As we leave the roughly 600 new converts to Biblical Christianity, they received the gospel and made a pledge to follow Jesus, our leader presented the sheets to the new pastor of the church to follow up on. This is a new pastor that we ordained who is just finishing seminary and is 24 years old. He grew up in the church, got saved through the church and its' mission organization we came with, and is very invested in the church and its' people.
I would normally cringe at the thought of such a young pastor, (the arrogance of my youth couldn't have handled it) but I imagine Timothy and Titus not being much older. Besides that, the congregation consists of predominantly youth that are fired up for Jesus so a pastor just slightly older than them might be what they need. Jesus asked in Luke, "When the Son of Man returns will He find faith on this Earth?", and I am glad the answer to that question is safely "yes" for the next 40 years.
They have a small church and a big task ahead of them. We need to pray ...
1. That as they follow up on the new believers that they would not grow weary in well doing and complete the task
2. That the single 24 year old pastor, J.R., would not succumb to the temptations that people his age get in loads ... lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, pride of life... but the flame of the Holy Spirit in His life would continue to be fanned
3. That the gospel came not with just words but life changing Holy Spirit power and when we come back the Church would not have less people like it did this time after our 900 "converts" in 2018 but would be exploding with people who have experienced life changing salvation.
4. That a satellite church would be formed in the fishing village 10 minutes away. We found a location now pray that if this is God's plan it would come to fruition.
The Church of Infanta is young and vibrant but small. Pray for it to take off!
I would normally cringe at the thought of such a young pastor, (the arrogance of my youth couldn't have handled it) but I imagine Timothy and Titus not being much older. Besides that, the congregation consists of predominantly youth that are fired up for Jesus so a pastor just slightly older than them might be what they need. Jesus asked in Luke, "When the Son of Man returns will He find faith on this Earth?", and I am glad the answer to that question is safely "yes" for the next 40 years.
They have a small church and a big task ahead of them. We need to pray ...
1. That as they follow up on the new believers that they would not grow weary in well doing and complete the task
2. That the single 24 year old pastor, J.R., would not succumb to the temptations that people his age get in loads ... lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, pride of life... but the flame of the Holy Spirit in His life would continue to be fanned
3. That the gospel came not with just words but life changing Holy Spirit power and when we come back the Church would not have less people like it did this time after our 900 "converts" in 2018 but would be exploding with people who have experienced life changing salvation.
4. That a satellite church would be formed in the fishing village 10 minutes away. We found a location now pray that if this is God's plan it would come to fruition.
The Church of Infanta is young and vibrant but small. Pray for it to take off!