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Steve Tuggle

About Steve Tuggle

http://greatergracemedellin.org

Paulette and I retired in January 2016, sold our house and cars, sold or gave away most of our belongings, and began what we called "Our Retirement Adventure." Almost immediately, we felt the Holy Spirit directing us into opportunities for service. After stops in Honduras, Panama, Ecuador, Costa Rica, and a few weeks in Peru, we felt drawn to Medellin, Colombia. And in May 2018, we joined some friends from Panama to start a Christian church for English speakers in Medellin.

Posts by Steven Tuggle:

Christian Ministry Opportunities Abound

In this post, I want to update you on the ways Jesus is building His church in Medellin. We recently discovered two new Christian ministry opportunities here in our home in South America. The members of Grace Church Medellin are constantly discovering the truth of Ephesians 2:10 –

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Most Christians are familiar with Eph 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” No amount of good works will ever get us into Heaven to spend eternity with God. As John 3:16 states “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.”

Then Eph 2:10 gives us our purpose now that we have a personal relationship with our wonderful Savior. And the Holy Spirit is showing us the truth of this verse in Medellin.

God’s Vision and Plan Are Much Bigger Than Ours

Based on our experiences in other parts of Latin America, we believed God planned to establish a church for English-speaking retirees from North America and parts of Europe as well as with Colombians and other Latin Americans who speak English. So we started thinking of ways to get the word out and attract those people. We created a website, and Facebook page and waited for the Holy Spirit to draw all the retirees. We even started a Monday morning Bible study.

Guess what happened? The “good works which God prepared in advance for us to do” were different than we had expected. Four young people called us and asked for an evening Bible study. They work during the day so they could not attend our daytime study. We were shocked! They presented us with a new Christian ministry opportunity.

Fortunately, our friends Michael and Nichole Thayer volunteered to host a night study group. So God multiplied us from one group to two. Both of our groups were early in our study of the Gospel of John and it was very interesting to see the differences in the way the Holy Spirit led the two groups. Of course, the “youngsters” beat the old folks. They say we are slow, but I prefer the term “deep”.

That group has just started a new study in the Book of Acts, while our first group is halfway through John 19. We are still discussing our next study, and I believe we will tackle one of Paul’s Epistles. Not sure which one, but I’ll keep you posted.

The Holy Spirit Continues to “Expand Our Territory”

You may be familiar with the “Jabez Prayer”. In the first 8 chapters of the Old Testament book First Chronicles, we are given a long set of genealogies of the Jewish people. Right in the middle, are two verses about a man named Jabez. Chapter 4 verse 9 tells us of his birth and the meaning of his name. And in the 10th verse, we read about his prayer –

“He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, ‘Oh, that you would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from trouble and pain!’ And God granted his request.”

In our case, God is expanding our territory by providing new Christian ministry opportunities. These next stories are examples of that.

More About the Laureles Group

Previously I told you about our new Bible study group in Laureles, which is another part of Medellin that is very popular with expats. We started that group again thinking God would bring North American retirees to fellowship with us. To our amazement, every member of the group other than the leaders is a young Colombian in their 20s or 30s. Most of them are University students and virtually all come from Christian homes. It is very exciting to study “El Evangelio de Juan” with these young people.

Teaching English Using The Bible

Christian Ministry Opportunities - ESL Group at OLSA
Our class of ladies at the OLSA Language School is a constant source of encouragement.

While investigating locations for that group, we came in contact with a language school near the giant Estadio complex and a man named Bud Cox. Bud, who calls himself Carlos when he is in Medellin, led a small free class in English using the Bible and Christian videos in English. He invited us to come and see what he was doing. He also told us that he would be returning to the US for at least 6 months for his business.

A few weeks later, we volunteered to take the class while he was away, so now Paulette and I are ESL teachers (“English as a Second Language”). We have 2 to 5 ladies who come twice per week to improve their English and learn more about the Bible. In our classes, Paulette uses phonics exercises she finds on the internet. As a group, we watch a Christian movie or video in English. And we read the Bible out loud for pronunciation practice and talk about the meaning of the passage we read. We end each class with prayer requests. This seems to be one of the most important parts of the class for our students. In the process, we have the opportunity to share the “Good News of Jesus Christ”. It is amazing to see the Holy Spirit work in their lives and ours.

Christian Ministry Opportunities Bring Changes

After finding these new Christian ministry opportunities, and spending lots of time in Ubers crisscrossing the city, we decided we needed to live closer to “the action”. We called our good friend Angie to see if she had any ideas about an apartment in Laureles. Of course she did, and of course, when we saw it, the apartment was perfect for our needs. (It was “a God thing”). And within a few days, we agreed with our new landlord on a price and move-in date, and we will be moving sometime this month. Today, a good friend agreed to rent our apartment so our existing landlord is also very happy. It was all “a God thing”. There are no coincidences in the Christian life.

These new opportunities were adding considerable time and transportation costs each week. Our new apartment is within walking distance of the church in Laureles. And we found a bus for our trips to the language school. So, we’re saving money, and as an added benefit, the apartment and kitchen are larger and will allow us more room for hosting studies and activities with our groups. Also, Laureles is much flatter than Poblado, making walking much easier. So we both will get more exercise.

Conclusion

Thanks for your kind attention to our stories. If you are living in or visiting Medellin, please contact us. We would love to get to know you. And if not, please consider coming for a visit to see what God is doing, and how He will use you in the “good works He has prepared in advance for you to do”. See you very soon.

Steve and Paulette Tuggle

2000-years-of-the-Great-Commission

God Equips The Called – Trust in His Promise

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There is a saying that has become very significant in our lives since we arrived in Medellin. My title is only part of the saying. “God doesn’t call the equipped; God equips the called.” As I’ve told you before, Paulette and I are not pastors. We didn’t graduate from Seminary or even Bible college. But that didn’t stop the Lord Jesus Christ from bringing us to South America to help start a new church! We are simply amazed, yet thrilled that He has chosen to use us for such a wonderful ministry. And we are not alone!

