Fixing the hole
Gustavo, one of the first Guanano believers, spoke frankly with missionary Lindy Drake concerning the Guanano church before leaving for his home in Colombia.
Gustavo, visiting Lindy in Brazil, said. "When we are here, we rest and enjoy the Bible teaching. We enjoy our conversations and friendship with the other believers. We feel we are part of a team working together under God’s purposes for the good of the Guanano church. But when we are at our place, the same old lifestyle is very strong."
Gustavo explained that the believers live like unbelievers and there seems to be no growth in their lives.
He used an apt example. "When I am not getting any fish out of my fish trap, I know something is wrong," he told Lindy. "I dive down into it, and perhaps find a hole in the wall that the fish are going out of and escaping. When I patch the hole, then my fish trap becomes useful again."
He proposed that they analyze the church and see what is keeping them from spiritual growth then fix it.
"Then we can grow and become useful to God again just like my fish trap," he said. "Please help us by asking God that we might obey the new lifestyle we have in Christ and grow up in that."
Gustavo headed back to his home village but it was obvious that he was bearing a burden for his people. He is headed to a hostile environment and will have little to encourage him as he ministers to the believers there.
Pray for Lindy as he continues to translate Scriptures into the Guanano language and for Gustavo as he seeks to encourage and grow the Guanano church.
Gustavo, visiting Lindy in Brazil, said. "When we are here, we rest and enjoy the Bible teaching. We enjoy our conversations and friendship with the other believers. We feel we are part of a team working together under God’s purposes for the good of the Guanano church. But when we are at our place, the same old lifestyle is very strong."
Gustavo explained that the believers live like unbelievers and there seems to be no growth in their lives.
He used an apt example. "When I am not getting any fish out of my fish trap, I know something is wrong," he told Lindy. "I dive down into it, and perhaps find a hole in the wall that the fish are going out of and escaping. When I patch the hole, then my fish trap becomes useful again."
He proposed that they analyze the church and see what is keeping them from spiritual growth then fix it.
"Then we can grow and become useful to God again just like my fish trap," he said. "Please help us by asking God that we might obey the new lifestyle we have in Christ and grow up in that."
Gustavo headed back to his home village but it was obvious that he was bearing a burden for his people. He is headed to a hostile environment and will have little to encourage him as he ministers to the believers there.
Pray for Lindy as he continues to translate Scriptures into the Guanano language and for Gustavo as he seeks to encourage and grow the Guanano church.