Christianity | 1 Way 1 Truth 1 Life

Following Fausto (a short term missionary tale)

Posted on March 14, 2018 by wearemorethanconquerors837

80F267FE-2F53-4486-8A94-30597487B57E Last week I went on my first mission trip. Four people from my church joined a team of Christians from all across the United States to go to Loja, Ecuador. We never met before this trip but came home as if we had known each other for a long time. This statement is also true of the translators that we worked with. My family of brothers and sisters in Christ has grown.

My assignment on this trip was to go with my team member, Pastor Jase, and our translators Christopher and Cyndi, to a town called Catamayo. There we worked with Pastor Fausto.

Upon meeting Pastor Fausto he took us to his church office and asked us a few questions. He asked a little about us personally and some about our theology. Then he spoke some about himself then introduced us to his lovely family. Then he said “Haku” which means “let’s go!”

So we left the office and followed him. He seemed to know where he was going as if he had walked this path several times. He took us to a man who was sitting in a chair on the sidewalk cutting coconuts. He spoke to him for a minute then turned to us and gestured basically saying “You’re up. Do what you came here to do and share the gospel.” So Pastor Jase shared the his story then God’s story and the coconut cutting man said he wanted to trust in Christ. Praise God!

We prayed with the man, got his info for follow up, then Pastor Fausto said “Haku.” And he was off to the next person. And we followed him.

This was the pattern for 5 days of ministry in Catamayo. We followed Pastor Fausto from house to house. From business to business. From person to person. This man has laid ground work with so many people in Catamayo. He is building relationships. He is sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.

When Pastor Jase and I shared the gospel with people we could tell Pastor Fausto had already spoke the words of life to them. Some just needed us to come water the seeds that were already planted. We even visited people who he has already planted and is watering. His church members know their bible. God is bringing growth.

356DFA11-D774-464A-8043-4C8D3FA512B4 The thing that sticks out most as I reflect on following Fausto is how he loves. He can just decide to be content in his church office and pray people come to Christ. But that’s not what he does. Pastor Fausto goes to the people. He talks to them. He cares about them. I don’t think he goes just once either. He keeps going. He brings others with him. He prays over them. He not only tells them about Jesus Christ, he shows them Jesus Christ. This is how I want to be. I want to live the great commission as I saw Pastor Fausto live the great commission.

This is the text that came to my head after 5 days of following Fausto. Paul writes,

Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1

Pastor Fausto, thank you for showing me Christ as we followed you around your lovely city of Catamayo. I pray to come back and see all the fruit God grows through your obedience.

Haku!!!!!!!

Soli Deo Gloria

The Holy and the Not.

Posted on July 12, 2017 by wearemorethanconquerors837

I recently preached at my church for the first time. The text was Isaiah 6:1-8 and the main point was the “we will never be the same after meeting the holy God.” Please take a listen.

THE HOLY AND THE NOT

Our Best Offense is a Solid Defense

Posted on February 8, 2017 by wearemorethanconquerors837

Last Sunday I had the honor to preach at Island Baptist Church in LBI, NJ. My good friend Luke Fraser is the pastor. He is a great man of God and it was a tremendous privilege to be in his pulpit.

I preached on 1 Peter 3:15 and how this vs teaches us as Christians how we are to honor Christ as holy, have an assured answer for people who ask us why, and answer like Christ.

Please take a few minutes to watch.

That 3:16

Posted on January 14, 2017 by wearemorethanconquerors837

“For God so loved” We think we know what love is. We love our friends and our family and our pets. But God so loved. His love is beyond anything we can think of. Think of a person you love more than anything else. Nope! That’s nothing compared to the love of God.

“the world” This is Jew, Gentile, black, white, Hispanic, Arabic, European, Asian, African, every nationality. God doesn’t care how much melanin you have in your skin. He doesn’t care what part of the world you are from. He so loves people out of every nation, tribe, and tongue.

“that He gave” Have you ever given a gift? Think of the most expensive gift you have given. That is nothing compared to what God has given. He spared no expense for who He loves.

“His only begotten Son” This is Who He gave. His one and only unique Son. Jesus Christ. Born of a virgin. Lived a sinless life. Died a sinners death.

“that whoever believes in Him shall not perish” What do you mean perish? If you don’t believe in the Son then the wrath of God will be poured out on you because all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. The punishment for sinning against an eternal God is eternity in hell. This is bad news. But the verse says if you are “whoever” and believe this will not happen.

“but have eternal life.” Yes! Believe and you will receive eternal life. Eternal life with God forever praising the Creator. You will be forgiven of your sins and set free from being enslaved to them. You will be given a new heart being born again to follow the risen and living Son, Jesus Christ, as your Lord.

Believe today! Now is the time!

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16

In Whom

Posted on June 10, 2014 by wearemorethanconquerors837

When I say I believe in Jesus Christ it is not a belief like when you’re a kid and you believe in Santa, the Easter Bunny, or the Tooth Fairy. When I say I believe it is like when someone says they believe in themselves to accomplish a goal. Or like when you tell someone you believe in them accomplishing their goals. Better yet, when you believe in someone to provide for your well-being. My belief in Jesus Christ isn’t about His existence. I already know Jesus is real from Holy Scripture and personal experience. My belief is in what He has done and the promise of what it means.

I believe in Jesus Christ in His life. He lived a perfect life that I can never live. In this perfect life He was tempted in every way that I am.

For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15

He lived as a human and did not fall as I do. He was the perfect lamb.

I believe in Jesus Christ in His death and work on the cross. He was beaten and humiliated. He was nailed to a cross through His wrists and feet. He was piecered through His side and was a bloody mess. This is the death that I deserve.

But He was pierced through for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,
And by His scourging we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

I believe in Jesus Christ in His resurrection. He was dead for three days then came back. Not just spirit, but His entire being, body and all was raised. In this I have eternal life. In this I have the promise of resurrection.

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling clothing; and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living One among the dead? He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.” Luke 24:1-7

Jesus Christ is not a fictional character in whose existence I believe. I already know He exists. I believe in His life, death, and resurrection for my salvation. C.S. Lewis said, “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” This is how I also believe. I see everything by Jesus Christ. He has given me faith. This faith is also not a blind faith. It is faith in what is real. It is faith in Who is real. It is faith in what Holy Scripture says.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

I put all my trust in Jesus Christ. He changed my heart. He opened my eyes. No more walking in darkness. His promise is true. Believe in Him and walk in the light of salvation. Jesus Christ is all. He is enough.

And Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, does not believe in Me but in Him who sent Me. He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me. I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness. John 12:44-46

I encourage you to get a Bible. Read these passages I have shared. If you don’t have one I will send one to you.

My prayer is for Jesus Christ to work in your heart. I pray for Him to open your eyes.

I am nobody special. I am just a sinner who has been saved by the grace of God through the perfect life, bloody death, and amazing resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; Ephesians 2:8

I pray He saves you.