God Equips the Called Through Other People

In many ways, The Lord has shown us that He knows what He is doing and that He is in total control. Here is how in our case “God equips the called”:

  • First, He trained for 10 months under some folks who did know what they were doing. We appreciate all that Dan and Carol did to get us started the right way. They helped a lot.
  • Second, He brought some very smart people around us to help grow this church in spite of all our weaknesses. Robert is a Master’s candidate at Liberty University. He will soon start work on his Doctorate. Paul is an ordained minister who has worked in churches and other Christian ministries, and also in business his whole life. These guys are not here by accident!
  • Third, He introduced us to Michael and Nichole who are now our best friends. They have been missionaries from Colorado for almost 4 years. Less than 2 years ago, we didn’t even know they existed. Now we work side-by-side with 3 small-group Bible studies. We met them the week we arrived in Medellin. If that’s not enough, we discovered we were living in the same apartment complex! In a city of over 3 million people with tens of thousands of apartment complexes, that was not just a coincidence.
  • Fourth, He just happened to have a couple here who have been missionaries to Colombia for more than 50 years. They were here ministering long before Pablo Escobar became so notorious. And Jesus made sure we found Mark and Barbara as well as their missionary son, Andrew and his wife Johana. What an incredible source of encouragement they have all been for us.

The Bible Says God Chooses and Equips Us

In preparing this post, I discovered several articles that were so excellent, I had to link them here. These authors write much better than I could write. The first is entitled “He Equips the Called”. This article references passages from the New Testament which speak to God’s Divine work in the lives of His people. He chooses us for His own good purposes. God’s divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life. He works in us to accomplish His will, and He equips us with everything we need for doing His will.

Another is titled “When The Lord Calls, He Equips“. It brings out several men from the Old Testament including Moses, Jonah, Gideon, and Jeremiah. Each of these men had questions and even fears about being adequate for the task. But in every case, God proved faithful. He equipped the called. And He assures us that He will put the words in our mouths and the tools in our hands to accomplish the work He has begun in us.

Jesus Is Building His Church

God Equips The Called - Dr. John MacArthur Jr, Pastor of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California
Dr. John MacArthur Jr, Pastor of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California

I found a wonderful message from Dr. John MacArthur the other day titled “How the Lord Builds His Church”. In his introduction, he quotes Matthew 16:18 in which the Lord Jesus said, “I will build My church and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” In other words, Jesus is going to build His church and nothing can stop Him, nothing can overpower Him!

Dr. MacArthur looks to the Book of Acts for the means Jesus used to grow the church. And the first thing he says is that Peter preached the simple gospel message on the day of Pentecost and 3,000 souls were saved and baptized. I can’t imagine where they found enough water! This message is “transcendent”. That means it does not change. It is the same regardless of culture, age, nationality or geography. Paul says

“And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.” 1 Cor 2:1-2

God the Father doesn’t need our help to change the terms of His message for different peoples. Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. He is the only way to the Father. And if that is not enough, John 3:16 provides the final say –

“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.”

The Important Question

Dr. MacArthur also said, “The question for us is by what means does the Lord build His church? That is the compelling question. Because whatever that means, that’s what we want to be engaged in so that we can be a part of what He is doing. Then, He will not have to move to someone else to use them instead of us, thus forfeiting our usefulness, our joy, and our eternal reward.”

Jesus is Building His Church in Latin America

Here in Medellin, we see Jesus building His church. Of course, the Bible defines “church” as a body of believers, not a physical building. He is building His church on the confession of faith found in Matt 16:16, “Simon Peter answered, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus is building His church for Spanish-speakers, and English-speakers, for Colombians, Americans, Europeans, and Venezuelans. When Michael and I were privileged to go to a mission conference in Brazil, we saw clear evidence that Jesus is building His church in every country in Central and South America. Our youngest missionary was from Mexico City, and he testified that Jesus is building His church all over Mexico. And our 17 months in Panama showed us clear evidence that Jesus is alive and well there also, building His church through those He has called and equipped.

This month, we have been so encouraged by two different couples from Idaho, in whom God has built a desire to come to Medellin and be used to minister as the Holy Spirit leads. It once again shows that God is very interested in Medellin.

Final Thoughts

The Holy Bible
“The Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” Eph 6:17

Recently, I was introduced to the book of Titus. It is full of God’s wisdom and encouragement:

“4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:4-7

Praise the Lord for His goodness and lovingkindness.

Steve Tuggle

Us-Above-Sacred-Valley-in-Peru

Walking In The Presence of God

Paulette and I have lived for the past 3 1/2 years in Latin America. Ever since we retired at the end of 2015, we feel like we have been walking in the presence of God. The Holy Spirit has transformed our lives. We love Jesus, and we love each other. That was not the case before we retired.

Background

By the grace of God through the death, burial, and resurrection of my Lord Jesus Christ, He saved me in 1975. This was just before my 23rd birthday. A few weeks later, I shared that news with a Christian girl I had known since High School. We married about 10 months later. Paulette and I celebrated 43 years together earlier this year, and that is a miracle only God could do.

When we married, I lived near Washington DC and played tuba in the US Air Force Band. I also discovered an interest in income tax and prepared federal and state income tax returns for individuals. In the next four years, I completed an accounting degree at the University of Maryland, and we moved back to Houston, Texas, in 1980.

Family Issues

With our two sons, we found excellent churches, joined a great small group, and got on with our life. We were relatively new Christians and thought we were walking in the presence of God. But things started to fall apart when my first son, Jeremy, started taking illegal drugs when 11. That was 1989. 3 years later, our second son followed in his brother’s footsteps. During their teenage years, the Texas legal system taught me more than I ever wanted to know.

Jeremy got successively worse, caused enormous problems in our home, and eventually died of complications from a drug overdose at age 30. That was 2008. My wife was devastated. Somewhere in that time frame, I remember telling God that I didn’t trust Him anymore. This was definitely the low point. It is a real testament to the Lord and my wife that we are still married.

God Never Leaves Us

Fortunately, God has infinite patience and infinite love. In 2014, we started planning what I called “Our Retirement Adventure” – retiring outside the USA. I don’t remember ever consulting the Lord about our plans. We thought we had it all figured out. Paulette retired in late 2015, and my last workday was January 4, 2016. We took care of a few last-minute details and flew to Roatan Wednesday, January 13, 2016. A few days later, the Lord grabbed our attention. We discovered an English-speaking church less than a mile from where we were staying. We attended that Sunday, and I believe God hijacked my retirement adventure that day. It was as if He was saying, “I like this retirement adventure idea. But now I will be in charge!” (And we are very glad he did!)

