We've had a busy day here in Peru. We went to Canete; and when I say that we went to Canete, I mean we went to a surrounding village where the people and the animals live very close to the same existence. In fact, I saw some places where they literally lived side by side.
When we came into the village, I was privelaged to talk to two people. Both were fascinating, but one in particular caught my immediate attention. He knew who he was talking to, and his was a cry for help. He told us that they lived in poverty (which was obvious), and that the government had forgotten them. Forgotten them. Candidates often campaign there and promise running water, but then of course conveniently forget their promises. The people live in whatever hovels they can eek out, and they work in the fields or as mototaxis pilots throughout town. They drive donkey carts. They also herd goats and sheep.
Needless to say, this saddened me, but something hit me as hard as that man's statement:
They are not forgotten. Though every man on the face of the planet may forget them, and they are oppressed beyond measure, they are not forgotten.
God knows their names, and has numbered the hairs on their head. They are not forgotten.
God is moving among them right now. As I write, He is raising up people with a heart for the people of Canete and with the right mix of Spiritual Gifts and natural talents to serve them. He has moved, is moving, and will move.
The people of Canete are not forgotten.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
The Whole Cultural Experience
Up to the jumping off point of our trip to Peru, I prayed fervently that God would allow me a complete cultural experience. I wanted to meet the people, taste the food, and experience some of the hardships that plague these people on a daily basis.
Well, my prayers were answered. Yesterday morning, I was blessed with illness. not just any illness, but a gut-wrenching, can't get warm, feverish, out of both ends extravaganza. I don't think I have ever felt so badly. But beyond that, it was very, very lonely. I came to Peru to work, and for the last two days I have stared at the pale yellow walls of my dorm. Usually, when I am sick, I have all of the comforts of home to keep me company, and my wife to wait dutifully on me and dote on me. Not here. This was a very new experience, and one I am already learning from. That may sound wierd (and it may well be delusional), but let me just offer a few of the things that I am learning about myself:
1. I am way too hooked up in things. It is obvious that I take way too much comfort in my stuff. This was revealed to me when I was sick and had no stuff save a couple of books. I didn't have my favorite comfort food, or my favorite comfort movie, or my favorite comfort coffee (yes, such a thing exists). My comfort should be wholly in Christ alone, and it is obvious that it is not.
2. America is so privaleged when it comes to medicines. Jeff told me prior to coming here that they sell medicines by the capsule. Even in my rural home, I have almost instant access to gobs of medicine. I even have a cabinet full of it. The major remedy here: herbal tea. Herbal Tea. And you know what? The herbal tea worked. It settled my stomach and comforted me. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm taking my cipro, and I'm glad to have it. But I am learning to be very grateful for the abudance of medicine we have in the United States.
3. Community is everything. After I took ill, Kailyn went across the street and in her best Spanish, explained to the Bodega owner that I was sick, and asked which crackers would be best for me (her sweetness never fails to melt me). she came back across the street with a pack of Saltines that she gave to me when I woke up that evening. Brandy had a powerade waiting for me, and all evening, I had people come into the room to check on me and make sure that I was okay. Even the directors of operations here in Peru came in to check on me. Those people made me feel better than any medicine or hot tea did. it is obvious the power of community and that of having those that care about you around you.
I am a firm believer in learning from all of your experiences, and I am learning mightily from being sick. You'd think I wouldn't need a Peruvian stomach bug to teach me these lessons, but in this place, where you are forced to slow down and look at life rather than watching it fly by you, learning I am.
