Connect and Invest (Leverage Colombia Team)

(Pastor Jesus Barrios and Jason) "We are not promoting hit and run missions. We are promoting connect and invest." On Monday our team got to see this philosophy in action. As one of the two 12Stone teams in Colombia this week, we have the opportunity to connect with members of different communities over the course of our time here. For the first portion of the week, our team is spending time with a church in the barrio of Ciudadela, near the city's enormous soccer stadium. The church is called Proclamadores del Reino, or, proclaimers of the kingdom. While here, our goal is to help them live out that name, by presenting the gospel with them to residents and to lead them to Christ. But more specifically, it's to model to the members of this small church how to do this themselves with boldness. Since January, our team has been preparing for this trip. A big part of our preparation has been: how do we make an impact without creating dependency? In other words: how to we promote "connect and invest." It's becoming evident that how we do that, is by coming alongside a church and supporting them in their mission. Much like we might find it difficult to walk up to our neighbors and begin evangelizing to them, many of the members of this church are not as bold as they could be in sharing the gospel with those far from Christ in their community. So on Monday, our team of six 12Stoners each became part of a mini-evangelism team consisting of one of us, one translator, and one or two members of the church from Ciudadela. We then went out separately into the neighborhood and began to share our testimonies and a simple but clear account of the Good News. There are many moving stories that each of us encountered, but a perfect example of "connect and invest" that I witnessed myself was the last house I visited on Monday. Of the mother, father, and two daughters who live there, only the youngest, Vanessa, is a Christian and attends the church. The church worker with us knew about Vanessa's family, and specifically planned for us to visit their house, with the idea that bringing a North American in tow was a good excuse to get invited in! She was right. Both Vanessa and her older sister Betty, who is enduring a troubled pregnancy, were home and very willing to talk to us. As we shared the gospel, and listened to Betty's story, she broke in to tears and prayed to accept Jesus. Betty and Vanessa now have a church that will be connecting and investing in them and their family for the long-term. It's my prayer that they would continue connecting and investing and see their whole household come to saving faith. God is moving in Colombia. With prayer and humility, we are joining Him in that work and helping to establish and strengthen the churches here to continue that work well. -steffan