After Roatan, Boquete Panama

We got involved in several ministries through the church and got back to reading the Word and spending time with God. He started us on a training program, which I now refer to as “Live and Serve Christ in Latin America” (see ** below). As we traveled, God introduced us to many people like us who were living on their Social Security and serving part-time in ministries throughout Central and South America. Our life was not all roses, but throughout we felt Him drawing us closer.

https://www.facebook.com/MAPinPanama

https://www.godseyeschiriqui.org/

Jesus Calls Us to Medellin

The real eye-opener for us was April 2018 when we became confident that the Holy Spirit wanted us to move to Medellin, Colombia and help another couple start a Christian Church for English Speakers. We aren’t Pastors and we have no formal Bible instruction. But for reasons only He understands, He is working through us and we are trusting and obeying Him for the results.

Grace Church Medellin

Shortly after we arrived in Medellin, we met Michael and Nichole Thayer, who served as self-supporting missionaries to a local Spanish Christian congregation. They introduced us to their fellow missionaries, and now we are one big family. In addition to their work with the Spanish church, they help us with the English church.

Shortly after that, we met Gil and Marina Huguley, who had just arrived in Medellin after spending 11 years traveling around the Caribbean in their sailboat. We got to know them much better during a class on evangelism. Last March, our 3 couples decided to start one small group Bible study in our apartment with 7 people.

I built a website and Facebook page about the English-speaking church in Medellin, and The Holy Spirit started working, drawing a few people at a time.

Grace Church Medellin Small Groups - Summer 2019
Photos of our two Bible study groups in the Summer of 2019.

Originally, I thought we would focus on retired English speakers from North America and Europe. But as you can see, God had a different plan for His English-speaking Church. Shortly after we started, 4 younger people contacted us saying they needed a night study because they work. Michael and Nichole started a group in their apartment. So then we had 2 groups in Poblado.

Our Newest Group in Laureles

But there are English speakers in many other areas of Medellin, and we especially felt drawn to Laureles. In October 2019, the Holy Spirit worked out many details, and we started a small group Bible study in a Spanish Christian Church in Laureles. Our first 3 attendees are Colombians who are learning English. So God’s plan is much bigger than mine.

New Laureles English Bible Study
Our new group in Laureles with details and photos of Steve, Pastor Carlos, and Paulette. Pastor Carlos is a constant source of encouragement!

Today we have 3 small groups studying the Bible in Medellin under the name Grace Church Medellin, 100% in English. We are all studying the Gospel of John verse by verse, learning together. We also sing using YouTube videos, pray for one another, and remember Christ’s sacrifice through Communion.

That is where we are right now, walking in the presence of God. And we are looking forward to what God is going to do in Medellin and the rest of Latin America. Please think about joining us, or at least come for a visit. Medellin is a wonderful place to live and serve Christ.

Steve Tuggle

** Live and Serve Christ in Latin America

A few months ago with the urging of the Holy Spirit, I created a Facebook page with the name Live and Serve Christ in Latin America. I am convinced that many Christian retirees in North America are struggling to live on their retirement income and dwindling savings. Most of them could live very comfortably on their Social Security down here. And I’m sure God has plenty of ministry opportunities in mind for them. Now I just need a way to attract a much bigger audience to get the word out.

https://www.facebook.com/ServeChristLatinAmerica/

Can you imagine the impact on the Great Commission if millions of retirees used their Social Security as guaranteed support and came down all over Latin America and other parts of the world looking for a way to serve our Lord?

Please click the link and like our Facebook page. Thanks for your attention.

Caracas-Protests

My Medellin Miracle Story

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Introduction to Jose M Galindo

My name is Jose Galindo and I come from Barquisimeto, Venezuela. Most people in the world have heard by now of all the chaos in my home country. The picture above is of the huge protests in Caracas against the government of Nicolas Maduro. I am an English and Spanish teacher that works with children and teenagers to help them speak the language. Honestly, my time in my home country finished and I decided to come to Medellin, Colombia. I am a Christian, saved by the blood of Jesus Christ living my Medellin Miracle story.

The Beginning of the Quest

My Medellin Miracle story quest started in 2017.

I was crossing the border from Santa Elena de Uairen to the town of Pacaraima. I was planning to meet a friend in Sao Paulo. Well, it all turned out to be a fatal mistake. I couldn’t get past the town of Boa Vista in the Roraima department and ended up there sleeping in the street (specifically on a cold sidewalk for two days). Some Evangelical churches from that area of Brazil were giving out some fresh food for all the Venezuelans that immigrated there. I had a good portion of chicken, rice, soup, juice, Coke, and bread.

Bus fare from Venezuela to Sao Pulo, Brazil
The bus fare from Venezuela to Brazil was ridiculously high and unaffordable for the vast majority of Venezuelan refugees.

I went back to Barquisimeto, Venezuela just to realize that the trip to Sao Paulo would cost me a lot of money. That is why I came back. My friend just told me that the trip would cost me around 800 dollars!!! (Just see the image to the right.)

I had less than 90 dollars the moment I got to Boa Vista and ended up with less than 30 when I decided to return. It was absolute madness!

The Journey to Santa Fe de Bogota

I carried on with my life in Venezuela. Then I began to see options in the city of Bogota, Colombia and got answers from five different job sources. I told my mom (Yes, I must admit to my embarrassment that at my 32 years old I was living with mama) that that was my chance. I quickly packed my stuff and in October 2018, I arrived by land to the city of Bogota crossing the border from San Antonio (in Tachira state, Venezuela) to Cucuta (In the department of Santander, Colombia) to then take a coach that would take me to the capital of Cundinamarca department.

Well, Bogota is a huge city and it is cold. I managed to take SITPs, Transmilenio double-decker buses, and normal buses to get along. I arrived at Salitre Bus terminal and met with a great brother from church called Xavier. He met me there and we went together to stay in a residence located in the neighborhood of Barrancas, in Carrera Septima (7th Avenue), and close to the famous building titled North Point and the Longman Pearson book store. That very same afternoon, I went to Teleperformance located in the El Dorado area in Bogota. Their huge headquarters was located in a building titled Connecta Bussiness Ecosystem building. The recruiters were highly interested in me but when they realized I had no PEP (Permiso Especial de Permanencia or Spacial Permanence Permit) they kindly told me to get it and then come back again.

My Medellin Miracle - Bogota Colombia
I first tried to find a job and residence in Bogota. But without a work permit, it was impossible.

When I got there, things began to go downhill. Xavier’s friend just wanted me to stay there for only a few days and the two of us plus Marcos, another friend from church, began to look for a place to sleep and stay. I went to a church called Euphoria Church, located in Suba that Sunday. Some Colombian brothers decided to take me to their house to at least sleep a night there. They lived in Los Cerritos at the North of Bogota and slept in a very cozy and comfortable apartment.