Well, my prayers were answered. Yesterday morning, I was blessed with illness. not just any illness, but a gut-wrenching, can't get warm, feverish, out of both ends extravaganza. I don't think I have ever felt so badly. But beyond that, it was very, very lonely. I came to Peru to work, and for the last two days I have stared at the pale yellow walls of my dorm. Usually, when I am sick, I have all of the comforts of home to keep me company, and my wife to wait dutifully on me and dote on me. Not here. This was a very new experience, and one I am already learning from. That may sound wierd (and it may well be delusional), but let me just offer a few of the things that I am learning about myself:
1. I am way too hooked up in things. It is obvious that I take way too much comfort in my stuff. This was revealed to me when I was sick and had no stuff save a couple of books. I didn't have my favorite comfort food, or my favorite comfort movie, or my favorite comfort coffee (yes, such a thing exists). My comfort should be wholly in Christ alone, and it is obvious that it is not.
2. America is so privaleged when it comes to medicines. Jeff told me prior to coming here that they sell medicines by the capsule. Even in my rural home, I have almost instant access to gobs of medicine. I even have a cabinet full of it. The major remedy here: herbal tea. Herbal Tea. And you know what? The herbal tea worked. It settled my stomach and comforted me. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm taking my cipro, and I'm glad to have it. But I am learning to be very grateful for the abudance of medicine we have in the United States.
3. Community is everything. After I took ill, Kailyn went across the street and in her best Spanish, explained to the Bodega owner that I was sick, and asked which crackers would be best for me (her sweetness never fails to melt me). she came back across the street with a pack of Saltines that she gave to me when I woke up that evening. Brandy had a powerade waiting for me, and all evening, I had people come into the room to check on me and make sure that I was okay. Even the directors of operations here in Peru came in to check on me. Those people made me feel better than any medicine or hot tea did. it is obvious the power of community and that of having those that care about you around you.
I am a firm believer in learning from all of your experiences, and I am learning mightily from being sick. You'd think I wouldn't need a Peruvian stomach bug to teach me these lessons, but in this place, where you are forced to slow down and look at life rather than watching it fly by you, learning I am.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Dignity in Labor
I have heard it said that there is dignity in labor, and I beleive it. Today was a rewarding and an exhausting day. This morning, our team divided up and worked on different aspects of the property here. We painted, dug irrigation ditches, and built shower partitions. The morning went very quickly.
In the afternoon, many of us went back to our jobs while the others went into Chilca and handed out invitations to VBS.
Our debrief time this evening was full of questions about the people and customs of Peru, the spiritual needs of Childreach, and about reacclimating back into America.
We are really looking forward to tomorrow, and our first VBS. More on that tomorrow.
Praying for a good sleep and clarity of purpose for the morrow.
In the afternoon, many of us went back to our jobs while the others went into Chilca and handed out invitations to VBS.
Our debrief time this evening was full of questions about the people and customs of Peru, the spiritual needs of Childreach, and about reacclimating back into America.
We are really looking forward to tomorrow, and our first VBS. More on that tomorrow.
Praying for a good sleep and clarity of purpose for the morrow.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
We're All In This Together
Okay, We are in Peru, working with Childreach Ministries in Chilca. I have been amazed at the number of different mission teams we have run into. Last night , as we boarded the plane to get to Lima, we ran into two different teams, one from Alabama and one from Mississippi. This morning at Church, we ran into yet another team from Alabama. To top it all off, Pastor Jorge, who is the pastor of a church in Chilca, was talking about an imminent trip into the highlands where he shares the gospel with the villages of the highlands of Peru.
It struck me as funny, even though it shouldn't have, that there are so many churches that are taking up the great commission. It also struck me, even though it shouldn't have, that even the church that we have partnered with to serve is taking the gospel to those who have not heard in their own context.
It's beautiful that no matter where I've been this weekend, I am running into churches that are taking missions seriously. It is such a blessing to know that even the church that our missions team is serving is itself conducting missions.
It will take all the beleivers of the world; carrying out the great commission, to see God's work done.
We're all in this together.
It struck me as funny, even though it shouldn't have, that there are so many churches that are taking up the great commission. It also struck me, even though it shouldn't have, that even the church that we have partnered with to serve is taking the gospel to those who have not heard in their own context.
It's beautiful that no matter where I've been this weekend, I am running into churches that are taking missions seriously. It is such a blessing to know that even the church that our missions team is serving is itself conducting missions.
