As some of you  may know I’ve had the privilege of partnering with That None Should Perish (TNSP) based out of Oregon. I’ve been intimately involved with their ministries and have been interning with them since late July. Here is an excerpt from an article I wrote for TNSP recapping the tragic end to our week in Alausi.

“This July, TNSP Missionary Steve Nine and TNSP Intern Tim Truax made the trip to Alausi, Ecuador. They had the privilege of partnering with a missions team from Crossroads Assemblies of God Church in Clayton, North Carolina led by Greg and Lisa Johnson. The goal for the week was to assist in constructing a church in the little town of Cocha Loma high in the Andes mountains, as well as teach canning and food preservation techniques. Steve and Tim had the pleasure of using their gifts to provide games, teaching, songs, and lots of love to the children of Cocha Loma during these projects. However the week came to an abrupt halt on July 14^th after returning from a full day of work. Here are reflections from a TNSP 2010 Intern, Tim Truax:”

To read the rest of the article please Click Here.

The Drive

We set out on Sunday the 11th, on a bus from Portoviejo to Guayaquil. Total one-way cost for 100 miles worth of driving, $5. After a traditional Ecuadorian lunch in the bus station (Pizza Hut), we were on the road again to Alausi. All in all I believe the trip was about 10 hours on the road, total cost from Portoviejo to Alausi for the 200 or so miles, $10.

We arrived at the Hostal San Pedro to a somewhat eerie giant statue of Saint Peter looming over the entire city. We met up with our team from CrossRoads Church in Clayton, North Carolina. We had a time of dinner and fellowship, and a time to prepare for the start of the week the next morning.

The Week Begins

The next morning we set out on the hour and a half bus ride high into the Andes Mountains at over 12,000 feet. By God’s grace the tour bus was able to make it all the way up the mountain without getting stuck or falling off the edge.

However, we did have to stop once to throw some rocks down over a stream so we didn’t get swept off the mountain.

The people in this part of Ecuador are the indigenous natives, the Quechua and are oftentimes looked down upon by the other people of Ecuador.

Our task for the week was three-fold. One group was working alongside the Quechua Christians to lay block for a new church building. Another group was teaching the women how to can and preserve food. The final group’s job was to provide a children’s ministry.

Block Laying

The block-laying was not without incident as egos conflicted. The Quechua had their way of laying block and the Americans had their way of laying block.

Ultimately all egos aside, the block laying was sorted out, and work continued without hassle.

Teaching the Quechua to Can

The canning was a particular blessings to the Quechua women as the had the opportunity to interact, and learn from the Americans (and teach them a few things too).

Sometimes they even had to interact without a translator, but by God’s grace the hand motions and noise making was understood well enough to accomplish something.

Time With the Quechua Children

I spent the majority of the time working with the children. We had the opportunity to pray with them. Show them movies. Teach them songs. Play soccer with them. Color with them. Perform skits for them. Model Christ to them. Love them.

It was a great time just to love kids. Just to be with them, hold their hand as we walked along the mountain roads. To see the toughest soccer boys sit down to enjoy coloring time. To hear the children singing us songs in Quechua and Spanish.

The Impact

The biggest thing that struck me was the diversity between these people and the Ecuadorians I am used to being with. The dress is different. The language is different. The complexion is different. The customs are different.

But what struck me even more is the unity in Christ that exists among all members of Christ’s bride, the Church. There is one universal body of believers, one Church of called out humans. Let us never forget that the building we meet in is not the Church, WE ARE THE CHURCH. Christ is so much more than our local congregations, He is so much more than our building funds, events, and outreach programs.

The Spirit is at work in His people which He is calling out from every tribe, tongue, and nation. Are you a part of it? You don’t need to leave your country to be a part of it. You don’t even need to leave your block.

BE A PART OF IT.

Share the gospel. Make disciples. Be unashamed of the Gospel.

Be a radical. Live an expository life.

That’s Christianity.

Awana alone cannot change the world.

Awana itself is not stirring a spiritual revolution in the lives of those who participate in it.

If we think we can drop our kids off at Awana and we’ve done our job as the spiritual mentors of our family, think again. If we think we can participate and lead an Awana club, and our job is done, think again.