My Bogota Job Search Begins

I then began to look for jobs and a Call Center enterprise also called me. The call center place was located exactly inside the North Point building in the Seventh Avenue at the far North of Bogota (The Simon Bolivar Hospital is located a few blocks away). The psychologist received me and they almost agreed to hire me until they also realized I had no PEP. That very thing frustrated me to the uttermost.

Then, my friends and I moved out from Barrancas to an apartment located in Molinos, near the far south of Bogota to stay there. Before that, we slept in the streets and slept in some other houses around. I slept for two nights in a house in Teusaquillo, specifically in front of the Profamilia Transmilenio Stop. In there, I stayed for almost three weeks, looking for jobs in the capital unsuccessfully. many times I was running out of money to even go on and I was frankly frustrated and angry.

I had to leave the apartment since there were people who were going to stay at that moment. It was almost Christmas Eve, and I had no choice but to leave the apartment. Against all odds, I ended up staying in a house near Normandia and began going to the center of Bogota. I spent a good time with lots of tourists but my entrance visa was almost about to be over. Fortunately, I was able to get my PEP and print it since the Government opened a new chance for Venezuelans to get the document online. However, I had no choice than coming back to Venezuela that January 2019. Despite I had my PEP, I was facing a huge fine and to avoid that at all cost, I had to come back to Venezuela.

My Medellin Miracle is now Taking Shape

I was sad, angry, and totally out of my mind. Then I began to work in a school in Barquisimeto called Rio Claro teaching English. Chile seemed to be a very good option but I had no contacts whatsoever. To make the story short, Chile was not an option. The ironic part is that I didn’t want to know ANYTHING about Colombia. I tried Ecuador, Uruguay, and Brazil again. Nothing.

New home in Medellin, Colombia
Now I make my home in Medellin, Colombia with a new job and new friends. This is a miracle.

Then I decided to do things right. I began to seek Evangelical English speaking churches in Medellin and I found Grace Church Medellin. I wrote a man named Steve Tuggle and he kindly answered all my questions and offered me his help. At the very end, a Colombian lady managed to find a place for me to sleep for twenty days. With my hopes renewed, I gathered money and decided to travel to the city of Medellin from Cucuta again on the 30th of June of 2019. I stayed in an apartment in a neighborhood titled Calasania II.

During this time, I got to know interesting people like The Tuggle family, Andrew Stringer (a very schematic elder and pastor), Andrew’s family, and other acquaintances. I am now working in looking for jobs that can provide me with a great chance to make a living and pursue my ultimate goals and also teaching English privately to some students and congregating in a great church in the Poblado area. I am convinced that God had no interest in me in any place other than Medellin, and He worked out all the details for His glory.

Written by Jose Galindo.

Christian-without-being-religious

How Can You Be Spiritual But Not Religious?

by Steve Tuggle

 

[The following is an email one of our leaders received from his former Pastor in Guatemala. It answers the question – Can You Be Spiritual But Not Religious. I added the title for purposes of publishing on this website. As a disclaimer, the views expressed herein do not necessarily express the views of Grace Church Medellin. All comments inside [] are the personal views of Steve Tuggle. Those comments also do not necessarily express the views of Grace Church Medellin.]

I think we have all heard the following statement, and perhaps used it ourselves. “I think of myself as spiritual and not religious.” Now, as a person of “religion”, I sometimes think of that statement negatively. It is an excuse people use to not participate in organized religion. One of my favorite books in high school was entitled “How to be a Christian without being Religious” by Fritz Ridenour, a Lutheran.

In Christianity, Can you be Spiritual But Not Religious? Is Christianity a “Religion”?

[We Christians don’t think of ourselves as religious – we think of ourselves as “forgiven”. Fritz Ridenour said in his book, “Christianity is not a “religion; it is a “relationship”. And according to the Books of Ephesians and Romans, God, the Father initiated that relationship through His Amazing Grace.]

If you read the Gospels carefully and critically, we see that Jesus’ incarnation, was not to start a new religion. His coming among us was not as most Christians think. It was actually to save all religions from the laws (Torah) that separated sincere people and kept them divided.

Why Did Jesus Come To Earth?

Jesus came among us to proclaim that “religion” had come to an end. His message was that all people could form one human family caring for each other and God’s Creation. [In the truest sense of the word, “religion” is man reaching out to satisfy God. Christians know from Romans 3:23 that we can never satisfy God’s standards. Therefore, the only way we can be reconciled to God is through His free gift of faith in Jesus.] In a sense, the critics are absolutely correct. The religions of the world are responsible for the world’s divisions and wars among people. The religions of the world have subtly left the intention of their founders. They adopted rules and ways of being that cut them off from others, rather than unite them with each other. Take Jesus’ words in the Gospel of John.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. [John 14:27]

How does “Religion” respond to the message of Jesus?

Humankind seeks peace as the world does, by uniting the “Us” against the “Them.” And religions, for the most part, have adopted the world’s way by making enough rules to make it difficult for many people on the “outside” to find a community within them. The Christian “religion” [not the Christian faith], knew full well that Jesus gave only two commands: Love God and neighbor and gather to celebrate Eucharist (thanksgiving) together. Nevertheless, they adopted so many rules “from biblical teaching” that effectively make it impossible to find unity. These rules, or disagreement with them, have led to countless divisions in Christianity alone. Instead of following Jesus’ commands and gathering together in thankfulness for Jesus’ presence in our midst, they make rules. And if I don’t like your rules, my friends and family will leave and make our own community and find rules (Torah) we can agree with.

And what was Jesus’ Response?

This is why Jesus, in his last talk with his disciples before going to the Cross, says

I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. [John 14:26]

Now over 2000 years later, the “cat is out of the bag.” There are thousands of religions and many divisions in each one. How are we ever going to heal or eliminate religious fervor/division and get back to our spiritual roots? I think the followers of Jesus are most responsible, guided by the Holy Spirit, to bring about a spiritual revival across all religious faiths, denominations, or people who are searching or even not-searching for God. The Holy Spirit reminds us again today of what Jesus said and taught. We need to end religion and gather in the Spirit with all people of goodwill. We must love Jesus. And since Jesus is no longer with us physically, we must let go of the fear that causes us to gather only with those we agree with or feel comfortable with.

Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, “I am going away, and I am coming to you.” If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe. [John 14:1]

In Light of All This, How Should We Then Live?