It will take all the beleivers of the world; carrying out the great commission, to see God's work done.
We're all in this together.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Educated Above Our Obedience
One of my favorite preachers is Matt Chandler, and one of my favorite sayings of his is that we are “educated above our level of obedience.”
Let me ask you a question. When it comes to your leadership students, how are you measuring forward progress? Are you looking at how much information they can regurgitate? Are you looking at how into their spiritual disciplines they are?
Many of us fall into the trap of believing that the more education our students get the better off they are spiritually. Nothing could be further from the truth. In today’s culture, our students are absolutely inundated with information. They can check out any book on any Christian topic that their brains could ever conceive of; and they can do it all with the click of a couple of buttons. This blog is a testament to how much education anyone can have access to in today’s world.
Education does not necessarily translate into life change though, as many of you are well aware. For our responsibilities to be filled, we need to provide students with the opportunity to put the lessons we teach into action, and encourage them to continue to behave in a manner that is in keeping with Christ’s Character and Leadership.
I think of Ephesians 5 as Paul is exhorting the Ephesian Church to behave in a manner worthy of God. It isn’t just a matter of hearing the truth, or learning the truth. It’s a matter of doing the truth. Be a “doer of the word, and not a hearer only,” as James says.
If you are measuring the success of your leadership development ministry in terms of ideas imparted, then please reconsider. If you aren’t giving your students the opportunity to put their knowledge and conviction to action, then please reconsider.
Our success in training young leaders is contingent not on how they turn out, but on what and how we taught them. In other words, while we may not be responsible for them, we are certainly responsible to them. Help them to be as obedient as they are educated.
Training Tomorrow’s Leaders Today,
Matt
Let me ask you a question. When it comes to your leadership students, how are you measuring forward progress? Are you looking at how much information they can regurgitate? Are you looking at how into their spiritual disciplines they are?
Many of us fall into the trap of believing that the more education our students get the better off they are spiritually. Nothing could be further from the truth. In today’s culture, our students are absolutely inundated with information. They can check out any book on any Christian topic that their brains could ever conceive of; and they can do it all with the click of a couple of buttons. This blog is a testament to how much education anyone can have access to in today’s world.
Education does not necessarily translate into life change though, as many of you are well aware. For our responsibilities to be filled, we need to provide students with the opportunity to put the lessons we teach into action, and encourage them to continue to behave in a manner that is in keeping with Christ’s Character and Leadership.
I think of Ephesians 5 as Paul is exhorting the Ephesian Church to behave in a manner worthy of God. It isn’t just a matter of hearing the truth, or learning the truth. It’s a matter of doing the truth. Be a “doer of the word, and not a hearer only,” as James says.
If you are measuring the success of your leadership development ministry in terms of ideas imparted, then please reconsider. If you aren’t giving your students the opportunity to put their knowledge and conviction to action, then please reconsider.
Our success in training young leaders is contingent not on how they turn out, but on what and how we taught them. In other words, while we may not be responsible for them, we are certainly responsible to them. Help them to be as obedient as they are educated.
Training Tomorrow’s Leaders Today,
Matt
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Penetrating the Culture
If you think about it, Christians are everywhere. We live in cities all over the world, hold various jobs, and participate in manifold hobbies.
I think we can also agree that Christians are the salt of the earth. We should be bringing the love of Christ wherever we go, and whatever we do. If this means sharing Jesus at work, then so be it. If it means inviting your ball team over for a barbecue on Saturday, okay.
What I’m getting at is that God has made us and placed us into society to make a difference.
Our students need to be taught why and how to be Christians in everything they do. I know way too many Wednesday and Sunday Christians who are perfectly content to put on the Christian hat on those days and take it off the rest of the week. Needless to say, they have no witness.
During a recent trip, I met a young man who is writing articles for a website that caters to Christian gamers. This is a site where video gamers who also happen to be Christian can go and find groups of people to play with online, or can find the newest game review. The young man I met is writing about the spiritual lessons that some of the games teach (albeit unwittingly sometimes).
