2008-09-24  Thur 5:00a  Guatemala City

“When he looked out over the crowds, his heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd. “What a huge harvest!” he said to his disciples. “How few workers! On your knees and pray for harvest hands!” (Mat.9:37 The Message)

Yesterday (Wed)

What is Jesus’ passion? David Rodriguez’s story says it all.

David decided to follow Jesus at a youth retreat in 1988 in Antigua, Guatemala. He was 17 years old and the next year he married Leti. From the outset, David took all the informal “courses” his Church had developed, but he yearned to study the Bible professionally and be trained in flowing with God’s mission. However he says he couldn’t afford to go to a Seminary or Bible College.

The responsibilities of being a husband and father forced David to put off his College career after his third year. He and Leti taught Sunday school, became youth leaders and home group leaders. David became a worship leader and his Church’s administrator as well as its School’s administrator.

When the Institute of Theology by Extension, INSTE, arrived in Guatemala in 1998, David saw how inexpensive it is and that he could study with a group in his own Church. He felt it was an answer to his 10 year prayer for professional ministerial training. So David and Leti enrolled and he led his INSTE group to become the first graduates in Guatemala of the 2nd Level of INSTE (college level).

Two years ago the pastor of David’s Church in Antigua sent him and Leti out with 130 members to plant a new Church in Ciudad Vieja, the first colonial capital of the Vice Royalty of New Spain, a city now ravaged by poverty. The new church has doubled in attendance already and 60% of the growth has come from the youth sector.

David learned in INSTE that every Christian is a missionary, so his church is growing in relationship with God’s mission to the needs of those around them. Every week they give out clothes and food, show films and evangelize the poorest children on the streets of their community. They’ve organized teams that have permission to teach in the high schools about drug addiction, sexual abstinence, and AIDS. The youth are also ministering in homes for the elderly.

David was in my office lately to get his books to begin two new INSTE groups for his people. He’ll lead one for the leaders who’ve seen their need for Bible training in God’s mission, and the other for the youth. Jesus’ passion is to have multitudes of disciples flowing in God’s mission of redemption to those around them. INSTE is designed to produce just that. When I asked David why he was training the leaders himself, he said, “I want to transmit the passion of Jesus in me to them, and make sure they form the habits of good disciples.” He thanks you for sending INSTE to him through Helen and me.

Prayer Power:

Heavenly Father, open the eyes of the hearts of your pastors in Guatemala to see that your passion is multitudes of disciples flowing in your mission of love and redemption to all who surround them. May our hearts be gripped by your passion and break with Jesus’ heart that your name may be glorified. Haleluya! Amen.