The Holy Spirit, the Advocate, is the one “called alongside” (parakletos) to defend the accused or the victim of accusation. Anyone who seeks to bring down the barriers of religion and build unity will be victimized and accused of being anti-religious, disrespectful of holy laws, and being relativistic. This is not to say that “one religion is as good as any other,” but that all human beings are already related (ligament) to one another, the root meaning of the word religion. So: What would Jesus have us do now? I think Jesus wants us to do the following.

  1. Begin to live the Gospel vision of unity seeing all people as our brothers and sisters in this world.
  2. Love and affirm the good in them.
  3. Forgive them when needed (as we have been forgiven).
  4. Let go of the religious barriers we’ve grown up with.

This I think is living the life in the Spirit Jesus desires us to live. All human beings are invited to gather together in Eucharist: giving thanks for God’s love, the gift of life, and all of Creation.

Amen!

Rev. John Smith,

Antigua, Guatemala

[PS. Since all of the Bible verses quoted in this letter are from John Chapter 14, it would appear that there is much wisdom to be gained from studying this chapter. I therefore highly encourage everyone to study John Chapter 14. Our Grace Church Medellin Small Group Bible Studies are currently studying the entire Gospel of John. We invite you to join us in the group that is most convenient for you.]

GodsEyes-Prayer-Share-Pastor-Mark

Christian Medical Mission Trips – God’s Eyes

To See is To Believe

By Michael Thayer
Michael and another volunteer at a God's Eyes clinic
Michael with another volunteer at a clinic.

This is a special report. I could not wait to share our story about God’s Eyes clinics in Medellín. God’s Eyes Chiriqui organizes Christian medical mission trips in which their teams provide free eye exams and free prescription eyeglasses together with prayer, and sharing salvation through Jesus Christ.

God’s Eyes International is part of the Christian medical mission worldwide outreach effort. This effort includes thousands of organizations all over the world fulfilling the Great Commission of Matthew 28:18-20. These organizations bring much needed medical help to people who can’t afford care, while at the same time ministering to their spiritual needs.

God’s Eyes Chiriqui Comes To Medellin

Our friends Steve and Paulette Tuggle and Dan and Carol Neuschwanger from our English Speaking Church (recently renamed Grace Church) and who previously lived in Boquete, Panama had worked with God’s Eyes Chiriqui. They shared their experiences working with this wonderful mission that gives away free eye exams and eyeglasses to those who can’t afford them.

Several months ago, we reached out to God’s Eyes Chiriqui to see if they could bring clinics into Colombia. We partnered with Iglesia Comunidad Cristiana de Adoracion, and we scheduled five clinics to give away 100 prescription glasses at each clinic following the plan.

Joy Catron and Mary Ironside worked together to organize the 5 days of clinics in Medellin.
Joy Catron and Mary Ironside worked together to organize the 5 days of clinics in Medellin.

Planning and Preparation

The first was to be held in Fredonia, two clinics were scheduled in Tablaza, one at Vizcaya mall in Poblado and the last one at our home church ICR in Barrio Colombia. The great thing about having the clinic at our location was that we are just two blocks from the metro system that connects all areas of the city.

We reached out to Andrew’s small groups in Nueva Jerusalem, Pastor Wilson’s group, and Pastor Fredy’s groups in La Estrella. We quickly filled the 100 spaces available and we had to turn down many. [At one point, Michael told me he wasn’t sure he could fill the 100 people. His fears were immediately removed when over 150 people signed up! – ST]

Preparing for the clinics was hard work. Team members attended many required meetings for training purposes. I worked one of the days in Tablaza to learn how it all works and yesterday the organizers assigned me to coordinate the clinic at our church. [Michael introduced his magician skills to entertain the children while they waited for their turn. It was incredibly effective – ST]

Workers and patients during the clinic at ICR.
Workers and patients during the clinic at ICR.

The Clinics

So here is how it all works:

  • Once a person registers, the mission team sends an email and contacts the person by phone the week before to confirm their appointment.
  • The appointments are placed in half-hour segments, for example, 8 people were scheduled to be seen between 8:00 and 8:30.
  • If they miss their scheduled time, their appointment is canceled and walk-ins can fill their space.
  • If they show up later they are treated as a walk-in.

When the people show up for their appointments and check-in a member of the team asks if they have any prayer needs. Almost everyone that came did. Then they wait for the first exam which is an eye chart exam. The next station is extremely important and requires a very dark room. Sometimes this is a real challenge, especially in gymnasiums. The team brings a special and expensive machine that is crucial in making the correct prescription. Then the doctors manually check their prescription and modify it by using special equipment.

The Lord gives 30 people a surprise gift

The night before, they informed me that we could add 20 more to make a total of 120. Bryan Kaiser, God’s Eyes founder, and international director from Atlanta came and stayed with us a few days. Also, another optometrist, Ronald Wallie, who is from Ohio, had just joined the God’s Eyes Chiriqui team. He and his family (9 children!) recently moved to Boquete. He also stayed with us. We had a lot of fun hosting and showing them around our city, and we hope to partner with them again for future God’s Eyes clinics throughout Colombia.

100 people registered by mid-December. After calling everyone to confirm the week before, we had 10 cancellations. So Andrew contacted those who were not able to register originally due to space and filled those canceled positions. When I was notified the night before that we could add 20 more people, phone calls went out again.

Ministry

There are cases and cases of pre-cut lenses sorted by power strength. The frames are all the same. Team members make the glasses according to the prescription, while the patients receive prayer, free Bibles and literature if wanted. [Christian medical mission trips are always designed to meet the needs – both physical and spiritual of “unreached people groups”. This is what the Great Commission is all about. – ST]

Andrew Baptizes Jose During the Clinic.
Andrew Baptizes Jose During the Clinic.

During one of these ministry opportunities, Jose Yepes accepted Christ as his Savior and wanted to be baptized right away. Andrew filled the baptistry and baptized him in front of everyone at the clinic. Praise the Lord!

The people receive their new glasses

When the eyeglasses are completed, a member of the distribution team calls the patient’s name to come to try out their new glasses. You should see all the smiles! Natalia worked at that station. She said “That was the best job in the clinic to be there when people are given sight!!

Those patients who work outside also received very cool-looking sunglasses. Some people just needed readers and there were plenty of Foster Grant readers available for them.

