has affected me. It has honestly been uncomfortable being around them. But it’s getting better. And these are men who are doing and living their lives in the same way in front of the crowds as in their homes. The constantly preach on being a Man of God and picking up your sword to fight for those who can’t. They constantly drill in the reminder that as a Man I have been given authority. Not only as a Man but as a Child of God I have been given the authority here to take care of his creation and creations. I haven’t been walking fully in that. And to anyone that may have hurt, I apologize. But these shoulders are broad for a reason. They were meant to carry a heavy load. And I intend to do that. To stand in the gap for the women and children who have been hurt too long by the enemy.
But it’s a process and I am just starting this season and I’m already beginning to feel my authority grow. I told God I would do whatever he asked and so far that’s looked a lot like speaking in class. It’s not really answering questions about the Bible or theology but more so stating my fears and releasing them. Praying over people and stepping into boldness in front of people I barely know. And really just breaking off the last remnants of fear of man that I have let stop me from being who I was created to be. My presence when I talk to a group is always different because of that fear. I am quiet and timid and struggle showing emotion when I share my story or give words. But not anymore. I wish I could really explain this better but I don’t have the words right now. And that’s ok. In time the fruit will be seen because this is how they will know I belong to the father. By my fruit. I am excited and expectant for really big things in this season. I am so thankful for the things I have learned in two weeks and the things I will continue to learn. The city is beautiful but honestly it’s been so hard to fully enjoy because my brain is just in overload right now. But it will get better.
As for news in Spain. I believe Monday they will be closing mostly everything. We are stocking up on food and supplies tomorrow but only because the stores will close. We know the Corona is going around and spreading wildly but we are all choosing not to live in fear. There are a few cases in our town but we are safe. I also have seen a lot of churches are closing doors back home. Definitely a smart move. I would encourage those back home to maybe host a home church or something of the sort and whether someone gives a word or you just pray I think that would be incredible. Know that we are covering the world in prayer as a group and are aware of the things.
Other cool news. I believe as of now my three months out of country will be in Iraq. I got accepted for a position with an organization that’s choosing love over hate and fear. Loving the behind enemy lines. That’s their motto. It’s beautiful. I’ll be there for the summer if all continues to go well. I am beyond excited for this opportunity.
If a lot of the things above don’t make sense or sound weird. Please reach out. I would love to chat with anyone.
the next blog I post will be my final on this site and it will be notifying you of the new site. Can’t wait to update y’all a little more down the road.
also I am still fundraising for the rest of my time here my goal is 10,000 and I need about 3,500 more to be funded. reach out to me if you would like to donate and thank you!
love y’all.
thomas pond
