2008-07-29, Tue. 5:30a, Guatemala City

So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. Lu.10:34

It’s so beautiful to see a struggling church restored to health through the process of true discipleship! Many Guatemalan pastors have never considered mentoring individual members of their congregation into ministry, as a major priority in their service. When a pastor’s eyes are opened to the reality of Jesus’ call to personally discipleing others and he finds a tool like INSTE to help him do it, it’s as if you could take “before and after” snapshots of the fruit of that congregation’s ministry.

Amilcar Alvarez turns 40 next month. He’s been a Christian for 26 years and a Pastor for 22. He and his wife Sonia have five children, the youngest of which has Downs Syndrome. Besides pastoring, he is a History professor at the National San Carlos University in Guatemala City.

Amilcar pastors the “Secure Families” Church, which he founded in the poor historic district of downtown Guatemala City. Prostitutes, drunks, drug addicts and gays are common in the neighborhood. For years his congregation was plagued by the “us” and “them” paradigm. But since Amilcar began discipleing leaders in his church using INSTE, those on the street are finding a helpful hand for their restoration as the members of the community learn the power of being salt and light through Christ’s love and service. They are learning this as they apply the practical aspects of the INSTE lessons to their own lives and social context and through the personal mentoring of their Pastor and the leaders he is forming for ministry.

Pastor Amilcar knew that his church needed more than just the weekend emotional lift of a loving Sunday sermon in order to grow into a healing element in the downtown district. He knew that each of the members would have to become comfortable with their true identity and nature in Christ as participants in God’s mission. And he has found INSTE to be just the tool he was looking for to mentor them into that reality.

Amilcar thanks you for sending INSTE to Guatemala through us.

Prayer Power

Father, thank you for Amilcar and his church that are serving the residents of their community with your love and power. Thank you for giving him the heart of a mentor and coach in your kingdom. May we each continue to seek those we need to help move us up a notch in our effectiveness in Your mission to those around us. In Jesus name, Amen.