Bible Application for Christian Medical Mission Trips

This reminds me of the parable of the great feast in Luke 14. Luke 14:15-24 New International Version (NIV)

The Parable of the Great Banquet

15 When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”

16 Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17 At the time of the banquet, he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’

18 “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’

19 “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’

20 “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’

21 “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’

22 “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’

23 “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in so that my house will be full. 24 I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”

Luke 14. Luke 14:15-24 New International Version (NIV)

Luke 14. Luke 14:15-24 New International Version (NIV)

End of the Day

The clinic was open from 8:00 am until 4:00 pm. About 3:30 pm I advised Andrew that we had space for about 10 more people before the clinic closed. He promptly went down into the streets and brought to the clinic mechanics who were working outside. Also two workers from the restaurant down below the church. They were all seen for a total of 120!

We closed up shop at 4:15 pm and began packing up supplies and equipment for their next clinic. We had 120 people go through the process for glasses. Not all could be helped but most were. I think God’s Eyes clinics are amazing and I want to help with future clinics throughout the world.

In closing, we just wanted to say THANK YOU to all the many volunteers who helped with the clinics. Without them, the clinics would not have been possible.

Some of the Volunteers at the God's Eyes Clinic at Iglesia Cristiana de Restauracion ("ICR")
Some of the Volunteers at the God’s Eyes Clinic at Iglesia Cristiana de Restauracion (“ICR”)
Carlos - one of the hardest working volunteers, gets a new pair of glasses.
Carlos and his fellow worker, Luis worked well before sunup to long after sundown to make these clinics so successful. He definitely earned this new pair of glasses!
Volunteers ate the God's Eyes Clinics
Another very happy volunteer.
One of the many happy (and tired) volunteers who made these clinics such a huge success.
One of the many happy (and tired) volunteers who made these clinics such a huge success.

Quote of the month: “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” – Arthur Ashe

Jehoshaphat-god-is-in-control

Jehoshaphat, Faithful King of Judah

by Steve Tuggle

Would you like to be encouraged by a true story that occurred almost 2,900 years ago?  Have you ever heard of King Jehoshaphat?  Probably not. He was a faithful King of Judah who became king about 50 years after the death of Solomon. These Books from the Old Testament are less famous than other parts of the Bible.  This story is buried in the Old Testament book Second Chronicles.  Where is that you ask?  Well, right after First Chronicles, of course.

Background of Jehoshaphat, King of Judah

Jehoshaphat ruled about the same number of years as Solomon.  His reign started about 100 years after the start of Solomon’s reign.  By the time Jehoshaphat came along, Israel had split into two kingdoms.  The Northern Kingdom of 10 tribes was called Israel, and the Southern Kingdom of 2 tribes was called Judah.  Jehoshaphat was the King of Judah.

While Jehoshaphat was the King of Judah, Ahab was the King of Israel.  You may remember his name.  He was married to Jezebel.  He had over 400 prophets, not one of which had any connection to the God of the Bible.  Jehoshaphat had no business being Ahab’s ally. 1 Ki 16:30 says:

“Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the LORD than any of those before him.”

Jehoshaphat’s Story

Back to Jehoshaphat.  His story took 4 chapters.  FYI, David and Solomon had the most written about them of any Jewish kings. Many of the later kings had very little written about them, especially the ones “who did evil in the sight of God”. But Jehoshaphat has 4 chapters in 2 Chronicles to tell his story. 2 Chr 17:3 says:

“The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the ways of his father David before him.”

David was a pretty good guy to follow.  God calls him “A man after God’s own heart”.  God selected David to be the second King of Israel (before the split).  So Jehoshaphat showed some real wisdom.  2 Chron 17:5 continues:

“The LORD established the kingdom under his control; and all Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat so that he had great wealth and honor.”

Jehoshaphat was faithful to God. And just like Solomon, God honored faithfulness with great wealth.  In 2 Chron 18 is another example of Jehoshaphat’s wisdom and faithfulness, and God’s amazing grace.  Jehoshaphat went to visit King Ahab, and Ahab wanted Jehoshaphat to join him in attacking Ramoth Gilead.  I could research everything about Ramoth Gilead, and impress you, but it would be a waste of time.  The actions of God, Ahab, and Jehoshaphat are what matter.

First, Ask The Lord

King Ahab with his 400 false prophets
King Ahab’s false prophets were not acceptable to King Jehoshaphat.

Jehoshaphat asked Ahab to “first seek an oracle from the Lord”.  Ahab tried to satisfy this request by bringing in his “false prophets”. So Ahab brought in his 400 prophets, all of whom said exactly what Ahab wanted them to say.  But Jehoshaphat was not impressed.  He asked for “a prophet of the Lord”.  Ahab’s response is quite humorous.  “Yes there is still one man, but I don’t like him. His name is Micah, and he never says anything good about me.  He always prophesies disaster!“

Jehoshaphat Insisted on a Prophet of God

Jehoshaphat insisted, so Ahab sent his servants to find the prophet, Micah. (You can find the Book of Micah right after the Book of Jonah).  So Micah was summoned.  At first, he mocked Ahab by sarcastically repeating what the other prophets said.  But when Ahab rebuked him, Micah told them what the Lord had told him.  Micah said, “there is a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours, but the Lord has decreed disaster for you”.

In spite of that, Ahab convinced Jehoshaphat to go with him.  But in the battle, the enemy only wanted to attack and kill Ahab. An archer shot an arrow randomly into the air, and it struck Ahab in the perfect place, between the plates of his armor, and he died.  So Jehoshaphat was spared the disaster, and he returned home to Jerusalem.  This brings us to my most favorite story about this faithful leader.

Judah Invaded by an Army from 3 Countries

In 2 Chr 20, a huge army attacked Jehoshaphat.  What follows is an amazing story about the faithfulness of the Almighty God to His chosen people and their faithful king.  What do you suppose would happen if today, a mighty army attacked the United States?  I’m guessing there would be outrageous anger and discord, political infighting, lots of blame, and probably instant retaliation.  But I doubt the leader of the free world would stop, admit he was afraid and not sure what to do, call for the people to fast, and loudly and openly pray to God for help.

But that is exactly how the King of Judah responded to this crisis.  All this while the attack is happening.  And after he prayed, Jehoshaphat and all the men of Judah stood and waited for an answer.  As I told you, this is an amazing story.

God's great victory for Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah

God’s great victory for Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah

God’s Answer Demonstrated His Power & Glory

When God’s answer came, it was extraordinary.  Jehoshaphat and all the people were told to wait and watch because this battle belonged to God.  Continuing in 2 Chr 20:15-17:

He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow, march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel.  You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.’

Jehoshaphat’s Reply to God’s Answer

In 2 Chr 20:18,21-24:

18 Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the LORD.

