Connecting Some More

I've got to get a regular time to post some thoughts other than once a week but in light of my infrequency I post here about my last week.

Last Wednesday, Nov 8, we, Craig, Joe and I met with Eliud Gomez and his wife. They are pastors of Comunion de Cristo up bit north of where I live in Colonia Lindavista. There church was started with the Calvary Chapel connection and they are seeing some great things happening. Right away we connected at a deep level and agreed upon so many things about God, the power of God and the Gospel. Very early in our conversation Eliud and his wife said, "We have confidence and trust in you and your ministry." That was super encouraging. They have two children, one who is in college now. They hope to attend our leaders training this Saturday, bring their son and other pastors. It was just one of those times with a leader of a church that was Spirit filled. We look forward to many more conversations, serving together and being part of their church network (they are connected to 9 other churches.)

Yesterday Joe Cross and I headed, this time via metro (I'm scared of the police), down to the Tlalplan area to a hotel called Via Veneto. A few weeks ago a connection called us and wanted us to come to a breakfast that the General Baptist Conference was holding. I had no idea what to expect. We first met Gary Reynolds and Stephen Doggett. They are the executive directors of International ministries of the GBC. Stephen was on staff with CCC years ago. It was great to hear their heart for planting simple churches and being comfortable with chaos and ambiguity but not being comfortable with doing the work of church the way it always has been. Pretty cool vision and openess to partner to reach the lost and build the Kingdom.

After a great buffett we got to hear from Pastor Gilberto Gutierrez Lucero, president of the Mexican GBC and pastor of Horeb church here in Mexico city and author of Atrevete a sequirlo. His vision was compelling and inspiring. The GBC here in Mexico and in the states in changing to make it happen. Gilberto shared that they are going to plant 10,000 churches in the next 10 years but they won't look like churches of the past. They spoke of simple church. Their 3 part simple plan is to plant churches, Education and administration. Before he mentioned there were like 64 parts of the GBC. They want to train and equip lay people for rapid multiplication. Some other pastors and businessmen from the states shared and it spirit of partnership and building God's kingdom was present. We got to share our vision of launching 4,000 spiritual movements all through students and the room was responsive. I'm looking forward to where they partnerships will lead us in raising up student leaders and blessing this city.

That afternoon, Nate Hoover, a team member, and I drove up north. We had an appointment with Gerardo Ascevedo, a pastor of a local church. We knew we had to go north but didn't really know where to go exactly. After 3 phone calls on the freeway (safety was present thanks to my $20 bluetooth headset) we finally met him and we're only 10 minutes late. Gerardo was super encouraging, loved our vision but the only problem was that he didn't have any college students in his church. They are a largely industrial area with poor, poor, working class members where most of their kids don't go to college. But he agreed the need to adopt local universities and pray that God will raise up couples, professionals to reach out the campus and raise up a student leader. He is part of a Luis Palau network of churches and plans on sharing with them our vision and mission with the hopes of letting us speak at their monthly meeting.

It is all about trust, relationships and offering something that will bless them, their churches and reach the lost. Over time we are praying that appointments and relationships like these will raise up 4,000 student leaders.
Categories: MexicoCity, Church, Leadership, SimpleChurch