Hey Lake Forest-
Me and Missio-Dei-Gumby are enjoying some Colombian coffee while looking over the city of Bogota, Colombia this morning. After the spirit-wrenching last three days, we are spending our time in Scripture this morning in John's letters to the seven persecuted churches in Asia (modern southwest Turkey) that make up the beginning of the book of Revelation. This is my prayer today for pastor Josemar (not his real name), which I will extend as my prayer for all 80 of the pastors I spent this week with. I'll ask you to pray it with me:
Revelation 2:8-10 "To the church in Smyrna (and the red zones controlled by communist guerrillas and paramilitarys in Colombia) write (pray): The first and last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this:
I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich!). Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life."
Me and the other pastors ministering to the 80 persecuted pastors in this part of Bolivia laid hands on Josemar yesterday. He was called last week and given an appointment to meet the guerrilla commander of his district in a remote field today after noon. "To discuss matters too sensitive for the phone." The last time he received this call, eight years ago, he was kidnapped for ten days (the same amount of time members of the church of Smyrna would be imprisoned in the first century), then ransomed for release. Nevertheless he and his family have continued their ministry of traveling miles on foot trails to teach the Gospel in remote areas and care for believers, some years in secret other years holding open worship services. His appointment this afternoon may mean death, imprisonment, beating, new restrictions on his movements, or other.
How could I, pastor of Lake Forest Church in Lake Norman, dare to pray for such a faithful servant of God? How could I dare to even teach the Word to such heroes and saints? I couched my three days of ministry among them as this: I am here to represent the Body of Christ in America, and my church specifically. You are not forgotten - you are admired, held up in prayer, and cheered on by a host of saints in this world and in the heavenlies! For 2,000 years persecuted saints and martyrs have been at the vanguard of the expansion of the Gospel. Your calling is difficult and unique, know that you are the heroes of the church (I gave the example of boys trading baseball or soccer cards of their heroes).
The Voice of the Martyrs ministry, which sponsored the conference, lives out my statement to those pastors in myriad ways, making sure they are not forgotten through prayer, financial sustenance, provision of means of transportation (canoes, motorbikes and donkeys), etc. Through the ministry of John Hernandez and Children's International Network we handed out six months of fabulous children's curriculum to each attendee.
Here are some quick impressions and thoughts that I have noted to reflect upon over the next couple of weeks:
- trip here in which a storm caused my plane to land first in Medellin for a while
- my extreme anxiousness at preaching to such profound men and women of God
- tearfully washing each of their feet in worship
- more tearfully receiving their washing of my feet and prayer over me
- pastors videotaping me on their phone as evidence the anglo church remembers them and their flock
- learning to say 'dios levendiga hermano/hermana' God bless you brother
- listening to the story of every pastor I could possibly have time to sit and listen to with every moment of the conference
As Josemar got on the bus to leave yesterday, he simply said "I am content." Thank you Lord, for the chance to imbibe your Spirit in a room full of Peters and Pauls this week, who can say with Paul "I have learned to be content in every circumstance."
Hey Lake Forest-
Me and Missio-Dei-Gumby are enjoying some Colombian coffee while looking over the city of Bogota, Colombia this morning. After the spirit-wrenching last three days, we are spending our time in Scripture this morning in John's letters to the seven persecuted churches in Asia (modern southwest Turkey) that make up the beginning of the book of Revelation. This is my prayer today for pastor Josemar (not his real name), which I will extend as my prayer for all 80 of the pastors I spent this week with. I'll ask you to pray it with me:
Revelation 2:8-10 "To the church in Smyrna (and the red zones controlled by communist guerrillas and paramilitarys in Colombia) write (pray): The first and last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this:
I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich!). Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life."
Me and the other pastors ministering to the 80 persecuted pastors in this part of Bolivia laid hands on Josemar yesterday. He was called last week and given an appointment to meet the guerrilla commander of his district in a remote field today after noon. "To discuss matters too sensitive for the phone." The last time he received this call, eight years ago, he was kidnapped for ten days (the same amount of time members of the church of Smyrna would be imprisoned in the first century), then ransomed for release. Nevertheless he and his family have continued their ministry of traveling miles on foot trails to teach the Gospel in remote areas and care for believers, some years in secret other years holding open worship services. His appointment this afternoon may mean death, imprisonment, beating, new restrictions on his movements, or other.
How could I, pastor of Lake Forest Church in Lake Norman, dare to pray for such a faithful servant of God? How could I dare to even teach the Word to such heroes and saints? I couched my three days of ministry among them as this: I am here to represent the Body of Christ in America, and my church specifically. You are not forgotten - you are admired, held up in prayer, and cheered on by a host of saints in this world and in the heavenlies! For 2,000 years persecuted saints and martyrs have been at the vanguard of the expansion of the Gospel. Your calling is difficult and unique, know that you are the heroes of the church (I gave the example of boys trading baseball or soccer cards of their heroes).
The Voice of the Martyrs ministry, which sponsored the conference, lives out my statement to those pastors in myriad ways, making sure they are not forgotten through prayer, financial sustenance, provision of means of transportation (canoes, motorbikes and donkeys), etc. Through the ministry of John Hernandez and Children's International Network we handed out six months of fabulous children's curriculum to each attendee.
Here are some quick impressions and thoughts that I have noted to reflect upon over the next couple of weeks:
- trip here in which a storm caused my plane to land first in Medellin for a while
- my extreme anxiousness at preaching to such profound men and women of God
- tearfully washing each of their feet in worship
- more tearfully receiving their washing of my feet and prayer over me
- pastors videotaping me on their phone as evidence the anglo church remembers them and their flock
- learning to say 'dios levendiga hermano/hermana' God bless you brother
- listening to the story of every pastor I could possibly have time to sit and listen to with every moment of the conference
As Josemar got on the bus to leave yesterday, he simply said "I am content." Thank you Lord, for the chance to imbibe your Spirit in a room full of Peters and Pauls this week, who can say with Paul "I have learned to be content in every circumstance."
May I not forget them.
-Mike Moses