21 After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise Him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: “Give thanks to the LORD, for his love endures forever.” 22 As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. 23 The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another. 24 When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had escaped.

The Holy Bible

“The Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” Eph 6:17

Summary and Conclusion

Jehoshaphat’s response was:

  • pray,
  • wait for an answer,
  • faithfully obey what God said,
  • appoint men to sing praises and thanksgiving to God, and
  • watch God keep His promise.

After the battle was over, the Bible says Jehoshaphat and his men went to collect the plunder.  There was so much plunder that it took them 3 days to collect it.

The story ends in 2 Chron 20:29-30:

The fear of God came on all the surrounding kingdoms when they heard how the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel.  And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side.

Fear came upon all the enemies, and Jehoshaphat was at peace. I mean, what else could all their other enemies do?

Jehoshaphat is only one of many Kings of Israel and Judah.  His story is just one of the stories given to us in the Bible about our wonderful Creator, Father God, the Father of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We serve a great God!  Praise Him for His love, faithfulness, and almighty power!

Historical References

For reference purposes, here are a few facts about the times of Jehoshaphat with others.

  1. Jehoshaphat was King of Judah and ruled from 873-838 BC
  2. Solomon ruled from 971-931 BC
  3. Moses led Israel from 1445-1405 BC

Thank you for your attention.  Please leave a comment or question.

Clown-Ministry-Featured-Image

Christian Clown Ministry – Medellin

This is our favorite clown, Michael Thayer.  In addition to his work as a Christian missionary, Michael offers a Christian Clown Ministry to children in hospitals in Medellin, Colombia.  And he also does magic tricks.  We met Michael and Nichole a year ago shortly after we arrived in Medellin.  Today, they are our closest friends here.  They are a great example of the purpose of this page.  They have been living and serving Christ in Latin America as missionaries for about 4 years.

Michael & Nichole are Christian Missionaries

Michael and Nichole were appointed as missionaries while living in Grand Junction, Colorado. That is the location of their home church.  Their original plans were to go overseas.  But as happens regularly, God had a different plan.  Gradually all the plans for their other choices started to have problems.  Ultimately, they believed they should consider other places.

Their friend, Andrew looked at them and said “Why not Colombia?  Once they started considering Colombia, God worked through their circumstances to confirm that Colombia was His choice too.  Their home sold in 1 day for more than the asking price and two spots in a Spanish language school also opened up.

Members of "Doctora Clown" visiting local hospitals in Medellin, Colombia.
Members of “Doctora Clown” visiting local hospitals in
Medellin, Colombia.

Within a short time, they were leaving Colorado and heading to Costa Rica to learn Spanish.  Then they were invited to serve as missionaries to a Spanish-Speaking Christian Church (Iglesia Cristiana de Restauracion) here in Medellin. Together with Andrew Stringer and his parents Mark and Barbara Stringer (who have been serving in Colombia for over 53+ years), they are fulfilling the Great Commission in Medellin, Colombia.

Michael works in his Christian Clown Ministry

But as I said above, the work of Michael and Nichole doesn’t stop with the church. Michael has this terrific Christian Clown Ministry, and he works together with Fundación Doctora Clown to bring smiles to kids in local hospitals. It probably sounds a little strange, but he takes his clowning seriously. And he is very good at it.

Michael Thayer, Christian Clown with his friends bringing happiness and love to children and others in local hospitals.
Michael Thayer with friends from “Doctora Clown” in Medellin Colombia.

The Thayers are also leaders in establishing our English-Speaking Christian Church.

In addition to all that, they are leaders in our effort to establish the first English-speaking Christian Church in Medellin. They are starting our second group Bible study this Monday night. And next Sunday, Michael will be preaching in Spanish to his church.  They are two of many thousands of folks who have been drawn to Central and South America to live and work in all sorts of ways as the Lord directs. Please keep them in your prayers. And if you want to follow and learn more about their ministry, check them out on Facebook at Thayer’s Travels.

Thanks for your visit.  Please leave a comment below and subscribe.

Steve Tuggle

Botero-Plaza-in-Medellion-El-Centro-1

We Share the Gospel in English – In Medellin Colombia!

by 

In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus said to His disciples: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” This passage is known as “The Great Commission”. Following that commission, we share the Gospel in Medellin.  The difference is that we do it in English.

For nearly 2,000 years, this verse has been the basis for all Christian missionaries who have ever been sent all over the world. Those missionaries have learned thousands of foreign languages so that they could preach the good news of Jesus Christ to every distinct “people group” on earth. I think most other Christians think of this as referring only to missionaries who were sent to third world countries. They were going to share the gospel with people who had never heard of Jesus Christ.

Is an English-speaking church in Medellin fulfilling the Great Commission?

But now, as I think about why God called us to Medellin, I realize that our mission here is also part of the Great Commission. Why?

  1. First, to share the gospel with those who have not yet repented and believed in the Lord Jesus Christ (Evangelism).
  2. Second, to establish an English-speaking Christian community of believers to help and pray for one another. This is very much like a church family in an American Christian church (Fellowship).
  3. Third, to “disciple” our fellow believers to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Discipleship).

Therefore, the Holy Spirit is working through us as we share the gospel in English in a city where 99%+ of the population does not speak English! But in a city of 4 million people, that still leaves around 40,000 who can understand our message. Our challenge is to find them and help them find us. Our mission is very important and has eternal consequences. If they don’t hear and understand the gospel of Jesus Christ, and don’t believe in Him, they will all be separated from God for eternity.

And what I just realized this week is that most English-speakers are not conversational in Spanish. So, there is no way a Spanish-speaking Christian could share the Gospel in a way they would understand. That is a role only an English-speaking believer can fill. And that is a major part of the reason God wants an English-speaking church in Medellin.

How Does Grace Church Medellin Participate in the Great Commission?

Recently, I read an article titled “9 Ministries That Satisfy The Great Commission“. I found it interesting that out of the 9 Ministries, Grace Church Medellin is already working in 4 of them. And as God brings growth to our group, we will eventually have regular worship and preaching services, and that will add a 5th Ministry. Just based on that, we are participating in fulfilling the Great Commission. Here are the ministries Grace Church is currently doing:

  1. Monday Night Small Group hosted by Michael and Nichole Thayer
    One of our small-group Bible studies in Medellin.

    Small-Group Studies
    We have weekly Bible Studies in our members’ homes or apartments. These studies include time for fellowship, Bible study, singing, prayer, and lots of discussions that larger settings don’t offer.

