First off, we had a special speaker. For the past three years, Sam and Ann have done some translation work for a leadership conference open to all ministers and church leaders in Morelia and the surrounding areas. There is a group of Americans that have been coming down for about five years now sharing leadership advice and tips with the nationals. As always, Sam and Ann have done an excellent job, which keeps the speakers who come down asking for them.
It's also been a neat experience for the church because Sam always asks one of the visiting ministers to speak to our church on Sunday. This year, that honor fell to Paul Estes, an overseeing minister for around 10 churches in Alabama. His topic was on what makes the church grow and he did an excellent job of reminding us that growth comes when we are excited about what the Lord is doing around us and through us, not because we have a great praise time, or a nice building, or a good preacher. The disciples in the New Testament changed the world with their message because they didn't have any choice but the share the amazing news that the Messiah had come! The church here was greatly blessed by Paul and his wife, Anita, and we look forward to seeing them again next year.
Well, if it had just been that, it would have been a great Sunday. But it got even better! This next story starts a little over a year ago (well, for God it started long before that, but a year ago is when we got involved). : ) One of our church members, and current cell apprentice, Larisa, has a brother named Túpac who lives in Mexico City. He came into town for New Year's last year and Larisa invited him to one of our cell groups. While there, the Lord started working on his heart.
A couple of months later, the team, along with the some of the church members, including Larisa, went to Mexico City for a song workshop. Túpac came to the conference to see his sister and nieces and ended up meeting some of the missionaries in Tlalpan, which is the part of Mexico City that he lives in. They exchanged information and invited him to a new cell group that they were starting. Since last April, he has been attending church with Sean and Jeni McClue and studying with Sean, as well as attending church here with us whenever he is in town. The Lord has continued to work in his heart and in his life in an amazing way and he decided a few weeks ago that he was ready to have his sins washed away.
So, this past weekend, Túpac came into town, along with Sean and Jeni and their family and one of the young people from their church, and he was baptized here at our house after church. We invited the whole church over and many stayed around for food and fellowship afterwards. I think it's such a wonderful example of what the church is here for: working together to bring the lost to the feet of the cross. Each person serves a purpose in that mission, but all the glory goes to God!
Sean and Túpac singing before the baptism
Sean baptizing Túpac
Túpac and his sister, Larisa, now brother and sister in the Lord
