An invitation to Guatemala

Pentecost is the time where we remember when and how the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the church.

The fruit of that day is seen:

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. – Acts 1:8 (NIV)

Pero cuando venga el Espíritu Santo sobre ustedes, recibirán poder y serán mis testigos tanto en Jerusalén como en toda Judea y Samaria, y hasta los confines de la tierra. – Hechos 1:8 (NVI)

This empowerment for missions enables us to fulfill our calling and purpose, whether it is to our local area or in another country.

An open door:

Last October, a fellow member of PRMI, received a personal invitation to teach on the person and work of the Holy Spirit to a group of Presbyterian pastors in Guatemala.  That created a spiritual thirst to know more:

• What are the gifts of the Holy Spirit?
• How can the gifts help me grow my church?
• How can I help people discover their gifts?

Now, we have received an invitation to return and give about 8 hours worth of additional teaching and training on the person and work of the Holy Spirit.

Through our connections with PRMI, we have the opportunity to share some of the foundational teaching that we has been shared around the world.  These pastors, who may not have access to seminary trained pastors as teachers, will hear from us, and then be empowered to use this information in their local congregations.

Much confusion exists in the evangelical church in Latin America.  I see it myself as I’ve been in 9 different countries.  The person and work of the Holy Spirit has been subjected to abuses, misinformed teaching, and all sorts of strange interpretations (I’ve got tons of stories).  Because there is often a lack of sound biblical resources, it’s easy for confusion, hurt, and pain to happen.

We have been invited to help bring a biblical perspective, and a solid one that is rooted in the Reformed Stream of the Western Church.  The material we use makes so much use of scriptures that some of our manuals are over 1 inch thick.

These pastors are looking to us to provide solid, rational, biblical training to help interpret and balance some of the experiences that they have had.

Imagine Guatemalan presbyterian pastors full of the Holy Spirit, sound doctrine, empowering others in the Holy Spirit to reach their harvest fields!  We get to play a a part!

Details

This retreat will be geared for pastors and their spouses at a retreat center outside of Guatemala city.

August 18-20, 2009.

Additional preaching opportunities and connections with Vida Joven Guatemala will likely occur, building on our relationship with Vida Joven Nicaragua.

Support:

The team is raising support for the trip to cover our international airfares and some translation costs to prepare and ship materials.

Donations to the team through PRMI can be marked “Latin American Missions.”

This is over and above our monthly support needs.