Spoiler alert! Today we experienced an awesome outpouring of God’s love and presence of the Holy Spirit in our midst.
The itinerary was a day of worship and play in Reynosa, Mexico. The morning devotion took place in a small ‘colonia ‘ in Nopalera. The devotional scripture found in Ps 126 and Rev 2:1-5 provides a connection between the joy experienced as a result of God’s grace and power in our lives and the warning expressed by Christ not to be lured away from our first love for Him as was the church at Ephesus. Instead we are called to repent, or change. The devotion encouraged us to embrace the change necessary to hold fast to Christ, to continue to sow seeds for His Kingdom that will secure for us the joys of a harvest in eternity as described in Gal 6:9. Following the devotion prayers were offered to the Lord for the strengthening of support of the homeless ministry by future partners because a lack of workers and funding has suffered from fears for past partners about safety in the region.
The Power Ministry team then went to Alianza Christiana (the Dome Church) for worship. The team assisted with greeting, ushering and even took the stage to raise their voices with the rest of the congregation in joyful songs of praise and adoration for our Savior Jesus Christ. Testimonies from new and veteran team members declared God’s grace and saving work in their life. Then we were all humbled as the church honored Vance Luke for his long life, at 100 years old, and to his Christian witness and dedication to their church. Mr. Luke acknowledged his gratitude for their expressions of love and on his total dependence on the prayers of the people to God for His grace in sustaining him and helping him to be able to return over the years. The entire worship service from the joyful singing and music to the wonderful leadership and messages of the pastor helped to show forth the love of Christ for His church through His people to one another and by the presence of the Holy Spirit in that place.
After lunch at Alianza the Power Ministry team traveled to the children’s home of the Rio Bravo Ministry. The entire afternoon was a wonderful Festival of games and activities for the children and other families. Hundreds upon hundreds came to eat popcorn, cotton candy and hotdogs. In between they played games that Power Ministry team members helped run. Language was no barrier as the common language of smiles, laughter and joyful play engulfed every part of the Rio Bravo facilities. It was a blast!
God has been very good to us this day and we have all been blessed beyond measure by those with whom we shared worship and play on this Lord’s Day! What a wonderful name it is, the name of Jesus!