"Dig it Out" has been our phrase for the last four months at Bethel.First, we dug trenches in order to make the fence in October, alongside of First Baptist Church in Lockport, New York.Second, we dug the foundation of the first building on December 28th, alongside of Immanuel Baptist Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin.Third, the unpaved street by our church has been dug by people in the community of San Pedro and all the mud has been scraped by a bulldozer in preparation to start the new road.
Wow, have we seen dirt in the last months?Yes!It has taken a lot of work, but we know that all of that hard work was needed in order to make things new.A new fence, a new building and a new road are all in the process of being built.
What about our spiritual life in these last months in Bethel?
First, Indira, a 15 year old girl, our first young person to get baptized when she was 12 years old, was under church discipline for three months, but now is back into fellowship with the Lord and the church.It is not easy to be a 15 year old person in Bluefields, because it is the transition age for the girls.That is the age that they start to try "new" things in life, like sex, alcohol, going to the disco-techs, etc.All of her peers were doing these "new" things and she did not want to stay behind, even though deep down she knew these were not the right things to do as a new-born Christian.
After much prayer on her behalf and counseling, she came to grip with the reality of where all of these "new" things were taking her.Her best friend, who was leading her into these "new" things, is currently living in her house with her boyfriend, with the permission of her mother.But, Indira decided for the Lord. She decided to dig out all of the old things that she thought were Ok to do in her life. She did this, in order that she could come back to the Lord and into fellowship with the church family, so God can do a "new" thing in her life.
Second, last Thursday in our Prayer Meeting/Bible Study, we had two confessions.One of another young girl of 15 years old, Daisy, confessing her sins to the congregation – digging out the old hidden things – in order for "new" things to happen in her life in the spiritual realm.
Third, the other confession was of a 45 year old lady, Margleth, who confessed to the church her sin of pride, which is keeping her from growing in the Lord – digging out the old – in order for the Lord to do "new" things in her life.
How we can be mistaken, like Indira?The process to start "new" things requires that we first start the process of "digging out" the "old" things.We have experienced this "digging out" in the physical and in the spiritual in these last months.In our pilgrimage of this New Year, let us allow the Lord to continue to "dig out" the old, in order to make us "new" in Christ everyday during this New Year. Alone, we cannot do it.We need each others strength and prayer in order to make it happen.
May the Lord give us His grace, while He continues to "dig out" the old and bring in "new" things to our lives.
Please, pray for:
- new academic year in the After School Tutoring Program
- new things from the Lord during this new year
- new Work and Witness Team that are coming
Love you in Christ,
Vital and Ketly Pierre