Campaign in Grecia (July 6th, 2009)

My brother Roberto, a friend of us, and I went to Grecia last evening. Grecia is a town of the province of Alajuela. I had been invited to preach for a Gospel Meeting. There were close to 100 people present.

After I finished preaching, three came forward asking for prayers of deliverance and forgiveness. Our friend, the excongressman came forward among those three! My brother Roberto and I were so excited to see this response from him. God's Word is really powerful! He, of course, was not prepared for a decision yet, but it just confirmed that the Bible studies are helping him well.

It was a great opportunity to renew our friendship with Teodoro, the local preacher, Ivan his brother and song leader of the night. Ronald, Lalo, Nidia, Ana, Julio, Élida, Gerzom, Roberto, Ricardo and many others whose names I should have written. The ladies had supper prepared for us. It was very refreshing when the three of us sat at the table along with Ronald, a local brother, who led the prayer for the blessing.

We also had the opportunity to spend some time with brother Larry Watson, elder of the Paragould Church of Christ in Arkansas. Brother Watson and the congregation behind him have been supporting this work for more than ten years. They are the main force behind the Jenny Sue camping facility between Sarchí and Grecia. It is with great sacrifice from him and his family that brother Watson has been able to start this work and they are the ones keeping it. It was very encouraging to spend this time with brother Watson, as we discussed some issues related to the work in Paragould and the work in Heredia. He gave us some insight about what pastors do to take care of the sheep. He explained that they are a congregation of 600 members, that there are 6 elders, and each of them is responsible for praying for a share of 100 members. They also handle prayer requests from members.

The Gospel Meeting itself was very encouraging. The singing was led by brother Ivan. He came across very stately, and was able to lead us in inspiring singing. Then I was asked to present my lesson. The main text was Psalms 121:1, 2. I used the idea of help from the Lord coming in the form of righteousness, and stressed the need for us to develop an attitude of hungering and thirsting for righteousness (Matthew 5.6). This needed attitude is developed when we understand that we don't have righteousness, that we are not righteous, that there is no difference between sinner and sinner (Romans 3.22). I had to explain that "no difference" means that God judges not only the actions, He judges the thoughts in our hearts, and if we are honest, we must accept that we are just as guilty as the "chief of sinners," (1 Timothy 1.15, NASB). Then I went on to talk about Romans 3.9, 10, and 3.21-26. Our help from the Lord comes in the form of righteousness through Jesus carrying the burden of our sins on the cross (2 Corinthians 5.21). Finally, I explained how this help from the Lord is what Jesus calls the Gospel, which he commanded to be preached and he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved (Mark 16.16).