  2. Individual Discipleship
    Spending time one on one with a fellow believer, opening our Bibles together and learning how to become more like Christ, is the most effective way to make a disciple.
  3. Church planting
    In our case, we are trying to reach people from our culture who choose to live in a different culture. So we are the best ones available to reach out to our fellow English-speakers.  Many of them are our fellow countrymen from North America.
  4. Reproduction (or Multiplying)
    The Great Commission is about “disciplering”. That is a made-up word that means making disciples who make disciples. And that is one of our long-term goals. This will require many more Christians who are committed to evangelizing, disciple, and yes, even send out missionaries.  We can send missionaries to other cities in Colombia and perhaps other countries. And we are working in many ways to get the word out about how others can join us in this work.

Grace Church Medellin Is Here for You

Romans is my favorite Book in the Bible because it contains so many critically important passages.  For example, it is the clearest representation of the Gospel or “Good News” about Jesus Christ and the meaning of his death, burial, and resurrection.  Romans 8:38-39 is one of the most powerful demonstrations of God’s love for His people, and is justification for why He called us to Medellin.

38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God is planting a new church in Medellin through those He has called. It is starting in the Poblado area, but we believe it will spread to many other areas of Medellin and the Abura Valley.  We are delighted and humbled that He has chosen to work through us to accomplish His plan. And we hope we may be the first of many such churches for English-speakers. Medellin is a very large city, and there are thousands of English-speakers living full or part-time here. And our numbers are growing every month as more people discover the many benefits of living and serving Christ in Latin America.  Come and join us.

Steve Tuggle

Small-Groups-Develop-Deep-Roots

New Home church in Medellin

by Steve Tuggle

The Importance of Small Groups

I took these notes from a sermon by Rick Warren, Pastor of Saddleback Church in California and author of the book, The Purpose Driven Life.  The subject is the importance of small group bible studies in the lives of healthy believers in Jesus Christ.  We are trying to incorporate these principles in our English-speaking New Home Church in Medellin.  We call it Grace Church Medellin.

For the first 300 years after Jesus died, there were no church buildings anywhere.  Acts 1:15 says the original group of disciples totaled 120 persons.  Acts 2:41 says on the Day of Pentecost, about 3,000 people became believers and were added to the group!  IN ONE DAY!  Acts 4:4 says later that the total number of men in the new church had reached 5,000.  If there were 5,000 men, there could have been another 10,000+ women and children.  The Jerusalem church eventually grew to as many as 120,000 in 25 years, which was about half the total population.  Acts 21:20 says “tens of thousands”.  Almost 300 years later, there were 3 million Christians, and one of those was Caesar, the leader of Rome!  All without a church building.

With No Church Building, Where Did They Meet?

Where did they put all these people?  They were a “Mega Church” on the Day of Pentecost without a “pie-shaped auditorium”.  If they had built a huge building, they would have outgrown it in a matter of weeks or months.  In Jerusalem, Acts 2:42 says “day by day” they were meeting in the Temple courtyards (large group worship) and from house to house (small groups).

So small groups were extremely important to the growth of the early church.  And therefore, we have designed our new home church around these small group principles and methods.

Grace Church Medellin Bible Studies
Pictures from our 2 Groups – The younger crowd still work so they come in the evening. All the members of our morning group are retired or full-time missionaries.

Why are small groups important?

  1. The Bible says they are important.  Moses created leaders of groups of thousands, of hundreds, of fifty, and of tens (small group leaders).  Jesus selected 12 to be His group for 3 years.  And the early church had no other way to grow.
  2. They are personal.  Everyone in the group knows each other.  We fellowship together.
  3. They are flexible.  If Tuesday doesn’t work this week, we can reschedule to another time or day with a WhatsApp group message.
  4. They are expandable.  To a limit.  From 4 persons up to about 10, then in most cases, a new group should spin off.  In many cases, this is a matter of necessity because our apartment living rooms won’t hold more than that.
  5. They are economical.  Small groups don’t require space so we don’t incur a rental expense.  We don’t require a room in a church (which might be empty the rest of the week).

What does a small group do?

1. Study the Bible.  And generally, it is best if the group selects the topic or book.  [Both of our groups started with the Gospel of John.  We are only about halfway through, so we have many weeks before we have to decide on our next book.]

2. Fellowship with other group members.  (Per the speaker, this is the most important purpose.)

3. Pray for each other.  Pray for specific needs and then watch God answer those prayers.

4. Help each other in practical ways – (meal, groceries, trips to the doctor, etc).

5. Sing together.  Most people like that.  And we are going to start singing at our next meeting.

6. Eat together.  Everyone likes that!

7. Bring unbelievers to Jesus.  A small group is a great place to introduce others to our wonderful Savior Jesus Christ.  And we are believing God to bring souls for His Kingdom.

8. Communion – “Do this in remembrance of Me”.  Luke 22:19-20.  Communion is so much more personal in a small group instead of a large auditorium.

What are the Benefits of a Small Group?

1. It connects me to the Body of Christ.  Physically.  “Together you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of that body”.  1 Cor 12:27

2. I understand the Bible better because I can ask questions and we can discuss points.  You can’t raise your hand for clarification in the middle of a Sunday morning sermon.

3. Prayer becomes more meaningful and powerful.  See above.  As we pray specifically for each others’ needs and see answers, we are encouraged to pray more and see more answers.

4. I am able to handle stress better.  Gal 6:2 says “Bear one another’s burdens and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.”

5. It is a place to practice unselfishness.  Being in a small group encourages me to put my problems on the back-burner and focus on how I can help others in the group.

How small is a small group?

According to the speaker, “4 is better than 6, 6 is better than 8, and 8 is better than 10.”  He also says when you get more than 10 in a group, someone will stop talking and become a wallflower.  So as the group starts approaching 10, the group/host needs to start planning for a new group.

Conclusion

In Grace Church Medellin, we are committed to building our Church family through small groups.  For us, there really is no alternative.  That is why we call Grace Church Medellin our new home church. 

Right now we are small and are not even thinking about a building.  And when we run out of chairs, we will form another group at another apartment or home.  Here in Medellin where English speakers are so spread out, it makes much more sense to minimize travel time and maximize the time people spend with each other.

We are convinced that God has big plans for Medellin, including the growing population of US and Canadian citizens living here.  And every week, God tells someone else about the English-speaking Home Church in Medellin.  We are looking forward to what God has planned for His church in Medellin, Colombia.

God bless you all.