Now don’t get me wrong, Awana and programs like it are great tools, but they are just that, tools. They are not meant to stand alone, and they cannot stand alone. We need to be making disciples. Everything else needs to be secondary.

We cannot have programs for the sake of programs. We cannot have Awana clubs for the sake of having Awana clubs. Our programs need to function as tools to assist in making disciples.

Any person who has spent a significant amount of time around Awana will tell you: the children that get the most out of the experience are the ones whose parents are most involved. The fact is, Awana clubs becomes a tool to assist parents in helping disciple their children. This is the purpose of the program. If we miss this central point, we are in a heap of trouble.

Now this leads to a natural conclusion. If a program is not assisting in helping to further the work of evangelism and discipleship, it needs to be revised, revamped, or eliminated altogether. We need to be asking the “Why” question in our churches. Our lives are so often characterized by habits and traditions that we don’t even bother to ask or think about why we do the things we do.

So my challenge to you readers is that you would ask “Why,” and subsequently “Why Not.” Which leads me to my final question:

Are You Making Disciples?

If No, Why Not?

During these six days Maria and her family had the opportunity to hear the gospel message again and again as we conducted our evening services outside of her home. We also had the opportunity to continue to disciple her through this week.

As I talked and shared some pictures from my recent journeys with Maria and her family, a familiar face drove up on his motorcycle. It was none other than Pastor Francisco. He had driven down to Maria’s house and was on his way to disciple the lady across the street.

It was a great encouragement to see Francisco, diligently taking up his cross in faithful obedience to Jesus’ call in Matthew 28:19. Francisco informed me that he had continued to disciple Maria and her family and had finished a total of 5 of the New Life in Christ’s Discipleship lessons.

I had the pleasure of sitting in while he begin lesson 5 with Maria’s neighbor. Maria and her family sat in on the lesson, and Maria unreservedly shared her thoughts throughout the lesson. My heart was touched by the faithfulness of the two of them, and the incredible growth of the seed that was planted into Maria’s heart mere weeks before.

My prayer is for continued growth in the lives of Maria and her children, and Maria’s neighbor. I pray that Francisco continues to remain faithful to the Savior as he continues to entrust the things he knows to faithful men and women in his community.

Ironically both houses of these new believers are located in the center of their little street. My prayer is that the Spirit will use these two humble families and this Pastor to affect great change in this neighborhood. I pray they will continue to grow and take their faith to their neighbors.

Would you also pray for me as I continue to make strides in learning Spanish in what is easily the most difficult Spanish in the entire country. Pray for my internship that will begin here in the next few weeks. Pray also for all the people I have touched that the Spirit would continue to move in their hearts and accomplish great things for the glory of His Name.

Would you Pray, earnestly, like never before that the Lord would raise up leaders in this country. This country is suffering. The pastors are suffering. The people are suffering. The gospel needs to be preached. Disciples need to be made. The cross needs to be remembered. Our Savior needs to be worshiped in Spirit AND in Truth.

The visible church in this country is no different than the visible church in America. Men sit in the service, clap their hands, and go home to their mistresses. Women come to the altar for prayer, and go home and abuse their children.

1 Timothy 4:1

“Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons.”

There are people teaching false doctrine among us. Whether it is a gospel of moralism, or a gospel of prosperity and wealth. A gospel of emotionalism, or consumerism–IT IS NOT THE GOSPEL. Oh how the gospel desperately needs to be preached.

Pray that the Lord would raise up leaders in this land. Oh pray that the Spirit would blow in this country and in this world.

Pray for Pastor Francisco

This is an ex-drug abuser. This is a ex-heathen, an ex-hypocrite, but by the grace of God he has been redeemed. He has been washed by the Blood of the Lamb. Pray that he would continue to be filled with the Spirit, that the Lord would continue to bring conviction in his life. Pray that he would continue to be transformed by the Spirit working in his life.

This is a man with no formal biblical training. This man could barely afford to pay for a study bible, yet he has been given the task of shepherding a church in his community. I pray that he would realize he can not do this task alone. He needs to entrust the things he has learned to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

The Great Commission is a call to spiritual multiplication by the Spirit-backed, God-ordained proclamation of the Word of God. Christians are a body of called-out believers. A body of disciple-making disciples of the Risen Savior, Jesus, the Incarnate Word.

