Recently Phil Courson and I returned from a 4-day trip to Barranquilla, Colombia to visit our partner church, Mision Rescate.
Within Grace Partnership we have a vision to share in Mission, Equipping and Care. These three components of our vision are interconnected, and that was on display during our visit.
Grace Partnership Exists for Mission!
We had the privilege to travel to three towns near the city of Barranquilla. Soledad, Porto Colombia and Santa Thomas are towns that Mision Rescate is actively seeking to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ through church planting.
We met with Pastor Pierre and his family in Soledad to hear what the Lord is doing in their town. It was such an encouraging time, and I hope you can meet Pastor Pierre at our Grace Partnership Conference.
We traveled to Santa Thomas to see the town and to learn a little of its history. The plan is to begin a Sunday afternoon service in the New Year, where one of the pastors from Mision Rescate will initially serve while training and equipping men who may become elders for the new church.
Phil preached on Sunday afternoon in Porto Colombia to the small gathering of beleivers there. What a joy it was to meet with the church and see their passion for the Lord. We were even able to give a small gift to a newlywed couple for a celebratory dinner. They were so grateful.
Grace Partnership Exists for Equipping!
Thursday and Friday evening during our visit we had 4 teaching sessions with people who are in different equipping tracks within the church. Their hunger for sound doctrine was evident. How sobering and humbling to serve in a small way!
On Saturday morning approximately 100 seminary students gathered in person and several more hundred were live streaming. We taught on the 5 Solas (Christ alone, the Glory of God alone, Scripture alone, Grace alone, Faith alone). We also had a session on the importance of holding our doctrine in humility toward others instead of in a divisive or arrogant way.
After the morning sessions we had a meeting with several pastors expressing interest in wanting to learn more about Grace Partnership. This was followed by a lunch. Several pastors are now building a relationship with us. We look forward to seeing what God will do with these new relationships.
Grace Partnership Exists for Care!
Pastor Jaider turned down two lucrative job offers to serve the church as a full time elder, without knowing where his salary would come from. He and his wife, Quislis, have two children and they live in a small apartment on the edge of the city.
It is common to purchase an apartment that is unfinished, and this was the case for Jaider and Quislis. They did not have the resources to complete the kitchen or bedroom fixtures. Dressers are not common. Typically, a bedroom will have built in armoire’s in Latin America.
We asked what it would cost to complete these things. When we learned that the fixtures and labor would cost under $2500 we felt compelled to share with this family. We arranged to bring dinner, and over dinner Phil and I told them that GP would like to care for them in a specific way, to honor their faith and sacrifice. We gave them a gift of $3000 for finishing the basic needs in their apartment and to have something left for their children for Christmas. They cried many tears of gratitude. They didn’t ask us for anything. We believe it was the Lord’s leading, and it was only possible because of people like you who have vision to give.
Lord willing, you can meet them yourself in 2021! We are discussing a short-term missions team to Barranquilla. Is it time for you to start praying, asking the Lord if you should go?
We hope this report encourages you. Let’s remember; we can’t see all God will do if we aren’t willing to take faith-filled steps. That includes our generosity. As we respond to the needs and opportunities around us God promises to be faithful. And few things bring so much joy to our hearts as when hear the testimonies of how our faithful God provides.
We plan to assist the orphanage students we are partnered with this Christmas, along with the ministries we support in Bolivia. Should you desire to give simple go to the giving link here at www.gracepartnership.net.
God bless you!
