Oi everyone!
The church building expansion roof is not sealed. The 2nd floor is only a slab. Although we prayed for the weather to be dry and sunny today so that the church roof doesn´t leak, God had other plans. It rained all day long! However, God was merciful and the water leaks were very minimal and not a distraction.
Jason, Jessie, and Risa spent the afternoon drinking coffee and preparing for the Sunday evening service message. Tonight was a very special service. After worship, Sammy made the announcements and then him and Jason presented diplomas to 29 School of Leaders graduates. These graduates went through a nine month ministry course equipping them in Bible knowledge and ministry skills. These folks will produce at least 10 cell groups in the Hope Chapel church family this year.
After many photos and congratulations, there was also a special comissioning of 6 new pastors in the church. Sammy and Jason prayed over them to release them into ministry. Two will be serving here in the local body and two will be serving with their wives in other communities nearby. Here, husband & wives is a joint comission, and they send them out together. It was a treat for Jason to see them grow into this position after all of his years coming here.
The message tonight was a continuation of his Romans series out of Romans 7. It was about the law´s purpose to bring us to total defeat so that we will turn to Christ for our proivison. Risa shared a short testimony from her life about her realization that God´s love can´t be earned. And Jessie shared a bit about the key to living the Christian life is Christ in you, not in different circumstances. Jason ended the message with a reminder that Jesus didn´t come only to give his life for you, but to give His life to you, so He can live His life through you. The service ended with the 29 graduates receiving personal prayer from all of the pastors that were there.
After the service which ended around 10:30pm, all of us were very hungry, so a large group met up at Danilo´s restaurant (where the younger crowd ate the night before) to eat pizza and pastels. With full and happy stomachs, we returned home to process and discuss the exciting events of the day, and plans for the new week ahead!
Just as Jethro observed Moses, who was burning out due to ministry overload, and told him to select leaders to partner with him, so likewise, a highlight tonight was seeing this same principle happening in the church here in Bom Retiro among leaders whom God is raising up."Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain, and you shall place these over them, as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens...if you do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure"
Exodus 18:21,23
From the Team
-Risa, Jessie, and Jason
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