Pray For This Church

Pray for this Pastor, pray for his close friends, pray for this church. They are in desperate need of discipleship. We spent this last week encouraging, pleading with them to take an active role in their faith, to preach the Word, to evangelize the lost, to disciple new believers. For most of them, it was a task that could not be completed. It was a bar set too high. Some of them could not read, some of them were too afraid. Others simply did not know enough to be able to present the gospel or disciple a believer.

God Has Not Given Us A Spirit of Fear

How often this is true of the visible church. How many of us are simply too afraid to share the gospel? Simply too afraid to disciple our children or our friends? Why is that? God has not given us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power and of love. Whom shall we fear? PREACH THE WORD.

Are we discipling? Clergy and laity–Are we discipling? If we are not, why is that? MAKE DISCIPLES. It is not a suggestion, It Is An Order.

Preach the Word

You who claim the title of Christian, you who claim to be washed by the blood, are you ashamed of the Savior? If you are not ashamed, Preach the Word. Worship the Savior in Spirit, and in Truth.

You Pastor, who seeks to be a faithful shepherd of the flock, knowing you will be judged more strictly. Do you preach the Word? Are you teaching the flock? You can speak in front of a congregation and not preach. You can speak on a passage of scripture and not teach. You can yell and scream and stomp around till the roof falls down and not preach. You pastor, Are you preaching the word?

Oh that we who claim the title of Christian would not be ashamed of the Word of God. IT IS THE POWER UNTO SALVATION. IT IS TO BE FED UPON LIKE WE FEED UPON BREAD. It is essential to life. It is not marginal. It is not an addition to life. IT IS LIFE ITSELF.

Open Your Bible

Open your Bible and feed upon the riches of its marvelous grace. This book is the Divine Word of God. Never forget that. Never minimize that. Build your life upon this marvelous truth.

Would You Pray?

Would you pray for Francisco? Would you pray for the sheep he shepherds? Would you pray for your Pastor? Would you pray for yourself?

Oh that the Spirit would move in our hearts, that He would move in our churches. That He would move in our nations.
Oh that we would preach the word, in season and out. That we would make disciples. Oh, Pray that we would make disciples. That we would feed upon the Word, that we would eat of its feasts like we feed upon physical food.

This is my prayer.

I have had the blessing to work alongside some wonderful people this week, and to make the acquaintance of many. However, this community needs a lot of work. The Pastor needs a lot of work. There is much to be done. But this is not so atypical. There is much to be done in the community of El Puño en Barrio Fatima. There is much to be done in the City of Portoviejo. There is much to be done in the province of Manabi. There is much to be done in the country of Ecuador.

There is so much work to be done. God is calling out a people for His name from every tribe, tongue, and nation. This work is global, and it is not finished!

We need to be marching. We are slaves to the Risen Christ. We are soldiers engaged in a battle of spiritual and eternal significance. We have much work to do.

Do the Work of an Evangelist

We are to be doing the work of an evangelist, in season and out. That is the call of the Christian. We are to preach the Gospel of Christ Jesus. We can’t be focused on this world because we are living for the King. As soldiers we are called to share in the suffering of Christ with our cross on our shoulder. We cannot be entangled in civilian pursuits. Our aim is to please the one who enlisted us. We need to cover ground like a regiment. We are empowered by the truth and surrounded by the brethren. Pray to do this all with humility, boasting in your weakness and God’s invincibility. (Plumbline Collective: “March”)

Are you ready to lose your life? Are you ready to lose your job? Your home? Are you willing to take up your cross? If Not? Why is that? Have you been covered by the blood? Examine yourself.

AN EVER MOVING STREAM

The work God is doing in this world is global, it is revolutionary, it is transformational. It is an ever-moving stream that is continuously flowing. It cannot be stopped. Its work cannot be halted. Its flow cannot be disrupted.

Every professing Christian stands on the banks of this river. You have two choices. You can either jump into the water, or you can stay on the bank. You can take up your cross and follow the Risen Christ. Or you can stand with the vast multitude watching from the bank. Wide is the road that leads to destruction. Narrow is the gate that leads to eternal life. There will be many on that day who claim to know Christ–Who claim to follow Him as Savior. He will say to them “Depart from Me, You who Practice Iniquity” (Matthew 7:21-23).