This young man is taking his hobby and weaving the biblical narrative into it. I love it. In fact, I love the idea of the site. Christianity and the “secular” can exist because God created both. God is seeking to redeem the “secular,” and He’s put us into the culture as His redemptive agents.
This young man is being that agent.
How are you teaching your students to be redemptive agents in society? How are you being a redemptive agent in society?
Training Tomorrow’s Leaders Today,
Matt
I think we can also agree that Christians are the salt of the earth. We should be bringing the love of Christ wherever we go, and whatever we do. If this means sharing Jesus at work, then so be it. If it means inviting your ball team over for a barbecue on Saturday, okay.
What I’m getting at is that God has made us and placed us into society to make a difference.
Our students need to be taught why and how to be Christians in everything they do. I know way too many Wednesday and Sunday Christians who are perfectly content to put on the Christian hat on those days and take it off the rest of the week. Needless to say, they have no witness.
During a recent trip, I met a young man who is writing articles for a website that caters to Christian gamers. This is a site where video gamers who also happen to be Christian can go and find groups of people to play with online, or can find the newest game review. The young man I met is writing about the spiritual lessons that some of the games teach (albeit unwittingly sometimes).
This young man is taking his hobby and weaving the biblical narrative into it. I love it. In fact, I love the idea of the site. Christianity and the “secular” can exist because God created both. God is seeking to redeem the “secular,” and He’s put us into the culture as His redemptive agents.
This young man is being that agent.
How are you teaching your students to be redemptive agents in society? How are you being a redemptive agent in society?
Training Tomorrow’s Leaders Today,
Matt
Monday, May 17, 2010
Uniquely Gifted
If you’ve been reading this blog for long, you know how passionate I am about helping students find their spiritual gifts and natural strengths. You probably also know how passionate I am about personalizing your leadership team to such an extent that each of your students are allowed to grow in their own gifts and strengths.
I was reminded the other day about a man I met at the KALEO Conference in 2009. His name is Kerry Jackson, and he is an artist. He did visual worship on stage, and it was stunning. He talked briefly about his Christian journey and how he never realized that his artistic skills could be used to share the gospel until a mission agency showed him how his artistic skills and his influence in the artistic community could be used to plant a church among that very unique community.
Think about that statement for a minute. God gifted Mr. Jackson quite uniquely, and He did it for a purpose. Many people know their strengths, their gifts, and their passions, but don’t have the first inkling about how it can be used for God’s kingdom.
Helping our students understand how God made them and then helping them apply it to their lives and calling may be the most important thing we can help our leadership students realize. Our western world is becoming more and more compartmentalized; each compartment needs a gospel representation. By showing our students how to live out their unique calling, we can expect to see God’s light in even the darkest, most forgotten corners of our culture, the very place God would have us to share His love and grace.
Training Tomorrow’s Leaders Today,
Matt
I was reminded the other day about a man I met at the KALEO Conference in 2009. His name is Kerry Jackson, and he is an artist. He did visual worship on stage, and it was stunning. He talked briefly about his Christian journey and how he never realized that his artistic skills could be used to share the gospel until a mission agency showed him how his artistic skills and his influence in the artistic community could be used to plant a church among that very unique community.
Think about that statement for a minute. God gifted Mr. Jackson quite uniquely, and He did it for a purpose. Many people know their strengths, their gifts, and their passions, but don’t have the first inkling about how it can be used for God’s kingdom.
Helping our students understand how God made them and then helping them apply it to their lives and calling may be the most important thing we can help our leadership students realize. Our western world is becoming more and more compartmentalized; each compartment needs a gospel representation. By showing our students how to live out their unique calling, we can expect to see God’s light in even the darkest, most forgotten corners of our culture, the very place God would have us to share His love and grace.
Training Tomorrow’s Leaders Today,
Matt
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