The Call of Jesus is to Repentance and Faith. His Call is to a Life of Service. It is a life of radical devotion to the Risen Christ. There is so much work to be done… In the cities of Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, Tempe. In the state of Arizona. In the country of the United States of America. There is so much work to be done.

There are orphans crying out from Africa and from Asia. There are addicts screaming in Europe and South America. There are hungry dying in North America and Australia. There is so much work to be done. Yet make no mistake, it will be done. The stream will flow regardless of whether you are being swept along or
standing on the bank. This is a Divine promise. The Gospel will be preached to every tribe, tongue, and nation. You cannot hinder his perfect plan.

MAKE DISCIPLES

The Great commission says to “MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS” (Matthew 28:18-20). We are not called to make converts. We are not seeking converts to a religion. We are seeking Spirit-initiated, radical transformations. We are seeking Disciples of the Risen Christ. We are making disciples who are doing the work of an evangelist, in season, and out. In places comfortable, and places uncomfortable.

The Gospel is alive, the WORD OF GOD is breathing, and IT IS POWERFUL. The Gospel is the power to salvation, ACT LIKE IT. PREACH THE WORD! Not just on Sundays, not just in the church, in the streets, in your house, in your neighborhood. Not just the pastor, not just the preacher, we are all full-time Christians. Our goal is to preach the word, making disciples by the power of the God-Breathed, Inspired Word of God.

I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL FOR IT IS THE POWER
OF GOD UNTO SALVATION TO EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES (Romans 1:16).

You who claim Christ? Are you ashamed of the gospel?

We Have Mouths. And they need to be filled with truth. IT IS THE TRUTH THAT SETS PEOPLE FREE. If we don’t open our mouths and commend Christ to them, WE ARE NOT LOVING THEM, no matter what we are doing with our hands (John Piper.)

Thank you for reading, and stay tuned for more updates from Ecuador. I’m still in the process of uploading pictures, but breeze on over to Facebook and see what I’ve uploaded so far.

A 5 month journey of epic proportions… Full of excitement and emotion. Of enthusiam and earnestness. But above all other words beginning with the letter “E”… it WILL BE EXPOSITORY.

I will be spending 5 months in the South American country of Ecuador. Fulfilling the Great Commision–Preaching the Gospel. Making disciples. Training and learning. Leading and following.

I personally extend the invitation to all who read this blog, Come on this journey with me. It WILL BE an EXPOSITORY JOURNEY. It WILL BE God glorifying. It will be uninhibited.

Fasten your seatbelts.

Lyrics to Looking for Love can be Found Here

My hope is that the lyrical theology of Lecrae and Trip Lee would hit the depths of your soul.

My heart goes out to all my sisters in relationships with men they know are not right for them. My heart aches for you to stop holding on to them. God has better plans for you!

My heart goes out to all my brothers and sisters looking for potential partners, my prayer is that you would set your eyes on the King, and the King alone. He will provide. Be satisfied in Him. Find your satisfaction in Christ alone.

My heart goes out to all my married brothers and sisters who through marriage provide the earthly representation of Christ’s love for the Church. May you never forget that the only way to grow closer to your spouse is to grow closer to your Father.

My heart goes out to all my married brothers and sisters who have been blessed with children. May you instruct your children as commanded by Proverbs 22:6 . May you instill upon them by example a Biblical marriage. May you instill upon your kids love found only in Christ.

My heart goes out to all my brothers and sisters currently in relationships. If your boyfriend/girlfriend is not following Christ, you need to let them go. If you are dating an unbeliever, this relationship is hindering your walk with Christ. You have driven a wedge between you and God. My prayer is that you would seek first God and His Kingdom. Serve him while you’re patiently waiting.

To all my brothers that are still waiting. My prayers are with your for continued endurance, and that you would seek the grace in Christian accountability. Press on toward the goal of the upward call in Christ Jesus.

My heart goes out to all my unsaved friends, I have nothing but love for you all. I pray that God will gives you eyes to see, and ears to hear. I pray that He would regenerate your heart to seek His face. If you have been seeking love in anything other than Christ, I assure you, you have not found it. I pray that you will recognize that true love is found IN CHRIST ALONE.

Lyrics to Lecrae’s Wait Can Be Found Here

My apologies for neglecting the blog, I have been very busy preparing for my trip. Pray for God’s preparation in the hearts of those who will hear the gospel proclaimed. Blessings on you all. May God choose to reveal Himself more and more each day.

Soli Deo Gloria

Matthew 28:18-20

And Jesus came and said to them, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

These powerful words have echoed the halls of churches for years, and how often they have been misunderstood. For a long time, people thought that these words had been written specifically to the 12 disciples of Jesus, and not applicable to today. Now people have (I believe unintentionally) misrepresented Jesus’ call by over-emphasizing the word translated in English as “Go.”

You see, we’ve emphasized the wrong verb in this verse. In the Greek translation of this verse, the emphasis is on the disciple-making, not on the going. It could be more aptly translated “as you go.” Unfortunately this had led to a complete misunderstanding of the Biblical implications behind Christian. If you are a Christian you need to be making disciples. It doesn’t matter where you are, whether you are in Ecuador, Africa, Europe, Asia, America. You need to be making disciples as you go, wherever you go.

The completely awe inspiring humbling understanding of the Great Commission is that human responsibility in Matthew 28:19 is sandwiched between the divine sovereignty and power of God in Matthew 28:18, 20. Jesus has all authority over everything. And he is always with us. When He chooses to call people to faith and repentance in His name, He keeps them His forever, genuine believers cannot fall away from Him.

I want to leave you with the lyrical theology of Lecrae and his song “Send Me” from his album After the Music Stops:

Lyrics can be found here

God had chosen to reveal himself through His creation. However, God’s revelation of Himself in nature does not present a complete picture of His character. Creation displays God’s natural attributes but tells us nothing about His moral perfections.

Mankind is ignorant to anything spiritual, we are in darkness concerning God. Not only that, but he is also in darkness concerning himself. “Where did I come from? Am I anything more than a thinking animal? Do I have a soul? What am I here for? How should I spend my time? What happens after death?” If there is no Divine Revelation there is no answer to these questions.

Our frail minds are not capable of solving or understanding many problems and experiences in our lives. How are we to govern and regulate our dealings with society and humanity. Should each person simply live however they please? This would destroy all law and order. Should we draw up a moral code or ethical standard? It would all be based upon the subjective opinions of each person.

Mankind needs a Divine revelation. God is able to supply this need, and it is reasonable to suppose that he would. If there is a personal God, and nature indeed attests to his existence, and if we are his creation, he surely would not leave us in doubt concerning the great problems which have to do with our temporal, spiritual, and eternal welfare.

So if we understand our need for a Divine revelation, we understand his ability to provide, and the reasonable assumption that he would indeed provide, the only question remains “Has He Provided?” And more specifically, “Has He provided in the Bible”. Is the Bible True?

The Perpetual Newness of the Bible Attests to Its Divine Authority

Now obviously, those that are more acquainted with the Bible will have a better understanding of this argument. A person may know a significant amount of certain portions of Scripture, yet later return to a familiar passage, and continue to find new ideas, new applications, new appreciations for things they have never pondered before. The Bible is like a fountain of living water: the fountain is always the same, yet the water is always fresh.

In this regard the Bible stands alone from all other books, whether religious or secular. The content of human writings can only lie on the surface, and any able reader can understand the idea as first glance. The Bible however, is the most studied book in the history of mankind. Thousands of commentaries have been printed, millions of sermons have been preached and printed in attempt to exhaust the riches of this Book, yet the riches of its contents are yet untapped—It Cannot Be Exhausted!

The Bible is a gold mine of heavenly treasure. It has veins of ore that can never be used up. And like earthly treasures, you must search to find it. It is like a spring of water which never runs dry. No matter how many may drink from its stream, its flow continues and never ceases to satisfy the needs of all who come to drink. People throughout history have read the Bible through and through hundreds of times in their lifetime. What human writing would merit even a 50^th reading?

How is this possible? Well, what a man’s mind has produced, a man’s mind can exhaust. If humans had written the Bible its contents would have been “mastered” and cast aside ages ago. However, the Bible never becomes stale, it has never been fully understood or mastered. It still speaks with the same gravity and force. Is it not obvious that nothing other than the infinite mind of God could have been the author of this Book?